kangaroo island wines

[Dang]

The steaks were sizzling in the frying pan before I realised that the special wine for the evening was not decanted. No problem, just grab the corkscrew and my 99 Lashmar Kangaroo Island Cab[b] would be ready. I ended up with a third of the cork and the other two-third in zillion pieces. I do not think they have screw caps in 99!

Quick, a filter. No filter could be found. Paper towel would do. The wine was filtered into two measuring cups and mercifully poured back into the rinsed bottle. At least the wine was well aired! Just in time to pull the frying pan off the burner. The steaks were just right, nice medium rare, just like any chef would have done.
The nose/palate showed plenty of black fruits (especially black currants) entertwained in dark chocolate, anise, tobacco, olive and some mint. The palate was so nice and balanced and there was enough soft tannin left to compliment the steak. Only one problem: I do prefer my steak rare. Oh well.
[b]Lashmar seems to disappear since 2011. Anybody knows the whereabout of the winery. I do really like to make a trip to the island one day. Anybody knows about the other wines from the island?
Dac Dang

[Hunter]

I enjoy hazyblur's k.I shiraz.. although there based in virginia.. The 06's are in a nice spot

Lived on the rock for 2 years and never seen a vinyard. Guess i wasnt looking hard enough

[phillisc]

Lashmar I believe was the second label for Lengs and Cooter (Carl Lengs and Colin Cooter) who originally had a made wines from a number of vineyards in Clare and the Barossa. They had a Riesling, Shiraz and Reserve Shiraz.
I knew Colin from years ago but have no idea what he is up to now.

Lengs and Cooter has not been made for some time...they burst onto the scene in the early 90s or thereabouts and won a few medals and JH gave them a big wrap in his wine companion.

Cheers
Craig

[Duncan Disorderly]

A couple of years ago I went to a dinner and tasting of Islander Estate wines. From memory they were reasonably good. The Malbec from the Majestic range and the top end Cab Franc were the best wines in my opinion.

The real highlight though was meeting Jacques Lurton the owner and winemaker. The Lurton family are a Bordeaux institution. I believe he is the among them fourth or fifth generation of the Lurton's to have made wine in Bordeaux (and elsewhere). One of his cousins runs Cheval Blanc and d'Yquem and we finished the evening with a Climens which is made by another cousin. Despite putting his back out earlier in the day he put on a pretty engaging performance introducing his wine and telling a few other stories. Pretty impressive.

[Luke W]

I've been working my way through 3 or 4 dozen Cape d'Estaing Cabernets from 2000 and 2001. Kangaroo Island wines bought this year on Grays for a song (maybe $5 each!). I think originally about $35 but bloody gorgeous. If u get an opportunity try one.

[Mahmoud Ali]

I have a couple of Lengs and Cooter wines but I don't think they are from Kangaroo Island. One is a Semillon from the Clare Valley and the other is a red called 'The Vicar' but my cellar list doesn't have any more information about it except that is a from the 1999 vintage. I suspect it is a blend but I'm not sure.

Mahmoud.

[Michael McNally]

I've been working my way through 3 or 4 dozen Cape d'Estaing Cabernets from 2000 and 2001. Kangaroo Island wines bought this year on Grays for a song (maybe $5 each!). I think originally about $35 but bloody gorgeous. If u get an opportunity try one.

Thanks to Luke I bought six of the 2000 of this wine and they are "bloody gorgeous".

Cheers

Michael

[Bobthebuilder]

Have had quite a few bottles of the 2001 Cape D'estaing Shiraz which I really enjoyed but found others I shared it with either loved it or really disliked it with no one in between. it was a very big wine, rich and fruity with a moderate amount of Brett, which I guess is what may have turned some people off.

Just before Christmas I had a 2005 Cape D'Estaing Shiraz from a magnum and it was very nice, no Bretty notes, the red berry fruit was fresh and slightly tart, tannins relatively smooth and the acidity was very well balanced. I have another magnum which I will keep for at least another 3 or 4 years as it seemed like it still has plenty of time left in tank and might round out a little more.

Also have 2 of their 2004 cab sav magnums, one of which I might open at a barbie in the next week or two.