Wendouree Wine Notes

[Matt@5453]

2015 Wendouree Shiraz Malbec (14.1% Alc)

The Mrs & I had a look at a new release Wendouree (you only live once). At least a couple of hours decant. Floral and perfumed nose. Medium bodied at best; a complex wine showing notes of blueberries, a touch of aniseed, an 'earthiness', graphite, mocha / coffee grounds , some floral notes, with a juiciness from the Malbec, but yet a savoury edge to it. A very good line of acidity, some grippy tannin with a long intriguing finish. A very smart looking wine, so balanced. We've never had a 'young' Wendouree, but this was simply delicious, so approachable and enjoyable.

If I were to compare it to any wine, have a look at a "Vine Mind" Shiraz Malbec.

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[JakeBarnes]

That sounds outstanding Matt, I wish I'd ordered the Shiraz Malbec now. My first order this year and I just put in for the Cab Malbec, Shiraz Mataro and the straight Malbec. I'm sure I won't be unhappy with those though (if I get them).

[JamieBahrain]

I had a 98 Shiraz Mataro last week. Smokey, powerful aniseed, lavendar and dark fruits. Great length. Ready to go now with aeration but will hold.

Also, a 98 Cabernet Malbec, which was a little backward with only an hour in the decanter. It opened up slowly, previous experience suggests the wine needs a Barolo like decant. Aromatically, very typical of 98 Wendouree though still with lovely primary cabernet fruit. Needs 5 years and will hold your lifetime!

[JamieBahrain]

Last night I went to my cellar on ADL to put together a small vertical of Shiraz Malbec . Shiraz Malbec box unopened, had cab Malbec in it. As did the 2011 cab Malbec box. So I got 12 x Cab Malbec!

Now, every year I buy a full allocation and I'm a little troubled by this discovery! I can't physically check my allocation every year. It's also a bit of a pain to open those neat and tightly stapled boxes .

Just a heads up so to speak !

[phillisc]

Jamie the box will have an original notation in red, for example if you ordered 6 2015 Shiraz then that is all that will be written on that carton.
If you have mixed 6 or 12 carton then it's written in black texta what is actually in there. I have opened sealed cases from the mid 90s and there have never been any surprises.
Cheers
Craig

[phillisc]

Just a follow up...nothing written on the Shiraz malbec box that indicated Cabernet malbec...interesting
Cheers
Craig

[JamieBahrain]

Phil

This is an error. I order full cases for 25 years . Six pack labeled Shiraz Malbec had Cabernet Malbec. I got x 12- missed the Shiraz Malbec.

Heads up .

[JamieBahrain]

I just piled these into my cellar without opening and checking !



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[qwertt]

Phil

This is an error. I order full cases for 25 years . Six pack labeled Shiraz Malbec had Cabernet Malbec. I got x 12- missed the Shiraz Malbec.

Heads up .

Have you tried contacting Tony or Lita and asking if they have retained any as museum stock? For someone with your history with them, I’m sure that they would be willing to help if they can.

[JamieBahrain]

I don't think I'll bother. I'm OK with extra cab malbec and it is a tough vintage.

I actually have a photo of Wendouree and their wine museum somewhere and if I could post it you would probably get why I'm not bothering the Bradys.

It is a concern, I rarely check. I buy a lot of wine and kind of like jimmying open an unbroken crate or carton 20 years later.

[wheel]

Recently had a dinner with a few mates in adelaide with a wendouree being the focus. Unfortunately due to a few late pull outs we ended up with 8 people. In retrospect this was probably perfect amount of people as we could openly discuss the wines and look at them without rushing to see the next wines.
Ended up a late evening so a marginally hazy memory of all bottles but some definite standouts.
1990 malbec vs 2012. Side by side both had amazing fruit aromatics, and the colour was almost identical. hard to believe they were 22 years apart.
77 pressings vs 84 cab. in the glass the 77 pressings looked like it could be a 2007. Ridiculous colour and intensity. Got better and better over time in the glass (hour or so). 84 looked tired early and hit its straps after a while.
92 shiraz vs 2004 shiraz ( also 2010 Shiraz mataro). All looked bloody amazing when opened, rich powerful and so supple.
2003 cab malbec vs 2009 cab malbec vs 2014 cab malbec. Very very youthful. all looked incredible and aromatic after maybe an hour in the glass but any of mine will be held onto for ages.
1997 pressings was corked unfortunately.
highlights for me
1990 malbec
1977 pressings
1992 shiraz
Im sure we will do a similar dinner again down the track and probably will taste completely different wines which i am looking forward to!

[JamieBahrain]

Nice one wheel !

I had a Wendouree Cabernet Malbec 2011 tonight which I feel would either be better young or better left in the hope a few issues are ironed out with age. Lots of aromatic interest, dusty blackcurrant, pastille, menthol and spice. Delivers near four-square- however some fruity extract and astringency unbalances the wine at this stage.

90pts+

[Matt@5453]

There was a large vertical tasting of Shiraz from 1975 to 2006 held recently in H.K. Jamie, were you involved?

[JamieBahrain]

Hi Matt,

This was organized by one of our members and became a commercial event. I'd hoped it would be a HKWS event. So I didn't go. There was a lunch yesterday too, with 70's Wendouree that went very well by accounts.

Please, if you have these wines, cellar them properly, they are very good !

[JamieBahrain]

Looking at Facebook impressions of the event, the 70's were mind-blowing and the 80's whilst excellent, still had time. 90's approachable better in 10 of course.

[JamieBahrain]

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Last night I had a beautifully mature 1998 Wendouree Shiraz Mataro. Environmentally controlled cellar since release, drives pristine aromatics- violets, lavendar, smoked meats and earthen dark fruits. Gentle eucalyptus echoes throughout, working well with the high pitched acidity and resolved tannins. Really something-perfectly cellared and presented, delivering a pioneering Clare Valley experience.

93pts

[rens]

Last night I had a beautifully mature 1998 Wendouree Shiraz Mataro. Environmentally controlled cellar since release, drives pristine aromatics- violets, lavendar, smoked meats and earthen dark fruits. Gentle eucalyptus echoes throughout, working well with the high pitched acidity and resolved tannins. Really something-perfectly cellared and presented, delivering a pioneering Clare Valley experience.

93pts

Hi Jamie
Can you tell me a bit about the Vina Tondonia. Is it the reserva? How was it? 199...?

[phillisc]

So out of interest what would a Wendouree have to be doing for it to score a 95-96+
Cheers
Craig

[Hunter]

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Last night I had a beautifully mature 1998 Wendouree Shiraz Mataro. Environmentally controlled cellar since release, drives pristine aromatics- violets, lavendar, smoked meats and earthen dark fruits. Gentle eucalyptus echoes throughout, working well with the high pitched acidity and resolved tannins. Really something-perfectly cellared and presented, delivering a pioneering Clare Valley experience.

93pts

How was the edelstone ? Any fruit

[JamieBahrain]

So out of interest what would a Wendouree have to be doing for it to score a 95-96+
Cheers
Craig

Yeah sorry. Aussie points 95-96+

[phillisc]

I am not inferring the idiocy of a number of Australian scribes and their grossly exaggerated scores, but in comparison what would a premium example of Wendouree stack up against in an international sphere?
Cheers
Craig

[JamieBahrain]

In my opinion, it's difficult to be generic with the above Wendouree, as the blends are shiraz dominant so Rhone comparisons problematic.

I drink a lot of Rhone and to answer your question, Wendouree stacks up comfortably with the very best when in a maturation window. Of course, they are unique in style, though this drives a wow factor fo me.

It's interesting, having hosted Wendouree verticals, as well as Rhones from Clape to Chave, internationally, Wendouree have been seen to be on par comfortably at their best- though often eclipsed by Chave. Clape is interesting and strikingly similar- you have to be on the ball to coax the best from the wine.

The shiraz and shiraz blends were an easy question to answer. Wendouree cabernet and cabernet blends more difficult. Not least because they need decades before I'd comfortably put them up against the great wines of Bordeaux.

[Wayno]

I had a 1985 Wendouree Cabernet on NYE. Nice wine and in excellent shape/condition. It almost felt as though it had hit a spot where it could pretty well remain unchanged for the next 10+ years.

It was a good wine but didn’t really rock my boat as much as I thought it may have...

[brodie]

1993 Wendouree Caberbet Sauvignon: Dark red with a slight bricking at the edge. Bouquet is an interesting and appealing combination of dark red fruits, earth and eucalyptus. Palate is big powerful, intense, concentrated, balanced and very long in the mouth. Fruits are in the dark red / black spectrum. More like blackberries and doris plums. Lots of integrated tannins provide plenty of structure and it has nice clean acidity. The finish is long and intense. Youthfully mature if that makes sense.

Descriptors really don't do this wine justice. It is a wonderful expression of soil and grape and a unique wine making style. It is a superb glass of wine that reaches out and grabs you. The power and intensity are amazing as is the balance. The alcohol on the label says 12.7%, which I expect is correct. It tastes lovely, fresh and unmanipulated.

Everything I could hope for and wish for in a 25+ year old Wendouree.

Brodie

[phillisc]

Great note Brodie
Cheers
Craig

[Luke W]

2004 Wendouree Shiraz Malbec - driven 800km in a car and decanted for at least 5 minutes before being poured into 4 eager glasses. Opened a little dumb as u would expect despite the day's vibrations but soon morphed into a wine of considerable stature and poise. Medium and quite tannic at first - reminded me of some supertuscans of the past but settled within 30 minutes or so and became more rounded and less tannic. Lovely dark fruit - the group gave it the thumbs up and it was WOTN. I'll try a bit more finesse next time although in my limited experience wine success has wider parameters.

[Matt@5453]

2014 Wendouree Malbec

Decanted for 2 hours and then consumed over 3 hours. Medium bodied/weight to the palate. Perfumed nose with spices, earth and a cherry lift. The palate was a kaleidoscope of plush fruit flavours that continued to open up over time with red cherries, raspberry, cranberry and spices with an earthiness/savouriness about it. A very good level of acidity and tannin structure with a long finish. Plenty of enjoyment now with a bright future ahead.

[Hacker]

1991 Wendouree Shiraz One of about six remaining bottles. Trademark eucalypt nose and palate, but in a good way. You kind of expect this and it is a unique aspect that helps give this away when blind tasting. Menthol, dark fruits, resolved tannins and length to burn. Complex and interest are leading me to think well stored bottles may have another decade of life ahead of them. One of the great Wendourees.

[phillisc]

96 Wendouree Shiraz...first of the case and many found it to be polarizing. Perfect cork and still very bright colour...eucalypt and menthol and a bit of the band-aid character. Double decanted and and allowed to breathe for several hours. Nose still muted, minty characters dissipated, but many commented medicinal and almost port like for a wine of 13.8%. Improved as the night went on

Cheers
Craig

[Matt@5453]

2013 Wendouree Shiraz Mataro

First one of my 2013's. Medium bodied with a lovely perfumed nose. The palate shows a spectrum of plum type fruit, red berries, liquorice, spice and a touch of raspberry type tartness. With more time in the decanter the palate continues to open up showing a lovely core of fruit filling the middle palate. I like the savoury ‘tone’ of the wine, certainly no jammy type flavours. I liked the balance between the elegant fruit, bright type acidity and a grippy tannin profile. The finish is long & lingering. This requires a good decant of at least 2 hours minimum prior to consumption. Needs far more time in the cellar.