The Auswine Forum

Two very enjoyable wines around this weekend:

Warrabilla Parolas Shiraz 2004
Rockford Rod & Spur Cab Shiraz 2000

Both terrific now but with plenty of life left in them.

On a recent grazing trip across country Victoria:

Golden Ball Shiraz 2006 - plenty of appeal but needs at least 3 more years. Enjoyed with a top steak at Simone's in Bright.

Bests Bin 0 Shiraz 2005 - drinking beautifully and a great match with slow cooked lamb at the Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld.

I'll be passing through the Strathbogie wine area in a couple of weeks and would love to visit a few cellar doors. I'd welcome any recommendations from the experts - my own browsing has identified Maygars Hill, Plunkett Fowles and Elgo Estate.
Cheers

Bought some Peter Lehmann 1999 Cab Franc a couple of years ago in one of their end of bin sales. Pleasant and something different.

Penfold’s Grange 1982 : putting aside the hype it’s nice to be reminded every now and again just how good this wine is. After a long decant it kept evolving in the glass with wave after wave of flavour representing everything pleasant across the red spectrum. Lovely wine. Jacaranda Ri...

Shadowfax 2002 Shiraz McLaren Vale/Barossa - bought a dozen on spec. OK and nothing wrong with it but not particularly interesting.

Wirra Wirra Church Block 2002 Mc Laren Vale - drinking nicely and for me a well above average quaffer, and remembering that fence always makes me smile.

Had a 1996 McRae Wood recently and thought it pretty good with nice fruit and overall structure. Drinking well now, but certainly seemed to have plenty of life ahead of it. One surprising aspect was the nose - I'd have sworn it was from the Hunter not Clare Valley.

Cheers

Rockford Rod & Spur Cab/Shiraz 2000: not tried one for a while so was pleasantly surprised at how well this is drinking - chocolate, good fruit and an attractive savoury thread. Wish I'd bought more. Mike Press Shiraz 2005: first try of the dozen bought earlier this year, good everyday drinking...

Over the past couple of weeks: Rockford Basket Press Shiraz 1998 - seemed a bit unbalanced first sip on opening, but a good decant removed any worries. Delicious but moving out of my price range. Sevenhill St Ignatius Cab/Merlot/Malbec/Cab Franc 2001 - bit thin and uninspiring. Previous bottles bett...

1990 Chateau de Beaucastel Wide spectrum of flavours with black fruit, spice, pepper, wild herbs and a faint but pleasant earthiness. Lovely texture, everything in perfect balance. Probably just past its peak but still stunning! (Grape varieties on the label were: grenache, mouverde, syrah, cinsaul...

I was interested to read your post because recently we hosted a farewell party for a friend who pulled some VPs out of her cellar. We got through: - Orlando 1974 - McWilliams Centenary 1977 - Lindemans Bin 5734 1980 - Bullers Calliope 1978 - Yalumba "Dulcify" 1979 - Chateau Reynella 1972 A...

Battle of Bosworth Shiraz 2002 Bought some of this 2 years ago, tried one immediately and was in two minds about it. Left them in the cellar and had one on Sunday with roast lamb - now drinking beautifully, all the elements have come together well, a nice example of McLaren Vale Shiraz from (I assu...