TN: Mike Press Shiraz 2005

Gavin Trott · Post by **Gavin Trott** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 4:09 pm

Deep dark black and red. What an amazing nose, simply awash with dark berries, liqueur plums, blackberry, raspberries and exotic spices, with a hint of Lindt dark chocolate. The palate too is wonderful. A mix of red berries, small dark berries, blackberry and cassis, all mingled with hints of earth and spices, and just a touch of vanilla. The wine has a wonderful mouthfeel, velvety yet firm with the finest of fine tannins. It has power and balance, has length to burn, finishing with fine and ripe tannins throughout the mouth.

A wonderfully well made wine that screams quality. The long, long, chocolaty finish makes this an outstanding Shiraz in anybody's terms. The auswine panel

707 · Post by **707** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 6:06 pm

Have to agree with you on this wine Gavin, a real eye opener, far better than what I thought the Adelaide Hills could produce but then again these vineyards are more Eden Valley than cool hills.

This wine stood up in what was a great Auswine panel tasting.

platinum · Post by **platinum** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 12:44 am

What Alc level is the wine?

Gavin Trott · Post by **Gavin Trott** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:35 am

platinum wrote:What Alc level is the wine?

Alcohol level is 14.5%

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 4:58 pm

What's the estimated cellaring potential?

I've ordered a case+1 - stuffed up and ordered 1 btl thinking it was a case deal - hope it's worth $29!

Cheers

daz

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 5:16 pm

Daryl Douglas wrote:What's the estimated cellaring potential?

I've ordered a case+1 - stuffed up and ordered 1 btl thinking it was a case deal - hope it's worth $29!

Cheers

daz

Email Gavin, I'm sure he'll sort it out.

Gavin Trott · Post by **Gavin Trott** » Sat Feb 03, 2007 6:23 pm

Daryl Douglas wrote:What's the estimated cellaring potential?

I've ordered a case+1 - stuffed up and ordered 1 btl thinking it was a case deal - hope it's worth $29!

Cheers

daz

Daz

PM or email me, we'll fix it no problems

seddo · Post by **seddo** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 12:16 pm

Just ordered a case myself - also wondering about cellaring potential

regards
Seddo

Julio · Post by **Julio** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 8:10 pm

Am I correct in saying that this is sold as a cleanskin?

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 8:38 pm

Julio wrote:Am I correct in saying that this is sold as a cleanskin?

No.

Have a look at Gavin's speil on the Australian Wine Centre site - the link's at the top of the page.

Cheers

daz

Julio · Post by **Julio** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 12:17 am

Yep, I did see that, there is no label on the Auswine site and if you google it it would seem that there is no label on the bottle.

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Mon Feb 05, 2007 1:09 am

Julio wrote:Yep, I did see that, there is no label on the Auswine site and if you google it it would seem that there is no label on the bottle.

Thanks for the Google hint. Looks to me as if there may be a small label near the bottom of the bottles on the website. If it is a cleanskin, seems as though it's a pretty damn good one.

At least the winemaker and the vineyard have been identified as part of the offer so I can't see any problem even if there is no label on the bottle.

It's obviously made using fruit from young vines (oldest planted 1998) though so may be best drunk within five years or so.

Cheers

daz

rednut · Post by **rednut** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 4:30 pm

Well I am a bit disspointed with this wine after the hype it was given here.
Its very light and not really my sort of red unfortunately.

Lovely aromas and taste but too weak for me.

03 Cab Sav is also very Adelaide Hills and very light on...

Oh well you dont know if you dont try..

Gavin Trott · Post by **Gavin Trott** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 4:58 pm

rednut wrote:Well I am a bit disspointed with this wine after the hype it was given here.
Its very light and not really my sort of red unfortunately.

Lovely aromas and taste but too weak for me.

03 Cab Sav is also very Adelaide Hills and very light on...

Oh well you dont know if you dont try..

Hello

The 2005 is very light you thought? I'm surprised I must say, its not a Barossa or McLaren Vale style of course, but I would not have said light personally.

Oh well, different folks and different strokes I guess.

707 · Post by **707** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 5:13 pm

rednut wrote:Well I am a bit disappointed with this wine after the hype it was given here.
Its very light and not really my sort of red unfortunately.

Lovely aromas and taste but too weak for me.

I'm also surprised at this comment, I like 'em big as anyone but no way could I describe the 2005 Shiraz as "very light" or "weak". I found it had plenty of fruit weight, depth and lovely balance.

I don't mean to be offensive but it could only be described this way if your regular tipple was 10,000 km sump oil!

Are you sure you're trying the 2005?

Adair · Post by **Adair** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 5:35 pm

2005 Mike Press Shiraz

Just received my case today and just opened a bottle, so I thought I would quickly type a vibe.

Now I was never going to go gaga over the wine as 14+% alcohol wines are not my cup of tea, but this wine is still very impressive at the price for what it is.

No doubt it is sweet and quite dark, but it definitely has enough sweet spices and fine grained tannin to provide wonderful balance. There is superb acid in there too - totally undetectable on the palate but control that this wine displays does not occur unless a wine has it. Yes, the sweet flavours are quite exotic like Gavin describes... but a sweet flavour profile is, for the most part, a sweet flavour profile to me. It is about what else the wine has inside... and this wine does convey an elegance that is true to its region. The length is very good but I would not go as far to say Ã¢â‚¬Å“length to burnÃ¢â‚¬Â

and there are no holes on the palate. The alcohol sticks out a bit upon opening but as I write and taste, the fruit overtakes it. No, it is not a big bruiser, full/medium bodied at largest. In a sentence, it is generous with good line from start to finish with enough elegance and control for an educated palate to enjoy what they are drinking. It will improve over the next 2-4 years. 17.5/20, 91/100; at $11 it is absolutely fantastic value. In fact, I canÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t remember a better Australian Shiraz so good at this price level.

Kind regards,
Adair

Gavin Trott · Post by **Gavin Trott** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 5:43 pm

Adair wrote:2005 Mike Press Shiraz

The alcohol sticks out a bit upon opening but as I write and taste, the fruit overtakes it.

Kind regards,
Adair

Hmm

Good notes, thanks.

Re the above, like many, or perhaps even more than some, this needs time upon opening I find, it slowly opens up and up.

Lovely wine, enjoyed one last night while having a barbeque and watching the new edition of 'House'.

rednut · Post by **rednut** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:15 pm

I'm not totally knocking the wine, it had some lovely flavour but the three of us that were sampling it weren't overly excited by it thats all.

I like my big gutsy Barossa wines I spose.

And yes it was the 2005.

Gavin Trott · Post by **Gavin Trott** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 8:27 pm

rednut wrote:I'm not totally knocking the wine, it had some lovely flavour but the three of us that were sampling it weren't overly excited by it thats all.

I like my big gutsy Barossa wines I spose.

And yes it was the 2005.

Hey

Different strokes for different folks!

Adair · Post by **Adair** » Thu Feb 08, 2007 10:36 pm

Gavin Trott wrote:
Adair wrote:2005 Mike Press Shiraz

The alcohol sticks out a bit upon opening but as I write and taste, the fruit overtakes it.

Kind regards,
Adair

Hmm

Good notes, thanks.

Re the above, like many, or perhaps even more than some, this needs time upon opening I find, it slowly opens up and up.

Lovely wine, enjoyed one last night while having a barbeque and watching the new edition of 'House'.

I am a House fan as well. I enjoyed last night but am a little concerned by the shorts of next week that it is going to get too weird for me... but I doubt it. I love his humour. It is the stuff that I think without saying!

With regard to the wine, had a quick taste of it an hour or two ago. More rose-like florals have impressively opened up but the finish is a little more lean, with a hint of acid noticeable but still impressive fine tannin. I am happy with my score.

Adair

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 3:16 am

rednut wrote:I'm not totally knocking the wine, it had some lovely flavour but the three of us that were sampling it weren't overly excited by it thats all.

I like my big gutsy Barossa wines I spose.

And yes it was the 2005.

Well, what do you expect for $11/btl? You can even get a Koonunga Hill for less these days. :roll:

Hacker · Post by **Hacker** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:14 am

My dozen arrived this week, and as is my custom, I like to try one early to map their progression.

The wine was far less sweet than I imagined it to be....maybe I am too used to plummy rich barossa styles. This was quite savoury. In fact if I didn't know better, I would swear I was drinking a Victorian shiraz; say a Mt Langi Ghiran or similar. I think it needs a sleep for a few years and would be lovely with a strong meat dish.

cheers,

David M.

seddo · Post by **seddo** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 12:11 pm

still waiting for mine

Gavin Trott · Post by **Gavin Trott** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 12:40 pm

seddo wrote:still waiting for mine

Mmm

My next shipment comes in to store tomorrow (Friday) which should let me fill all those already ordered.

Then I get 50 cases in March, so will be able to start 'selling' them again then.

Sorry all for the delays, getting stock has been a little problematic.

parb · Post by **parb** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 4:40 pm

The case arrived at the office today, so I thought I'd open the box of XL5's and let the guys at work taste it as well.

Quite a pleasing smell, pleasant enough palate, but certainly nothing like some of descriptions I've read about it.

the blurb on the auswine site is:

"Deep dark black and red. What an amazing nose, simply awash with dark berries, liqueur plums, blackberry, raspberries and exotic spices, with a hint of Lindt dark chocolate. The palate too is wonderful. A mix of red berries, small dark berries, blackberry and cassis, all mingled with hints of earth and spices, and just a touch of vanilla. The wine has a wonderful mouthfeel, velvety yet firm with the finest of fine tannins. It has power and balance, has length to burn, finishing with fine and ripe tannins throughout the mouth. A wonderfully well made wine that screams quality. The long, long, chocolaty finish makes this an outstanding Shiraz in anybody's terms"

colour correct
nose: dark berries (maybe), plums(no way) blackberry(none again) and some raspberry and spice
palate: vanilla and spice(yes) not much else
Tannins : they are fine (hiding behind the keeper)
finish: there's no long long finish here (more like a short cover)

To me, a very angular wine with not alot of balance. Definitely NO chocolate on the finish

For $11 it's about right. I agree with one of the other posts, that says its like a victorian wine. Also I agree with "rednut's' take on the thing (maybe we got the same 'batch')

I can't imagine the wine infront of me made it too the lofty heights of the Melbourne show and others as mentioned.

As to the guys in the office. No one liked it! I'll have to wade through the box on my Pat Malone

Gavin Trott · Post by **Gavin Trott** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 5:02 pm

parb wrote:The case arrived at the office today, so I thought I'd open the box of XL5's and let the guys at work taste it as well.

Quite a pleasing smell, pleasant enough palate, but certainly nothing like some of descriptions I've read about it.

the blurb on the auswine site is:

"Deep dark black and red. What an amazing nose, simply awash with dark berries, liqueur plums, blackberry, raspberries and exotic spices, with a hint of Lindt dark chocolate. The palate too is wonderful. A mix of red berries, small dark berries, blackberry and cassis, all mingled with hints of earth and spices, and just a touch of vanilla. The wine has a wonderful mouthfeel, velvety yet firm with the finest of fine tannins. It has power and balance, has length to burn, finishing with fine and ripe tannins throughout the mouth. A wonderfully well made wine that screams quality. The long, long, chocolaty finish makes this an outstanding Shiraz in anybody's terms"

colour correct
nose: dark berries (maybe), plums(no way) blackberry(none again) and some raspberry and spice
palate: vanilla and spice(yes) not much else
Tannins : they are fine (hiding behind the keeper)
finish: there's no long long finish here (more like a short cover)

To me, a very angular wine with not alot of balance. Definitely NO chocolate on the finish

For $11 it's about right. I agree with one of the other posts, that says its like a victorian wine. Also I agree with "rednut's' take on the thing (maybe we got the same 'batch')

I can't imagine the wine infront of me made it too the lofty heights of the Melbourne show and others as mentioned.

As to the guys in the office. No one liked it! I'll have to wade through the box on my Pat Malone

Wow, interesting indeed.

As to the auswine blurb, its an accurate description of the tasting panel's reactions (there were 5 of us) as tasted blind.

I've had the wine again since with much the same reaction.

parb · Post by **parb** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 5:12 pm

Gavin,

You just explained the problem. I too have trouble tasting when blind, (wasted, splattered, whatever). I'll scull a 750 of vodka and try it again!

Gavin Trott · Post by **Gavin Trott** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 5:36 pm

parb wrote:Gavin,

You just explained the problem. I too have trouble tasting when blind, (wasted, splattered, whatever). I'll scull a 750 of vodka and try it again!

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 7:46 pm

I'm with the short finish group, as is my Monday tasting group. The vibrant fruit bouquet and front palate seduced a number of people and the rest bemoaned the short finish. There were a few orders discussed, but the remainder of the bottle with dinner after the tasting didn't impress and these orders didn't proceed.

I tried a second bottle a few days later over 2 days with similar results, it was a little better with more breathing and probably Ok value for the money, but I can't see how it scored all the gold - Melbourne may have been a barrel sample rather than the finished product?

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Thu Feb 22, 2007 8:43 pm

Well, it's sounding as though it'll be "just another quaffer" for me when it arrives, unless Gavin's latest shipment is significantly better than seems to be the majority opinion here.

daz