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. 

Domaine Bousquet Ameri Red Blend 2018- a stunner!

This is their flagship wine named after the Co-owner Labid al Ameri and is a blend of 60% Malbec, 20% Cabernet, 10% Merlot, and 10% Syrah. It is produced only on the best vintages making only about 500 cases so its release is highly anticipated. I was lucky enough to receive a bottle from the winery and the 2018 vintage does, by no means not disappoint. I believe 2022 will be the next vintage release.

The vineyard sits at an altitude of 4,125 feet and is hand-selected and sorted to go through the four-day cold maceration, 14 days on yeasts in oak barrels after fermentation, 20 days of maceration, and malolactic fermentation, then aged in French oak for 16 months.

The nose unpacks aromas of dark fruits—mainly ripe blackberries and blackcurrants, raisins, and black pepper—no doubt from the splash of Syrah.

The palate is unexpectedly rich and inviting. Velvety smooth mouthfeel with no appreciable tannins. Nice balance and restraint wrapped in elegance, depth, and complexity. Interlaced layers of blackberry jam, cassis, raisins, and black currents with secondary notes of black pepper and cooking spices complete this package. 

It currently has 6 years under its belt, I can see this aging out to 2030 without a problem.

Food pairings should include your favorite Argentinian dishes centered around red meat. 

Wirra Wirra RSW Shiraz 2013 – from the cellar.

Though it was about time I pulled a 2013 RSW Shiraz from the cellar, it has been a few years since I checked in on this stunning wine and I was more than curious to see how this wine has evolved.

The wine was named after Robert Strangways Wigley, a noted South Australian eccentric and state cricketer in 1894 after embarrassing his family once too often and fled to McLaren Vale and established Wirra Wirra.  

After he died in 1926 the winery fell into disrepair until 1969, when it was returned to its former glory by Greg Trott. Greg had a dream to not only make world-class wine but to build a giant catapult to throw watermelons (originally bottles of wine) into neighbor’s fields. The project was completed in 2006, after his death in 2005.

The winemaking team now consists of three women: Chief Winemaker: Emma Wood Who comes via Penfolds, Winemaker: Kelly Wellington, and Assistant Winemaker: Grace Wang.

The grapes were sourced from three separate pickings from Blewitt Springs, McLaren Flat, and Seaview- all averaging around 40 years old. These vineyards are known for making wines with great depth and complexity.

Fruit is still bursting from the glass- lively and vivacious. Enticing aromas of rich blackberries and dark cherries dominate.

The mouthfeel is sticky in a plush velvety kind of way- tannins are evident. This is still a wine with broad shoulders and a muscular attitude that will need a big steak to pair with it- an Australian Wagyu Tomahawk Steak would be an ideal partner.   

Seamless layers of rich blackberries, dark cherries, and plums with secondary notes of leather, developed blueberries, and spices, all tied nicely together with elegance, exceptional balance, power, and grace. It has a long finish with a hint of sweet spices and French oak.

No surprise if you are still smiling after emptying your glass, even after your first. This is a special wine and an absolute delight to drink. I am happy I have 4 more bottles of the 2013.

With 11 years under its belt, it is still a puppy. It still has at least another 10 years- out to 2035.

A Red and A White for your consideration.

Tenuta Di Nozzole Chianti Classico Riserva 2020

The estate dates back to the 1,300’s and was acquired by the Folonari family in 1971. Perched on the top of a picturesque hill, this 385-hectare estate, consists of 90 hectares under vines and 15 hectares of olive groves. They also have a separate farmhouse with extensive gardens and a pool overlooking the vineyards which is available for you to stay.

Aromas of cherries, raspberries, earth, and spices dominate leaving little room for what the palate is to reveal.

This medium bodied wine is overloaded with cherries, raspberries, and cranberries, all delivered on a silky-smooth palate with bright acidity and obvious balance. This is rustic without losing quality, depth, or complexity. I can imagine pulling into a country Inn and this being served as the house wine- except its way better. Secondary layers of vanilla, leather, and earth with hints of cooking spices round things out. There is a warm fire, country villa on a stormy night feel about this wine that gives it both charm and intrigue- despite being considered a modern style Chianti. Great length on the finish.

We paired vegetable Lasagna with some crusty bread with some dipping oil and it was perfect. You could of course go more extravagant with additional courses but I think, simplicity is sometimes the best.

Cellar out to 2032 with confidence.

Paddy Borthwick Sauvignon Blanc 2022

The winery was established in 1996 and is family owned and run with an unwavering focus on minimal intervention and allowing the vineyard to produce the wine- classic ancient stony alluvial soils help the cause. Vineyards are in located in Gladstone, Wairarapa- the southern tip of the North Island of New Zealand.

The nose is dominated by herbs, stone fruit and just a hint of citrus and tropical fruits.

The palate is packed with racy acidity wrapped in green apple, orange peel, lemons and limes, white peach with secondary layers of passionfruit, guava, and apricot. Palate is richer than you would expect with depth, complexity, and balance on full display. This is a really well put together wine, not your typical Marlborough Sav Blanc- this is much broader and riper in style. Lovely texture with great length on the finish.

Pairings should include Shellfish, most types of fish, Sushi, Salads, and pasta- just make sure you pack them with plenty of fresh herbs- fennel, and greens, avocado, mango, papaya, fresh tomato, or grilled red peppers.

I suspect this will cellar out 3 – 4 years but you will lose some of the crispness and acidity. I would drink it now, there is another vintage just around the corner.