It was a youngish red wine at first glance, ruby with a wide rim, on the nose it was black and red fruits with a bit of a twist, herbal notes, a little stalkiness and some vegetal mushroom, this points towards a wine with a little age. On the palate, again the fruit and herbal notes, the tannins were soft and slightly chalky, good acidity and the alcohol tasted quite high - so I would have guessed somewhere warm.
Over the weekend we had a bottle of Paisaje de Barrancas 2005 from Maipu, Mendoza in Chile, it is a red wine made from 55% Syrah, 35% Malbec and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, all handpicked then fermented in stainless steel. After fermentation and 12 days maceration to improve the flavour character, the wine was matured in 50:50 American and French oak and then 6 months in bottle. All this leads to a wine that shows that it has been oak aged, the spice and bitter tannins are well integrated, the black and red fruits are mellowing with the 6 years it has aged in bottle, smokey coffee and chocolate play with cedar and ripe fruits, the overall finish is long but with a bitter edge and over extracted flavours, oak plays a big part in this wines makeup - and it does it no favours in this case, the fruit takes second place, the bitter tannins over power the mellowed fruit - shame...... but we still managed to finish the bottle, and enjoy it all the same. 
Purple-red; Barossa Valley blends of Shiraz/Grenache/Mourvedre seldom have the poise, conviction or richness of this wine; the flavours are multilayered yet not the least jammy, the tannins particularly good, the length all one can ask for. Screwcap. 
The 2008 Plexus Shiraz Grenache Mourvedre is a decidedly Shiraz dominant version of this classic blend. Deep garnet-purple colored, it gives an abundance of Indian spice aromas - cumin seed, fenugreek and cloves - over raspberry cordial, preserved blackberry, dusty earth, powdered cinnamon and moss covered tree bark. The full-bodied palate displays the elegance of this blend in its effortless harmony, offering a medium-high level of very fine tannins, crisp acid and ample opulent flesh with a long finish. Drink it now to 2018+. With 35 years in the winemaking business under his belt, nearly 30 of which were spent making Grange and developing the RWT label at Penfolds, John Duval is a bit of an Australian wine legend. (93+) (12/ 2010) Inky ruby. Expressive black raspberry and cherry aromas are complicated by black and white pepper and incense. A floral note comes up air and carries onto the palate, joining sweet red and dark berry preserve flavors and undertones of anise and candied rose. A hint of candied flowers lingers on a very long, sappy finish. I'd have no problem drinking this now. For a wine from a ripe vintage this is quite elegant. (8/ 2010) For the past several years, Duval's Plexus has been remarkably consistent in quality. The only indication here that 2008 was a difficult vintage (because of the heat) is this wine's creamy immediacy, which suggests early consumption (now-2015). The blackberry fruit is fresh and briary, spiced with hints of cedar and vanilla; lush and long on the finish. (12/ 2010) This is a warm Barossa blend of Shiraz (53 percent) with Grenache and Mourvedre. It's filled with spicy red raspberry jam flavors and some deeper blue fruit, a bloody, rich red for the grill. (10/ 2010)
This wine has is very deep ruby core with a wide rim, uplifting notes of black cherry, blackcurrant, spice, chocolate and white pepper are released and on tasting it - the same flavours with some additional vanilla and smokey cedar box nuances. The firm tannic grip is ripe but obvious, the acidity frames the fruit while the alcohol (14.5%) enrobes the body of the wine ( balanced and integrated), the length is long and the vibrant fruit which is juicy and fresh stays to the end with the warmth of the spices. This needs to be kept for 3-6 years to reach its full potential - Enjoy!
The grapes were destemmed and fermented warm together with no bunches. The wine was matured for 11 months in French oak, 15% new. The wine was racked once during its maturation in oak and bottled in late February 2012.
Logan Shiraz 2009 is a wine to try - it is deep, deep ruby with black tints, and the legs are slow fat and coloured! On the nose luscious, vibrant ripe plums, black cherry and a hint of pepper with mint. Tasting it did not disappoint, the black fruits ( cherry, currant, berry ) are supported wonderfully by the fresh acidity and well defined, ripe, silky tannins. There is a spicey, minty edge to this wine that adds extra complexity and the alcohol feels in balance ( 14%) and well integrated. The length is long and has spice and ripe fruit end! A deep chocolatey wine that has fresh warmth and feels well balanced, I look forward to trying this over the next 5 or so years.
Le Froglet Shiraz 2011 is a wine that falls under the new designation of Vin de France ( Vin de Table with no Geographic Indication!). It is a new category which has to be made in France ( anywhere and may have mixed grapes from different regions) and can have the variety on the label. It is a way that France sees that it can compete on the wider stage of the New World competative market. This wine actually comes from the Languedoc - but do the grapes? 
Chateau Romanin Les Baux de Provence 2004 is a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Carbernet Sauvignon and Mourvedre, and as expected it is a deep colour with only some garnet to interrupt its ruby core ( this is a wine with some age - more garnet would have been expected), the beautiful rich aromas of dark cherry, milk chocolate and some dried fruits ( currant and sultana) hint at its age and quality.
On the palate the wine is dry but with abundant dark fruits and a minty dried fruit edge, the tannins are drying and gripping with a gum coating quality - and this was not expected in this age of wine - once more showing its ageability! The length was long and had a sweet dried fruit finish. 
Béret Frog 2011 Rouge IGP from Provence, France is a biodynamic red wine made by Jean-Pierre and Natalie Margan at Château la Canorgue ( where the film 'A good Year' was filmed ) and is a Vin de Pays de Mediterrannée. It is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and a splash of Grenache and the yield is a mere 30-35 hl/ha ( by comparison to the norm for this area of 60+hl/ha), and aromas of red and black berry fruits are in abundance along with coffee, milk chocolate and roses with a touch of vanilla. The deep ruby core has purple tints which hint at its youthfulness.The wines mature for 4 to 6 months in large wooden casks which allow very little wood aromas and flavours to be transferred to the wine.
On tasting it, the ripe fruits are apparent as are the stalky tannins which have a gripping texture, a medium length of warm ripe dark fruits finishes this tasting and leaves one wanting more.
La Ramade Rosé 2010 Côtes de Provence France is a blend of Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah grown traditionally on Bush vines with some trellising and there is minimium intervention of the growing system ( soil, chemicals etc), and made by Laurent Bunan. Pale salmon core welcomes you into this wine and creamy floral aromas and cooked nectarine with a touch of tangerine, all this is echoed on the palate with a hint of saltiness, carried through to the finish which is primarily tangerine and rose.
A deep ruby colour with a hint of
black had intense savoury aromas of spicy tobacco, black cherry and some red
fruits with overtones of smokiness. On tasting it the fine gripping but ripe
tannins add structure to this medium bodied wine, the black cherry and red
fruit flavours along with the smokey spices are enrobed by the savouriness and
the finish which is long consists of fresh red fruits, the wine feels a touch spirity
- and given time may integrate well, a complex elegant wine especially at the
price of about £32 - buy, buy, buy.
Tabali Syrah 2007 Reserva Limari Valley is of course the Shiraz or Syrah grape grown in the cool area of the Limari Valley, Chile. The Limari Valley is in the north of Chile and although nearer to the equator is classified as a cool area as it is greatly affected by the morning fog caused by the
the cool Humbolt current in the Pacific Ocean which cools in the morning, but clears as the afternoon’s hot sun
rises. The region is very dry – less than 4 inches of rain annually – but
irrigation is allowed here and has made vine growing. The lack of water, however,
encourages the vines to dig deep into the soils and, in turn, there is a
pronounced effect of minerality found in the wines. There is much innovation used in these 'new' areas which have been actually making wine for many centuries.
This wine is a very deep ruby colour with a blackness too it that points to heavy extraction during the vinification and also to the high phenolic content of the skins. Blackcurrant and cherry aromas abound, all wound up with smokey spices and undertones of savouriness. Definite licquorice and earthiness aromas seemed to develop as it was allowed to breathe.
On the nose it had an aroma of baked red fruits ( as in - fruit ripened in a hot climate), it is youthful and has savoury aromas with a juicy twist. On tasting it there is good palate cleansing acidity and also a warmth due to the alcohol content - though this was only 12% it felt higher. The chalky dry tannins had a silky edge, and the pepper on the palate added a savoury quality to the wine. The red fruits were sweet and juicy and had plenty of character, the spice evident but not dominant, and a fruity finish with a slight bitter cherry finish. Overall this wine is a light fresh wine that could be served chilled and would compliment cold meats or even a roast!
