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McLaren Vale Wine – Vale Cru Winetasting

Saturday, 15 December 2012 21:29
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There is one tasting I look forward to each year.  Due to circumstances beyond my control I have not been able to attend the last 2 years so I was looking forward to the November 2012 Vale Cru wine tasting held on the grounds of he Victory Hotel.

This year things were different.  I had tickets and transport organised (I was not going to taste and drive) plus I was attending with 2 friends from Melbourne who were visiting McLaren Vale for the first time.  As both were wine drinkers I could not think of a better way of showing them what McLaren Vale could do than showing the wines of the Vale Cur members.  As a bonus there was a chocolate and cheese tasting added just for good measure.

Vale Cru winemakers and tasters in their natural habitat

The sun was shining and the wind was blowing straight off the ocean – the combination was good for the punters but the wind was a little troublesome for the winery staff who were trying to keep tasting notes etc on the tables.  All in all the stage was set for an excellent afternoon.  On arrival we received a wine glass (which we were able to keep) a plank of wood (which was a modified oak barrel stave) that was notched so to hold the wine glass, a pencil and a wine list.  There was also an opportunity to go into a competition to match chocolate and the wines available for tasting.  I was also impressed with the cheese and cut french stick breads that were available.  There were impressive but I was there for the wine.  The list of small wineries that make up the Vale Cru is impressive with:-

Brash Higgins

Ulithorne

Waywood Wines

Battle of Bosworth

Lazy Ballerina

Rudderless

Five Geese

Geddes Wines

Noon Wines

La Curio

Old Faithful

Vigna Bottin

Samuels Gorge

J&J Wines

Inkwell

Maximus

 Before I talk about some of the wines, I should discuss what the Vale Cru is all about.  It is my opinion that the heart and sole of any wine producing region is the small producer.  The people that strive for above all else quality.  It is with these producers that the gems are produced.  These wines are not the usual liquor store fodder – the liquor stores seem to have shelves full of the same old stuff that has been generated from the big factory wineries that dominate the Australian wine scene.  These small producers invariability have the one thing that sets them apart – the love that goes into making these wines.

Each winery had 3 wines available for tasting and as many of these wineries are very familiar to me then I knew many of the wines.  There was too many wines for me to taste them all however there were many highlights from the wines we tasted – some notes below.

2011 Battle of Bosworth Chardonnay ($25)

I applaud the use of oak here.  Oak plays a support role and s not overpowering, but this support is important for quality Chardonnay.  The melon and peach fruits are here as well and I was also impressed with the cad levers in this wine.  The crispness found here is not always found in white wines that have gone through Malolactic acid fermentation thus I suspect this wine has little or no secondary fermentation.  There are a number of very poor Chardonnay wines available today but this wine is certainly not one of them.  I would prefer this over a Sauvignon Blanc any day.

2007 Rudderless Wines Malbec ($35)

Not a usual varietal wine but the blackness of the fruit comes through really well.  If you get a chance then check it out.

2010 Tim Geddes Experimental Grenache ($33)

Readers of this blog know I enjoy a good Grenache and this is one of them.  The redness and fruit power is enticing.  Let it drag you in!

2010 Five Geese Grenache Shiraz ($24)

Vibrant fruit with a side order of cedar oak.  The black and red fruit shine through at different times when you taste this wine which provides the wine drinker some intrigue.

2008 Ulithorne Frux Frugis Shiraz ($45)

This wine is all about the liquorice.  Classy McLaren Vale Shiraz that will last for a long time – if you let it.

2009 Brash Higgins “SHZ” Shiraz ($37)

This wine just surprises with the mouth finish of blood orange.  One may expect this from a Nebbiolo but not a Shiraz.  Another wine that is classy and different – the essence of what the Vale Cru is all about.

Brash Higgins Wines

Purchasing McLaren Vale Wines – Backyard Shed Cru #7 Tasting Videos

Sunday, 21 October 2012 20:13
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Well I finally got all the Backyard Shed Cru #7 tasting videos and I thought I had better share them with you.

Remember you can join the Backyard Shed Cru via the Taste McLaren Vale Membership page (click here).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchasing McLaren Vale Wines – Backyard Shed Cru Red Pack #7

Saturday, 06 October 2012 22:59
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Every 6 months Taste McLaren Vale puts together a six pack of wines to provide the members or The Backyard Shed Cru. Check out the membership site here.  Anybody can sign up for the half yearly delivery of a Backyard Shed Cru six pack for only $140 delivered to your door.

Now for the release of our Red Pack #7.

Backyard Shed Cru Red Pack #7

 

2010 La Curio “The Original Zin” Primotivo

The Zin tag comes from the grape variety – Zinfandel.  This is a variety that has significant plantings in America and Europe.  The vineyard where the grapes for this wine came from is on California Road and is owned and tendered by an American born.

This wine initially shows cherry characters but after a while is shows a darker side with plums and layered tannins.  The tannins are multi dimensional and I suspect they originate from the ripe grape seeds, stalks as well as the usual oak treatments.  The oak was there but not dominant.  All in all a great package and aimed at a good price point.   The juicy nature of this wine would be a great match to a feed of Chinese food – you know with sizzling Mongolian beef and black bean chicken.

2010 La Curio “New World Order” Sangiovese

Sangiovese has a reputation for being very tannic – this wine has drying tannins but it is not over done.  There is definitely good cherry but the most endearing things in this wine was the savoury nature and the lovely teeth drying tannins.  This is a wine that screams out food and for me I am thinking a good Aussie BBQ.

2010 J&J Vineyards Shiraz

I was looking forward to this wine – from a great vintage and an organic producer.  J&J have recently been given full organic status.  I was not disappointed as this is a classical McLaren Vale Shiraz.  The aromas show plum fruit mixed in an envelope of spices (star anise, cinnamon and cardamom) and is dominated by licorice.  The flavours continue with the same theme except there is no dominance here.  The fresh plums, licorice, chocolate, spices (this time with pepper included), tannins that are not over the top and a good acid finish that refreshes the mouth making it ready for the next mouthful.

2006 Sellicks Hill Wines Valletta (Grenache Shiraz)

I have been doing this wine sales thing for a couple of years and this is one of my favorites.  It appeared in an earlier pack but I just wanted to share this one with you again.  Initially worried about Grenache being in oak for 3 years but I should not have been – only older oak was used and really well looked after.  The 3 years in bottle have also been good to it.  I get lots of spice here – cardamom, nutmeg and cinnamon.  The wine has been 6 years in making it to you so do it a favor and let it breath for a while before consuming – it will be worth the wait.  There is a fusion of fruits almost as secondary flavours and such depth where the flavours just linger in your mouth.  There is strength and complexity here so bring on a slab of Beef Wellington.

2010 Kay Brothers Basket Press Mataro

There is a sense of history here with the naming of this variety.  McLaren Vale seems to name this variety Mourvedre.  Kay Brothers has a long history of growing this variety – mainly as a fortified wine base.  I was speaking to Colin Kay about a year ago and we were discussing that there was a workshop on emerging varieties and they did a blind tasting that had, amongst others, a Mourvedre.  The discussion was about everything old, was new again.  There is a changing use of Mourvedre.  It was not long ago that it was only seen as a blending variety, but since 2009 there has been a steady increase in Mourvedre used as a varietal variety.

In this case the aromas were dominated by cherries and juicy plums and just a hint of dry oregano as the point of difference.  The flavours are dominated firstly by the same cherry and plums – they seemed to be darker in nature as the wine opened up.  There is a hit of grainy tannins that works well in this context.  There is some meatiness and sense of violets with that hint of that dried oregano these are the points of difference that Mataro can make.  I enjoy these differences and I think you will too.

2010 Bellevue Estate Shiraz

The plum and blackberry characters are well balanced with the oak and the natural acids – they all produce a wine with a mouthful of a textural wine. This wine is one to check out when the bottling shock has settled as at this time it looks like they have hit the right notes. I would enjoy this with slightly chared BBQ’d meats.

McLaren Vale Wine – Parri Estate

Sunday, 26 August 2012 23:26
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Parri Estate Sign

Parri Eatate is the location of the once famous Ingoldby vineyards and cellar door (take the name belongs to one of conglomerates).  The cellar door is a large facility that has outdoor undercover area that is being used for functions including weddings.  There is plenty of room for the kids to run around and keep themselves amused while mum and dad try a few wines.  I have found the cellar door to be closed quite often so it is best to check they are open – or alternatively there are other close options.

Outdoor Undercover Area

I have tried the wines from this stable a number of times over the past year and always find it interesting as they have cool climate wines sourced from their Mt Compass vineyard as well as the warmer climate vineyard next to their McLaren Flat cellar door.

They basically have 3 ranges a second lable called Southcote, a cool climate range from their Mt Compass vineyard and the Pangkarra range from McLaren Flat.  Pangkarra is a local aboriginal word that represents the characteristics of a specific site – soil, climate, sunshine, rain etc.

And now the wines…….

2009 Southcote White ($15)

Chardonnay (60%), Semillon (25%) and Sauvignon Blanc (15%) all from their Mt Compass vineyard to produce a white wine showing some developed characters and as such lost it’s  fruit freshness.  The aromas show grapefruit and lemon rind with toasty notes.  The flavors are dominated by nectarines and grassiness but the developed tones kick in again.

2012 Savagnin ($20)

From Mt Compass fruit and fruit it is – stone fruits of nectarines and peaches.  There is an interesting floral note there as well.  Plenty of acid here and an interesting textural feel makes this a wine I would be very happy to drink with food.

2008 Viognier Chardonnay

An unwooded version with 55% Vioginer and shows mainly Chardonnay character with melons and stone fruit.  The wine was short on the palate and not really inspiring.

2010 Estate Pinot Noir ($25)

As one would expect this Pinot is from Mt Compass fruit and the cooler climate shows with this variety.  The aromas were nuances of mushrooms, pine needles and cherries with brown spice mix thrown in.  Flavors showing red fruits and subtle oak that lingers.  There is a hint of bitterness that just takes the enjoyment down a notch.

2006 Shiraz Viognier ($20)

Mt Compass fruit with just 5% Viognier – the use of Viognier with Shiraz is to provide a lift to the wine that would not be apparent otherwise.  I got rhubarb as the main red fruit mixed with subtle spices.  I did not get any apricot (good) but the wine is a bit tired.  It would have been good to see it a couple of years ago.

2006 Southcote Cabernet Shiraz ($70/doz)

A very fruit driven wine with red fruits and pepper spice.  Good value.

2006 Pangkarra Grenache ($25)

From the McLaren Vale vineyards and shows lots of cloves, nutmeg and dark cherry aromas.  In terms of flavors – they show the same spices and with red fruits and a savory finish.  Unfortunately there was a slight bitterness on the finish that stopped this wine being first class.

Pangkarra Grenache

2008 Cabernet ($24)

Made from Mt Compass fruit and shows the aromas expected from Cabernet – black current and mint.  The flavors were dominated by fruit cake and then mocha on the finish.  There are layers of good tannins and lots of structure here.

2006 Pangkarra Shiraz ($24)

From the old Ingoldby vineyard in McLaren Flat Shiraz.  Aromas of deep plum and chocolate aromas with subtle spices.  The mocha flavors dominate the dark plum fruit and the tannin structure is fine not course or chewy.

2005 Noble Semillon

Made from Mt Compass fruit that starts impressively with orange blossom and blood orange and a hint of citrus peel.  The flavors were much lighter than expected with some stone fruit but it was hard to work out the flavors as they were just so short.

McLaren Vale Wine – Foggo Wines Part 2 (Sweet Wines)

Sunday, 12 August 2012 20:10
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Check out Part 1 of this review here.

2011 Moscato White ($15)

Made from muscatel grapes and only has 5% alcohol normally means a refreshing and sweet drink.  This is no exception with real tropical-ness about it that is just nice and light.  Do not expect too much from this wine – it is made to drink very cold on a Sunday afternoon and still be able to drive away when you have finished.  A bit seller at cellar door but a bit light for me.

2011 Moscato Rosa ($15)

With the use of Grenache skins I thought this wine may show a sense of difference and I was not disappointed.  The red fruits one associates with Grenache comes though in spades and the sugar is less apparent.  Both of these characters appeal more that the straight white variety.

2010 Golden Botrytis ($20 375ml bottle)

Made from mainly Chardonnay and a little Semillon to produce a honey, grassy marmalade sensation.  The Semillon makes all the difference to the final product.  Another good seller from the cellar door.

 Muscat ($20)

An eight year old fortified that starts with honey and raisins but is so much lighter than expected.  This equates to something that is potentially far to easy to drink – the 19% alcohol will catch up with you.

Tawny ($18)

A Grenache and Shiraz based 8 year old fortified that shows interesting cherry, strawberry and cranberry notes that is dryer on the palate than anyone would expect.  Much lighter than the classic tawny offerings from the Barossa.  For me it lacks the thick viscous feel one gets from many fortifides but it tends to sell very well.

2007 3 Sheds Grenache ($55)

I suspect this wine will provide arguments over the quality and if the wine is enjoyable – it is just so different and thus is may polarise many.  The grapes are cordon cut (the grape stems are partially cut and left on the vine ) this technique allows the grapes to shrivel as the grapes do not get any nutrients from the vine and water from the grapes start to evaporate.  This technique concentrates the sugars and flavours of the grapes.  The differences do not stop there – the grapes are hand picked, foot crushed and then barrel fermented.

The aromas were just reminiscent of ripe Grenache grapes – sweet red fruits and florals.  The flavours are just intense with red raisins and chewy tannins that give the wine an interesting mouthfeel.  For interest alone I had to purchase a bottle, but I know many people that would hate this wine.

2005 3 Sheds Shiraz ($55)

Made in the same way as the 3 Sheds Grenache.  This time the wine smells concentrated fruits with intense star anise and chocolate (yes the McLaren Vale influence on Shiraz happens again).  The flavours are oh so concentrated raisins and, of all things, grape seeds.  I also found the finish to be long and dry – not what I was expecting.

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