TN: Plantagenet Shiraz 2010

[Waiters Friend]

We held a vertical of Plantagenet Shiraz in 2017, and the following tasting note was produced for the 2010 vintage:

Plantagenet Shiraz 2010: 14.1% alc. Purple / crimson in colour. There’s lots of dark plums, some savoury vanillin oak, smoked meats (pancetta was identified) and earthiness (possibly a sign of bottle development). The palate was mellow and round compared to the previous two wines, and harmoniously balanced, apart from a slight astringency. There’s lots of white pepper and fruit on the back palate, and it’s medium weight but finishes quite long. Starting to show maturity, we reckon.

Today, it's still crimson / purple in the glass, and quite dense. The fruit has diminished very slightly, and the vanillan oak is slightly more prominent. The palate is still mellow and has softened somewhat, and the astringency has disappeared entirely. There's some red fruits and some spice (cloves, maybe cinnamon) on the palate and the wine is medium length but satisfying in its mouthfeel.

Probably at its best now, and may not improve, but will hold a while.

Cheers
Allan

[I Love Shiraz]

This winery seems to have disappeared off the radar a little. It used to get rave reviews, but not so much any more.

[Waiters Friend]

This winery seems to have disappeared off the radar a little. It used to get rave reviews, but not so much any more.

They did some rebranding about 5 years ago, and also put in a third range of wines. They also re-labelled what used to the the estate range (or just white label) with English aristocratic names like Anvegin and Lancaster. This possibly confused the punters, and some of us stopped buying regularly on the basis that we didn't know if we were buying the new vintage of the white labels or a different wine.

They've added to the confusion by the recent introduction of a 4th range - the Wyjup collection - as their pinnacle wines. Does this mean a dilution of fruit into the next level down (the old white label)?

In Perth, at least, they used to offer comprehensive tastings once or twice a year at their Fremantle premises, but these have largely disappeared too. Punters like me are more likely to buy if we have tried the wines first. I used to buy 6 packs of shiraz and riesling untasted, but then the minimum buy through phone sales went to a dozen. Ahhh ...... no thanks.

All of this conspired to reduce the amount that I spend at this winery. For all I know, it could still be excellent - I just have less opportunity to find out. I am enjoying back vintages though.

Cheers
Allan

[Mahmoud Ali]

Hi Allen,

I share your skepticism regarding quality levels whenever a winery introduces a higher tier of wines. It essentially tells people who used to buy that they need to start buying upwards if they want the same or better quality. The other fear I have is now the winery will now use more oak and extraction and end making the wine bigger and bolder, not something that I am particularly interested in if I am already a fan of the winery's wines.

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

[ticklenow1]

2008 of this was stunning, drank my last bottle a couple of months ago. In a great place.

Cheers
Ian

[Waiters Friend]

2008 of this was stunning, drank my last bottle a couple of months ago. In a great place.

Cheers
Ian

I still have a few bottles 2010 and earlier, Ian, and I agree they're worth drinking now. Not likely to improve much.

[kenzo]

WA really coming into its own recently - cabernet and chardonnay for some time obviously but also Riesling and Chenin. Blue Poles obviously doing things with other varietals, and keen to see how shiraz might develop in the region(s).
Really annoyed I got sidetracked by work and forgot to bid on a couple of 94 Howard Park CMs that were on Wickman's there the other night. Dammit.