Copain Daybreak White Wine 2023- Aromatic, delicious, mouthwatering, food friendly- perfect for summer.

Quick word about the winery …

Copain was established in 1999 by winemaker Wells Guthrie and Kevin McQuown and quickly became known for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Syrah. The Jackson Family purchased the winery in 2016 and maintained the emphasis on varietal wines, whilst bring to the table a commitment to sustainability and climate action. Their Rooted For Good initiative includes five facets: social responsibility, climate action, land conservation and farming, water management and global leadership through action. The Jackson Family Wines are founding members of the International Wineries for Climate Action.

This wine was launched a few years ago with the first release from the 2022 vintage and comprised seven varietals.

After tasting this, I had to smile at the totally under stated wine description: ‘White Wine’ There is no indication of the grape varietals, or the skill involved in blending this wine. The blend is 37% Malvasia Bianca, 29% White Riesling, 13% Gewürztraminer, 9% Chenin Blanc, 8% Viognier and 4% Chardonnay, sourced from some exceptional sites in Sonoma. The winemaker/blender is Ryan Zepaltas- excellent job. Infinitely drinkable.

Bright floral notes and tropical fruits jump from the glass, that can only come from the Gewurztraminer- unlike Alsace but enticing and distinctive nevertheless. Aromas of honey, mango, tea and rose petals draw you in.

The palate is complex, packed full of flavor balanced by crisp, mouthwatering acidity. Interwoven layers of lychee, nectarine, mango, and pineapple make you a believer, the secondary layers of pear, honeysuckle, and guava are icing on the cake. This is tropical fruit salad in a glass, only better.

Everything is where it should be, wonderful structure and texture on the palate. Great length on the finish.

Re pairings, Scallops, shellfish, spicy Indian curries, Chicken Pad Thai, or Spicy Fish Tacos all came to mind.

This will cellar out 2-3 years but I think this is drinking so well now, enjoy this summer. There is another vintage around the corner.

Wine Enthusiast gave this a 91 Pt rating. A little conservative, I think.

Nangkita Cabernet Premium Edition 2021- wonderful wine from a relatively unknown AVA.

The vineyard is nestled in the rolling hills of the Southern Fleurieu region that is only a 50-kilometer (or 27 mile) drive from Adelaide, just south of McLaren Vale- about half way to Langhorne Creek. The vineyards are cooled by winds from Alexandrina Lake, somewhat like Coombsville AVA in Napa that is cooled by winds from ‘San Francisco Bay’ back waters.

It is relatively unknown region compared to McLaren Vale- a shame because its cooler climate produces wines of restraint and elegance. I lived in Adelaide from 1986 to 1996 and the region was barely mentioned then, and I had driven through it several times.

The vineyard consists of 43 acres sitting on a northeast slope with elevations between 135 – 185 meters featuring deep sandy loam, approximately 1 – 1.5 meters overlaying clay and limestone.

Opulent notes of black currant, blackberries, and spices dominate the nose and draw you in. Allow it to open and a menthol/mint/eucalyptus note develops.

Bold rich layers of blackberries, black cherries, and blueberries with secondary notes of thyme and spices with just a hint of licorice, vanilla, and oak. Smooth mouthfeel with tannins evident but not insensitive to the overall picture. Impressive balance with the 14.4% alc. not at all obvious. Nice weight and structure through to a lengthy finish.

Cellar time should extend to 2035 without a problem.

Pairings must include red meat- this begs for a steak in whatever form you love best.

Sam Kim from Wine Orbit gave this a 96-point rating. I am not sure it is a 96 but you be the judge.

Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 2015- timeless class Cabernet.

Mount Veeder Winery was the first on the mountain, sitting high above the fog line and receiving sunshine almost all day. It was started by Michael and Arlene Bernstein in 1970, planting Bordeaux rootstock. Later, they made history by being the first in Napa Valley to plant Petit Verdot and all five Bordeaux varietals on the same property. They were also the driving force behind getting the Veeder Mt AVA established.

The Winery Ranch was the first vineyard established—that is where it all started. Later, the North Ranch Vineyard was added, offering sweeping views all the way to San Francisco Bay and a range of exposures. The Rosenquist Ranch vineyard was the last to be added, holding the highest elevation with the toughest growing conditions and producing some of its best fruit. All three vineyards are situated on steep terraced slopes clinging to the side of the mountain, wrapping neatly around the natural contours. 

2015 was an excellent vintage producing high-quality wines from low yields.

This is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot, with just a splash of Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah, making up the balance. French oak was used for barrel aging.

The nose has relaxed a little from 10 years in the bottle displaying appealing aromas of blackberries, plums, baking spices, and cigars.   The palate is opulent, defiantly bold, and full-bodied with impressive depth and complexity. A supple, velvet-smooth mouthfeel confirms this is in great shape and holding up well- it is only 10 years old. Wonderful legs on the glass. Layers of black currents, blackberries, dark cherries, and plums dominate with notes of vanilla/oak, dark chocolate, tobacco, baking spices, thyme, cigar, and coffee sitting below the surface.

All walk hand in hand to produce a wonderful drinking experience. Impeccable structure and balance with fine-grain tannins. Everything is where it should be. Great length on the finish that leaves you with the desire to take another sip. This is an over-achiever and a great example of Mt Veeder Cabernet.

I would suggest this has another 5 years of cellar time.

Screams for red meat- pick your favorite red meat dish, and make sure it is worth it.

Penley Estate ‘Phoenix’ Cabernet 2021- worth drinking at least twice, or more.

This has always been a budget-friendly wine that over-delivers on great vintages, and 2021 was an excellent vintage. With a string of 92 Pt ratings, I was keen to get this in the glass and find out where this was up to, with 4 years under the belt.

The name was conceived by Reginald Lester Tolley and Judith Anne Penfold Hyland (yes that Penfolds) in 1947 after they married but did not come to life until 1988 when their Phoenix Cabernet won a Gold Medal at the Adelaide Wine Show in 1989. The grapes were sourced from a block they purchased in Coonawarra. Just a side note, this region is renowned for producing some of the best Cabernet in the world. One sip, and you will agree.

Fast forward to 2016 when Kate Goodman, ‘winemaker of the Year in 2024’ – Wine Companion, joined the winery. Her history runs through Wirra Wirra (McLaren Vale), Tim Kanppstein (Clare Valley), Seppelt (Great Western), and Punt Road (Yarra Valley), and is considered one of Australia’s best.

OK, let’s get to the wine …

Delightful aromas of black fruits- blackberries and black currants with hints of floral notes, eucalyptus, and herbs.

The palate is fresh and energetic, with a smooth, inviting mouthfeel and an invitation to delve deeper. Enticing layers of juicy blackberries and currants dominate without being over-ripe- nice restraint and balance. Secondary notes of plum, black cherry, mint, pepper, eucalyptus, and tea. Lovely length on the finish with tannins showing themselves. Nice French Oak influence- matured for 12 months in 65% seasoned French oak,

5% new French oak, and 30% in stainless steel.

This will settle and develop with further aging- out to 2035 with confidence.

This wine screams beef- prime rib roast, NY Cut Steak, Pepperoni Pizza, and grilled meats and sausages when it gets a little warmer.

Congratulations Kate Goodman, with Lauren Hansen as assistant winemaker and award-winning Viticulturist Hans Loder- great combination.

Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz 2020. Superb Drinking at under $30.

This wine was first made in 1959 with grapes sourced from their Kalimna vineyard in Barossa, which was purchased in 1945. This is considered by many to be one of the finest vineyards in the region.

Delightful aromas of blackberries, black current, and plums with just a hint of pepper that draws you in.  

The palate is unapologetically big and bold with encouraging layers of depth and complexity. There is a lot going on with this wine. The mouthfeel displays a comfortable silky feel that is reminiscent of sharing a glass with an old friend. Interwoven layers of ripe blackberries, dark plums, and black currents dominate with secondary notes of dark cherries, dark chocolate, blueberries, licorice, mint, pepper, and eucalyptus with a hint of

of sweetness in the mid palate. An excellent job was done blending grapes from McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, Padthaway and Clare Valley drawing different characteristics. Despite a warmer than usual vintage this walks that fine line between displaying broad shoulders and attitude without all the fanfare, and restraint and elegance. Pleasing acidity and impressive balance only add to its appeal.

This really ticks all the boxes and with an under $30 price tag it over delivers and should be added to the cellar without hesitation. This will cellar out to 2040, another 15 years with confidence.

Food pairings should include your favorite cut of red meat, Indian Goat Curry, or a vegetarian favorite of mine: Baba Ghanoush, Falafel’s, and fresh Pita bread.

This has received a string of 94 Pt ratings and two 95 Pt ratings from Andrew Caillard MW and Huon Hooke.

Penfolds St Henri Shiraz 2018- one of the best I’ve tasted!

There are few things I look forward to more than a release of the new vintage of St Henri- one of my all-time favorite wines and most definitely my favorite Penfolds wine. I’ve been fortunate to have tasted 20 plus vintages and its like sitting down with an old friend you haven’t seen for a while- it’s always a pleasure.

Like most Penfolds wines, this is a multi-regional blend, of 100% Shiraz, sourced from Barossa, McLaren Vale, Port Lincoln, Robe, Padthaway, Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills grapes drawing characteristics from every vineyard and region. The boldness of Barossa, the elegance of McLaren Vale and Clare Valley and a hint of individual quirkiness from each of the other regions. 

Released for the first time by Penfolds in the early 1950s (first commercial vintage 1957), it gained a new lease of life in the 1990s as its quality and distinctive style became better understood. Source: www.penfolds.com

A wine so totally individual and unaffected by trends, it is unashamedly confident in its character. This is a big bold wine with a ton of character whilst being elegant and restrained with incredible balance. I initially decanted this for 5 hours and was amazing, revealing its further potential as it unwound. I then left it for a further 24 hours with just the cork in, no air removed at all for further aeration with spectacular results.

The nose is most definitely seductive and complex, with ripe blackberries, pencil shavings, and plums, along with a smattering of red and blue fruits and earthy notes in a supporting role.

The palate has a creamy, smooth mouthfeel, graceful, and immediate appeal. Layers of rich, ripe blackberries, raspberries, plums, and dark cherries dominate, with dark chocolate, sweet spices, tobacco, subtle black pepper, and leather rounding things out. As you would expect, the finish is very long.

Pair with something special, a red meat dish with roasted vegetables and Italian herbs.  

This is drinking well now, with some serious decant time but cellaring out will bring immense rewards- 35 years and beyond.

Celeste Crianza Tempranillo 2020

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL.

The vineyard’s location explains why this is such an enjoyable wine that most certainly over-delivers. The vineyards are in Fompedraza, Ribera del Duero, sitting approximately 895 meters above sea level, one of the highest vineyards in the northern hemisphere.

The altitude combined with medium—to fine-textured soils rich in carbonate deposited from the Upper Miocene and Quaternary periods contributes to the smoothness, depth, complexity, and elegance of the wines from this region.

This is 100% Tempranillo and is blended from the best Ribera del Duero vineyards parcels. This was aged for 12 months in 60% French and 40% American oak; followed by a minimum of 12 months bottle aging.

The appealing label reflects the owner’s belief that this wine is ‘filled with the freshness, emotion, and intensity of a starry night’.

There is a rich combination of aromas centered around blackberries, oak, leather, and earth.

The palate is smooth and appealing with layers of black and blueberries, plums, and cherries with secondary notes of oak, vanilla, and chocolate with just a hint of mushrooms and spices. Tannins are evident but not obtrusive with nice balance and texture on the mouthfeel. This is a well-put-together wine that ticks all the boxes at under $25 in most markets- a hard combination to beat. Definitely a great addition to the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night wine selection.

This is a great pizza wine, but it would do well with burgers from the grill, a selection of Tapas, Turkey, or Pork Chops with a spicy tomato-based sauce.

This has a way to go with cellaring- at least another 6 – 8 years, around 2032 – 2035.

Tenuta Di Arceno Chianti Classico 2021- Invite an Italian for Christmas.

This Chianti Classico is predominately Sangiovese- 85% with a splash of Merlot, and then aged 2-3-year-old French oak, small barrels for 10 months.

The grapes were sourced from vineyards in the Chianti Classico region, which, some would argue, produces the best Sangiovese in Tuscany. One sip will convince you that it expresses a real sense of place, the soul of Tuscany if I may be so bold. I should also point out that the 2021 vintage has been described as outstanding, remarkable, spectacular, and near-perfect. High praise that only heightens my level of anticipation to taste this wine.

Lush aromas of dark cherries, violet, and an earthy mushroom note with just a hint of vanilla. An enticing combination to say the least.

The palate is seductive with layers of cherries, raspberries, plum, and pomegranate with secondary notes of the earthy mushroom note from the nose, with oak and vanilla going hand in hand with just a hint of chocolate. A lush inviting mouthfeel with excellent balance (sits at 15% alc. and isn’t noticed) and bright acidity greets you that is neatly wrapped in elegance, depth, and complexity.

This pretty much ticks all the boxes and is a delight to drink. Tannins have a matt finish appeal revealing future potential as it opens up. It does not take much imagination to know this is going to be excellent drinking in about 5 – 10 years.

Great now with an hour or so’s decanting.

Food pairings should include Pasta with a meat sauce, Veal Osso Boco, grilled Fiorentina steak, and let’s not forget a platter of Italian dry-cured ham and artisanal Tuscan salami.

Taub Family Rutherford Cabernet 2018- Celebrate Christmas in style.

Taub Family Rutherford Cabernet 2018

The Taub Family wines continue to fly under the radar and produce impressive wines year in and year out. All this while staying the course and not giving in to what style is popular this year.

This wine draws you in with enticing aromas of blackberries, dark cherries, and black currant, with just a hint of coffee and spices.

The palate is smooth and inviting- even straight after opening the bottle. Wonderful texture, with elegance and restraint. Traces of Rutherford Dust are evident in between layers of blackberries, black currant, and dark cherries, with secondary notes of rich fruit cake, dark chocolate, cooking spices, and tea. Wonderful finish, although not as long as previous vintages. There is a richness about this wine without being over-ripe or over-extracted with impressive integration. An absolute delight to drink.

This wine exhibits great structure and balance with fine-grain tannins that begs to be paired with a steak or just about any red meat from the grill.

I can see this cellaring out another 8 – 10 years without a problem.