Spring 2012
inside: The Cool Grape 24 of the Best Premium Wine Buying Guide
All panel selected
Ends 2nd December 2012
We lco me With warm days rapidly approaching we have included a bevy of white wines for you to relish – punchy citrusy rieslings, lifted grassy sav blancs, textural blends, a succulent pinot gris and a couple of very modern chardonnays. And we know you’re looking for decent reds to savour over the spring months and our selection of rouge delights is diverse, of great quality and stunning value. It’s time to clean and crank up the barby and enjoy this marvelous range of wines. Cheers! Rod Properjohn
The Panel Rod Properjohn
Steve Perry
Rod began in the wine industry 35 years ago as a Wine Advisory Officer for the Wine Industry Association of WA and gravitated from there into lecturing at the Association’s Wine Education Centre, in which he is still involved. He also ran wine classes for Technical and Further Education. He was a wine columnist for the Western Mail and Daily News papers and later on with the magazines West Coast, Scoop, WineState, Spice, Menu and Cravings. He is also a Regional Wine Show judge and the writer of our newsletter.
Steve has been expertly advising and educating Perth’s western suburbs in wine since 1985. He was a director of legendary Cottesloe Wine Store - John Coppins until 1997 and now leads the team at fine wine storeSwanbourne Liquor Barons. He has travelled extensively around the wine-growing regions of Australia and NZ and has been the Chairman of the Panel for over 10 Years.
Peter Bradbeer
Michael Dickson
Paul (Ed) Edwards
For Michael wine started as an interest, then became a vocation and after 20 years in the wine industry as both a retailer and wholesaler, remains a passion. What keeps that passion alive is the increasing range of new and interesting wines from grape varieties and regions around the world that are becoming available to us.
Ed has managed fine wine stores in London, Sydney and Perth. He led Hyde Park Cellars to win the NSW Liquor Store of the year award in 2001 before studying and passing the WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) Diploma in 2005. He now operates his own business teaching WSET qualifications in Perth. In 2008 he was the WA representative in the national final of the prestigious , Negociants ‘Working with Wine’ fellowship. He regular sits in Peter Forrestal’s Wine Panel and is committee member of the Wine Communicators of Australia WA Chapter.
Peter has been in the wine industry for over 30 years, always tasting and assessing wines for sale and for his own drinking. He has been Wine Show judging and consulting to a major Australian wine company. Being on other professional wine panels gives him a broad view of what is out there, but it is always changing. Peter’s view is you never stop learning.
Paul McArdle
Anthony Reynolds
Paul is currently the CEO for Fonty’s Pool winery in Pemberton. He has been the wine consultant for ‘Must’ wine bar/restaurant in Perth (since 2004). Paul is regularly involved in both trade and consumer wine education and passed the UK based ‘Masters of Wine’ (MW) tasting exam in 2003.
Anthony is a qualified Winemaker that brings much technical winemaking knowledge to the panel. He has worked both as a viticulturist and Winemaker for over 10 years, predominantly in the Margaret River Wine Region. Anthony has also worked and/ or travelled through many of the Worlds leading winemaking areas including France, Germany, Italy and South Africa. A recent city change has seen Anthony move back to Perth as the new owner and manager of Liquor Barons Dalkeith.
Kristy Schmidt Kristy is an impassioned wine lover who has spent many years employed in the Australian wine industry and has undertaken a Bachelor of Wine Marketing through the University of Adelaide. Apart from spending time writing content for her blog, the aussie oenophile, Kristy also writes for several wine publications in a freelance capacity.
Stef Biagi Since joining the wine trade 12 years ago Stef has been a part of the management team for 6 fine wine stores in WA (including 2 Liquor Barons stores), and has a loyal customer base who track him down for recommendations. He has completed all of the wine courses at the Wine Education Centre and furthered his education by regularly exploring Australia’s wine regions. He most enjoys finding gems from boutique vineyards and is responsible for sourcing, cataloguing and preparing all wine for the Panel tastings.
And Spring arose on the garden fair, Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere; And each flower and herb on Earth’s dark breast rose from the dreams of its wintry rest. Percy Bysshe Shelley
The Cool Grape If there is one wine that has improved noticeably in the new millennium, it’s the red wine pinot noir. In the nineties we struggled to find quality, inconsistency was a problem. Now we see few poor wines, the average pinot is good and some are mouth-wateringly delicious. This very old French variety is idiosyncratic; there is great variability with a number of clones that have differences in growth habit, bunch shape and fruit quality. Some of these clones perform better in one area than another. It is obvious that many growers have trialed and selected the right clones for their vineyard and also the variety has been pulled from regions that didn’t cut it. The pinot noir vine enjoy growing in a cool climate. It is not vigorous and takes a long time to develop a vine of reasonable size, it’s difficult to nurture, has lots of viticultural vices and is a shy bearer. Once all that is sorted, the grape is an early ripener and buds can be destroyed by frost. When harvested and in the winery, the winemaker then has as many problems as the grower. The skins are thin and extracting colour and flavour is not as easy as with other red varieties and capturing a desired funkiness or gaminess is important as it adds intrigue and complexity. When it all comes together in the vineyard and winery, there is no doubt that pinot noir is one of the most exciting and seductive wines to drink. Try these.
2499
2699
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each by mixed 6pk
$27.99 single A Pipers River Tasmanian pinot that gets the full treatment of cold soaking, whole bunch inclusion, hand plunging and wild fermentation and it shows with a bright mid red colour, a red berry nose with a touch of damp earth. The palate is long and has kitchen herbs, fleshy red fruits, gentle tannins and cleansing drying acidity. Any light game dish works well with this.
Dalrymple 2010 Pinot Noir
each by mixed 6pk
Castle Rock 2010 Pinot Noir
$28.99 single A mid-red colour with a tinge of polished copper from talented winemaker Rob Diletti and his cool east-facing Porongurup vineyard. The nose is vibrant with ripe cherry and a good dollop of earth and the wine drinks beautifully now with a silky texture, funky intrigue, fine structure and dry balancing finish. Serve with your favourite roasted bird and all the trimmings.
Spring 2012 Science has never drummed up quite as effective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day. W. Earl Hall
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Whites
Harewood 2012 Sauvignon Blanc Semillon
$17.99 single We’ve been impressed by James Kellie’s winemaking lately and here’s another beauty from the Great Southern under his minimalist Harewood label. Following his trophy winning 2011 vintage, this has similar lemongrass characteristics and a long concise palate of citrus, light herbal notes and steely acid finish. Great aperitif.
999
1799
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$
each by mixed 6pk
9 to 5 2011 Semillon Sauvignon Blanc
$11.99 single Light straw green in the glass, this Margaret River youngster is voluminous in aromatics with loads of grass and citrus. Fresh tropical fruits dominate the palate which also has zestiness and a lively crisp finish. A drink-soon style that suits white fish fillets and a crunchy green salad. Priced attractively.
each by mixed 6pk
Whitehaven 2011 Sauvignon Blanc (NZ)
$18.99 single You couldn’t get much more Marlborough than this sauvignon blanc, it’s a classic regional style – fresh with gooseberry, sweet tropical fruit, garden herbs and balancing acidity. There’s subtlety and delicacy here but also a punchy grassy character when you search for it. It’s a drink-soon style, so we’d do just that over the warmer months ahead.
1099
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each by mixed 6pk
Mike Press 2012 Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc $12.99 single Straight off the Press (excuse the pun), but this recently bottled savvy is a bundle of youthful joy with fresh passionfruit, gooseberry and melon and an uplifting zesty zinginess along the palate to a lovely crisp finish. This vintage in the Adelaide Hills looks to be very promising. A drink anytime wine that won’t disappoint.
1599
each by mixed 6pk
1799
each by mixed 6pk
Forest Hill 2011 Springvale Estate Riesling
$19.99 single A terrific white vintage in WA and this is another gem from the Great Southern. It’s a clear light straw colour with lifted delicate floral aromas and a citrus hit with a long focused palate and all the usuals – lemon, racy acidity, minerality and fine length. A puckering dry style and an each way wine for now or in six years time. Good value.
Spring 2012 In the spring I have counted one hundred and thirty-six different kinds of weather inside of four and twenty hours. Mark Twain
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1899
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each by mixed 6pk
Forester Estate 2011 Sauvignon Blanc
$19.99 single This Margaret River wine was fermented both in stainless steel and oak and a portion with natural yeast and was then aged on yeast lees. It presents as a serious expression of the variety with a definite winemaker’s stamp. You’ll see a concentration of grass, citrus and smoky oak with buckets of flavour and the wine finishes with a textural crunch and lively acidity.
Lenton Brae 2011 Southside Chardonnay
$22.99 single Limpid green straw in the glass, this young chardonnay boasts fresh lively grapefruit aromas with a subtle oak infusion. Contemporary in style with a long angular palate of citrus, stone fruit and crunching acidity, it aims at younger drinkers or those willing to accept the lighter modern style of chardonnay. Very good value in this smart Margaret River wine.
2299
1999
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each by mixed 6pk
each by mixed 6pk
Cowaramup Wines 2011 Sauv Blanc Semillon
$21.99 single Labelled Margaret River Reserve, this youngster has had some extra work in the winery with partial barrel fermentation and lees stirring. This adds some singed toast to the citrus and grassy aroma and a layer of mealy texture to the palate. Bracing acidity completes the wine. Different and an interesting addition to your white-wine drinking this spring and summer.
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Forest Hill 2011 Estate Chardonnay
$24.99 single Brilliant light straw colour with lemon drops and wildflowers on the nose along with complex nougat, spice and gentle oak. The palate has juicy stone fruit and is long with exceptional balance, even in its youth. Wonderful Great Southern chardonnay, lean but expressive. A panel favourite.
1999
2499
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each by mixed 6pk
Villa Maria 2010 Cellar Selection Pinot Gris (NZ)
$21.99 single From Marlborough, this has a light straw appearance with a varietal poachedpear aroma and a few fresh herbs thrown in. The palate is a medium-weighted flavourable mix of stone fruit, silky textures, soft acids and a smidge of residual sweetness. Well balanced and a great match with soft goat’s cheese or a creamy camembert.
1999
each by mixed 6pk
each by mixed 6pk
Mount Horrocks 2011 Watervale Riesling
$27.99 single Although living in the shadows of the famous riesling of Jeffrey Grosset, this wine by Jeff’s partner Stephanie Toole, floats our boat. It is a fine and more precise style and you’ll find it lime-green/straw in appearance with classical lemon lime fragrance. The palate is long and dry with citrus fruit that is tightly wound around a core of steely acidity. Great now, but is built for time in the cellar.
Spring 2012 Every spring is the only spring - a perpetual astonishment. Ellis Peters
Reds $
$ Balnaves of Coonawarra 2010 The Blend
$19.99 single Savvy winemaker Pete Bissell and a great local vintage combine to produce this cracker of a red, a merlot-dominated wine with cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc for support. There’s a glowing crimson/mauve colour, a perfumed nose of rhubarb and blackcurrant and a juicy palate of pulpy red berries, spice and balancing tannins. Outstanding value for this quality.
1099
1899
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each by mixed 6pk
Picaroon 2010 Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon $11.99 single Another attractive cabernet sauvignon from this good Margaret River vintage. It has a typical varietal structure with grippy grape tannins, brambly black fruit, a long palate and firm drying finish, with some cedary wood characters thrown in for good measure. Suit a gutsy winter red meat dish and it has time ahead of it, if you wish to cellar a few bottles.
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each by mixed 6pk
Dowie Doole 2011 G&T
$21.99 single This is not the G&T the Queen sips before her evening meal, but I’m sure if she tried it she’d be delighted. It’s a garnacha (grenache) and tempranillo blend from McLaren Vale and it has pepper and spice on the nose along with a generous juicy palate and gentle tannins. This cold wet vintage has probably given the wine a little more savoury character than normal and this is a plus. Drink soon - without ice or a slice of lime.
1999
1599
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each by mixed 6pk
each by mixed 6pk
La Vendetta 2009 Sangiovese (It)
$17.99 single A youthful bright mauve red in colour, this has a meaty nose so typical of the sangiovese grape and then shows a mouthful of dusty tannins, spicy cherry fruit and cleansing acid finish. Perfect with Mediterranean food and especially a tomato-sauce pasta or classic pizza. Not for bottle aging, so that means hop in and enjoy this Tuscan wine soon. Mighty value, sharp label.
1799
each by mixed 6pk
Shingleback 2010 The Davey Estate Shiraz
$21.99 single From the southern end of McLaren Vale this young shiraz shows a splash of purple in the deep ruby colour and heralds the youth of the wine along with fresh mulberry, spice and a hint of damp earth. Then there’s ripe cherry fruit flavours mixed with a dash of pepper stretching to a long coffee oak and subtle tannin finish. We love the style and the price.
Spring 2012 Spring is sooner recognized by plants than by men. Chinese Proverb
1999
3199
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each by mixed 6pk
O’Leary Walker 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon
$21.99 single A consistent and reliable producer and this young cabernet is exactly what we expected from this very good vintage in the Clare Valley. You’ll see an intensity of youthful colour, a varietal blackcurrant fruitiness, a regional mintiness, complex French oak characters and a long structure leading to grippy finishing tannins. Will bottle age beautifully.
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each by mixed 6pk
Snake & Herring 2010 Cannonball Cabernet Blend
$34.99 single A Margaret River mix of cabernet sauvignon, merlot and petit verdot. The cannonball is reference to the brutish firm finish of petit verdot in the wine, it adds to the structure. There is also the blackcurrant fruit and forest floor of cabernet and the sappy plums and anise spice of merlot and cedary oak tannins tossed in for complexity. A smart and very drinkable young red which we thoroughly enjoyed.
1999
3499
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each by mixed 6pk
Ibéricos 2009 Crianza Rioja (Esp)
$22.99 single Classical Spanish! Well it’s from Rioja, made from tempranillo by the large Torres winemaking company and is from a good vintage – it’s all good. You’ll see ripe red fruit, a few herbal notes, spiciness, dusty oak and caressing tannins that linger long in the mouth to a cleansing finish. Attractive wine with grilled chorizo sausage or a paella.
2899
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each by mixed 6pk
St Hugo 2009 Shiraz Cabernet
$37.99 single Under the Jacob’s Creek banner, this traditional blend of Australia’s two great red varieties is from the Barossa and Coonawarra respectively and is a wine the panel salivated on. It’s a glorious ruby colour, of medium weight and has some restraint with leafiness, black fruit, silky tannins and length. Oozes quality and a great food wine.
3699
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each by mixed 6pk
each by mixed 6pk
$31.99 single The name Glaetzer is synonymous with the Barossa through winemaker Ben’s father Colin and uncle, John. This is the family style – deep coloured, big and bruising, sweet-oaked, layers of rich ripe red fruit and dark chocolate, velvety textures, yet a firm tannic grip that augurs well for bottle aging. Reserve this for a gutsy beef dish and your favourite condiments, it’ll handle them easily.
Woodlands 2010 ‘Margaret’ Res Cab Merlot Malbec $39.99 single
Ben Glaetzer 2010 Bishop Shiraz
Look for a vibrant mauve red colour in this lovely young Bordeaux-style Margaret River red and then blackcurrant, olive and anise on the nose. The palate is of medium weight and harnesses ripe silky tannins, persistent black fruits and a slight leafiness of the incumbent varieties. We say drink now or for mediumterm cellaring – about six years. Great choice with a leg of spring lamb.
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Shop 16 - 19 Sheppard Way P: 9447 6744 Specials end 2/12/12. While stocks last. Pics for illustration purposes only. Prices inclusive of GST. OTV Magazine published by Liquor Barons Co-Op Ltd. Suite 16 350 Cambridge St Wembley WA 6014 . Tel 08 9287 2222