The best wines YTD

[Gianna]

I read an interesting thread on another BB and thought that the topic deserved another run here.
I don't have a very old cellar, but here are my picks for
My Best Wines Year to Date:

Shiraz: 1994 Wynns Michael Shiraz
2nd - 1996 Rockford Basket Press
(I don't have any grange!)

Pinot: 1999 Domaine Serene Evanstadd Reserve - Oregon
(It was easily the best)

Cab Sav: 1993 -707
Very close 2nd - 1996 Katnook Odessey, and I really liked the 98 JR.

Cab Merlot: 1995 Cullen Cab Merl
2nd - 1994 Howard Park

Riesling: 1997 Grosset Polish Hill
2nd - 2003 Polish Hill

Chardonnay: 1997 Penfolds Yattarna
2nd - 1999 Leeuwin Art Series

Champagne: - nil
Merlot: - nil

Cognac: Remi Martin XO and the 1973 Bas Armagnac

What's been your best so far this year? Any standouts?

[Noel B]

Shiraz: 98, 90, 96, 86, 83, & 91 Grange

Cab Sauv: 96, 98, 86 Bin 707

Champagne: Krug Rose

Cognac: Hennessey Richard and Remy Martin Louis XIII

Fortified: RL Buller Rare Muscat and Chambers Rosewood Rare Tokay

Cheers,
Noel B

[Davo]

Shiraz: Seppelt 1966 Burgundy

Pinot: I would like to say that something fancy, exotic and expensive but in reality it was a 1992 Chittering Estate bought at auction for $2.50. Sensational pinot nose and palate on the cherry stone side rather than strawberry lolly water with VA to give it character like so many I get to taste. Honourable mentions must go to the Fonty's Pool 1998 (which made a 1 er Cru Volnay and a Martinborough somethingorother look pathetic along side it), Dalwhinnie 97 and the McWilliams 1982 as well as Tucks Ridge 98.

Cab Sav: A toss up betweeen 2000 Vasse Felix Heytsbury (young and strong with it's best ahead(made the Grange 1989 taste like weak piss alongside it)) and 1989 Cyril (peaking right now if not beginning the slide) and the Parker 97 Terra Rossa was pretty damn good as well

Cab Merlot: Wynns 1991

Riesling: Can't recall drinking a reisling in 04 and my notes agree

Chardonnay: What is this stuff, I'm an ABC person. Well damn close anyway.

Champagne: Oh, I do like the widow, but the Bolly GA 92 wins.

Merlot: Hainault 1998 is the best Australian Merlot I have had and retains the crown (for me) so far this year. Aging beautifully. BTW TORB picked it as a shiraz on his one and only visit west.

Cognac: Remi Martin XO

Zinfandel: Peel 1999 is a bloody tooth killer of a wine.

Durif: A toss up between the aged and sensational 1987 Morris and the young, bold and sensational Warrabilla 2002 Parola.

Fortified: 1951 Hardy Show Reserve Tawny

Oh, and Gianna, don't be embarrassed by your lack of Grange. The 1996 Rockie BP made the 96 Grange look tres ordinairre when tasted together blind at the Peel shiraz challenge in 2002. No mean feat as the Grange 96 scored pretty well on the day.

[Martin C]

Davo,

The only standard bearer(AUS) fr Peel Est. is their Chenin Blanc.
Those Peel's Shirazes I've tasted were bought off retail, decent wines without being exciting. Maybe the btl. in the challenge was a super-charged fr his best unblended barrel.

Cheers,
MC

[Davo]

Martin, When are you going to cross the water and come for a visit.

I will take you out for an honest Aussie steak and some Peel reds and you will learn to appreciate what they were made for

[Rob]

Shiraz: 1988 Hill of Grace

Cab Sav: 1990 Bin 707(1st) and 1988 John Riddoch (2nd)

Merlot: 1994 Petaluma

Chardonnay 1999 William Fevre 1er Cru Chablis

Champagne 1996 Gosset and 1996 Pol Roger

Sticky 1992 Nobel one

Pinot 1996 from Yarra Valley can't recall the name