Wendouree 2004 Vintage Wines

bigkid · Post by **bigkid** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 7:11 pm

Hi all,

The Wendouree 2004 vintage is about to become available. I am going to put in an order but was wondering whether anyone had managed sample this vintage before I put it in. I know these wines tend to polarise opinion. Any notes/impressions on the Shiraz, Shiraz-Malbec, Shiraz-Mataro, the Cab-Sav and the Muscat would be appreciated.
Regards,

Allan

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Thu Jul 13, 2006 9:31 pm

Ha ha Allan, we should be so lucky!

Its always a trust purchase. Getting to try their wines (at the winery) is about as hard as winning the lottery. People do it everyday but it never happens to me or people I know. :wink:

The Cork Dork · Post by **The Cork Dork** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:15 am

I placed an order for everything on the list. As they say less is more, so don't be greedy and order the max of everything a few bottles here and there!, The stand outs for me are the Shiraz, the Shiraz Mataro. I have not tired the 04 release but expect it to be a corker of a vintage.

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:03 am

Both Brian and I always order the same dozen every year; 6 each of the Shiraz and the Cab/Malbec. Never have a problem getting it.

Lincoln · Post by **Lincoln** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:28 am

I must admit to have lost faith - too many overly tannic wines, and have been left disillusioned by their allocation policy. If I do find a wine that I like, like the 03 Shiraz Mataro (thanks Adair), I just buy it at auction at an acceptable premium.

JamieBahrain · Post by **JamieBahrain** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:33 am

Any reason for giving the others a wide berth Torb?

Lincoln

FWIW. The older Wendouree I have tried, have a tannin structure that is commanding but not overbearing say; accentuating the finish of the wine- most recent an 89 Pressings.

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 1:35 pm

TORB wrote:Both Brian and I always order the same dozen every year; 6 each of the Shiraz and the Cab/Malbec. Never have a problem getting it.

I was about to write "6" against the Cabernet line this morning and felt something push my hand up a line to the Cab-Malbec. ;-)

Telepathy, Ric?

bigkid · Post by **bigkid** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 9:28 am

Thanks guys. I was looking to put the Shiraz and Cabernet away for a few years but I was also looking for something that might be good drinking soonish. I seem to recall a post by Adair (I think) who reported the 2003 Shiraz Mataro or maybe the Malbec as surprisingly good drinking early.

Regards,

Allan

rednut · Post by **rednut** » Sat Jul 15, 2006 7:46 pm

Have ordered the Shiraz and the Cabernet so looking forward to trying them down the track... :wink:

Adair · Post by **Adair** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:29 pm

I simply had to post this tasting note of the 2004 Wendouree Shiraz from Jeremy Oliver, just to wet the palates of some of you here:

Wendouree Shiraz 2004
category: tasting note date: 19/07/2006

Heady floral notes and suggestions of clove and cinnamon-like spices overlie a brooding bouquet whose aromas blackberries, blueberries, cassis and dark plums are tightly knit with fine-grained oak. Framed by firm, powdery tannin, it unfolds layers of searingly intense and slightly sour-edged, juicy plum and berry fruit backed by spicy, minty nuances and restrained oak. Very firm and astringent, but already very approachable, entirely natural and finely balanced. (Clare Valley, 19.3/97, drink 2024-2034+)

BenK · Post by **BenK** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 12:56 pm

Sounds yum.

My credit card just got charged - anyone else?

On another note and further to Torb's comment - my wife and I were given a tour of Wendouree by Tony Brady on our honeymoon (Feb 2004). He let us sample from tank and was more talkative than I expected.

To top it all off he took us into his cellar, handed over a bottle of 1990 Cabernet and said "drink this in 10 years if you're still together"....we are and we will!

Cheers

Kuff

Adair · Post by **Adair** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 1:12 pm

Nope. Checked credit card but nothing.
Adair

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 1:26 pm

My wine arrived a couple of days ago, looks like ACT got a bit of priority theis year for a change.

Adair · Post by **Adair** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 1:29 pm

BenK,

Where are you located?

Adair

BenK · Post by **BenK** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 1:32 pm

Victoria.

Christo · Post by **Christo** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 2:36 pm

Just checked with AB missed on the cab sav...apparently so did many (without the appropriate markings)
next few days for nsw orders to be packed & then debited.

c

beef · Post by **beef** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 3:04 pm

They didn't send my mailer

They're sending one now, but I fear I may have missed the chance at some straight Shiraz.

Anyone know if Queensland orders have already been filled?

Stuart

The Cork Dork · Post by **The Cork Dork** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 3:05 pm

W.A ?????

Adair · Post by **Adair** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 3:11 pm

Ahhhh, I love Wendouree fever!
:-)

Davo · Post by **Davo** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 6:19 pm

BenK wrote:Sounds yum.

My credit card just got charged - anyone else?

On another note and further to Torb's comment - my wife and I were given a tour of Wendouree by Tony Brady on our honeymoon (Feb 2004). He let us sample from tank and was more talkative than I expected.

To top it all off he took us into his cellar, handed over a bottle of 1990 Cabernet and said "drink this in 10 years if you're still together"....we are and we will!

Cheers

Kuff

Hell, it's only 2 years so far. :twisted:

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 7:34 pm

Red Bigot wrote:My wine arrived a couple of days ago, looks like ACT got a bit of priority theis year for a change.

Hummm..... got mine just over a week ago. Looks like the AB's got the priority, even those in Cantberra. :wink:

Bert Werden · Post by **Bert Werden** » Fri Aug 04, 2006 7:42 pm

BenK wrote:To top it all off he took us into his cellar, handed over a bottle of 1990 Cabernet and said "drink this in 10 years if you're still together"....we are and we will!

Cheers

Kuff

In the unlikely event that you are not, make sure you get the booze!

rednut · Post by **rednut** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 9:26 am

Well they are sold out of Cabernet now. Hopefully the Shiraz lasts till my order.... :cry:

Gavin Trott · Post by **Gavin Trott** » Tue Aug 08, 2006 9:45 am

Very happy.

Each year I like to get a few of these for my cellar, usually from friends on the list who get me a few at list prices.

Getting some Cabernet Malbec and a Shiraz.

Happy, as someone who used to drive there every year since the 80's to buy, then didn't join the mailing list (due to conflict of interest) its great to get a few each year.

Subtle red · Post by **Subtle red** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 4:42 pm

has anyone from Melbourne got their order yet??

BenK · Post by **BenK** » Wed Aug 09, 2006 5:10 pm

Yep, got mine last Friday.

Gavin Trott · Post by **Gavin Trott** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 2:51 pm

Gavin Trott wrote:Very happy.

Each year I like to get a few of these for my cellar, usually from friends on the list who get me a few at list prices.

Getting some Cabernet Malbec and a Shiraz.

Happy, as someone who used to drive there every year since the 80's to buy, then didn't join the mailing list (due to conflict of interest) its great to get a few each year.

Got mine this afternoon ... you beauty!

:lol:

Adair · Post by **Adair** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 3:11 pm

Still none for me!

By the way, I did speak to Tony Brady this week, and discussed a number of thing but of interest, in light of many comments that Wendouree reds have increased their quality over the past couple of years, was that Tony does not believe that winemaking of Wendouree reds has changed much since the mid 1980s when they moved to small oak from the old, aged vats. The largest changed before that was the end of watering down the must to create a wine of less than 14 alcohol from above 15% alcohol. That is right, over 5% of Wendouree reds from the 1960s and before was water!

However, at the end of the conversation, Tony said Ã¢â‚¬Å“if anything, we are not plunging as much as we used to, reducing colour but probably having a larger affect on tanninÃ¢â‚¬ÂÃ¢â‚¬Â¦ and there we are!

Also, I asked why the Wendourees are relatively low in alcohol compared to others even in the Clare Valley. The reasons Tony gave were: vineyard position; vine age; and no irrigation. Sounds right to me.

Adair

Subtle red · Post by **Subtle red** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 3:56 pm

I'm stil waiting anxiously!

Davo · Post by **Davo** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 6:20 pm

Subtle red wrote:I'm stil waiting anxiously!

With a user name like that you won't be getting many Parker Points :lol: