2007 Roberto Voerzio Langhe Nebbiolo Vigneti San Francesco Fontanazza DOC

2007 Roberto Voerzio Langhe Nebbiolo Vigneti San Francesco Fontanazza DOC
Light rusty brown in colour. An initial shy flash of blue and black fruit. Astringent with a delicate hint of sweetness. A thrust of power and finesse. Ground coffee beans, mocha, shelled almonds, musk sticks, violets, Turkish Delight and rose water. 
Sheer romance in a glass. Spices galore- fennel seeds, sage, oregano, cumin. Incredibly dense but impeccably light. I'm immediately taken away to a small Italian village playing bocce with old men. The more this wine breathes in the decanter, the more balanced, focussed and complex it becomes. I've read the description of a wine opening up like a peacocks tail, but I've never really experienced this until now. 
Ravaged with a massive medium rare rib eye on the bone. Happy Father's Day to me.

Tasted 1st September 2013
14.5% Alc Vol
www.voerzioroberto.it

 

2006 Woodlands 'Margaret' Reserve Cabernet Merlot

2006 Woodlands 'Margaret' Reserve Cabernet Merlot
A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 12% Malbec.
Raisined colour in the glass. Dark berry compote- blackberry, mulberry, blood plum and roast quince. Spices of white pepper, sage and oregano. 
A hint of greenery/stalks and a touch thin in the early stages, possibly reflecting the wet vintage. Comes through with a long, juicy and curvaceous finish however, highlighting the quality of the producer. After a couple hours in the decanter it starts to brood with plenty of charcuterie, leather and brambley complexity.
I would even suggest there's more to contemplate on the second night. 

Tasted 20th & 21st September 2013
13% Alc Vol
www.woodlandswines.com.au

Campbells Cellar Club Grand Rutherglen Tawny

Campbells Cellar Club Grand Rutherglen Tawny
First impressions, be patient with this steamy seductress. Initially slapped me around with it's alcoholic open hand palm strike. My nostrils backed away to a tactical distance, creating enough space  to safely defend the second wave of brutality, that gladly never struck. 
Instead, after allowing the glass to swirl and breath for a long time the magic appeared. The magic grew each night so on the third evening I was on the edge of my seat with excitement and already convinced  I will buy this wine many more times. 
Dark chocolate, molasses and bruleed caramel slice. Fresh roasted coffee beans, mocha and decadent fruit cake with juicy sultanas, cherries and prunes. Hazelnuts and pistachios mix with spices of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and vanilla bean. 
Gone was the burn, replaced with sensory indulgence. 

Tasted 1st, 2nd & 3rd August 2013
www.campbellswines.com.au
18.5% Alc Vol

2008 Boireann Granite Belt Maggie's Shiraz Viognier

2008 Boireann Granite Belt Maggie's Shiraz Viognier
Super dense and intensely purple, staining the glass and decanter. Lots of sediment. Spicey. White pepper, dried oregano, sage and beef stock. Lavender and Viognier. A leathery, mildly dusty and masculine interpretation of the blend. This'll put hairs on your chest and teach you how to waltz like Gene Kelly at the same time. 
Mouth filling with intricate flavours. It's a big wine with a velvety touch. Rhubarb compote and dark red berries. Bordering on ethereal. One of, if not the best Shiraz Viognier blends I've had. Remarkably approachable, yet robustly cellarable. 
The only fault I can find is that I've gone to pour another glass and the decanter is empty. Devastated.

Tasted 25th August 2013
www.boireannwinery.com.au
14.5% Alc Vol

2007 Jim Barry Watervale Riesling

2007 Jim Barry Watervale Riesling
Some bottle age becomes instantly apparent with the yellow orange tinge of the wine in the glass. A wisp of kerosene. Nifty spices of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves mingle with marmalade on toast. I get lemon rind rather than zest. 
A firmly focused Riesling. I like what it offers without getting too excited. 

Tasted 4th & 5th August 2013
www.jimbarry.com
13% Alc Vol

2010 Adams Rib The Red (Castagna, Beechworth)

2010 Adams Rib The Red (Castagna, Beechworth)

(Nebbiolo/Shiraz). Fennel seeds, licorice, tar, cumin and French tarragon. Smokey and savoury with a mesmerising swag of leather and saddle. Cardamom, sage, white pepper and honest biodynamic earth. Feint drying tannins evolve lavishly to caress the senses with dark cherries, orange peel and blue fruits. Violets, rose petals, salted caramel and glorious Turkish delight. This is better than vintage 09. 

Matched brilliantly with spinach and ricotta gnocchi, borlotti bean and tomato sauce. Finding it hard to leave some for tomorrow night. Think I'll pour another glass and see how it goes with a French Comte. As I suspected, sensational. 

Tasted 17th & 18th August 2013

14% Alc Vol

www.castagna.com.au

2011 Tyrrell's Vat 1 Hunter Semillon

2011 Tyrrell's Vat 1 Hunter Semillon 
Brilliant. Refined. Unwaveringly focussed. Crisp, clean and impeccably balanced. Lemon sherbet, sea salt, lime zest and an ever so delicate whisper of sugar. Self assured without being arrogant in it's ability to cellar for many years and develop those glorious and sophisticated characteristics of an aged Hunter Semillon. 
Although, I'm loving it right now with a roast chicken breast, lemon, pepper and crumbled feta. 

Tasted 7th August 2013 
11.5% Alc Vol
www.tyrrells.com.au