|
WineKnows Wine of the Month |
|
 |
| |
2009
Mike Press Shiraz @ $12.50
"This is where it’s at. Introducing the best Mike Press
Shiraz since 2006. This wine has the longevity of 2007
(which will be among the longest lived Mike Press wines),
the body and weight of the 2005 and the restrained oak of
the 2006. This is Mike Press at his most cool, calm and
poised, toward the lower end of the alcohol scale (hooray
and hoorah!) and with all the freshness and vitality that
goes with this. A core of black plum and dark chocolate
fruit swirls with mixed spice and pepper, held taut by a
seamless ribbon of fine, fresh acidity and beautifully fine,
supple, textural tannins. Do not touch it for two years,
preferably five, but it will be a decade or two before it
really comes into its own, at which time it will rightly
take its place among the great vintages of Mike Press
Shiraz.94 points"
Tyson Stelzer. Wine
Press /
Clear About Wine |
| |
It's easy to be a fan of Mike Press'
Adelaide Hills Shiraz- bargains rarely come much better.
It's not just some opportunistic
prey-on-the-misfortune-of-others gambit either; it's the
wine of real people, farming their own land, making their
own wine.
I reckon this is the best Mike Press Shiraz so far. Fresh,
bright, boysenberried fruit laced with saucy, spicy oak. It
feels modern and old-fashioned at once. It's acidity is
lively, it's tannin fine and ripe, its finish satisfying.
It's seductive and textural and while it gets you in from
the first sip - it evolves nicely in the glass too. Buy it
for the quality; treat the price as a bonus.
Rated : 93 Points
Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
|
| |
2009 Mike Press Adelaide Hills
Pinot Noir 2009 @ $12.50.
Here’s a challenge: Line this wine up against every other
single vineyard, small producer, sub-$15 Pinot on the
shelves and pick the one that is varietally correct, pretty
and an enjoyable drink. Fooled you, there are no others! And
that in itself is reason enough to stock up big time on this
little beauty. We adored the last Mike Press Pinot, but that
was years ago, and the fruit hasn’t been good enough for him
to make it since, so who knows how long it will be before
the next one lands? In the meantime, there’s nothing but
good news here. It’s a gentle cherry/berry style with a
fresh violet lift and some spicy complexity on the finish.
Fine tannins give it more definition and structure than
you’d expect. It’s only going to get better with two or
three years in the cellar, so make sure you go long on this
one. 91 points.Tyson Stelzer.
Wine Press /
Clear About
Wine |
| |
2009 Mike Press Adelaide Hills Merlot 2009 @ $12.50.
If you love merlot because it’s soft, fleshy and devoid of
any kind of expressive personality, read no further, this
wine is not for you. This is real merlot, structured, grippy
and screaming out for a decade in the cellar. Don’t be too
concerned, though, because when it does emerge it will be a
stunner, with a pretty violet perfume, elegant berry fruits
and very finely textured tannins.91 points
Tyson Stelzer. Wine
Press /
Clear About Wine |
| |
2010 Mike Press Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc @ $11.00.
Forget those towers of Kiwi cleanskins at Dan’s because this
is where Savvy is at this year, and there’s no asparagus,
tinned peas or cat’s pee to be found. Crunchy, clean, fresh
and immaculate, this is a concentrated and powerful
Sauvignon, packed with juicy passionfruit and zesty kaffir
lime.
Tyson Stelzer.
Wine Press /
Clear About
Wine |
| |
2010 Mike Press Adelaide Hills Chardonnay @
$11.00.
With no hint of oak to be found, there’s nothing standing
between this wine and the cool, mineral elegance of its
graceful Adelaide Hills site. The result is a fresh style
with a crunchy finish, focused on lemon blossom and
grapefruit flavours. It has the versatility to stand in for
a zesty Riesling or Semillon. Tyson Stelzer.
Wine Press /
Clear About
Wine |
| |
Mike Press Wines was recently named
a 5 star winery
in the 2011 edition of James Halliday's
Australian Wine Companion ".....despite
accumulating gold medals and trophies, are sold at low
prices." |
|
 |
Introducing Cats Eyes
Wines
$75.00 per dozen
Purrfect for your Happy Hour
Sauvignon
Blanc Semillon
– a classic
dry white style, fruity with a crisp finish.
Chardonnay
– Lovely citrus characters, touch of crisp apple flavour
adds to the palate.
Sparkling Brut – classic Australian style, full
flavoured with a well balanced crisp finish, try with
oysters.
Cabernet Merlot
– A lovely smooth red blend, dark berries with a smooth
tannin finish, try with Roast Lamb.
Shiraz
– Well rounded with plum and dark cherry flavours, nice soft
tannins. Perfect for the Camp Casserole or BBQ. |
|
 |
2010 Primo Estate La Biondina Colombard
$10.00
2010
White Wine of the Year - Quaff Wine Guide
"White of the Year under $15: intense fruity flavours,
succulent, juicy and vibrant."
Peter Forrestal, Quaff Wine Guide 2010
|
|
 |
2008 Coriole The Dancing
Fig Shiraz Mourvedre $23.00
This wine is quite aromatic with suggestion of fresh thyme
and ripe Satsuma plum.
The palate is full but not dense. Fruit flavours show black
cherries and round mocha characters and riper rich finish.
The tannins have softened and now makes this wine pleasing,
even without food. This is signature silky Coriole: oak
influence is subtle and understated. |
|
 |
2005 Peter Lehmann Stonewell
Shiraz @ $65.00
"One sip and you’re
hooked. It presses all the right buttons in all the right
places: profound dark-fruit flavour, integrated cedary oak,
lengthy, filligreed tannin, brightness of flavour and the
persistence to polish off the package. Terrific. I’ve only
tasted this as part of a large tasting of Stonewell Shiraz
wines, but in that context it looked the goods, and then
some. 96 Points"
Campbell Mattinson, The Wine Front
"Stonewell Shiraz is Peter
Lehmann Wines best wine of each vintage and one of the
world’s great Shiraz. It is the most powerful expression of
Shiraz we make from our growers’ vineyards. The pedigree of
these vineyards and the knowledge that has been passed from
each winemaking generation at Peter Lehmann Wines to the
next, assures us these will be wines of great longevity.
The story of Stonewell Shiraz began in 1987 when Peter
Lehmann decided to make a special Shiraz - a wine of immense
intensity and muscularity that would demand time in the
barrel and bottle before release. The wine was named
‘Stonewell’ after the district that he believed best showed
the characters admired most in Barossa Shiraz.
This tradition has continued and each vintage the best
Shiraz from the legacy of growers’ Barossa vineyards is
chosen to create Stonewell. Usually no more than a dozen
small, old vineyards are selected each year, the oldest
planted in 1885. Located in the harder country, these are
some of the lowest yielding vineyards. The berries are small
and sparse with crops typically less than 2 tonnes per
acre."
Peter Lehmann Wines |
|
 |
2008
Kalleske Old Vines Grenache @ $45.00
Consistently the best straight Grenache produced in
Australia. Complexity and generosity are amazing – utterly
magnificent… cork.
“The 7th vintage release of Old Vine Grenache is again a
classy wine. The fruit is sourced from a single vineyard
planted in 1935 as bush vines. The vineyard soil is shallow
quartzy sand with light clay subsoil and the grapes are
entirely drygrown ensuring intensely flavoured fruit. 2008
was an extremely hot and dry vintage. Fortunately, Grenache
is a variety that thrives in the heat. Kalleske Old Vine
Grenache 2008 is dark crimson in colour. It has a powerful
nose displaying aromas of Turkish delight, exotic spices,
clove, black fruits, rose petal, licorice and a touch of
dark chocolate mint. The palate is solid and full-bodied
with plenty of fleshy dark fruit flavours. Light dusty
tannins add good structure and mouthfeel. Layers of flavor
and texture make a complex wine that is very long to
finish.”
www.kalleske.com |
|
 |
2008 Kalleske Greenock Shiraz @ $38.00
This is about as good as Barossa Shiraz gets. Old vines,
thick, rich and intense rich black fruit and chocolaty oak.
Length and persistence are amazing… cork |
|
 |
2008 Kalleske Moppa Shiraz @ $28.00
Gold Medal at the International Organic Wine Awards in
Germany.
“Dark dense purple; a rich, lifted and complex bouquet is
followed by a full-bodied and no less complex palate,
seemingly riper than the alcohol suggests. There is a lift
to the flavour, but whether or not this is due to the trace
of viognier and petit verdot is hard to say. Screwcap.14.5%
alc.
Rating 94 Drink 2025 $28 Date Tasted Sep 09”
James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion
“A next-generation Barossa Shiraz that indicates a concerted
effort by a legion of family winemakers to show the
Australian-style terrior of this region’s sub-districts,
here using organic grapes sourced from the Kalleske’s
north-western territory.”
4 Stars. Tony Love. The Advertiser
|
|
 |
2007 Leeuwin
Estate Art Series Chardonnay @ $90.00
"Where do you start with Leeuwin Chardonnay, consistently
Australia's great Chardonnay and some would argue our
greatest white wine. This is typical of the style with
delicate fine grapefruit and cereal nuances, lightly spice
and cinnamon, plus a little creaminess. The palate is
restrained (this was tasted eight months prior to release)
yet there is the classic combination of power and delicacy.
Although it was picked quite ripe it's still quite
reserved."
Score 97/100. Cellar - 12 Years.
Ray Jordan's 2010 WA Wine Guide.
"The colour is brilliant green
straw .
The fresh nose is classical Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay, with
intensely lifted aromas of ripe yellow pear skins, the
petals of citrus blossom, nectarine and ripe peach
accompanied by hints of fig, cashews and roasted pine nuts
from barrel maturation on yeast lees with integrated and
stylish French oak.
The palate displays the mouth filling and intense flavours
of fresh ripe pears which is full bodied and incredibly rich
intermingling with delicious stone fruit flavours, nectarine
and pineapple tart, the middle palate shows richness before
turning to an elegance only found in the rarest of years
that focus the flavours to a long land persistent finish
which is both crisp and appealing." |
|
 |
2008 Gemtree
Uncut Shiraz @ $17.00
"Deep, dense
colour; regional licorice and dark chocolate overtones to
the blackberry fruit of the bouquet leap from the glass, the
medium- to full-bodied palate providing more of the same,
with 16 months in French oak doing little more than rounding
off the tannins. Screwcap.
14.5% alc. Rating 95 Drink
2028 $22 Date Tasted Sep
09"
James
Halliday Australian Wine Companion
|
|
 |
2007 Standish
the Relic Shiraz Viognier @ $90.00
96% Shiraz 4%
Viognier - Sourced from the Standish Family Vineyard –
Siegersdorf Road, Vine Vale, Barossa Valley.
Planted on own roots in 1912 (7.6 Hectares – 12ft x 10ft
spacing). Fine white sand over deep heavy red clay at 302m
above sea level.
Fragrantly scented, taughtly structured and finely poised –
this femme fatale represents the more reserved face of the
Barossa. Delicately portioned and beautifully balanced its
fragrant notes of acacia petal, crème de cassis and parfait
amour are supported by an underlying swath of Szechuan
pepper, Guatemalan cocoa and damp limestone. Supple, lithe
and without any hint of ‘palate drag’, its youthful ease
shouldn’t detract from the sea of promise it holds for the
future. |
Here are other
wines we found recently...
Brokenwood
Graveyard Shiraz,
Greenock Creek,
Alices Shiraz, Apricot Block, Seven Acre Shiraz, Creek Block,
Roennfeldt Rd, Kays Block 6 Shiraz, Noon Reserve Shiraz, Penfolds
Grange, Henschke Hill of Grace, Mount Edelstone, Wendouree, Ringland
Three Rivers, Pierro, Jasper Hill Emilys Paddock, Georgias Paddock,
Rockford Basket Press Shiraz, Bin 707, Torbreck, Moss Wood, Run Rig,
The Gask, Two Hands Aphrodite, Aerope, Ares, Bellas Garden,
Petaluma, Standish The Standish, The Relic, Bass Phillip, Glaetzer
Amon Ra , Godolphin, Giaconda, Bindi, Cape Mentelle, Katnook Estate
Odyssey, Clonakilla, Bests Thomson Family Shiraz, Bin 0 Shiraz,
Kaesler Old Bastard, The Bogan, Kalleske Johan Georg Shiraz,
d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz, Mollydooker Velvet Glove, Enchanted
Path, Carnival of Love, Blue Eyed Boy, The Boxer, Gigglepot, Two
Left Feet, Cullen, E&E Black Pepper Shiraz, Leeuwin Estate, Art
Series, Coriole Lloyd, DeBortoli Noble One, Lakes Folly, Majella
Malleea, Parker Terra Rossa, Mount Mary, Meshach, Armagh, Astralis,
Grosset, Eileen Hardy,Yalumba Octavius, Elderton Command, Fox Creek,
Henschke, St.Hallett Old Block, Dalwhinnie, Wolf Blass Black Label,
Melton Nine Popes, Wynns Michael, Centenary,Wynns John Riddoch,
Penfolds Bin 60A, Penfolds Bin 80A, Penfolds Bin 920, Penfolds Bin
820, Bin 389, St Henri, Yarra Yering and I am sure there was many,
many more but I just can't remember!
|
