I haven't really celebrated my birthday (the photo above is a random one I've nicked from the internet!) but I decided that I wanted to try some more interesting wines this year - expanding my palate and trying new things. So, to start, an Aussie Touriga Nacional, two Zinfandels that come from old and new vines, a late harvest Syrah and a Scheurebe. Is that strange enough?
2006 Yarra Yering Dry Wine No. 5 (Touriga Nacional)
This Portuguese grape, grown in Australia, was going to be wonderful or horrific. But being Yarra Yering it was a pretty safe bet that it would be the former. Beautiful rich, chewy fruit - lots of cassis and bramble, then some herbal, rosemary and thyme with just a bit of fresh mint. Dustings of cocoa powder come through too.
Soft, with that lovely tobacco, liquorice and cherry stone flavour, peeking through a cherry, date (?) and green pepper flavour. Soft, a touch of tannin, but delivered so softly. A little liquorice on the finish, some warming alcohol with bonfire toffee just before the long, dry, cherry stone finish. 8.5/10
1988 Pol Roger Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill Magnum
A little lemony and very gentle thai curry aroma, some salty elements mixed with some biscuit and lemon zest. A long aroma - a mixture of fresh and aged champagne.
I think that the palate is a touch corked, but still with some honeyed elements, a little lemon pith and some grapefruit pith too. A little honey on the finish with a nice structure of lemon, lime marmalade and burnt toast. Shame about the taint! A disjointed wine - my pal Rich says it is changing from young to old and is a bit reductive. I think it is a bit corked.... who is right? Who is wrong?!!!
2007 Cervaro della Sala Antinori
A big oaky mo-fo, but balanced with a lovely citrussy element on the nose. Smoky hints, a lot of honey and balanced toasty elements. The palate is again some oak, with some tannin and a bit of grapefruit citrus and then some dirty lemon skin. Despite the oak fest, it has a really nice balance of citrus and acid, so you are not getting a weighty wine. Also you have sweetness, without the cloying element you get from some wines. This is tasty. 8/10
2007 Consolation Armistice Late Harvest Syrah
Lots of blueberries and a sweet, compote aroma on the nose, a little alcohol and a touch of dark tobacco. The palate is all about chocolate & toffee with loads of blueberries, and whilst it is sweet, it is a very natural sweetness. Alcohol creeps in with more savoury elements and a bit of spice, but then the finish is back to good quality milk chocolate and berries again. 8.5/10 Seriously - BUY SOME CONSOLATION WINES, they are funky and different.
2007 Turley Juvenile Zinfandel
Vibrant, light raspberry fruit, loads of glace cherry and acidic berries. White chocolate too on the nose, with some really nice, simple fruit. The palate is very sweet with jammy and fresh fruit, loads of alcohol, chocolate covered cherries and some cinnamon. A big brash wine, far too big for me, but fun. Very vanilla-y! 6/10
2007 Turley Old Vine Zinfandel
Richer, darker fruit than the Juvenile, liqueur steeped cherries and some milk chocolate, herbs and some coconut on the nose. A lot of sweet berries, brambles and again, a LOAD of alcohol. Quite acidic but with loads of black forest gateaux and an oak fest of biblical proportions. Far too boozy. 6.5/10
2008 Schloss Proschwitz Scheurebe Kabinett Trocken
Blackcurrants, a little nettle and some lemon. A soft, flowery aroma, very very pretty. The palate has a touch more citrus, some nice berry and light tropical fruit - maybe lavender too? Quite pretty, a lovely blackcurrant on the finish too, with a grapefruit pith on the finish. I really like this. 9/10
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