1)columella 2005 (shiraz:mourvedre, 4:1) [swartland]supposedly a cult drop by some whizkid/guru...eg. fruit from 7 tiny parcels with different soil conditions, individual berries hand sorted, open wooden fermenters, longish fermentation, basket pressed, long aging in french oak, blah, blah, blah. the label is in latin, for goodness sake; normally, "cult" is synonymous with "w*nker"; bottle was recommended by a denizen of the establishment, with good intentions i might add, but alas . . .
purple (think goober grape); cork out and you are hit by a musk and sandalwood shockwave ... and i mean a blast not just a whiff, extreme like some perfume ... characteristic of the big M? ...urgh, most of this blows away after about 20 mins. but still very apparent and too overt, sarsaparilla, plum, cherry, damp earth, mushroom and alcohol on the nose; cherry, dark fruits, alcohol, gravel/stone, lots of fine tannins apleasant acid, balanced but very lean palate; short drying finish; slightly bitter aftertaste; medium bodied; angular?; 14.5%; too young now. and too expensive ... it's in decent barolo territory. FIZZLE!
complex, but so's a trainwreck.
3 out of 4 present could not "get" this wine. the fourth was his usual contrarian self (someone's got to be one ... be bleeding boring otherwise) and found some interest, he even guessed correctly that it was a dry vintage. but all felt the nose did not reflect the palate ... like from 2 different wines.
this thing has got so many good reviews from camps you do not expect to agree, from ws to the brits.
this punter will still pass on it.
had to have something less stressful and challenging, so
2)alkoomi jarrah franklin river shiraz 2001
ruby; plummy nose; cranberry, red plum, furry tannins (still lots), acid pleasant, medium bodied and length; 14%; boring ... another inspired choice by yours truly. FIZZLE!
crappy strike rate, so had to get out of there ...
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