Australia, Mate!
Opening Wine
2012 Frisk Prickly Riesling, Victoria Around $12
Light and fruity, with a nose of pear and cactus. Lightly sweet, but not cloying, good refreshing acidity to balance the flavors. Has a bit of fizz, nice little opening wine
2007 Oliver Hill Shiraz, Clarendon Around $16
Nice deep color, fruity nose with a little bubble gum mixed in. Broad red fruit flavor, jammy with cherry cola hints. Nice balance, not much tannin left in the mix.
Red Wine #2
2008 Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Quartage, Barossa Around $20
Good dark color and a red fruit nose. Flavors of red berry, violets and hints of tobacco and herbs. A Claret styled wine with nice balance but not much tannin, slightly short aftertaste. Blend with Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Shiraz.
2006 Elderton Cabernet, Barossa Around $22
More mature Cabernet, color lighter than the other wines. Nice nose of red berry; somewhat laid back style of cab with red berry, hints of cherry, gun metal and tinges of green pepper. Nice balance ut not much tannin left; decent length aftertaste.
2008 Penfolds Cabernet –Shiraz South Australia Bin 389 Around $36
Deep dark color, slightly closed nose of dark berry and loamy earth. Almost astringent on first taste, weighty in the mouth, with flavors of dark berry fruit, gun metal, herbs and tar. Long finish with compacted tannins, took a while to open up in the glass – I’d wait another year or five on this one.
Great tasting, enjoyed with 60 of my close friends. Keep popping corks and I'll meet you out behind the grapevines!
