2011 Campbells Cabernet Sauvignon

2011 Campbells Cabernet Sauvignon

Dark chocolate, mint, red capsicum and bay leaves. Smoked meats and vanilla oak. A wisp of dustiness and a dry finish. 

There's something that's holding my interest. A promise of what's to unfold....with patience. An hour later the small berries tentatively release some of that promise. If you rushed this wine you would miss it's masked beauty. Romantically Rutherglen.

Day 2- Farr less shy tonight. Superbly dense, dark fruit. Smashing combination with a French Saint Angel & quince paste. Put on the mood lighting and Kenny G. 

14% Alc Vol

www.campbellswines.com.au

Tasted 21st & 22nd Jan 2015

2004 Penfolds Bin 138 GSM Old Vine Red

2004 Penfolds Bin 138 GSM Old Vine Red
Time literally stopped at the table in silent appreciation and that was just the nose. Knowing it was about to be matched with pork belly on braised red cabbage, horseradish cream sauce and prune puree had everyone's minds racing with excitement.
This aged beauty seriously delivered in spades (Cheers G). Impeccable, but intricate spices of nutmeg, black pepper, oregano, vanilla bean, all spice and licorice/fennel seeds. Black olives, smoked meats and black & white movie-style old school leather. 
A glorious trickle of stewed fruit compote of prunes, rhubarb and raspberries. Then comes the decadent Christmas cake that lingers and mingles with the flavours of the pork belly and prune puree like a kitten playing with a ball of wool.
I hope it never ends. I could drink this wine all night.

14.5% Alc Vol
www.penfolds.com
Tasted 19th April 2013 (Ode to Wine- Genesis)

2013 Clonakilla Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

2013 Clonakilla Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

This has everything I love about Summer and genuinely makes me smile. A hint of salt and white sandy beaches. Italian parsley, olive oil, white peach and freshly cut grass. It has a backbone of sweet lemon juice without making your mouth pucker and your eyes water.

This is the kind of SSB I could happily drink all afternoon and that's saying something.

12.5% Alc Vol

www.clonakilla.com.au

Tasted 12th & 13th September 2013

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