We finally had the chance to clink glasses 🥂 to celebrate our D6 results and completion of WSET Diploma! 🥳
We decided to pop this bottle of 2009 Penfolds “Grange” that we’ve been holding onto for some time… ⏰
It’s a 98% Shiraz and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon blend 🍇 made with grapes hailing from vineyards of Barossa Valley (primarily), McLaren Vale, Clare Valley and Magill Estate, all situated in South Australia. 🇦🇺
It had a medium garnet hue 👁️ with medium (+) intensity of layered aromas 👃🏻 and flavors 👄 including plush and concentrated notes of red and black cherry, cassis, boysenberry, dried fig, blueberry, violet, cocoa nibs, mocha, cedar, dill, vanilla, nutmeg, anise seed, clove, licorice, mint, forest floor, tobacco, leather, peppercorn, and meat. 👀
On the palate, it was dry with medium acidity, a lusciously full body, medium (+) velvety tannins, high alcohol (14.5% ABV) and a long finish. 🙌🏻
It was a spectacular wine, ripe for the occasion. Cheers! — 20 days ago
Classic NZ label. Smells funky. Lawn just cut or a piece of fresh grass in the teeth. And lemon citrus peels. Flavors are complex and very audacious. Bombastic even. Plenty of citrus, but something else as well. Shells? Like the calcium carbonate in those. Also big gooseberries. This is a good example of how NZ Sauv Blanc differs from the other styles out there. This wine packs a punch. — 20 days ago
Loved It!!! — 14 days ago
Unscrewed and poured; no formal notes. These friggen Chardonnays from Margaret River. I’ve been blinded on them too many times to count and I never call it right. Instead, I always seem to call a high acid grape like Riesling of Sauvignon Blanc. The fruit is sometimes tropical, always with citrus and sometimes is shows green apple and always with awesome minerals. Acid is squarely in the high category. They are lovely wines that just seem to throw me for a loop. If Chablis, the Mosel and Sancerre had a love child. Drink now and through 2036 easy. A fabulous pairing with lamb massaman, larb and papaya salad. How can they hide the 100% new French oak so well?! — 17 days ago
my new favorite! very crisp. enjoyable minerality. Notes of juicy grapefruit, maybe lemon? Finishes with lovely lemongrass, and a bit of jalapeño. 10/10! — 19 days ago
Slightly tart, notes of guava — 2 days ago
Tart - Apple/grapefruit taste. Excellent with cheese and crackers. Roast pork with a pear based sauce and roasted carrots. Very enjoyable! — a month ago
Kurt Schuster
A nose of fresh, cool melon without too much sugar or underripe tanginess in either direction. On the tongue is fairly thick with a bit of honeysuckle and light ginger, very smooth and viscous with a bit of Black beech honey on the tongue.  — 4 days ago