Tuesday, March 27, 2007
GPCi for March 31st 2007 release at the LCBO
GPCi Top Picks of the release:
2004 WESTERN RANGE JULIMAR SHIRAZ/VIOGNIER - $20.95
2004 D'ARENBERG D'ARRY'S ORIGINAL - $20.95
2004 THE COLONIAL ESTATE EXPLORATEUR SHIRAZ - $29.95
Australia
2004 HOPE "THE CRACKER!" CABERNET - $19.95
Vintages.com - Lovely aromas of blackberry, cherry, vanilla, cocoa and underbrush greet the nose. It’s dry, full-bodied with ripe fruit flavours surrounded by silky tannins leading to a long balanced finish. Enjoy now with rack of lamb or grilled meats.
GPCi - So far the wines from Hope delivered! they are approachable once you buy them and are fairly priced. great day-to-day Cabernet Sauvignon.
2004 D'ARENBERG D'ARRY'S ORIGINAL - $20.95
McLaren Vale, South Australia
A perennial favourite of Robert Parker Jr., the 2004 vintage earned a score of 91 (www.erobertparker.com, Oct. 2006). This Grenache/Shiraz blend displays aromas and flavours of blackberry, black cherry, cinnamon, roses and menthol with coffee and caramel in the background. The wine lands softly on the palate, and finishes long and smooth.
GPCi - previous vintages used to be $18.95. One of the better Shiraz at this price range. can be drunk now or cellared until 2014. buy 3-6 bottles.
2004 WESTERN RANGE JULIMAR SHIRAZ/VIOGNIER - $20.95
JH = 93 ; Light- to medium-bodied; attractive spicy elements throughout blackberry and black cherry fruit, plus the usual viognier lift; fine tannins and overall elegance.
LawrasonEReport = 90 ; When a wine reaps four gold medals and rave magazine reviews one should pay attention. What’s interesting here is that the style of this wine is not very Australian; it’s a more light-hearted charmer with both vibrancy and tenderness. Lifted, generous new oak driven mocha, sour cream, mint and dill aromatics are part of the appeal. The palate is mid-weight, smooth and supple with fine acid, alcohol and tannin tension. Not great depth; just plain charm. Best now to 2009.
GPCi - a light North-Rohone version for a fair price. seems like a nice day-to-day treat with or without food.
2003 BEELGARA ESTATE SUN DRIED SHIRAZ - $27.95
LawrasonEReport = 87 ; Sun dried indeed! We have raisins here, thanks to origin in the blazing hot interior of New South Wales. Deep black colour with a portish nose of raisin pie, chocolate, coconut and considerable mossy earthiness. Quite thick and soft in texture but braced by quite notable acidity and some well-embedded tannin. It actually balances well and the length is excellent. I wouldn’t trust this one too long in the cellar.
GPCi - when I see a Shiraz that cost ~$28 that gets 87 by David Lawrason, I move on to the next Shiraz offering. it seems too pricy...
2005 BROKENWOOD PINOT NOIR - $21.95
LawrasonEReport = 87 ; Beechworth is higher altitude, cooler region in the foothills of the Victorian Alps in the northeast part of the state. There are several wineries around the historic gold rush town of Beechworth, some well advanced in organic viticulture. Hunter-based Brokenwood has sourced pinot here, and it is very good, if just a bit hot loose and unfocused on the finish to achieve a higher rating. Deeply coloured for pinot, Fetching nose of very ripe, pure black cherry with a touch of pine, wood smoke and leather. It’s mid-weight, smooth and cushy but has seam of sour acidity, and some heat builds on the finish. Very good length. Best now to 2010.
JH - In the Australian Wine Companion 2007, author James Halliday gives Brokenwood an overall rating of * * * * * (out of 5) describing it as a “deservedly fashionable winery producing consistently excellent wine”. This deep-coloured Pinot boasts lifted floral, and fragrant cherry aromas. It’s dry, medium-bodied and smooth with cherry fruit flavours and a lingering finish. Enjoy it with roast duck or quail.
GPCi - Brokenwood is a great producer (they have an excellent Shiraz). I tend to go with James Holiday and not with David Lawrason. The price is attractive for a good Pinot.
2004 d'Arenberg High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon - $20.95
D’Arenberg: The High Trellis paddock has been producing grapes since the late 19th century, and was nicknamed the High Trellis as its vines were the first to be trained above knee-height in the 1890’s. Over the last 4 decades or so the High Trellis Cabernet has been released to almost constant critical acclaim. Indeed, the first release of this wine, the 1968 wine won one of Australia’s most coveted wine show awards, the Jimmy Watson Trophy, at the 1969 Royal Melbourne Wine Show.
As a young wine, the High Trellis Cabernet has a dense crimson red colour with purple tinges. The High Trellis has a typical young Cabernet Sauvignon attack on the nose; lifted violets, mint and capsicum Cabernet edges above a rich, ripe blackberry, plum and liquorice ash base. Typical cassis and blackcurrant aromas are also evident. A little smoky vanillin oak and cinnamon smells help to give the wine great complexity and longevity.
After time in bottle, a brick, red-brown colour develops along with classical, elegant cigar-box, tobacco, coffee and mocha smells. With significant bottle age, ‘The High Trellis’ displays aromas of violets, truffles, cooked beetroot, toffee and stewed rhubarb. These continue onto the palate and are woven with cashewy, black olive, liquorice and earthy, chocolate flavours. The oak evolves into a consistent, evenly weighted, cedary, coffee-bean, mocha length, followed by a fresh acid-tannin finish.
GPCi - another fair priced Cab Sauv from d'Arenberg. a nice day-to-day wine.
2004 THE COLONIAL ESTATE EXPLORATEUR SHIRAZ - $29.95
RP = 91 ; The 2004 Shiraz Explorateur opaque ruby/purple color is accompanied by an opulent, creamy mouthfeel, sweet tannin, loads of richness and concentration, and a heady, smooth finish. This velvety-textured, character-filled Shiraz should drink well for a decade (until 2015).
GPCi - this is a GPCi worthy ! good price for the cellaring potential. buy 2-3 bottles.
France (Midi)
2004 DOMAINE DE SALICES SYRAH – $14.95
LawrasonEReport = 86 ; Impressive at the price with very typical, generous pineapple and star fruit with licorice and a touch of celery-like greenness. Medium- full bodied, open knit, cushy feel, with a warm finish, good fruit and lots of Mediterranean licorice. Fairly good length. Chill well and enjoy over the next two years.
GPCi - seems like a great day-to-day Syrah or even as a good first wine for the BBQ/steaks.
Italy (Abruzzi)
2003 ILLUMINATI MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO COLLINE TERAMANE ZANNA RISERVA - $29.95
LawrasonEReport = 86 ; A pretty rustic and somewhat complex montepulciano with some age to it. The price and character of the wine won’t allow anyone to confuse it with the easy drinking $10 versions of montepulciano. This has a mix of dark and dried fruit joined by some mineral layers, tea and old furniture. Decent fruit depth with firm tannin and some roasted nut hints on the finish. Good length. Want a bit more vitality for a higher score.
www.winereviewonline.com =92 ; Aged for four years in Slovenian oak, it shows the very ripe, sweet fruit signature of the 2003 vintage, but also lots of structure from tannin and a touch of spicy, smoky oak that is interesting but also surprisingly restrained given the duration of exposure. Texture is impressively balanced between rounded fruit elements and structure from acidity and tannin, and the wine has excellent symmetry overall.
GPCi - here is where you see that a taste is subjective (one scores 86 while the other 92!). The truth is probably somewhere in between. The problem that spending ~$30 to figure out who is right is a bit expensive. there are safer bets in this release for the same amount...
Germany (Rheingau)
1993 SCHLOSS REINHARTSHAUSEN RIESLING AUSLESE - $29.95
QmP, Erbacher Schlossberg, Estate Btld.
Vintages.com - Quality German Rieslings in older vintages are some of the great bargains of the wine world, and this delicious 1993 Riesling Auslese is a perfect example. The lush aroma profile is a fruit basket of peach, pear, honeyed apricot, golden delicious apple, plus hints of spice and lovely whiff of petrol. It is medium sweet, but hints of acidity are still present and balance it out beautifully. This is a wine that is an excellent contemplation wine, but it is also a fine accompaniment to spicy Asian dishes.
LawrasonEReport =90 ; The mature character won’t be to all tastes but everyone who has never tried 10 yr old+ riesling should experience this wine. Bright deep yellow gold colour. Huge aroma of canned pineapple, honey, vanilla bean with a touch of white mushroom. It’s full body, slightly sweet and satiny with a wonderful beam of acidity. Almost a lemon meringue pie finish. Excellent length. Now to 2010.
GPCi - I love old Riesling! it is a great combination with Chicken or Asian food. I would buy 2-3 bottles.
Spain (Penedes)
2004 MIGUEL TORRES MAS BORRÀS PINOT NOIR - $25.95
DO Peñedès
Vintages.com : This seemed to strike a chord with many tasters at the pre-release tasting, and I'm in there, too. This is a very approachable Pinot Noir with good typicity and plenty of character. The barrel regime is clear on the nose, with aromas of toasty oak, but the concentrated fruit shines through brightly. Look for a mélange of cherries with notes of spice and cedar. It's medium bodied, smooth textured and very well balanced, and it makes an excellent partner for full-flavoured red meat and game dishes.
LawrasonEReport =91 ; "... It is very much a New World style - closest to California – with a very lifted, generous toasty, cedar nose with ripe cherry fruit and a touch of meaty, leathery complexity more mindful of Burgundy. Loads of black cherry on the palate, with a touch of sweetness, yet it manages some finesse as well. Excellent length, very well made, in perfect touch with its warmer Spanish origin. It is an eminently drinkable style, that should hold in bottle for three years, maybe more.
GPCi - very tempting. Mainly because Spain is not famous for their Pinot, but Torres know their wines. I would buy 1-2 bottles.
For Deeper Pockets... Worth Watching and Buying for special occasions.
France (Bordeaux)
2003 CHÂTEAU BELAIR St-Émilion 1er Grand Cru Classé (B) - $99
WS=91 ; “Aromas of flowers, berries and currants on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied, with a solid core of ripe fruit and a long finish. Ripe yet refined. Well done. Almost 92-94.
Italy (Tuscany)
2001 COLLEZIONE DE MARCHI CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $69.95
RP = 93 ; The 2001 Cabernet De Marchi Collection is even more impressive, lovely in its focused and layered expression of blackberry fruit, vanilla, and minerals, savory in flavor, velvety in texture, and with the size and weight of a fine Medoc. Drink: 2006-2020.
2004 DELL'ORNELLAIA LE SERRA NUOVE - $54.95
DOC Bolgheri
WS=92 ; Gorgeous aromas of currant and coffee, with hints of chocolate. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a lovely finish. Wonderfully balanced. Wow. The second wine of Ornellaia. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best after 2008.
LawrasonEReport =91 ; The second wine of Ornellaia delivers complexity, finesse and balance along with some value for fans of this style. Plenty happening on the nose led by dried herbs, plum, blackberry, tomato, humus and mocha. Very focused on the palate with the fruit very much in the forefront and backed by mineral, herbs, spice and chocolate cream. Very good length. Approachable now and best 2007-2015.
Australia (South)
2003 TORBRECK THE STEADING - $46.95
RP=93 ; David Powell, unquestionably one of the world’s finest wine producers, has an uncanny ability to discover old vine Barossa vineyards, and then secure long term contracts for their fruit. It is amazing that such high quality sources have not already been plucked by Australia’s giant wine corporations. Torbreck’s wines continue to get better and better, combining the old vine ripe fruit of Barossa with a European sensitivity to elegance and balance.Reminiscent of a Rhone Valley Chateauneuf du Pape, the 2003 The Steading is an intriguing, complex blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, and 20% Shiraz. Aromas of garrigue, Provencal herbs, pepper, black cherries, raspberries, and currants are followed by a medium to full-bodied red possessing great fruit, surprising elegance, and loads of complexity. It will provide plenty of pleasure over the next 5-7 years (2010-2012).
JO = 95 ; Heady and perfumed, its licorice-like aromas of blueberries, cranberries and raspberries overlie spicy notes of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg and restrained cedary oak. It’s wild and brambly, with a juicy palate deeply stained with flavours of red and black fruits, plus a powerful blueberry grenache influence. Framed by fine and pliant tannins, it’s an artfully composed and controlled riper style, culminating in a lingering savoury finish of sour cherries and star anise. Very good considering the ripeness of the fruit."
WS=89 ; Smooth, spicy and generous with its tobacco and clove flavors around a modest core of red berry. Impressive for the way the flavors persist on the finely tuned finish. Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro. Drink now through 2010. 3,500 cases made.
France (South Rhone)
2001 E.GUIGAL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE - $53.95
RP=92 ; Marcel Guigal has produced a superb Chateauneuf du Pape in 2001. Its medium plum/ruby color is accompanied by a lovely bouquet of kirsch liqueur, ground pepper, Provencal herbs, and balsam wood. Full-bodied and lightly tannic, with loads of fruit and glycerin as well as a sumptuous finish, it is similar to the top-flight, seductive 2000. Drink it over the next 10-12 years.
WS=93 ; Another great negoce red from Guigal. This old-fashioned, full-bodied wine seduces with its decadent game, saddle-leather, plum and sauteed wild mushroom aromas. No hint of fancy oak here, fortunately, so just a mouthful of Chateauneuf character that swirls around to a long, sweet finish. Drink now through 2008.
2004 WESTERN RANGE JULIMAR SHIRAZ/VIOGNIER - $20.95
2004 D'ARENBERG D'ARRY'S ORIGINAL - $20.95
2004 THE COLONIAL ESTATE EXPLORATEUR SHIRAZ - $29.95
Australia
2004 HOPE "THE CRACKER!" CABERNET - $19.95
Vintages.com - Lovely aromas of blackberry, cherry, vanilla, cocoa and underbrush greet the nose. It’s dry, full-bodied with ripe fruit flavours surrounded by silky tannins leading to a long balanced finish. Enjoy now with rack of lamb or grilled meats.
GPCi - So far the wines from Hope delivered! they are approachable once you buy them and are fairly priced. great day-to-day Cabernet Sauvignon.
2004 D'ARENBERG D'ARRY'S ORIGINAL - $20.95
McLaren Vale, South Australia
A perennial favourite of Robert Parker Jr., the 2004 vintage earned a score of 91 (www.erobertparker.com, Oct. 2006). This Grenache/Shiraz blend displays aromas and flavours of blackberry, black cherry, cinnamon, roses and menthol with coffee and caramel in the background. The wine lands softly on the palate, and finishes long and smooth.
GPCi - previous vintages used to be $18.95. One of the better Shiraz at this price range. can be drunk now or cellared until 2014. buy 3-6 bottles.
2004 WESTERN RANGE JULIMAR SHIRAZ/VIOGNIER - $20.95
JH = 93 ; Light- to medium-bodied; attractive spicy elements throughout blackberry and black cherry fruit, plus the usual viognier lift; fine tannins and overall elegance.
LawrasonEReport = 90 ; When a wine reaps four gold medals and rave magazine reviews one should pay attention. What’s interesting here is that the style of this wine is not very Australian; it’s a more light-hearted charmer with both vibrancy and tenderness. Lifted, generous new oak driven mocha, sour cream, mint and dill aromatics are part of the appeal. The palate is mid-weight, smooth and supple with fine acid, alcohol and tannin tension. Not great depth; just plain charm. Best now to 2009.
GPCi - a light North-Rohone version for a fair price. seems like a nice day-to-day treat with or without food.
2003 BEELGARA ESTATE SUN DRIED SHIRAZ - $27.95
LawrasonEReport = 87 ; Sun dried indeed! We have raisins here, thanks to origin in the blazing hot interior of New South Wales. Deep black colour with a portish nose of raisin pie, chocolate, coconut and considerable mossy earthiness. Quite thick and soft in texture but braced by quite notable acidity and some well-embedded tannin. It actually balances well and the length is excellent. I wouldn’t trust this one too long in the cellar.
GPCi - when I see a Shiraz that cost ~$28 that gets 87 by David Lawrason, I move on to the next Shiraz offering. it seems too pricy...
2005 BROKENWOOD PINOT NOIR - $21.95
LawrasonEReport = 87 ; Beechworth is higher altitude, cooler region in the foothills of the Victorian Alps in the northeast part of the state. There are several wineries around the historic gold rush town of Beechworth, some well advanced in organic viticulture. Hunter-based Brokenwood has sourced pinot here, and it is very good, if just a bit hot loose and unfocused on the finish to achieve a higher rating. Deeply coloured for pinot, Fetching nose of very ripe, pure black cherry with a touch of pine, wood smoke and leather. It’s mid-weight, smooth and cushy but has seam of sour acidity, and some heat builds on the finish. Very good length. Best now to 2010.
JH - In the Australian Wine Companion 2007, author James Halliday gives Brokenwood an overall rating of * * * * * (out of 5) describing it as a “deservedly fashionable winery producing consistently excellent wine”. This deep-coloured Pinot boasts lifted floral, and fragrant cherry aromas. It’s dry, medium-bodied and smooth with cherry fruit flavours and a lingering finish. Enjoy it with roast duck or quail.
GPCi - Brokenwood is a great producer (they have an excellent Shiraz). I tend to go with James Holiday and not with David Lawrason. The price is attractive for a good Pinot.
2004 d'Arenberg High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon - $20.95
D’Arenberg: The High Trellis paddock has been producing grapes since the late 19th century, and was nicknamed the High Trellis as its vines were the first to be trained above knee-height in the 1890’s. Over the last 4 decades or so the High Trellis Cabernet has been released to almost constant critical acclaim. Indeed, the first release of this wine, the 1968 wine won one of Australia’s most coveted wine show awards, the Jimmy Watson Trophy, at the 1969 Royal Melbourne Wine Show.
As a young wine, the High Trellis Cabernet has a dense crimson red colour with purple tinges. The High Trellis has a typical young Cabernet Sauvignon attack on the nose; lifted violets, mint and capsicum Cabernet edges above a rich, ripe blackberry, plum and liquorice ash base. Typical cassis and blackcurrant aromas are also evident. A little smoky vanillin oak and cinnamon smells help to give the wine great complexity and longevity.
After time in bottle, a brick, red-brown colour develops along with classical, elegant cigar-box, tobacco, coffee and mocha smells. With significant bottle age, ‘The High Trellis’ displays aromas of violets, truffles, cooked beetroot, toffee and stewed rhubarb. These continue onto the palate and are woven with cashewy, black olive, liquorice and earthy, chocolate flavours. The oak evolves into a consistent, evenly weighted, cedary, coffee-bean, mocha length, followed by a fresh acid-tannin finish.
GPCi - another fair priced Cab Sauv from d'Arenberg. a nice day-to-day wine.
2004 THE COLONIAL ESTATE EXPLORATEUR SHIRAZ - $29.95
RP = 91 ; The 2004 Shiraz Explorateur opaque ruby/purple color is accompanied by an opulent, creamy mouthfeel, sweet tannin, loads of richness and concentration, and a heady, smooth finish. This velvety-textured, character-filled Shiraz should drink well for a decade (until 2015).
GPCi - this is a GPCi worthy ! good price for the cellaring potential. buy 2-3 bottles.
France (Midi)
2004 DOMAINE DE SALICES SYRAH – $14.95
LawrasonEReport = 86 ; Impressive at the price with very typical, generous pineapple and star fruit with licorice and a touch of celery-like greenness. Medium- full bodied, open knit, cushy feel, with a warm finish, good fruit and lots of Mediterranean licorice. Fairly good length. Chill well and enjoy over the next two years.
GPCi - seems like a great day-to-day Syrah or even as a good first wine for the BBQ/steaks.
Italy (Abruzzi)
2003 ILLUMINATI MONTEPULCIANO D'ABRUZZO COLLINE TERAMANE ZANNA RISERVA - $29.95
LawrasonEReport = 86 ; A pretty rustic and somewhat complex montepulciano with some age to it. The price and character of the wine won’t allow anyone to confuse it with the easy drinking $10 versions of montepulciano. This has a mix of dark and dried fruit joined by some mineral layers, tea and old furniture. Decent fruit depth with firm tannin and some roasted nut hints on the finish. Good length. Want a bit more vitality for a higher score.
www.winereviewonline.com =92 ; Aged for four years in Slovenian oak, it shows the very ripe, sweet fruit signature of the 2003 vintage, but also lots of structure from tannin and a touch of spicy, smoky oak that is interesting but also surprisingly restrained given the duration of exposure. Texture is impressively balanced between rounded fruit elements and structure from acidity and tannin, and the wine has excellent symmetry overall.
GPCi - here is where you see that a taste is subjective (one scores 86 while the other 92!). The truth is probably somewhere in between. The problem that spending ~$30 to figure out who is right is a bit expensive. there are safer bets in this release for the same amount...
Germany (Rheingau)
1993 SCHLOSS REINHARTSHAUSEN RIESLING AUSLESE - $29.95
QmP, Erbacher Schlossberg, Estate Btld.
Vintages.com - Quality German Rieslings in older vintages are some of the great bargains of the wine world, and this delicious 1993 Riesling Auslese is a perfect example. The lush aroma profile is a fruit basket of peach, pear, honeyed apricot, golden delicious apple, plus hints of spice and lovely whiff of petrol. It is medium sweet, but hints of acidity are still present and balance it out beautifully. This is a wine that is an excellent contemplation wine, but it is also a fine accompaniment to spicy Asian dishes.
LawrasonEReport =90 ; The mature character won’t be to all tastes but everyone who has never tried 10 yr old+ riesling should experience this wine. Bright deep yellow gold colour. Huge aroma of canned pineapple, honey, vanilla bean with a touch of white mushroom. It’s full body, slightly sweet and satiny with a wonderful beam of acidity. Almost a lemon meringue pie finish. Excellent length. Now to 2010.
GPCi - I love old Riesling! it is a great combination with Chicken or Asian food. I would buy 2-3 bottles.
Spain (Penedes)
2004 MIGUEL TORRES MAS BORRÀS PINOT NOIR - $25.95
DO Peñedès
Vintages.com : This seemed to strike a chord with many tasters at the pre-release tasting, and I'm in there, too. This is a very approachable Pinot Noir with good typicity and plenty of character. The barrel regime is clear on the nose, with aromas of toasty oak, but the concentrated fruit shines through brightly. Look for a mélange of cherries with notes of spice and cedar. It's medium bodied, smooth textured and very well balanced, and it makes an excellent partner for full-flavoured red meat and game dishes.
LawrasonEReport =91 ; "... It is very much a New World style - closest to California – with a very lifted, generous toasty, cedar nose with ripe cherry fruit and a touch of meaty, leathery complexity more mindful of Burgundy. Loads of black cherry on the palate, with a touch of sweetness, yet it manages some finesse as well. Excellent length, very well made, in perfect touch with its warmer Spanish origin. It is an eminently drinkable style, that should hold in bottle for three years, maybe more.
GPCi - very tempting. Mainly because Spain is not famous for their Pinot, but Torres know their wines. I would buy 1-2 bottles.
For Deeper Pockets... Worth Watching and Buying for special occasions.
France (Bordeaux)
2003 CHÂTEAU BELAIR St-Émilion 1er Grand Cru Classé (B) - $99
WS=91 ; “Aromas of flowers, berries and currants on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied, with a solid core of ripe fruit and a long finish. Ripe yet refined. Well done. Almost 92-94.
Italy (Tuscany)
2001 COLLEZIONE DE MARCHI CABERNET SAUVIGNON - $69.95
RP = 93 ; The 2001 Cabernet De Marchi Collection is even more impressive, lovely in its focused and layered expression of blackberry fruit, vanilla, and minerals, savory in flavor, velvety in texture, and with the size and weight of a fine Medoc. Drink: 2006-2020.
2004 DELL'ORNELLAIA LE SERRA NUOVE - $54.95
DOC Bolgheri
WS=92 ; Gorgeous aromas of currant and coffee, with hints of chocolate. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a lovely finish. Wonderfully balanced. Wow. The second wine of Ornellaia. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best after 2008.
LawrasonEReport =91 ; The second wine of Ornellaia delivers complexity, finesse and balance along with some value for fans of this style. Plenty happening on the nose led by dried herbs, plum, blackberry, tomato, humus and mocha. Very focused on the palate with the fruit very much in the forefront and backed by mineral, herbs, spice and chocolate cream. Very good length. Approachable now and best 2007-2015.
Australia (South)
2003 TORBRECK THE STEADING - $46.95
RP=93 ; David Powell, unquestionably one of the world’s finest wine producers, has an uncanny ability to discover old vine Barossa vineyards, and then secure long term contracts for their fruit. It is amazing that such high quality sources have not already been plucked by Australia’s giant wine corporations. Torbreck’s wines continue to get better and better, combining the old vine ripe fruit of Barossa with a European sensitivity to elegance and balance.Reminiscent of a Rhone Valley Chateauneuf du Pape, the 2003 The Steading is an intriguing, complex blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, and 20% Shiraz. Aromas of garrigue, Provencal herbs, pepper, black cherries, raspberries, and currants are followed by a medium to full-bodied red possessing great fruit, surprising elegance, and loads of complexity. It will provide plenty of pleasure over the next 5-7 years (2010-2012).
JO = 95 ; Heady and perfumed, its licorice-like aromas of blueberries, cranberries and raspberries overlie spicy notes of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg and restrained cedary oak. It’s wild and brambly, with a juicy palate deeply stained with flavours of red and black fruits, plus a powerful blueberry grenache influence. Framed by fine and pliant tannins, it’s an artfully composed and controlled riper style, culminating in a lingering savoury finish of sour cherries and star anise. Very good considering the ripeness of the fruit."
WS=89 ; Smooth, spicy and generous with its tobacco and clove flavors around a modest core of red berry. Impressive for the way the flavors persist on the finely tuned finish. Grenache, Shiraz and Mataro. Drink now through 2010. 3,500 cases made.
France (South Rhone)
2001 E.GUIGAL CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE - $53.95
RP=92 ; Marcel Guigal has produced a superb Chateauneuf du Pape in 2001. Its medium plum/ruby color is accompanied by a lovely bouquet of kirsch liqueur, ground pepper, Provencal herbs, and balsam wood. Full-bodied and lightly tannic, with loads of fruit and glycerin as well as a sumptuous finish, it is similar to the top-flight, seductive 2000. Drink it over the next 10-12 years.
WS=93 ; Another great negoce red from Guigal. This old-fashioned, full-bodied wine seduces with its decadent game, saddle-leather, plum and sauteed wild mushroom aromas. No hint of fancy oak here, fortunately, so just a mouthful of Chateauneuf character that swirls around to a long, sweet finish. Drink now through 2008.
