TN: A Couple of Kalleskes

[KMP]

Kalleske Greenock Shiraz (Basket Pressed) 2002 $54.99USD
Dense cherry red with red edge. Jumps out of the glass with an initial aroma of intense chocolate, changing to smoked meat, vanilla and a slight mint flavor. Developed a pepper note over several hours. Full bodied with big astringent tannins and a clean acid finish – still too young. Although a little rough on the edges and somewhat closed on retronasal, it’s a well structured wine. But its not a food wine, the high alcohol content gave the wine an unpleasant hotness with the beef stroganoff we tried it with. After about 8 hours in the glass (a la TORB) the wine was still full bodied, jammy and astringent, and now the retronasal was heavy with chocolate and dusty oak. A glass or two tried the next day gave blackberry, vanilla, mint and was still full bodied. This is a wine with a long life but, in my opinion, is really too young to be drunk now. 2, 2, 4.5, 9.6=18.1. 15.5% alcohol. Tasted September 15-16.

Kalleske Old Vine Grenache (Basket Pressed) 2002 $54.99USD
Dark cherry red with red edge. An intense floral note that quickly faded to eucalyptus, pepper and blackberries, plus a host of other complex aromas. In the mouth itÂ’s a medium weight wine with acidity that dances across the palate to merge with equally evident firm tannins backing up the finish. IÂ’ve heard this wine described as smelling like a fruitcake. I didnÂ’t get those flavors. But it is a wine that is a delight to hold in the mouth while gently sucking in air over the wine and breathing out through the nose. This is an excellent wine. After 24 hours there was licorice and black fruits and that finish just lingers and lingers. At 48 hours the wine was showing just the faintest hint of getting a little tired. 2, 2, 4.7, 10.3 = 19.0. 15.5% alcohol. Tasted September 18-20.

So far there really aren’t any formal tasting notes on these wines in the US, at least that I can find. The Wine Spectator has given the Grenache 92 and the Shiraz 88 points, but I can’t find any TNs in my copies of WS (perhaps they are available to online subscribers). I don’t know if Parker has seen the wines. Eric Anderson did give a good review to the Grenache. Price wise they sell for $55 -70USD/bt, and for that sort of money they are really not great value. The Grenache may be worth it, simply because its such an unusual wine. The shiraz, well I’d like to see it in a line up with others around $55 before I buy more – but then my source was sold out last time I looked anyway!

Mike

[markg]

Hmmm... Some of the tasting notes about the shiraz that come out of the states sometimes makes it sound like a different wine.

I think we may have to open up one of mine when you are over later in the year just to see if there is actually any variation

[KMP]

Hmmm... Some of the tasting notes about the shiraz that come out of the states sometimes makes it sound like a different wine.

I think we may have to open up one of mine when you are over later in the year just to see if there is actually any variation

Hi Mark - well that signed bottle is going to my brother as an Xmas pressy so your stash might be the only available! I really would like to taste the wine again but without knowing what it is - there was a lot of expectation on my part and when I opened the bottle and got that first wiff I thought "Oh, they might be right". But it just never seemed to be well integrated. I still have one bottle left but I'm saving that for a visit from a winemaker friend in the new year. I want to put together a tasting of high and low alcohol shiraz from the 2002 vintage for him just to get his take on the vintage. His syrahs run from 13.3 to 15.6% and are from high and low altitude vineyards. And I want to see if a winemaker can actually pick alcohol differences, 'cause I think most folks can't unless they read the label - I know I have probelms.

I forgot to add that both the wines I tasted carried the Joshua Tree Imports label so I think that means they came from the initial import lot. It would be interesting to know whether WS scored the wines in Oz or from bottles shipped to the states. (Sept. 30 issue had an article by Steiman on Aussie Reds which gave scores) Maybe Troy Kalleske knows the answer to that?

Mike

[KMP]

Found 'em, the WS TNs that is.

Shiraz Barossa Valley Greenock 2002
Smooth, polished style offers spicy, vanilla oak-scented berry and tar flavors, finishing with refinement. There's a wonderful open texture to this wine, but the level of oak might need decanting for an hour or two to tame it. Drink now through 2007. 200 cases made. (HS) Score: 88. Price: $42

Grenache Barossa Valley Old Vine Basket Pressed 2002
Supple, sumptuous and round, a lithe mouthful of spicy cherry and plum flavors that remain succulent right through the long, fine-grained finish. Drink now through 2012. 120 cases made. (HS) Score: 92. Price: $40

The TNs were only posted to the web. I'd like to know where they sell for $40-42/bt! At least I didn't say the shiraz has tar - seems to be the new descriptor for Aussie shiraz! I believe I know what tar smells like, I've never smelt it in any wine!

Mike