The Auswine Forum

Had a few disappointments lately which left me pondering- what is a wine I am confident in, vintage to vintage, which seams to consistantly deliver with a view to cellaring?

For me, and I don't have much of it in in the cellar, it is Penfold's St Henri.

Interested in forumites opinions and experiences.

A good prelude to an inevitable discussion, as experience with cellared shiraz grows over the next few years - what is shiraz delivering?

Jamie,

I'd have to say Rockford (even allowing for the 2000 vintage), then, like you St Henri (I have had every vintage from 1986).

That having been said, I am worried for the future of St Henri as rumour has it some of the unreleased vintages have a high proportion of fruit from young vineyards in Robe. I hope my concern proves unfounded.


Mike

For the criteria you've set I think Rockford Basket Press is as good as any. Always looks medium weight when young but with lovely nuances and nice texture. Once it gets to 7 years plus plus it really starts to shine.

Great bottles I've had in the past year are 1990, 1991 & 1996. At a slightly lesser level but still excellent were 1993 and surprisingly the 1989 which was a very ordinary vintage but several bottles of this have been teriffic drinks.

The 2002 is every bit as good as we'd expected, a wine not to be missed. I think it will rank with the best of them.

A tip also for the 2002 Rifle Range Cabernet, as good as Barossa Cabernet gets IMO, a ripper.

These are the ones that rarely disappoint.

1) Bin 61
2) Mamre Brook
3) Water Wheel
4) Temple Bruer

For super premium my expectation run higher.

Seppelt Chalambar hasn't disappointed for a while either.

Kieran

Kieran wrote:Seppelt Chalambar hasn't disappointed for a while either.

Kieran

The vintages of Chalambar I've tried have never disapoointed. The first Turkey Flat 2000 I tried was a bit disappointing, but that may have been a personal thing or a bottle thing but every other bottle of TF shiraz I've had has been excellent, including the 2nd 2000.

So, go figure, but for me, Turkey Flat is at least as Chalambar but at the next price level, though these two wines vie for my value for money picks in the shiraz stake.

Check'em and others out to find what you like most. But vintage variation is inescapable.

Good hunting

daz

I agree with Chow Chow on the Leasingham Bin 61 - even in patchy years like 1995 and 2000 it seems to produce a very solid wine.

I'd also suggest maybe the Tintara Reserve Shiraz - I was very impressed by the 2000 a few months ago and the 1998 last night. I've heard the 1995 is above vintage expectations too.

Cheers
Ian

Turkey Flat and Rockford are my two automatic picks but I thought I should add the Ingoldby - shorter term in the cellar but excellent value for money

Cheers

David

n4sir wrote:I agree with Chow Chow on the Leasingham Bin 61 - even in patchy years like 1995 and 2000 it seems to produce a very solid wine.

I'd also suggest maybe the Tintara Reserve Shiraz - I was very impressed by the 2000 a few months ago and the 1998 last night. I've heard the 1995 is above vintage expectations too.

Cheers
Ian

I was given advice many years ago by an elder Red Bigot.
"Buy a case of Leas Bin 61 every year and when you have six cartons, start drinking them at a bottle a month. You will always have a great drink in your cellar".

I haven't always followed this advice as these days we have several that could fit the bill and have been mentioned in this thread.

Graham

A solid and predictable line up.

Must rember the Bin 61 tip Graham.

I'm a big fan of Craiglee, consistency and class year in, year out.

Conakilla, Seppelt St Peters and Turkey Flat never really disappoint.

Bargain territory (esp on special) Ingoldby and Tabilk are very consistent.

MK

3 cheers for Paul Conti in W.A.

Mark K wrote:I'm a big fan of Craiglee, consistency and class year in, year out.
MK

Craiglee suffers in poorer vintages for mine. Even 2001 which is pretty good is nowhere near the standard of 97, 00 and 02.

St Henri (as mentioned in other posts) stands out for mine as a wine that always does well regardless of vintage, although Seppelt GW / St Peters hasn't missed a beat since (at least) 1995.

St Henri will be reinforced for me with a solid 02 vintage. Must be due out next year?

Having had grand 60's and 70's St Henri experiences, for some reason never really stocked the cellar with the wine.

Recent tastings, such as the truly seamless 96, have me rueing this oversight-especially considering the average performance of some recent mid 90's Australian shiraz.