2006 Pizzini Per Gli Angeli

2006 Pizzini Per Gli Angeli

Made from the trebbiano grape. Translates to 'For The Angels,' making reference to the loss of wine via evaporation from the Vin Santo method of winemaking. 

Such an exquisite and stunning dessert wine. Brilliant spices of nutmeg, cinnamon, anise and vanilla bean. Sherry-like rancio characteristics and honey sucked out of fresh wax cut from the frame. Roasted hazelnuts, caramel, orange peel and lemon.

Light, fresh and inspiring, yet lingers effortlessly in the mouth. Devine intervention indeed. 

Tasted 19th & 20th July 2013 

14.1% Alc Vol

www.pizzini.com.au

2011 Clonakilla Ceoltoiri

2011 Clonakilla Ceoltoiri
GMS blend from Murrumbateman. Lavender, violets, rose petal and mandarin peel. Spices of oregano, nutmeg, coriander seed, vanilla pod and pepper. Brilliant yet restrained fruit of raspberries, cherries and mulberries. Not a fruit driven style. Instead there's earth, granite, brambles and smouldering savouriness. Smokey bacon and chorizo. 
Rugged, brash and masculine. Sit up and take notice. Serious, serious wine. Reveals more fruit on Day 2 with a core of graphite and undergrowth. It will surely develop and unravel it's youthful complexity with bottle age. 
Matched heartily with a rich vegetable and bacon winter soup.

Tasted 24th & 25th May 2013
www.clonakilla.com.au
14% Alc Vol

2009 Lakes Folly Cabernets

2009 Lakes Folly Cabernets (Bottle no. 16620)
Blend of Cab Sauv 67%, Shiraz 15%, Petit Verdot 10%, Merlot 8%
Day1- Dark magenta in colour. Dusty, earthy red Hunter soil. Frenck oak; sweet vanilla bean. Leather and cassis. Bold dark fruits; plums and blackcurrant. Cacao, licorice/aniseed, white pepper, cardamon and sage.
Starts off rather astringent, but softens with time in the glass. Loads of solid cabernet structure with the promise of many, many years ahead. Full poker face on and held together as tight as the British & Irish Lions scrum.
Day 2- Has opened up cautiously tonight. Masses of dried herbs, beef stock and fresh rosemary. Still not a fruit dominant wine in these early years, but shows brooding dark fruits with a hint of jubes.
All class. Supremely confident and charismatic. Certainly reserved at present but gives just enough to provide a glimpse of the glory and reward that lies ahead for the patient and prepared.
Happy 4th Birthday MM (her birth year wine).

Tasted 23rd & 24th March 2013
13% Alc Vol
www.lakesfolly.com.au

2011 Best's Great Western Bin No.1 Shiraz

2011 Best's Great Western Bin No.1 Shiraz
Jimmy Watson Trophy Winner 2012
Deep magenta stains the glass. This has the kind of aroma profile that you would be satisfied just smelling all night. Sensationally savoury and insanely spicey. Loads of white pepper, vanilla bean, fennel, cardamon and even a pinch of turmeric.
Blood plums and violets. Taught tannins; ever so delicately astringent mid-palate. Slight dustiness.
Day 2- Smoother and so very well balanced. Smokey bacon and pancetta. All the spicey and savoury notes still dominate the senses. I just love cool climate Shiraz with all the fruit delectably positioned in the background. It's there, just not confronting. These are multi-dimensional wines that are interesting and contemplative.
I was hesitant to commit to my opinion on this wine in the short term. Was I just caught up in the Jimmy hype or could this wine be as good as it seems? So my third bottle over a few months has assured me that YES it really is that good and will get better with time.

Tasted 13th & 14th April 2013
14% Alc Vol
www.bestswines.com

2012 Shaw + Smith M3 Adelaide Hills Chardonnay

2012 Shaw + Smith M3 Adelaide Hills Chardonnay
Unexpected funky upfront fruit on the nose. A highlight of the vintage? General consensus around the table was sauv blanc-esque in its initial assessment. Partial malo providing enough oak and butter to please the old school traditionalists. Plenty of structure for bottle development and a zippy character that generated plenty of conversation. 
Served with Barramundi on asparagus & chive risotto with truffled lemon beurre blanc. The match between the buttery oak and the truffle sauce was scintillating. 

Tasted 19th April 2013
13% Alc Vol
www.shawandsmith.com

 

1999 Grosset Polish Hill Riesling

1999 Grosset Polish Hill Riesling
There was a lot of excitement and trepidation surrounding the opening of this wine. However as soon as the aroma caressed the nose and the nectar seduced the tastebuds, smiles filled the table. Incredibly balanced and exquisitely complete. A very early heartbeat of kerosene that skipped effortlessly and elegantly along the aged Riesling spectrum.
A gentle, pristine wisp of sweetness and honeysuckle combined with a tantalysing core of cloves and toastiness. Some mid palate oiliness followed by a grand finish of orange peel and glorious marmalade that became more evident as it opened its wings. 
Perfection in a glass. Matched divinely with seared scallops & sandcrab ravioli with sauce Vierge. 

Tasted 19th April 2013
13% Alc Vol
www.grosset.com.au

2009 Pizzini Nebbiolo

2009 Pizzini Nebbiolo
Heavenly aroma of rose petals, marshmallow, fennel seed, five spice, violets and caramel. Smokey and savoury with crunchy cherries and blueberries in addition to luscious licorice and chocolate. Some drying tannins at first that gradually melt as it opens and breathes majestically with a few hours in the decanter. 
Truly reinforces the subtle complexity of this Regal grape variety. Possesses restrained power, but brutal confidence; like Black Caviar on a training run in the early morning fog. Gorgeous match with spinach and ricotta gnocchi with tomato and borlotti bean sauce topped with basil oil*.

Tasted 1st & 2nd June 2013
www.pizzini.com.au
14.1% Alc Vol
* My 4yo daughter rolled every one of these gnocchi balls for me. She loved it........

2005 Campbells Bobbie Burns Shiraz

2005 Campbells Bobbie Burns Shiraz
Oh there you are again. That warm soul soothing cuddle that Campbells keeps on giving. Smooth, velvety, voluptuous yet so very well balanced dark fruit. Rich rhubarb compote, mulberries, caramel and lovely white chocolate. Sage and white pepper. 
Sometimes you just want to open a bottle of wine, sit back, relax and enjoy. This is what I did and man was I happy. What more can I say but pure pleasure in a bottle.

Tasted 2nd & 3rd June 2013
www.campbellswines.com.au
14.5% Alc Vol