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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 Chardonnay 2017

Kangarilla Road Chardonnay 2017

Lots of breadth and range in Kangarilla Road’s 2017 Chardonnay. Sourced from a single vineyard within the Adelaide Hills, 50% of this wine was fermented in new French oak Hogsheads, with daily lees stirring. White peach, underripe pineapple, orange pastille, blanched almond, dried mint, and toast leap from the glass—it’s lithe and citrus-driven on the […]

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 […]

Glaetzer Shiraz Amon-Ra Barossa Valley 2010

Glaetzer Shiraz Amon-Ra Barossa Valley 2010

A massive wine, but not lacking in sophistication—the 2010 Glaetzer Shiraz Amon-Ra Barossa Valley is baritone in style, and opens with a throaty chorus of burnt sugar, plums, blackberries, espresso, and sweet tobacco. Grippy, structured tannins on the attack give way to an intense black-fruited core that leaves in its wake a spicy trail of […]

Notable Unoaked Chardonnay 2016

Notable Unoaked Chardonnay 2016

Notable’s crisp and fruity version plays opposite it’s oaky-buttery Chardonnay label. It’s softly textured on the nose and palate with undertones of ripe honeydew melon, green apple, and d’Anjou pear. It’s a fairly straightforward wine—I’m perhaps favoring the oaked Chardonnay, simply because there’s more layered complexity and texture with the judicious addition of oak. Regardless, […]

Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz 2013

Torbreck Woodcutter's Shiraz 2013

As its name suggests, the Torbreck Woodcutter’s Shiraz is a baritone rumble of smoky blackberries, earthy firmament, black peppercorn and baking spices. The attack is juicy, but well-structured in firm, tightly-wound tannins. Really nice and one I’ll want to reach for again, especially when grilling. Sample Torbreck 8.9 Point

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 […]

Penfolds RWT Shiraz 1997

Penfolds RWT Shiraz 1997

Penfolds RWT (or Red Winemaking Trial) Shiraz is the still gutsy and vibrant. 1997 was the inaugural vintage of the RWT label, and this Barossa Shiraz delivers expressive aromas of butterscotch and ripe blueberries, juicy blackberry, charred meat, creosote and lilacs. Silky and opulent in the mouth, there still is great purity of fruit to […]

CHRISTINE HAVENS
McMinnville, OR

christine@christine-havens.com