nanson.ch an australian wine selection

an australian selection. . . . . .

Courtesy of Wyhus Ruf - a wine importer based in Berne - here are 16 wines. Some are old favourite producers - like Grant Burge - and some are names I've never come across before. The Cabernet wines seemed more interesting than the Shiraz's, though compared to my reference point wines at around 30.0SFr (Rockford Basket Press Shiraz, Pirramimma White label Cabernet & Shiraz, Primo Estate Joseph etc.) I didn't find any bargains.

For Swiss 'viewers' I've included the prices with the descriptions. I liked the Chateau Reynella Chardonnay and a couple of the reds were individual and quite interesting, these being the Woodstock Cabernet Sauvignon and the St.Ignatius Sevenhill . . . . .

2002 Wolf Blass, Chardonnay-Semillon 17.90SFr
Plae yellow colour. Just a little oak and melon on the nose. Sweet with reasonable acidity. Quite long pineaplle fruit finish. Not bad at all.
2002 Skillogalee, Riesling 22.50SFr
Pale yellow colour. The nose is a little appley/malic but quite reserved. Good but harsh acidity. Reasonable concentration if slightly bitter in the finish. This is quite good and should improve a lot as the acidity softens - give it at least a year.
2000 Chateau Reynella, Chardonnay 25.50SFr
Slightly deeper lemon yellow. The nose is deep with pronounced melon. Nutty palate with good concentration though a little spritz. Good length but needs another year or two before drinking - this is a good wine.
2002 Best's, Late Harvest Muscat 15.00SFr
Pale yellow. The nose is floral and quite sweet. The palate is also sweet though the acidity balances it well. Lacks a little depth.

1999 Long Gully, Irmas Cabernet Sauvignon 26.60SFr
Medium-deep ruby colour. The nose is deep and ripe showing concentrated blackcurrant. The palate is not so dense but still shows intense ripe fruit. Perhaps a little harsh on the finish but there's lovely fruit to be found here.
2000 Woostock, Caberenet Sauvignon 25.50SFr
Similar depth but more purple colour. Deep nose - more like roast blackcurrant and blackberry - licorice too. Nicer mouthfeel than the last wine with well covered tannin and deep roast black fruit. Good length too This is quite individual and a very nice wine.
2000 Grant Burge, Cameron Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 29.50SFr
Deeper colour again. The nose has deep black fruit and charcoal from the grill note. The palate is sweet and a little oaky with good concentrated fruit. Somehow the overall effect is a wine that's a little uninspiring after the last two - a shame.
1999 John's, Blend #26 Langhorne Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 58.00SFr
Deep colour with a purple rim. Blackcurrant pie nose with a little chocolate. The palate shows concentration and with good acidity and furry tannins. This is a good wine and (for my palate) better than the John's Blend #6 Shiraz as the wood is less intrusive.

2000 Barossa Valley Estate, Shiraz 22.00SFr
Medium-plus ruby colour. The nose is restrained though typical plummy shiraz. Medium concentration and tannin to match. At best; not bad.
1998 Best's, Great Western Shiraz 28.00SFr
Much deeper colour with a purple rim. An understated roast red fruit nose. Nice mouthfeel, concentrated with good acidity. The tannins are a little bitter but this is still quite good.
2001 Wolf Blass, President's Selection Shiraz 34.90SFr
Deeply coloured. High toned though reticent nose. Strong acidity, well covered tannins and tasty plum fruit of some depth. This is pretty good.
1999 Barossa Valley Estate, Ebeneezer Shiraz 39.50SFr
Medium-plus colur. Roast red fruits on the nose. Good concentration of plummy fruit and just a little spritz. The tannins are medium sized and furry. Possibly the friendliest shiraz on display.
2000 Johns, Blend #6 Margarete's Shiraz 57.00SFr
The grapes are sourced 75% from Langhorne Creek and 25% from McLaren Vale. Toasty oak start to the nose, perhaps a little rubber too, though this gradually takes on a more satisfying cocoa aspect. Nice mouthfeel, grainy tannins and good acidity. This is showing in a very young way and needs a bit of time in the glass to become 'shiraz-like'. It's a very good wine to be sure, but it's not my personal style preference.
1999 Glaetzer, Barossa Valley Shiraz 69.00SFr
Medium-plus colour with a purple rim. Chocolate covered raspberry nose set against a plum background. Sweet plalate has strong acidity and velvetty tannin. Good length here, a very good wine, though a bit expensive.

1999 Sevenhill Cellars, St.Ignatius Clare Valley 33.00SFr
A blend of 40% Cab.Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 15% Malbec and 10% Cab.Franc. Medium-plus colour. Pronounced summer pudding nose. The concentrated palate has good acidity and slightly grainy tannins - but there's a lovely lifted red fruit note - this is very nice, but might get a bit tiring after one glass - only one way to see !