Paul Forget

Montepeloso Eneo 2006, Igt Toscana

New Release September 18, 2010.

Remo Farina Monte Fante Riserva Amarone Della Valpolicella Classico 2006, Doc

This wine opened up with aromas of stewed berries, raisin, prune, dried figs, soft leather and savoury spices. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, rich with silky smooth texture, a lot of fruit and alcohol but it is perfectly balanced by crisp acidity and fine tannins. This wine has a very good length and depth on the finish with a hint of chocolate with raisins, red and black fruit flavours with a little heat and very smooth. This Amarone is very tasty and flavourful with lots of everything but no excess. A real treat, very comforting and strongly recommended.

Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz 2008, Grampians/Bendigo, Victoria

Another fine wine from Seppelt. This Shiraz opens up with aromas of blackberry, cherry, stewed plum, raisins, cedar and spicy notes. On the palate, medium-full bodied, with layered spicy dark fruit, creamy oak texture, balance acidity and fine grained tannins. This Shiraz finish is long, spicy, with mouth caressing rich flavours and spiciness. Here is a well made, well balanced wine, which managed to achieve both power and elegance quit well. I have never been disappointed by Seppelt yet, and there Chalambar Shiraz 2008 is quit delicious, Strongly recommended.

Trinity Hill Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2010, Hawkes Bay

A deep plum color, this wine opens up with aromas of plumy-blackberry fruit, dried violet, white pepper, meaty and dry spices notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied , black fruit flavours and rustic with fresh acidity and fined-grained tannins. Dry with a good length on the finish with blackberry and crushed stone texture lingering. Very interesting and enjoyable, better served with food (would be great with lamb).

Ravenswood Teldeschi Zinfandel 2007, Dry Creek Valley

Sequillo Cellars Red 2009, Wo Swartland

It seems that I didn’t tasted the same wine has everyone else base on all those 90’s scores. Curiously pale red in color for a Rhône blend and 24 months in oak, this wine opens up with aromas of red fruit (plum and raspberry), violet, licorice, spices and a slight medicinal note. On the mouthfeel, light to medium bodied (in texture) but hot alcohol and not enough fruit or tannins to give this wine any structure. This blends finish is short, unpleasant with tart and slightly bitter flavours. Everything about this wine is odd, from the color, to the clear glass bottle, the short agglomerate wine corks (you think that you would want to use a natural wine cork for a wine at this price). For me this wine tasted like an alcoholic Kool-Aid and at this price ($29.95) a robbery. Not recommended, score 78 points

Coriole Vineyards Estate Grown Shiraz 2009, Mclaren Vale, South Australia, 40th Anniversary

Beautiful deep purple in color, this Shiraz opens up with aromas of cherry, plum, dried raspberry, mocha, cedar and peppery notes. On the mouthfeel, medium-full bodied, fairly extracted flavours of ripe plums/cherry, licorice, baking spices and cedar, fresh acidity and fine silky tannins. This wine finish is intensely flavourful, slightly creamy with excellent depth of flavours. Glad I purchased more than one bottle, because even if it is drinking well now, it will keep improving and will get more elegant and smoother over the next 3-4 years. Gorgeous wine and strongly recommended.

Dog Point Vineyard Chardonnay 2009

Straw yellow in color, this Chardonnay opens up with aromas of pear, peach, pineapple, lime zest, toasty and roasted nuts. On the palate, medium bodied, lean in the mouth with a slightly sweet and creamy texture with fresh acidity. Very nice length on the finish, with a mix of citrus/ripe tree fruit and refreshing acidity. What you get from Dog Point Chardonnay 2009 is elegance and a great deal of finesse. Strongly recommended.

Mission Hill Oculus 2007, BC VQA Okanagan Valley

Mitolo Savitar Shiraz 2008, Mclaren Vale

This wine is 100% Shiraz, aged in 100% new medium to light toasted 80% French oak and 20% French coopered American oak for 17 months and alcohol is listed as 14.5% on the label but is advertised at 15% on the winery website.
Pouring a deep purple, this wines aromatics opened up with a bouquet of wild berries, blackcurrants, stewed plums, raisins, eucalyptus, incense, toasty and vanilla notes. On the mouthfeel, full bodied with a rich texture of layered dark fruit and spices, low acidity and velvet tannins. This Shiraz finish is robust with chocolate covered blueberries and vanilla spices flavours with slightly burning alcohol that leaves a lasting impression. I love both the superb aromatics and the rich mouthfeel but I would have to think that the alcohol is indeed at 15%, leaving you with a hot finish. This is a big imposing Shiraz, tailor made for steaks on the barbie. I would have enjoyed a little more elegance at this price, but still enjoyable.