2001 SOMERLED McLAREN VALE SHIRAZ James Halliday - 92 pts (Only museum stock remaining.)
This wine is made from Shiraz (100%) grapes grown in the McLaren Vale region of South Australia. It was bottled in February 2003 after aging in new and once-used American and French oak barrels. The new oak percentage was approximately 88%.
Colour: Very dark indeed, opaque, almost black.
Nose: Soft, ripe plums, exotic spices. Lifted, complementary oak, with its own spicy character.
Palate: This is a wonderfully complex blend of flavours such as plums, berries, spices and soft oak. There are abundant tannins giving a solid backbone and the ripeness provides "warmth" which helps the long flavoursome finish.
Potential: This is a very big wine with a dark brooding character about it. It will gradually open out and lift with further aging. The wine will drink at its peak from 2007 to 2011 and will live gracefully for years after that. It is a first-class cellaring proposition. Because it has already started to throw a crust, the wine will benefit greatly from being carefully decanted some time before drinking - a couple of hours would be ideal.
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2002 SOMERLED McLAREN VALE SHIRAZ James Halliday 93 pts ( Only museum stock remaining. )
This wine is made from 100% Shiraz grapes from the McLaren Vale region of South Australia. It was aged in new and once used French, American and Hungarian oak hogsheads and barriques (mainly hogsheads) for 25 months before bottling in April 2004.
Colour: Very dark and dense.
Nose: Complex and estery, the nose jumps out of the glass! By now (August 2009), the wine has achieved an elegant maturity, and the nose reflects this accordingly.
Palate: The wine has intense "berry and spice" shiraz flavours that are beautifully integrated with the oak, the result of prolonged barrel aging and bottle maturation. Like the nose, the palate is very complex and mature with great length and softness.
Potential: Like the 2001, this wine was very big (huge!) when it was a youngster but it has matured wonderfully in the bottle to the point where we think it has just about reached its full potential. It may perhaps get a little softer over the next couple of years, and there is no doubt that it will go on being a terrific wine for years yet - probably to 2015 or beyond. It makes a sublime match with lamb, beef and other richly flavoured dishes.
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2003 SOMERLED McLAREN VALE SHIRAZ James Halliday - 91 pts ( CURRENT RELEASE )
This wine is made from Shiraz (100%) grapes grown in the McLaren Vale region of South Australia. It was bottled in March 2005 after aging in new and once-used American and French oak barrels. The new oak proportion was 72%, with the balance in once-used barrels.
Colour: Very deep crimson - it still looks dense and dark, and after a few years in bottle has become a dark brick red. In the glass, it looks a luscious and inviting wine.
Nose: That wonderful complexity, which has been a feature of this wine, just keeps on developing! There are strong suggestions of chocolate, coffee and roasting coconut which lift effortlessly from the glass.
Palate: At six years of age, this wine is developing just as we'd always hoped. The flavours from the fruit and oak are totally blended together in a seamless fashion. They linger on the tongue for ages. The wine still has great structure, but the early firmness has given way to a round, velvety softness and a warm ripeness that is totally satisfying.
Potential: In our earlier notes on the wine, we said it would reach a peak between 2007 and 2012. At the end of 2009 we think the wine is at its peak. It's hard to imagine it becoming more complex and rewarding than it is. It will stay like this for years, and we are not recommending that the wine all be drunk straight away! There's no risk of it going backwards for many years, providing it is well stored. It has thrown a nice crust, so it is best decanted, perhaps an hour or two before drinking.
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2004 SOMERLED McLAREN VALE SHIRAZ James Halliday 93 - pts ( Will be released soon. )
This wine is made from Shiraz (100%) grapes grown in the McLaren Vale region of South Australia. It was bottled in March 2006 after aging in new and once-used French and Eastern European (Hungarian) oak barrels. The new oak proportion was 53%, with the balance in once-used barrels.
Colour: Deep red - very dark and attractive. Indicative of a big rich dry red.
Nose: This is very opulent, showing ripe shiraz berried fruit, spices (pepper, nutmeg) and some delicate oaky aromas.
Palate: The palate is wonderfully flavoured; it fills the mouth quite effortlessly, and is complemented by the full well structured body of the wine. Like the 2003, it has a pronounced viscosity that gives plenty of middle palate richness. And also like the 2003, it is a very satisfying big wine!
Potential: The wine has such good flavour, tannin-structure and ripeness that it has the capacity to mature really well in bottle. We look forward to the development of more complexity and to a gradual softening of the tannins. It should drink at its peak from about 2007 to 2014 and live gracefully for years after that. It has very good cellaring potential.
Because it has already started to throw a crust, the wine will benefit greatly from being carefully decanted some time before drinking - a couple of hours would be ideal.
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Chardonnay
2008 SOMERLED STEEPLECHASE CHARDONNAY (CURRENT RELEASE)
This wine is made from chardonnay grapes grown in the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia. It is a blend of wine from early and later picked fruit. The early picked wine underwent full malolactic fermentation while the riper wine did not. The two parcels were put together to capture the best aspects of both. It was bottled in August 2008
Colour: Pale, with attractive tints. It will gradually deepen.
Nose: Peachy, tropical at first, but made complex and interesting by the nutty and buttery aromas from the malo lactic fermentation. There is a very slight hint of French oak.
Palate: This shows richness of flavour reflecting the tropical characteristics of the aromas. It has a full body which is enhanced by the silky, viscous texture of the wine. Nutty flavours and gentle oak round off a satisfying finish.
Potential: This wine is designed to complement food and not to compete with it. It has savoury flavours and a freshness that makes it an ideal accompaniment with poultry, fish and similar dishes.
It will age gracefully for a couple of years, but is probably best drunk young.
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2009 SOMERLED STEEPLECHASE CHARDONNAY
This wine is still in barrel (as at October 16 2009) and is looking terrific. It is all going through malolactic fermentation and has rich buttery flavours which linger wonderfully well!
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2008 SOMERLED STEEPLECHASE SAUVIGNON BLANC
This wine was made from sauvignon blanc grapes grown near Charleston in the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia. The beautifully flavoured fruit was harvested at full ripeness. Fermentation and preparation for bottling was in stainless steel. The wine was bottled in August 2008.
Colour: Pale, very bright and fresh-looking, with attractive tints.
Nose: This is very fragrant, with tropical notes enhanced by typical fresh leafy sauvignon blanc characteristics. Unmistakably sauvignon blanc!
Palate: Elegant crisp and flavoursome with the nose being clearly reflected in the palate.
Potential: This wine is made for early enjoyment, so there's no need to stack it away in the cellar! It's a fine aperitif wine and is delicious with light seafood dishes (especially oysters).
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2009 SOMERLED STEEPLECHASE SAUVIGNON BLANC ( Current release in Australia. )
This wine was made from sauvignon blanc grapes grown near Charleston in the Adelaide Hills region of South Australia. The fruit was quite ripe, and the wine was made as simply and quickly as possible to preserve the fresh lively aromas and flavours of the fruit. The wine was bottled in late August 2009.
Colour: Vibrant, pale and enticing.
Nose: The ripe fruit has led to fragrant tropical aromas dominating the nose, although some leafy sauvignon blanc notes can be seen as well.
Palate: This is delicate, gently flavoursome with a dry, crisp lingering finish. It is refreshing.
Potential: Like the 2008, it is a wine best drunk while it is young and fresh. It is a great accompaniment to seafood, and a perfect aperitif.
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SPARKLING PINOT NOIR ( Released November 2009. )
The base wine for our first pinot noir sparkling was made from Adelaide Hills pinot noir - 100%. It underwent full malolactic fermentation in stainless steel tanks prior to tirage bottling in late 2008. After 12 months undergoing secondary fermentation, the first 1000 bottles were disgorged in late 2009. (This is the traditional methode champenoise.)
The balance of the wine remains on yeast lees in the bottle, gaining more and more complexity and richness.
Colour and appearance: Pale, with a slight touch of pearly pink from the pinot noir grapes. The bead is very fine and persistent.
Nose: Tantalising aromas, suggesting yeast and strawberries rise readily from the glass.
Palate: The flavour is delicate, reflecting the aromas. It is elegant and dry while still retaining softness. The fresh finish is enhanced by the lingering effect of the bubbles.
Potential: Designed as a sophisticated aperitif wine, this sparkling pinot noir will enhance any occasion. The wine will develop in the bottle, with flavours becoming fuller and richer.
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