A huge slew of notes from a morning spent at an MW tasting in London. First a sit down tasting with Allen Jenkins (Wynns) and Keith and Clare Mugford (Moss Wood), then a walk about tasting. Moss Wood gave an interesting comparison of cork vs screwcap.
Wynns V&A Lane Cabernet Shiraz 2012, Coonawarra
Sweet berry fruit with a very slightly confected edge to it. Hint of eucalypt on the nose and more on the palate, where it’s joined by a chopped mint character. Dusty, grippy tannins with a crisp edge. 16.5
Wynns Alex 88 Single Vineyard Cabernet 2010, Coonawarra
Ripe, primary and unformed at present. Very spicy and engaging palate entry, with some toasty French oak. Palate-staining and intense with plush, dark-toned fruit. 18
Wynns Messenger Cabernet 2010, Coonawarra
Dense, curranty and spicy nose. This is in a big, primary, fruity phase and shows the ripeness of a warm vintage. Slightly pruney character to the fruit. Drops away a bit on the mid-palate. Chalky tannins on the finish. 16
Wynns Glengoyle Cabernet 2009, Coonawarra
Delicate blackcurrant fruit profile. Shares a similar structure to the 2007 (tasted next) but has better fruit balance and mid-palate length. Elegant, fine and scented with silky tannins and good length. 17.5
Wynns Glengoyle Cabernet 2007, Coonawarra
Shows some evolution in colour and aroma with sweet, cedary fruit. More delicate and open than the 2009 but with less intensity. Sweet and expansive berry fruit. This is fine boned but slightly lacking in muscle and impact. Has a delicate web of tannin and a dry finish. 16.5
Wynns Davis Cabernet 2008, Coonawarra
Desnse, black and plush with lots of cassis and a luxuriant texture. The tannins are pretty strong but ‘deep pile’ and plush. Has a very pure (Coonawarra) Cab profile and a lovely perfume. Big, rich and impressive with a great finish. 18
Wynns Johnsons Block Shiraz Cabernet 2004, Coonawarra
Has a delicate, cool climate aroma with plummy, slightly brambly, fruit. Not very expressive at this stage. Shows some spice and cinder notes. Good volume on the mid-palate and some minty/fresh tones on the finish. Seems pretty closed. 16
Wynns Black Label Cabernet 1998, Coonawarra
Primary, very dark-toned and quite closed. Deeply pitched, ripe and spicy. This is richly-textured, has great balance and loads of potential. Classic mint notes emerge with time in the glass. 17.5
Wynns John Riddoch Cabernet 1988, Coonawarra
Very healthy colour with gentle bricking. Fresh, with marked red fruit characters on the nose. This is lifted, classically proportioned and really quite crisp. Some fresh tobacco notes. Has sweeter, secondary notes on the mid-palate but the acidity becomes a bit angular on the finish. Drink up. 16
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Cabernet Merlot 2011, Margaret River
Sweet and creamy nose, not particularly herbal for Marg with some rich, almost leather, tones. Impressive density and muscle on the palate and a strong mid-palate but the finish feels dull-edged and slightly warm. 16
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Cabernet Merlot 2003, Margaret River [STELVIN]
Some evolution evident but still showing primary fruit. Attractive secondary characters of earth and spice. Still vibrant on the palate. Classy. Crisply balanced and cedary. 17
Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Cabernet Merlot 2003, Margaret River [CORK]
Much more evolved, cedary and oxidative. The fruit is markedly decaying and sweet. Attractive spice notes but misses vibrancy. Dry on the back end. 15.5 – seemed 10yrs older.
Moss Wood Cabernet 2011, Margaret River
Perfume of bright, vivid fruit. Crisp, lifted palate with bright, balanced acidity. Snappy. Defined berry fruit and vibrancy right through the palate. 16.5+
Moss Wood Cabernet 2004, Margaret River [STELVIN]
Outstanding. Very youthful colour and restrained but pristine blackcurrant fruit. Pure, with great finesse, fairly linear at this stage but with a velvet texture. Complete and harmonious with superb poise. 18.5
Moss Wood Cabernet 2004, Margaret River [CORK]
A hint more evolved than the screwcap bottling but here the extra development is quite positive. Aromas of spice, cedar and sweet fruit. Very close to the Stelvin bottle but a touch less vibrant. Nicely complex on the finish with fairly evolved tannin. 18
Grosset Polish Hill Riesling 2013, Clare Valley
Juicy and very markedly lime-driven. Good cut but not austere. Has drive and energy. 17+
Moss Wood Semillon 2013, Margaret River
Very classic WA Semillon profile of citrus fruit. Typical ‘hole’ in the mid-palate but finishes nice and vivid. 16
Moss Wood Chardonnay 2012, Margaret River
Very ModOz nose with mineral reduction, orchard fruit and toast. Let down by palate – fruit is too sweet and topples the balance. Lacks tension. 15.5
Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay 2010, Margaret River
Intensely mineral with lovely matchstick notes. Blossom and toast aromas. A contemporary rendition of the style. Sweet fruit but retains some cut. Has a broad, oatmeal palate and moderate vigour. 17
Paringa Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2010, Mornington Peninsula
Spicy nose with bright red fruit. High alcohol – 14.5% - and comes across a bit simple. 15
Cape Mentelle Cabernet 2012, Margaret River
Ripe berry fruit with a minty edge. Attractive, cool, profile. Finishes a bit short. 16
Cape Mentelle Cabernet 2011, Margaret River
Attractive fruit definition and vibrancy. Lively on the palate with plenty of snap. Has a tobacco-y edge and a crispness to its structure. 17.5
Cape Mentelle Cabernet 2008, Margaret River
Briary fruit sits atop some evolved cedary notes. Quite broad on the palate and very slightly diffuse, but fnishes long and perfumed. 17-
Cullen Diana Madeline Cabernet 2011, Margaret River
Red fruit with a mildly herbaceous frame. Very linear with a taut spine. Chalky tannins border on the austere. Lean finish. 16
Vasse Felix Heytesbury Cabernet 2007, Margaret River
Sweet, evolved and a touch medicinal. Clear herbal tones on the palate. Dusty tannins. 16
Yalumba Menzies Cabernet 2001, Coonawarra
Minty and evolved. Attractive purity but a bit dry, dusty and undistinguished. 15.5
Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier 2011, Canberra
Perfumed, scented and very musky. Very delicate – filigree tannins. Packed with energy and finesse and a superb finish of flowers and spice. 18
Brokenwood Graveyard Shiraz 2011, Hunter Valley
Slightly ‘wild’ on the nose but totally clean. Lots of raspberry and red fruit characters. Surprisingly tendre. Only moderate complexity at this point. 16.5
Brokenwood Graveyard Shiraz 2009, Hunter Valley
Rich bouquet of pepper, spice and leather. Silky texture with plenty of spice. Lifted orange peel notes on the finish. Delicious. 17
Paringa Single Vineyard Shiraz 2010, Mornington Peninsula
So much better than the Pinot! Tight, peppery and sinewy. In a meaty Crozes-esque style. Has scent, tension and snap. 17
Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet 2010, South Australia
Very Penfolds nose with plenty of spice and vanilla oak. Long, ripe and exciting on the palate. Very much in the classic South Oz style of ripe, opulent Cab but world class. Briary fruit on the finish. 18.5
Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz 2010, Eden Valley
Very fine, sweet and deep perfume with lots of black cherry fruit. Seamless on the palate with a creamy texture. Plush and spicy. 18
Jim Barry The Armagh Shiraz 2002, Clare Valley
Mature, leathery nose is quite attractive. Has a nice, cool profile but just not exciting. 16
Jim Barry McRae Wood Shiraz 1996, Clare Valley
Mature, minty aromas with a distinct rosemary character. This is an older wine that’s surviving but I’ve no idea where it’s going of if it will/can go anywhere. At peak but meh. 15.5
Charles Melton Nine Popes GSM 2010, Barossa Valley
Big, pruney and leathery. Fiery fruitcake style. Overblown for me. 15
Penfolds Grange 2009, South Australia
Glossy black fruit – very clean and pure with no oak showing through. Big, thickly-textured wine – typical Penfolds. Seamless tannin and texture. Impactful but not an explosive Grange. 18 (wish I’d had the 2008 that was in the printed list, guess that got gobbled)
Rockford Basket Press Shiraz 2006, Barossa Valley
Old fashioned Aussie Shiraz. Pruney, dusty, earthy. 16
Penfolds RWT Shiraz 2011, Barossa Valley (or is it S-Aus?)
Bright and vibrant. Actually has energy and snap. [3 ticks] 18
I ran out of time at the end of the walk about tasting, witness the brief notes, and missed some older vintages of Yalumba Signature and Octavius Shiraz. It was a good tasting but I couldn’t help feel it was very establishment – but then it was based on high Langtons ratings. Marg seemed a little over-represented but I was impressed by how well a number of 2011s were showing given the vintage’s challenges. I’ve another tidal wave of notes from a large Negociants tasting but think I’ll spare you those.
Cheers,
Matthew