bacchaebabe wrote:Re the 96 Tintara, it was drinking very well but just not as full bodied as I would have expected which led me to think I'd just missed the boat on it. The bottle said cellar for 5 - 8 years and that appears to be spot on. I believe it will still hold for a couple of years and makes great drinking but it's just a tiny bit thin and I think that will only get worse over time.
I've a few of the 98s so I might try one soon too.
Kris
We had one of the 96 Tintara about a week ago. I thought it was drinking beautifully but agree that it could be better described as medium bodied/elegant.
Graham
Chardonnay: A drink you have when there is no RED wine, the beer hasn't arrived and the water may be polluted
Mamre Brook Shiraz 2002 - good wine for the price, fruit driven with fine tannins and great length for a sub-$20 wine. Left some over for the next day but it'd fallen apart.
Buller Calliope Shiraz 2002 - picked this up on the way to a party so not the best opportunity to taste but I took away a few impressions. I opened it with the intention of giving it a few hours air but, with guests descending upon it, I was forced to switch plans and get straight into it. The nose on this wine just said "drink me", so I obliged. This wine is big with concentrated sweet fruit which almost overpowers you, with underlying liquorice and aniseed. It 16% alcohol which only just shows through. Fine tannins which almost get lost at first. Very good length. Left a glass for an hour and the wine was much better balanced and drinking beautifully. Unfortunately, the rest of the bottle had quickly disappeared, and I was left wanting more. Good gear - highly recommended. Will be better in a few years (3-5) but I'm not sure whether it is a serious long-termer (10+).
Dexter wrote:Buller Calliope Shiraz 2002 - picked this up on the way to a party so not the best opportunity to taste but I took away a few impressions. I opened it with the intention of giving it a few hours air but, with guests descending upon it, I was forced to switch plans and get straight into it. The nose on this wine just said "drink me", so I obliged. This wine is big with concentrated sweet fruit which almost overpowers you, with underlying liquorice and aniseed. It 16% alcohol which only just shows through. Fine tannins which almost get lost at first. Very good length. Left a glass for an hour and the wine was much better balanced and drinking beautifully. Unfortunately, the rest of the bottle had quickly disappeared, and I was left wanting more. Good gear - highly recommended. Will be better in a few years (3-5) but I'm not sure whether it is a serious long-termer (10+).
Good to see another note on this one! It's a shame you didn't get to 'properly' enjoy it, they're just wonderful wines and only made in the better years. I think you've got the drinking window right, though from past performance it'll easily last more than 10 years, but won't necessarily develop further after the first five....maybe The 1996 seems to have plateaued, but still has years of life in it
The 1996 seems to have plateaued, but still has years of life in it 