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Peter Wagner |
Whites:
Spinyback 2005 New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc ($7-9). A little crisper
(higher acid) and less viscous than (previously recommended) Villa Maria,
but very clean and full of grassy passionfruit flavors. Great at this
price if you can find it.
Wishing Tree 2005 Western Australia Unoaked Chardonnay ($8-10). Pure
tropical and citrus fruit, crisp acidity but viscous, rich and very clean.
Really worth a look even if just to see what chard grapes taste like when
the oak is absent. But I like it as a real wine, not as a curiosity.
Reds:
Rancho Zabaco 2004 “Dancing Bull” Zinfandel ($6-8). Bright red cherry and
raspberry fruit, good acid, briary, spicy, light oak and tannin.
Extremelygood value. Ready now, not to be aged more than a year.
Cycles Gladiator 2004 California Central Coast Syrah ($8-10).
Straightforward plummy, rich, accessible fruit with nice spice and vanilla
oak to balance. Soft, light tannins, not too tart. Very easy to drink,
great with BBQ’s of all species. Drink now, don’t lay away.
Adelaida Schoolhouse 2003 Paso Robles “Recess Red” ($10-12). Very
accessible bright red/black cherry fruit with just enough oak and acid to
give it structure. Very easy to drink, great summer BBQ wine, not one to
age.
Twenty Bench 2004 Napa Cabernet ($14-16). What a surprise at the price.
Real structure, great black currant fruit and vanilla, nice herbal green
olive thread. Good acid and tannin, nice balance and length. Worth
drinking now and over the next three years or so.
Elderton 2003 Barossa Valley (South Australian) Shiraz ($24). Definitely
upscale, will cellar well for perhaps 5 years, with soft, very rich jammy
shiraz fruit, nice dill/vanilla from the oak, beautiful balance, light
tannins. Excellent length, worth the price, lovely right now.
Elderton 2002 Barossa Valley (South Australian) Command Shiraz ($60).
“Command” is their term for “reserve”. This is extraordinary wine, a must
for special occasions. It will cellar for 15 years or more (We just opened
a 1992 version and after an hour in a carafe it was truly special). This
wine is absolutely reliable, has been for 20 years, and even at this price
better in my experience than most wine twice as expensive. Amazing power
with elegance (one of very few wines that can claim both), rich, complex
with plum, black cherry and blackberry and a hint of eucalyptus/mint. Oak
is in the background. Great structure with firm, balanced tannins and good
acid to give longevity. This wine should not be drunk for at least three
years (sorry). It is still very young, and in a cool dark cellar will
become a stunning wine if you can wait.
Wine availability: I know how hard it can be to find specific wines. I
have absolutely NO financial ties to San Diego Wine Co, where I tend to
find, try and buy most wines for myself as well as for The Physiologist,
but to help you locate the wines I have suggested, their website is:
http://www.sandiegowine.net
Depending on the state you inhabit, they may be able to help you.
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