Reviews
2006 Star Lane Vineyard Shiraz
A Syrah Dry Red Table wine from Beechworth, Victoria, Australia
Review by Robert Prker (June 2010)
Rating: 90 | Drink 2010 - 2018
The 2006 Shiraz gives a deep garnet-black color and notes of blackberry, tar, earth, pepper and hung meat on the nose with some cumin. The medium to full body has nice, clean, crisp acidity running through it with medium-firm fine tannins and a long finish. This Shiraz is approachable now and should continue to be delicious to 2018+. A fairly new, family owned Beechworth operation, Star Lane Vineyard's Brett (viticulturalist) and Liz (winemaker) Barnes get a helping hand from Giaconda's Rick Kinzbrunner, which can't hurt! These early releases are already looking very impressive.
2006 Star Lane Vineyard Merlot
A Merlot Dry Red Table wine from Beechworth, Victoria, Australia
Review by Robert Prker (June 2010)
Rating: 92 | Drink 2012 - 2020
There's not a lot of great Merlot in Australia, but this 2006 Merlot is predicting that Star Lane could be up there amongst the best. Very deep garnet colored, the nose gives aromas of ripe plum, cloves, loam, black olive and a touch of gaminess. With a nice backbone of high acid and firm, fine grained tannins this medium to full-bodied wine reveals good concentration with nice weight and balance, giving a long finish. You can consider drinking this wine now but it's worth cellaring it a little longer to enjoy from 2012 to 2020+. A fairly new, family owned Beechworth operation, Star Lane Vineyard's Brett (viticulturalist) and Liz (winemaker) Barnes get a helping hand from Giaconda's Rick Kinzbrunner, which can't hurt! These early releases are already looking very impressive.
Melbourne 'Age', Jan 09
UNCORKED - Ralph Kyte-Powel
Star Lane is a new star of the Beechworth district. Made with generous help from the regions master winemaker, Rick Kinzbrunner, its meaty-rich, earthy and complex, with a core of stewed dark berries and plums, robed in palate is seamless and beautiful integrated with big ripe tannins underneath.
Cork
Ageing Drink over 8 years
Food Ideas Wild mushroom Risotto, Tea Smoked Duck
Food & Wine, Jan 09
GRAPE EXPECTATIONS - Max Crus
Best of 2008
The best shiraz was a draw between Star Lane and Tintilla’s Patriarch 2005 which scored 9.3/10 respectively.
Good Living, Dec 08
TASTINGS – Indulge Yourself – Huon Hooke
Star Lane Beechworth Shiraz 2005
A wine of depth and character from a new producer: slightly wild, funky and loaded with personality. Gripping tannins, very concentrated and long; good cellaring potential. Now to 15 years plus. Why $70? Well here’s a clue: Giaconda’s Rick Kinzbrunner helped out. 95/100
Food Meaty casserole
Gourmet Traveller, April/May 08
25 Magic Merlots : Tasting Panel:
Peter Bourne, Nick Bulleid MW, Andrew Caillard MW, Oeter Firrestak, Huon Hooke, Sophie Otton
We tasted 79 wines and came up with the top 25, which Star Lane came in at 16th. It is a complex wine combining red plum and cedary oak, with bottle age beginning to add developed flavours. Hooke thought it was “ripe and true to variety. Understated and complex, with dark and red fruits, earth and tobacco and hints of forest floor, all in a nice balance. Soft yet with depth of flavour. I liked the plump, soft structure and the attractive ripeness of level, which suggests a good link between region and variety.” Drink now or over the next 3 years 90/100
