Aussie Chateauneuf

[Mahmoud Ali]

She says: Is this is a Chateauneuf?
Me: What makes you say that?
She: Because it tastes like it - dry, earthy, black cherry.
Me: Good guess, though there is no Mourvedre in the blend, just Shiraz and Grenache.
She: Okay, so it's new world then. Victoria?
Me: Clare Valley.
She, looking at the colour: 2002?
Me: 1999.
She: What is it?

1999 Lengs & Cooter 'The Victor', Shiraz 55%, Grenache 45%, Clare Valley(13.2%)

Lengs&Cooter1999.jpg

This was by no means a remarkable wine, but it was eminently drinkable, mature, leafy, savoury, and dry. I have no idea what it was like when young (I bought a pair of them and put them away) but his had no hint of it ever being sweet or big in the Aussie style that was fashionable at one time. I have to say that I was hoping for more, in that I would have preferred a bigger, more fragrant bouquet and expansive palate, but in every other sense it was a very nice drop, matching quite well with the lamb shoulder steaks. Made from dry grown, hand-picked fruit and only 13.2% alcohol, I can't help but think this had a hand in its old world elegance. I'm not sure this wine will go much further because after the one hour decant and following our meal it started to go downhill. Note that the cork was, as is quite common in older Australian wine, nondescript with only "A.S.A" on it but in pristine shape with barely any staining.

The 1999 Sandeman 'Vau Vintage' Port (20%) was popped and poured to satisfy an itch for something sweet. The Vau Vintage is made in an early drinking style so I had no qualms about not giving it much air apart from the decanting. With hardly any tannin remaining this was so gluggable, sliding down like silk.

Cheers ............................... Mahmoud.

[Ian S]

0/3 on guesses, but that rather disguises that those guesses were really rather close - the sort where you sagely nod in appreciation of a guess so nearly correct and where the logic of the guess is clear and sound.

[Mahmoud Ali]

You are spot on Ian, it's exactly what I felt at the time as I listened to her guesses as I tasted the wine. Guessing a 21-year old Aussie Shiraz-Grenache at 13.2% at the dry end of the spectrum resembling a CdP is not unlike Harry Waugh's "Not since lunch" riposte to when he was asked about the last time he confused a Bordeaux with a Burgundy.

[phillisc]

Gee wizz Colin Cooter, used to go to his tastings at The Ed in the 80/90s and then get smashed with him over dinner after wards. Think I have a few bottles of CV Riesling and Shiraz buried in the depths somewhere.
Cheers Craig

[Mahmoud Ali]

Gee wizz Colin Cooter, used to go to his tastings at The Ed in the 80/90s and then get smashed with him over dinner after wards. Think I have a few bottles of CV Riesling and Shiraz buried in the depths somewhere.

Cool. So who was Lengs?