Two wines from a little known South Australian wine region, the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Minko Pinot Noir 2005 (Southern Fleurieu, SA)
$20, Screwcap, 14.0%
Winery website

Minko apparently have a cellar door smack bang in the middle of Willunga, though the wines come from Mt Compass on the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Lightly tawny, mahogany red in colour, this shows a slightly volatile, creamy, red berry & iced coffee nose that smells more Shiraz than Pinot (or did I mix my glass up?) . The palate follows this again with rich, slightly warm, red stewed plum fruit & nary a forest floor in site. More of a dry red, this finishes with some alcohol heat and oak tannins on the tail.

Distinctively un Pinot like, I wasn’t particularly convinced, though as a dry red its ok. 16.0

Minko Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2004 (Southern Fleurieu, SA)
$19, Screwcap, 14.5%

I have to confess that I know very little about the Fleurieu Peninsula. Aside from the trails of Kuitpo, I know zilch. On the wine side, Brian Croser is said to be doing smart things on the Peninsula and Mt Jagged have impressed on occasion (particularly the sparkling red) but thats where it stops. Anyone else fill me in on the Peninsula lowdown?

Back to the wine. Deep red in colour, the nose shows dusty, vegetal tomato leaf & pencil shavings Cabernet varietal characters. The palate starts with a burst of fruit richness but from here on in it descends into a mix of over and underripe flavours that are drying out with age, finishing hot and oak tannic. Average. 15.2