Come in red rover - weekly reports due....

[TORB]

And they don't juts have to be reds, c-thorughs allowed

Please post your impressions, vibes or tasting notes on the good, the bad and the ugly, that have been consumed recently. I notice there are a number of new members, hopefully you guys will post yours too.

I will post mine later in the day but i wanted to get this up before the day got any later.

[Chuck]

Hi all,

Still running tru all the '02 reds:

St Hallets '02 Faith. Good value full flavoured wine. Will buy more.

Darry's '02 Footbolt. Very nice. Again will buy more.

Stepping Stone '01 Cabernet. A real surprise from the cellar; developing good flavours and a real bargain.

Chuck

[ChrisH]

Last of a couple of my pinots.

The 1997 Knappstein Lenswood Pinot - Just too oaky for the fruit. Vintages either side (96 and 98 ) had enough fruit to cover the oak, but he should have eased off on the wood for this lighter-fruited vintage. You have to wonder about reviews - Halliday gave this 97/100 and said it was better than the 96 - having had both several times, there is only one word that summarises that view - crap.

1999 Ashton Hills Pinot - Drinking at its peak and won't improve further. Cherry, strawberry spectrum fruit with some macerated fruit character, medium weight and easy to drink.

regards
Chris

[Anthony]

Last of a couple of my pinots.

1999 Ashton Hills Pinot - Drinking at its peak and won't improve further. Cherry, strawberry spectrum fruit with some macerated fruit character, medium weight and easy to drink.

regards
Chris

Hi Chris,
it has been a while since I have tried an Ashton Hills pinot. I remember his late 90's pinots and then for some reason (think he missed a vintage and also jacked up his price) the wine fell off the map. Anyone tried any recent releases?

Not many highlights this week. Tried the 00 Yalumba releases (Signature, Menzies and Octavius) and thought they were all ok considering the vintage.

Also had:
90 Peter Lehmann Semillon (80%) Chardonnay (20%) that gave me a big surprise. Still quite fresh and should hold for another 5 years.

01 Chrismont King Valley Shiraz: typical Victorian, cool-climate Shiraz. White pepper, spice and plenty of up-front fragrant fruit. Very enjoyable.

Cheers
Anthony

[ChrisH]

Maybe Ashton Hills need a distibutor that gives them more market
presence ?

regards
Chris

[TORB]

The bigots together with Marion and Andrea got together last night for a q.l.d.

We kicked off with a Rockford 2000 Disgorgement Black Shiraz. – A bit stinky, almost pooie nappy but the smell blew off as the wine warmed up. A lovely drop, even Marion who is not wrapped in FRS liked it, the only negative slightly short on the palate.

At the restaurant we had 4 bottles of masked red. The first had a riper core of juicy fruit and a fair load of leafy characters. Brian, understandably thought it may have been a Cabernet but it was a Grant Burge 1994 Meshach. Nothing wrong with this wine and the bottle was empty at the end of the night. Rates as (just made it) Excellent, it is at its peak but should hold for years.

The second bottle was harmonious with everything in balance and perfectly proportioned. Very juggable but a wine of obvious pedigree and high quality. Nothing boring about this one either. It was a Peter Lehmann 1996 Stonewell, this wine has improved a lot since I first tried it about three years ago. Rated as Excellent without a second thought. It was finished quickly. Bad move auctioning the balance of my six pack.

The third bottle was a wine of fantastic quality. Brian commented “the difference between a good bottle and great bottle at this level is the tannin management.” It certainly had that and was a veritable baby that has its best 15 years still in front of it. It was a Yalumba 1996 The Reserve blend. I took it for two reasons. The first was Brian didn’t want to split the six-pack when I bought it and I knew he had not tried it. The second was, when I tried it at CD recently I was pretty sure the bottle we had was not a great example of the wine as that first bottle, finished slightly short on the back palate. This one had phenomenal length. Rated as Outstanding.

When Brian opened the fourth bottle before we left, I though it was oaky and tannic. A few hours later, nothing changed my mind. It was a Rosemount 1994 Mountain Blue. At the end of the night, ½ a bottle was left. Rated as Recommended. I had purchased a six pack on released, tried one a few years and auctioned four off. That was a smart move.

We finished with a half bottle of Seppelt DP 63 (the original) and a half bottle of Peter Lehmann 1987 The King Port, both of which were good but The King is pretty special.

Breakfast saw us end the secession with a bottle of Frog Bubbles – time for an afternoon nap.

[Jakob]

The first had a riper core of juicy fruit and a fair load of leafy characters. Brian, understandably thought it may have been a Cabernet but it was a Grant Burge 1994 Meshach. Nothing wrong with this wine and the bottle was empty at the end of the night. Rates as (just made it) Excellent, it is at its peak but should hold for years.

TORB, this doesn't sound quite right. Cabernet-like leafy characters shouldn't be there, in my mind. I've had this wine maybe four times in the last six months, and haven't stumbled upon leafy qualities at all; just great Barossa Shiraz with a huge mid and back palate plus finish. I could not agree more with the drinking window assesment though, and Excellent is right

[Davo]

My back is on the mend thanks to a s*%tload of anti-inflammatorys, but mainly due to the following:-

Vasse Felix Shiraz 2000. Just to make sure the 1st one was as good as I thought it was. VBN (thats very bloody nice) as compared to VBB (very bloody bad) and TOKIWDTA ( thats OK, I would drink that again) further abbreviated to OK for simplicity of use. I use the Davo STPS (Simplified Three Point Scale).

Green Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997. Also VBN. Opened nicely over time in a big vegemite glass to reveal scrummy blackcurrents in a somewhat thinnish juice. Not a hint of green. Yay!

The above 2 wines were served with roast beef glazed with a honey, seed mustard and herb marinade, plated with roast veg and Yorkshire pud. Davo's home made Cabernet reduction sauce tipped over the top.

Jakob Gerhardt Klostersiegel Auslese 1979. VBN. Picked by most at the table as a 5 to 6 year old botrytis semillon. Sensational desert wine drinking very well right now. Went very well with the home made apple pie and cheddar cheese.

Bisquit VSOP, bottled about 40 years ago, followed with the coffee. Better by far than the Remy XO I have just finished.

All Saints Shiraz 1999. Also VBN. Very glugable and disappeared down throat rapid time. These guys are improving every vintage and have really turned things around since the takeover.

St Leonards Shiraz 1999. From the same stable but only rates OK. Left half the bottle overnight and then tipped it down the sink after the first sniff.

St Leonards Cabernet Franc 2000. VBN. Great blackcurrent notes, good fat mouthfeel. A very nice wine.

All Saints Merlot 2000. OK. Just another bloody simple sweet suck of a Merlot. I think I have still had only one varietal merlot that I have really liked.

Chittering Estate Cab Merlot 1997. VBN, especially at the stupidly low price I paid for 8 boxes of this at auction. Grapes grown in the Perth Hills and the wine made by Bill Crappsley when he was still with Sandleford. Was a good wine when I tried this on release at CD and has improved markedly with some bottle age. Drinking about right just now.

[GrahamB]

And they don't juts have to be reds, c-thorughs allowed

Please post your impressions, vibes or tasting notes on the good, the bad and the ugly, that have been consumed recently. I notice there are a number of new members, hopefully you guys will post yours too.

I will post mine later in the day but i wanted to get this up before the day got any later.

Ric

I looked at the time of your post and the thought I had was - Big night and he has slept in.

Going to try a Balgownie Estate CS 98 and perhaps a Gloucester Ridge CS 01 tonight after some head colds in the family which seriously limit good tasting.

Graham

[Sean]

deleted

[Colin]

Had a Seppelts Victorian Premium Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 Vintage. Strange name for this wine given it is not their top of the shelf range. It was consumed with Indian lamb dish Friday night and it showed lively fruit, sweet berry flavours, still a bit tight so we left half for the next day. Saturday arrived and it had abundant berries, blackcurrant, cherries and sweet oak, a luscious wine, good acidity and mild tannins. For $12 this was well worth the investment. Colin

[TORB]

I looked at the time of your post and the thought I had was - Big night and he has slept in.

Graham,

Bastards wouldnt let me do that! The "children" want to get up and go outside and then Brian and Andrea insisted on an early moring walk.

[GrahamB]

I looked at the time of your post and the thought I had was - Big night and he has slept in.

Graham,

and then Brian and Andrea insisted on an early moring walk.

Ric

You need to set and emphasise house rules about suitable times to be out of bed after a "BIGots night out"

Graham

[Sean]

deleted

[Gary]

As I work in the industry, I get to see a massive amount of wine weekly, thus, will post some highlights only;
2002 Stonecroft Chardonnay (Hawkes Bay) The classiest delicate oak supporting a taut, long, superbly balanced wine. Very long finish.
2002 Stonecroft Syrah (Hawkes Bay) All pure ripe fruit, five spice, sweet meat and liquorice, dark and red fruits, pure and long, subtle toasty oak. A long way from south Oz shiraz and all class.
(*Would like to acknowledge that I also import Stonecroft)

Red Highlights;
2002 Amon-Ra Barossa Shiraz. Over the top ripeness but oak in control, though I had heard is was totally oak dominant. All prunes and raisins, black fruits, tar, liquorice and earth. High tone toasty oak, firm tannins and long to close. Very good viscosity.
2002 Glaetzer Nefertiti Barossa Valley Shiraz & 2002 Glaetzer Nefertari McLaren Vale Shiraz. Both wines initially made for Heritage Fine Wines, the massive Sydney based wine investment company. (Approx 3500+ cases of each made) Obvious in-your-face wines. Full on oak, alcohol, ripeness, tannins. Stuffed with all you can pack into a bottle of wine! Both wines too oak dominant for my own liking, almost loosing regional idendity in their American oak personalities. Both wines however display the viscosity of high quality wine. Will see how they age, but would be better if the fruit was given a little more space.

1998 d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz. Yet another over-the-top-ripe McLaren Vale shiraz. Was one of the punters favourites from the tasting I hosted with these other wines mentioned. (all wines served blind).

2001 Eric Texier Cote Rotie. Very classy, if not in the top rung of Rhones. Rich, gamy, complex, good viscosity and fruit dominence, long.

1997 Tyrrell's Steven's Semillon. Doesn't get much better. Extremely youthful and fresh, immaculate balance and length, will live another decade easily. Brilliant wine.

2002 Mitolo Jester Shiraz & 2002 Flying Fish Cove 'Italian Job'Two delicious fruity ripe and concentrated house quaffers. All about the fruit, not the oak.

Plenty more but that will do for now.....
burp!
Excuse me...

[n4sir]

1998 d’Arenberg The High Trellis Cabernet Sauvignon: Heavy crusting on the whole bottle; decanting is essential. Deep, dark inky red colour with a hint of purple on the rim. Like the 1998 Footbolt last week, this has a wonderful, elegant, complex nose, this time featuring mud-chocolate, mint and menthol at first. It constantly evolves, throwing hints of herbs, honeycomb, tomato, cedar and coffee, liquorice, and even a hint of popcorn! The palate has a deep entry, and ripe, explosive blackcurrant/black cherry fruit and slightly hot alcohol (13.5%) flooding the mid-palate, finishing with lingering Ribena fruit, some liquorice, and later on some ground coffee on the aftertaste. Developing very nicely.

2002 Reschke Vitulus Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon: Deep, dark, glass-clinging purple/red colour. Unlike the first time I tried this at the first of Gavin’s tasting panels I attended, the wine was not closed at all on opening. From a good distance away a beautiful nose of coal, chalk, earth/peat, mint, a hint of ginger, ripe cassis fruit and supporting, slightly malty oak wafted invitingly from the glass. The palate has a chalky opening salvo, as the soft, subtle body floods the mouth with ripe blackcurrant fruit, without any trace of alcohol heat (13.1%). With extra breathing the nose develops some beetroot, tea and pencil notes, and some liquorice on the back palate with hints of malt and cocoa. While this took about five hours breathing at Gavin’s to get its best, this bottle was singing from the first glass, and seemed to be in even better form. Deceptively powerful; this is my kind of wine.


Cheers,
Ian

[ChrisH]

Gary

Stonecroft has tended to pass through my radar untouched to date - where are they retailed in Melbourne, and what does the Shiraz sell for ?


regards
Chris

[Gary]

Chris
Stonecroft is available at Prince Wine Store & the Wine Society in Melbourne. Syrah is around $50 a bottle.

[Billy Bolonski]

Here are a few highlights of the week.

Grosset Reserve Pinot Noir 1993: Wow, he can make a great pinot. This was bought at auction for a very small price. It was probably past its best but still surprisingly lively. It was a big bold red but retaining varietal characters. It did not have the funky, forest floor that so many look for but was savoury and complex. The delicate nature of this wine perfectly matched the pork belly dish it was served with.

Tokaji Aszu 1999 5 Putonyas: Simply stunning. Way too young and had so much potential. Rich, sweet and perfectly in balance. Sweet young apricots and some white stone fruit influences. It lacked concentration and did not reach the heights I have come to expect. It is a real shame that Tokaji is so hard to find in Australia.

Mount Majura Temperanillo: Pre release. Fantastic, a real eye opener. I tasted this alongside a bunch of other Spanish and Australian examples.

It was unique and not like any of the others I have tasted. A perfumed, lifted aroma that added something special. As far as I am aware it is the only temp from the Canberra district. Still needs to settle a little but is worth seeking out after release.

Rockford Black Shiraz Disg 1995: Different from the others I had tasted. This wine jumped out of the bottle and had plenty of fizz. It was dark intense red with a nose of chocolate and sweet spicy plums. A great wine and something I treasure but I have had more complete examples.

d'Arenberg Stump Jump Red 2002: Sulfur was a bit of a problem but with some decanting it blew away. This is a favourite of mine, both for price and quality. It showed all the qualities a GSM should. The palate was not too heavy and the soft full tanins made a pleasant experience for all. This is my crowd pleaser and I have had success serving this to just about everyone.

Whispering Dove Oakville Reserve Cab Sav 2001: Brilliant. An American friend of mine brought some out for me to try. Lots of French oak that was right in your face but the fruit showed through and made a really enjoyable wine. Big bold body and certainly something to try in a few years from now. My friend said that it was quite affordable in the US.

Rosenblum Syrah 2000: Another US. Tasted more old world than many other US wines I have had lately. It was rich, had dark black cherries, other small dark fruits and a touch of pepper. It was a little clumsy and disjointed and the legnth was disappointingly short. Recommended for the price but not something to seek out.

Richmond Grove Barossa Riesling 2003: I am still in love with John Vickery. This was a stunning wine, it just seems to get better every year. At about $10-$12 it remains a true bargain. Initially it was fresh crisp and had a lively acidity that danced down my tounge. The flavours were delicious and managed to fight through the acid. When I came back to my glass an hour or so later the wine had changed completely. It was full of fruit flavours and had gained a rich ripe pear element. Simply brilliant.

De Bortoli Noble One 1992: This was a wine that I have had several times this year. It was typically Noble One, big powerful, had some VA and amazingly concentrated. Packed full of apricots and dried apples, the oak influence was significant but had lots of acid to clean up nicely. I always worry about the ageability of botrytis semillon but Noble One rarely lets me down.

[Daryl Douglas]

Had a Seppelts Victorian Premium Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 Vintage. Strange name for this wine given it is not their top of the shelf range. It was consumed with Indian lamb dish Friday night and it showed lively fruit, sweet berry flavours, still a bit tight so we left half for the next day. Saturday arrived and it had abundant berries, blackcurrant, cherries and sweet oak, a luscious wine, good acidity and mild tannins. For $12 this was well worth the investment. Colin

Had a bottle of this wine at the same price not long ago but it was the last bottle at the outlet. I'd love to get a case of it, even at $15/btl it's good value, with the structure to last 10 years.

Cheers

daz

[Davo]

Green Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 1997. Also VBN. Opened nicely over time in a big vegemite glass to reveal scrummy blackcurrents in a somewhat thinnish juice. Not a hint of green. Yay!

I've got to tell my Dad about this. He has some small vegemite glasses next to his port barrels - ideal for sampling the port he says. It was driving Mum mad, so she stopped buying the small vegemite glasses and now only buys the big ones. I'll tell him the big ones are good for Cab Sav.

Yeah, but you have to get the ones with the cut rims. Those with the rolled edge are asolute c%&p.

[TORB]

The first had a riper core of juicy fruit and a fair load of leafy characters. Brian, understandably thought it may have been a Cabernet but it was a Grant Burge 1994 Meshach. .

TORB, this doesn't sound quite right. Cabernet-like leafy characters shouldn't be there, in my mind.

Jakob,

All I can tell you was what we found in the glass. After some thought, I have a possible answer. "Temperature!" A difference of a couple of degrees in serving temperature can make a difference. We had to warm the wines up as my place is pretty bloody cold in winter.

[Red Bigot]

The first had a riper core of juicy fruit and a fair load of leafy characters. Brian, understandably thought it may have been a Cabernet but it was a Grant Burge 1994 Meshach. .

TORB, this doesn't sound quite right. Cabernet-like leafy characters shouldn't be there, in my mind.

Jakob,

All I can tell you was what we found in the glass. After some thought, I have a possible answer. "Temperature!" A difference of a couple of degrees in serving temperature can make a difference. We had to warm the wines up as my place is pretty bloody cold in winter.

I'm not sure the temperature was the reason, it was still a little leafy after it fully warmed up in the glass at the restaurant, with fairly lean berry-spectrum fruit, no Barossa plums and chocolate, even after I found out what it was. It was so leafy, dusty and berry-oriented on the nose it seemed almost like a Coonawarra or MR cab when sniffing the dregs from decanting. Maybe you got a Shadrach mis-labelled as a Meshach? One of the mysteries of life, I would hope it's not a typical bottle, I didn't like it as much as Ric did, the Stonewell was much better in my ranking of the two.

[GraemeG]

1996 Yeringberg red blend (Yarra Valley)
Mid red with a faint bricking around the edge. The wine mimics a modest Bodeaux on the nose, with graphite & cedary aromas mixed with the brambly fruit. Although the tannins have completely resolved on the palate, acid maintains freshness, and there is a certain cleanliness to the wine which betrays its New World origin. It’s beautifully balanced, and the coverage across the palate is very good – all parts of the tongue responding to the components of the wine. Medium weight only, but with a persistently long finish, this is very attractive. It lacks the sophistication of a top claret, but for the $26 it owes me its very hard to beat! Even at $50-odd it’s fair value. Be warned though – blockbuster drinkers will be unimpressed. From recent readings of Charles Gent’s ‘Mixed Dozen’ and in particular his chronicling of Hubert de Castella’s views of what Australian wine should be, I suspect ‘ol Hubert would be mighty proud of this wine.

Other TVs

1998 Peter Lehmann Shiraz (Barossa)
Softening out now, while still providing a rich mouthful of Barossa fruit-cake flavours, this wine is probably at its peak now. Ripe and squishy, it lacks much complexity but represents satisfying enough drinking now and few a few more years.

1997 Tyrrells Belford Semillon (Hunter)
The recent release, sporting a label festooned with wine show trophy logos. Absurdly young, it still flashes plenty of green colour. Lemon & lime on the nose, the acid is still quite cutting, and thereÂ’s not a lot in the way of secondary development yet for my palate. Lightweight in body, yet persistent of flavour, the wine is still on the long haul towards itÂ’s peak. Only 10.3% alcohol, and all the better for it. And at $38 on a Palm Beach winelist it was even good VFM.

nv Lanson Champagne (black label)
Apple & yeast. Fine bead, somewhat creamy mouthfeel, with a persistent finish; IÂ’ve been a fan of this non-malo style of bubbly. HereÂ’s hoping that with SouthcorpÂ’s wresting of the agency away from Miranda that the price doesnÂ’t go sillyÂ…

1996 Rosemount Show Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Coonawarra)
Arriving late afternoon I had a tiny slurp of the dregs of a bottle opened earlier. Showing a brickishly aged appearance, the nose was all candied fruits, bubble gum and tutti frutti. Smelled more like a carbonic pinot than cabernet! Not however, a million miles from the aromas I remembered from a 1990 bottle of this same label 5 years ago. Ready to drink on the palate – tannins resolved, acid soft. Pleasant if a little bizarre.

Cheers,
Graeme

[David Lole]

When Brian opened the fourth bottle before we left, I though it was oaky and tannic. A few hours later, nothing changed my mind. It was a Rosemount 1994 Mountain Blue. At the end of the night, ½ a bottle was left. Rated as Recommended. I had purchased a six pack on released, tried one a few years and auctioned four off. That was a smart move.

Howdy Ric,

My experience with this was identical, although I've got a whole lot more confidence with the '96, which reminds me, about time I tried one and see how it's travellin'.

[Cellar Rat]

Martinborough Pinot (standard) 1994: My last bottle. Cloudy appearance, like it was just bottled (I asume unfiltered & unfined). Some spritz (almost like still fermenting). Otherwise as youthful as a 2002 (no browning), lifted cherry and forest floor nose. Silky palate. Very strange (i.e. I expected a lot worse!) but excellent nontheless (say 93/100). Maybe JC waved his hand over this one before I opened it !

Curlewis Chardonnay 2002: Randox corked. However still drinkable, albeit with woody nose and broad palate. Acid in place.

Cheers,

CR

[David Lole]

1996 Yeringberg red blend (Yarra Valley)
Mid red with a faint bricking around the edge. The wine mimics a modest Bodeaux on the nose, with graphite & cedary aromas mixed with the brambly fruit. Although the tannins have completely resolved on the palate, acid maintains freshness, and there is a certain cleanliness to the wine which betrays its New World origin. It’s beautifully balanced, and the coverage across the palate is very good – all parts of the tongue responding to the components of the wine. Medium weight only, but with a persistently long finish, this is very attractive. It lacks the sophistication of a top claret, but for the $26 it owes me its very hard to beat! Even at $50-odd it’s fair value. Be warned though – blockbuster drinkers will be unimpressed. From recent readings of Charles Gent’s ‘Mixed Dozen’ and in particular his chronicling of Hubert de Castella’s views of what Australian wine should be, I suspect ‘ol Hubert would be mighty proud of this wine. - just read a note elsewhere saying this had a green cool climate nose - and was short on the palate - drink now

Other TVs

1998 Peter Lehmann Shiraz (Barossa)
Softening out now, while still providing a rich mouthful of Barossa fruit-cake flavours, this wine is probably at its peak now. Ripe and squishy, it lacks much complexity but represents satisfying enough drinking now and few a few more years.

1997 Tyrrells Belford Semillon (Hunter)
The recent release, sporting a label festooned with wine show trophy logos. Absurdly young, it still flashes plenty of green colour. Lemon & lime on the nose, the acid is still quite cutting, and thereÂ’s not a lot in the way of secondary development yet for my palate. Lightweight in body, yet persistent of flavour, the wine is still on the long haul towards itÂ’s peak. Only 10.3% alcohol, and all the better for it. And at $38 on a Palm Beach winelist it was even good VFM. - agreed, top wine with excellent potential

nv Lanson Champagne (black label)
Apple & yeast. Fine bead, somewhat creamy mouthfeel, with a persistent finish; IÂ’ve been a fan of this non-malo style of bubbly. HereÂ’s hoping that with SouthcorpÂ’s wresting of the agency away from Miranda that the price doesnÂ’t go sillyÂ… did I see this advertised for about $30 recently?

1996 Rosemount Show Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Coonawarra)
Arriving late afternoon I had a tiny slurp of the dregs of a bottle opened earlier. Showing a brickishly aged appearance, the nose was all candied fruits, bubble gum and tutti frutti. Smelled more like a carbonic pinot than cabernet! Not however, a million miles from the aromas I remembered from a 1990 bottle of this same label 5 years ago. Ready to drink on the palate – tannins resolved, acid soft. Pleasant if a little bizarre. - tried one of these some months ago, from memory was solid, nothing exceptional, but definitely varietal, quite different to your description. Errant bottle, perhaps?

Cheers,
Graeme

[DJ]

98 Bloodwood Cabernet Savignon - reminds me I should maintain C/S in the cellar (seems to be buying lots of Shiraz lately) 98 was meant to be a good year in Orange and this was certainly the best Bloodwood red I've had. Beaut balance and length, fruit on the green end of the spectrum but full ripe and at peak of drinking.

2000 Rockford Eden Valley Riesling - drinking through any 2000 SA at the moment - this might develop, needs to be drunk fairly warm else straight acid not sure on this one

1991 Wynns Centenary Shiraz Cabernet - This is a nice wine but I'm not as enraptured by it as some. Not sure what I'd like to see in it. Oh well I have a couple of bottles left perhaps by the time I've drunk those I'll know what I'm looking for or start to understand the wine


1997 Thalgara Show Reserve Shiraz. brick red with purple hint. moderately closed nose but clean well made modern Hunter. Palate showed nice earthy tannins with smooth rich fruit and some secondary development - should hold for at least five years. Very enjoyable, Highly recommend +.

David

[Bill]

Stepping Stone '01 Cabernet. A real surprise from the cellar; developing good flavours and a real bargain.

Well that certainly is a great surprise! There seems to be quite a bit of bottle variation with this wine. You mustÂ’ve got one of the good ones. The one I had was the worst cabernet IÂ’ve ever tasted! It was so acidic, it was like drinking paint stripper! I couldnÂ’t even force myself to drink it.

Bill

[707]

Really not sure what to make of the widely varied comments on Stepping Stone. Is it just blend/bottling variation? I just can't reconcile "undrinkable" with what I've had.

I drink a lot of good Coonawarra Cabernet and I must say that most of the 00 & 01 Stepping Stone Cabs I've drunk have been good quality easy drinkers well liked in my circles, I'd rate them as a mid to high teens quality. When you realise the 00s were bought for under $9 and the 01s for under $11 they are great QPR.