Symphony Hill Reserve Petit Verdot 2012

Review of Wine:

Can say I'm quite a fan of Symphony Hill Wines as they are my favourite local boutique winery. Have always enjoyed shiraz wines and being a Petit Verdot has many similarities. The wine is very smooth once opening and breathing for 5-10 minutes. I would happily drink this wine day in day out but at the retail price feel it is a little over priced but as I receive is as part of a wine membership it works out to be $25 a bottle which I feel is very good value. The only other reason I can see why James Halliday would have only scored this a 92 is because their doesn't seem to be a lot of complexity to the wine. 

Wine Region: Granite Belt, Queensland Australia

Drink Until: Drink until 2027

Varieties: Petit Verdot

Food: I enjoyed this wine by itself and also with a vegetarian pasta.

Colour: A dark deep red with a purple tinge.

Nose: Explosive aromas of violets and loganberries are delightfully backed with a hint of licorice.

Palate: The palate delivers rich, ripe flavours of blueberry and blackberry wrapped in fine silky tannins and a juicy mouth filling finish.

Background:

Symphony Hill Wines is a group of family and friends bonded together on the quest to make world class wines and to never stop learning. We are a company that wholeheartedly believes in the mind blowing potential of wines grown and made on the Granite Belt. The Granite Belt is the promised land of viticulture with altitudes ranging from 600m to 1000m – all within the one region. As a result climatic conditions vary tremendously allowing all sorts of varieties to excel depending on which altitude they are planted. As an example, our own vineyard is the highest of the region allowing our flagship wine, Reserve Shiraz, to produce a style of wine that is unique in Australia and totally different to Shiraz grown at lower altitudes. Our Cabernet Sauvignon is harvested in early May which is one month later than Cabernet harvested in Clare Valley, showing how cool our climate is in comparison to other wine regions.

Awards:

GOLD MEDAL 2015 Royal Queensland Wine Show

Wine Rating: 92 (James Halliday) 

Alcohol: 14.5%

Price: $65.00 AUD but being sold to wine club members for $45.50 AUD (30% Discount)

Where to Purchase:

This is my personal favourite winery in the Granite Belt of Queensland as have been a wine club member for several years and have visited the winery many times over the years. Is available from independent liquor stores in south east Queensland or directly from the Symphony Hill website.

Rumbalara Shiraz 2013

Review of Wine:

Not the most amazing Shiraz I have ever had but for the price was a nice enjoyable Shiraz that I would be happy to enjoy again. I personally would not cellar this wine as think it is a wine to open and enjoy now.

Wine Region: Granite Belt, Queensland Australia

Drink Until: Drink now or over the next 6 years

Varieties: Shiraz

Food: We enjoyed it during a BBQ of beef spare ribs, chicken wings and marinated lamb cutlets.

Colour: N/A

Nose: N/A

Palate: N/A

Background:

The property now known as Rumbalara was first surveyed before 1908. Part of the land occupied by early owners was a mining lease containing a silver-bearing quartz intrusion discovered during the construction of the railway linking Brisbane and Sydney. The land was originally used as an orchard, with the first grapes planted in 28. Bob and Una Gray purchased the property in 74 and planted and grafted (onto existing rootstock) classic wine grape varieties including semillon and cabernet sauvignon. Rumbalara was purchased by Mike and Bobbi Crag in 2002.

Alcohol: 14.0%

Price: $20.00 AUD

Where to Purchase:

Having never been to the winery myself this was a gift from a friends recent trip to Stanthorpe when they come over for dinner. Can be purchased directly from the Rumbalara website.

Golden Grove Estate Barbera 2014

Review of Wine:

I have really enjoyed drinking a more unusual wine grape here in Australia. Barbera is a red Italian wine grape variety that is third most-planted red grape variety in Italy. It produces good yields and is known for deep color, low tannins and high levels of acid. This was my first experience with Barbera as can be hard to fine in bottle shops but look forward to enjoying many more bottles of Barbera in the future.

Wine Region: Granite Belt, Queensland Australia

Drink Until: Drink now or over the next 3 years

Varieties: Barbera

Food: Perfect for light fresh food. I enjoyed it with an Italian pizza.

Colour: deep red

Nose: This wine shows vibrant cherry and plum fruits with a hint of spice.

Palate:

Generous flavours of dark cherry, a little compote like. Raspberry is flicked out just at the death, something which just sticks with a length that is giving.

Background:

Golden Grove Estate Vineyard and Winery, is situated in the highlands of the Ballandean Valley, in the heart of Queenslands premier wine district, the Granite Belt. The high altitude of 820 metres and cool summer climate make the area ideal for the growing of classic wine grape varieties and production of fine wines. The first vines were planted in 1975 and were followed in recent years by other classic varieties. The vineyards are planted in a northerly aspect in a combination type soil of decomposed granite with trap rock loam and are drip irrigated from the Accommodation Creek. These attributes contribute to the slow ripening and full development of soft delicate flavors. Mario and Nita Costanzo, growing grapes for the fresh fruit market, first settled the property in 1946. As the wine industry emerged classic wine grape varieties were planted for the making of commercial wine. The property was then taken over by son Sam and along with his wife Grace became the sole owners and operators of Golden Grove, who continued planting and making wine. In 1991 cellar doors were opened for wine tourism, tasting and sales. Their eldest son Raymond graduated from Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga, with a Bachelor of Applied Science (wine science) and after having worked in the industry for seven years returned home to take over the winemaking role.

Alcohol: N/A

Price: $24.00 AUD

Where to Purchase:

This was included as a wine from a Wine Club membership with the wine producer directly but is also available from selected independent wine shops. More details available directly from the Golden Grove website.

Back After a Long Break

Have been away from the blog for a long time but I'm back with some new wines.

Stay tuned for the new reviews.