Stanley Lambert Winery - Tasting Notes

Stanley Lambert Winery

Barossa Valley Way

PO Box 459
Tanunda SA 5352

I attended a wine tasting at the Wine Cellar of Wisconsin on the only Sunday of the year the store is open.  The Sunday before Christmas, also known as "last second Sunday",  offered a chance to shop, sip and save on wine purchases.

Stanley Lambert wines were on sale with try before you buy samples available.    There was also a Sparkling Shiraz to try, not made by them.

I will focus on the three wines I really enjoyed in the order of my preference.

1. Choc-a- Bloc:   - chocolate infused fortified wine.  I could drink this alone, add to coffee, add to cake, and to ice cream.  It is oozing with chocolate and warmth.  I do not usually drink foritifited wine, but this was well worth the try.  A bottle came home with me and it will be used in more than one way during the stay in my home. 
2. Family Tree Shiraz: - Flagship Shiraz.... full, no wait,  a really full body of guilty voluptous pleasure.  The wine was decanted for about an hour when it really started to open up, like most reds, it requires patience.   The reward of patience is obvious when the nose hits you and you remember why you love red wine.  Black cherry, blueberry, and hints of despair.  Drink now through 2015.
3. Three's Company GSM:  This is a Rhone style blend consisting of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvedre.  They play well together proving that reds can play with each other.  They offer a nose of faint licorice, smooth tannins and rich red fruit.    This is a fun wine, although a three some is not for me every day, it is a nice to try new things now and then....

Enjoy them soon.

Decanting Mature Red Wines

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHFmFKGpYKI

Wine Budget

As the New Year is almost upon us, corporate America is doing their budgets and forecasting for the next fiscal year. The same can be said for many individuals in this tough economic time. No salary increase again this year? We can only wait and see.

This brings me to the question of wine budgeting for the year. How many people actually budget for wine? Do you have an amount set aside for purchases in 2010? Is it just going to be "shooting from the hip" and buy it when the spirit moves you, or when you find a deal?

I have some personal goals for the year as far as wine purchases fit into my budget. I want to buy the 2000 vintage of Penfolds Grange to share with my son when he is older, and 2000 is his birth year. It will set me back around $200 or so, but to me it is worth it.

I understand that the concept of budgeting for wine may be an odd one, but I ask the questions:

1. Do you budget for wine?
2. What percentage of your income to you set aside?
3. What is the high-end amount you will spend on one bottle?

Thanks in advance for the feedback.

2007 Perrin & Fils Côtes du Rhône Villages

A glass of red wine.  This is what I needed on Sunday night to wind down from a long weekend.  I am sure you have been there before, just a simple glass to relax.  Yes, a glass of red wine is what I needed.. 

I went to the cellar, looked around for something not too big, afterall it was Sunday night.  I found a bottle of  2007 Perrin & Fils Côtes du Rhône Villages.  This would be perfect.

The bottle was opened and set off to the side to unwind as I completed a task or two.  After about a half an hour a glass was poured and I sat down to relax.

It had a great cherry nose and flavor, not too strong, balanced with hints of pepper spice.

The body was medium, the attack was suttle and the finish was crisp.

This wine is about $12.00 a bottle, perfect for an everyday wine when you just want a glass to relax with.

Enjoy.

The Coppola Wine Tasting & Movie Event

The Francis Ford Coppola Winery held a wine tasting event on Thursday, August 13th, 2009 at the Rosebud Cinema and Drafthouse. It was sponsored by Rays Wine and Spirits in Wauwatosa, WI.

The event featured 25 wines for sample, appetizers from Juniper 61 & The Godfather playing on the big screen. The movie played with just the soundtrack playing, no dialogue to consume your attention or distract from the tasting.

I focused my tasting effort on red wine, targeting a few specific wines of interest. There was really no need to waste time on a Rose', I was not going to purchase one in this lifetime.

The wine of the tasting in my opinion was the Zinfandel "Edizione Pennino" Napa Valley. I had sampled a few other wines prior to this and a few after, but this was the wine I will remember from the tasting.

The Edizione Pennino Zinfandel pays tribute to Francis Ford Coppola's maternal grandfather, Francesco Pennino. Born in Italy, Francesco emigrated to the United States as a young man and started a music publishing and import company known as "Edizione Pennino." The company's logo depicted two images: the last view of Francesco's homeland, the Bay of Naples, and his first view of America, the Statue of Liberty. Francis Ford Coppola took the design in its original form and used it to identify the estate Zinfandel which, like Francesco Pennino's journey, is the grape most identified with the Italian influence on the California wine industry. To add to the nostalgia, each vintage bottling has one of Pennino's song titles imprinted on the cork.

Color: Deep purple, Ink.

Nose: Completely in your face, rich blackberry-cranberry-pepper spice.

Structure: A complete full body, chunky mouth feel, not syrup.

Attack: Again, completely in your face with a bit of heat, strong attack of the mouth.

Finish: This wine lingered for about 15 to 20 seconds without an after burn, just a pleasant reminder.

Overall: I really enjoyed this wine and imagined it with many different food parings. At around $50 a bottle, it is out of the range I personally like to spend on wine. As a special occasion wine I can see this being a wine to consider, but then again there are many others also.

Cellar Addition: Torzi Matthews

Red Wine and Olive Oil......they go to together when dining like no other combination in the world.


Imagine extra virgin olive oil with minced garlic, a small amount of balsamic vinegar, chopped basil, freshly ground pepper and a little rosemary. Pair that combination with your favorite bread, open a healthy bottle of Shiraz and indulge. If you are feeling a bit hedonistic, add some Boursin cheese to the mix.





When I received an email from the Wine Cellar of Wisconsin about an Ozzy wine steal, my interest was raised immediately. I did not know I was in for a boutique vintner from the Eden Valley, east of the Borossa Valley.



Torzi Matthews , a food and wine making partnership between Domenic Torzi and Tracy Matthews have passion and the firm conviction of appreciating the value of heritage tradition in the crafting of their wines and extra virgin olive oils.

I purchased two bottles of the 2007 Schist Rock Shiraz, and I was lucky to get it. There were only 1200 cases produced for the entire world. The inventory at the Wine Cellar sold out in 40 minutes.

A review I found describes this wine as:

Saturated red. Brisk, finely etched red berry and cherry skin aromas are underscored by dusty minerals and cracked pepper. Clean, mid weight red fruit flavors betray no rough edges or excess fat, picking up silky tannins with air. There's something pinot-like about this elegant wine, and the finish is distinctly racy and energetic, leaving sweet strawberry and smoky minerals behind.

The Wine Spectator gave it 92 points.

I will post my review when I get the courage to open a bottle with some extra virgin Olive Oil.

For additional reviews visit Cellar Tracker.

Cellar Addition

Vintage: 2006; Grenache

Always an enduring favorite within the Kilikanoon family portfolio, the Prodigal seeks to deliver the single fruit purity of an old vine Grenache.

Sourced in equal parts from two 60 year old hand pruned and hand picked vineyards, the fully ripened fruit was crushed, fermented traditionally in small open topped fementers, then basket pressed and allowed to mature for 22months in older French and American oak hogsheads.

Intensely perfumed and redolent of cherries, dark chocolate and spicy older oak flavours, the palate offers sweetness and softness yet exquisitely mouthfilling and persistent on thefinish. Another great wine to complement a range of fine foods and cheeses.

An ageing potential of at least 8 - 10 years with careful cellaring.

Cellar Addition

Shild Estate - 2006 Shiraz


Reviews and Awards

Commended

2008 International Wine Challenge
91 Points
Totally full and rich southern Barossa fruit, slightly ripe summery plums with an underlayer of vanillin oak, soft and generous on the palate and plenty of drinking at this price.

Double Gold Medals
DOUBLE GOLD - 2008 San Francisco International Wine Competition
Silver Medals

2008 Mundus Vini Great International Wine Awards
Bronze Medals

2008 Decanter World Wine Awards2007 Royal Melbourne Wine Show2007 Royal Hobart International Wine Show

Mollydooker Update

There has been a sighting of the 2008 Vintage of Mollydooker Wines at Thief Wine, in the Milwaukee Public Market. Get it before it sells out.

Wine and Movie Night - Another Round.........

Lookin for a fun diversion on a Thursday night?

The fine people at Ray's Wine and Spirits are hosting another event at the Rosebud Cinema. This time it will be 25 wines from the Francis Ford Coppola Winery.

The movie playing in the background will a classic 1972 masterpiece directed by none other that Francis Ford Coppola. "The Godfather."

There will be specials on wine products, the vintner will be on hand and wine to sample.

I am looking forward to the Shiraz and Syrah and will post my opinions on each wine and others after the tasting.

Until then, try not to get sacked and don't be a nong.

Rodney Strong - 2006 Knotty Vines Zin

This Wine is a switch from my normal big, bold angry red. It taste like summer, with the appearance of a garnet sunshine. It is comfortable with a salad loaded with fresh basil, radish, Swiss chard, pepper and light dressing. It also matched well with a peppery steak.

Nose...When this was first opened, it was black cherry and that was it. It opened up to reveal an almost tropical botanical garden, with hints of raspberry and blackberry and a bit of cedar. Plenty of spice with cocoa lingering about.

Legs...Long and power full, with a grip that is hard to release, this is very enjoyable with a price under $20.00.

When you not in the mood for an angry red...you know something a little less feisty, you can enjoy this wine without waking up in the morning puzzled by the events of the past evening. Enjoy for the next 2 or 3 years.

Penley Estates - Coonawarra, AU -

July 1st, 2009.

Summer is here...or at least I thought. We had a high temperature of 64(f) in Milwaukee, the normal high is about 80(f). It was cloudy, rainy, and it was a day I really wanted to skip work, stay home and watch something mindless on the tube.

I did not have that luxury. Another day at work. Another day doing battle with drivers from the shallow end of the gene pool creating traffic issues. Another day of co-workers who share the same space in that same pool....you know the the types..dont know Christmas from Bourke Street.

I did have something to look forward to on this day, FREE, yes FREE wine at what is becoming my favorite purveyor of wine. This is none other than the Wine Cellar of Wisconsin. The owners, Joel & Gail are exceptional people. Do yourself a favor and make this a place to visit! Great selection and great prices.
I arrived at 5:15, and there was a fair amount of people waiting in line at the tasting area, and people milling about the store.

OK, before I go any further, this is not a wine tasting at some snob-a-torium like you have seen on TV or in movies, just people who like wine, or are learning to like wine.

I was greeted by Kym Tolley, his wife and a representative from the importer, Old Bridge Cellars. All three of them were very friendly, enthusiastic and shared that ever present "Ozzy" sense of humor. We were never referred to as a "seppo", or as a "dill".

The Chardonnay was my first taste and it was very good, not over sweet like white wine usually is. I can't comment too much on it because I really was more interested in getting to the full bodied red.

The Hyland was my next selection, and it was exactly what is needed after the day I had. Rich and supple, not over the top, just satisfying. The vintage was a 2005, and here are some official tasting notes from the Penley web site. This wine would come home with me!!
I found the wine to be a rich purple color, pronounced nose of berries, and a little oak. It had a warming effect and I enjoyed it.

Next on the list was the Condor, a Shiraz - Cabernet meritage. Again, this is exactly what I needed. Strong yet balanced, great nose and beautiful inky purple color. It felt hedonistic in a way, like eating chocolate cake for brekkie....

On to a full Cab, The Phoenix. This wine added to the previous two reds I had tried. It was excellent to my novice palate, but then again, I drink what I like.

Kym kept us entertained while discussing wine, Austrailia, and reflections on life. Engaged for 16 yrs, and married for the last 18 months....there must be a story here, but i missed it.
His wife (sorry, I can't for the life of me remember her name) is a delightfull person , she is the artist behind the labels. Who knew an attorney could have creative abilities. Just kidding. She is an entertining person to talk with.

The last wine on the list was the Reserve.

From the Penley web site:

"This classic Australian red wine captures and enhances the distinctive characters of Coonawarra. These characters are highlighted by rich berry tones with a great length and depth of flavour. The complex characters of this wine show intensity and layered depth. To achieve this style it is important to have

harmony between fruit intensity, oak tannin, grape tannin and acid. The objective for the Penley Reserve cabernet sauvignon style is harmony and balance.
Inherent in the Penley style is soft balance but this should not detract from ageing potential. The wine is made with bottle age in mind. Intense tannin, acid and flavour components are elements required. It is a strong held belief that these components need to be in balance, not just in place, for a wine to mature in bottle."

I enjoyed this as well. It was a great way to end the tasting, with a true full bodied red. Complex with healthy overtones of ripe dark cherry, oak, and a hint of violet.

I had a few bottles signed, and took a picture of Kym signing the bottles for my wine cellar wall. Yes, it is a bit juvenile, but for me to show friends the bottle and the picture of the wine maker signing the bottle will be worth it.

Until next time, don't be a whacka whacka and keep a look out for the white pointers .

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A Good Wine From Spain

The right, you read that correctly. I had a good wine from Spain recently, from the region of Catalunya.

This wine is a value, priced at under $20.00. Full bodied, very consistent. Ruby color, cherry, plum and blackberry on the palate with a licorice finish.

A bit about Spain & Wine -

Spain is the third largest wine producing nation in the world, occupying the majority of the Iberian Peninsula with vast diversity in climate, culture, and of course, wine. From inky, dark reds of the [Priorat] to dry, white Finos from Andalusia, Spain can easily boast of elaborating a wide variety of notable styles.

Within Spain there are currently 62 demarcated wine regions, of which a handful have gained international recognition: [Rioja], Priorat and [Ribera del Duero]. Yet these regions are only a small sample of the high quality wines Spain produces.

Regions such as Cava, Penedes, Somontano, Galicia, Rueda and Jerez are only a few of the numerous regions worthy of exploration throughout Spain.

Spain can also lay claim to having the most land under vine in the world, growing up to, by some accounts, 600 indigenous varietals of which Tempranillo is their most well known. Other popular varietals include [Garnacha], Bobal and Monastrell for reds and for whites; the infamous Palomino Fino grape which is used in the production of sherry wine, Pedro Ximenez in Montilla Morilles, Albarino used in the creation of the bright, effervescent wines of Galicia, and Verdejo in Rueda. -

Source: - Catavino.net

Spain is not in the forefront of winemaking for its dessert wines, other than for its sweet wines from Sherry country including the highly revered Olorosos and Amontillados. But apart from Sherry, Spain has a range of styles of dessert wines, ranging from the those made from the Pedro Ximenez grape primarily in Jerez and Montilla-Moriles) to luscious, red dessert wines made in the Mediterranean from the Garnacha (Grenache) grape. Some good Moscatels are made in Mallorca, Alicante and Navarre.

The northwest corner of Spain, Galicia, with its bitter Atlantic climate, is even making dessert wines, called “Tostadillos” in the village of Ribadivia (similar to France’s “Vin de Paille”). The Canary Islands have made interesting dessert wines for centuries (they are mentioned by Shakespeare, for example) and in recent years the quality of winemaking has been improved and the Canary Islands wines are being better marketed now.

The winemaking styles for “Vinos Dulces” are also diverse, from “Late Harvest” (Vendimia Tardía) to “Fortified Wines” (Fermentación Parcial).

Based on in-spain.info.

2004 Bella's Garden - Barossa Shiraz

I recently found a bottle that is now safely resting in the new cellar.

#10 in the Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2006!

95 points and a Highly Recommended designation from the Wine Spectator: "Dark, deep and impressively focused, a massive wall of delicious fruit -- cherry, pomegranate, raspberry and red plum are among the first to appear -- tempered with refined tannins that let the flavors sail on and on through the extended finish. Best from 2007 through 2020. 1,500 cases imported."

(02/06) 94 pointd Robert Parker: "From the Barossa, the inky/ruby/purple-hued 2004 Shiraz Bella’s Garden offers notions of mint, blackberries, smoke, dusty earth, and a distinctive licorice and creme de cassis character.

This layered, full-bodied, powerful (all of these wines have 15-16% alcohol), stunningly complex, rich, impressive Shiraz requires 2-3 years of cellaring, and should keep for 10-15." (04/06)

Wine Cellar

The new wine cellar is almost complete. The only thing left to do are the floors. The celler can hold about 100 bottles now.

Coriole - Estate Shiraz

A recent visit to Seven Seas for a special occasion gave me the opportunity to try a very nicely aged Shiraz.

This bottle was from the 2000 vintage. The nose was excellent and offered a very pronounced fruit / berry aroma. The body was full, as you would expect from a heavier Shiraz with a dark purple color. The legs were long lasting the finish was about 20 seconds.

It paired excellent with the meal I was having which was a black pepper rubbed sirloin steak. The wine could stand up to the seasoning and then some.

I would recommend this wine to anyone who truly enjoys a full bodied red, just save room for dessert, because it was great with the Black Forest Torte I had.

Enjoy till next time......

Time To Update

It has been a while, and it is time to update the blog. This weekend I should have some pics of the new wine cellar, updates on recent purchases, and of course a review or two.

Movie and Wine Nite

If you were ever curious about the time when California wine was introduced to the civilized world, it was 1976. The movie Bottle Shock tells the story of a man and his dream. Create the perfect wine. I suggest you rent this movie to appreciate the struggles of wine makers of Napa Valley in the 70's. Or, just rent it, open a bottle of wine and make fun of the French. Either way, it is all good in the hood.


Synopsis:

Looking for a way to boost his failing Parisian wine shop, a snobbish Brit named Steven Spurrier (Alan Rickman) heads to California's Napa Valley, preparing for a tasting contest he has set up, pitting his favorite French wines against up-and-coming vintages from California. He assumes that a victory by the French wines will spur people to flock to his store, but he is surprised to find that the California wines are not quite as awful as he had imagined. He is especially intrigued by a Chardonnay made by Jim Barrett (Bill Pullman) and his son, Bo (Chris Pine), at Chateau Montelena, but Jim is a perfectionist who never thinks his wine is ready and does not want to be involved in the contest, believing it will be a circus and an excuse to embarrass the California wineries. He has a tense relationship with his son, an easygoing surfer dude who seems more interested in the summer intern, Sam (Rachael Taylor), than working in the family business. Meanwhile, the rest of the Napa Valley vintners are excited about participating in the contest, including Gustavo (Freddy Rodriguez), one of Jim's best employees, who is making his own wine on the side with Garcia (Miguel Sandoval). As Spurrier gets closer to deciding which California wines will be selected for the contest, friendships and families threaten to tear apart and love blossoms.



Based on a true story--Jim and Bo Barrett served as consultants on the film--BOTTLE SHOCK is a tasty treat, co written by husband-and-wife team Randall Miller and Jody Savin (with Ross Schwartz); Miller also serves as one of the editors and producers. Pullman is outstanding as the former corporate suit trying to live out his dream; the cast also includes Bradley Whitford and Eliza Dushku in small but important roles. The period soundtrack features several Doobie Brothers songs as well as 1970s tunes by America, Bad Company, and Foghat.




The wine I enjoyed while watching this movie is an everyday favorite of mine. Pillar Box Red. A nice simple red priced at the bargain price of $8.99 from Woodmans.



The formal review from:

Robert Parker, 91 points:


"The 2006 Pillar Box Red is 50% Shiraz, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 8% Merlot aged in a mix of used French and American oak. Purple-colored, it offers an enticing, fruity nose including aromas of cassis, black cherry, black raspberry, and blueberry. Full-bodied, ripe, and layered with flavor, this wine totally over-delivers on my hedonist’s meter. Drink this awesome value over the next 2-3 years. Pillar Box has a powerful pedigree; fruit sourced from Henry’s Drive and winemaking consultation from the renowned Chris Ringland." Best 2009-2013

My Review:

It reminds me of the early days when my wine palate was being developed during late nights of reggae,. This usually was the wine to open at 1:00am on a school night. Reason, responsibility, and recklessness came to mind at the same time, with recklesness usually winning. But that is what a full bodied red will do to you. Headonistic? Yes, Over the top? Yes.

Inky purple with legs of a gymnist. A powerful aroma with with true hints of acrimony and a little moral outrage, how can this be $8.99?

Buy it, stock up, enjoy for 2-3 more years.


Vin français est OK, le vin australien est mon favori

The Wine Advocate has just released the Australia issue, and all of the 2007 Mollydooker's were rated 90-98 points. We received the first, second, third, equal fourth and equal fifth highest scores of the 2007 Aussie wines! WhooHoo!Starting today, we're bringing back our Spring Shipping Included offer good on every12-btls shipped via UPS ground to your door. You can purchase full cases or mix-n-match too.Jay Miller from Robert Parker's The Wine Advocate reviews our 2007 wines: (We thought you'd also enjoy seeing the scores from the past two vintages which really helps show the consistent quality of our wines year after year... that's what Marquis Fruit Weight is really about.)
Lefty Wines - $25/btl

08 The Violinist Verdelho 90 pts (07 = 90 pts; 06 = 90 pts) "...the fragrant nose offers up notes of baking spices, pit fruits, melon, and floral aromas... creamy texture, ripe flavors, and excellent balance."

07 The Scooter Merlot 91 pts (06 = 91 pts first vintage)"This lengthy effort over-delivers for its modest price. It might even help restore Merlot's tattered reputation."

07 The Maitre D' Cabernet Sauvignon 92 pts (06 = 91 pts; 05 = 92 pts) "It reveals an enticing nose of spice box, scorched earth, smoke, black currant, and blackberry followed by a velvety-textured, layered, savory Cabernet with excellent depth and balance."

07 Two Left Feet Blend 93 pts (06 = 93 pts; 05 = 94 pts)"A glass-coating opaque purple... array of violets, scorched earth, smoke, black cherry, and blueberry ...loads of spicy, savory blue and black fruits, silky tannin, and a very long finish."

07 The Boxer Shiraz 93 pts (06 = 94 pts; 05 = 95 pts)"Dense and rich on the palate, it has layers of succulent fruit, lots of spice, and a lengthy finish. It is surprisingly elegant for its size."

Party Wines - $55/btl

07 Gigglepot Cabernet Sauvignon 94 pts (06 = 95 pts first vintage)"Super-concentrated, layered, and intense on the palate, it has a velvety texture, luscious flavors, and impeccable balance." Sold Out - Join the waiting list.

07 Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz 95 pts (06 = 96 pts first vintage) "Opulent on the palate, this glossy effort will evolve for another 1-2 years but can be enjoyed now and over the next decade."

Love Wines - $90/btl

07 Enchanted Path Shiraz/Cabernet 95+ pts (06 = 94 pts; 05 = 96 pts)"Purple/black colored, it has a brooding bouquet of spice box, toasty oak, mineral, espresso, black currant, and blueberry."

07 Carnival of Love Shiraz 96 pts (06 = 97 pts; 05 = 99 pts)"Opulent on the palate, this glossy Shiraz has serious depth of flavor, great concentration, excellent integration of oak, tannin, and acidity, and a pure, silky finish."

Velvet Glove - $185/btl

07 Velvet Glove Shiraz 98 pts (06 = 99 pts first vintage)"Voluptuous and sexy on the palate, this totally hedonistic effort has plenty of structure and a 60+ second finish. It will be difficult to keep one's hands off this beauty but it will drink well through 2027 for those who can withstand the seduction."

Mollydooker WOW!!

One of the reasons we love Sarah & Sparky so much is because they go to such lengths to ensure we have a WOW experience every time we open a bottle of Mollydooker.

This year that level of dedication means they've chosen not to bottle, and will not release any 2008 Velvet Glove, Carnival of Love, Enchanted Path, Blue Eyed Boy or Gigglepot in August simply because the fruit that would normally have gone into these wines didn't reach the required Marquis Fruit Weight level.

The great news, now that they've finished blending, is that much of the fruit from our best vineyards will be used in our Lefty wines which are, as you might imagine, shaping up to be awesome!

Fetish Wines

My two bottles of Fetish: The Watcher arrived this week. May have to bust into a bottle soon.

The clinical review....

Fetish is a joint venture between Joshua Tree Imports and noted winemaker Rolf Binder. The 2006 The Watcher Shiraz offers up a nose of wood smoke, tar, blueberry, and blackberry. This leads to a thick, structured wine with excellent layering of fruit, intense flavors, and a lengthy, fruit-filled finish. Give it 2-3 years to unfold and drink it through 2016."" Best 2009-2016

Winners Tank

I purchased this wine for $11.99 based on research done on the fly while shopping. Check out-

http://manageyourcellar.com/winecellar/do/Welcome

This is a great website to manage your cellar for free, yes free! It provides you with access to an extensive wine library and offers a mobile format or full html format to view.

OK, back to the wine. I opened it about an hour before the first taste. When I took the initial whiff from the bottle, I knew I would be pleased with the selection.

As with all true full bodied reds, I was careful not to rush this one into the glass and let it relax naturally, slowly massaging oxygen into the wine at a leisurely pace.

The first pour released an abundant nose and fragrances of dark berry, a bit of plum and perhaps a little black cherry. The color was an inky purple that coated the glass like lipstick on a white shirt collar, no escaping this red..... I thought to myself.

As I held is up to the light to look at the color in greater detail, it was if I were looking into a past life. It was dark and unknown in there, but it was going to be fun and not worth missing out by playing it safe.

The legs on this red were almost supernatural, powerful, long... wait long is not the correct word.....lingering, like the first awkward kiss........oops, check that.

The legs lasted for what would seem an eternity, enough said.

The flavor when I drank this was everything I had come to expected from a full bodied red: big, bold, angry, warming, smooth with hint of resistance. The finish was persistent, long and very pronounced.

Robert Parker rated this a 91, and called it a perennial "best buy".

I would have to agree, for $11.99 this is one red to let in and enjoy.

A wish list wine...Torbreck The Struie 2005

Its dense color is accompanied by a fragrant bouquet comprising blackberry, pepper and licorice aromas, and a rich, silky mouth feel.

The Struie greatly rewards those with the patience to carefully cellar it.

Wine Advocate The 2005 The Struie was sourced from cooler Eden Valley and Barossa Valley hillside vineyards. It is David Powell’s attempt to showcase the cooler side of the region. Vine age ranges from 46-110 years old. The wine was aged for 18 months in older French oak before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. It delivers a splendid bouquet of lead pencil, game, blueberry muffin, and blackberry liqueur. This is followed by an elegant Shiraz which is nevertheless full-bodied, dense, and richly flavored. Plush on the palate, it has superior depth and length and the structure to evolve for 6-8 years. Drink it through 2027. Score: 94. —Jay Miller, October 2007.

Wine Enthusiast This has a distinctly spicy, savory, meaty quality to its aromas, possibly due to the one-third of the blend that comes from Eden Valley. Those elements impart great complexity to this wine, building on its core of blackberry fruit. Like all the Torbreck wines, this shows a rich, layered texture and a long finish. Drink now–2020. Score: 93. —Joe Czerwinski, November 01, 2007.

Wine Spectator Smooth and round, with a distinct floral cast to the blueberry and plum flavors, finishing with a red pepper note and deft balance. The flavors are focused and juicy. Shiraz. Drink now through 2013. Score: 90. —Harvey Steiman, October 15, 2007.

The Quake

This beast ALMOST got the better of me one evening.....It is a bit over the top....15% on the alcohol level. Open it the night before or at least 3 hours and give this full bodied red ample time and space for proper breathing and such....

It does not sneak up on you, too big for that! Enjoy with a pizza loaded with garlic, peppers, garlic, and boursin cheese.


Don't drink it alone...Don't drink it in the dark....

But Drink It!

Waiting to Drink.....

A few more years for this one.....but I have two......perhaps sooner.

Supple in texture and deftly balanced despite its size, this is a big wine that dances smoothly on the palate, while showing off its rich cherry, blueberry and sweet spice flavors. The parts melt together seamlessly as the finish rolls on and on. Drink now through 2016.

The Boxer - 2007 Version

I have had the pleasure of enjoying more than one bottle of Mollydooker: The Boxer from 2007. I found it an excellent wine for $25.00.

A professional review of this wine-

90 pts - Wine Spectator

The compelling nose exhibits aromas of scorched earth, smoke, grilled bacon, blueberry compote, and blackberry liqueur. Full-bodied, thick and rich, this layered Shiraz is velvety-textured and opulent.

The finish lasts for nearly a minute. It is a sensational value. It can be enjoyed now but will evolve for several years.

Latest Purchase

I recently purchased a bottle of Amon-Ra, 2006 Shiraz.

I wont be able to share my experience as it relates to this wine for about 10 years, but here is what Robert Parker www.erobertparker.com could tell us.

"97-100 points Robert Parker: "Amon-Ra has become one of Australia’s icon wines. Made from 100% Shiraz sourced from vineyards ranging in age from 80-120 years and with microscopic yields of 0.5 tons per acre, the 2006 Amon-Ra was aged for 15 months in new French and American oak. The wine is a thick, glass-coating, purple/black in color. The aromas cover a wide range of scents including smoke, vanilla, pepper, Asian spices, coconut, espresso, blueberry, and chocolate. Thick, rich, layered, and complete, this monumental wine offers extraordinary intensity and length. It requires 10-15 years to fully evolve and should easily last through 2040. Hats off to Ben Glaetzer for producing an extraordinary portfolio! The renowned winemaker, Ben Glaetzer, sources all of his fruit for this label from the Ebenezer district in the northern Barossa.

Many knowledgeable experts cite this sub-region as the finest in the Valley." (10/07) " Best -2040

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