Two Hands For Love or Money Cane Cut Semillon 2006 Barossa Valley, South Australia
52688
(S) 500 mL $43
Robert Parker Jr. is a fan of this white. He has consistently awarded this 'dead-ringer for a top-notch Sauternes' scores in the 90s. In fact, he awarded the 2005 vintage a remarkable 96! Though this recent release had not yet been reviewed, the meticulous winemaking of Michael Twelftree promises more of the same. From its golden, honeyed hue to its abundant caramel, crème brulée and tropical fruit flavours, this wine will hold you spellbound. Delicious now but will keep on giving for a decade or more.
Amarone Joseph Moda Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2004 McLaren Vale, South Australia
745331
(XD) 750 mL $42
Wine critic, Jeremy Oliver, awarded this wine a score of 93. (www.jeremyoliver.com.au) Aged in one third new French, American and German oak for 20 months, this complex 85% Cabernet, 15% Merlot blend exhibits luscious black fruit flavours with attractive notes of mocha, vanilla, cinnamon and cedar, as well as complementary fine tannins and beautifully integrated oak. Engaging now but this red will be irresistible in about five years.
BAROSSA OLD VINE WINE COMPANY SHIRAZ 2003 Barossa Valley, South Australia
604033
(D) 750 mL $95
TASTING NOTE: A limited cuvee produced from 109-, 127-, and 152-year-old vineyards, this 2003 Shiraz was aged 24 months in a combination of new French and American wood as well as a small amount of older oak. Huge, ripe, surprisingly subtle and polished, this dense purple-hued wine offers layers of blackberry and currant fruit intermingled with spicy new oak, licorice, cedar, and loamy soil characteristics. Full-bodied and voluptuous, but not over the top, this beauty should drink well for 10-15 years. Drink 2005-2020.
Score - 93.
(Robert Parker Jr.,
www.erobertparker.com,
Oct. 2005)
Brokenwood Rayner Vineyard Shiraz 2004 McLaren Vale, South Australia
903922
(XD) 750 mL $55
TASTING NOTE: My favorite wine in this portfolio is the 2004 Shiraz Rayner Vineyard. This blockbuster, dense purple-hued Shiraz exhibits aromas of mocha, chocolate, sweet berry fruit, blackberries, and earth. Rich, chewy, full-bodied, ripe, and well-balanced, this beauty can be drunk now and over the next 10-15 years. Drink 2006-2021.
Score - 91.
(Robert Parker Jr.,
www.erobertparker.com,
Dec. 2006)
Burge Family D & Oh Shiraz-Grenache 2004 Barossa Valley, South Australia
27359
(XD) 750 mL $44
TASTING NOTE: Medium red. Dried cherry, cranberry, spices and underbrush on the nose, with a suggestion of dried herbs. Firmly built but also deep and fat, the fruit tones taking a dark turn with aeration. Finishes on a note of dried cherry, with lingering sweetness. This manages to be lush and structured at the same time.
Score - 89.
(Josh Raynolds,
International Wine Cellar,
July/Aug. 2006)
Charles Cimicky Reserve Shiraz 2004 Barossa Valley, South Australia
685594
(XD) 750 mL $46
TASTING NOTE: The tightly-knit, awesomely endowed 2004 Shiraz Reserve is a potential blockbuster. Produced from a 40-year-old vineyard in the Lyndoch sector of Barossa, it spent 18 months in American hogsheads. Its inky/purple color reluctantly gives up aromas of roasted meats, smoked herbs, black cherries, and blackberries. This multidimensional wine boasts layers of fruit and glycerin as well as remarkable structure and equilibrium. A fabulous example of old vine Shiraz from Barossa, with more elegance and sophistication than many Eurocentric wine elitists would care to acknowledge, it should be consumed over the next 12-15 years. For some reason, this high quality winery never receives the press it merits. Drink 2005-2020.
Score - 93-95.
(Robert Parker Jr.,
www.erobertparker.com,
Oct. 2005)
DOMAINE TERLATO & CHAPOUTIER lieu dit MALAKOFF SHIRAZ 2004 Pyrenees, Victoria
19513
(D) 750 mL $48
TASTING NOTE: A joint project between Chicago’s Terlato family and France’s Michel Chapoutier, this offering, produced from Pyrenees vineyards cropped at ten hectoliters per hectare, boasts sumptuously concentrated fruit (blackberries, cherries) in addition to melted licorice, espresso roast, and smoke characteristics. Ripe, opulent, and medium to full-bodied, if this delicious 2004 gets into the bottle without being fined or filtered (Chapoutier rarely fines or filters), it will be a lusty Australian blockbuster to enjoy during its first 7-10 years of life. Drink 2004-2014.
Score - 90-92.
(Robert Parker Jr.,
www.erobertparker.com,
Oct. 2004)
Elderton Ashmead Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 Barossa Valley, South Australia
952309
(D) 750 mL $74
Winestate Magazine awarded this wine **** (out of five). (www.winestate.com.au)
TASTING NOTE: There was no 2003 produced, but the backward, primary 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Ashmead is loaded with potential. Its inky/ruby/purple hue is followed by aromas of vanilla, barbecue smoke, roasted meats, creme de cassis, and new leather. This dense, rich, powerful effort requires 3-4 years of bottle age, and should last for 15-20 years. Drink 2009-2026.
Score - 91.
(Robert Parker Jr.,
www.erobertparker.com,
Oct. 2006)
Katnook Estate Prodigy Shiraz 2003 Coonawarra, South Australia
742395
(XD) 750 mL $69
TASTING NOTE: The pedigree of this wine was evident from the very first vintage which won the prestigous Jimmy Watson trophy. This latest offering, crafted by Wayne Stehbens, is right up there with its seductive aromas of berries, plums, licorice and spices on the nose and palate, supple mouthfeel and smooth tannin structure. Drink it with rare fillet of beef.
(Kerry Skinner,
Illawarra Mercury,
Feb. 21, 2007)
Mitolo G.A.M. Shiraz 2005 McLaren Vale, South Austalia
596031
(XD) 750 mL $49
TASTING NOTE: Fashioned from a McLaren Vale vineyard, the 2005 Shiraz G.A.M. (named after the Mitolo children – Gemma, Alexander, and Marco) is a deep ruby/purple-hued effort displaying beautiful blackberry, white pepper, licorice, and toasty oak notes. Rich, full-bodied, and intense, with blueberry and blackberry flavors, sweet tannin, and excellent purity, it is a tour de force in winemaking. Enjoy it over the next decade. Drink 2006-2016.
Score - 95.
(Robert Parker Jr.,
www.erobertparker.com,
Oct. 2006)
Mitolo Reiver Shiraz 2005 Barossa Valley, South Australia
41145
(XD) 750 mL $49
TASTING NOTE: The 2005 Shiraz Reiver, made from 60-year-old Shiraz vines in the Greenock area of the Barossa, was aged 18 months in lightly toasted French oak. Its inky/blue/purple hue is followed by a lovely perfume of flowers, blackberries, espresso, and licorice. Aged completely in 300 liter hogsheads, it offers stunning richness and length, and should drink well for 10-12 years. Drink 2006-2018.
Score - 94.
(Robert Parker Jr.,
www.erobertparker.com,
Oct. 2006)
Penley Special Select Shiraz 2004 Coonawarra, South Australia
627943
(XD) 750 mL $59
TASTING NOTE: I hope someone serves this to me in 15 year's time, because I'd love to see how it turns out. Right now it looks a little caricatured, with warm alcohol and a blast of mint matched to thick, bold, soupy plums and tar, the texture silken and the amount of fruit quite substantial. It's a grunty wine, but it's also quite impeccable. The tannins are ripe and fine, the flavour full, the texture soft. My hesitation is based around the fact that it also seems simple and warm, but time in the bottle may well fix that. Drink: 2012-2019.
Score - 91.
(Campbell Mattinson,
www.winefront.com.au,
Jan. 14, 2007)
Rolf Binder Heysen Shiraz 2004 Barossa Valley, South Australia
27300
(XD) 750 mL $49
TASTING NOTE: The backward 2004 Shiraz Heysen, aged 20 months in a combination of American and French oak, possesses a dense purple color as well as rich notes of blackberries, licorice, creosote, and camphor. This dense, full-bodied, ripe, powerful Shiraz includes 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, which is impossible to detect. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 12-15+. Drink 2008-2023.
Score - 93.
(Robert Parker Jr.,
www.erobertparker.com,
Oct. 2006)
Schubert Estate Goose-yard Block Shiraz 2004 Barossa Valley, South Australia
45799
(XD) 750 mL $119
TASTING NOTE: This deep, fat, black/purple-hued Shiraz boasts loads of exuberant blackberry and cassis fruit along with hints of leather, game, and smoked meats. Drink this full-bodied, rich, pure, impressive effort over the next decade or more. Drink 2006-2016.
Score - 92.
(Robert Parker Jr.,
www.erobertparker.com,
Oct. 2006)
Tapanappa Whalebone Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 2004 Wrattonbully, South Australia
52670
(XD) 750 mL $79
In the February 2007 issue of Decanter magazine, wine critic Steven Spurrier declared this wine the 'Best New World Red.'
TASTING NOTE: Distinctively spicy, with warm, earthy overtones to the beautifully framed currant, black cherry and nutmeg aromas and flavors. Impressive length to the finish, which is generous and harmonious against firm tannins. Needs time to gain some flesh, but should be a beauty. Best from 2008 through 2016.
Score - 93.
(Harvey Steiman,
www.winespectator.com,
Oct. 15, 2006)
Two Hands BRAVE FACES SHIRAZ/GRENACHE 2006 Barossa Valley, South Australia
660035
(XD) 750 mL $34
While there were no reviews available at press time, it is noteworthy that Robert Parker Jr. has awarded this luscious blend of 70% Shiraz and 30% Grenache scores in the 90s for the last four consecutive vintages. This exuberant, fruit-forward offering invokes heady aromas of red and black fruits, flowers, toast and spice box. A full-throttle red that will pair nicely with roast duck or beef pot pie.
TWO HANDS LILY'S GARDEN SHIRAZ 2005 McLaren Vale, South Australia
683086
(D) 750 mL $65
TASTING NOTE: Ripe and generous, with a remarkably open texture for a wine so rich in flavor. The beautifully delineated blackberry, black cherry and anise flavors sail on through the long, long finish. Best from 2009 through 2016.
Score - 94.
(Harvey Steiman,
www.winespectator.com,
May 31, 2007)
TWO HANDS SAMANTHA'S GARDEN SHIRAZ 2004 Clare Valley, South Australia
16121
(D) 750 mL $50
TASTING NOTE: The expressive 2004 Shiraz Samantha’s Garden offers a dark ruby/purple color and a beautiful, sweet nose of black raspberries, black currants, licorice, smoke, and toast. Full-bodied, rich, and heady, this gorgeous Shiraz should drink well for a decade. Drink 2006-2016.
Score - 93.
(Robert Parker Jr.,
www.erobertparker.com,
Oct. 2006)
YALUMBA HAND-PICKED MGS 2004 Barossa Valley, South Australia
588178
(D) 750 mL $39
TASTING NOTE: Another upgrade in the huge hierarchy at Yalumba, the Hand Picked selections are all impressive. The outstanding 2004 [MGS] Mourvedre/Grenache/Shiraz (60%, 21%, and 19% respectively) exhibits a dense ruby/purple color along with a big, earthy perfume of blueberries, black currants, fresh mushrooms, tree bark, and spice. Superbly concentrated, with medium to full body and a long finish, it should drink well for 4-6 years. Drink 2005-2011.
Score - 90.
(Robert Parker Jr.,
www.erobertparker.com,
Oct. 2005)
YALUMBA HAND-PICKED SHIRAZ VIOGNIER 2004 Barossa Valley, South Australia
976100
(D) 750 mL $39
TASTING NOTE: A terrific little wine – spicy, peppery, meaty and gamey, with a spicy, clove and cinnamon-scented bouquet of dark plums, blackberries and apricot blossom. Smooth and juicy, it’s long, even and brightly flavoured with intense small black and red berry fruit framed by a firmish cut of plaint tannins. It finishes fresh, spicy and savoury. Drink 2006-2009+.
Score - 89.
(Jeremy Oliver,
www.jeremyoliver.com.au,
June 20, 2007)
YALUMBA HAND-PICKED TGV 2005 Barossa Valley, South Australia
40006
(D) 750 mL $39
TASTING NOTE: Blended from three varieties [Tempranillo, Grenache, Viognier], two of which fit the ‘recent arrival’ bill, this delicious red is a fine, elegant and Burgundy-weighted wine of smoothness and character. Musky and aromatic, its spicy perfume of blackberries, plums and lifted floral notes overlies mocha and dark chocolate-like oak nuances. Slightly confectionary, its supple and juicy palate of small berries, cherries and dark plums is framed by a fine, willowy cut of tannin. It finishes long and fresh, with a lingering core of tangy fruit wrapped in clean acids and backed by emerging meaty and slightly reductive, rustic complexity. Drink 2007-2010+.
Score - 92.
(Jeremy Oliver,
www.jeremyoliver.com.au,
Aug. 18, 2006)
CONIGLIO HAWKES BAY CHARDONNAY 2000 Hawkes Bay, North Island
25460
(XD) 750 mL $90
Launched by Morton Estate from 1998, Coniglio is one of New Zealand's most expensive Chardonnays. A Rolls-Royce version of the company's famous Black Label Chardonnay, it is typically an arresting wine, powerful and concentrated. Grown in the cool, elevated (150 metres above sea level) Riverview vineyard at Mangatahi, Hawke's Bay, it is hand-picked from mature vines and fermented and lees-aged in all-new French oak barriques, with malolactic fermentation according to the season. (Michael Cooper's Buyer's Guide to New Zealand Wines 2007) This wine won the Regional New Zealand Chardonnay Over £10 Trophy at the 2005 Decanter World Wine Awards.
Kim Crawford Pia Wood Aged Sauvignon Blanc 2004 Marlborough, South Island
38257
(XD) 750 mL $33
TASTING NOTE: The 2004 vintage is a gently wooded style. Grown at three sites, it was mostly handled in tanks, but 25 per cent of the blend was fermented with indigenous yeasts in seasoned oak casks. Pale, with a grassy, nettley bouquet, it is weighty and creamy, with good intensity of tight, tropical-fruit and herbaceous flavours, slightly flinty and nutty, and some complexity.
Score - **** (out of 5).
(Michael Cooper,
Buyer’s Guide to New Zealand Wines,
2007)
TASTING NOTE: A finished barrel sample of the 2004 Poesia, a 2,000-case blend of 70% Malbec and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon (from a vineyard planted in 1935), reveals great potential. Its deep purple color is accompanied by a sumptuous perfume of white chocolate interwoven with blackberries, cassis, spice box, and flowers. With great density, beautiful precision, and a long, medium to full-bodied finish revealing decent acidity as well as impressive purity, it should drink well for 12-14 years. Drink 2005-2019.
Score - 92-94.
(Robert Parker Jr.,
www.erobertparker.com,
June 2005)
TASTING NOTE: The 2004 Clos Apalta is composed of 86% Carmenere and 14 % Merlot. Purple colored, it has a splendid bouquet of pain grille, spice box, blueberry, and blackberry liqueur. This is followed by a rich, layered wine with excellent grip and plenty of ripe tannins. This nicely balanced effort should reach its peak in 5-6 years and drink well through 2027.
Score - 91.
(Jay Miller,
www.erobertparker.com,
June 2007)
