Hooray! Tyrrells Private Bin Whites moving to screwcaps!

[GraemeG]

Just in on the letter to Private Bin members. All the 'top white wines' will now be bottles under screwcap. They're not specific about which vintages of which wines, but I assume all the 2004 vintage wines. Presumably that means the 2003 Vat 47 stays under cork (November release).

Interestingly, rationale is more to prevent inconsistencies caused by oxidation than TCA. They claim to have been doing trials since 1976! Bruce reckons the Semillons will age slightly differently - "more lift and vibrancy on the front and middle palate, and perhaps a touch less complexity right on the finish."

I've never done it before, but opening a case of old (15yr+) Tyrrells semillon was surely one of the great lotteries in wine, and they deserve better than that. I did once buy a 9-bottle lot of 86 Vat 1 at auction (in 1999) and the bottles offered a wide and varying range of colours and fill levels. Predictably, some were great, others not so much.

Now we just need to get the Tahbilk Marsanne under screwcap (imminent) and all my local white wine needs are taken care of!

cheers,
Graeme

[markg]

Great news !!

[Adair]

Just in on the letter to Private Bin members. All the 'top white wines' will now be bottles under screwcap. They're not specific about which vintages of which wines, but I assume all the 2004 vintage wines. Presumably that means the 2003 Vat 47 stays under cork (November release).

Interestingly, rationale is more to prevent inconsistencies caused by oxidation than TCA. They claim to have been doing trials since 1976! Bruce reckons the Semillons will age slightly differently - "more lift and vibrancy on the front and middle palate, and perhaps a touch less complexity right on the finish."

I've never done it before, but opening a case of old (15yr+) Tyrrells semillon was surely one of the great lotteries in wine, and they deserve better than that. I did once buy a 9-bottle lot of 86 Vat 1 at auction (in 1999) and the bottles offered a wide and varying range of colours and fill levels. Predictably, some were great, others not so much.

Now we just need to get the Tahbilk Marsanne under screwcap (imminent) and all my local white wine needs are taken care of!

cheers,
Graeme

Hello Graeme,

I too was very happy to read the lastest White Private Bin letter. I wonder if they will be putting the "el-cheapo" Vat 15 Semillon under Stelvin. I very much hope so. Half of the wines in the last and only case I bought of this wine a few months ago were adversely TCA tainted!!! It is actually a good wine without TCA.

Bruce's comment about the back palate was very interesting.

With regard to the 2003 Vat 47, this wine has already been released. I presume you mean the 2004 Vat 47. BTW and FWIW, the 2003 Vat 47 is a huge and powerful wine... I am going to put it next to the LEAS 01 soon as I reckon it will hold itself well. I quite liked it but it is definitely different to normal expectations of the wine.

I agree on the Tahbilk Marsanne comment, now that I can get Vat 1 and Elizabeths under Stelvin, I too only need the Tahbilk Marsanne under screwcap so that all my regular/yearly white wine purchases are covered.

Adair

[Gary W]

Elisabeth is under stelvin. Early release. Exclusive to VC and Liquorland....the bananas!
GW

[GraemeG]

With regard to the 2003 Vat 47, this wine has already been released. I presume you mean the 2004 Vat 47.
Adair

Yes, I realised while reading the mailer in the bus going home yesterday that they were referring to the 04 Vat 47, and that of course the 2003 has been bottled already.

As to Elizabeth - perhaps I should have made up a mixed dozen of wines when they were selling 01 Mildara white label Cab under screwcap at $15 on-special. Half a dozen of each would have been good. Ah well....

cheers,
Graeme

[Guest]

Tahbilk Marsanne, and most or all of the rest of the whites, is under screwcap from CD and Mailing List.

[Guest]

Tahbilk Marsanne, and most or all of the rest of the whites, is under screwcap from CD and Mailing List.

.... as is the Cab Franc and Merlot as well.

[Adair]

Tahbilk Marsanne, and most or all of the rest of the whites, is under screwcap from CD and Mailing List.

TOUCHDOWN!!!

[Guest]

Hmm, I wonder would the excitement be as great if they were released in 750ml cask format? I mean, that's probably just as good a seal, cheaper, keeps better once opened, and just as untested for long term ageing! Let's apply the same to premium reds; "Thank you my good man, I'll have a 1.5L cask of the 2000 Lafite. This will be drinking well for Roger's 60th in 20 years." Ahh, imagine the descriptions at auction: "Note: Rare 1.5L box format! Cellar stained box, silverfish easten upper left corner. No perforations broken, handle section intact."

[Murray]

Hmm, I wonder would the excitement be as great if they were released in 750ml cask format? I mean, that's probably just as good a seal, cheaper, keeps better once opened, and just as untested for long term ageing! Let's apply the same to premium reds; "Thank you my good man, I'll have a 1.5L cask of the 2000 Lafite. This will be drinking well for Roger's 60th in 20 years." Ahh, imagine the descriptions at auction: "Note: Rare 1.5L box format! Cellar stained box, silverfish easten upper left corner. No perforations broken, handle section intact."

Dear Anon,

Way wrong. The Bag in Box format is completely different and unsuited to aging.

The wine in a bag actively degrades over time, that's why it has a 'best by' indicator on it from some suppliers.

If ever you're buying a bag-in-box make sure you choose the freshest one.

just as untested for long term ageing!

Hmmm, I've tasted 20-25yo wines in screwcap that show screwcaps testability very nicely.

Murray

[GraemeG]

I mean, that's probably just as good a seal, cheaper, keeps better once opened, and just as untested for long term ageing!

For at least 20 years its been known that wine in casks solwly oxidises, and common wisdon suggests they should be drunk quickly (relatively) once opened.

The secret of a successful troll is to take a position that is at least not in direct contradiction to known facts...!


Graeme