Wine-Ark Cellar Club Tasting 8 - September 2009. Seresin, Cape Mentelle, Coriole

standard wine-ark monthly tasting

Kiwi wine maker from marlborough - organic and biodynamic

• 2008 Seresin Sauvignon Blanc 81 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough

  Nose: very grassy - made me want to sneeze!
  Mouth: something gritty and acrid on the palate.
  Possibly this rough because it was inadequately chilled. Not very nice at all AUD 24

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• 2007 Seresin Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 88 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough

  Nose: Fresh shelled green pea, other green vegetables, perhaps capsicum
  Mouth: Green fruit, light acidity, long finish with a little white pepper.
  It's seen some oak and isn't a bad SB. AUD $48, so perhaps a little pricey for what it is - docked one point accordingly

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• 2007 Seresin Pinot Noir Leah 83 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough

  Nose: Alcoholic heat masks raspberry and burnt rubber
  Mouth: some indirect fruit and tannin, good feel at the front of the mouth but then becomes muddled and unbalanced with quite an acrid finish.
  AUD 37 - there entry level wine

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• 2007 Seresin Pinot Noir Rachel 88 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough

  Nose: red fruits, smells like rustic Burgundy without as much farmyard!
  Mouth: Chocolate, raspberry (but not that prominent) and reasonable tannins.
  It's okay but loses a point or two for price AUD 50

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Margaret River producer. New wine-maker talks big about Burgundy for their Chardonnay, Rhone for their Shiraz and Bordeaux for their Cab Sav and blends. I've been an aficionado of their wines for a while, particularly their chardonnay (and their zinfandel - not shown here) but, and this is my personal opinion, don't like the direction they're moving in.

• 2008 Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Blanc Sémillon

  Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

  I'm sure it's very good but I don't like the taste or smell and, as I don't have to do this for a living, there is no need for me to be subjective about it so into the spit bucket it goes double quick time!

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• 2007 Cape Mentelle Chardonnay 84 Points

  Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

  Nose: toast, butter, unripe fruit and lime
  Mouth: bit acrid and belchy, bit disappointing.
  Oh dear, I'm a big fan of CM Chardonnay as rule (happy memories of 98, 02, 04 and 05) but this is not very nice at all.

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• 2006 Cape Mentelle Shiraz 80 Points

  Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

  Nose: alcohol heat, vanilla, leather, dark fruit, pepper,
  Mouth: some fruit, bit of tannin, no real finish. Dull as ditch water.
  So many good Shiraz in Australia, this isn't one of them.

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• 2007 Cape Mentelle Trinders Cabernet Merlot 81 Points

  Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

  Nose: Dusty, mint, eucalyptus, cream, blackcurrant
  Mouth: tannic, no real fruit.

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• 2005 Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon 82 Points

  Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

  Nose: wet hay, green leaf, wood sap
  Mouth: hot tannic finish, young and nasty.
  Built to age but no evidence of fruit.

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McLaren Vale producer specialising in Italian varietals and a good reserve shiraz and cab merlot. I really wanted to like the Lloyd as I have some of the 05 in my cellar already and do love a vertical tasting but the wine tasted just didn't have enough fruit for me.

• 2007 Coriole Barbera 80 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Nose: Not much nose
  Mouth: Tight tannic, forgettable

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• 2008 Coriole Sangiovese 88 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Nose: dusty, cherry, something medicinal
  Mouth: little portiness, tannin, nice, easy drinking.
  Value for money (AUD22) otherwise 86.

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• 2007 Coriole Shiraz 86 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Nose: Something medicinal, perfume fruit
  Mouth: Biscuity fruit, cream, not much fruit, followed by grippy tannins. Not much finish.

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• 2006 Coriole Shiraz Lloyd Reserve 85 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Nose: Very rich nose, heavy dark fruit, smoky bacon, herbs
  Mouth: massive mouth feel, not much fruit and what there is is hiding beneath the layers of tannin. Long, lingering peppery finish. Alcohol
  Expensive for what it is (otherwise 87) and lacks fruit.

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• 2006 Coriole Cabernet-Merlot Mary Kathleen Reserve 87 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Nose: savoury, tobacco...not much fruit
  Mouth: Nice, some fruit some tannin.
  Quaffable, but nothing super, easy drinking. Lot's of competition in this price bracket hence the score.

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As is occasionally the case there were no wines here that I would consider buying for my cellar.