Gleeson Group Australia Tasting
Michael Meagher, Ray Dowdall, Lorna Rouse
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1. Craneford Semillon,
Barossa, Australia, 2002 
Slightly smoky although no
oak. Good zing, quite fat, quite alcoholic, some residual sugar.
Quite fresh, citrus, grapefruit peel. A long finish. A food
wine. 13% alcohol. John Zilm, winemaker. This is sold mostly
to restaurants. Very nice.
Selected wine shops €14.95
2. Craneford Viognier,
Adelaide Hills, Australia
Flowery, bubblegum nose. Lots
of sweetness (4g/l residual sugar), some burn, full-bodied, loads of
esters but lots of good acidity, gooseberry. A quite leathery
finish. Another food wine, recommended with salmon and Parma ham.
€14.95
3. Sandalford Premium Verdelho,
Margaret River, West Australia 2004
I didn't get a big nose;
citrus but not very strong. Very fresh, citrus, big burn, good acid
balance. Lovely long finish. Residual sugar 6.6 but not
noticeable. 14% alcohol. A very well-made wine.
€14.95
4. Sandalford Premium Cabernet
Merlot, Margaret River, West Australia 2002
Stewy, jammy nose with
something medicinal. Quite stern, feels a bit thin, again that
medicinal, burnt something. Minerally, dry finish. Has Cab Franc as
well as Cab Sauvignon. This is very interesting; a year in old and
new oak giving some vanilla. Enough tannin. Very complex
14% alcohol but not too noticeable. Quite lovely.
€15.95
5.
Sandalford Premium Shiraz, Margaret River, West Australia 2002
Big nose, clean, no
chocolate, spicy. Big, clean, crisp in the mouth; slick leather
tannins, pepper, burn, berry fruit. Very fruity finish.
Beautiful, well-integrated wine. Half old, half new oak. 14.3% alcohol.
€15.95
6.
Craneford Quartet, Barossa Valley, 2001
Savoury, black fruit nose.
Soft, blackcurrants, blackberries, prunes, ripe plums. Finish of
cherry and some bitter chocolate. Cab Sauvignon 35%, Petit Verdot
30%, Cab Franc 25%, Shiraz 10%; 13.5% alcohol. Cellar 6-12 years.
Very interesting! Parker gives it 91.
€19.95
7.
Craneford
Allyson Parsons Shiraz 2003
Very dark. Strange nose; hint
of medicine and farmyard. Very zingy and fruity. Feels
unfiltered. Medicine and Christmas cake. Crunchy tannins;
quite restrained on the oak. 14%
€14.95
8.
Craneford Grenache, Barossa Valley, 2002
Very smoky, tea, spicy.
Again, a hint of the medicinal. Very burny, very big, red berries,
sharp, dark chocolate. Becoming raisiny. 15% alc. 97 and 66
year old vines. Lovely if too alcoholic; lots to say for itself.
I didn't find the alcohol hidden as described. Very good.
Parker gives it 92.
€19.95
9. Craneford Cabernet
Sauvignon, Barossa and Adelaide Hills, 2002
Dark, quite dumb, slightly
green. Heavy tannins, huge fruit, hint of green-ness, cedar.
Very well integrated, drinkable now, no burn but 14%! Will last
another 7-12 years. Very interesting but not sure if I'd pay the
price. Parker scores it 91+.
€28.95
10. Craneford Merlot,
Barossa, 2003
Dark ruby. Somewhat
Amarone nose of plums and tar. Sandy tannins, gritty. Loads of
dark fruitcake. Amarone with a a hint of cool mint. 14%.
Not yet integrated but a great wine. Could keep 10-12 years.
Not ready yet. Ripe, concentrated, better than the Cab Sauvignon.
€28.95