The California-Australia Wine Shootout™

Red Blends

Clautiere Vineyard 2002 Mon Beau Rouge, Paso Robles, California, $27.00
356 produced

Rich black fruit, vanilla, sweet oak, coffee, and aromas of milk chocolate emanate from this in intriguing red wine blend. Thick and juicy in the mouth with pomegranate, black cherry, black plum and tangy cherry flavors with a lovely soft mouth feel. This Syrah, Cournoise, Grenache, and Mouvedre blend is ready to enjoy with or without food.

(93)

St Supéry Vineyards 2000 Élu, Napa Valley, California, $50.00
2367 cases produced

Deep garnet in color, bordeaux in style, this superb Mertiage blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot got the attention of our panel. Dill, red plum, currant, coffee, and toasty oak on the nose evolve into deep dense, rich flavors of wild berry, cassis, chocolate, herb, red and black plum and currant in the mouth with a long and elegant finish. Fresh yet very masculine and nicely balanced.

(93)

Flora Springs 2001 Trilogy, Napa Valley, California, $60.00
10,000 cases produced

Deep garnet in color with aromas of mocha and dark sour cherries, big rich bodied with generous helpings of bright fruit flavors...blueberry and cinnamon spice. This wine has great balance with an extraordinary middle and long generous finish - off the charts!

(92)

Rodney Strong Vineyard 1999 Symmetry, Alexander Valley, California, $55.00
6,082 cases produced

This is a wine that you will want to uncork early to give it time to open. Deep garnet in color with lots of oak, dark cherries, berries, tobacco and black tea aromas. The mouthfeel is silky smooth with chewy tannins. Great structure and balance, a rather elegant wine when given the chance to evolve in the glass.

(91)

De Bortoli 2003 Willowglen, South East Australia, $7.99
100,000 cases produced

A warm, ethereal wine, dark violet in color with light cherry and nutmeg on the nose. The flavors are rich with cherries, blueberry, cocoa and sweet oak. Nice mouthfeel with a great finish!

(90)

Clautiere Vineyard 2002 Mon Rouge, Paso Robles, California, $25.00
472 cases produced

Deep garnet in color with a beautiful nose of licorice, cherries, graham cracker, and hazelnut. The mouth is ripe and round with dense black fruit, blueberry, sage and backnotes of chocolate. A bit hot on the finish.

(89)

Greg Norman Estates 2002 Limestone Coast Cabernet Merlot, Limestone Coast, Australia, $16.00
125,000 cases imported

Green notes on the nose with cassis and tobacco back notes. This is a lighter style Bordeaux wine. Our panel didn’t love it but this is not a badly made wine.

(89)

Peters Family Winery 2001 Meritage, California, $25.00
370 cases produced

Aromas of sweet perfume, lilac, lavender, bold cherry and cassis replicate on the palate. One of our panelists called this wine “a rugby player in a tutu.” A big and bold wine with finesse.

(88)

Grancari Estate 2003 Grenache/Shiraz, McLaren Vale, Australia, $20.00
650 cases produced

A fun and different wine, wild berry with white pepper and menthol throughout, light bodied with red fruit and good spice.

(86)

Riddoch 2001 Cabernet-Merlot, Coonawarra, Australia $11.00

Forward cassis, blueberry, smoke, and leather aromas are joined on the palate by dark cherries, subtle spice and coffee flavors. A nicely balanced wine.

(86)

Van Ruiten 2001 Cab-Shiraz, Lodi, California, $13.00
2,900 cases produced

Blackberry, plum, and Asian spice aromas are enticing. Lots of fruit and spice in the mouth. Soft and drinkable.

(86)

Little Vineyards 2002 Resonance, Sonoma Valley, $30.00
162 cases produced

This is a blend of 60% Syrah and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon with blueberry, licorice and tarry backnotes. There is a nice tartness from front to back – the alcohol is slightly out of balance - the wine comes off a bit hot.

(84)

Barefoot Reserve 2001 Meritage, Alexander Valley, California, $15.99
11,000 cases produced

The nose is a bit shy nose with tart cherry and brown spice notes. A simple but pleasant and well made wine.

(84)

Yangarra Estate Vineyard 2002 Grenache-Shiraz-Mouvedre, McLaren Vale, Australia, $20.00
900 cases produced

Black fruit and roasted coffee. The wine is round, lush and soft with dark plum and underlying cedary and barnyard notes.

(84)

Yellowtail 2003 Shiraz-Cabernet, South Eastern Australia, $6.99
300,000 cases produced

Ripe and sweet blackberry, tar and licorice in the nose and mouth. Nice depth at mid- palate but the flavors are short lived.

(84)

Barefoot Reserve 2000 Meritage, Alexander Valley, California, $15.99
1,023 cases produced

Herbs, red fruit and oak on nose. Tobacco, herb, currant, plum, and oak on the palate. The finish is tannic and overshadows the fruit.

(82.5)

Katnook Estate 2001 Riddoch Cabernet-Shiraz, Coonawarra, Australia, $11.00

Barnyard, geranium and chocolate aromas, wild berry notes highlight the flavors with soft tannins to complete the package.

(81)

Black Opal 2002 Cabernet Merlot, South Australia, $8.00
215,000 cases imported

Barnyard and sulfur over red wild fruit and spicy wood notes on nose. Ripe raspberry, and darker earthier notes, leather, tannins, good intensity in the mouth. The sulfur and barnyard overpower the fruit.

(75)