The Unexpurgated Wine Code

Wine can be confusing, confounding but a whole lot of fun. This blog dedicates itself to revealing the secrets of wine and highlighting the joys it can bring.

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Code Breaker #157 2014 Kalleske Greenock Shiraz, Barossa Valley, South Australia

In the school of mathematics, the number 13 is the smallest emirp, a prime that is a different prime when reversed. It is also considered a happy number and is coincidentally the number of Archimedian solids and the number of pieces a standard torus can be cut into with just three slices. In Norse mythological 13 takes on a darker tone representing the uninvited thirteenth guest and a subsequent murder of one of the other twelve gods. The ancient Greeks though saw 13 as the number for Zeus, the most powerful god. In numerological circles, 13 is symbolic of an incorruptible nature, purity and integrity. In cricketing circles, it represents 87 being 13 short of a century. History though tells us that most Australian batsmen fall on a score of 88 rather than the fabled 87. For a twelve year old, it is excitement representing the day they are no longer a child having turned a teen overnight. Whether you see 13 as good or bad, it remains a fascinating number.

The 2014 Greenock Shiraz from Kalleske in the Barossa Valley represents their thirteenth vintage. It is a dark brooding swirl of bright reds and blacks of which I counted thirteen or more. The nose is dominated by aniseed, black olives, plums, blackberries, blueberries, dark chocolate and a spice savoury mix akin to the Chinese five spices. The palate too mocks with ease the broodiness of the colour presenting many layers of flavours. Dark fruits, spice and liquorice mingle with vanilla and savoury oak tones yet all retain a remarkable elegance for such a youthful wine. Don't get me wrong, it is tightly structured with the tannins being fine, velvety and unyielding in youth. Intertwining with the acid, the palate flavours linger and linger and linger. Drink it now and you have purity. Drink it in 13 years and it will retain its integrity remaining uncorrupted. The only thing that could be remotely unlucky about this wine is if you never get to taste it.

Rating: 97 pts 

Closure: Screwtop 

Drink: Now; 5-15 yrs 

Price: $40

Date: 28/8/15

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About this Blog

A number of years ago, I started a "Wine of the Week" for friends and colleagues in the workplace as a bit of fun, and fun was the key.  The formula has evolved since the first timid release as a simple tasting note to become a story that has, on occasion, a tenuous link to the wine in question whilst retaining the intrinsic tasting note. 

Quite selfishly, my focus is on Australian wine.  From time to time, I will delve into our cousins in the Old and New Worlds of wine.

Formal tasting notes will be posted with a “Code Breaker” reference and will be familiar to those who have been on my email list. This format also allows for short posts of all things wine.  All wines have been tasted by me and any notes written are my opinion with inputs from those who I have tasted the wines with.

For those new to my format, I hope you enjoy reading the notes as much as I have in tasting the wines and putting them together.

James