Welcome back. This time we'll talk about Barossa Shiraz and review for of them. We'll also review the new Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon release from Plunkett Fowles.

quick links:    Barossa Shiraz        Plunkett Fowles

Barossa Shiraz
 

Barossa
The Barossa, just North-East of Adelaide, is one of Australia’s premier wine regions and incorporates both the Barossa Valley and Eden Valley. While the Barossa Valley is renown for having some of the oldest and best Shiraz vineyards in the world, the Barossa region also lays claim to fine Rieslings from Eden Vale. Others varieties grown in the region include Grenache, Semillon, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. The Barossa is home to some of Australia’s best know and most reputable brands including Penfolds, Henschke and Yalumba.


Barossa Valley
The Barossa Valley is best known for its rich and intense styles of Shiraz, however the region also produces very good Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon and Chardonnay.

South Australia's most visited tourist destination, has a strong German heritage. Less than 100 km North of Adelaide, the Barossa Valley has a charm of its own. The Rolling hills are covered in vines as the country side offers many a town with German style heritage buildings, and the distinctive square spires of Lutheran churches dot the rural landscape.

The region was originally named the Barrosa Valley (after a region in Spain - the "Hill of Roses" ) by Colonel Light, but due to the general illiteracy of the times, the name was bastardised to Barossa.
The oldest vineyard in Australia is in the Barossa at the Langmeil Winery, which was one of the first in the region.
Well known wine makers such as Jacobs Creek, Penfolds, Wolf Blass, Peter Lehmann, Saltram, Yalumba, and Henschke are based in the Barossa Valley which boasts over eighty wineries and more that five hundred grape growers.
 

Here are four we reviewed recently.

Grant Burge 'Filsell' Shiraz 2005
Rich and intense colour with gorgeous aromas of spice, cocoa and berries. The palate adds a hint of Kirsh and deep earth and wood undertones. The finish is long and smooth with great tannin structure. Great wine which will cellar well.
$33.00                                                                93

St Hallett 'Faith' Shiraz 2005
This is what Australian Shiraz are know for, full of fruits and intense flavours. Not as subtle or complex as the others, but a great nose of cherries and spice with a palate adding a touch of wood.
$16.00                                                                89

Thorn-Clark 'Shotfire Ridge' Shiraz 2005
Deep ruby red colour with an intense nose of rich plums with cinnamon and mint. A full bodied palate adds berries, anis and cocoa. The mouth-feel is velvety rich and incredibly smooth with a long luxurious finish. A superb wine.
$23.00                                                                94

Torbreck 'Woodcutters' Shiraz 2006
Lovely rich colour. A good nose of fruits with spicy peppers. The palate adds cherry. Good tannins and a long finish round of this wine.
$23.00                                                               90

Plunkett Fowles

Formerly Plunkett Wines, Plunkett Fowles released two 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon in august this year. 'The exception' and a 'Strathbogie Ranges'. While both are very good indeed, they certainly have different appeal. For my tastes, I would buy 'The exception' to cellar and a 'Strathbogie Ranges' to drink now!

Plunkett Reserve 'The Exception' Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Deep garnet colour with purple hues. A lovely nose blackberries and cassis with hints of mint and sage. The palate adds cherry and a hint of smoked wood. Great tannins and a long finish with a hint of acidity. Would cellar brilliantly
$39.00                                                               92

Plunkett Reserve 'Strathbogie Ranges' Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Great intense colour with a nose of blackberries and currants with hints tobacco and cocoa. The palate is intense with cherry and a hint earth undertones. Well structured wine with a velvet smooth mouth feel and a long finish. Outstanding!
$39.00                                                               94