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Goundrey Reserve Selection Merlot, 1997Dec 12 '02 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line Goundrey's 1997 Reserve Selection Merlot: 3-stars. Drinkable and very inexpensive at about $3 per bottle.
Older stocks of wines from western Australia's Goundrey Winery are hitting the shores in the U.S.A. at blowout prices. Goundrey Winery was founded just a little over 30 years ago (1971) and has been steadily growing, currently producing about 250,000 cases of wine per year. A few months ago, Wine Spectator Magazine (WS) reported that the Canadian beverage conglomerate -- Vincor International -- purchased Goundrey to obtain a toehold in the Australian winemaking industry, reported by WS to be "the fastest-growing segment in the international wine market." At the 1999 International Wine and Spirit Competition in London, England, Goundrey Winery was named "Australia's Best Wine Producer." That's quite a feat, I think, since Western Australian producers aren't nearly as large nor as established as competing producers in Australia's South Eastern wine growing regions. Goundrey Winery produces, principally, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Shiraz wine varieties. It's best known, perhaps, for its Unwooded Chardonnay (WS rated its 2000 Unwooded Chardonnay at 88, "Very Good"; about $10/bottle). I've yet to try any Chards from Goundrey, but yesterday I did sample its 1997 Reserve Selection Merlot. Goundrey's 1995 Reserve Merlot was once judged as Western Australia's "Best Merlot." Goundrey Merlot, 1997, Reserve Selection Mount Barker, Western Australia ---------------------------------------------------------------------- The best I can determine, this has not been an award winning wine, although the 1997 season produced a bumper crop in Western Australia. Alcohol: 11.5% by volume. Light compared to other Merlot wines (compare, for example, to Lindemans Bin 40 Merlot, about 13% ABV). Production: Fruit harvested from Goundrey's Mount Baker vineyards in Western Australia. Appearance: Deep ruby red color with some tawny tones at the edges. Some sedimentary material lined the wall of the bottle, with some large particulates at the bottle's bottom. Aroma: Cherry and cranberry; moderately fruity nose with a dull anise tone in the background. Flavor: Fruit forward, sweet berry, cassis, and dark cherry flavors with subtle wood (cedar/oak) tones, and smooth, fine-grain tannins. Not particularly complex, and a little light bodied with a pleasant but thin finish. Price and Availability: $2.99 per 750ml bottle at Big Lots! (purchased in Murrieta, California). Imported by Parliament Import Co., Atlantic City, New Jersey. Distributed in limited international markets; Goundrey's reportedly exports less than 1,000 cases of wine annually to markets in the U.S.A. and the United Kingdom. Recommendations: Probably at the peak of its cellaring potential (3-8 years); consume now. I paired this wine with a Mayorga Torpedo Maduro cigar, a pairing that worked well since the cigar has a slightly earthy and spicy flavor, touched with a bit of cocoa and coffee. Verdict: 3 stars. Appearance: 4/5 Aroma: 20/25 Flavor: 32/40 Body: 7/10 Overall Quality: 15/20 ------------------------------ My Score: 78 -- 3 stars. Good. The winery's website: http://www.goundreywines.com.au  |
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