Wine Tasting : Aussie Shiraz at Sage Restaurant organized by WineKakis (Part A)

Dan and PenDragon from Winekakis organized an Aussie Shiraz tasting session at Sage Restaurant at Robertson Walk on 27th Jan. The food was great, wines delectable and company very enjoyable. Here are my tasting notes for the list of Shiraz that we had.

Coriole Shiraz Lella Rookh 2003

Smell : Vanilla & Flora scents.

Taste : Cherry and plums. Typical of an aussie fruit bomb, mildly sweet. Non-detectable spice unlike usual Shiraz.

After-Taste : A little weak in the finish. Mild tannins.

Description at back of bottle : The “Lalla Rookh” vineyard is a 50 year old bush vine Grenache property named after the heroine of an 1817 Thomas Moore Poem. This fruit along with Shiraz selected from our estate, are melded together to create a wine with sweet lifted berry fruit, liquorice, rose and black pepper all rolled up into a juicy mouth filling wine.

Brown Brothers Patricia Shiraz 2002

Smell : Nose a little closed. Detectable vanilla and slight chocolate scents.

Taste : Strong intense over-ripen plums and blackcurrents. Smooth and similarly no significant pepper or spice. One of the strong performers for the evening.

After-Taste : A medium finish. Mild tannins.

Description at back of bottle : The Patricia name is a dedication for Patricia Brown’s hard work and the love she has given her family. Her contribution has made Brown Brothers the success it is today.

Langmeil Valley Floor Shiraz Barossa Valley 2004

This is now selling at Moonba for S$56 a bottle.
“The dark ruby/purple-hued 2005 Shiraz Valley Floor (which sees all American oak) reveals more spice, vanillin, and toasty characteristics without the complexity of its less expensive sibling. It is a straightforward yet impressively deep, rich, pure Shiraz to consume over the following 3-5 years.” - 90 Points Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #167 (Oct 2006)

Smell : Somewhat closed, scents of blackcurrents and white pepper.

Taste : Round and mellow fruits & cassis.

After-Taste : A short finish. No tannins involved.

Description at back of bottle : The Valley Floor, like other premium wines of the Barossa, is a regional blended wine. Grapes are sourced from specially selected vineyards across all the sub regions of the Barossa from a range of different aged vines, select parcels of which are then open fermented and basket pressed to make this classic example of honest, hand-made Barossa Valley Shiraz. Enjoy now or over the next ten years.