Kilikanoon Testament Barossa Shiraz 2004

Kilikanoon Testament Shiraz 2004

On a cold blustery snowy Chicago winter evening, we ventured out to Angelis, our local neighborhood Trattoria for a hearty wine and dine meal. We took this Kilikanoon Testament Shiraz, BYOB which turned out to be a perfect complement to both our entree selections - Linda's Butternut Squash Gnochi (think brown sugar - to which she has them add spinach), and my Pasta and Peas with Italian Sausage in Vodka Cream Sauce - a winter favorite (see below).

For a starter, we had Angeli's extraordinary clam chowder which is the best anywhere with its thick, chewy smoky bacon undertones.

Kilikanoon Testament Barossa Valley Shiraz 2004

Perhaps it was the warm ambiance and the food pairing, or the dozen years of age added to this wine, but tonight, while consistent with earlier tasting notes, it was even more delicious and tasty than I remember. This typifies everything we love in a hearty Shiraz with its rich, concentrated, complex succulent fruit flavors.

Dark inky purple colored, full bodied, the blackberry, blueberry and black cherry fruits are accented by a layer of creosote expresso with tones of cigar box and cedar with hints of mocha, black pepper and anise on the lingering chewy tannin finish.

Upon opening and for the first hour, the non-fruit tones detract a bit from the polish and finesse of the wine in my opinion hence it is perhaps best consumed with hearty food, dark chocolate or full cheese. The next day this was balanced, nicely polished and harmonious.

RM 92 points. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=292243 


http://www.kilikanoon.com.au/

Angeli's Pasta and Peas
with Italian Sausage in Vodka Cream Sauce

Angeli's decadent Butternut Squash Gnochi
(with some spinach added)

Killikanoon Clare Valley Blocks Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Killikanoon Clare Valley Blocks Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

I pulled this from the cellar for dinner thinking it was a Shiraz but realized it was a cab when I was trying to characterize its taste profile of firm, smoky berry fruits with firm tannin finish.

This was unbelievably delicious with Dove cherries dipped in dark chocolate. Better than the pairing with spaghetti and tomato meat sauce.

Inky black color with a dark garnet rim, medium to full bodied, firm vibrant bright complex brambly fruits of black cherry, blackberry and tones of smoky blackberry, hints of dark mocha chocolate, blueberry, vanilla and a layer of cedar on the long lingering floral and tangy dark cherry finish.

RM 91 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=447123

http://www.kilikanoon.com.au/

Kilikanoon and Arns - Big Shiraz Duel For Celebration Dinner

Big Shiraz Duel For Celebration Dinner - Arns and Kilikanoon

What fun!. For a personal celebration dinner, I chose two favorite best drinking bottles from the cellar - an interesting comparison of Shiraz/Syrah from Australia and Napa Valley. When we think of Syrah, aka Shiraz, we think of south central Australia. When we think of Napa Valley, we think of Cabernet Sauvignon.

One of the discoveries of our recent Napa Wine Experience 2013 was this Syrah from Napa Valley Pritchard Hill. More surprising was that we found this Syrah at a classic Napa Cabernet Sauvignon producer, Arns. Further irony of this is that while we found this Pritchard Hill Syrah at Arns Estate on Howell Mountain, a focus of this trip was our visit to Pritchard Hill  with our visit to David Arthur the next day.We tasted these wines, BYOB at Angelis Italian, our favorite local trattoria.This is the second blockbuster Napa Valley Syrah we've found recently, the other being the spectacular Kongsgaard Napa Valley Hudson Vineyard Syrah 2007.

Arns Syrah Melanson Vineyard 2008

The husband wife team of John Arns and Sandi Belcher produce hand crafted full artisan Estate bottled Cabernet Sauvignon from their 10 acres of vineyards on lower Howell Mountain just east of St Helena. We met John at the estate as the first stop of our Napa Valley Wine Experience 2013. We weren't expecting to taste a Syrah but we're glad we did. John sources the grapes for this wine from the Melanson Vineyard up on Pritchard Hill where he and his team manage the viticulture. It did not disappoint.

This full throttle Syrah ended up being one of the highlights of our Napa extended weekend. So for a special celebration dinner this evening, I wanted to compare this Napa sensation against a benchmark Aussie Shiraz.

From my tasting at the winery, the Arns exhibited dark inky garnet color, full bodied, powerful but polished forward flavors of black berry and hints of blue fruits, layers of cassis and mocha, hints of clove, violets, leather and olive with a long lingering firm but silky tannin finish. Much like a big Southern Aussie Shiraz. 14.8%.

RM 93 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=1498990

http://arnswinery.com/


Kilikanoon Barossa Valley 'R' Shiraz 2002

What better benchmark Shiraz to compare our new-found Napa discovery than the flagship label from Kilikanoon, the Australian Winery of the Year for 2013. Their Reserve 'R' label is their top label, their finest Barossa Shiraz cuvee from selected single parcels of tiny yielding old vines Shiraz from the Greenock, Vine Vale and Ebenezer sub regions. It is matured for 28 months in small 100% new French oak casks striving for a wine of 'great varietal strength, poise and ageing potential'.


I love their 'Oracle' label full throttle Shiraz, but for this special tasting, I chose their 'R' label, whimsically for my namesake initial wine, in the same way I choose Lewis with their 'L' label for special dinners celebrating Linda and Lucy.

From the winemaker's notes - "Powerfully built yet elegantly restrained, a compelling mix of riper fruit flavours, dark chocolate and fine French oak spice, with outstanding persistence and complexity. Full bodied, rich, ripe plum, black raspberry, subtle blueberry, hints of tar, vanilla, pepper, and graphite on a flavorful finish.

RM 92 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=320020

http://www.kilikanoon.com.au/

Killikanoon Shiraz, Clos D L'Oratoire, and Dunham Cabernet Sauvignon

Killikanoon Shiraz, Clos De L'Oratoire, and Dunham Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon accompany Contemporary Latin Steak Dinner

On a gorgeous early autumn afternoon in Chicago we followed a White Sox victory with a BYOB wine tasting dinner (see below) at trendy May Street Cafe in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood not far from the ballpark. Featuring contemporary Latin cuisine they offer Allen Brothers beef with flavorful Latin accents. To match the lively cuisine we brought two vibrant and expressive wines, Kilikanoon Clare Valley Covenant Shiraz 2005, and  Dunham Vineyards Columbia Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2003. Dan and Linda brought two vintage Bordeaux, a Right Bank Clos De L'Oratoire St Emilion Grand Cru 2000 and Left Bank Chateau LaGrange St Julien 2003. 

2005 Kilikanoon "Covenant" Shiraz Clare Valley South Australia

Kilikanoon produces some of Australia’s finest wines under the direction of talented winemaker Kevin Mitchell, a broad selection ranging from Rieslings to Cabernet Sauvignons and Shiraz. Their line-up of Shiraz includes some of our absolute favorites with their premium 'R' and 'Oracle' Shiraz, their 'flagship', twice recognized as the 'world's best shiraz', Testament, Parable and Covenant labels, and lower value priced Killerman's Run label. Indeed, my Wine Journal Australian Producer Index lists over a dozen Kilikanoon label reviews over the years.  

Kilikanoon Covenant Shiraz is produced from fruit from six different vineyards throughout the Leasingham Valley; each is fermented separately, basket pressed and aged for 22 months in a combination of new and older French and American small oak casks.  

 The 2005 "Covenant" is a blockbuster with inky dark garnet color, full body, tongue-coating chewy supple fruit that also coats the glass with long 'legs' or 'curtains' as our British friends call them. This is a huge fruit bomb boasting flavorful, sweet ripe blackberry, black raspberry and hints of blueberry fruits, with a layer of anise and vanilla, hint of milk chocolate and sweet oak and spice with a long lingering finish of full chewy tannins. This was a spectacular starter wine - so full and flavorful it stood alone as a meal course all by itself. It only got better as a compliment to the meal courses to follow. 
 RM 94 points.

 https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=396284

http://www.kilikanoon.com.au/
 

Clos de L'Oratoire St Emilion Grand Cru Classe Bordeaux 2000

From the same producers of Right Bank Bordeuax St-Emilion AOC properties Château Canon La Gaffelière and La Mondotte,  Clos de l'Oratoire is from foothill (pieds de cotes) vineyards planted with 90% Merlot and equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. This much heralded 2000 vintage release is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc and promises to provide enjoyment for several years to come.

Showing deep crimson color, this is medium-full bodied, delicate and polished with intense forward floral bouquet with complex black fruits, black currant and cherry,  giving way to pencil shaving, smoky leather, black tea with bitter chocolate and clove spice on a smooth moderate tannin finish.

RM 90 points,

The delicate and polished Clos de L'Oratoire was a perfect accompaniement to the grilled steaks and vegetables but it was overpowered by the lively spices of the mac-n-cheese penne. 

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=6340


http://www.neipperg.com/index.php?act=1,10,1


Dunham Cellars Columbia Valley Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon 2003 

We first discovered Dunham Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon with the 1997 vintage and have since collected a nine year vertical of this wine, each adorned with the roman numeral denoting the sequence in the series of vintages for the label, the 2003 being the IX or ninth release. Each one we have tasted has been impressive and pleasing and this was no exception.

Dark garnet colored, full bodied, rich round, full forward fruits of sweet plum and Bing and black cherries highlighted by clove, anise and pomegranate with sweet oakey finish laced with smooth polished chewy tannins. Comprised of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from Lewis Vineyard, Frenchtown Vineyard, and Double River Estate Vineyard in the Washington State Columbia Valley near Walla Walla this juice was aged in 60% French - 40% American, 70% new oak - 30% used oak.

RM 91 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=287264

http://www.dunhamcellars.com/

Allen Brothers New York Strip with May Street Cafe
Truffle Mac-n-cheese penne and grilled asparagas

Dr Dan and Mario Santiago May Street Cafe Executive Chef

For dinner, most of us opted for their Price Fixe' dinner menu - a good value offering full dinner salad with mango, choice of a New York Strip with a peppercorn candied cherry and cranberry sauce (shown above), or a shrimp and scallop combination, with a side of truffle mac-n-cheese, mashed potatoes or rice; and desert of mango, white chocolate or bacon flan with caramel drizzle.  

We brought our own wine but there is a serious wine list with a somewhat limited but thoughtful selection at below market prices - big reds include Darioush, Silver Oak, Ramey, and Caymus Cabernets. The service was gracious and attentive and accommodating of our BYOB with a $15 (per bottle) corkage fee. 

Don't judge this book by its cover, its a fun, fine dining spot with good food and service. They hope to keep the outside patio seating open as long as November with the California space heaters.  

Kilikanoon Parable McLaren Vale Shiraz 2004

Kilikanoon Parable McLaren Vale Shiraz 2004

Dark inky garnet color - full bodied. Dense, thick, chewy ultra-ripe almost raisiny black berry fruits, hint of ripe blueberry with complex layers of tapenade asphalt, truffles, and roasted meats on a glycerin coated moderate tannin finish. While it is nicely balanced, with the firm ripe hard edged flavors, this is not an easy drinking wine and I don't think it will soften further with time. Tasted with roast beef and cooked vegetables dinner. A bit obtuse, too much for even my tastes which prefer big bold forward wines.

RM 89 points.

https://www.cellartracker.com/wine.asp?iWine=246942