Craiglee 2007 Shiraz, Victoria

Posted by Keith Wallace on May 7, 2013 in Wine Reviews | 0 comments

Australian wine review

The cooler climate of Victoria often delivers Shiraz with more complexity and a lighter framework than other South Australian regions.  This bottle is a wonderful example of that style.

Its dark violet stains the glass purple,  and it’s aromas offer up charcoal smoke and white pepper along with dark blueberry and cherry. On the palate, the attack is fatty and fruity, with a hint of anise. On the midpalate, the wine lightens turning fresh and light with fresh strawberry and cinnamon dominating. On the finish, the richness re-asserts itself with great tannic strength and a splash of cherry.

 This wine is a Chairman’s Special in the PLCB (Pennsylvania) at the time of this review. 

Rutherglen Estates 2008 Burgoyne’s Block

Posted by Keith Wallace on Apr 18, 2013 in Wine Reviews | 0 comments

Australian Wine Review

Deeply hued with aromas of fresh berries and currants. Secondary scents of caramelized fat and savory herbs are amazing. Rich tannin that softens in the glass but keeps a firm structure. Fresh plum balances out the chewy tannins with more berry notes on the mid-palate. The finish of lavender and smoke with a final layer of sweet fruit. A blend of Mourvèdre, Shiraz and Grenache.

Coopers Best Extra Stout

Posted by Keith Wallace on Mar 14, 2013 in Beer Reviews | 0 comments

Export Stout Review

Just as dark and scented as a freshly pulled espresso. A full bodied stout with rich milk chocolate on the palate . Strands of smoky molasses and saltwater taffy develop on the mid-palate  The finish turns veers to charcoal and coffee beans and ends with a nice clean bit of malted barley.

Craiglee 2007 Shiraz, Victoria

Posted by Keith Wallace on Jan 28, 2013 in Wine Reviews | 0 comments

Cooler climate Shiraz are often the greatest and finest of all Australian wines. This bottle sports of aromas of beef jerky, wood smoke, and white pepper arrive first. A touch of reductive fruit comes forward along with a dash of freshly grated nutmeg. Similar to a Cote Rotie in structure, this baby sports a fresh zing of black cherries with aggressive tannins. The finish of mocha and silk completes the package.

Pillar Box 2008 Red

Posted by Keith Wallace on Oct 31, 2012 in Wine Reviews | 0 comments

For a wine so damn cheap, a lot of rock star winemakers have been attached to this project. For the geeks, that means Aussie powerhouses Kim Jackson and  Chris Ringland, for starters. For the rest of us all there is to ask is WHY? Well, you don’t  even need to ask that question, just WHERE CAN I BUY IT? This is one of those bottles that over delivers for the price point.

The wine is two-thirds Shiraz, with Cabernet and Merlot filling in the gap. Jammy and juicy, it hits the big points and leaves the nuances to another bottle of wine. Sweet blueberries on the nose, with a touch of spice and mocha. On the palate, it is fulled bodied and round, with black fruit flavors that are a bit reduced, to a wisp of menthol smoke, kinda like a Kools. Finishes big and bold and jammy.

A current trend in Aussie winemaking is to have small wine companies that produce a  half dozen or more  wines under different labels.  Instead of a winery name , you have inventive brand names. Pillar Box is part of a series of wines  that reference the regional Australian postal service, all made by the same company:  Henry’s Drive, Parson’s Flat, The Trial of John Montford, Dead Letter Office, The Postmistress, The Scarlet Letter, and Morse Code.