CUWS L11 - CWM for Charity

Charity tasting organised by CUWS in aid of Flying Kite, tasted Wednesday, 16 March 2011.
Wines are from Cambridge Wine Merchants, prices are retail by the bottle.


2009 One Chain Vineyards 'The Opportunist' Sauvignon Blanc Riesling, Adelaide Hills
£6. B+

Fresh lemony, plenty of citrus, maybe even a touch of greenness. Actually palate quite fat, fruit driven, some texture. Fresh and clean, can be drunk on its own but will go with food. Easy drinking, great value.

2009 First Drop 'Bella Coppia' Arneis, Barossa
£12. B

White fruits, peaches and apricots, slight floral. Plenty of nice fat lasting acidity, good palate, some pith and mineral. Clean, fresh. I reviewed it previously in here.

2005 McWilliam's Mount Pleasant 'Elizabeth' Semillon, Hunter Valley
£10. A-

Citrus, lemon, some waxy and lanolin, candle wax, some flint minerality, some floral, lots of things going on, an interesting wine. Fuller palate, fresh acidity, lingering mouthfeel, good fruit hit, decent depth. Grown up in style, bottle age shows; a fantastic wine.
IWC 2010 - Gold medal and Australian White Trophy


2008 One Chain Vineyards 'The Pugilist' Cabermnet Sauvignon, Limestone Coast
£8. B

Slight green vegetal nose, still dark berries, blackcurrants, some heat too. Mouthfeel is OK but a touch tart, not enough acidity I think, just feels somewhat clumsy.

2008 Heartland by Ben Glaetzer Stickleback Red
£9. B+

Blend of Shiraz, Cab Sauv, Dolcetto and Lagrein. Easy drinking red blend, forward, plenty of dark berries but not overly extracted, good fresh acidity running through, feels more balanced than the previous one. Fresh, fruit driven, a gluggable red.

2007 Tyrell's 'Rufus Stone' Shiraz, Heathcote
£12. B(+)

Good typical Shiraz nose, big, perfumed, plenty of dark fruits and cherries, touch of mint, and some sweet spice as well. Mouthfeel generous, unfortunately slightly one dimensional. Probably will develop with time.

2008 Gemtree 'Bloodstone' Shiraz Viognier
£15. B+(+)

All the correct shiraz notes as above, but the viognier does lift it up, some added floral and sweetness coming through. Palate is slightly fresher than previous wine, just that bit more acidity, well made. Will improve with age.

NV Morris Liqueur Muscat
£9 (500ml). B+

Raisins, sultana, treacle; very sweet nose; palate is heaving and gloopy, serious sugar here. This is a desert wine in full flow, too little to warrant a second or third glass - you just feel full. I always find these fortified Rutherglen Muscats to be clumsy and one dimensional. That said, have this with treacle tart or a heavy fruit cake or even mince pies, then it will seem light.