Paul Ippolito's Wines of the Week

With Paul Ippolito

Charles Melton Voices Of Angels Shiraz 2005
 
This is a stunning red from Charles Melton, artisan winemaker from the Barossa Valley. Opulent, intricate, complex and exuding succulently deep robust aromas from its black and red fruits. A good level of spiciness adds a dimension to the fruit as does the coconut sweetish oak, providing a long velvety smooth finish with coffee mocha notes and a hint of gaminess. Try it with stewed beef.
 
Drink to 2020. About $55. 95/100 – Superb.
 
Flaxman Wines Eden Valley Shiraz 2005
 
Pure succulent blue fruits abound – blueberries, spicy plums – liqueur and intoxicating – deep and inviting. Along with melded coffee oak and fine tannins, it provides a savoury style of finish, with a soft roundness and a velvety long finish. Try this roast lamb.
 
Drink to 2012. About $45. 93/100 – Excellent.
 
Mothi Chardonnay 2007
 
A vibrant leesy fulsome robust Chardonnay. Cashew oakiness along with tanginess along with loads of peach melon fruit, fresh figs and a well rounded creaminess to the palate. Classically varietal and delicious to boot. Luxuriant drinking for those that enjoy a complex and oaked Chardonnay. From a boutique winery in Mudgee. Try it with calamari.
 
Drink Now. About $17. 92/100 – Excellent.
 
Wandin Valley Estate Shiraz 2005
 
Wandin Valley Estate is a Hunter boutique winery. Indeed this is very Hunter in style and composition. Matt Burton is the winemaker. Good cedary oak supports the red and black fruits. A rich smooth yet dusty wine with loads of raspberry, strawberry and plums as well. Hunter leather and game as well, delivering a well balanced smooth finish. Try this with grilled Italian sausages.
 
Drink To 2015. About $25. 89/100 – Very Good.

Dowie Doole Merlot 2007 
 
Tight and restrained at first, then opening up in layers. Quite an elegant structure to it with plums, prunes, tar, black olives and a delicate spiciness. Fresh and vibrant, young at heart. A medium bodied Merlot with a good liveliness to it and a medium finish. Try it with baked lamb.
 
Drink Now. About $23. 87/100 – Good.
 
St Huberts Rousanne 2006
 
I really enjoyed drinking this. It has a dry chalky austereness to it at first, and then as time evolves it develops very neatly with lemoniness and citrisosity ensuing along with its crisp lively acidity and a touch of spiciness as well with a hint of honey. Well rounded eventually on the palate it makes for delicious drinking. Try it with grilled whiting fillets.

Drink to 2010. About $25. 91/100 – Excellent.
 
Rolling Cabernet Merlot 2005
 
Gloriously fruit driven and ripe, succulent and balanced, luxuriant plums flow as do blackberries, blackcurrants and a luscious velvetiness. Long aromas, deeply wafting and with fine integrated tannins and seamlessly melded oak. An effortless drink of a red blend.
 
Drink Now. About $17. 91/100 – Excellent.

Grant Burge Meshach Shiraz 2003
 
This is top shelf red wine drinking folks. Deep dark dense and robust – a thinking man’s Shiraz with complexity, gravitas and substance. A really well put together Shiraz with decent upfront quality black and red fruits along with spiciness, well integrated oak, fine tannins and a very good structure. Well rounded smooth and velvety and seamless on the palate, the glass just keeps calling out, pour more please. A wine that you should enjoy with a loved one.
 
Drink to 2018. About $90. 95/100 – Superb.

Shottesbrooke Merlot 2006

Juicy, fresh and vibrant – black cherries and lightly spicy plums, nice red fruits abound and ensue and follow delivered with a lively softness that delivers fine tannins and seamless light oak. A food friendly red that will go with a range of cuisine such as Thai or Indian. Fruit driven on the finish and a deliciousness of cherries on the finish.
 
Drink Now. About $18. 90/100 – Very Good.
 
Katnook Estate Chardonnay 2005

This is quite a forward rich and upfront robust style of Chardonnay with a fair share of French oak that is melding with the classically varietal peach melon as well as tropical fruits. It will delight the old fashioned Chardonnay lover but perhaps may not truly be embraced by the more modern Chardonnayiste. I like it because is it complex, has character and is developing very decently with age. The leesyness adds further to it as does a light tanginess on the finish. Perfect with pan fried swimmer crab meat.
 
Drink Now. About $30. 93/100 – Excellent.
 
Fox Creek Shadow’s Run Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
 
I was really impressed with this red blend. Medium bodied, respectably blended and put together as seamless in presentation and mouth feel, a really delightful red wine for Winter – but not overly rich, not velvety in fruit, not firmly oaked or over the top in alcohol, albeit it is 14.5% on the label – no just liquid black forest cake are my dominant wine key words to describe it. No wonder I enjoyed it so much. Drink it with butter chicken.
 
Drink Now. About $15. 93/100 – Excellent.

Wine Rating Scale - Out Of 100 Points

98-100 – Exceptional – A truly world class wine
95-97 – Superb – A memorable drinking experience
91-94 – Excellent – A wonderful mix of a top wine at a decent price
88-90 – Very Good – Really well made wine that should impress
85-87 – Good – Honest everyday drinking

Paul Ippolito is a Sydney wine writer who writes for publications across Australia, the internet and overseas. Read more of his work at www.paulippolito.com.au

About Paul Ippolito.