Wine Review: 2005 Kilikanoon Shiraz M Reserve

Name: 2005 Kilikanoon Shiraz M Reserve

Producer: Kilikanoon (Kevin Mitchell)

Region: Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

Classification: Reserve

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Shiraz

Year/Vintage: 2005

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $24.99, PA Wine Store

Date Logged: 05/29/2009

Pairing(s): Pizza

My Rating: 4 Stars

This is a good one. I had high expectations for it…Wine Spectator score of 94, retail price of $60-$70 (we got it on sale at a great price), and lately we’ve been on a Shiraz kick. Fortunately, it delivered.

The color was deep purple, almost black. The nose was complex, with plenty of red and black ripe fruit aromas, but also lots of complex undertones of pencil lead, tar and chocolate. The palate was also complex, with strong vanilla and crème flavors up front and a nice, structured tannic finish. It went well with the pizza, but would have also been great with a burger or steak. It’s also great just by itself. I will definitely seek this out again, especially if we can get it at $25.

Notes from the winery: “Our pinnacle Mclaren Vale Shiraz, a wine sourced from a forty year old vineyard in Mclaren Vale. This small cuvee' was created traditionally using small open topped fermenters, a basket press and twenty six months maturation in small French oak cases.This extended time spent in oak has allowed the 'M' Reserve to be bottled unfined and unfiltered in August 2006, thus preserving the vineyards uniquely individual flavours and characters.”

Name: 2005 Château de Sales

Producer: Château de Sales

Region: France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Merlot blend

Year/Vintage: 2005

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $29.99, February, 2008

Date Logged: 05/17/2009

Pairing(s): Stuffed peppers

My Rating: 3-1/2 Stars

2005 is considered THE vintage for Bordeaux, and this mid-priced wine did not dissapoint.

This was a surprisingly mellow wine for being such a young Bordeaux. It had a funky, barnyard meets leather couch and cigar nose, with just a hint of red fruit. The color was dark red, almost black. The wine had a nice weight on the palate, with a relatively complex spectrum of flavors, including chocolate, campfire and dark cherry. The tannins were obvious but not overwhelming, providing a medium length finish. Overall, a well rounded wine that went very well with the stuffed peppers and mashed potatoes that we paired with it.

2005 West Cape Howe 'Two Steps' Shiraz Viognier

Name: 2005 West Cape Howe 'Two Steps' Shiraz Viognier

Producer: Great Southern

Region: Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Denmark

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Shiraz 93% / Viognier 7%

Year/Vintage: 2005

Bottle Size: 750ml

Purchased: $20.99, January, 2008

Date Logged: 05/16/2009

Pairing(s): Buffalo Chicken Salad

My Rating: 3-1/2 Stars

This is a very easy-drinking and delicious wine, with lots of fruit and a nice balance of medium tannins and acidity. Very dark, almost inky color in the glass. Black cherry and plum on the nose, with the same on the palate plus some cedar and green pepper overtones. Great with grilled meat, or by itself.

Wine Review: 2005 Rutherford Hill Napa Merlot

Name: 2005 Rutherford Hill Napa Merlot

Producer: Rutherford Hill

Region: USA, California, Napa Valley

Classification: N/A

Type: Red Wine

Variety: Merlot

Year/Vintage: 2005

Bottle Size: 375ml

Purchased: $13.99, FREE (from Thundercruise)

Date Logged: 05/08/2009

Pairing(s): Buffalo Chicken Salad

My Rating: 3 Stars

I haven’t had a merlot in awhile. We decided to break out one of the two half-bottles of Rutherford Hill Napa Merlot that we were given on the Thundercruise. I had heard several remarks on the cruise that this one wasn’t very good, but I wanted to see for myself.

Personally, I thought it was pretty good. It had lots of good dark cherry fruit on the nose and palate, and filled in with hints of chocolate and some spiciness on the mid-palate. It had good balance of oak and tannins, and ended with a nice mellow finish. Good by itself and with the grilled chicken and salad. Proof that you should always make up your own mind about whether you will like a wine or not.

Wine Review: 2004 Orlando Abrigo Barbaresco Vigna Montersino

Name: 2004 Orlando Abrigo Barbaresco Vigna Montersino
Producer: Orlando Abrigo
Region: Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barbaresco
Classification: N/A
Type: Red Wine
Variety: Nebbiolo
Year/Vintage: 2004
Bottle Size: 750ml
Purchased: $40.00, FREE (obtained on a cruise)
Date Logged: 5/2/2009
Pairing(s): Grilled steaks
My Rating: 5 Stars

I believe this is my first 5-star wine that I have put on this site…and it is very well-deserved. We snagged this bottle on the Thundercruise, a 7-day wine tasting tour on board a Caribbean cruise ship. We tasted it first while on the cruise and immediately fell in love with it. We were lucky enough to bring an entire bottle home with us.

I generally have a hard time finding a memorable Italian wine in the local wine store. This wine may make me look a little harder. The color was beautiful in the glass, with a nice clear, light ruby color. The nose was floral and fruity, with hints of licorice, smoke and grilled meat. It had a perfect mid-weight in the mouth, and gave up lots of cherry and black fruits, along with more complex flavors of vanilla, earth and minerals. The acidity and integrated tannins were very well balanced. It carried plenty of punch with the tannins, but wasn’t overwhelming and paired perfectly with the grilled steak. The finish was nice and long, with some lingering spicy flavors well after the other flavors faded.

It’s not a cheap wine by any means, but definitely worth having around for a special occasion. I hope to find some more soon.