The value for money here is so absurd I feel like buying ten dozen and drinking nothing but this for the next six months. It's made by James and Paul Hook using shiraz grapes grown in McLaren Vale, and you can buy the 2005 Shiraz for $22, which is quite a steal. This is a wine of depth, class, and impact, and comes complete with structured, integrated tannin, it's got the lot. I like it so much and am raving about it so loudly that you would think I was related to the owners but I have never met or spoken with either of them in my life. Juicy blackberry, chocolatey oak, earthiness, life, lift, power, length. The 2004, long sold out, was excellent too. The catch? They only made 200 dozen of it. I give it 93 points, drink 2006-2014.
Campbell Mattinson on Shiraz Viognier 2005
The shiraz viognier is spectacular value too, though for earlier drinking. If you like McLaren Vale shiraz, clearly I do, you cannot go wrong with either of these. This has lots of fine tannin, lots of purple, pulpy, jubey fruit, nutty slings from the viognier and a chalky finish. The alcohol probably shows on this a touch (it's 14.9, but then, the shiraz above is 15 and I don't notice it there) but it's still great drinking.) Drink: 2006-2011. 91 points.
Cassoulet. 93 +++ points.
Gary Walsh on Shiraz 2005
I try and mix it up a bit with the reviews. Big winery, small winery, full bodied, light bodied etc. This turned up on the doorstep the other day and well…I like the name and I like the label. It made me curious. I showed it to a bloke at work and he liked it too but commented that it would be better still if the lazy ballerina was holding a whip…..
Only 200 cases made. The cork has a very light plastic sheath on each end. I assume this is to stop tainted corks from coming into contact with the wine. What happens if the bottle gets a bit warm and it runs up the sides I wonder? This species of cork is called ‘Procork' and it is my first confirmed sighting. How exciting.
Deep purple colour. Aromas of blackberry/plum, chocolate, earth and fair amount of spicy vanilla and milk coffee oak. Some VA lift. Very typically McLaren. On the palate full bodied with rich plum, raspberry/blackberry, dark chocolate and vanilla flavours. Plenty of firm powdery tannin and some tart acidity that should recline gently back into the wine with further bottle age. Dry blackberried finish. It is very obviously ageworthy and very obviously high quality…and cheap!
I don't know a better version of this blend. With viognier for 'extra kick', instead of the gooey canned peach too many makers go for, it turns its rivals into silly lollies. Lovely fruit aside, it smells of mushrooms and damp healthly earth - its dense luscious, and smooth, and chockers with savoury dry tannins and live grapes. I panned mushrooms in butter and olive oil with black olives, chilli, onions and garlic and had 'em on toast with my bottle. All of it. Do it. Heavenly. 94 points.
Winetastic on 2005 Shiraz
There are two things I cannot have enough of in my life, Hunter Valley and McLaren Vale Shiraz. This week I tried a real cracker from the latter, the Lazy Ballerina Shiraz 2005.
Vibrant aromas of blackberry, plum and an underlying dustyness were virtually leaping around immediately after opening, I am surprised they didn't force the cork clean out of the bottle! The palate lives up to the expectation set by the nose, starting with a burst of ripe dark fruits and berries which are chased down the line by some spices and subtle oak. Intense, balanced and long, there is also plenty of mouthfilling tannin to support the great fruit.
The Lazy Ballerina oozes quality right now and if conventional wisdom is to be believed, once the tannins settle down in a few years this will be an outstanding wine, not just a great wine. You may struggle to find this Shiraz in any bricks and mortar stores, however both Auswine and Winestar have it for sale online, buy some. Would I buy this wine again?
In a flash, excellent value for money. Score: 92/100
2005 Shiraz is sealed under cork and sells for $23. Just bottled, although the bouquet was closed and locked tight, some 'interesting aromatics' were lurking. Juicy-fruit is driving the wine but it is well backed by dusty tannins that finish dry. A clean, modern wine with very good balance and construction, it is ample-weight with a supple consistency, solid, tight structure and well-developed complexity. Black cherry, pepper and graphite characters are attractive. Absolutely worth cellaring, it is rated as Recommended with **** for value and the rating should improve as the wine matures around 2011.
2005 Primadonna Shiraz Viognier, is sealed under cork and sells for $17. A typical Shiraz Viognier black nose, with black fruits and spices; Adam (Hooper - LaCurio Wines) thought it had 'carrot cake' characters. Unobtrusive, almost austere tannins provide a soft consistency, and the obvious fruit delivers an open structure. Better than many Shiraz Viognier blends, it's a good party or bistro wine with ripe blackberry, coffee oak, black pepper and apricots. With loads of flavour for the dollar, it will be hugely popular with the masses. Rated as Recommended with *** for value.
