I usually shop in the $15-$22 range but I spotted a couple of bottles that took my fancy in the shop the other day. I wondered what people here thought the QPR were on these.
Magnum Lindemans St George Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 - $80
Majella Shiraz 2001 $33
Majella Cabernet 2001 $33.
Buying advice
I'd pass on the St George, 97 was a fairly ordinary vintage for the Lindemans Coonawarra trio.
I'm sorry Brian, but I disagree with this comment.
The St George and Pyrus are definitely early drinking styles for the label, and in that context I'd agree on passing on the St George magnum if Ratcatcher was either looking to cellar it, or for a classic hedonistic & huge vintage for the label. Current auction price for the 1997 magnum is around $60-$80 plus commission, so from a retailer price-wise it's pretty good.
I've tried the 1997 Limestone Ridge a few times over the last 5 years, and it's been a stunning wine every time.
Cheers
Ian
Forget about goodness and mercy, they're gone.
Ian,
Don't be sorry, each to their own tastes. I agree the Limestone Ridge is definitely the pick of the 97's, but St George is not really meant to be an early drinker and Pyrus is a 10 year wine in good vintages. Neither the Pyrus or St George from 97 are good examples of what these labels can be and therefore not good value to me.
I've got the 96 and 98 Pyrus and Limestone Ridge in my cellar, plus a few 96 St George, didn't buy any of the 97's or any of these since the 98 vintage, there are a lot of Coonawarras with better qpr than the Lindemans trio these days, including Petaluma at around the same price, Balnaves and Majella a fair bit cheaper.
Don't be sorry, each to their own tastes. I agree the Limestone Ridge is definitely the pick of the 97's, but St George is not really meant to be an early drinker and Pyrus is a 10 year wine in good vintages. Neither the Pyrus or St George from 97 are good examples of what these labels can be and therefore not good value to me.
I've got the 96 and 98 Pyrus and Limestone Ridge in my cellar, plus a few 96 St George, didn't buy any of the 97's or any of these since the 98 vintage, there are a lot of Coonawarras with better qpr than the Lindemans trio these days, including Petaluma at around the same price, Balnaves and Majella a fair bit cheaper.
Cheers
Brian
Life's too short to drink white wine and red wine is better for you too! :-)
Brian
Life's too short to drink white wine and red wine is better for you too! :-)
I missed the QPR bit in the original question, but kind of factored it into my answer.
Likewise I've stopped buying the trio after the 1998 vintage for the same QPR reasons, and only got those when heavy discounting bought the price down over 20%, more like what they were a few years ago. $80 for a magnum still seems pretty fair given the original $115 RRP, but that's if Ratcatcher would accept the lesser vintage and doesn't look for better alternatives.
The 1997 St George & Pyrus certainly had restrained fruit, and rather mercifully they equally restrained that oak to make styles that while not really representative of the best the labels can produce, were very drinkable early. The 1997 John Riddoch and Michael in comparison I found simply revolting.
I've always liked the 1997 Limestone Ridge (it's the only one of the trio I bought), and it seems to be following an eerily similar path to the 1996 (minus one year). This could well be a sleeper.
Cheers
Ian
Likewise I've stopped buying the trio after the 1998 vintage for the same QPR reasons, and only got those when heavy discounting bought the price down over 20%, more like what they were a few years ago. $80 for a magnum still seems pretty fair given the original $115 RRP, but that's if Ratcatcher would accept the lesser vintage and doesn't look for better alternatives.
The 1997 St George & Pyrus certainly had restrained fruit, and rather mercifully they equally restrained that oak to make styles that while not really representative of the best the labels can produce, were very drinkable early. The 1997 John Riddoch and Michael in comparison I found simply revolting.
I've always liked the 1997 Limestone Ridge (it's the only one of the trio I bought), and it seems to be following an eerily similar path to the 1996 (minus one year). This could well be a sleeper.
Cheers
Ian
Forget about goodness and mercy, they're gone.
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Ratcatcher
- Posts: 374
- Joined: Sat Jan 01, 2005 1:01 pm
- Location: Hobart
Thanks for the comments everyone.
I was thinking along the lines of Ian with the St George. Although it's a lesser vintage current releases are over $50 so being a magnum I thought a good vintage would cost $120 or more so $80 for the 97 would be good value if it is at least a decent example of the line.
But then I thought that maybe 2 bottles of Majella from 2001 with $15 leftover was a better option.
I think I'll give the Lindemans a miss.
On another point. My local has got 3 bottles of St Peters Shiraz 2001 for $49. Am I mad not to snap them up?
I was thinking along the lines of Ian with the St George. Although it's a lesser vintage current releases are over $50 so being a magnum I thought a good vintage would cost $120 or more so $80 for the 97 would be good value if it is at least a decent example of the line.
But then I thought that maybe 2 bottles of Majella from 2001 with $15 leftover was a better option.
I think I'll give the Lindemans a miss.
On another point. My local has got 3 bottles of St Peters Shiraz 2001 for $49. Am I mad not to snap them up?
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Mike Hawkins
- Posts: 2748
- Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2003 9:39 am
Ratcatcher,
Just before I moved over here (Sep 04) I noticed the Lindeman's trios in magnum for $90 for the 1996 vintage, in a number of Sydney bottlo's. This to my mind is far better QPR than the 97 St George which was quite disappointing to my palate.
Its interesting to read the comments about stopping purchasing the Lindeman's trio post-98, as I too have done the same. I had bought most vintages of each from 1988, but the wines appear to have gone off the boil, not unlike its sister wines of Wynns (as we have discussed in the past).
Cheers
Mike
Just before I moved over here (Sep 04) I noticed the Lindeman's trios in magnum for $90 for the 1996 vintage, in a number of Sydney bottlo's. This to my mind is far better QPR than the 97 St George which was quite disappointing to my palate.
Its interesting to read the comments about stopping purchasing the Lindeman's trio post-98, as I too have done the same. I had bought most vintages of each from 1988, but the wines appear to have gone off the boil, not unlike its sister wines of Wynns (as we have discussed in the past).
Cheers
Mike