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Kangarilla Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

Kangarilla Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2016

The 2016 Kangarilla Road Cabernet Sauvignon is aged in both new French and American oak and expresses a vibrant mélange of ripe blackberries, black cherries, black currant, sandalwood, alfalfa hay, menthol, eucalyptus, and bittersweet chocolate shavings. On the palate, supple tannins aplenty combined with moderate weight, and a firm acid backbone that gives lift and […]

Kangarilla Road Shiraz 2016

Kangarilla Road Shiraz 2016

The final wine I’ve sampled in a series from Kangarilla Road, it’s worth pointing out the value for price in the US market—the 2016 Kangarilla Road Shiraz is brimming with aromas of blackberry, mulberry, menthol, and dark chocolate shavings. It’s a muscular wine, but there is refinement, too. In the mouth, bright acid offsets finely […]

Kangarilla Road The Devil’s Whiskers Shiraz 2016

Kangarilla Road The Devil's Whiskers Shiraz 2016

Whimsically named for the stain the rim of the glass leaves at the corners of your mouth as you sip this wine, the 2016 Kangarilla Road The Devil’s Whiskers Shiraz is an impenetrable shade quinacridone violet in the glass. The nose, a wellspring of mulberries, blackberries, ash, paraffin, and dried violets lead into a wine […]

Two Hands Lily’s Garden Shiraz 2014

Two Hands Lily's Garden Shiraz 2014

I’ve been longing to try the Two Hands wines, so you can imagine my joy in coming across this Lily’s Garden Shiraz 2014. The nose explodes with juicy blueberries and ripe boysenberries followed by a lovely lingering top note of violets, anise and eucalyptus. My scrawled notes read, “a pleasure bomb” which differs from a […]

Tir Na N’og Old Vines Grenache 2008

Tir Na N'og Old Vines Grenache 2008

I couldn’t find any evidence that Tir Na N’Og is still in existence, it would seem that the last vintage on the market is the 2008. At any rate, its developed nicely, with a juicy pop of red fruit—strawberries, raspberries and lovely secondary notes of Asian spice, sandalwood, and incense. Lightly-styled and rather sleek despite […]

Hardy Wine Company Eileen Hardy Shiraz 1998

Hardy Wine Company Eileen Hardy Shiraz 1998

Eileen Hardy 1998 Shriaz is well within it’s optimum drinking window. Concentrated and elegant, this McLaren Vale Shiraz offers up a fragrant mix of dusty roadside blackberries, black cherries, cinnamon stick, wood spice, sandalwood, and cedar. Medium-bodied, with nicely integrated oak, and juicy black fruit—there is a nice interplay of earthiness, savoriness and even a […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com