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Wines of Western Australia from John Gerard Wines

Margaret River I recently sampled the wines of John Gerard, an expert on Western Australia and also Irish Whiskey, as it happens. His small internet based operation has a well chosen portfolio of wines, from well known stalwarts such as Houghton and the award winning Evans & Tate, the Australian boutique winery Paul Conti, and less famous estates such as Indis. There were some very good wines among the selection here, the Paul Conti Grenache Shiraz (both vintages) being particularly good (with an hour or two in the decanter), as well as the seductive, crowd-pleasing Evans & Tate wines. (17/1/06)

John Gerard Wines - Tasting Notes

These wines were tasted in January 2006. Click for stockists:

Indis Sauvignon Blanc 2003: Bottled under screwcap. A very pale hue, almost crystal clear. A very obvious nose, busting with asparagus, green bean, green and yellow pepper, with a certain feline character as well. Medium bodied, powerful impact on the palate, with piles of green pepper and asparagus flavour, with a little charcoal and buttercream complexity. Good fresh acidity, but a short finish. It certainly has character, though. 15.5/20

Indis Shiraz Rosé 2005: Bottled under screwcap. A fairly deep, cherry pink hue. Good leafy nose, with plenty of medicinal cherry and blackberry fruit, with liquorice and vanilla cream notes. A very firm, powerful palate, with ample flavour, nuanced with black pepper. Full bodied style, very attractive, and very easy to drink. 15.5/20

Houghton Verdelho 2002: A clean, very pale wine. Quite mineral on the nose, with a sherbet and citrus character. Midweight palate, quite full and showing some grippy structure. Firmly put together, quite fine mineral-citrus profile like that indicated on the nose, but with a warm, ripe mouthfeel. Very good. Drink now. 16/20

Houghton Verdelho 2004: Another pale wine, with a fresh, fruit dominated nose, showing plenty of pear and mineral crystalline fruit elements. Lots of appeal here. Full character on the palate, packed with more of that crystalline fruit flavour, but with crisp acidity and a good mouthfeel. This is very good indeed, and preferable to the slightly older vintage in my opinion. 16.5/20

Houghton Riesling 2002: A clean, pale wine. Quite classic on the nose, showing a steely lime style, quite piercing in character. Certainly a fresh, fruit-dominate impression, which is carried through onto the palate, which demonstrates a firm structure and a deep, forceful acidity, giving an almost tingling sensation. Quite precise, worthy style, although with a short finish. 16/20

Paul Conti Old Vine Grenache Shiraz 2001: A darkly hued wine. Ripe, warm, dark fruit, with nuances of liquorice, smouldering embers and crackling bonfires. The palate follows up with a big, ripe, full mouthfeel, comprised of some finely poised yet warmly ripe fruit wrapped around a fine, tannic core. Lovely extract provides some texture and there is some lovely macerated fruit. Quite seductive. Very good indeed. Drink now. 17/20

Paul Conti Old Vine Grenache Shiraz 2002: A deep red with a maturing, pink-brick rim. Spicy, slightly high-toned nose, with plenty of coconut and vanillin oak, cherry and blackberry fruit, laced with chocolate and charcoal nuances. A lovely texture on entry, supple and rich, with flavours of cherry pie and blackberry charcoal. Ripe structure, amply covered by a creamy texture, although there is a tannic edge that needs a year or two to integrate fully. Very good indeed. 16.5+/20

Paul Conti Medici Pinot Noir 2003: Good rich colour. Rather medicinal fruit on the nose, with a vibrant redcurrant and baked cherry profile, peppered with notes of oak and spice. Midweight style, quite well defined on the palate, with plenty of exposed structure through the midpalate. Slightly chalky tannins, peppery, fresh, with a rounded sweet cherry style. Rustic Pinot, but it has appeal. Drink now and over the next few years. 16/20

Paul Conti Late Harvest Muscat 2004: A good lemon gold hue in the glass, followed by a very appealing, slightly smoky, suitably mineral and perfumed Muscat nose. Gentle, tender richness on the palate, with good fresh acidity, alongside a little firm grip and a musky, aromatic character. This has refreshing acidity yet is sweet, and is very moreish. Enjoy now to see it at its best. Very good. 17/20

Evans & Tate Shiraz 2002: An appealing dark, glossy wine, with plenty of character wafting up from the glass; ripe, berry fruit nose, with a charred, confit cherry character. This is gorgeously seductive, in part due to the smoky, barrel ferment traits that are present. Rich, creamy, warm enveloping texture, with a solid structure of peppery tannins beneath. Lots of fruit, and a little length. Very appealing indeed; drink now and over the next few years to catch this one at its best. 17/20

Evans & Tate Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2001: A rich, dark hue. It has bounteous ripe, smoky, rich and roasted fruits on the nose, with chocolate and cherry character. Full, sweet and creamy on the palate, rich with berry fruit, with an appealing leafy note. Lovely ripe tannic structure, with a chocolate mint edge to the dark fruit style. This has a fine finish and a great length, and is very good indeed. Seductive, and remarkably easy to drink. 16.5+/20