Tasting note: Langmeil "Three Gardens" SMG 2009

Here is a nice wine that shows the strength of blending.

I am a big fan of grenache blends and this is a good one.

It comes from Langmeil Winery in the Barossa.  Three different vineyards are used, combining the assets of these sites into a savoury, interesting wine.

It isn't too hard on the pocketbook, and is available at BC Liquor Stores and some private outlets as well.

"Medium garnet color.  Meaty, earthy aromas combine with roasted plum and raspberry jam scents on the nose.  Medium bodied, showing bright acidity right away, with raspberry and plum again revealing themselves, all flowing into a spicy finish.  Still young and tight, but opens up nicely with time in the glass. Very tasty, indeed.  Highly recommended."  14.5%, Stelvin, $28.

www.langmeilwinery.com.au

-Randy Saunders

Tasting Note: Vinaceous "Raconteur" Cabernet Sauvignon 2009

Vinaceous Raconteur Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa 2009

Here is an interesting new release available in the BCLDB.  

This wine must have one of the most whimsical labels to come from Australia in a long time.  The wine in the bottle, however, is serious stuff.

Vinaceous is the relatively new venture of Michael Kerrigan of Hay Shed Hill and Nick Stacey of West Cape Howe, both in Western Australia.

The Vinaceous wines, however, are from various places across South Australia, selected as "the best regions suited to the chosen varietals".

Vinaceous "Raconteur" Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 is a full-throttle Barossa Cabernet, a pleasurable wine at a price that isn't too hard on the wallet.

"Deep garnet color.   Rich nose shows ripe cassis, vanilla, and baking spices.  Very fresh, plush, and ripe on entry; sweet fruit flows over the palate, with dark chocolate appearing on the long finish.  Fuller bodied, but not jammy or hot - has decent balance, with mild acid and tannins.  A delicious, fruit forward, "Drink Me Now" style.  Very tasty."  Recommended.  14.5%, Stelvin, and only $22 at BC Liquor Stores.

Check out the website at www.vinaceous.com.au, it's just as whimsical as the labels.

-Randy Saunders

Tasting Note - Bleasdale "The Old Press" Cabernet Malbec 2006

The Potts family has been making wine in the Langhorne Creek region of South Australia since the 1860's, making Bleasdale the second longest running family owned winery in Australia, after Yalumba.

Their wines always seem to provide excellent value for money, and this wine continues that tradition.

Cabernet and Malbec have been blended together for some time in Australia, particularly in this region and also in the Clare Valley.  Bleasdale "The Old Press" Cabernet Malbec Langhorne Creek 2006  shows the brilliance of this combination.  I highly recommend it.

"Deep garnet color.  High-toned aromas of cassis, smoke and blueberry preserves on the nose.  Medium bodied, with good fruit concentration.  Provides a very polished and silky feeling on the palate, showing flavors of dark fruits with a hint of minerality.  Chocolate comes through on the long, refreshing finish.  Wonderful blend, tastes really great.  Ready to go right now."  76% Cabernet, 24% Malbec.  14.5%, Stelvin.

Available at Kitsilano Wine Cellar for the extremely fair price of $23.

www.bleasdale.com.au

-Randy Saunders

Tasting Note: Middle of Everywhere Shiraz 2006

Well, here's a label I simply couldn't leave in the store.  My thinking was that if the wine in the bottle was anywhere near as interesting as the label was, I would have something worth drinking.

Upon closer examination, I discovered that Ad Hoc "Middle of Everywhere" Shiraz Frankland River 2006 is made by Larry Cherubino.  Larry has extensive winemaking experience, first with Hardy's Tintara, then with Houghton in Western Australia, and now is on his own producing wines of distinction.  Along the way he also spent some time as a "Flying Winemaker" in many regions of the world.

Larry has received many awards for his work, culminating with his winery recently being named "Winery of the Year" in James Halliday's Wine Companion 2011.

This wine is very sophisticated in style.  It is somewhat different than what you might expect an Aussie Shiraz to be, however, I think that wines like this will help redefine what can be done with wine in Australia.

"Medium garnet color.  Meaty, earthy scents emanate from the glass, along with white pepper, smoke, and plum jam.  Medium bodied, elegant, and refreshing, this bone dry wine has excellent structure and refinement.  Chocolate comes out on the long finish, accompanied by fine tannins.  Northern Rhone body double.  Excellent.  Ready to go right now. "  14.5%, Stelvin, $28.

Available at Everything Wine and other private outlets.

- Randy Saunders

www.larrycherubino.com

Tasting Note: Frisk "Prickly" Riesling 2010

Here is an interesting new release.

Australian wine makers continue to re-invent themselves in a competitive marketplace, and this wine is a great example of this type of Aussie wine ingenuity.

Frisk "Prickly" Riesling 2010 is the from the Alpine Valleys subregion of Victoria.  The upper reaches of the valleys provide one of the coolest grape growing areas on the Australian continent.  It is here that the grapes for this wine are harvested early, then made into an off-dry, low alcohol style of Riesling.

This wine is really fun - and really quite good.  I can see it paired with Indian or Thai food, or your favorite cheeses.  Or, simply chilled down and then sipped on the patio on a warm summer evening.

"Pale straw color.  Scents of honey, flowers and lemon on the aromatic nose.  Lightly effervescent, with lemon and peachy fruit on the off dry palate.  Has a slightly syrupy, luscious mouthfeel, with a bit of acid binding things together.  Fresh and fruity, fun and easy to drink.  Only 9% alcohol, Stelvin.  Perfect summer party wine."

Available with wide distribution in the BCLDB, and for only $15 it provides great value.  The packaging is very attractive and you'll be happy to put this bottle on your table.

www.friskwines.com

- Randy Saunders

Tasting note: A tale of two Xanadu's

Xanadu is in the Margaret River area of Western Australia.  In 2005 this winery was purchased by the Rathbone Family (who also own Yering Station, Mount Langi Ghiran, and Parker Coonawarra Estate), and since then the wines have gone from strength to strength.

Margaret River is one of Australia's greatest areas for Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines.  Comparisons are often made with Bordeaux, but the region is a bit warmer and drier than Bordeaux and the wines generally show a riper, more immediate appeal.

Recently, Western Australia has had a string of superb vintages, starting with the 2007 wines, and we are fortunate to have a couple of good examples available in our local marketplace.

The first wine we are featuring today is Next of Kin Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River 2008.  This is Xanadu's entry-level wine, but it is made by the same team as their icon wines and it has estate grown fruit, including a bit of Merlot.  The wine even received 30% new oak treatment.  Don't be scared away by the price point; it provides excellent value and drinks well above it's $16 price tag.

"Medium Ruby color.  Clean nose offer cedar pencil and blackcurrant.  Medium bodied, showing good varietal definition, with ripe cassis flavors that flood the palate.  Bright acidity and fine tannins provide structure.  Nice finish too.  Very good and recommended."  14%, Stelvin.  Available at BC Liquor Stores and many private outlets too.

Our next wine is Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River 2008.  Same vintage, but this wine is a notch above the first one, with richer and fuller flavors.  A new release in BC Liquor Stores, it is mostly Cabernet, with 9% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot blended in.  This wine is superb.

"Garnet color.  Lovely high-toned nose shows pure cassis and a whiff of oak.  Bright acidity mates well with blackcurrant and a touch of mint, flowing onto a very lengthy finish with the finest of tannins.  This is a polished, sophisticated wine that is utterly delicious.  Excellent.  Could be cellared for a few years, but why bother?  It's mighty fine right now."  14%, Stelvin.  Priced at $25 in BC Liquor Stores.

It is interesting to note that these wines sell for less here than they do in Australia!  Enjoy them while they are priced right.....

- Randy Saunders

Tasting Note: Yalumba Organic Shiraz 2010

Now here is a little gem that I found hiding in the "Organic" section of my local Signature store.

Yalumba Organic Shiraz South Australia 2010 is a new release and I decided to try it.  I am glad that I did.

The price point was very attractive so I couldn't leave it in the store.  After finishing the bottle, I checked my receipt to make sure I wasn't mistaken about the price I remembered.  I wasn't.  And I actually went back to buy another one to be sure it was as good as I thought.  And it was.

So then I dug a little deeper.  My research revealed that the wine is made using organic winemaking techniques, is wild yeast fermented, with very little intervention in the process.  The grapes come from three family owned, organically certified vineyards in South Australia.

Sounds expensive, doesn't it?

"Ruby color. Smells like ripe plums, with a whiff of white pepper.  Blueberry and a hint of dark chocolate come forward on a nicely fruity palate.  Medium bodied with some fine tannins.  Bright acidity adds a zesty component.  This wine is really young and tight right now but it benefits from air, opening up nicely.  Flavors and finish both last.  Very Syrah and Very Good."  14.5%, Stelvin.

So how about only $17 at BC Liquor Stores?  It's a steal.  And I highly recommend it.

-Randy Saunders

Tasting Note: Gemtree Bloodstone Shiraz 2009

Gemtree Vineyards is a family owned enterprise in McLaren Vale.  The Buttery family owns 330 acres of vineyards and they embrace organic production methods.  They are currently trialling biodynamic management of their vineyards.

I have tasted the past few vintages of this wine and I would say that the newly available 2009 vintage is probably the most refined one so far, so watch for it.

"Deep garnet color.  Nose presents ripe plum, with herbs and floral notes.  Plum flavors continue onto the medium-bodied palate, with blueberry and semi-sweet chocolate complimenting.  Moderate acidity has a balancing effect on the slightly dusty tannins - everything works well together.  Refreshing and very tasty, with good purity and length.  14%, Stelvin closure."

The Bloodstone Shiraz 2009 is 100% Shiraz.  It spent 14 months in French oak and offers a super value at $19; available at BC Liquor Stores and some private outlets.

-Randy Saunders

Tasting Note: Yalumba "The Cigar" 2009

Recently, the BCLDB had a special release of over 20 wines from Australia's First Families of Wine, a group of iconic family-owned wineries from all over Australia.  This is a very exciting release, with a number of the wines never before offered in Canada.

The release was supported by visits by winery Principals to selected LDB Signature stores.  All in all, a very exciting release, and if you haven't yet seen the wines offered, there was a wonderful booklet that may still be available in some stores showing the listings and the history behind them.  I encourage you to pick up a copy.

One of the wines offered brings back great memories of our Yalumba dinner with Jane Ferrari in September 2009 at The Teahouse in Stanley Park.  This wine is Yalumba "The Cigar" Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra 2009.  We had the great pleasure of enjoying the 2006 vintage at this dinner (was brought specifically for us by Jane - we at AWAS get special stuff!).  The wine has haunted my memory since then; regrettably it was never offered for sale in BC until now.

However, I am pleased to say that it was well worth the wait.  Here is a wine that offers tremendous value and while it can be enjoyed now, it will cellar and provide even more enjoyment in the future.

"Ruby red color.  Lovely nose shows mint, blackberry, blackcurrant - pure and clean.  Fine grained tannins meld with the medium-bodied palate of cassis.  Really great.  This wine is refreshing and delicious, shows elegance and refinement but no shortage of fruit, and finishes long.  Has balanced acidity.  Great job.  Very Coonawarra and Very Cabernet.  14.5%, Cork closure."

$25, available for a limited time at BC Liquor Stores in selected Signature Store locations.

- Randy Saunders

Tasting Note: Majella "The Musician" 2009

We recently had this wine as a participant in our "Spring Walkabout", and I just picked up another bottle to be sure it was good as I remembered it to be.

In actual fact, it seems to be better!

"Deep ruby color. Nose shows plum, pepper, blackberry, and spice. The plum and blackberry follows to the palate. This medium bodied wine is very nice to drink, having a delicious profile and a lengthy finish with fine tannins. Gaining harmony now and will be even better in the future. Excellent."

This wine provides amazing value at $20 and is widely available at the LDB so enjoy!

-Randy Saunders