LAR.comBE's Wine Catablog : 2014

Tuesday 30 December 2014

2009 Jim Barry PB Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon

Purchase: $60 from Cellar Door

Nose: Rich Berry fruit with a layer of dustiness.

Palate: This is a big rich wine that will have no problem alongside your meal yet is balanced enough to enjoy on its own. You will enjoy the ripe and generous flavours of chocolate and coffee. A lovely velvety texture and lingering finish. Drinking well now!

Out of 10: 9

Value: OK

2013 Wyanga Lakes Entrance Sauvignon Blanc

Purchase: $24 from Cellar Door

Nose: Strong passionfruit.

Palate: Initially medicinal the passionfruit follows through with musk and melon notes.

Out of 10: 7

Value: Good

2013 Kendall-Jackson Vintner's Reserve Chardonnay

Purchase: $22.99 from Dan Murphy's

Nose: Butterscotch.

Palate: Honey sweetness and zingy spiciness from the American Oak.

Out of 10: 8

Value: Good

NV Moet & Chandon Imperial Brut

Purchase: Gift

Nose: Too closed to comment.

Palate: Dry style with a nice bead this wine has citrus and herbaceous character.

Out of 10: 6

Value: OK

Thursday 11 December 2014

2005 Karatta 12 Mile Vineyard Shiraz

Purchase: $6.50 from Crackawines

Nose: A touch of barnyard (bret) but manageable. Due to age its starting to show slight browning.

Palate: Full-bodied Shiraz that has aged well. Powerful Shiraz spice. Drink now.

Out of 10: 7

Value: Excellent

Wednesday 10 December 2014

2009 Geoff Merrill Sangiovese Merlot Shiraz SMS

Purchase: $9.99 from Crackawines

Nose: Musky earthiness followed by delightful cherry and anise sweetness.

Palate: Luscious mouthfeel with a medium body. Nice balance of black cherry / mulberry fruit and light oak. A textural wine with a bit of Shiraz bight upfront and soft Merlot to lengthen the finish. The Sangiovese is the hero here for pulling it all together.

Out of 10: 9

Value: Excellent

Wednesday 3 December 2014

2006 Stoney Broke Hunter Valley Chardonnay

Purchase: $11.50 from Crackawines

Nose: Fruit salad and light oak

Palate: Good balance of acid and sweetness with long finish

Out of 10: 8

Value: Excellent

Friday 28 November 2014

2006 Binder Mitchell Gunslingers Shiraz

Purchase: $9.50 from CrackawinesNose: A bit of funk, due to bottle age. Can detect vanillin oak characters.

Palate: Savoury with pepper spice, good body with lingering finish.

Out of 10: 5

Value: OK

Wednesday 26 November 2014

2009 The Derek Victorian Grampians Shiraz

Purchase: $4.99 (2-4-1) from GetWinesDirect

Nose: Dark fruits and hint of spice

Palate: Good fruit, medium unassuming body and easy lingering finish

Out of 10: 7

Value: Excellent

This wine and Block 51 are to blame for the start of much on-line wine purchasing, tasting gatherings and general enjoyment. The Derek of 2009 was the go to BBQ Red.

Update: I've found the tasting notes from the gathering pictured.

Wine Tasting by the boys - 20 Dec 2012
Tasters:
Larcombe, Grant
Liebig, Peter
Rositano, Joe

Wines for the tasting:
1) Bin 63 Triton Shiraz 2009
2) The Derek Shiraz 2009
3) Limb Single Vinyard Shiraz 2009
4) Block 51 Basket Press Shiraz 2010

Preliminary Notes by Liebig as he pours, "Ah, All smelling good", "Far out" , "Cheese, Hell Yeah", "Check this out, Block 51 is very different to the other 3, Very Purple."

LET THE FUN BEGIN 6pm - Round 1
GL:
Triton.. trusty Triton
Derek.. ah the Derek. Yes I can see that this is one to savour.
Limb.. Sharper than the Derek initially. Not drinking as well as I remember my first bottle... Which was orgasmic.
Block 51.. Softer than the Limb. Fruitier than the Derek. Could still be the champion.
"That's my early impressions done. Now a pause in typing while I enjoy.

PL:
Triton.. Underrated
Derek.. Mmmmm - still rates above Triton
Limb.. Noice. Not sure why at this stage. More body than D and T. Smooth.
Block 51.. Still the one. Dammit. Head and shoulders above the others. Solid. Fruity. Smooth.

JR:
Block 51.. Say no more Soft, fruit classic shiraz - best
Derek.. Like a brillant tune - gets better with every tasting - slight pepppery tastes - fantastic
Limb.. Not bad - has potential - totally f###ing confused as a discussion b/w Derek and Limb has numbed more thought processes
Triton.. Very watery compared with others but very nice to drink in any season .. even with "white wine" food

6:30 pm
GL:
To finish up...

A most excellent tasting session.
The clear winner, Block 51. You just can't beat basket press fruit juice=iness. How will we replace you.
Some indecision on second position. The lean is towards the Derek. The smoothness and back pallet opulence shows through.
Meanwhile, the Limb. My orgasmic sensation, comes on a little spicy when switching between wines. In a years time, and some mellowing this will likely outrate the Derek easily. Much enjoyment to be had from both of these wines. Some fun competition to be had in taste offs. Unfortunately, the Derek is now unavailable from Tony. Buy up and cellar the Limb peeps.
and that leaves us last, but not least, well least today but not unworthy. the Triton. You can drink it at a BBQ and share it with your friends, you can drink it a restaurant, you can drink it any old how. It is very drinkable, but in the leagues of these other three, it is only slightly better than my water :)

Final comments Pete?
I can't believe how the Block 51 compares to the others. "The others" are definitely not bad wines. You could pour a glass of any of them in any company - and receive a nod of approval. The Block 51 is special. So smooth. So fruity. So wonderful.
And so begins the quest to de-throne the Block 51.

7:30pm
Mr Rositano...
has been 'encouraged' to drink the Limb THEN the Derek. In an effort to compare them, one their own. Sorry about the water dude...
Once you try The Limb on its own for a moment and gain a little "momentum" it really does start to shine.

2009 Bodega Dos Andes Chalten Malbec Coleccion

Purchase: $14.99 from GetWinesDirect

Nose: Sweet fruit and oak

Palate: Dark fruit and dry tannic finish

Out of 10: 8

Value: Excellent

2010 Greg Cooley Wines Five-Year-Olds and Dogs Rose

Purchase: ~$20 from Cellar Door

Nose: Jammy bouquet, candy floss.

Palate: Fruity initial sweetness then a peach ice tea (likely due to age) and marmalade stickiness. Fresh acid to finish.

Out of 10: 8

Value: Good