The Auswine Forum

Hi Good Peoples,

Time to let us know what you have been drinking. Its been so bloody hot no doubt many of you have been indulging in c-thoughs but you can still report on them if you desire to do so.

In my case a few bottles of Sparkling Shiraz in the last week, nothing new in the line up. On Friday night I opened a 96 Elderton Shiraz which I had cooled down with a freezer sleeve (and left it on.) I thought the wine was not showing as well as it should as seemed to have gone a bit prune flavoured.

Last night I opened a 93 St Henri and also did the freezer sleeve trick. It seemed to have gone a bit more blackberry than I had remembered. This time I didn't leave the freezer sleeve on and as the wine came up by about 2 degrees the flavour profile became a lot better and more balanced.

Very interesting how temperature not only changes volatility but flavour profile too.

Now what have you guys been drinking?

Had a mates wedding and thank god he had half decent wines on. Stand out was probably the 02 Swan Bay Pinot Noir which is a super wine for the price.

Also had a bottle of the 02 Lilydale Pinot Noir that had been over-done. Too high in alcohol and no balance ruined what should have been a great wine.

Also had during the week:

91 Tyrrells Vat 9 Shiraz: superb and drinking so well now.

84 Seppelt Eden Valley Riesling: seems bizarre but this is almost a pup. What a freak wine, still so fresh and youthful and no hints that it is going to go down hill in the next 5-8 years. When we first opened it, the nose was quite dumb and closed, but as it warmed up the wine really came to life. heaps of lemon/lime flavours which you would normally characterise with young Riesling.

93 Peter Lehmann Reserve Riesling: this is the wine that has won a truckload of trophies and it was a very good wine, but for me the seppelt beat it hands down. Seemed to show it's alcohol more and was a bit more developed with honey, toast caramel and a bit of marmalade showing through. If you could get your hands on this wine you probably would want to drink it within the next 6-7 years.

98 Peter Lehmann Reserve Riesling: I think Halliday rated this wine 96/100 and whilst I thought it was good, it wasn't mind blowing. A very good Riesling that is drinking well at the moment.

02 Leibech The darkie Shiraz 02: well throw in some coke and you have a 'bourbon and cola'. Too much jammy sweet fruit and not enough acid and tannin for my liking. It will be interesting to see where this wine will be in ten years time. My guess is that it has been loaded up with extra ripe fruit without having the backbone to carry it.

01 Leeuwin estate Chard: easily australia's best Chardonnay. Big style, but still quite restrained. White Melon, Grapefruit and White Nectarine flavours really stood out for me and this would have to rank up there as one of the best Leeuwin chardonnay's. Awesome wine.

98 Seppelt Drumborg Chardonnay: starting to come on very quickly now. Absolutely blown away by the Art Series Chard and side-by-side seemed very simple. Drink Up.

Seppelt rutherglen Tokay: this bottle has been everywhere with me in the last year. It has sat in my car in 40 degree days and at the snow so you could say it was quite heat affected. In fact, as someone in the group put it, it tasted like Madeira which didn't suprise me.

cheers
Anthony

Anthony wrote:02 Leibech The darkie Shiraz 02: well throw in some coke and you have a 'bourbon and cola'. Too much jammy sweet fruit and not enough acid and tannin for my liking. It will be interesting to see where this wine will be in ten years time. My guess is that it has been loaded up with extra ripe fruit without having the backbone to carry it.

Anthony, I haven't tried this vintage yet, but I loved the 01, deceptively soft, but exceptionally well-balanced and complex, especially for the hot vintage, I was hoping they would do even better with the 02. Was this bottle a little warm perhaps?

A patchy week for me.

Monday tasting featured Rutherglen/Glenrowan reds, with Warrabilla 2002 Reserve Shiraz and Durif (already in the cellar) being clear preferences over the good value ($16 CD) and surprisingly refined Taminick Premium Shiraz 2002 and the lushly ripe St Leonards Shiraz 2002 ($18 CD) with a musty/stinky Taminick Special release Cabernet 2002 and Pfeiffer Pinot Noir 2000 trailing the field.

Thursday tasting group "featured" Rosé and light/sweet reds , I won't voice my personal opinions on these here, but I did learn that the Brown Bros Dolcetto/Syrah may find a use when a sweeter wine is appropriate.

Other than that, a 1998 Seppelt Original Sparkling Shiraz showed it's normal quality and amazing good value and my last 1993 E&E Black Pepper Shiraz displayed fully mature, slightly pruney (in a good way) plums and chocolate Barossa shiraz, velvety mouthfeel as usual for this wine, lovely wine drinking at it's peak for my taste.

Hi Brian,
it was served at the right temp.. Only variable would have been that we just opened it and then drank it. But even then I don't think my thoughts on the wine would change.

There was no faults with the wine, just shows how personal preferences differ. A lot of people are going to love this wine, and I can see why. Heaps of sweet fruit and a very rich wine. Just wasn't my cup of tea.

cheers
anthony

40.8 C in Brisbane is too hot to appreciate any red wine.

Monday is Penfolds Bin range to the trade day. This will be interesting.

Peterson Chambourcin 2001

Nice crimson colour. Nose has spice, cassis, berries and sweet oak. This is a medium bodies wine with nice fruit flavours and some coffee chocolate, balanced with tannins that are quite fine.

At three years, it will probably improve for another 3 or 4 years and then just level out. I don't really know how long chambourcin will cellar but this I would class as the best chambourcin I have tried and I will be happy to try the 2002 in another 2 to 3 years.

Anyone planning a trip to the Hunter should include a stop at the cellar door. They are making some stunning wines here.

Rating recommended.


Maglieri Shiraz Steve Maglieri 1999

Very deep red colour. A nice mix of French and American Oak used in this wine. The nose show pepper, plums, sweet spices and chocolate later after opening for some time. This is full bodied (a real Dolly Parton) in every sense of the word. Great length and a lovely example of quality McLaren Vale Shiraz. This wine has many years ahead of it. I could easily be drinking this wine in 2010 – 2015. Rating Excellent.


Knappstein Enterprise Cabernet Sauvignon 1998

This wine we picked up recently from a bottle shop and it was like Mum used to say “Don’t go near them, you don’t know where they’ve been”.

The bottle opened clean with stain only a short way up the cork. Quite closed on the nose but some nice fruit was evident. Not unpleasant to taste and it did improve during the night but I think this one was slightly heat effected which just dulled the wine. I would like to try a well cellered one of these.

The remainder of the bottle was corked (in a nice way) and refrigerated. 24 hours later had lost anything good. The heat affected thought may have been right.

All red wines these days. Tasted along with three Aussie expatriates currently enjoying the British Columbia snow.

[/b]2000,Katnook Estate, Cabernet. Michael brought three of those and they went down rather quickly. Went very well with the food. A solid wine with dark berries and smooth tannins.

1996 Lindemans,Limestone Ridge . The favorite of the evening. Just entering it's drinking window, very well balanced, beautifull finish.

1996 Yalumba, The Signature.Great wine but probably needs another 2 years for the tannins to soften up. I have had this wine on a few occasions and thought it was entering it's drinking window. However, as this was tasted along side the Limestone Ridge, it made me realize that this wine would benefit from a few more years of cellaring.

1995 Penfolds, Bin 389.Perhaps we were getting a bit sloshed by then (did I mention we also had a few Martinis?) but this one could not keep up with the others. Not a bad wine, but I can't see this one improving much more.

Cheers,

Francois

Just quickly:

1995 Penfolds Yattarna Chardonnay - Displayed amazing Chardonnay flavour complexity, from nougat, honey, figs to its still citrus base. However, the depth of flavour on the palate was lacking and, as such, I suspect that it was lightly cork tainted. Recommended only but would be at least excellent if it lived up to its nose.

1994 Rosemount Roxborough Chardonnay - one of my favourites. Had what the above lacked, huge flavour depth. Mature - honey, figs and butterscotch. Not greatly complex but greatly enjoyed. Drink up. Highly Recommended.

1996 Tyrrells Vat 47 Chardonnay - Absolutely blew the above two wines out of tasting game. 1996 will be regarded as one of the greatest ever Hunter vintages. This wine seemed like a 3 year old and needs at least another 5 years to start showing its best. Excellent Chardonnay complexity without much oak influence but the most extraordinary feature was the fine strong acid just now starting to integrate with these flavours. Excellent/Outstanding.

2002 Brian Barry JuddÂ’s Hill Riesling - Starting to broaden but with good acid backbone. I rate in the top 10 Clare 2002s. Excellent.

1993 Rouge Homme Shiraz/Cabernet from magnum - green Coonawarra characters sticking out of the still rather under fruited front palate. May improve. Recommended.

1997 Vasserelli Cabernets - Good dark fruit and oak integrates to form a smooth and reasonable long palate. Impressive from a little known maker. Highly Recommended.

1998 Potts Family Cabernets - Fruit in the red spectrum. Well made but lacking depth. Recommended.

1997 Rymill Cabernet Sauvignon - Needs more time for the flavours to deepen on top of the unmistakeable Coonawarra flavours and structure. Recommended.

2002 Sandalford Cabernet Sauvignon - not Recommended

1999 Tyrrells Vat 47 - Recommended. (Disappointing - like most Hunter 1999s I have had - this could ahve been tainted as well given its lack of depth)

2003 Kilikanoon Mort's Block Riesling - another winery that has taken good fruit away from a label after a great year - and created premium labels. Recommended...just

Last night with the folks I opened a 2003 Killikanoon Mort's Block Reserve Riesling under screwcap which has shutdown completely since its' impressive showing last year. Only towards the last glass did this start to open up on the palate, delivering some attractive lime and minerality to counterbalance the fine acidity. The bouquet was painfully reticent throughout. "Can't get much out of this one, son", was Dad's poignant assessment. Leave this alone for a couple of years in a cool, dark place. On last night's performance - an Agreeable rating only. Plenty of potential down the track, one would hope.

With the lamb I poured a '95 Howard Park Cab Merlot; a wine dissed, by many a finer judge than I, for exhibiting excessive Volatile Acidity. Having drunk and enjoyed almost a case of the stuff over many years, I've noted, just once before, some offputting evidence of this trait. I realised this was not going to be a good night for wine the moment I stuck my proboscus into the glass and intermingled amongst some nice berry, cedar and earth was a strong almond kernel character and some unpleasant lift (ethyl acetate). The palate suffered considerably from both problems as well, being quite short and bitter, with that almond character prominent in the finish. Blech! Now I see what Halliday and Oliver were talking about. Perhaps I've been awfully lucky in the past with this wine.

Friday night I compared two 2001 Clare Valley Rieslings

Grosset 2001 Polish Hill Riesling

Pale straw/lime with a brilliant sheen. Hint of struck match/burnt rubber on the nose. Underneath sits some toast and lime. Terrific palate with marvellous mouthfeel, full throttle, fresh lime, citrus zest, great integration of natural acidity and a handsome, powerful, lingering minerally/citrus finish. Brilliant palate - reduction on the nose - a bit sweet'n sour for a rating just now. I'll let it sit and see if this reductive character breathes off and come back later.

10.20 PM
Nose more minerally now in the style of a "Chablis"or somewhat like river pebbles. The reductive character still discernible. The palate - top class, fantastic finish.

Comparison to the Taylors 2001

The Grosset oozes class and apart from the drawback noted above stands head and shoulders above the Taylors for structure and stature. I'm going to rate both roughly the same - just about Excellent, although I'd prefer the Grosset by some margin if it wasn't for the nose.

Taylors 2001 Clare Valley Riesling

Tried this upon release on a few oocasions and was impressed by the sheer intensity of fruit and excellent structure for medium to (hopefully) longterm cellaring. First bottle from my last case.

Bright straw with some green tinges. Reticent nose of juicy, ripe lime and some orange blossom. Still infantile. The palate is laden with lime and mineral with a solid core of softening, but assertive acidity. Of medium body with good impact in the mouth and a long, satisfying finish, this Excellent wine possesses another 5+ years of development to be nearing maturity.

Grosset 1999 Polish Hill Riesling

Having tried my first bottle recently and feeling it was "ready", decided to crack another tonight.
Medium yellow/light gold colour. Nose full of citrus, toast, passionfruit and some lush tropical fruit. The tropical character features moreso on the palate. Delightful, mouthfilling wine, perhaps atypical with the abundance of tropical fruit. Plenty of crisp acidity in a strong, half minute finish. Highly Recommended but somewhat enigmatic FWII. Drink this over the next few years.

Henschke Eden Valley Riesling 1992

Light to mid gold in colour with a voluminous bouquet of honey, acacia, toast and lime with the faintest hint of apricot kernel (just past its' best, perhaps). Rich but smooth on the palate with loads of unctious fruit followed by an extraordinary honeyed finish. Good persistence. Lovely wine, rated Excellent but not up to the stellar showing when re-released from Henschke's museum stocks in 2002. Drink yesterday.


Henschke Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon 1994

Deep ruby/red colour with a solid core and some amber in the edge. Big stewed plum and cassis dominated nose with umpteen other nuances ranging from cigar box to leafy greens. Solid, powerful palate with ample plump fruit (more plum and blackcurrant) over well-judged, classy cedary oak, integrated silky, fine-grained tannins and a subtle, lengthy finish. A joyous mouthful of classic, ripe South Oz Cabernet (perhaps) fleshed out with some Merlot and excellent oak handling. This wine approaches its apogee with plenty of 'wambam, thakyou maam' intensity, yet displays intriguing, supple characters. At least another 5 years of fine drinking ahead of it. Rated Outstanding.

Pewsey Vale 2001 Riesling

Found some more in the cellar recently and now my house quaffer, so I thought another TN was in order to calibrate my palate and check for bottle variation.

Straw/light lemon. Nice mix of citrus, green apple with a touch of green pineapple, toast and passionfruit on the nose. The palate reveals some ripe fruit mimicking the bouquet to a tee, plenty of weight, good balancing acidity and some residual sugar in a reasonable finish. Probably best to drink this one over the next year or two. Rated as Recommended.

And here is a previous tasting note:

Pale lemon colour. Nose offers up an unusual combination of honey, toast and green pineapple, replicated (except add more tropical fruit) on a palate of medium intensity with reasonable acidity but marred by some unfortunate residual sweetness. Another example of this weird (green pineapple) trait I'm finding in some of our (supposedly better) Rieslings. For the record - about Agreeable. Drink up fast.

Obviously no bottle variation.

Anthony wrote:Hi Brian,
it was served at the right temp.. Only variable would have been that we just opened it and then drank it. But even then I don't think my thoughts on the wine would change.

There was no faults with the wine, just shows how personal preferences differ. A lot of people are going to love this wine, and I can see why. Heaps of sweet fruit and a very rich wine. Just wasn't my cup of tea.

cheers
anthony

Yep. The temperature was fine. Alcohol 15.7%. Parker might love it but I agree with Anthony on this and the rest of the notes...and that Tokay was completely rooted!!
GW

Gary W wrote:

Anthony wrote:Hi Brian,
it was served at the right temp.. Only variable would have been that we just opened it and then drank it. But even then I don't think my thoughts on the wine would change.

There was no faults with the wine, just shows how personal preferences differ. A lot of people are going to love this wine, and I can see why. Heaps of sweet fruit and a very rich wine. Just wasn't my cup of tea.

cheers
anthony

Yep. The temperature was fine. Alcohol 15.7%. Parker might love it but I agree with Anthony on this and the rest of the notes...and that Tokay was completely rooted!!
GW

Only 15.7%? Pity it doesn't have a bit more American oak, I'd probably love it too

Red Bigot wrote:
Yep. The temperature was fine. Alcohol 15.7%. Parker might love it but I agree with Anthony on this and the rest of the notes...and that Tokay was completely rooted!!
GW

Only 15.7%? Pity it doesn't have a bit more American oak, I'd probably love it too [/quote]

Not much oak there I am afraid...but you could probably run your car on it at a pinch.
GW

Red Bigot wrote:Thursday tasting group "featured" Rosé and light/sweet reds , I won't voice my personal opinions on these here, but I did learn that the Brown Bros Dolcetto/Syrah may find a use when a sweeter wine is appropriate.

Been saying it for a while Brian. Great chilled with hot and spicey of all persuasions.

Adair wrote:2002 Sandalford Cabernet Sauvignon - not Recommended

Adair, tried this on many occasions lately, found it to be the best Sandalford cab in a long time. Also took out major award at MR Wine Show in December.

Can you elaborate?

Cheers, brad

I've been working my through and drinking alot of Mount Mary lately (several vintages of Chardonnay and Pinot). I drank another two vintages of Mount Mary Chardonnay (1994 and 1996) on the weekend - I am currently putting together my TNs to be posted soon. And I've got another two lined up for this week (1991 and 1995).

At this stage, all I can say is that IMO Leeuwin Estate easily remains the King of Aussie Chardonnay (for track record, quality and longevity).

And quite frankly I really am getting sick of drinking whites in this terrible heat in Sydney. For some reason I am really going off whites more and more ...

Bring on winter!

deleted

Hi Sean,
I have been a big fan of the The Willow from Barossa since the 98 Shiraz. They never miss a beat. From memory the winemaker (Shultz) also works for Peter Lehmann Wines.

Cheers
Anthony

Welcome Raisin! Thanks for the impressions.

Had a relaxed Sat night with some friends over for dinner and waited until about 8 before cracking a couple of bottles.

Bleasdale Mulberry Tree Cab 2001 (Langhorne Creek)
This one had so many holes riddling the cork I started looking for a worm. The wine had worked its way up through these burrows and then disappeared 2/3 of the way up the cork to appear at the end where it only slightly leaked out of the top. Top be fair I do believe this was aided by some seriously high temps over the two days it was waiting to be consumed. Didn't seem to affect the wine.

Colour: Bright yet dark red with clay tinges around the edges.

Nose: Red berries and big alcohol lift, lightly toasted oak and a smidge of plum.

Palate: Mid-weight with sour cherries, blackberry, dry autumn leaves carrying an earthy spiciness, and soft tannins helping to extend its medium length

After 1/2 and hour it softens and becomes a really nice balanced wine with the fruiting holding its own against the alcohol (14.5). Give it a year or two to soften a little, but I don't think it will gain too much more complexity. Good value 88 points for $13

Sorry guys here is the late edit:

after 2hrs
Nose: Balckberry, to plums, slight licorice (yes, I do prefer liqourice) background, perfume and dark chocolate with pencil shavings.

Palate: Slightly dusty mouthfeel. blackberry, eucalyptus, dry autumn leaf to tobacco, supple with the same lingering flavour thanks to the tannins as above.
all the best,

Three wines, two bordering on disappointing:-

1998 Peter Lehman Eight Songs - typical Barossa chocolate and plums, reasonable length, no excitement factor.

1994 Leasingham CC Sparkling Shiraz - possibly slightly tainted. A little falt on the palate and nose.

2002 Leasingham Bin 7 Riesling - slately, austere. Pleasant wine and great QPR.

Clonakilla Viognier 2002 - My last bottle of this & to be honest, the least enjoyable (apart from 1 corked bottle). I found this bottle to be a little bit out of balance, with the 14.5% alc/vol. showing. It was good in parts i.e. noticeable, crisp acidity, fruit intensity of good apricot, pear flavours & aroma, but everything was separate, non-integrated, whereas my other 4-5 bottles have not shown any of this. I was under the impression this wine was not really to be cellared for more than a year or so, like most viognier (even Condrieu should be drunk in it's first 2-3 years) , but this bottle seemed to have gone into a stage!? Perhaps just bottle variation, I'd like to know if anyone else has noticed anything like this in their Viognier experiences? As I say, everything I'd experienced previously was still there, it just lacked the harmony & integration of previous bottles.

lantana

Red Bigot wrote:Pfeiffer Pinot Noir 2000 trailing the field.

Hi Brian,

Can I ask what you didn't like about the Pinot?

Ben

Hiya all,

Just quick TNs unfortunately

1998 Chapel Hill The Vicar
Dark ripe blackberry fruit, bathed in chocolatety oak. Big, mouth-filling wine with flavours that persisted well after the wine had reached to stomach!! Lovely. For those of you who love big, bold MV Shirazes, give this one a try. Abit on the pricey side though.

1996 Penfolds St Henri
What a contrast to the above wine!!! Absolutely loved how this wine evolved in the glass, a joy to drink. Elegant, soft, bordering on seductive. Delicate, but rich plum and cherry flavours intermingle with soft earthy spice, finishing with fine, silky tannins. Medium to full bodied, but flavours that lasted almost a minute!! Did not know penfolds knew the formula for such wines.

1994 Leasingham CC Sparkling Shiraz.
This wine was dare I say it, too rich for me! Now what do I mean? Well, I thought the predominant flavours were that of sweet, rich prunes, and deep, dark berries, with generous lashings of chocolatety oak. Enjoyed the first glass, then found it was enough....... Hmmm, maybe just not used to sparkling red!!! Pretty hedonistic stuff if you ask me.

Cheers,

Monghead.

1999 Leasingham Bastion Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz: Fine, chalky tannins and plenty of fruit. It had a great nose and just felt good in the mouth. This is the second time I've had this wine (first time about 2 years ago) and I was much more impressed the second time around.
For the price and my latest experience with this wine I'd have to rate it recommended.

Ben wrote:

Red Bigot wrote:Pfeiffer Pinot Noir 2000 trailing the field.

Hi Brian,

Can I ask what you didn't like about the Pinot?

Ben

Ben, it wasn't just me, this group is almost as biased against the average Pinot as I am, I thought this one was very simple and lacked varietal definition, also it's pretty hard to impress amongst high-powered shiraz and durif, not sure why the organiser put it in this selection.

monghead wrote:1994 Leasingham CC Sparkling Shiraz.
This wine was dare I say it, too rich for me! Now what do I mean? Well, I thought the predominant flavours were that of sweet, rich prunes, and deep, dark berries, with generous lashings of chocolatety oak. Enjoyed the first glass, then found it was enough....... Hmmm, maybe just not used to sparkling red!!! Pretty hedonistic stuff if you ask me.

Precisely! Wish I'd been there to get the share you didn't want, lovely stuff, I've only got a couple left now.

Quite a heavy weekend, the highlights were.....

2001 Hiedler Steinhaus Riesling (Kamptal, Austria)

Single vineyard organic wine from Austria, and further proof that the days of anti-freeze are well and truly past - Austria is making some super white wines. Stylistically, this wine is close to Australia than Germany. I had earlier thought that this vintage was developing quickly, but this bottle changed my view. Just starting to build body with age, but there's plenty of fine acidity. Excellent.

1991 Lindemans Limestone Ridge (Coonwarra, South Australia)

Excellent wine showing the best of both varieties - nice plumminess from the Shiraz and aged Cabernet fruit. Drinking at its peak now IMHO and much better than another bottle of the same wine tasted several months earlier.

This wine stood head and shoulders above the likes of Tignanello, Sassicaia and Ch. Margaux tasted the preceding evening, albeit the said bottles were tired and/or from average vintages.

Also tasted was the 1993 Grange, unlikely to ever be a great Grange. When poured in the glass, I could not get away from the overwhelming smell of fresh dill, excessive to the point of being disgusting. The wine itself was quite rich and smooth, but seemed to missing something and the alcohol lent quite a hot finish to the wine.

Others tasted....

2002 Peter Lehman Semillon (Barossa Valley, South Australia)

Nice crisp unwooded Semillon, touches of lemon butter and lanolin. In its infancy. Good stuff for the pricepoint.

2000 Chateau Tahbilk Shiraz (Nagambie Lakes, Victoria)

Smooth, medium-full bodied and quite rich, but the fruit seems somewhat muted. Nonetheless, it paired well with the dish - Beef with Guinness and Pickled Walnuts - my missus had made!

Cheers
Phil

Anthony wrote:

01 Leeuwin estate Chard: easily australia's best Chardonnay.

Tsk, Tsk Anthony, after that '96 Gaiconda we tried, I can't believe it!

Rory

Red Bigot wrote:

Ben wrote:

Red Bigot wrote:Pfeiffer Pinot Noir 2000 trailing the field.

Hi Brian,

Can I ask what you didn't like about the Pinot?

Ben

Ben, it wasn't just me, this group is almost as biased against the average Pinot as I am, I thought this one was very simple and lacked varietal definition, also it's pretty hard to impress amongst high-powered shiraz and durif, not sure why the organiser put it in this selection.

Thanks Brian,

Fair enough......I agree about the lack of varietal definition and without a dobut it would have a hard time standing out amongst the shiraz and durifs. I was just curious about your (the groups) impressions of the wine as I have bever a seen a tasting note on this and we drink a bit of it as SHMBO likes it.

Well Rory, point taken
But when you consider the price differential and the consistency of Leeuwin I think it still gets my vote. I can't think of too many Aussie chards (well with the exception of Giaconda ) that in nearly every vintage, consistenly drinks well after extended bottle age.
And give it a few years and Giaconda will be more than twice the price of Art Chard.

cheers
anthony

GrahamB wrote:Peterson Chambourcin 2001
I don't really know how long chambourcin will cellar but this I would class as the best chambourcin I have tried and I will be happy to try the 2002 in another 2 to 3 years.

Cassegrain's Reserve is worth seeking out if you haven't already met it. In direct opposition to their 'stock' Chambourcin, it has tannins and some level of agening potential. What that level is I don't know

Sean wrote:01 The Willows Vineyard Shiraz – Dark red-purple colour, vanilla malt, spicy aromas and red fruit flavours. Long flavour and ultra smooth and lots of tannin.

02 Fox Creek Short Row Shiraz – Dark colour and vanilla aroma. Dark fruit, sweet oak, hot flavours and pencilly tannin finish.

The Willows is undervalued in my opinion, still available for under $20 at times. As to the Short Row, is it just me or has this followed the trend at Fox Creek toward hotter, 'thinner' wines when compared with vintages 2+ years back? A recent sampling of the 2000 Short Row next to the 2002 neccecitated a referral to the label - was this really the same wine? The Reserve Shiraz has show similar change...not for the better, according to my palate. They used to be such enjoyable wines