Vinoculation

2006 Gibbston Valley Pinot Gris

Aromatic nose that starts off nutty, with concentrated pear and florals, ending with an aldehydic hint. Lush texture - enough acid that it’s not too oily - with more pear and nashi fruit embodied in a rich, flavoursome style. Caveat: warm, tending hot alcohol finish, limits this wine from achieving any exalted status. Label states 14.9%, though I have it on good authority that the alcohol is significantly higher than this. 89 Points.

2006 Rockburn Pinot Noir

Since Malcolm Francis - formerly assistant winemaker at Felton Road - has come on board, there has been a huge lift in the quality and consistency of the Rockburn wines, particularly the aromatics. This morning, however, it’s the pinot noir that demands attention. Dark scarlet colour with a mauve hue. Exotic nose of forest leaf litter, musk, candied cherries and currants on toast. Less weighty than past Rockburn pinots - no doubt a result of the high-yielding 2006 vintage - the typicite garnered is nonetheless attractive. Light and fruity red berry palate fruit leads into a dry, ripe tannin finish and a long, creamy vanilla aftertaste. A pinot that bucks the style pedigree of Rockburn, it’s a well-structured wine that will start firing on all cylinders in 12 months time. 90+ Points.

2004 Viking Wines Grand Shiraz Cabernet

Made by Barossan stalwart Rolf Binder, the fruit for this wine comes off organic, dry-grown, fifty year old vines that have previously found their way into Grange. Rich, dense red-grading-purple colour. Boisterous nose driven by cassis and blackberry, whilst hinting at star anise, boysenberry and cinnamon; captivating, tending more towards the cabernet spectrum. Warm, lifted palate fruit mirrors the nose; sweet, soft and supple. The texture is coarse in places, silky in others, with grainy, sweet tannins to finish. Excellent wine that’s hard to fault with a bright future. 92 Points.