Pindarie Bar Rossa 2006

Anthony at Baccaccio Cellars put this aside for me months ago. Luckily he runs a booze shop and isn't hard pressed to find something to take home to drink with dinner.  

Its been in the press a bit this wine, and it deserves it.  An unusual blend of 70% Tempranillo, 25% Sangiovese and 5% shiraz that is ready to go as soon as you rip the screwcap off. 

Deep red in colour with a purple tint.  The nose is quiet for the most part, a bit of earth and spice with light red berry fruit.  In the mouth is where all the action is.  Its brimming with soft tannins that give the wine a great mouthfeel, plum and dark cherry fruit jubes.  Overall its a savory wine that's not afraid to show some fruit and would be perfect with anything hot of the BBQ. Great value.  88 Pts.

Source: Boccaccio Cellars RRP: Around $20 Closure: Screwcap

Web: www.pindarie.com.au

Yalumba Hand Picked Tempranillo + Grenache + Viognier 2005

Ok, it is quite an odd blend.  Who would think of adding Viognier to Tempranillo and a little Grenache?  I wouldn't, but the folks at Yalumba have and I think they may be onto a good thing.  Your not going to see mass planting of Viognier all over Spain as a result, but it makes an interesting wine.  Its kind of like that Run DMC V's Aerosmith track, DMC's beats with just the Aerosmith guitar riff, its a great tune but I'm not too sure how a whole album would turn out.

The blend consists of mostly Tempranillo (89%) with a shot of Grenache (6%) and Viognier (5%) and sees 10 months in French and Hungarian oak.

What a nose! Some nice raspberry fruit, florals, tobacco, earth and not a trace of apricot.  In the mouth it is smooth all the way, not a lot in the way of tannins, they may be hiding under the viognier influence.  Dark, savory fruit in the mouth, black cherry and dark plum with sarsaparilla.  A lot of Tempranillo varietal character here.  There is a bit of apricot on the finish, this moves on with some time and spicy pepper replaces it.  Nicely balanced and integrated.  A very good wine, I'd like to see it without the viognier, I think they'd have a winner. 89 Pts.

Source: Boccaccio Cellars Cost: $27 Closure: Screwcap

Web: www.yalumba.com

Tscharke Only Son Tempranillo 2004

Should wines made made in Australia taste like their European ancestors?  This is the question I found myself asking while drinking this wine.  Or should we take the grapes and make it our? Should we pay homage to the great wines of Spain by making wines here in a similar style?  I'm still undecided…

I liked this wine a lot, it has that classic barossa taste and feel to it but it is made from Tempranillo.  It bears very little resemblance to the classic descriptors of a tempranillo based wine, but it is still very well made and highly drinkable.Perhaps its vine age or the clones used, or perhaps it is climate.  Or all three, only time will tell I think. 

Very dark and inky in colour with aromas of dark cherry and plums on the nose with a bit of coffee.   Good mouth feel with soft tannins and lovely smoothness.  Dark berry in the mouth with a little bit of tart blueberry and a bit of cola.  Quite a long finish, it is a powerful mouth coating wine that I found very enjoyable.  89 Pts.

Source: Winestar Price: $26 Closure: Screwcap