The Australian Premium Wine Collection tasting

Twelve wines were tasted from 5 vintners. I took note on the four best wines I tasted. The 2006 Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon was of particular note, rankiong with some of the best cabs I have ever had. I would rank it with a 2002 Rusden Boundaries cabernet I had a couple of years ago at 97 points. Allister Ashmead was quite proud of this wine also. The 06 Elderton Command shiraz was simply out of this world though, and I would give it 98 points. A uber rip, uber rich, thickly layered shiraz wil red fruits, spices, toasted oak, deeply concentrated but so delicious. The wine had an unctous mouthfilling silky smoothness that was very compelling. WOTN.

Close behind was Dean Hewitson's 06 Mad Hatter (his nickname) which was very rich as well. Again a compelling wine seeing all new french and american oak as i recall. Very concentrated and rich. Lots of wood, but then lots of everything in this wine. 96 pts.

Also of note was the Elderton shiraz '06 which for $27 or so was outstanding. Great purity of fruit, concentration with fruits, spices and oak all nicely integrated. 93 pts.

The wine though I bought was a 100% 2006 Grenache called Tir Na D'og, imported by John Larchet. Wonderful expression of SA Grenache. Voluptuous, fruit driven wine leading off with uber ripe raspberries followed by hints of spice and oak. Would be a big hit at any outdoor BBQ, but this is no quaffer. Dense and concentrated with mouthfilling silky tannins, it is a seriously good wine.

When I mentioned the how much I liked the Rusden Boundaries cabernet to Allister, he was quick to give props to Christian Canute, winemaker at Rusden. Apparently know as the "Wild Man" in those parts. I asked "well, if Dean Hewitson is the Mad Hatter and Christian is the Wild Man, what happens if they get together?" Allister replied, "Oh no, those two are not allowed in the same building or the same hotel together. Too dangerous for guest and staff alike". Well done mates!