Andrew Thomas, Kiss Shiraz, Hunter Valley

NobleRottersSydney - Hunter semillon & shiraz (Glass Brasserie, Sydney) : {screwcap, 14.3%} [Graeme] Bottle 1538. Decanted before service. Developing violets, plums, chocolatey character, pretty much in line with this label, which always seems to be the biggest and richest red Thomas makes. Medium/full weight, a long way from a ‘traditional hunter style’. Syrupy sort of texture, soft dusty tannins, medium acid. A cherry liqueur mixed with current syrup quality to it. Dry, yes, but very rich. Medium length finish is …

Unfortunately still very young. Opaque deep crimson in color. Muted nose with some aromas of meat, herbs, iron. Still tight and tannic, not giving much, but the concentration and intensity of flavours is there and just waiting few more years to explode. Would be a great wine in 3 to 5 years. No rating given.

Hand carried over the Big Pond from my dear friend from Australia. What a beaut as they say. Young but totally enjoyable with smoked pork loin Christmas Eve dinner. Very pretty dark Shiraz aromatics with just enough burly rough-around-the-edges for a definitive youthful style. I'd love to see what this would do in 10 years' time, but we drank it. Thank you dear 'Old Fashoned Girl' for the special tipple.

First Wednesday Wine Club (Napoli in Bocca, Haberfield) : Served blind. Red berry, screwcap reductiveness, quite fruit sweet with a savoury earthy underpin and a touch of peppery spice. Plenty of chewy persistent tannins, freshly berried, sweet spiced. Hmm. I guessed South Australia Shiraz dominant blend from a lousy vintage

Great flavour intensity, chamomile, dark plum, toast, violet, medium plus tannins but very fine. Very good wine. Love the balance between acidity and fruits. A restrained style.

Just about hitting its straps. Great balance with optimal fruit. The tannins are firm, the acidity is integrated. On the palate blue and red fruits. Typical earthiness. Just lovely. Has another 5 years I think, or more.

Still very young. Powerful fruit, with typical Hunter earthiness. Lovely wine but needs at least another 3 years to come into its own.

I clearly liked this a lot more than the reviews below. It's not particularly in a Hunter shiraz style, which you may or may not think is a good thing, but it is a very good shiraz. Bold blackberry essence, dark chocolate, smoke, plum, vanilla and a hint of game and dutch liquorice. Plush tannins and really long, mouth coating flavour. Right in the drinking window.

Byron and Adel's wedding (Marina Mandarin) : A cool climate style with cool eucalpy minty characters. Cool but dark fruited...black raspberries and black berries. Hint of spiciness but palate was cooling smooth , slightly leathery with just a faint whiff of smokiness. Quite classy and a kool kat wine.

Wine-Ark Cellar Club Tasting 11 - December 2009. Christmas drinks (Roof Terrace Australian Museum) : Nose: Black cherry, cream, rubber, cedar Mouth: Very dry, perhaps not as much fruit but defo some blackcurrant. medium mouthfeel and finish with marginally bitter tannins. Okay.