dodgy vintages and fine wines that still somehow prevail

didgidee · Post by **didgidee** » Tue Dec 21, 2004 11:48 pm

not sure if this makes any sense but some of the best wines i have ever tasted have been from allegedly 'problematic' vintages.... ie: 93 95 99 01.

i've had some very nice Hunter shiraz from so called awful years.
some '02 Mornington Peninsula Pinot [worst vintage in 25 years many claimed] were just lovely.

equally i have been let down by some hyped vintages
ie: [98...penfolds 389]

has anyone felt the same? please name those wines that have defied all the bad ju-ju [or vice versa].

Mike Hawkins · Post by **Mike Hawkins** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 5:28 am

I remember being surprised with the 2000 Grant Burge Filsell (a very difficult year in the BV). I thought it was a bettre wine than the 98 & 99.

I also recall many wineries had big troubles in 1983, yet Grange from that year is one the greats.

Mike

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 5:41 am

92 Lesingham CC Sparkling Shiraz
92 Dalwhinnie Shiraz
92 Jasper Hill Emily and Georgia
... are a few that come to mind.

GraemeG · Post by **GraemeG** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 9:05 am

At an offline last year sometime, a 1987 Yarra Yering no 1 was a stunning wine from a much-ignored vintage. Also, 2 years ago the 1989 Bin 389 was unexpectedly good - better I felt than 92 or 93. Earlier this year the 1993 Leoville Las Cases was magnificent, and at it's current auction price of around $100-odd would kick just about any similarly-priced local wine into the dirt. And, drunk side-by-side, the 1990 Lawsons Shiraz was seriously overshadowed by the 1988 version of the same wine.

cheers,
Graeme

FatBoy · Post by **FatBoy** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 10:19 am

1993 Craiglee Shiraz (fantastic wine at its peak right now),
1979 Taltarni Cabernet (don't know if this vintage was hyped in Vic, also at its peak right now)

BTW: Since when was 1999 problematic ? Maybe in Vic, but that's about it and it was still pretty good (Dalwhinnie, St Peters). 2000 S.A (ex Coonawarra) is the shonky vintage ...

Penfolds fell apart after the 96 vintage. Totally agee with your assessment of the 98 Bin 389. Good enough, but the hype is absurd. Get on board the 96 train, I say ...

We've had this debate elsewhere - and contradictory to my earlier statement - St Henri delivers every vintage. I particularly like the '97.

In Maragaret River, Voyager Estate delivered a couple of ripper cab merlot's in 97/98, but then in the superior 99/00 vintages, let itself down.

Chow Chow · Post by **Chow Chow** » Wed Dec 22, 2004 2:46 pm

Mike Hawkins wrote:I remember being surprised with the 2000 Grant Burge Filsell (a very difficult year in the BV). I thought it was a bettre wine than the 98 & 99.

Mike

Mike, Very lttle Meshach 2000 was made in 2000 so the bulk of it went into Fissell.

Maximus · Post by **Maximus** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 10:27 pm

I tried a 1995 Penfolds Bin 389 at a Thai restaurant this week and it was exceptional - I just wish I had a dozen sitting in the cellar (will have to raid Dad's supply instead). The nose was vanilla and spice, followed by herbal notes and cedar. Quite complex. It had a sensational mouthfeel and surprisingly persistent tannins for a wine of ten years age from a vintage that is certainly regarded as poor. I'm drinking the 2000 Bin 56 tonight and although I've only tried the last three vintages, I think this is the best. Fruit reserved for the Classic Clare was provided for this vintage of Bin 56.

Max
---
Who loves not wine, woman and song,
Remains a fool his whole life long.
(Martin Luther)