Paul Ippolito's Wines of the Week

With Paul Ippolito

Coriole Redstone Shiraz 2005

Spot on McLaren Vale drinking with vibrant fresh dynamic lifted red and black fruits. Spicy and invigorating on the palate, with well integrated melded oak and good ripe fruit characters softly and well put together on the finish. Drink with satay beef.
 
Drink to 2010. About $25. 93/100 – Excellent.

Yering Station Pinot Noir Reserve 2006 

Elegant and soft, well rounded fruit, which took a while to open up. Violets, blueberries, vine tomatoes and smoky bacon as well as hints of game flow through. A well structured wine with fine ultra tannins, melded oak and spicy plums dominating the palate. Lingers long and on and on. Try it with roast lamb.
 
Drink to 2012. About $75. 90/100 – Very Good.

Wynns Coonawarra Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 
 
This has a certain elegance to it, amongst the deep range of fruit characters – think blackcurrants, raisins, plums and cherries. It also more than its fair share of mint and cedar as well as an underlying dustiness ton it. Coupled with the regional earthy character and you have an interesting still quite young red. The oak is firm, the fruit there but with a real leanness to it and lightly astringent greenish tannins on the finish. If you really like your Coonawarra Cab Sauv, this will probably rock your boat. A well made wine overall that I will enjoy taking another look at in a few years time, at the moment, its still early days.
 
Drink to 2013. About $32, but found for less on special. 91/100 – Excellent.

Angoves Long Run Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 
 
This is an easy drinking delicious good value red quaffer for the winter period. Pure and succulent full of blackberries, violets and plums. There is good alcohol there and the fruit is deep but yet medium bodied enough to be soft and mellow on the finish. Try it with a beef curry.
 
Drink Now. About $10. 88/100 – Very Good.
 
Philip Shaw No 19 Sauvignon Blanc 2007
 
Fragrant delightful drinking sourced from the Orange region and given the Philip Shaw treatment. Invigorating fruit of the tropical nature as well as pears, almonds and frangipanis. Light and soft and succulent with long ripe fruit. A delicious mouthfeel that lingers long and is soft and seamless on the finish. Lovely lovely drinking.
 
Drink Now. About $24. 93/100 – Excellent.
 
Mount Riley Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2007
 
Classically varietal Marlborough fruit. Glorious herbeceousness abounds along with tropical fruit nuances and stone fruits such as pears and peaches. Aromatic and succulent and luscious along with a savoury dimension. Really neat Savvy Blanc drinking from over the Tasman. Try it with grilled barramundi.
 
Drink Now. About $17. 92/100 – Excellent.
 
Devils Lair Sauvignon Blanc 2007
 
Full of gooseberry, green peas and fresh garden herbs, straw and all delivered in a classically varietal sense along with its regionality being apparent. Quite aromatic verging on pungent, in a nice way with good minerality, good acidity and a lively crisp finish. Try this with crab.
 
Drink Now. About $27. 89/100 – Very Good.
 
Conte Estate Over The Hill Reserve Shiraz 2006.
 
Put this one on the winery watch list folks. This McLaren red is just spot on drinking. Seamless pure balanced and packing quite a punch from the outset, this Shiraz exudes glorious black and red fruits, with integrated oak, providing coconut macaroons as well as black olives and liquorice on the finish. Ripe smooth tannins augur well for the future. And value drinking as well. Try it with a beef stew.
 
Drink to 2016. About $25. 94/100 plus – 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.