December is usually a great month for wine, well it is for me in Singapore, as there are lots of end of year parties where the theme is usually “Bring out your Best” so the standard of wines being shared is always high. These are Oz’s December 2017 Wine Reviews, way too many wines to have taken notes on all of them.
What have you been drinking? Hope you had as much fun as I did in December 2017
Happy New Year! All the best for 2018
Thanks to www.evolve-mma.com for the pic
My favourites from this batch:
The standout from December 2017 was the 2001 Henschke Cyril, 65% Cabernet Sauvignon 20% Cabernet Franc 15% Merlot, one of the best wines I have ever tried, 5 out of 5!
All with a Rating 4 out of 5 or better
- 2012 Pahlmeyer Jayson Chardonnay
- 2006 Grosset Polish Hill Riesling
- 2007 Grosset Polish Hill Riesling
- 2012 Domaine Drouhin Édition Limitée Pinot Noir
- 1998 Wynn’s of Coonawarra Michael Shiraz
- 2005 Torbreck RunRig Shiraz
- 2007 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz
- 2010 Marchesi Antinori Tignanello
Oz’s Ratings
| Icon | Rating | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
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1 | 1 out of 5 | Bug spray, good for cleaning or powering vehicles |
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2 | 2 out of 5 | Acceptable at a pinch (must be extremely desperate) |
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3 | 3 out of 5 | A good wine, may improve with time, a quaffer |
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4 | 4 out of 5 | A great wine! Recommended by Oz |
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5 | 5 out of 5 | Amazing, WoW. Highly recommended by Oz |
Oz’s December 2017 Wine Reviews
| Icon | Photo | Wine | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
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> Name: Domaine Michel Thomas <Year: 2014 Region: Sancerre, France Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc Oz's Rating: 3 out 5 Golden straw in colour. Lemon and lime flavours, medium finish. |
| 2 | |
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> Name: Pahlmeyer Jayson <Year: 2012 Region: Nappa Valley, California, USA Varietal: Chardonnay Oz's Rating: 4 out of 5 Yellow straw in colour, perfumed nose. Balanced, smooth with an enjoyable toffee finish. Always a great wine |
| 3 | |
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> Name: Grosset Polish Hill <Year: 2006 Region: Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia Varietal: Riesling Oz's Rating: 4 out of 5 Pale yellow straw in colour, lovely kero nose. The palate is balanced with lemon and lime flavours and a great medium long finish. This wine is still evolving, will be even more interesting in a few more years, hope I can wait that long |
| 4 | |
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> Name: Domaine Drouhin Édition Limitée <Year: 2012 Region: Dundee Hills, Oregon, USA Varietal: Pinot Noir Format: Magnum Oz's Ratings: 4 out of 5 Crimson red, still youthful. Pleasant aroma. Great balance, very evolved for such a young wine in a magnum. Great example of an Oregon Pinot |
| 5 | |
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> Name: Wynn's of Coonawarra Michael <Year: 1998 Region: Coonawarra, South Australia, Australia Varietal: Shiraz Format: Magnum Oz's Rating: 4 out 5 Youthful crimson red. Aroma of black pepper, blackberry and spice. Silky tannins, smooth and lush. This was such a "young" wine considering its age, shows why a magnum is my preferred bottle format. Hope I can find another of these and give it a few more years to evolve. |
| 6 | |
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> Name: Torbreck RunRig <Year: 2005 Region: Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia Varietal: 97% Shiraz 3% Viognier Oz's Rating: 4 out 5 Deep Crimson in colour with black berry, cherry, black pepper and mocha aromas. Lush, balanced, medium-bodied palate with savoury tannins and a great medium-long finish |
| 7 | |
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> Name: Rockford Basket Press <Year: 2007 Region: Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia Varietal: Shiraz Oz's Rating: 4 out 5 Deep ruby red in colour, with blackberry, vanilla, black pepper and plum aromas. The palate was balanced, polished, full-bodied with a savoury, evolving, tannins and long, enjoyable, finish. Considering 2007 was an average year this must be one of the standouts. Great wine, has years of evolution left in it. |
| 8 | |
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> Name: Marchesi Antinori Tignanello <Year: 2010 Region: Toscana, Italy Varietal: 80% Sangiovese 15% Cabernet Sauvignon 5% Cabernet Franc Oz's Rating: 4 out 5 Great colour, still youthful. Smooth palate with savoury tannins and a long finish. This will repay patience!! |
| 9 | |
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> Name: Henschke Cyril <Year: 2001 Region: Eden Valley, South Australia, Australia Varietal: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon 20% Cabernet Franc 15% Merlot Oz's Rating: 5 out 5 Deep ruby red. Perfume of black currant and spice aromas, awesome nose. The palate was balanced, sophisticated, lush, great acid and structure, with silky tannins and a long finish that you just never want to finish! WoW, one of the best wines I have tasted. Thanks Craig Jenkins for sharing this with me. |
| 10 | |
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> Name: Tyrrell's Wines Vat 47 <Year: 1989 Region: Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia Varietal: Chardonnay Oz's Rating: 3.5 out 5 Deep bright golden straw. Really interesting nose first waft has caramel aroma and then second up is a bit of lychee and subtle citrus aromas. Smooth and balanced palate with a medium finish. A very interesting wine |
| 11 | |
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> Name: Grosset Polish Hill <Year: 2007 Region: Clare Valley, South Australia, Australia Varietal: Riesling Oz's Rating: 4.5 out 5 Pale straw, youthful. Perfumed combination of lemon, lime and citrus aromas. Great palate, smooth balanced with a slightly sweet medium-long finish. Awesome Paired very well with the spicy prawns we had. |
| 12 | |
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> Name: Argiano Brunello di Montalcino <Year: 2011 Region: Brunello di Montalcino, Italy Varietal: Sangiovese Oz's Rating: 3.5 out 5 Medium weight ruby red in colour. Pleasant aroma. The palate is balanced, slight hint of alcohol, savoury tannins, with a medium long finish. |
Oz’s Wine Reviews
Cheers to you too, and Happy New Year.
Thanks. I wonder what adventures are installed for us all in 2018.
Photoshopped fireworks…
And? Aren’t all Happy New Year pics? Not mine and was taken in 2015
Happy Happy New Year to you! May 2018 be filled with many lovely adventures in wine. Cheers!
And the same to you. Cheers.