WINE REVIEWS

Verdelho

Chardonnay

Wood Matured Chenin Blanc

Rosé sec

Premium Red

Cabernet Sauvignon

Shiraz

Zinfandel

Premium White:

2004:

• This style has now settled and this is right where it should be.  Vibrant grassy tropical fruit flavoured wine.  It has a lovely fine lingering palate profile with good intensity and nice fine acid.  It makes for excellent current drinking.  86/100  (Ray Jordans Guide to Wine 04/05)

2005:

• The 2 varieties come together quite well, sauvignon blanc giving some vitality to the finish.  Rating: 86. Drink: Now.  (James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2007.)
• Pretty good.  Situated at Baldivis in the Peel region nearly an hour's drive south of Perth, Peel makes brilliant shiraz, very good verdelho and this fresh, clean tropically flavoured white blend. (Peter Forrestal Quaff, 2007.) 
• Bargain.  Made from Chenin blanc and Sauvignon blanc, this is a simple, sorft, fruity dry white that gives a lot of pleasure.  The nose is shy and retiring but builds spicy and floral aromas as it warms in the glass.  A good quaffer.  88/100  Food:  salads, vegetable dishes.  (Huon Hooke, Good Living, Sydney Morning Herald, 11 July, 2006.) 

Verdelho:                                                                                                                                                            

2001:

• Light but bright yellow-green;  the bouquet is moderately rich, with some tropical fruit salad aromas;  the palate is rich and ripe, again with tropical fruit salad; mouthfilling, and carries its 14% alcohol will.  Rating: 85.  Best drinking 2002 -2005.  drink with: pan-fried veal.  (James Halliday, Wine Companion, 2003 edition).

2005:

• Great value. 'One of the best verdelhos produced in Australia hails from Baldivis in the Peel region, an hour's drive south of Perth.  It makes attractive summer drinking thanks to its delicious tropical fruit flavours, vibrance and cool, slightly sweet, finish.   Peter Forrestal Quaff, 2007

• This is where this variety needs to be.  Previous vintages seemed a little high in alcohol, but this one has all the flavours and delightful palate freshness, but without the alcohol warmth.  This is quite lovely.  Ray Jordan's Guide to Wine 05/06

2006:

• Delicate, fresh and lively fruit salad in a precise varietal mould; good length.  Screwcap.  13.5%alc.  Rating:87  Drink to 2010 James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2008 Edition

Chardonnay:

1999:

• Medium yellow-green; the bouquet has some complexity, with attractive lees-contact aromas.  The palate, likewise has good mouthfeel and length, with ripe peach and nectarine fruit; gentle oak.  rating: 86  Best drinking 2002 -2004. drink with: smoked chicken. (James Halliday, Wine Companion, 2003 edition).

2001:

• Complex nutty, oaky aromas; powerful deep and long palate; cashew, fig and stone fruit.  Rating: 90 (James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion, 2006)

2003:

• Light to medium bodied; melon and fig fruit; a gentle touch of barrel ferment; good length, structure and balance.  Cork. Rating: 90. Drink 2007.(James Halliday Australian Wine Companion, 2006.)

2004:

• An attractive wine with an abundance of melon/peach/stone fruit; subtle oak; good acidity and length.  Partial barrel fermentation.  Screwcap.  13.5% alc. Rating: 92  Drink to: 2010 (James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2008 Edition) 

Wood Matured Chenin Blanc:

• I have attended several vertical tastings of fine white wines.......but none has pleased or impressed me more than that of Peel Estate wood-matured chenin blancs. These are age-worthy wines of character and style.'  Tim White,

1999:

• Medium to full yellow-straw; the bouquet is solid, the oak integrated but dominant.  The palate is rich, soft and opulent, in an ultimate food style, with oak and alcohol providing a blast of flavour.  Long a specialty of the winery.  Best drinking: 2002-2004.  Drink with: stuffed spatchcock.  (James Halliday, Wine Companion, 2003 edition).

2000:

• 'Of course, the most distinctive Peel white is Nairn's Wood Matured Chenin.  The 2000 shows all the distinctive character of this totally underrated wine.  These wines age beautifully  with high natural acid sustaining the freshness and life on the palate.' (Ray Jordan The West Australian 'Fresh' July 1 2004)

• This has all the distinctive characters of this totally underrated style.  These wines age beautifully with high natural acid sustaining the  freshness and lift on the palate.  The use of oak adds enormously to the palate and complements the wine beautifully as it ages.  It will cellar for 10 years comfortably.' 89/100 Ray Jordan, Ray Jordan's Guide to Wine 2004/05
• Flavoursome wine with oak and bottle age adding to the character; complex, big hitter.  Rating:89  (James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion, 2006 )

2001:

• Ageing slowly and impressively; oak a subtle framework for honeydew and melon fruit, still relatively tight; good balance.  Quality cork.  Rating: 90 (James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion, 2006)

                                                                                                                                                                    

Rosé sec:

2005:

• Light, lively, fresh and - indeed - is virtually dry; citrus and cherry flavours; good example.  Rating: 87 Drink: 2008  (James Halliday, 2007 Australian Wine Companion.)
• Tasted as a tank sample but this light and refreshing blend of merlot and cabernet franc has great potential.  Look out for it.  (Ray Jordan's Guide to Wine 05/06)

2006:

• Has some length, intensity and character without in any way relying on residual sugar.  Screwcap.  14.0% alc  Rating: 87  To 2008  (James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion 2008 Edition)

Premium Red:

2000:

• Medium red-purple; the bouquet has quite attractive fruit, with the barest hint of shaded character.  The palate provides quite a surprise, with ripe, sweet berry fruit and good mouthfeel.  A blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot.  Rating: 85  best drinking: 2002-2003. Drink with: pizza (James Halliday, Wine Companion, 2003 edition).

2001:

• A cherry flavoured blend of merlot and cabernet franc that delivers honest medium-bodied flavour.  Very quaffable, very yummy and very drinkable around the barbie.  has a soft fleshy mouthfeel and plenty of generous fruit flavours.  (Ray Jordans Guide to Wine 04/05)

2002:

• (4 stars)  Predominantly savoury aromas with hints of green spice and leather.  These characters are echoed on the earthy flavoursome palate.  Plenty of fruit weight a slightly tarry finish.  (Winestate magazine.  May/June issue, 2005. p.100)

• Best Wine:  This great value blend has come a long way and winemaker Will Nairn has got it spot-on for this price point.  Loaded with flavour but with structure and finesse, it really packs some quality in a mix of merlot and cabernet franc that delivers a wine of finesse and elegance.  (Ray Jordan. The West Magazine, June 18, 2005.)

2003:

• Light to medium bodied; savoury/minty/leafy/spicy characters all reflect the blend. Estate grown.  Rating: 87. Drink: 2008.  (James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2007
• Quality: 4 1/2 Stars.  Value for money: 5 stars.   I think the blend he has gone for with the red works really well.  It combines the softness of lush medium weight merlot with the aromatic lift of the Cabernet franc.  It's a deliciously supple wine with enticing fruit flavours supported with fine tannin and just a smidgeon of oak.  This wine is designed for immediate drinking at the afternoon barbie.  (Ray Jordan, The West Australian Magazine,)

Cabernet Sauvignon:

1999:

• Medium red-purple; some slightly smoky/savoury overtones to the underlying blackcurrant fruit.  The palate has good structure, mouthfeel and balance; dark fruits, a hint of earth, and fine, ripe tannins round off a good wine.  rating: 90  best drinking 2003 - 2008.  Drink with: Herbed rack of lamb. (James Halliday, Wine Companion, 2003 edition).

2000:

• 'The Peel Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 is a knockout that ranks with any I have tasted from them.  There is more refinement and elegance, with a palate that shows excellent varietal character and great balance.  The depth  and power of the fruit simply gobbles up the two years of French.'  (Ray Jordan, The West Australian 'Fresh', July 1 2004.)
• Rich, warm-grown, earthy, chocolatey overtones to a well of blackberry fruit; soft tannins, plenty of substance. Rating: 90.           (James Halliday Australian Wine Companion, 2006.)

2001:              

• 'The quality of Peel's cabernets is often overlooked, but this one is a beauty and marks the continuing recent refinement of the style.  This already shows an elegance and finesse typical of the region's limestone soils, yet there is plenty of power and lingering intensity.  The balance of oak and fruit is very good.  Will easily cellar for 15 years.'  (Ray Jordan, Guide to Wine Western Australia, 2005.) 

• This oak-driven Cabernet from the Baldivis region smells of coffee, dark chocolate and secondary developed characters.  A tightly packed palate with firm tannins and a slight dip in the middle.  Needs food -think hard cheese.  90 points (4 stars)'  (Huon Hooke Gourmet Traveller WINE, Oct/Nov 2006)

• A deeply coloured Cabernet with rich blackberry aromas mixed with some notes of capsicum, earth and briar.  The medium-bodied palate has savoury berry and dry herb flavours that lead to a grippy finish.  Try it with herbed veal chops.  Rating: 90'  (Ralphe Kyte-Powell and Huon Hooke, The penguin good Australian wine guide 2007.) 

• Some colour development, not 100% bright; a substantial wine; with rich, but not jammy, blackcurrant fruit; nice touch of cigar box; blended, ripe tannins.  Cork. 14.5%alc.  Rating: 93. Drink: 2015  (James Halliday Australian Wine Companion, 2007 edition.)

• Top Aussie Red.  Despite its age this is still a solid, firm Cabernet with tightly packed flavour and tannin.  Mocha/coffee aromas, dark chocolate and dark berries; a slight mid-palate dip but it opens up with aeration.  Drink now to 2012+  92/100  Food: aged pecorino  (Huon Hooke, Sydney Morning Herald, 2006)

Shiraz

• The icon wine is the Shiraz, a wine of considerable finesse and with a remarkably consistent track record. (James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion).

1993:

• Light to medium red-purple; the bouquet is sweet and soft, with light chocolate, earth and berry aromas, and the palate is more fragrant and savoury than the '94.  On the other side of the coin it lacks the richness and complexity of the younger wine.  Rating: 90.  Best drinking: 2000-2020  drink with: leg of lamb.  (James Halliday, Wine Companion, 2000 edition)

1994:

• Medium red-purple;  a lovely, rich, sweet, dark cherry/black cherry-scented bouquet is followed by a richly fleshy palate where limitless amounts of dark cherry and chocolate are woven through a filigree of sweet tannins and subtle oak.  Good now or in 20 years.  Rating: 95  (James Halliday, Wine Companion, 2000 edition)

1998:

• Medium purple-red; a spotlessly clean bouquet features dark cherry fruit with touches of spice and vanilla;  the powerful palate retains finesse, with silky, dark cherry fruit, fine tannins and length.  rating: 93  best drinking 2002 -2008. drink with: leg of lamb.

1999:

• WA's best shiraz buys.  The top 10. Equal tenth.  Shirazamatazz: uncorked.  WA's best Shiraz buys. West Coast magazine January 2005
• (4 stars)  The old timer of the tasting, but still quite youthful at five years of age.  Big and tight is how Will Nairn describes it, as well as spicy and plummy with a long finish of high acid and tannins.  Punchy.       
• 'A stunning wine of deep and powerful density, showing fine but firm tannins and stacks of sweet fruit.  The mix of mostly French Nevers oak with about 10 percent American works extremely well.  Really dense colour.  I like the silky finely tannined fruit that slices through this elegant stylish wine.  Lovely palate structure and plenty of underlying power and concentration of fruit.  Best years are ahead of it.  91/100"  (Western Australia Ray Jordan's guide to wine 2004/05.'  Ray Jordan, 2004.)
• 'The Peel shiraz 1999 is a stunning wine, of deep and powerful palate density, showing fine but firm tannins and stacks of sweet fruit..  The mix of mostly French Nevers oak with about 10 percent  American works extremely well.''  (Ray Jordan 'Good Drops' The West Australian. July 1, 2004.)
• "Elegant, fresh, medium-bodied; appealing cherry and plum red fruits; unexpected tweak of acidity on the finish.  Rating: 90. Drink: 2009."  (James Halliday, Australian Wine Companion, 2006)

2000:

• Good colour; smooth, supple and silky medium bodied wine; red and black fruits; well balanced and integrated French and American oak. High quality cork.  Rating: 92. Drink: 2009 (James Halliday Australian Wine Companion, 2006)  

Zinfandel

2000:

• Extraordinarily powerful, ripe and sweet; super-hot finish; an unfortified 18% monster; lots of tannis too.  Guinness Book of Records.  Rating 86  Drink 2010.  (James Halliday 2006 Australian Wine Companion)

2001:

• I didn't even want to look at the alcohol on this wine.  It was big -if you call 16.5 % big.  So the elevated estery spirity aromas of ripe fruit cake are evident.  But despite this the palate has a softness and gentleness.  Lovely chocolate and spicy flavours.  This comes complete with a Monty Python message: 'Beware'.  But worth tackling.  89/100

Baroque Shiraz Cremant

1994:

• Elegant, long and relatively dry; spicy red fruits; good length and balance; not phenolic.  Surprise (sparkling) package.  Rating: 88 Drink 2010  (James Halliday Australian Wine Companion 2006)

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