A few wines tasted this a.m. Oz dollars.



Cheers!

Martin



Chapel Hill Unwooded Chardonnay 2005 - around $14 Fresh grapey juicy nose.
Youthful and refreshing in the mouth, showing bags of ripe fruit - dried
pears? and zingy acidity. Excellent as a chilled luncheon aperitif.



Yalumba Eden Valley Viognier 2004 - around $20 Compôte of stone fruits and
hints of toasty oak lift the nose of this one. Soft and rich in the mouth,
flavours of apricot conserve are dominant while the finish is firm enough to
suggest entrée style accompaniments.



Deviation Road Adelaide Hills Pinot Gris 2005 - up to $23 Perfumed lime
flowers nose with just a whiff of fine French oak in the background. Nothing
restrained or dilute about this pinot gris. It has a lovely palate just
bursting with ripened citrus fruits - think Rose's Lime Marmalade and you're
somewhere in the vicinity. As you finish one glass you'll be looking forward
to the next.



Grant Burge Grenache Rosé 2005 - up to $16 Barossa Valley, South Australia.
Rosy pink hues. The nose reminds me of those glistening strawberry tarts you
buy from upmarket patisseries - mouth watering. The palate is soft and
sweetish showing flavours not unlike raspberry liqueur. Easy drinking
summery style.



Nepenthe Charleston Pinot Noir 2004 - up to $20 Adelaide Hills, South
Australia. Aromatic essence of strawberries on the nose along with some
savouriness. Offers plenty of pinot varietal character on the palate,
including black cherries and strawberries. The fruit is ably supported by a
substantial structure of crisp acid and fine tannic astringency.



Paul Bettio King Valley Merlot 2002 - about $20 Mid-crimson. Warm spicy nose
of ripe plums. Dryer style of merlot with plummy fruit, medium yet lasting
tannins and a firm finish with distinct tangy acid. This young wine is
clearly designed for food and will complement robust main courses nicely.
Will age gracefully for at least another five or six years.



Hewitson Old Garden Mourvedre 2004 - RRP $49 Barossa Valley, South
Australia. The label states that this vineyard, planted in 1853, is possibly
the oldest Mourvedre vineyard in the world. Blackberries, alcohol (14.5%)
and smoky vanillin oak on the nose. Classic Australian dry red style -
savoury with prunes, mocha, spices, leather, and a long lip-smacking finish.
Cellar to 2012.



Jim Barry The McRae Wood Shiraz 2002 - up to $40 Clare, South Australia.
Concentrated nose of blackcurrants, mint and fragrant oakiness. Intense rich
flavours of sweet blackberries with cedar and maybe a hint of a walk under
the gum trees on a hot day. All this supported by thick chewy tannins. More
alcohol (15.5%) than you'd normally expect in a dry red, though not quite
porty.

Martin Field wrote:

> Hewitson Old Garden Mourvedre 2004 - RRP $49 Barossa Valley, South
> Australia. The label states that this vineyard, planted in 1853, is possibly
> the oldest Mourvedre vineyard in the world. Blackberries, alcohol (14.5%)
> and smoky vanillin oak on the nose. Classic Australian dry red style -
> savoury with prunes, mocha, spices, leather, and a long lip-smacking finish.
> Cellar to 2012.

Martin,
Thanks for the notes. I'm tempted to track down a bottle of this wine
and throw it into a tasting of Bandols, Beaucastel and a few Languedoc
Mourvedres. One question for you: are these vines planted on their own
rootstock, or are they grafted? Has Oz got a phylloxera problem?

Mark Lipton

"Mark Lipton" > wrote in message
...
> Martin Field wrote:
>
>> Hewitson Old Garden Mourvedre 2004 - RRP $49 Barossa Valley, South
>> Australia. The label states that this vineyard, planted in 1853, is
>> possibly
>> the oldest Mourvedre vineyard in the world. Blackberries, alcohol (14.5%)
>> and smoky vanillin oak on the nose. Classic Australian dry red style -
>> savoury with prunes, mocha, spices, leather, and a long lip-smacking
>> finish.
>> Cellar to 2012.
>
> Martin,
> Thanks for the notes. I'm tempted to track down a bottle of this wine
> and throw it into a tasting of Bandols, Beaucastel and a few Languedoc
> Mourvedres. One question for you: are these vines planted on their own
> rootstock, or are they grafted? Has Oz got a phylloxera problem?
>
> Mark Lipton

Hi Mark - These would be original ungrafted pre-phylloxera rootstocks.
Australian vineyards were devastated by phylloxera in the late 1800s but as
far as I know it never reached South Australia. Tahbilk in Victoria still
makes a beautiful shiraz from ungrafted 1860s vines. The vines are gnarled,
craggy, holey and of course low-bearing. Strangely Tahbilk did not escape
the phylloxera blight but these particular vines planted on sandy souils
survived. We still have phylloxera here in Victoria and there are strict
controls about transporting vines and grapes between infected areas and
others.

Martin

On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 15:54:40 +1100, Martin Field wrote:

> Hewitson Old Garden Mourvedre 2004 - RRP $49 Barossa Valley, South
> Australia. The label states that this vineyard, planted in 1853, is possibly
> the oldest Mourvedre vineyard in the world. Blackberries, alcohol (14.5%)
> and smoky vanillin oak on the nose. Classic Australian dry red style -
> savoury with prunes, mocha, spices, leather, and a long lip-smacking finish.
> Cellar to 2012.

Does anyone know if this is available in the US?

I couldn't find it on wine-searcher.

Bill

Bill Hogsett > wrote in
news
> On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 15:54:40 +1100, Martin Field wrote:
>
>> Hewitson Old Garden Mourvedre 2004 - RRP $49 Barossa Valley, South
>> Australia. The label states that this vineyard, planted in 1853, is
>> possibly the oldest Mourvedre vineyard in the world. Blackberries,
>> alcohol (14.5%) and smoky vanillin oak on the nose. Classic
>> Australian dry red style - savoury with prunes, mocha, spices,
>> leather, and a long lip-smacking finish. Cellar to 2012.
>
> Does anyone know if this is available in the US?
>
> I couldn't find it on wine-searcher.
>

The '02 and '03 are available in some of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control
Board stores, at USD 25.99 and 28.99, respectively...where are you located,
Bill?

On Sat, 04 Mar 2006 21:34:34 +0000, enoavidh wrote:

> The '02 and '03 are available in some of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control
> Board stores, at USD 25.99 and 28.99, respectively...where are you located,
> Bill?

Thanks I am in Cleveland so Pennsylvania is about 90 minutes away.

But, my sister lives in Pennsylvania. Come to think of it I haven't
talked to her in a couple of weeks. Guess I'll call her today!!

Thanks.

Bill

Bill Hogsett > wrote in
news
>
> Thanks I am in Cleveland so Pennsylvania is about 90 minutes away.
>
> But, my sister lives in Pennsylvania. Come to think of it I haven't
> talked to her in a couple of weeks. Guess I'll call her today!!
>

Oh, that will make it *easy*. Here is a link to the online catalog:
http://www.lcb.state.pa.us/webapp/Pr...oductDefault_i
nter.asp?plcbNav=|32369|
(TinyURL: http://tinyurl.com/c7cmc )

you can find out which store has it in stock. It is a specialty item, so
to get it transferred (in my recent experience) it has to be sent to
another specialty store, not a regular store (<koff.> Not to a home
address! Puhleeze! ). And they might charge shipping, I'm not sure
what the deal is with that, something about regions.

Let me know and I'll send you the email of the person in Harrisburg that
I contact with questions...

d.