55th TWIGS Tasting

Villa Chang
Tasted Saturday, October 13, 2018 by fizz with 124 views

Flight 1 (1 Note)

Flight 2 (3 Notes)

  • 2017 Blackstone Paddock Chardonnay Limited Release

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    Screw cap. 13% alc/vol.
    Recent success on the show circuit despite a very modest price tag and available though a big supermarket chain - so why not give it a go! The exact location of the vineyard(s) is secret.
    Light straw coloured. Herbaceous, grassy and mineral notes lead to a more buttery palate with caramel, indicating some malo. There's stonefruits and tropical fruits that emerge with some coaxing. Palate is a little short.
    It was guessed as young, new world Chardonnay.

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  • 2011 Giaconda Chardonnay Estate Vineyard

    Australia, Victoria, North East, Beechworth

    Screw cap. 13% alc/vol.
    Mid straw colour. Nose is vivid and explodes from the glass. Spicy, nutty, toast, cumin, smoke, pine needles. It tastes terrific too - with a sweet front palate and controlled intensity through the mouth. The balance between the oak, acid and white-fleshed fruit is all class. It's in the zone.

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  • 1996 Mount Pleasant Wines Sémillon Single Vineyard Lovedale

    Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

    Cork (only 1/3 soaked). 10.5% alc.
    Mid golden. Smells of lemon, straw, pineapple, toast and a touch of kerosene. Palate still had some lift from the acid line. It's quite settled and resolved though. With food, the wine seemed even fresher.

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Flight 3 (7 Notes)

  • 2007 Casa E. di Mirafiore Barolo Riserva

    Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo

    Cork. 14% alc.
    Light garnet with bricking. Cassis, mint, cedar, tea leaves, cola. Lovely mid-weighted palate shows off some dark fruits, mint and spice flavours. Fine, dusty tannins lead to a long finish. Guessed by the group as an aged new world cab! Looking like it's entering the drinking window now. Excellent with food too.

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  • 2001 Ata Rangi Célèbre

    New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough

    Cork. 13.5%.
    Blend of 40% Merlot, with Syrah and Cab Sauv each 30%.
    Dark centre with bricking. Black olive, but then also smells sweaty. Maybe even rotting vegetables. The front palate is sweet, but it rapidly falls off. There's woody, mushroom and earthy characters. It's seen better days.

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  • 2006 Château Talbot

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Cork. 13% alc.
    Indigo colour. Smells of cedar, menthol, mint, cassis and eucalyptus. Someone on the table thought it smelled like a Wendouree. The palate is fine, carries some spice notes and there's an elegance there. If anything, it slightly under-delivers after the anticipation of the nose. Tannins are fine and slightly puckering.

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  • 2004 Jasper Hill Shiraz Georgia's Paddock

    Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Heathcote

    Cork. 15% alc.
    Dark core. Lush, sweet nose, with florals and a certain uniqueness - maybe caramelised fig, soy, sarsaparilla? Palate is sweet, almost jammy. It's a blockbuster, with long, slightly drying tannins. Someone commented - "feels like a durif".

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  • 2012 Masi Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva Costasera

    Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Amarone della Valpolicella Classico

    Cork. 15.5% alc.
    Dark core. Upfront black fruits on the nose - plum, cherry, berry. A hint of raisined fruit? Smells almost sweet. There's a chocolate/coffee note there too. In the mouth, it's a big wine with the tannins on the back end providing a contrast to the sweet and plush front palate. It could do with more cellar time.

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  • 1995 Penfolds Bin 389

    Australia, South Australia

    Cork. 13% alc.
    Presents with a dark core still. There's dark fruits lurking behind the earthy, tarry, smoky, tobacco scents. A top note of cinnamon. The palate has sweet fruits and a touch of coconut, before leading to a long, slightly dried out finish. It's certainly a well preserved old bottle, but the wine remains a tad disjointed.

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  • 1996 Penfolds Shiraz St. Henri

    Australia, South Australia

    Cork. 14% alc.
    Dark garnet centre. Lovely bouquet - sweet black and blue fruits, dried herbs. It's an elegant wine in the mouth, with fine, integrating, soft tannins providing just enough structure for the harmonious, mid-weighted palate to flow to a long finish. There are developed characters coming out in the wine. It's in a nice spot right now.

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