Ata Rangi Crimson Pinot Noir 2008

I don't recall previously tasting an Ata Rangi wine, but they appear to be extremely well regarded.  This wine revealed a classic cherry aroma, with a creamy note.  The palate had both flavour and elegance.  A good wine.  83+ points.

Abv: 14%
Price: $30.99
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: http://www.atarangi.co.nz/

Two Paddocks Picnic Pinot Noir 2008

From the wine estate owned by the red meat guy, Sam Neill ... (apologies to non-Australian readers who don't "benefit" from Australian free to air television advertising).  A quite animal like aroma, which resolved to cherries, crushed rocks and herbs.  A pleasant palate with a bit of length.  83 points.

Price: $28.99
Abv: 13.5%
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
website: http://twopaddocks.com/

Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz 2005

Clonakilla's well priced 2005 Hilltops shiraz has been ageing away at home for a few years now, and is frankly, starting to get very interesting.  It has developed a rather wonderful aroma of herbs, leather and red fruits, and pepper with a bit of time in the glass.  The palate has a bit of length, with good fruit, and peppery notes. 87+ points.

Price: low $20s
Abv: 14%
Source: mailing list
Website: http://www.clonakilla.com.au/

Waipara Hills Soul of the South Pinot Noir 2008

An aroma of cherries and chalk.  It smelt rather good - could this be a great value pinot noir?  Alas, the palate was rather plain.  80 to 81 points.

Abv: 13%
Price: $16.90
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: http://www.waiparahills.co.nz/

Palliser Estate Pencarrow Pinot Noir 2008

This wine had a most unusual aroma: it bore a more than passing resemblance to the dust that flys off the broom when I sweep our garage.  With time in the glass, some herbs also became apparent.  The palate, remarkably, had a similar dry dust character.  I'm afraid I just didn't really like this wine, and have not to date tasted a pinot noir resembling it.  Maybe it was a bad bottle.  75 to 76 points.

Abv: 13.5%
Price: $15.90
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: http://www.palliser.co.nz/

Brumfield Stone Oak Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

This wine from a likeable tiny producer in the Yarra Valley had an aroma of light oak and elegant fruit, and a palate which was initially slightly plain with a touch of spritz, but settled down to reveal some plainish restrained fruit.  On day 2, I thought the wine better, with a more elegant palate and cedary notes coming through.  Ok.  81 points.

Abv: 13%
Website: http://www.brumfield.com.au/
Price: $19
Source: cellar door

Summerfield Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

I've previously enjoyed cabernets from this producer, finding them well made, with good fruit and good value.  I was a bit troubled by this vintage though.  Near black in colour, it revealed an aroma of intense oak and juicy black fruits, and tended towards a chocolatey note.  The palate was quite closed, with an undercurrent of rich, intense spices and berries, and some length.  It didn't go particularly well with lamb (I found it a bit overpowering), which was a surprise.  I think it hopefully just needs more time.  83? points.

Abv: 14.5%
Price: $23
Source: cellar door
Website: http://www.summerfieldwines.com/

Angus the Bull Cabernet Sauvignon 2008

At a time when regionality is fast becoming accepted wisdom, it is perhaps brave to have on the shelf a "South Eastern Australia" wine retailing for around $25.  It would want to be good.  This wine unfortunately was not to my palate: it had a leafy varietal aroma, but a plain taste somewhat reminiscent of tomato stalks.  Uninteresting.  76 points.

Abv: 14.5%
Price: $23.99 (I've quoted Vintage Cellar's single bottle price; it frustrates me that they give such prominence to their "dozen" price in advertising)
Source: retail (Vintage Cellars)

The decline of wine writing?

Many of you will probably have read the article entitled "Writers, Bloggers & Tweeters" by Andrew Corrigan MW in the July/August 2010 edition of "Winestate" magazine.  Though there were some balancing remarks, the article was generally quite critical of wine blogging sites.  Critical points to flow from the article include:

• commentators and readers of blogs are not time-poor and have a prediliction for cheaper wines;
• the reviews are very long with lots of personal lifestyle comment;
• the reviews are not very good - they are usually gushing in enthusiasm and technically poor;
• a user can't get a relative rating;
• some tend to rubbish older wine commentators for "not getting it"; and
• there is more interest in telling a personal story, than recording useful information.

I think the difficulty with this sort of generalised criticism, is that it is very easy to be wrong.  It doesn't explain why established wine writers also use the blog medium (eg James Halliday in Australia (http://australianwinecompanion.blogspot.com/) and Andrew Jefford in the UK (http://www.andrewjefford.com/blog/)).  It also seems a little unfair to infer that wine blogs will generally share these faults: I see no logical reason why many of the same faults couldn't or wouldn't apply to other forms of more traditional wine media.  Like any media, in my humble opinion, it's up to the user to form their own view as to its usefulness and adjust their intake accordingly.

For what it's worth, for the most part, I find the online wine reviews I read to be useful, factual (sure in some cases are occasionally a bit long - but that doesn't really matter), offer a relative rating, review wines from all price points (or at least if one wine review doesn't, another will) and technically around the same level (and certainly not worse) than the reviews that I read in more traditional media publications.  To me at least, individual online wine reviews are also an improvement on the boring "faceless" group or "wine show" style wine reviews that appear at the back of many traditional wine media publications that I always skip over: I actually like to get a sense of the particular reviewers' soft spots and prejudices over time - for me, it leads to a more accurate assessment.  I've also read many grandiose descriptions of howling wines in traditional wine magazines too!  I also don't see a lot of "rubbishing" of other commentators or older commentators.  Indeed, I probably tend towards the opposite - why not benefit from others' experience?

Perhaps this is because I like to read everything I can about wine, no matter what form it comes in - books, magazines, newspapers and online.  Perhaps though there is some merit in a lot of these sites, and it must be said that the medium facilitates the expression of a greater variety of wine opinion and stops wine reviewing being the exclusive preserve of the necessarily few who write for traditional media publications. Therefore, at least in my humble opinion, the position as put by Mr Corrigan is not so clear cut.

Chateau Chantemerle 2007

This wine is not Chateau Cantemerle from Haut Medoc and of "entry level" grand cru fame, but Chateau Chantemerle: an estate from the Medoc region that I'd not yet tried.  The sort of potentially missed subtle difference that I honestly dread in writing up wine reviews.  Now to the wine: a blend of 50% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot and 5% cabernet franc and petit verdot, it had an overt oaky aroma, but was marred on the palate by a bitter, stalky note.  Apparently chasing a modern style, this wine is not really recommended even at the price.  78 points.

Price: $24
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Abv: 13%

Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio 2008

This pinot grigio from the northern Italy DOCG of Valdadige was really quite pleasant, with an aroma of almonds, and a palate reminiscent of almonds and pears.  Great value.  84 points.

Abv: 12%
Price: $13.90
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: http://www.santamargherita.com/en/pinot_grigio_valdadige

Tahbilk Marsanne 2000

Tahbilk's 2000 vintage of its marsanne revealed a rather remarkable fresh, yet oxidative, aroma of nuts and oil.  Amazing.  Yet, so rarely in my experience, a wonderful aroma led to a disappointing palate, with a persistent slightly unpleasant elevated acidity marring otherwise pleasant flavours.  80 points.

Price: $33.30
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: http://www.tahbilk.com.au/

Tahbilk Marsanne 2009

Tahbilk and marsanne go "hand in hand".  The 2009 vintage revealed a distinctive aroma of lemon rind, apricots and sweet nectarines.  The palate was similar, with a touch of length.  A very interesting wine for the price. 84 points.

Price: $10
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: http://www.tahbilk.com.au/

Tahbilk Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

I don't usually expect much from cabernet at the $15 price point, but Tahbilk's 2006 cabernet sauvignon proved an exception with an aroma of dusty fruit, and a similar palate with a bit of length and acidity.  For $14, it's very good.  83 to 84 points.

Abv: 14.5%
Price: $14
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: http://www.tahbilk.com.au/

Carpineto Chianti Classico 2008

This new release Chianti Classico from Carpineto had an aroma of savoury spices and cherries.  The palate showed some tannins, but lacked a bit of density for my palate. I really love sangiovese based wines, and this wine fits my theory that it is necessary to taste chianti classico wines "one by one" to try to find winners, rather than being able to rely on any particular labels or producers.  While this one is a well made and pleasant wine, I was hoping for more.  82 points.

Abv: 13%
Price: $19.90
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)

Tahbilk Shiraz 2006

I've not previously tried any of Tahbilk's non-marsanne wines, and I wasn't expecting much from a $14 wine.  However, I was really surprised by this wine.  An aroma of plums, with a touch of oak, was accompanied by a palate with nice length, notes of plums and slightly powdery tannins.  A bargain.  85 points.

Abv: 14%
Price: $14
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)
Website: http://www.tahbilk.com.au/

Paul Sapin Cuvee Prestige Les Genetieres Beaujolais 2007

This wine had a pleasant fruity aroma, and a rather plain, but pleasant palate.  82 points.

Price: about $10
abv: 12%
Source: retail (Dan Murphy's)

Long Gully Estate Cabernet

In the spirit of posting notes on all wines that I review, this wine was tasted out of a 187ml bottle, with no vintage given, and a recommendation on the back that the wine shouldn't be kept long.  Rather refreshing honesty, I thought!   To my surprise, this wine was really quite pleasant.  The wine had an aroma of blackberries, and a touch of oak.  The palate had some pleasant length and was enjoyable.  The second bottle appeared to be from a different vintage, and had much more evident oak treatment, so I preferred the first wine.  Nonetheless, the wines were sufficiently interesting that I'll try to source a few normal bottles from this producer, and see if it's a new source of affordable and decent Yarra Valley cabernet, as it appears to be. 84 points.

abv: 13%av
website: http://www.longgullyestate.com/ 

d'Arenberg The Peppermint Paddock Chambourcin 1998

Well, I don't think I've even seen a bottle of Chambourcin wine, let alone reviewed one.  So, upon presentation, I immediately had to type away on the iPhone to try to work out what this grape variety was and where it was from.  A quick search revealed it to be a hybrid variety of largely unknown parentage that is forbidden for use as a quality wine in Europe, although more helpfully it was noted as being devoid of the "foxy" taste that is said to mar many of the American grape varieties and other hybrids.  Ok then, so maybe not the best start.  What then of the wine?  Here was the surprise: this wine had a classy, almost compelling, aroma of chocolate and old leather.  The aroma reminded me of an old Hermitage.  The palate did not disappoint either with similar flavours and some quite good length.  Remarkable.  88 to 89 points.

Chapoutier Les Meysonniers Crozes Hermitage 2007

This Chapoutier wine from Crozes-Hermitage in the northern Rhone Valley had an aroma of fresh red fruit, herbs and a touch of pepper.  The palate was balanced and pleasant.  Not an outstanding wine, but the bottle disappeared quickly.  84 points.

Source: restaurant
Price: around $60 (at restaurant)

Paul Mas Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

This darkly coloured wine had an aroma of herbs and lavender, and a palate with sweet fruit, a slight herbal note, and a slight tinned note.  The palate even had some length, but I wondered whether there was a touch of residual sugar, as there was a slight confected note at the very end of the finish.  Tasted the next day, the wine was quite enjoyable.  82 points.

Price: about $15
Abv: 13.5%

Chateau Clauzet 2005

Yet another excellent wine from the 2005 vintage.  This wine, from a producer I'd not previously tried, had an aroma of spices and blackcurrant, and a palate with length, blackfruits, tannins and good structure.  I really enjoyed this wine.  A blend of 55% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot and the remaining 10% cabernet franc and petit verdot.  89 to 90 points.

Abv: 13%
Source: restaurant

Moulin de Gassac 2008

An aroma of herbs and fresh fruit.  The palate was a bit "sharp" at points, with a slight tinned note, but to be honest, it wasn't bad for the price.  A blend of syrah, grenache, carignan and cinsault.  80 points.

Abv: 12.5%
Source: retail
Price: about $12

Ilico Montelpuciano d'Abruzzo 2007

This darkly coloured wine had an aroma of earth, with some jammy notes.  The palate was chalky with tannins evident, as well as ripe fruit and a bit of length.  A fairly interesting wine for the price.  82 points.

Abv: 13.5%
Price: about $14

Domaine de Durban Muscat de Beaumes de Venise 2006

I tasted this wine nearing the end of a very pleasant lunch, and it went spectacularly well with a tarte tatin by complementing its sweetness.  The wine had an aroma of dried raisins, and a similar palate with quite remarkable, and delicate, length.  Impressive.  89 points.

Source: restaurant

The Schnell Magpie Estate Shiraz Grenache 2007

This wine had an aroma of plums and spices, with a palate showing notes of butter, a bit of length and oak.  A pleasant "drink now" kind of wine.  82 points.

Abv: 14%
Price: $17.99
Website: http://www.rolfbinder.com/

Chateau Martinon 2006

This very well priced basic Bordeaux had an aroma of ripe blackcurrants with a touch of herbs.  The palate was pleasant, with nice length, some grippy and noticeable tannins and was in balance.  A blend of 75% merlot, 15% cabernet sauvignon and 10% cabernet franc.  Very pleasant, particularly at the price.  84 to 85 points.

Price: $55 at a restaurant, but I've since seen it for $21 at www.bordeauxshippers.com.au

Henri Boillot Premier Cru Les Poruzots 2005

From the 2005 vintage, this well made wine had an aroma of flint, soft smoke and citrus, and a palate with nice, solid citrus fruit and length.  Very good.  87 to 88+ points.

Source: retail
Price: $215

Vidal Fleury Cotes du Rhone 2006

Vidal Fleury's 2006 Cotes du Rhone had an aroma of graphite, game and a slightly horsey note.  The palate was similar with acidity and tannins evident and a bit of length.  That all said, it was basically "ok" and not much more.  81 to 82 points.

Source: retail
Price: about $20
abv: 13%

Frederic Mangien Chambolle-Musigny 2005

Here is the last note from my marathon Burgundy tasting session. I confess my handwriting had deteriorated somewhat at this point, but this wine from the 2005 vintage had an aroma of red fruits, and a palate with cherries and a bit of length. Not bad. 84 to 85 points.

Source: retail
Price: $130

Frederic Magnien Nuits-Saint-Georges 2005

Nuits-Saint-Georges is a large commune, and is located here:


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This wine presented extremely well, with an aroma of cherries and graphite, and a palate with cherries and length. I was a little worried about a slight bitter edge (though I thought I tasted it, I wasn't convinced it was there upon re-examination), and would have scored the wine even higher but for that. The pick of the red Burgundy bracket. 89 points.

Source: retail

Price: $120