GREAT NEW AUSSIE REDS Just what SPEC

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GREAT NEW AUSSIE REDS
Just what SPEC's needs - more Australian wines. Back in May, a friend of a friend called and asked me to look at his selection of boutique Australian wines. He said all the right things and sent a case of samples - all red - but I didn't even want to taste them because I could already hear myself getting in trouble for buying more wines for our already overcrowded Aussie section. After I tasted them, I knew we had to find a way to get nine of the twelve wines tasted in. Wow. Seattle native Ben Hammerschlag has picked a great range of wines that have in common lots of fruit, rich flavors, and good textures. If you like great Aussie wines, treat yourself and check out these super reds.

IRVINE EDEN CREST Merlot, Eden and Barossa Valleys, 1998 (12x750ml    $24.70    $273.06) Ripe and sweet with mixed cherry-berry (raspberry?) fruit but retains a nice balance. It is medium-weight, fresh and perfumed but with a nice feel. Long and focused. The texture and some of the flavors are reminiscent of Shiraz. Fine. SPEC's Score: 88 points.

PENNA LANE Cabernet Sauvignon, Clare Valley, 1999 (12x750ml    $24.70    S273.60) Nicely dusty fruit-oak-terroir nose. The palate features lots of juicy Cabernet Sauvignon - blackberry fruit with good mixed dark berry notes. Fresh and chewy in the mouth with lots of fruit and flavor. Very well integrated with a super feel. Fine length. Excellent. SPEC's Score: 93 points.

GRALYN Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, 1998 (12x750ml    $28.99    $432.00) Rich, ripe, and integrated. Great Cabernet fruit and terroir nose. Packed with juicy dark berry Cabernet fruit with just a hint of Coonawara-style cassis. Full of flavor with a great texture in the mouth. The fruit, oak and subtle gravel notes meld beautifully. This is a complete Cabernet that tastes great and really satisfies. Excellent. SPEC's Score: 93+ points.

LANGMEIL Shiraz, Barossa Valley, 1998 (12x750ml    $19.50    $216.00) Rich and ripe with lots of juicy dark raspberry fruit. Fresh and lively in the mouth with a juicy texture and a fine feel.. Well integrated, quite long, really flavorful. The juicy fruit lasts to the end of the long finish. Fine+. SPEC's Score: 89+ points.

PENNY's HILL Shiarz, McLaren Vale, 1997 (12x750ml    $27.30    $302.40) Medium-bodied, balanced, delicious Syrah with some real elegance.Super integration and a great feel; the oak, earth, and fruit are of a piece. So well integrated it is hard to pick out individual fruit flavors but there is a fine mix of grapy dark berry (black raspberry?) fruit. Really flavorful but not at all heavy. Fine Length. Excellent. SPEC's Score: 92 points.

HAAN "Prestige" Shiraz, Barossa Valley, 1998 (6x750ml    $41.60    $230.40) Juicy ripe and quite peppery with lots of ripe, warm, spicy raspberry (red and black) fruit. Soft but balanced with a nicely chewy texture and great rich feel. Very flavorful. Super integration of fruit oak and warm earth richness. Fresh, delicious, and satisfying. Excellent. SPEC's score: 93+ points. (very limited)

CHARLES CIMICKY "Classic" Merlot, Barossa Valley, 1996 (12x750ml    $34.99    $388.80) Juicy and balanced with a fresh, lively character. Features a ripe but lively mix of cherry-berry and plum fruit with nice peppery notes and hints of herbs. Rich and satisfying in the mouth with lots of chewy oak and supple tannins. Packed with flavor. Good length with fruit to the end. Excellent. SPEC's Score: 91+ points.

HAAN "Prestige" Merlot, Barossa Valley, 1998 (6x750ml    $38.99    $216.00) Rich and juicy with lots of dark cherry fruit and rich ripe plum fruit. Packed with flavor. Nicely chewy in the mouth with a fine tannin-oak structure that gives it a fine feel. Stays fresh and balanced throughout the long finish. Delicious and Excellent. SPEC's Score: 92+ points.

JAMES IRVINE Grand Merlot, Eden Valley, 1996 (12x750ml    $58.50    $324.00) Big and dense with real depth of fruit and flavor. Packed with juicy, rich, ripe fruit in the dark cherry, dark berry, and black plum range. Super rich with fine integration, a great feel in the mouth, and layers of texture and flavor. Long finish that stays rich and balanced with good fruit to the end. Solidly satisfying delicious wine. Excellent. SPEC's Score: 94 points.

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