Grateful Palate: Vintage Wines Ltd $5 Tastings 2005

Grateful Palate

Tasting described as One of, if not the best importers of Australian Shiraz in America. We will taste wines (red & white) from all over the land down under. Saturday, September 10, 11-3PM.

The wines in this weekly tasting are usually all under $15pb. I tasted the wines double blind. That is I did not know what wines were in the tasting or their order. I’ve listed the wines in order they were tasted.

2004 Marquis Philips, Holly’s Blend, SE Australia $9.99USD
Light straw. Initially dusty, sulphur stink that blew off to reveal toasted oak and pineapple. Medium weight with clean acidity. Pleasant wine. 2, 2, 3.8, 9.6 = 17.4/20, 87/20.

2003 Paringa, Cabernet Sauvignon, South Australia $9.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Dominated by an ethanol note over caramel. Disjointed palate of sour acidity and gritty tannins over a note of cherry. Not recommended. 2, 2, 3.0, 9.0 = 16.0/20, 80/100.

2004 Pillar Box Red, Padthaway $10.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Very open with notes of cedar, nutmeg and mint. Full bodied, well balanced with good presence of flavors on the palate and nice length to the finish. 2, 2, 4.0, 9.9 = 17.9/20, 89/100. 15% alcohol. 57% Cab, 32% Shiraz, and 11% Merlot.

2003 Hare’s Chase, red Blend, Barossa $11.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. A little barnyard backed up by an unusual aromatic note over aromas of earth and caramel. Full bodied with nice upfront acidity and drying tannins. 2, 2, 3.6, 9.8 = 17.4/20, 87/100. 14.0% alcohol.

2003 Lengs & Cooter, Shiraz South Australia $16.99USD
Cherry red with red edge. Mint over blackberry and toasted oak. Nice mouthfeel, well balanced with pleasant acidity and considerable length to the finish. 2, 2, 4.0, 10.1 = 18.1/20, 90/100.

2003 Gibson, Wilfreda Blend, Barossa $31.99USD (scewcap)
Dense cherry red with red edge. Initially closed, finally gave up blueberry, pepper and a little nail polish (ethyl acetate, EA). Soft and supple entry with refreshing acidity to the lengthy finish. 2, 2, 3.9, 10.0 = 17.9/20, 89/100. 14.8% alcohol.

2003 Brothers in Arms, No. 6, Langhorne $14.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Dusty oak over ripe cherry. Drying tannins over bright acidity. Nice length to the finish but feels incomplete on the midpalate. 2, 2, 4.0, 9.8 = 17.8/20, 89/100. 15.0% alcohol.

2001 Scarpantoni, School Block, McLaren Vale $14.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Bit of barnyard and ink. Full bodied with nice structure and good presence of flavors on the palate. 2, 2, 3.9, 10.1 = 18.0/20, 90/100. 14.0% alcohol.

2003 Henry’s Drive, Shiraz, Padthaway $32.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Rich, ripe and sweet. Full bodied and confected with blackberry, pepper, alcohol and a charred character. Lacks density on the mid-palate. 2, 2, 4.1, 9.5 = 17.6/20, 88/100. 16.0% alcohol.

2002 Lillypilly, Noble Blend, Riverina $11.99USD (Screwcap)
Golden yellow. Rich and luscious with raisins and spices. Full bodied with excellent carry of flavors onto the palate and crisp acidity to the lengthy finish. Great value and highly recommended. 2, 2, 4.2, 10.3 = 18.5/20, 93/100. 11.5% alcohol.

A mixed bag in terms of quality. The Lillypilly is the only wine I would recommend, simply because it represents such outstanding value. Among the reds the Lengs & Cooter and Scarpantoni offer good value. The Henry’s Drive is a wine that I have tasted three times now and it impressed less in this company than previously.