Day of reckoning-Petaluma

[Attila]

Yesterday I was lucky enough to attend a Petaluma pre-launch tasting with Andrew Hardy.
Today it will be a Sydney wide (Australia wide?) launch.
I have my views on the current line up, most interesting was the 1999 and 2007 Coonawarra red comparison.
As many of you will be attending today I'll wait for your notes.
Only to say that the 2007 Croser sparkling had a wonderful long finish and a lovely citrussy character.
When the day is over I'd like to read what you guys thought.
Cheers,
Attila

[redstuff]

Today I went to a Petaluma launch here in Canberra. Wasnt such a big fan of the 05 Tiers (and not at $100), however the Piccadilly Chardonnay 06? was certainly my cup of tea - nice not so charred oak with nice malolactic buttery goodness. The NV, 2006 and 1999 Crosers were on tasting, which were all great. The NV was a little basic but will still be a great quaffer in summer. Not too sure about the straight Viognier, it had more of a petrol character than what im used to with big apricot oil driven wines like the virgilius. I bought a 6 pack of mixed sparklings (plus a free magnum of riesling) which put me in the running for prize packs.....one of which I won - 3 x 1999 Coonawarra Reds. Awesome.

[Attila]

Interesting, almost completely different line up to Sydney city. We've had:
Croser NV-simple, fruity. Chandon is better (and cheaper)
2007 Croser-Lovely sparkling, one of the better examples.
2009 Riesling-Frangrant, young with a short finish. Average stuff.
2007 Chardonnay-Smooth, Chablis like but too worked.
2006 Shiraz-Medium bodied fairly simple, way overpriced at $45
2005 Merlot-Once again fine but not fine enough for interest.
2007 Coonawarra-One of the better Coonawarra reds from this vintage but so it should be at $60. May become better but not a great wine.
1999 Coonawarra-Took a bottle of this home. First up interesting, 2 hours later fairly allright, next day, fell apart.

You were much happier than me.

[redstuff]

Sorry I got a few of my vintages mixed up. They had both the 2008 and 2009 Rieslings, and it was the 2007 Chard. I really enjoyed the reds but yes, definitely overpriced.

[monghead]

Thanks for the notes Atilla.

Hmmm, would have thought the 99 Petaluma Coonawarra would perform better though...

[Julio G]

Attila - tell me more about the 2007 Coonawarra - what were you expecting and where did it fall short?

BTW, I had the 99 Coonawarra about 12 months ago and it was dominated by menthol/eucalypt... not a bad wine just not that great.

[Attila]

Attila - tell me more about the 2007 Coonawarra - what were you expecting and where did it fall short?

BTW, I had the 99 Coonawarra about 12 months ago and it was dominated by menthol/eucalypt... not a bad wine just not that great.

The 07 is a child of a difficult vintage although Petaluma didn't get the frost due to their irrigation system.
Medium to full bodied, fairly concentrated and "shaped" red blend that does not deliver any magic for your $60. There is no wow factor that makes you buy it, just like the 1999 it falls short of expectations. Correctly made, incorrectly priced and that's it.

[bacchaebabe]

Haven't paid more than $40 for the last two vintages of the Coonawarra so I'm sure if you shop around you won't be paying $60

[Chad]

I had a wonderful experience recently sharing a bottle of 1990 Petaluma Coonawarra with a friend. The most amazing thing was that if I didn't know the vintage on opening I would have thought it were only 5yrs old. This wine was made when I was in Year 10 & to me that was truly amazing. It still had many years left in it. Fortunately my mate who supplied the bottle stil has another which we might visit in another 10yrs. I've got a few of the 2004 vintage in my collection & after drinking this wine I am convinced it is a wine I should be buying each year.

Chad

[JamieH]

haven't been impressed with Petaluma for 2 to 3 years now, Tiers is amazing, but for $120 it should be. tried the Croser 06 twice in the last weeks in blind tastings againest its peers and both times it scored lowly across all tasters, same with the new NV at one event (only showed in one event). 07 Chardonnay in a different blind tasting came up second lowest and commented as overworked and clumsy. my 2c.

[fatdoi]

Coonawarra always leaves me searching for something missing from the $40 i spent.... that's why i gave up after 2002.... their shiraz is quite interesting but now they put the price up to the point i can find something more satisfying elsewhere