TN: New, Current and future releases - Quick Summary

[markg]

2002 Alan & Veitch Merlot
A sumptuous merlot. Rich plums and sweet fruits on the palate with a lingering finish and a decent spine of tannins. Excellent.

2002 Ashton Hills Estate Pinot Noir
Silky texture, great complexity.

2002 Ashton Hills Pinot Noir
Very nice ripe fruits and powdery tannins.

2003 Hewitson Ned & Henry's Shiraz
A sweet nose of toffee, aniseed and chocolate with a persistant lingering palate of dense fruits and mocha. Exceptional value for money.

2001 Houghton Pemberton Merlot
Another outstanding Merlot, this time from out West. Fresh plums, chocolate and good structure although it did finish a little short.

2001 Houghton Frankland River Shiraz
Seemed to lack flavour and complexity. Simple.

2001 Houghton Margret River Cab Sav
A wonderful ripe nose of plums with intense rich fruits on the palate. Excellent wine.

2000 Houghton Jack Mann Cab Malbec
Not much in the way of fruit or complexity. Perhaps because this bottle had not had time to air?

2001 JJ Hahn 1914 Shiraz
Deep purple, simple, not very impressed, expecting more.

2003 Kaesler Stonehorse Shiraz
Intense and concentrated wine. A step up from the 2002. Well worth it if you like this style.

2001 Lashmar Three Valleys Shiraz
Some VA on the nose ?? The palate was deep and rich, chockablock full of searingly intense fruits and a good spine of gripping, yet integrated tannins.

2002 Magpie Estate The Sack Shiraz
Deep purple in color with a rich nose of plums, blackberry liqueur and pepper. A well balanced palate of rich fruits and a good spine of tannins.

2002 Mauris Shiraz
A sumptuous nose of liquorice, tar and blackfruits with a palate of intense fruits and a long, lingering finish.

2002 Olivers Taranga Shiraz
Full bodied flavours of chocolate and berry, good finish and a nice backbone.

2002 Olivers Taranga Cab Shiraz
A nose of plums and blackcurrant with a slightly leafy palate of chocolate and berry.

2001 Paxton Shiraz
A rich, sweet nose of fresh plums and a powerful palate of chocolate and black berries with a warming dose of alcohol.

2002 Pertaringa Undercover Shiraz
Perhaps a bit simple, nothing special.

2002 Reschke Vutulus Cab Sav
Lovely layers of blackfruits and grippy tannins

2001 Temple Bruer Shiraz Malbec
Faulty !!! Nose of bandaids.

2002 Torbreck The Factor Shiraz
A lifted nose of violets, black berry and plums with a richly layerd palate of sweet blackfruits, tar and cherry.

2001 Trevor Jones Wild Witch
I was expecting a bit more actually and was a bit disappointed, it was ok, just not very interesting.

[Prester John]

Thanks for the notes, Mark.

I'd like to know a little more of your thoughts (if you can recall) on the Lashmar. It's one of Colin Cooter's (of Leng's and Cooter fame) upper class wines. I have tried Lashmer 1999 (I think that was the right vintage) but not his later vintages. Do you think that the 2001 vintage has the strength to go the distance of, say, 10 years?

In reference to the Wild Witch, I'm inclined to agree with you based on the performance of this wine over the last few years. The 1999 vintage and later vintages seem to me to be trading on the name without supplying the quality. I have tried 1996, 1997 and 1998 which were all excellent and which, while a little on the expensive side, I was willing to purchase. But the 1999 was somewhat of a retrograde step in quality, and I've been told that the later vintages are worse. I'd rather put my money elsewhere. Not a great QPR on this vintage from what you've said.

Thanks again,

PJ.

[markg]

Thanks for the notes, Mark.

I'd like to know a little more of your thoughts (if you can recall) on the Lashmar. It's one of Colin Cooter's (of Leng's and Cooter fame) upper class wines. I have tried Lashmer 1999 (I think that was the right vintage) but not his later vintages. Do you think that the 2001 vintage has the strength to go the distance of, say, 10 years?

The Lashmar was certainly one of my favourites of the tasting and stood out, quality wise, from many of the others. From my perspective, the power, concentration and balance fo fruits, tannins and acid would suggest that it certainly has the potential to go the distance, at least for 10 years.

[Red Bigot]

[2002 Pertaringa Undercover Shiraz
Perhaps a bit simple, nothing special.

Hi Mark,

Tried this tonight at my Monday group, it was rated top, just ahead of the O'Leary Walker Clare/McLarenvale, well ahead of Kangarilla Rd and Elderton, with Normans Old Vine and a stinky (reductive sulphur, H2S) Mitchell peppertree bringing up the rear. (all 2002). I rated it second after the Elderton and found it to have a great mouthfeel and good balance, for early drinking or short term cellaring (not a lot of tannin/acid), a bit like shiraz marshmallows, voluptuous but not over-ripe. Made by Ben Riggs, I'd buy some if I needed a nice early-drinking shiraz with some flavour and character.

The group is ordering several cases @ $14/btl.