| Australian Shiraz 2008 Tasting Report |
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| Marquis Phillips “9” 2006 – McClaren Vale, Australia |
Notes – Like smoke on the water, this deep purple
wine smolders with in your face oak aromas; vanilla
and cedar. There is also a touch of eucalyptus thrown
in for good measure. On the palate it is rich, buttery
and filled with waves of blackberries, blueberries,
minty eucalyptus and steely graphite. Nice long finish
as well. Too young to be an excellent food wine right
now, the oak is very dominant in the profile. However,
this should be around for another shot at the dinner
table sometime in the next decade. If you buy this
wine, a decanter will be your new best friend.
wine smolders with in your face oak aromas; vanilla
and cedar. There is also a touch of eucalyptus thrown
in for good measure. On the palate it is rich, buttery
and filled with waves of blackberries, blueberries,
minty eucalyptus and steely graphite. Nice long finish
as well. Too young to be an excellent food wine right
now, the oak is very dominant in the profile. However,
this should be around for another shot at the dinner
table sometime in the next decade. If you buy this
wine, a decanter will be your new best friend.
| About $39.00 |
| Score A- |
| Schild Estate 2005 Barossa, Australia |
Notes – This Shiraz is a little lighter than the first wine,
showing a reddish purple hue and although it is just as
classy, its profile is completely different. On the nose
you are treated to big gobs of black and blueberries
along with some violet accents. Once in the mouth it
struts its stuff as a big, burly, rich and complex wine
with subdued tannins and a very long finish. This wine
could age a while or be an excellent partner now
(decanted for an hour) with an assortment of grilled red
meats.
showing a reddish purple hue and although it is just as
classy, its profile is completely different. On the nose
you are treated to big gobs of black and blueberries
along with some violet accents. Once in the mouth it
struts its stuff as a big, burly, rich and complex wine
with subdued tannins and a very long finish. This wine
could age a while or be an excellent partner now
(decanted for an hour) with an assortment of grilled red
meats.
| Around $33.00 |
| Score B+ |
| Mollydooker “ The Boxer” 2007 McLaren Vale, Australia |
Notes – Do you remember grandma’s blueberry pie?
Well this will take you back to that loving memory lane
with its huge blueberry pie filling. The wine is such a
dark purple it is almost black. I won’t waste your time
describing tons of scents and aromas because you will
never make it past the sweet blueberries on the nose
and palate and although it may sound one-dimensional,
it’s a dimension that even the Twilight Zone would be
honored to live in. With very little oak to get in the
way, this wine is at home either on the supper table or
with your honey in front of the fireplace.
Well this will take you back to that loving memory lane
with its huge blueberry pie filling. The wine is such a
dark purple it is almost black. I won’t waste your time
describing tons of scents and aromas because you will
never make it past the sweet blueberries on the nose
and palate and although it may sound one-dimensional,
it’s a dimension that even the Twilight Zone would be
honored to live in. With very little oak to get in the
way, this wine is at home either on the supper table or
with your honey in front of the fireplace.
| Score B+ |
| About $27.00 |
| Archetype Vineyards 2006 Barossa, Australia |
with the first being more of a dark red color than
purple. You get the typical blueberry on the nose along
with a little matchbox aromas. This has more of a
traditional French style on the palate showing off a
little tar and rubber, some blueberries and closing the
deal with furry tannins. It is a little hot (alcohol)
tasting and smelling to me, making the wine out of
balance. So with that in mind, I would consume this
one young, say in the next couple of years or sooner.
purple. You get the typical blueberry on the nose along
with a little matchbox aromas. This has more of a
traditional French style on the palate showing off a
little tar and rubber, some blueberries and closing the
deal with furry tannins. It is a little hot (alcohol)
tasting and smelling to me, making the wine out of
balance. So with that in mind, I would consume this
one young, say in the next couple of years or sooner.
| Score B+ |
| Around $15.00 |
of the year, I really wanted to pick a category
that would have us going out in style. With
that in mind, I selected Australian Shiraz to
review this month. Unfortunately, we did not
have the turnout that I was hoping for and we
wound up with only four wines to sample.
That turned out to be fine though, as they
were four very solid wines indeed.
We had our staff meeting at Mark & Ronda’s
house. More famously known for poker
games and Luau’s, but this time it was wine
we were fussing over. There was quite an
elaborate spread of appetizers, but the
highlight for sure was the bacon wrapped
filets. It proved to be the ultimate pairing
with our burly Shiraz wines. Some other
honorable mentions would include mushroom
empanadas and some cream cheese topped
with a spicy raspberry sauce.
The Aussie wines came from two different
regions and it is only fitting that they were the
Barossa & McClaren Vale. These two wine
regions are arguably the best regions for
growing Australian Shiraz grapes and home to
some of the most famous Shiraz wines in the
world. There was two Shiraz’s from each
region. Also of note, the second thru fourth
place wines finished with just a two point
spread from the second place to the fourth.
However, our first place wine ran away with
the contest with a full two and half points
more than the second place one. There were
two Shiraz wines that were made by the same
winemakers, albeit from two completely
different wineries. One being the
Marquis/Phillips No. 9 & the other being the
Mollydooker “Boxer”. Both wines were
crafted by Sarah & Sparky Marquis. All the
wines were delicious!
Thank you again Mark & Ronda for hosting
this time. Here are the wines!
that would have us going out in style. With
that in mind, I selected Australian Shiraz to
review this month. Unfortunately, we did not
have the turnout that I was hoping for and we
wound up with only four wines to sample.
That turned out to be fine though, as they
were four very solid wines indeed.
We had our staff meeting at Mark & Ronda’s
house. More famously known for poker
games and Luau’s, but this time it was wine
we were fussing over. There was quite an
elaborate spread of appetizers, but the
highlight for sure was the bacon wrapped
filets. It proved to be the ultimate pairing
with our burly Shiraz wines. Some other
honorable mentions would include mushroom
empanadas and some cream cheese topped
with a spicy raspberry sauce.
The Aussie wines came from two different
regions and it is only fitting that they were the
Barossa & McClaren Vale. These two wine
regions are arguably the best regions for
growing Australian Shiraz grapes and home to
some of the most famous Shiraz wines in the
world. There was two Shiraz’s from each
region. Also of note, the second thru fourth
place wines finished with just a two point
spread from the second place to the fourth.
However, our first place wine ran away with
the contest with a full two and half points
more than the second place one. There were
two Shiraz wines that were made by the same
winemakers, albeit from two completely
different wineries. One being the
Marquis/Phillips No. 9 & the other being the
Mollydooker “Boxer”. Both wines were
crafted by Sarah & Sparky Marquis. All the
wines were delicious!
Thank you again Mark & Ronda for hosting
this time. Here are the wines!
