Dandelion GSM 2016 and Les Courtilles Cotes du Rhone 2015

FEATURED WINES IN THIS REVIEW

• Dandelion Vineyards ‘Menagerie of the Barossa’ Grenache/Shiraz/Mataro 2016
  Blended Red from Australia - South Australia

  Review Date : 22-Jun-2017

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Very dark, black-hued ruby-red colour, a little lighter on the rim. The nose is softly full with well-packed aromas of dark raspberries and blackberry fruit with an amalgam of black pepper and dark herbs, unfolding a little earth and mineral note. Full-bodied, the palate has sweetly ripe fruit flavours of dark raspberries, blackberries and dark herbs at the core, unfolding some black cherry liqueur elements. The fruit is guided by a fine-textured tannin line with subtle acid liveliness providing good energy. The concentrated core carries to a lingering finish of dark raspberries, black and red liquorice and herbs. This is a sweetly ripe GSM blend with dark raspberry, blackberry and herb flavours on a fine-textured palate. Match with barbecued and roasted game meat dishes over the next 5-6+ years. A blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Shiraz and 5% Mataro from the ‘Gomersal’ vineyard in the Barossa, fermented to 14.5% alc., the wine aged 12 months in French oak barriques. Winemaker: Elena Brooks. 17.5+/20 Jun 2017 RRP $33.00
• Les Courtilles Cotes du Rhone 2015
  Blended Red from France - Rhone

  Review Date : 22-Jun-2017

  ☆☆☆☆☆

  Very dark, moderately deep ruby-red colour with black hues and a little garnet on the rim. The nose is elegant and evenly presented with fine aromatic notes of savoury dark-red berry fruits harmoniously entwined with dark herbs and notes of earth and game. This has good depth and gentle intensity. Medium-full bodied, the palate has a sweetly rich and gently concentrated heart of dark raspberry fruit with savoury red berry fruits and subtle notes of dried herbs with earth and game nuances. The fruit richness is underlined by light, grainy tannin structure and the wine flows with good acid energy, leading to an elegant, lightly nuanced, lingering finish. This is a gently rich and sweet Cotes du Rhone with dark-red berry fruits and notes of herbs and earth on a light, structured palate. Match with barbecued and roasted red meats over the next 4+ years. A blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Shiraz and 10% Carignan. 80% of the wine blended with 20% oak matured Cotes du Rhone Villages from the Plan de Dieu. This is 14.5% alc. Winemaker: Bernard Schurr. 17.5/20 Jun 2017 RRP $27.99