Winetastic

We have previously reviewed the entry level “Hard Yards” Shiraz from Sylvan Springs here on Winetastic and found it to be most agreeable. As you can imagine when a bottle of their premium Sylvan Springs Cyril’s Reserve Shiraz 2006 arrived unannounced, I was somewhat excited. It is fair to say that Sylvan Springs are currently doing a lot right at both the budget and super-premium level.

Showing a vibrant crimson hue, the aromas are currently subdued with a little vanilla oak, blackberry and cherry showing. Full flavoured but refined and impeccably balanced, the juicy Shiraz fruit glides across the palate and is well supported by spices and a hint of oak. The finish is very long, mouthwatering and leaves you wanting more. This is a Shiraz to put to sleep in the cellar for several years.

Straight after opening the aromas were a bit muted, however this is not to be unexpected from a recently bottled premium red. My reaction to the first sip was something along the lines of “wow, this is the best young red wine I have tasted this year”. After a couple of hours, the flavours became even more intense with loads of ripe blackberry fruit coming to the fore.

Score: 93/100
Price: $40
Closure: Stelvin Lux (Fancy Screwcap)
Alcohol: 15%
Other Opinions: Winorama
Would I buy this wine?
Yes, At $40 per bottle, I feel it does represent decent value for money. Squashedgrape have it for $35 if buying a case.

The Story Wines are a boutique producer based in Melbourne and a predominantly Shiraz vineyard in the Grampians region. From what I can gather the 2005 “Orphan” Shiraz is their second commercial release under the label.

Slightly off blood red in colour, this shiraz smells like damp English hedgerow berries, dark chocolate and a hint of raspberry jam. Medium bodied yet full in flavour with fleshy blackberry, blueberry and plum up front, some pepper and spices, a soft and supple texture and integrated chalky tannins on a savoury finish.

In essence this Shiraz is a reminder that I need to drink more wine from our Mexican friends south of the border. It is seriously moreish and very reasonably priced at online retailers Squashedgrape and Boccaccio.

Score: 91/100
Price: $20
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 14.5%
Other Opinions: The Story Wines, Winorama
Would I buy this wine?
Yes, very good value for money

I had never heard of Sylvan Springs until a bottle of their “Hard Yards” Shiraz 2005 arrived for tasting last week. The wine has won a gold medal at an LA wine show and is listed in Winestates top 40 wines under $15.

Although little closed at first, dark plum and blackberry aromas emerged over the next hour. The full flavoured Shiraz fruit is supported by a little fine tannin and spice, finishing dry with some lingering cocoa and oak.

Sylvan Springs have managed to produce a well balanced Shiraz with decent length and enough complexity to keep even a snobbish drinker entertained, just don’t let them know about the price - as little as $10 per bottle if buying a case.

Score: 88/100
Price: $15
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 14.5%
Other Opinions: Sylvan Springs, Torbwine, Winewaves
Would I buy this wine?
Yes, a good midweek quaffer.

On the tasting bench today is the Scorpiiion Shiraz 2005 which unlike their Cabernet is made from 100% Barossa fruit.

Dark inky red in colour with sweet dark fruit and chocolate aromas. Easy drinking and full flavoured with juicy shiraz fruit really coming to the fore, it’s full bodied with a little spice and fine tannin on the finish. Although there was some alcoholic heat present, it would make a crowd pleasing bbq wine.

Overall a well made Shiraz in a typically Barossan style. If big, ballsy, fruit driven reds are your poison, you should get some mileage from the Scorpiiion.

Score: 87/100
Price: $21
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 14.8%
Other Opinions: Can’t find any online
Would I buy this wine?
Probably not, although I would be happy enough if a glass was placed in my hand

It’s been a while since I popped open a bottle of sparking shiraz and I had been looking forward to trying this one from Vinecrest for a while. What better time to open it than the Australia day long weekend?

Juicy dark cherry and blackberry fruit flavours are kept in balance by subtle drying tannins and a little all spice. The bubbles are fine and not overly active, but provide a creamy chocolate character. Medium bodied with decent length, a good match with Beef Rogan Josh.

Although there is a bit of a question mark about the value for money at around $30 per bottle, this sparking shiraz is very easy drinking and moreish. Definitely the pick of the Vinecrest wines we have tried.

Score: 88/100
Price: $32
Closure: Cork
Alcohol: 12.5%
Other Opinions: Vinecrest
Would I buy this wine?
No, questionable value for money

This new release Meerea Park Shiraz 2006 is a blend of 60% Hilltops and 40% Hunter Valley fruit and is their first stab at the “budget wine” market. It will not be available at the cellar door, however you should be able to find it quite easily at Dan Murphy’s etc.

Deep crimson with jammy aromas of blackberry, blueberry and clove, this medium bodied red shows dark fruit flavours of blackberry and cherry, grippy drying tannins and a dash of oak on the savoury finish. NB: The wine was very recently bottled when these notes were taken.

The verdict? I like it, good shiraz fruit at a snappy price. Alternate dippings between a case of this regional blend and Mount Pleasant Philip 05 would be enough to make any New South Welshman swell with pride at the top notch budget booze we have available this year.

Score: 90/100
Price: $15
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 14%
Other Opinions: Meerea Park, Winorama
Would I buy this wine again?
Yes, great value for money

Philip is a staple around our house, many a bottle of the 2004 vintage was sacrificed last year in the ongoing war against the liver. No doubt the trend will continue with this shiny new release of Mount Pleasant Philip Shiraz 2005.

Ripe dark fruits dominate the nose, with raspberry, typical hunter earthy/leather aromas and a little alcoholic heat (that faded after an hour in a decanter). This medium bodied Shiraz exhibits intense blackberry and dark cherry flavours, backed up by spicy oak and fine tannin on the slightly earthy finish. Full flavoured with decent length, its regional, varietal and very gluggable.

Compared to previous vintages, this release is similar to 2003 and a small step above the more restrained 2004. Oh and don’t let the outdated bottle photo fool you, Philip is now sensibly sealed with screwcap.

Score: 90/100
Price: $14
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 14.5%
Other Opinions: So hot off the press not even a Google search can reveal one
Would I buy this wine again?
Yes, everyday drinking doesn’t get much better than this.

If its red, has a Meerea Park label on the bottle and comes from 2005 then its good, real good. Meerea Park “The Aunts” Shiraz 2005 is no exception.

Deep ruby red, alluring aromas of brambly berries, plums and a hint of oak are a sound indication of whats to come. Very soft and mouth filling, zesty red fruits combine with well managed oak and super silky tannins that lead into a lingering earthy finish. Well rounded and balanced, definitely food friendly.

Although drinking great right now, a few (or even many) years in the cellar will no doubt work wonders. A great value drop from an excellent Hunter vintage.

Score: 92/100
Price: $26
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 13.5%
Other Opinions: Meerea Park, Winorama, Winorama (Twice!)
Would I buy this wine again?
One taste at the boutique wine center was enough to convince me to buy half a dozen.

Glenguin Estate’s “Stonybroke” red is a blend of 92% Shiraz and 8% Tannat, it is one of the many great value wines available at the Boutique Wine Center at Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley.

Ruby red in colour, this Shiraz has fruit laiden aromas of cherry, raspberry, blackberry and a hint of mushroom compost. Medium body with blackberry and red fruits on the palate lead into a dry, savoury finish with grippy tannins.

Overall its a good little wine that is food friendly and should cellar for a few years to boot, cant go wrong really.

Score: 89/100
Price: $19
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 14%
Other Opinions: Winorama
Would I buy this wine again?
Yes, very good value.

Six Gates are a new producer out of the Barossa Valley, “The Majnun” Shiraz 2004 is their first commercial release. My initial impression of this wine was the heavy weight of the unopened bottle, which is usually a good sign of a quality product.

Inky dark purple but slightly cloudy, this Shiraz smells distinctly of the Barossa with dark plum and cherry fruit aromas, a hint of chocolate and some dusty earthyness. Full flavoured and well balanced, tart dark fruits and spices are complemented nicely by chewy fine tannins and hints of charry oak.

I really like the style of this wine as it has less alcohol than its peers, is not overly fruity or sweet and is also very food friendly - a fine match with a bbq leg of lamb. Being a bit of a Hunter Valley and McLaren Vale tragic, the earthy character of The Majnun is rather appealing.

Score: 89/100
Price: $22
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 13.5%
Would I buy this wine again?
The recommended retail price of $22 is reasonable, however you can pick it up cheaper online from Squashedgrape