Stella Bella Tempranillo 2004

I've been meaning to get a bottle of this wine for some time now, it won a gold medal at the World International Tempranillo Competition 2005 and had a few wine writers bellowing about the future of Tempranillo in Margaret River.  Now I've had a taste I can see why, it is the most compelling example I've seen to date.

The vines used for the wine are of an average age of 12 years.  This added with some funky oak treatment in American and French oak and inventive wine making has combined to produce something special.

Inky and dark in colour, the nose opens up with a good show of varietal character: ripe dark cherry and mulberry with licorice and just a pinch of spice.  Fleshy, medium bodied and savory, its open for business from the first taste.  There is a core of brambly dark plum and blackcurrant that really drives this wine, while some licorice and wood herbs add additional complexity.  A persistent finish with a boat load of tannin, but it is soft, inviting and in balance.  World Class.  91 Pts.

Source: Retail Cost: $27 Closure: Screwcap

Web: www.stellabella.com.au

McHenry Hohnen Tiger Country 2004

This is a venture by David Hohnen and Murray McHenry.  Murry is an ex wine retailer, David was the winemaker at Cape Mentelle for many years.  David also has an organic pig farm from what I hear; the guy must have some Spanish heritage to grow Tempranillo and raise pigs for a living!

Deep red in the glass. A nice nose of red currents, dark chocolate, raspberry and spice. Medium bodied and savory in the mouth with dark berries, earth, and a touch of black tea and soy.  Ripe tannins on the finish.  I like the balance on this wine, very interesting in the mouth as well.  Not your typical Aussie red blend, very European in fact. I'm not sure how it would age, I'd drink it over the next couple of years. 88 Pts.

Source: Boccaccio Cellars Price: $25 Closure: Conventional Cork

Web: www.mchv.com.au