The Auswine Forum

Over the last few weeks a couple of posts have suggested that Turkey Flat won't age in the long term - can anyone expand on this?

Sure I have my doubts about their whites, I don't particularly like Butcher's Block and plenty of people don't like Barossa Cabernet (all the more for me - at a reasonable price ).

To check my palate wasn't completely wrong on this I openned a 96 Shiraz on Friday, this is the oldest Turkey Flat I have.

Classic dry style of Barossa Shiraz, great long fruit, dry tannins - fabulous I wouldn't expect it would fall over in 10 years plus and potential to improve further. only another 6 bottles to go.

David

I had a 96 about a year ago. It was a bit simple, but i didnt see it was falling over

C.

DJ, I haven't particularly noted the posts you mentioned. The TF Shiraz is the only one I really cellar consistently, they are often good for 10-12 years from vintage, but can be a bit variable. I agree with you to some extent on the 96, it is still quite youthfull and I'll keep it a few more years yet, not sure about 10+ from now though. The 97 is a lot more forward and the 98 seems to be slightly more advanced than the 96 already, so don't think it will go much past 2008 for my palate. Didn't buy any 99, the 2000 and 2001 will probably be ready too before the 96 has peaked, so not even 10 year wines. The 2002 is back in form as a 10-12 year proposition I think, maybe longer. The 2003 (tasted at the winery last month) is less impressive than the 2002, probably only a 5-7 year wine by my estimate.

So, depends what you mean by the long term, I find very few Aust. reds cellar more than 10-12 years for my palate, some vintages of TF will, some won't.

Had the last of the 1990 last year. Fabulous wine. Nowhere near collapse. Also a 95 last year that was right on the button, again without falling apart. The lesser years seem to make 8-10 easily. The better ones - who knows? RB seems to enjoy these younger than I would.

cheers
BA

THis isn't a troll but every Turkey Flat I have ever had (and that's most since 1990), young or old, have never really done anything for me. When I was at CD last year, tried 4 vintages side-by-sideOne-dimensional for me, and know they are loved by many on this and, particularly, the other forum. Everybody has wines they are destined never to understand - mine is Turkey Flat, perhaps Craiglee (another one everyone raves on about), Mount Mary Pinot/Triolet and even Rockford basket press in less than outstanding vintages.

Upon release it was superd. Had a '98 recently - very tired.
The name is apropriate - It's a "turkey" and tasted "flat"

I have the same sort of question. I havent aged them myself, but I'm a bit sceptical about 01 and 02 and the 03 doesnt come across as an ager either.

Anonymous wrote:Upon release it was superd. Had a '98 recently - very tired.
The name is apropriate - It's a "turkey" and tasted "flat"

We did a 98 Shiraz horizontal last year, and the Turkey Flat showed well. You must have had a bad bottle Martin.

AB

I think Turkey Flat ages pretty well.
recently had a 94 Cab and it was sensational, as was the 98.
The 97 Shiraz is drinking great now, and the 98 is getting there.
The 94 Shiraz is long gone, and the 95 Shiraz, I had a problem with.
I think in good years, they drink best at 10 years
Bruce

Where are you Ric?

Daryl Douglas wrote:Where are you Ric?

Here Daz, I didn't chime in as I thought Brian summed it up perfectly and Bruce'c comments echoed them pretty closely.

TORB wrote:

Daryl Douglas wrote:Where are you Ric?

Here Daz, I didn't chime in as I thought Brian summed it up perfectly and Bruce'c comments echoed them pretty closely.

So do I - the Shiraz is not a 15-20 year wine.



daz

Baby Chickpea wrote:Everybody has wines they are destined never to understand - mine is Turkey Flat, perhaps Craiglee (another one everyone raves on about), Mount Mary Pinot/Triolet and even Rockford basket press in less than outstanding vintages.

Hey ... same here, glad I'm not the only one.

Craiglee, admittedly, can be exceptional when it's right, but that's only happened 3 times for me out of 20-ish bottles.

Turkey Flat 1998 Shiraz was pretty straightforward and dull, 2000 was confected and a bit of a mess (despite Halliday's rave review), although I admit to liking the 2002.

R. Basket Press has underwhelmed me too. 1995 - reviewed well by others despite the poor vintage served blind came in next to last of 7 SA shirazes, and a second bottle served with appropriate food also failed to impress.

I haven't got around to MM Pinot/Triolet, but given the alignment above, I might just leave it anyway ...

FatBoy wrote:

Baby Chickpea wrote:Everybody has wines they are destined never to understand - mine is Turkey Flat, perhaps Craiglee (another one everyone raves on about), Mount Mary Pinot/Triolet and even Rockford basket press in less than outstanding vintages.

Hey ... same here, glad I'm not the only one.

Craiglee, admittedly, can be exceptional when it's right, but that's only happened 3 times for me out of 20-ish bottles.

Turkey Flat 1998 Shiraz was pretty straightforward and dull, 2000 was confected and a bit of a mess (despite Halliday's rave review), although I admit to liking the 2002.

R. Basket Press has underwhelmed me too. 1995 - reviewed well by others despite the poor vintage served blind came in next to last of 7 SA shirazes, and a second bottle served with appropriate food also failed to impress.

I haven't got around to MM Pinot/Triolet, but given the alignment above, I might just leave it anyway ...

I dunno, still like the 99 though the 02 is better; maybe it's because the 99 was the first TF shiraz I tasted.

FWIW

daz