this week's tasting, in which i discovered all kinds of new sensations, is about shiraz. yes, each time i have been to a tutored tasting, i was told to be on the look out for black pepper and dark berry fruits. you can imagine my delight when i discovered during this tasting that shiraz can be actually full of flowers: violets (delightful), roses, and all kinds of exotically scented flowers like carnations and other wonderful and succulent aromas.

we tasted (you can click on the link to get our full wset level tasting notes in pdf format):

peter lehmann's eight songs shiraz 2003 – barossa valley, south-australia

good premium wine. excellent complexity of fruit well supported by a firm but smooth and silky tannins. intense and deep aromas and palate with a good length. showing excellent typicity of style and origin. shows and excellent structure to age marvelously and develop very well.

peter lehmann's weighbridge shiraz 2006 - south australia

good mid-level wine. much more intense on palate than on nose with a very complex palate finely interwoven with excellent savoury fruits and careful use of oak. explosive and long on the after-taste. pleasant and delicious.

leeuwin estate art series shiraz 2006 - margaret river, western australia

very good premium wine. excellent balance of acidity, tannins, and alcohol and supported by an excellent fruit. excellent concentration, complexity, and exotic aromas and flavours. definitely made with excellent quality fruit. a very good structure and fruit to age beautifully and develop very rewarding character.

unfortunately, the st-joseph (côte du rhône) we had for this tasting was corked and so can not give a tasting note this time around.

all these wines were purchased at watson's wine cellars in hong kong.