Below are my notes on the fifth batch of wines that I have been lucky enough to taste so far in April 2016. This batch includes the wines tasted at Wine Exchange Asia‘s Clarendon Hills Brookman Vineyard Vertical Tasting where we tasted the 2005, 2006 & 2007 vintages of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah produced from the vineyard.
What have you been tasting?
From this batch my favourites are the:
2005 Clarendon Hills Brookman Merlot
2010 Banfi Brunello di Montalcino Sangiovese
2006 Clarendon Hills Brookman Syrah
2006 Clarendon Hills Brookman Cabernet Sauvignon
2006 Clarendon Hills Brookman Vineyard Syrah
The Wine Reviews
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1
Name: Villa Sandi Prosecco Valdobbiadene Superiore Millesimato Vintage: 2014 Region: Valdobbiadene, Treviso, Veneto, Italy Varietal: Glera Alcohol: 11% Colour: Pale straw Bead: Small persistent bubbles Aroma: Pleasant mix of apple and flora aromas Palate: Refreshing, dry Finish: Medium
Comment: Another good quality Prosecco at a very reasonable price. A refreshing wine to start a dinner.
2
Name: Clarendon Hills Brookman Vintage: 2005 Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia Varietal: Merlot Alcohol: 14.5% Colour: Dark brick red Aroma: Pleasant mixture of cherry, blackberry, spice and hints of chocolate aromas Palate: Medium / full-bodied, stylish Tannin: Silky Finish: Long
Comment: What a great wine, for me it was the wine of the night at Wine Exchange Asia's 2016 Brookman vertical. Shows that patience with Clarendon Hills wines is definitely worth it. The Brookman also shows how good Merlot can be as a standalone varietal.
3
Name: Clarendon Hills Brookman Vintage: 2006 Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia Varietal: Merlot Alcohol: 14.5% Colour: Deep crimson Aroma: Mixture of plum, blackberry and cigar aromas Palate: Medium / full-bodied Tannin: Fine Finish: Medium - long
Comment: Enjoyable, but, IMHO still needs more time to develop.
4
Name: Clarendon Hills Brookman Vintage: 2007 Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia Varietal: Merlot Alcohol: 14.5% Colour: Deep purple Aroma: Combo of blackcurrant, blackberry, cherry and pencil shavings aromas Palate: Medium / full-bodied Tannin: Savoury Finish: Medium-long
Comment: IMHO, this needs a number of years to mature, has the signs that it will repay patience.
5
Name: Clarendon Hills Brookman Vintage: 2005 Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon Alcohol: 14.5% Colour: Deep brick Aroma: Mix of blackberry, blackcurrant, spice and cedar aromas Palate: Full-bodied, balanced Tannin: Savoury Finish: Long
Comment: Drinking well now, but a couple more years of patience will probably see it reach its peak.
6
Name: Clarendon Hills Brookman Vintage: 2006 Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon Alcohol: 14.5% Colour: Deep garnet Aroma: Perfumed combination of blackberry, plum, cherry and spice aromas Palate: Full-bodied, lush, balanced Tannin: Fine Finish: Long
Comment: Of the 3 Brookman Cabernet Sauvignon tasted at the 2016 Wine Exchange Asia Brookman vertical this was my favourite. It has evolved quicker than the 2005. Drinking well now, IMHO may have a couple more years until it reaches it peak if you can wait!
7
Name: Clarendon Hills Brookman Vintage: 2007 Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon Alcohol: 14.5% Colour: Deep crimson Aroma: Mix of blackberry, blackcurrant, vanilla and mocha aromas Palate: Full-bodied, balanced Tannin: Savoury Finish: Long
Comment: Enjoyable, but, IMHO, needs a few more years until it peaks.
8
Name: Clarendon Hills Brookman Vintage: 2005 Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia Varietal: Syrah Alcohol: 14.5% Colour: Medium deep crimson Aroma: Bouquet of cherry, blackberry, spice, black pepper and a subtle hint of leather aromas Palate: Full-bodied, concentrated, balanced Tannin: Fine Finish: Long
Comment: Enjoyable, drinking well now, still has more improvement in it, nice long finish
9
Name: Clarendon Hills Brookman Vintage: 2006 Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia Varietal: Syrah Alcohol: 14.5% Colour: Deep purple Aroma: Complex mix of blackberry, blueberry, mocha and vanilla aromas Palate: Full-bodied, complex, balanced Tannin: Savoury Finish: Long
Comment: Great wine, drinking well now. IMHO it has a long life ahead of it and will repay patience.
10
Name: Clarendon Hills Brookman Vintage: 2007 Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia, Australia Varietal: Syrah Alcohol: 14.5% Colour: Deep purple Aroma: Earthy combo of cherry, blackberry, mocha and spice aromas Palate: Full-bodied, concentrated, balanced Tannin: Savoury Finish: Long
Comment: Good wine, needs more time has a long life ahead of it, will definitely repay patience.
Pics from the Clarendon Hills Brookman Vineyard vertical tasting, a fun night. Always interesting to compare three vintages of the same wine at the same time, even better when you get to try three different vintages of three different wines from the same vineyard. Another great Wine Exchange Asia tasting at New Ubin Seafood.
Hi Oz,
I like stand-alone wines much more than cuvées.
So, this Brookman 2005 Merlot sounds very interesting to me 😉
Best regards,
Michael
Clarendon Hills do a great job, hope you get a chance to try it