Finally!

My first post since October 2008. Life is busy.
Work takes up an inordinate amount of time.
Preparation for the minutiae of daily stuff.
Shopping,
Meals for the family,
Clothes, gear and food for work and pre work fitness sessions,
The boys afternoon football training and Sunday matches.

Relax a moment, drink some wine, write a note.
Post it.

Not lately!

A new post.
A new blog layout.

BOCHARA PINOT NOIR 2004

I have posted tasting notes for this wine here previously. It is a wine worth revisiting.
This wine was a find and a bargain. First tasted at the cellar door. It is rich and flavoursome and very moreish.
My previous notes are on the money. Liqueur cherry, cinnamon and cloves, quite sweet in a fruit sense. If anything the wine seems to be almost unchanged, undeveloped and a little hedonistic. It possibly lacks a little in structure, but I am willing to forgive this for the pure pleasure of drinking it.

Tasted: July 2009
Source: Cellar door
Price: $20 (2006)
Drink: Now - 2012
Score: 92

I just tried to access the Bochara website and it is not to be found. Hopefully this is not an ill wind in these times.

BINDI Pinot Noir 1997

Dark red, the wine shows aromas of fresh strawberries and raspberries with some farmyard hints. Fresh and juicy on the palate, raspberry and sour red cherry, some brambly complexity. The wine could be richer and more mouthfilling. Very similar to my note from 2 years ago. Drink!

Tasted: July 2008
Source: Winery
Price: $30
Drink: Now
Score: 90

PROVIDENCE Pinot Noir 2004

Another wine from our March trip to Tassie. Providence is an interesting vineyard to visit, it operates like an agent for a large number of other Tasmanian wine companies. You can taste a range of Providence wines and when it comes time to make a purchase you can choose from a range of about 50 others, many hard to get wineries included. The callar door is manned by the owners and they are very knowledgable about the wines on sale, and about the tasmanian Industry as a whole.

This wine was quite a light bright ruby colour, the nose speaks of pinot noir, strawberries and red cherries some leesy yeasty aromas, the palate is in the strawberry and sour cherry spectrum sappy with good length. Quite full in the mouth and will improve over 3-4 years.

Tasted: July 2008
Source: Providence Cellar Door
Price: $25
Drink: 2010 - 2012
Score: 89

http://www.providence-vineyards.com.au/

BINDI Pinot Noir 1996

This is the second bottle of this wine that we have consumed this year. We bought a dozen in 2000. Initially they were atypical for pinot, exhibiting spice and pepper characters more reminicient of Southern Victorian shiraz. This bottle and the previous have put a lie to those impressions. This wine has really come into its own.

In the glass it is deep in colour, the nose is showing a little aged complexity with black cherries and spice. On the palate it is similar cherries spice and some feral characters, with crisp acid and some sappiness, it is drinking as well as it ever has. Drink up!

Tasted: June 2008
Source: Mailing List
Price: $27 (2000)
Drink: Now - 2010
Score: 93

ST IMRE Pinot Noir 2006

Deep colour, ruby purple, a little green on the nose with some dark fruit in the black cherry spectrum. The palatedisplayed more black cherry with hints of asparagas and a savoury finish.

From vines planted in 1999 3rd vintage not a bad wine.

A vineyard and winery with promise. The most southerly in Australia.

Tasted: June 2008
Source: Cellar Door
Price: $33
Drink: 2009 - 2011
Score: 89

MAIN RIDGE Pinot Noir 1998

A sappy pinot nose showing raspberry and red cherry aromas. Lovely deep red in colour. On the palate the wine had lovely mouthfeel, full, silky and satisfying sweet red fruits.

Some sour cherry tones to finish, this wine is drinking beautifully.

Tasted: June 2008
Source: Winery
Price: $32.50 (2001)
Drink: Now to 2013
Score: 93

http://www.mre.com.au/

BALGOWNIE ESTATE Pinot Noir 2005

This wine is made from Balgownie's Bendigo plantings. These are almost 40 years old.

Deep ruby in colour, full rich black cherry nose very pure. The palate reflects the nose with dark cherry flavours gently sweet and full. Velvety flow through the mouth. Delicious drink. Drink 2012

Tasted: April 2008
Source: Cellar Door
Price:$25
Drink: 2010 - 2016
Score: 92

http://www.balgownieestate.com.au/

42° S Pinot Noir

We spent 3 weeks in Tasmania in March. A beautiful, rugged and yet refined part of the world. We spent our time between the pleasures of food, wine, sight seeing and bushwalking. A terrific holiday.

This is the first tasting note from the trip, I have a number to follow.

This wine was made by Andrew Hood. Deep ruby colour, black cherry and forest floor nose. Black fruit, cherries, plums and forest floor on the palate. Good length chalky tannins.

Tasted: March 2008
Source: Grape, Hobart
Price: $32
Drink: to 2010
Score: 92

BALGOWNIE Pinot Noir 2006

Bright red in colour, raspberry and strawberry fruit nose, on the palate raspberry, sappy palate, fresh and zippy a god drink, not a long term keeper, drink over the next year.

Tasted: May 2008
Source: Cellar Door
Price: $17
Drink: 2008 - 2009
Score: 89

http://www.balgownieestate.com.au/

BOCHARA Pinot Noir 2004

We picked this wine up at the winery when travelling home following a weekend in Coonawarra. It turned out to be a highlight.

The wine is a deep crimson. It aroma's are reminicient Haigh's liquor cherry chocolates, The palate is all blackcherries and kirsch with hints of exotic spices, full, rich and velvety in the bigger style of pinot noir.

Tasted: June 2008
Source: Cellar door
Price: $20 (2006)
Drink: Now - 2012
Score: 93
http://www.bocharawine.com.au/

DIAMOND VALLEY ESTATE Pinot Noir 1991

A very interesting exercise to drink an Australian pinot noir of this age.
We have a few older pinots. Good brands hopefully the quality and corks are up to the journey.

The wine stood up pretty well, middle red in colour showing some browning from age, brambly red cherry nose developed but still fresh, sweet red fruit and cedar on the front and middle palate sour cherry finish, clean tannins. Its age would surprise.

Tasted: May 2008
Source: Winery
Price: $27 (1992)
Drink: Drink
Score: 91

http://www.diamondvalley.com.au/

SPRING VALE Pinot Noir 2005

This wine displays a bright ruby complexion. It has aroma's of liquor cherry and jubey, confectionary notes. Liquor cherry palate, almost medicinal, quite light bodied but has great mouthfeel with chalky drying tannins to finish. It is almost Italian in style, atypical for pinot. Could be cellared to 2013.

Tasted: April 2008
Source: Dan's
Cost: $40
Drink: 2008 - 2013
Score: 93

http://www.springvalewines.com/

TOMBOY HILL ROKEWOOD Pinot Noir 2002

Bright ruby, Cherry and plum nose, pure fruit. Strong sour cherry palate, good length,varietal pinot noir. Some gamey characters developed with time. Should be drunk in the short term.

Tasted: May 2008
Source: Mail Order
Price: $37 (2005)
Score: 91

http://www.ballaratwineries.com/tomboyhill.htm

MAIN RIDGE THE ACRE Pinot Noir 2005

I am a fan of Nat and Rosalie White's wines and this certainly lived up to my expectations.

This is the second pinot noir in the Main Ridge range.

Light, bright red in colour. Aroma's of strawberry and raspberry complemented by game and mushroom nuances. The palate is very long, clean and dry, raspberry, red cherries, game and gentle linear tannins are delicious and refreshing in structure. A terrific wine to drink with food, roast duck or turkey.

Tasted: April 2008
Source: Cellar door
Price: $45 (2007)
Score: 93

http://www.mre.com.au/

BREAM CREEK RESERVE Pinot Noir 2005

Bright garnet in colour, the varietal, pinot nose shows liquor cherry, game and hints of liquorice. The palate is long and silky, starting with dark cherries and kirsch, game and stalky rhubarb like characters follow, finishing with some grippy tannins. The wine will live for 5 years at least. Enjoy with gamey poultry.

Tasted: May 2008
Source: Cellar Door
Price: $34
Points: 93

http://www.breamcreekvineyard.com.au/