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| RATING: 94 |
VALUE:  |
CELLAR: 4 - 5 years (2014 - 2015) |
ALC/VOL: 13.50% |
TASTED: 21 Apr 2010 |
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A blend of 95% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon which is typically matured in a combination around 30% new and 70% 1 and 2 year old French oak for a period of up to 14 months. Deep crimson dark red colour with mauve brick red hue. The nose displays perfumed aromas of dark cherries, violets, spice, cedar and new leather. Medium weight palate with flavours of dark cherries, spice, cedar and new leather, possessing plenty of fruit, balanced by some dry earthy characters on the back palate. Fine grained dryish tannins with long aftertaste of spice, dark cherry, cedar and new leather.
Alc 13.5%
Other Reviews…
The 2007 Chianti Classico Querciabella is a fragrant, perfumed red. Silky tannins frame a core of cherries, sweet spices and tobacco as this elegant wine opens up in the glass and puts on weight with air. In recent years the Querciabella has established itself as one of Tuscany's top Chianti Classicos, as it is again in 2007. The Querciabella is 95% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2017.
90 points
Antonio Galloni – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate
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A$53.21 |
Bottle Price
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A$37.99 |
Dozen Price
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A$450.00 |
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| RATING: 95 |
VALUE:  |
CELLAR: 3 - 4 years (2013 - 2014) |
ALC/VOL: 13.50% |
TASTED: 12 May 2010 |
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A serious effort from this tiny producer
Australia has definitively shown itself to be capable of producing high quality Pinot Noir, though the greatest examples stem from the truly cool climate regions. Adelaide Hills is one of these, and Lindsay Barratt is leading the way with his flagship Reserve wine. A former medico who has retired to pursue his Burgundy obsession, he sources most of the fruit from his tiny 'Uley Vineyard', (the remainder from the younger 'Bonython' site).
It's the former, planted in 1983, which is now paying dividends (great Pinot Noir needs to be produced from mature vines - flavour is not fully developed in younger vineyards). After about one year in a combination of new and old French oak, Lindsay selects a Reserve wine from the best barrels, though the Uley fruit tends to make the majority contribution.
Pinot is never easy, particularly in such a challenging area
Semi translucent crimson red colour with brick red mauve hue. The nose is quite perfumed with lifted aromas of violets, dark cherry and a hint of anise followed by some spice notes. The palate displays superb concentration and power wave with flavours of dark cherry, spice and anise followed by some spicy cedar and game back palate flavours. Excellent length. Velvet smooth perfectly integrated tannins with very long aftertaste of spice, anise and dark cherry.
Cellar 3-4 years (2013-2014)
Alc 14.0%
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Retail
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A$49.67 |
Bottle Price
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A$44.99 |
Dozen Price
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A$528.00 |
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| RATING: 96 |
VALUE: |
CELLAR: Drink Now - 5 years (2010 - 2015) |
ALC/VOL: 13.50% |
TASTED: 14 Mar 2010 |
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An outstanding, classic Great Western Shiraz.
The name ‘Great Western’ has become synonymous with the Melbourne Cup and the vast quantities of Great Western Sparkling that is consumed. However, Great Western as a district is steeped in history and like the Melbourne Cup has had its fair share of winners and losers.
The history of Great Western is very much about gold and in particular that stretch of country between Ballarat, Ararat and Stawell which became the epicentre of the Victorian goldfields. In 1856, 60,000 people were at the diggings, about one fifth of the state’s population at the time. This vast tent city was a tightly knit community. They never lost their love and need of the lively arts and a handful of gold could buy anything. They erected canvas theatres, dance halls, gambling salons, shooting galleries and just about anything that could be bought and sold. This was Australia’s wild west. It was in this environment that Henry Best established the Concongella Vineyard in 1866.
Today these vineyards are run by Viv Thomson and his family who produce the wonderful Bin No. 0 Shiraz. The nomenclature “Bin No. 0 Shiraz” has always been somewhat of a mystery. Best’s early records indicate that the numbering system was developed by local General Merchants who used it as a means of classifying the quality of the wine. Bin No. O being of the highest quality was sold for around 2 shillings a bottle in 1900, No. 1 slightly less and finally No. 5 was the rough stuff for the unlucky but needy workers.
An excellent example of Australian cool climate Shiraz that has lived up to its considerable cellaring potential
The Bests Bin No. 0 is grown from the original cuttings that were planted in 1866. The present vineyard consists of Barts Block planted in 1966, Marcus’ Block planted in 1970 and the Battle Block (Bowtrells) planted in 1992 and 1994. The soils are composed of sandy loam overlaying deep clay subsoil which is found along the Concongella Creek. The 2001 growing season was prolonged with the hottest summer on record. March rains extended the ripening process with Shiraz grapes being picked on the 4th, 7th and 16th of April. No grapes from the newer Rhymney plantings were included in the No. 0. The Best’s Great Western Bin No. 0 Shiraz is a tribute to our past heritage and the vision of Australia’s pioneers.
Tasting Note:
The colour of this wine is holding up exceptionally well displaying an opaque dark red black colour with a very deep dark red (just beginning to verge on brick red) hue. Aromas of leather and earth, blackpepper and stewed plum. Elegant but powerful palate flavours of blackberry, plum and blackpepper with an earthy leather overlay displaying magnificent integration with the velvet smooth tannin structure. Very long aftertaste of plum, liquorice, blackpepper and leather. Very Limited stocks.
Drink now or cellar a further 4-5 years (2010-2015)
Alc 13.5%
A superb Bin 0 that’s ageing very gracefully.
Retasted May 2005:
Very deep crimson colour with deep crimson hue. The nose delivers a perfumed lift, with notes of violets, confectionary, vanilla and spice emerging. The palate is mouthfilling, there is a touch of truffle evident, followed by hints of leather, white pepper, plum and vanilla. The white pepper flavours component kicks in at the near end, but lasts well into the aftertaste. Perfect balance. Very long aftertaste of confectionary, truffle, earth, spice, plum and white pepper.
Cellar 5-8 years (2010-2013)
Alc/Vol: 13.5%
97 Points
First tasted December 2003:
Very deep crimson colour with deep crimson hue. Superb nose of violets and spice followed by vanilla and blackberry with a distinctive white pepper end note. The palate is refined, it has weight and beautiful structure but without the enormous body weight that is evident from Barossa and McLaren Vale. There is no shortage of flavour with the black pepper characteristics being very pronounced. Mouthfilling flavours of plum, blackberry, black pepper and violet infusions fill the mouth. Perfect balance with very fine tannin structure and an exceptionally long aftertaste of black pepper, spice and plum.
97 Points
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Retail
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Bottle Price
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A$49.99 |
Dozen Price
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A$588.00 |
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| RATING: 96 |
VALUE: |
CELLAR: 4 - 5 years (2014 - 2015) |
ALC/VOL: 14.50% |
TASTED: 3 Apr 2010 |
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Historically, Bleasdale Vineyards are one of Australia’s great treasures. The founder, the highly inventive, industrious and resourceful Frank Potts (1815 - 1890), to whom this wine is dedicated, is a 19th century genius, and a pioneer who has been described as being “made of the right stuff and well worthy of the grand old land that gave him birth.”
A terrific tribute wine to a pioneering genius
Frank Potts arrived in Australia as a 21 year old, having set sail from Plymouth England, and landing late in 1836. By the 1860’s, he had planted the original 30 acres of vineyard on the banks of the Bremmer Creek. Frank Potts was highly admired “One meets with extraordinary characters through life, but I doubt whether his equal could be found. In appearance a stranger would take him to be a poor labourer, with a thin, spare figure and long unkempt hair and invariably wearing his shirt sleeves tucked up. Although a most uncouth-looking person, and yet this man is a perfect genius! There is not a single thing mechanical or otherwise undertaken by him which he does not succeed in...” So remarked Inspector Tolmer, who was later to become Commissioner of Police, South Australia.
A superb Frank Potts that’s back to top form.
Frank Potts was one of the first to recognise the benefits of red gum. After building several houses for himself, he made tools and a bullock dray to cut down and haul these massive timbers in order to construct a gigantic twin wine press and several enormous wine vats. He also created the irrigation system that's still in place today. What little spare time he might have had was spent building a piano and various race winning yachts!
Frank's legacy can be experienced by visiting the Bleasdale winery. His great, great grandsons still run the enterprise today.
Tasting Note:
A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 76% & Malbec 24% the wine displays an opaque black dark red colour with deep dark red hue. Maturation took place in French oak. The nose presents a perfumed aromatic profile of violets, blackcurrant, spice and cedar followed by a hint of mint and cigar box as end notes. A delightful sniff displaying excellent varietal character. Mouthfilling palate flavours of blackcurrant, cedar and spice followed by some earthy tobacco like characters on the back palate. Excellent depth with fine grained tannin structure in perfect balance with the fruit. Long aftertaste of mulberry, blackcurrant, spice and earthy cedar.
Cellar 4-5 years (2014-2015)
14.5% Alc
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Retail
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A$33.70 |
Bottle Price
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A$24.99 |
Dozen Price
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A$297.00 |
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| RATING: 99 |
VALUE: |
CELLAR: N/A |
ALC/VOL: 17.00% |
TASTED: 25 Jul 2009 |
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Enjoy with anything chocolate!
'Cuesta' is a brand owned by the prestigious Sherry house, 'Lustau', produced and bottled from a selection of butts in the Lustau Bodega. The concept is to offer high quality sherries under a separate brand in markets where Lustau is already represented. Yet given the exceptional standard set by the Cuesta PX, one has to wonder whether they've shot themselves in the foot. Aged for a minimum of ten years, this superb solera is produced from sun dried Pedro Ximenez grapes.
A seriously good example and fantastic value given the comparitive price/ quality ratio of Lustau's flagship PX
Deep sienna brown colour with deep green olive hue – Indicative of considerable age. The nose is a PX sniffer’s delight. Raisins, treacle, molasses and Christmas cake fill the nose followed by honey and toffee end notes. The palate has oil like viscosity, and a concentration of flavour which can be compared to the Lustau PX selling at around $50/bottle. Luscious texture, with mouthfilling flavours of toffee, honey, sultana and treacle. Exceptionally long palate and aftertaste with flavours of treacle, toffee, honey and sultana.
Alc/Vol: 17%
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Retail
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A$32.13 |
Bottle Price
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A$29.99 |
Dozen Price
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A$354.00 |
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