Introduction

In this site including the tasting notes for various wines, we have endeavoured to use lay man’s language and reduce technical jargon as much as possible.

We believe the appreciation of wines should be comprehensible to the ordinary person "on the street".

As taste & olfactory terms are described through experience, memory and association, we believe that some wines exhibiting aromas, bouquets and tastes that have hints of exotic tropical flora, fruits, vegetables and food may not have been identified nor documented by certain wine experts who have not had the opportunity to experience them. Hence where appropriate, these specific aromas and tastes will be mentioned.

Obviously not all the thousands of wines tasted in the past thirty or so years can be included in this site; so for educational and practical purposes, only selected wines are profiled.

Although good quality wines exhibit certain fundamental elements, wine experts may differ in terms of their assessment and appreciation. Hence the wines assessed herein may not necessarily concur with opinions of other wine experts no matter how popular they may be. We will try to be as objective and scientific as possible in our assessments.

Commentary/Tasting Notes

1994 Penfolds Grange, Australia (South Australia)

Red Wine – Shiraz Blend

Tasted: February 2005

In 2005, this wine has been aged in cellar conditions for about 10 years

This vintage (1994) was made when John Duval was still Penfold’s Chief Winemaker. Duval left in 2002 and has since made wines under his own namesake label.

Allowed alcohol vapourisation and remnants dissipation.

Rested and breathed for 1 hour.

Medium to deep crimson-purple.

Plum and Cherries with hints of eucalyptus on the nose

Tast of rich Plum interspersed with sour cherries and hints of aniseed-eucalyptus. Underpinned by some earthiness.

Strong but balanced tannins and oak. Still young and evolving at date of tasting. Would achieve more complexity and mellowed tannins in years to come

Other bottles of the same vintage will be tasted at various intervals years to enjoy the maturation of this superb wine.

Scoring:       92.5/100

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1998

Parker Terra Rossa First Growth – Coonawarra Region, South Australia

Red Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot

Tasted:       May 2005

In 2005, the wine has been aged in cellar conditions for about 7 years.

Intense purplish red;

Waft of woodiness with a base of rich black berries and tinges of licorice on the nose;

Moderately pronounced oakiness mixed with robust flavours of berries of blackcurrant, plum and cherries, underpinned by hints of smokiness akin to lightly toasted green bean, lemon and aniseed.

Reasonably complex flavours added with a rich deliciousness, medium tannins and good acidity.

The Oakiness is somewhat balanced by the complexity and richness of the blend of flavours and tastes. Perhaps another 5 years could tame the oak and allow other complex flavours to develop;

Medium-Long finish. Still rather young. Other bottles will be tasted at intervals of 5 years

Scoring:       87.5/100

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1998

Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon

South Australia

Tasted:       July 2005

The wine is a mix of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from Coonawarra, Barossa and Eden Valley. This vintage was produced while John Duvall was still Penfolds Chief Winemaker.

Rested and breathed for 1 hour.

Deep Dense Purplish Blackish Garnet.

Black berries and Spices of menthol and licorice on the nose

Hints of smoky earthiness wrapped up in mint circumference by anise edges;

Ever thin slivers of licorice-eucalyptus swimming from mid-palate to finish

Powerful finish characteristic only of a premium Australian cabernet

Strong tannins and moderately balanced. With further years of aging, the tannins will mellow to a perfect balance.

Still young to be fully appreciated by the average drinking populance; clearly not easy drinking at this stage. Perhaps another 5 years – 10 years

Scoring:       90/100

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2001

WILD DUCK CREEK – Springflat Shiraz,

Heathcote, Victoria, Australia

Tasted:       November 2005

Maker of the other cult wine “Duck Muck”

Dark dense dark crimson;

Young vibrant fruit of cherries with strong spicy earthy hints of menthol and tobacco on the nose;

On the palate – rich, full bodied, red currants and sour cherries, eucalyptus with earthy hints of smokiness and spices of pepper and cinnamon on the edges

Long finish with strong tannins. Further aging will tamper tannins to achieve perfect balance.

Reflective of a typical cooler climate shiraz from Heathcote, a viticulturally complex and varied region in terms of climate & geology

Reasonably balanced acidity and oak but still young and evolving.

Flavours are still tight and breathing an hour did not coax it out

Scoring:       85/100

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