Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
A bit light on its feed, with sweeter red fruit here. Not quite as elegant as the best examples tonight, in that it feels a little clunky with the tannins, but certainly clean and bright. A slight feral tone here, likely thanks to the mourvedre.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Really dialled in here. There's this strawberry perfume from the mourvedre that I really like, alongside a bit of salinity from the syrah. Much more put-together than the 2013. Elegant and lithe, but with the same gravitas and weight. A remarkable bottle that the table unanimously found better than the 2013.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Despite the slight year difference, this definitely has more maturity than the two younger vintages. Fine-grained tannin, with a compactness that the other two wines didn't have. It's not balled up tight, but there's a tidiness to the fruit here that I really quite like, especially after the more aldehyde-driven younger vintages.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Lighter in stature than the 2013 and 2015, and this comes off a little fuzzy, whatever that means to you. I guess it's not as resolved and focussed. There's still a fair bit of tannin and high-toned aldehydic character here. Truth be told, based on the tasting tonight, the malbec-based blends are the real weak spot in the lineup.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Not particularly keen on this. Burly, black-fruited, with too many high-toned aldehydes and a bit of astringency on the back end. One of the few wines that I felt pushed it a little more than I personally would like. I think the malbec really overwhelmed the syrah here.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Absolutely glorious cabernet. Youthful, yes, but so elegant and soulful. Lots of pyrazines, bright red fruit, and so much elegance on the palate. Very intense aromatics, but despite the lightness, there's still plenty of concentration on the palate, with the fruit showing bright and red, with acidity to enliven the wine. Brilliant stuff.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
More leathery and demure than the effusive 2017. Darker in complexion, but no less balanced, just in a very different way. The tannins are a bit more prominent, and fruit more plush than acid-driven, and this feels more balanced on its tannins than acidity. The pyrazine notes are also dialled down here. Very much feels like this needs more time, versus the already open and approachable 2017.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
My favourite of the Cabernet Malbecs. This generally just feels more dialled in and precise, but the high-toned aldehydic notes of the malbec seem to overwhelm whatever subtlety there was in the cabernet. That said, this is still not particularly over-the-top, but it doesn't have the precision and elegance that so many other wines from the estate have. Again -- this tasting made it pretty clear to me that I am not a big fan of malbec.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Plenty of black cherry, with again the ripe, aldehydic notes of the malbec dominating here. Slight bitterness from the tannins on the back end that also detract. Not as convincing as the non-malbec wines.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Chunky and structure, without the elegance of the syrah or cabernet. Pleasant enough if a bit foursquare, with the malbec notes making too much of their presence felt here. Darker fruit, with plenty of youthful tannin. Clearly will be more interesting with more years.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Tons of smoke and blood, like a proper aged syrah ought to have. The fruit is dark, the tannins still leathery, with but a modest hint of pepper here. A little prickly, but with lovely black fruit and salinity on the palate. Youthful tannins that still clearly could benefit from additional time.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Others at the table liked this more than I did, relative to the 2018. I found this a little less aromatically expressive, and there were some pretty brutish tannins here. This had a fairly dark profile, but the palate also just wasn't quite as expressive. Likely better with more time.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
A bit burly, and nowhere as elegant as the wonderful 2018. I think this may well be in a slightly awkward place, with pretty big tannins and fruit that just doesn't feel as expressive. Still, unmistakable, peppery syrah character here. Probably one that will benefit from additional time, as it's long since past its primary phase.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Loved this. Saline and salty, with an olive brine tone on the nose here. Really light touch, with a silky elegance that shows a bit of smoke as well. Unmistakably syrah, though the pepper notes are somewhat muted. Wonderful stuff that is already approachable and very much enjoyable; one of my favourite wines this evening.
2013 Wendouree Shiraz Mataro 93 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
A bit light on its feed, with sweeter red fruit here. Not quite as elegant as the best examples tonight, in that it feels a little clunky with the tannins, but certainly clean and bright. A slight feral tone here, likely thanks to the mourvedre.
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2014 Wendouree Shiraz Mataro 95 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Really dialled in here. There's this strawberry perfume from the mourvedre that I really like, alongside a bit of salinity from the syrah. Much more put-together than the 2013. Elegant and lithe, but with the same gravitas and weight. A remarkable bottle that the table unanimously found better than the 2013.
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2013 Wendouree Shiraz Malbec 90 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Despite the slight year difference, this definitely has more maturity than the two younger vintages. Fine-grained tannin, with a compactness that the other two wines didn't have. It's not balled up tight, but there's a tidiness to the fruit here that I really quite like, especially after the more aldehyde-driven younger vintages.
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2014 Wendouree Shiraz Malbec 90 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Lighter in stature than the 2013 and 2015, and this comes off a little fuzzy, whatever that means to you. I guess it's not as resolved and focussed. There's still a fair bit of tannin and high-toned aldehydic character here. Truth be told, based on the tasting tonight, the malbec-based blends are the real weak spot in the lineup.
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2015 Wendouree Shiraz Malbec 90 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Not particularly keen on this. Burly, black-fruited, with too many high-toned aldehydes and a bit of astringency on the back end. One of the few wines that I felt pushed it a little more than I personally would like. I think the malbec really overwhelmed the syrah here.
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2017 Wendouree Cabernet Sauvignon Clare Valley 95 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Absolutely glorious cabernet. Youthful, yes, but so elegant and soulful. Lots of pyrazines, bright red fruit, and so much elegance on the palate. Very intense aromatics, but despite the lightness, there's still plenty of concentration on the palate, with the fruit showing bright and red, with acidity to enliven the wine. Brilliant stuff.
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2018 Wendouree Cabernet Sauvignon Clare Valley 93 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
More leathery and demure than the effusive 2017. Darker in complexion, but no less balanced, just in a very different way. The tannins are a bit more prominent, and fruit more plush than acid-driven, and this feels more balanced on its tannins than acidity. The pyrazine notes are also dialled down here. Very much feels like this needs more time, versus the already open and approachable 2017.
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2014 Wendouree Cabernet Malbec 90 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
My favourite of the Cabernet Malbecs. This generally just feels more dialled in and precise, but the high-toned aldehydic notes of the malbec seem to overwhelm whatever subtlety there was in the cabernet. That said, this is still not particularly over-the-top, but it doesn't have the precision and elegance that so many other wines from the estate have. Again -- this tasting made it pretty clear to me that I am not a big fan of malbec.
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2015 Wendouree Cabernet Malbec 90 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Plenty of black cherry, with again the ripe, aldehydic notes of the malbec dominating here. Slight bitterness from the tannins on the back end that also detract. Not as convincing as the non-malbec wines.
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2016 Wendouree Cabernet Malbec 90 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Chunky and structure, without the elegance of the syrah or cabernet. Pleasant enough if a bit foursquare, with the malbec notes making too much of their presence felt here. Darker fruit, with plenty of youthful tannin. Clearly will be more interesting with more years.
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2010 Wendouree Shiraz 95 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Tons of smoke and blood, like a proper aged syrah ought to have. The fruit is dark, the tannins still leathery, with but a modest hint of pepper here. A little prickly, but with lovely black fruit and salinity on the palate. Youthful tannins that still clearly could benefit from additional time.
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2012 Wendouree Shiraz 93 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Others at the table liked this more than I did, relative to the 2018. I found this a little less aromatically expressive, and there were some pretty brutish tannins here. This had a fairly dark profile, but the palate also just wasn't quite as expressive. Likely better with more time.
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2015 Wendouree Shiraz 93 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
A bit burly, and nowhere as elegant as the wonderful 2018. I think this may well be in a slightly awkward place, with pretty big tannins and fruit that just doesn't feel as expressive. Still, unmistakable, peppery syrah character here. Probably one that will benefit from additional time, as it's long since past its primary phase.
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2018 Wendouree Shiraz 95 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Loved this. Saline and salty, with an olive brine tone on the nose here. Really light touch, with a silky elegance that shows a bit of smoke as well. Unmistakably syrah, though the pepper notes are somewhat muted. Wonderful stuff that is already approachable and very much enjoyable; one of my favourite wines this evening.
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