The Star: November 19, 2020

The Star Thursday November 19 2020
42
WINE
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Cheeky reds belie price points
• By Mark Henderson
A RECOMMENDED retail price
is reached by adding a percentage
mark-up to the “standard price”
of a bottle of wine.
This can be indicative of the
final selling price when a retailer
buys a few bottles or a case; however,
lower-priced offerings are
often purchased on promotional
deals.
Buying five cases, a layer (14
cases), a half pallet (28 cases), a
pallet (56 cases) and so on will
make a significant impact on the
cost price.
Consequently, I’ve seen all the
$20-plus wines reviewed here selling
for under $20, which makes
them pretty smart drinking.
2017 d’Arenberg The
Stump Jump GSM
Price: $17.99
Rating: Very good
Smoke, earth, stones, a little oak
spice with berryfruit in reserve;
a wisp of salinity later. Raspberry
and berryfruit lead the mediumweight
palate that starts off feeling
light and airy but swells nicely as
it adds smoke and meaty touches
with nicely judged tannins.
Easy, uncomplicated drinking
that really hits the spot. Rather
moresish.
www.darenberg.com.au
2017 Yalumba Samuel’s
Collection Barossa GSM
Price: $26.99
Rating: Very good to excellent
Perfumed fragrance, playing in
the raspberry/cherry spectrum
before shifting to more savoury
characters.
Rounded, silky mouthfeel, richness
and depth of flavour without
overt weight. Chocolate, black
tea, charry hints, sweetly fruited
yet nicely balanced by savoury
elements and fine tannins in
support. Juicy and very appealing
drinking.
www.yalumba.com
2017 Grant Burge Barossa
Ink Shiraz
Price: $23.99
Rating: Very good
Bold nose full of plum, char
and spices with fragrance building.
Noticeably sweet on the front
palate with liqueur fruits, fruit
cordial and berry jam; the luscious,
soft and slippery mouthfeel
underlining the viscosity to this.
Tangy berryfruit and raspberry
with freshening acidity help to
pare back the sweetness.
Unabashedly a crowd pleasing
style that will win a legion of fans.
www.grantburgewines.com.au
2017 I Am George
Langhorne Creek Shiraz
Price: $19.99
Rating: Excellent
Chocmint, blueberry, dark berries,
a wisp of tilled earth.
Ripe yet not overtly sweet with
lovely depth of flavour, fine tannic
grip, balancing acidity, and a long,
coffee and spice accented dry finish.
Time adds savoury nuances
and a tangy undercurrent, showing
its youthful side. This rises
above its price point, offering real
interest now, yet some potential
too.
www.iamgeorge.com.au
2017 Jacobs Creek Double
Barrel Shiraz
Price: $23.99
Rating: Very good to excellent
Juicy dark fruits, eucalypt,
with evident volume on the
nose.
Dense and rich in the mouth,
a raft of fruit sweetness at first,
before moving to brooding dark
fruits and spices.
Structure in place here, flowing
to a tea-leaf, smoke and char-like
close. Approachability for the
neophyte drinker, yet lots of interest
for the wine enthusiast too.
www.jacobscreek.com
2016 Beresford McLaren
Vale Shiraz
Price: $26.99
Rating: Very good to excellent
Lushly perfumed nose, milk
chocolate, mixed fruits. Time
adds smoke and savoury elements.
Depth of fruit here, yet
matched by acidity giving a crisp
brightness to the palate.
Plum and fruitcake elements
lead the way, a little eucalypt too
with tanginess growing on the
palate.
Still youthful but already drinking
rather well.
www.beresfordwines.com.au
The
Mike
Hosking
Breakfast.
Christchurch
100.1 FM
6AM - 9AM WEEKDAYS
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