Jacob's Creek Reserve Quintet

Here's the latest roundup of wines from Jacob's Creek. We tasted through these during a virtual tasting with winemaker Bernard Hickin, and over the course of the following week I tried the leftovers with a variety of dishes.

2010 Jacob's Creek Reserve Dry Riesling
Barossa
$13, 12.5% abv.
Light nose with mild, lemony acidity. Gentle and light all around, and dry but not bone dry. Just a hint of sweetness to go with the acidity. A delightful salad wine.

2009 Jacob's Creek Reserve Chardonnay
Adelaide Hills
$13, 13.5% abv.
Again, very mild but with a soft nose of apricot and peach. I was surprised at how delicate this was. Good with grilled seafood.

2009 Jacob's Creek Reserve Pinot Noir
Adelaide Hills
$13, 13.5% abv.
Strawberries and leather, deeper aroma than I remember from prior releases. Mild profile with a smooth, short finish. Not jammy, but the fruit is certainly there. Happily enjoyed with a grilled ham and cheese sandwich.

2009 Jacob's Creek Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Coonawarra
$13, 13.9% abv.
Green pepper and leather, hint of black plum. Surprising green tobacco and cherry flavor. More complex than I was expecting, somewhat Bordeaux-like.

2008 Jacob's Creek Reserve Shiraz
Barossa
$13, 14.5% abv.
Licorice and black cherry with a bit of cedar. Medium tannins, long cherry finish. Nice with a lamb gyro.


Note: These wines were received as samples.