I write my reviews and comments in hope that they will reach readers out there and give them some sort of value and guidance in making their Wine selections. I'm discovering that it is very hard to actually make my own correct selections when I wander to the bottle shop. Generally I buy wine I know I like, when I'm drinking a wine it tends to be one that I've already reviewed or blogged recently. As a result my posts have slowed down significantly.
What I need is some prompting, some suggestions on what you out there would like to know about, what bottles have you had that have stood out to you and you'd love to see shared with others? What bottles have you seen on your liquor store shelves and thought 'hey I wonder if that is any good'? What review have you read from a respectable wine critic and thought ' I wonder what this crazy nuances and cassis and forrest floor aromas and cigar box are all about, does this mean the wine tastes good or in the wine world is a good wine'? Are you a member of a winery and seen a post, liked it and would like me to give honest feedback on your wine? Questions, queries comments they are all valuable in the expansion of this blog.
Above all I'd love some feedback, did you like my review? Have you tried a bottle based on it and liked it or disliked it? Did you find a gap in my spelling, grammer or otherwise? Would you like me to further describe the wine in easy to understand terms or would you like to see more professional wine descriptors? Remember this isn't all about me in the end it's all about you out there reading it.
As always good luck and happy drinking.
2009 Brown Hill Estate Hannans Cabernet Sauvignon
What a great value for money and good honest wine establishment Brown Hill Estate is! 2 years running Small Producer of the Year in Ray Jordan's WA Wine guide and 5 star rated by James Halliday, not much more to say really. The experience is a little different simply wandering into a big old tin shed full of barrels and then tasting wines that will no doubt knock your socks off!
Now this wine, great colour in the glass a beautiful Cherry red, quite fragrant with spice and dark berry fruits, very heavy on the French Oak which leaps out of the glass. The palate has definite currant and black cherry fruit as stated on the label but also has some wonderful fully integrated French oak characteristics. Good acid balance, Medium body, good fruit, good length and soft rounded tannins this is nothing short of fantastic Cabernet.
3 words sum this wine up "VALUE FOR MONEY" True Margaret River Cabernet at the price point we all dream of. Love Cabernet? Don't be fooled by the price point.
James Halliday "Good colour; the fragrant bouquet has spice, cedar and dark fruit aromas, the palate changing pace with significant, although relatively soft, oak and fruit tannins; plenty of flavour here." and 90 pts, me a solid 8 out of 10 with the only thing losing points here is it misses something on the front, a little heavy French oak which will soften and I like a little more body.
As previously stated value for money is second to none on this wine for a Margaret River Cabernet. $18 bucks from the cellar door you can't really go wrong. Plus this is just their entry level wine.
Seriously this producer has simply too much to offer. Their vintages sell out and their wine stands out. Don't take it from me just get yourself a bottle. I haven't seen it stocked anywhere but even if you just order a mixed case for most people and for any real wine lovers you will be hard pressed to find a bottle out of a mixed case that you won't enjoy. Happy Drinking!
Now this wine, great colour in the glass a beautiful Cherry red, quite fragrant with spice and dark berry fruits, very heavy on the French Oak which leaps out of the glass. The palate has definite currant and black cherry fruit as stated on the label but also has some wonderful fully integrated French oak characteristics. Good acid balance, Medium body, good fruit, good length and soft rounded tannins this is nothing short of fantastic Cabernet.
3 words sum this wine up "VALUE FOR MONEY" True Margaret River Cabernet at the price point we all dream of. Love Cabernet? Don't be fooled by the price point.
As previously stated value for money is second to none on this wine for a Margaret River Cabernet. $18 bucks from the cellar door you can't really go wrong. Plus this is just their entry level wine.
Seriously this producer has simply too much to offer. Their vintages sell out and their wine stands out. Don't take it from me just get yourself a bottle. I haven't seen it stocked anywhere but even if you just order a mixed case for most people and for any real wine lovers you will be hard pressed to find a bottle out of a mixed case that you won't enjoy. Happy Drinking!
2008 Wise Wine Sea Urchin Shiraz
Ahh it feels so long since I've sat down to a nice glass of wine. This multi regional shiraz blend stood out when I tasted it at cellar door and being that the last bottle I blogged was also Wise I thought this would be fitting. Beautiful deep purple wine this Frankland River and Margaret River blend is just so approachable. Fairly closed on the nose I'd wager this would benefit from aeration, dark black fruits dominates on the nose with hints of red berry and pepper not that tasting notes I've read highlight that. The palate is full of plum and very soft with great french oak and lovely drying tannins to finish. One thing I noticed with Margaret River Shiraz is that I found the acidity to be out of whack but with this wine it is just well if not perfectly balanced. Well balanced all round in fact with medium length you can't really go wrong.
Put simply this wine is very easy drinking and not really typical of Margaret River Shiraz as I have experienced it. Good fruit and nice mouthfeel it benefits from breathing and is definitely lends it self to be consumed with food.
James Halliday 93 points which is great!! he had this to say "Deep purple-crimson; a vibrant black fruit and spice bouquet is replayed on the medium-bodied palate; excellent French oak and tannin handling. Exceptional value." and for me 8 out of 10 purely based on it being such an easy drinking wine but not jumping out of the glass at me.
As with the SBS value for money is outstanding at $18 from the cellar door. www.crackawines.com.au has it at a great price as well but even paying $25 or more would be good value for money for this wine. I'm sure you'll find it at around $15 to $18 and if I had to pick it next to other Margaret River Shiraz's it would be in my top 2 based on value for money.
Don't take my 8 out of 10 to heart with this wine I would definitely still recommend you try it. Good Luck and happy drinking.
Put simply this wine is very easy drinking and not really typical of Margaret River Shiraz as I have experienced it. Good fruit and nice mouthfeel it benefits from breathing and is definitely lends it self to be consumed with food.James Halliday 93 points which is great!! he had this to say "Deep purple-crimson; a vibrant black fruit and spice bouquet is replayed on the medium-bodied palate; excellent French oak and tannin handling. Exceptional value." and for me 8 out of 10 purely based on it being such an easy drinking wine but not jumping out of the glass at me.
As with the SBS value for money is outstanding at $18 from the cellar door. www.crackawines.com.au has it at a great price as well but even paying $25 or more would be good value for money for this wine. I'm sure you'll find it at around $15 to $18 and if I had to pick it next to other Margaret River Shiraz's it would be in my top 2 based on value for money.
Don't take my 8 out of 10 to heart with this wine I would definitely still recommend you try it. Good Luck and happy drinking.
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