Mini Shirazfest

Mini Shirazfest
Before heading off on my little South Australian long weekend sojourn, I thought it only appropriate to warm up last week with a lineup of straight Shiraz (I was going to South Australia after all). So I lined up these likely looking reds tasted them over the course of about 6 hours, retrying numerous times (in renowned Walsh style) and attempting to place similar priced wines with each other.

As always there was a surprise or two, yet the underlying theme again was simply that of overt youth. Even 12 months bottle age would help every single one of these wines, no exceptions. It’s a tired line, but it would be nice to see more bottle age on $20 Australian Shiraz. Never going to happen though… 

Shiraz x 3

Chapel Hill Parsons Nose Shiraz 2010 (McLaren Vale, SA)
14.5%, Screwcap, $16
I’d be surprised if there isn’t any Viognier in this, such is the plummy lift. Plums, candied fruit, cherries. It’s all fruit. Palate is dry, mid palate driven and very juicy, just lacking the drive through the back palate. It’l settle more into it’s skin as it matures but the drive isn’t amazingly attractive. Tart acidity. Looks juicy and generous, but also very simple and ‘cheap tasting’. 16/87

George’s Exile Shiraz 2008 (Clare Valley, SA)
14.5%, Screwcap, $13
Big bottle and smart packaging makes this look more expensive than what it is. The price matches the quality though sadly, announced with an overripe nose, slightly lacking in freshness. A washed out nose. Palate has some seriously overripe fruit in this that looks to have been cut back with some winemaking trickery. Lacks enough freshness really. 15/83 

Shaw Winemakers Selection Shiraz 2008 (Canberra District)
14.5%, Screwcap, $16
3 Silver Medals. Good silver medal quality too. Star anise, black peppercorns and soy on the nose. Rather dry, chewy, slightly warm and medium bodied palate has nice black fruit flavours and a touch of twiggy bitterness on the finish. Lots of slightly chewy flavour and heart on the palate. Great value drinking at this price. Proper cool climate spice too. Good. 17.2/90

Nepenthe Shiraz 2009 (Adelaide Hills, SA)
14%, Screwcap, $20
Looking rather thick, glossy and rich with particularly prominent French oak. Vanillan oak gloss all over the nose too along with raspberry fruit. There’s substance to the palate but also a fair dose of oak. I eventuallay came down slightly in the wines favour as it doesn’t lack heart, just needs a little less edifice and a little time. 16.8/89+ 

Pyren Broken Quartz Shiraz 2009 (Pyrenees, Vic)
13.9%, Screwcap, $18-20
Glace, super ripe fruit nose, but still with freshness. Fresh red berries. Juicy, fraction overripe palate has lots of red fruit and is impressively vibrant and light. Yes to the drinking fun here! 16.9/89 

Mcguigan ‘The Shortlist’ Shiraz 2009 (Barossa, SA)
14%, Screwcap, $29
Concentrated, raspberry juice/oak amalgam nose. Very youthful, just out of barrel nose. Slightly volatile. A little hard to call now, give the youth. A little overripe perhaps but not badly. Lots of wood. Long, oaky, but ultimatley hearty and solid Barossan Shiraz palate. Proper length too. Plenty to like and more to come. 17.6/91+

Tintilla Reserve Shiraz 2007 (Hunter Valley, NSW)
13.5%, Screwcap, $30
Hello Hunter dirt! Super regional style this, overlaid with sweet vanillan French oak, and a rather rich mid palate. It’s a little bound up in itself, but you just know this will be looking good in five more years time. Proper Hunter Shiraz style, with fine grained, gritty tannins and a earthen medium bodied style that will absolutely appeal to Hunter fans. I liked it. 17.7/92+

Galafrey Reserve Shiraz 2006 (Mt Barker, WA)
12.5%, Screwcap, $35
Welcome back Shiraz! Earthern, mushroom, slow cooked beef, peppercorns nose. Distinct and mature, interesting stuff! Varietal! Soft, grainy and slightly oak driven palate is savoury, lean and meaty, the tannins quite precise and full, the finish proper and varietal. I like this. It’s a smidgen divisive I think but much to like. Proper conviction behind it. 17.9/93+