Domaine de la Seminaire Cotes du Rhone Villages Valreas, 2019

80% Grenache from vines planted in the 1940s, 10% Syrah from vines planted in the 1960s, 10% Mourvedre from vines planted in the 1970s--all on clay/limestone soils. This is a beautiful Cotes du Rhone Villages, probably the best Valreas I have had.

Medium deep crimson. Violets and fresh fruit aromas. Black fruit at first on the palate with some tannin that is not at all unpleasant. Then the red berry Grenache emerges on the mid-palate, teasing and pleasing, and opening up a range of flavors. Velvety texture with perfect acid/tannin balance. The finish, though, is what makes this wine special. It lingers beautifully long after the glass is empty, washed and put away.

 

Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz-Cabernet, 2020

The fruit for this wine does not come from the Koonunga Hill Vineyard that produced the now famous 1976 Koonunga Hill Claret that was one of my introductions to Australian wine. But it is made in the style of that wine.

Very deep and dark crimson. Red and black fruit, plums and cherries more than berries. Also some beet root and sweet oak. Full bodied Shiraz in the middle; leafy Cabernet around the edges. Smoother on the palate than the last bottle we had a few months ago. Not much complexity at this point.

This wine and the Point Ormond wine we had last night are similarly priced. I far prefer the Point Ormond.
 

Point Ormond Victoria (Australia) Shiraz, 2020

Point Ormond Lookout is located in Elwood, a suburb of Melbourne, Australia. Point Ormond wines are bottled in Fitzroy, an inner suburb of Melbourne. It is apparently a garagiste wine, produced by someone who is clearly knowledgeable about viticulture and winemaking. At least some of the grapes (although apparently not enough to qualify for the sub-appellation) come from Heathcote, an area well known for producing excellent (and usually expensive) Shiraz wines. This excellent Point Ormond Shiraz sells for $14.99 at Plum Market on the eastern side of Michigan and for $15.99 at Wine.com. It is a smashing bargain.

Deep and dark. Classic Syrah scents and flavors: blackberries, boysenberries, lavender, anise seed and black pepper. Much more acidic than your typical Aussie Shiraz and moderate in alcohol (13.5%). Not at all sweet. Matured in concrete vats and stainless steel (no oak). In its fourth year, Point Ormpond Shiraz is already drinking beautifully, but I am sure it will age beautifully over the next five years or so.