AWS Big Ausie Reds Tasting Notes

Read notes below for details of tasting or mouse over bottles in picture for highlights

The Big Aussie Red tasting was another really good event. Dick put together a wide range of Aussie reds that lived up to the title of the tasting. And yes, there is a lot more to down under wines than Shiraz. We tasted nine wines. All wines were tasted blind with no hints other than that they were from Australia (which we soon found out was not totally true). I have included my notes below (Dean Mitchell). If you have any notes to add please use the tasting feedback form. Special thanks to Chuck and Rita for hosting this wonderful event. 14 of us got a real treat. After the tasting we all got a chance to taste Chuck's Mexican Beef dish served over rice. That along with the "Big American Chocolate" brownies were a perfect way to end a wonderful evening. Note* BQ - Best Quality Votes BV - Best Value Votes

2003 Craneford Merlot - Barossa Valley ($32.99) (BQ - 0, BV - 0)

Rich puple color, fruit explodes out of the glass, spicy dark fruit that is mouth filling. Nice forward fruit but seems a bit one dimensional. Finishes very long and nice. If more of the mid-pallet was present this would be on the verge of a great wine.

Now that I know this was almost 100% Merlot I have to admit this is one of the better Merlot's I have tasted since I had a Pride Merlot almost 6 months ago.

2002 Paracombe Cabernet Franc - Adelaide Hills ($36.99) (BQ - 0, BV - 3)

Dark reddish/purple in color, Herbal notes with hints of blackberry and blueberry. Not a shiraz like wine at all. At first it was dominated by green pepper but this diminished as it sat in the glass. Very pleasent wine but lacks any real finish.

I probably should have guessed the prominent grape was Cab Franc but I was not really expecting it in this tasting. After an hour in the glass the complexity of the wine did improve but the finish did not.

2001 Te Mata "Woodthorpe" Cabernet Merlot - Hawkes Bay ($49.99) (BQ - 0, BV - 0)

Rich puple color, blackberry fruit, Spicy notes in the taste. Seems just slightly fleshy in the mouth but has nice fruit flavor. Structure of the wine is excellent and the finish is long but not exciting. This wine was the least favorite of many people attending the tasting.

When I found out this was a ringer (New Zealand) wine I was surprised. I have not had a lot of reds from this area that were not Pinot Noir. This is a very well made wine that should get better in a couple of years.

2001 Joseph "Moda" Cabernet/Merlot - Mclaren Vale ($44.99) (BQ - 3, BV - 1)

Rich deep purple, raisin/plum aromas. Medium oak earthiness to the wine. The earthiness carried into the flavor along with a nuttiness. Coffee and Chocolate notes added to the complexity of this wine. Very long finish. This wine seems very different from what I have experienced in Aussie reds. Would love to taste this wine in a couple of years.

After finding out that the grapes are dried on straw in the Amarone fashion to concentrate the flavours it really made sense. If they are trying to get the feel of an Amarone they have done an excellent job. Put it in any Itialian tasting and I don't think many will pick this out as being from down under.

1998 Penfolds "Kalimna" Bin 28 Shiraz - South Australia ($19.99) (BQ - 6, BV - 24)

Deep purple. chocolate notes jumped out of the glass when first poured. A lot was going on in the aroma of this wine and because of it's complexity made it hard to distinguish any single characteristic. As it sat in the glass it began to remind me of chocolate covered cherries. Finished with a lingering flavor of plum.

Wow, what a value. I see why some call it "Baby" Grange

1999 Penfolds Grange - South Australia ($225.99) (BQ - 6, BV - 0)

Dark purple wine with great viscosity, Very Big nose intense with berries and oak, reminds a bit of a great California cab but is obviously Shiraz. Bit of an earthiness to it with tar and anise flavors. This wine defines the name of our tasting (Big Aussie Reds). Needs a couple of years to smooth out the rough edges and tannins. Very deep, long finish.

Have to admit this wine showing up this early in the tasting surprised me. Usually, even in the blind tastings, Dick has the better wines as one of the last few. Not sure I would pay the money for this wine but it will be a great wine in 10 years.

2003 Marquis Philips Shiraz 9 - McLaren Vale - Padthaway ($39.99) (BQ - 9, BV - 5)

Rich purple color, first thing I noticed was that caramel aromas, very sweet at first than went toward that Starbuck's smell you get when they are making a caramel flavored expresso. The sweetness was not as evident in the taste as it moved to more of a smoky salami in the mouth. This seemed like a very classic Australian Shiraz. Finished just a bit on the bitter side.

This was a favorite wine among many of the tasters which I would have expected since it has the characteristics I bet a lot of people were expecting from these wines.

2000 Greg Norman Reserve Shiraz - Barossa Valley ($42.99) (BQ - 16, BV - 9)

Very dark purple, vanilla oak aroma with layers of berry (blackberry) fruit. Dill and black pepper were also present. Very long finish of dark fruit and chocolate.

This is another wine that needs a few years to show it's best.

2003 Coriole "Lloyd Reserve" Shiraz - McLaren Vale ($54.99) (BQ - 1, BV - 0)

Very deep purple, first thing to hit you out of the glass was the smoky oak and tobacco. Reminded you a bit of an used ashtray. Not usually a compliment but it was not repulsive. The intensity blew off leaving woody berry notes. A very complex full bodied wine. On the taste the oak and tobacco was present but there was also a bit of caramel sweetness. This wine has plenty of life and a good future to look forward too.

Other than that first blast of smoky tobacco this wine has a lot to offer. Many people at the tasting did not find this to be a pleasent wine.