Old Australians From Climate Controlled Storage.

[Dragzworthy]

Opening this Wednesday. Fill looks good I think. Bought at auction so not sure on the provenance. I do love this label! Not sure why they "upgraded" to a new one..?

Will update post consumption of there's interest

[JamieAdelaide]

I’ve got three of those buried amongst thousands. I should dig one out and compare to your auction buy. Mine was sent from winery to professional storage on release. A case of 04 Vat 1 Semillons too. Which I had the first of a few weeks ago. Lovely lunchtime drink in glacial development under screw-cap. I expected a bit more however my preference has to be high grade cork for semillon. Otherwise you’ll be waiting on your death bed for them to be drinking at peak complexity.

[GraemeG]

I reckon most turn-of-the-century Tyrrell's reds are a bit bretty. Or, really, too bretty for their own good.

I get Jamie's preference for a 'theoretical' high grade cork; shame they were so frustratingly rare. One per case, at best! But under screwcap they're no less vintage dependent. I seem to recall a few Vats (2012?) that were well & truly at peak, even under screwcap.

[Dragzworthy]

Dinner last night at Scopri. The food was excellent and the wines all very good and we had a rare situation whereby there was a complete lack of consensus on which bottle was wine of the night, my choice was the Manzone Barolo Castelleto of which was shining after a 6 hour decant..the Tyrrell's Vat 9 was oxidized and I initially thought it was madeirised but whilst the noise was rather offensive, the flavour profile actually held up albeit clearly lacking fruit.

[JamieAdelaide]

What a pity about the Vat 9. I’ll dig one of mine out. My cellar was organised into regions once upon a time- now it’s chaos. An Italian invasion occurred and many wines buried under boxes upon boxes of Piedmont beauties. Manzone I’ve extensive exposure to including staying with them. Before COVID I was trying to convince my two wine organisations of the underrated status of this producer. Having drunk from the family cellar I figured some variable expressions on the open market due poor provenance. I had access to big formats of their wines and it was an opportunity that wasn’t taken up. The upswing of the region seeing label drinkers missing out big time! Great to see you had a similar experience with Manzone. Alas, I have none in my cellar. I had to drink them all before repatriating.

[Dragzworthy]

What a pity about the Vat 9. I’ll dig one of mine out. My cellar was organised into regions once upon a time- now it’s chaos. An Italian invasion occurred and many wines buried under boxes upon boxes of Piedmont beauties. Manzone I’ve extensive exposure to including staying with them. Before COVID I was trying to convince my two wine organisations of the underrated status of this producer. Having drunk from the family cellar I figured some variable expressions on the open market due poor provenance. I had access to big formats of their wines and it was an opportunity that wasn’t taken up. The upswing of the region seeing label drinkers missing out big time! Great to see you had a similar experience with Manzone. Alas, I have none in my cellar. I had to drink them all before repatriating.

Yes the Manzone was drinking super well. It came on the heels of the Bouchard of which had an amazing bouquet, not an easy act to follow but it still shone brightly. Nose was very aromatic, not as much cherry as anticipated, more rose. The wine still retained a lot of fruit and the colour was deep, no signs of that red bricking one often sees. There were secondary notes of balsam and porcini mushrooms, perfect accompaniment to the agnolotti plin cooked in sage and butter. The finish was long. I recently had Conterno Bussia 2000 and, whilst different wines in character, the quality of the Manzone wasn't far away.

[WAwineguy]

I've got the 2005 and 2010 of the L'Enfant Jesus - a lovely drop!

[Hacker]

I reckon most turn-of-the-century Tyrrell's reds are a bit bretty. Or, really, too bretty for their own good.

I get Jamie's preference for a 'theoretical' high grade cork; shame they were so frustratingly rare. One per case, at best! But under screwcap they're no less vintage dependent. I seem to recall a few Vats (2012?) that were well & truly at peak, even under screwcap.

I tried through the Tyrrells selection a few weeks ago and the bloke there said 'Spinn" waged a war against brett quite a few years ago for the betterment of the entire range of reds there. There was SO much to like at Tyrrell's. It reminds me that quality is seldom publicly advertised.

[GraemeG]

I agree that Tyrrell's are top notch these days.
But, if I can make a blanket generalisation, the reds from about 1994 to 2002 can be disregarded entirely!

[JamieAdelaide]

I forgot about this thread. Losing track of old Aussies from perfect cellaring of late but I do recall 3 x Basket Press I was delighted with. An 03 a simple though charming Xmas expression of Barossa Shiraz, a magnificent 98, now for nosing in its aromatic perfection and matching with food on good occasion with its palate resolution. Finally, I think it was a 92, still going well.

[kenzo]

Just back from Australia and an accompanying cellar raid - was very pleased with the condition of all of the bottles cellared professionally since purchase 20+ years ago. All labels pristine and fills into the neck on wines back to the 90s. Only one oxidized wine - a 98 Tahbilk Marsanne - but its twin was in fine fettle. Will try to gather my notes and post them.

[JamieAdelaide]

Damn corks I reckon Kenzo. I see the same on occasion - bit of random oxidation.

[JamieAdelaide]

A night at the pub next door kicked on to my place. A couple of old Kalleske Shiraz from 03 & 04 delivered magnificently. The 04 streamlined with understated opulence. The 03 big and wild. You never know what you get with 03 Barossa however at almost 20’years they seem to be going better than many claimed. An 01 Wolf Blass Black Label was good and its style less offensive than I’d expected. A 96 Penfolds 389 was classical and a solid performer. Black and red fruits still preserved, leather and earth as expected. I think it’s my last bottle. Excellent for $20 on release but I don’t get the hoo-hah sometimes afforded this wine.

[GraemeG]

I think the 90s and 80s Bin 389s were generally deserving of acclaim for being terrific wines for comparatively little money.
Almost nothing I've tasted from this century's vintages has inspired me at all, especially in view of the price.

[mjs]

Have really enjoyed the '96 Bin389 over the years. Had a '98 last week and something wasn't quite right, a little disappointing

[Andrew Jordan]

A night at the pub next door kicked on to my place. A couple of old Kalleske Shiraz from 03 & 04 delivered magnificently. The 04 streamlined with understated opulence. The 03 big and wild. You never know what you get with 03 Barossa however at almost 20’years they seem to be going better than many claimed. An 01 Wolf Blass Black Label was good and its style less offensive than I’d expected. A 96 Penfolds 389 was classical and a solid performer. Black and red fruits still preserved, leather and earth as expected. I think it’s my last bottle. Excellent for $20 on release but I don’t get the hoo-hah sometimes afforded this wine.

Jamie agree the Kalleske Greenock shiraz ages very well and have had both of these vintages in the last 6 months as well. Agree with your notes especially the 2003 which is definitely over-delivering based on initial reviews. The last time I tasted the 1996 389 was in Adelaide with a few from this forum in an offline tasting. Many years ago but it was singing then and was the wine of the evening for me ... shame to hear your bottle did not provide the same experience.

[phillisc]

I think the 90s and 80s Bin 389s were generally deserving of acclaim for being terrific wines for comparatively little money.
Almost nothing I've tasted from this century's vintages has inspired me at all, especially in view of the price.

Agree Graeme, I remember a pricing error at the Royal Oak in O'Connell St giving me a dozen of 1990 389 for the same price as Bin 28 ($9). Took a couple to a recorking clinic, with Gago pronouncing them as excellent.
Pennies pricing, particularly on the lesser Bins and would certainly count 389 here, is beyond silly...Yalumba Signature and Rockford Rod and Spur at half to a third of the price are far better buys.

Cheers Craig

[JamieAdelaide]

I found a few cases of Elizabeth semillon from 01 & 03 under cork. What a bargain! Developed colour from 20 years under cork. Both were delightful. Rich and complex, with unique flavour profiles. I much prefer cork for semillon though I’m aware of rotten runs especially with Elizabeth!

[Polymer]

I found a few cases of Elizabeth semillon from 01 & 03 under cork. What a bargain! Developed colour from 20 years under cork. Both were delightful. Rich and complex, with unique flavour profiles. I much prefer cork for semillon though I’m aware of rotten runs especially with Elizabeth!

I think Semillon will develop fine under screwcap..but, for example, Vat1s are still not there yet under screwcap..none of them...at least not at the same place they would be after 10 years of cork. Other examples have been fine though...Not sure cork isn't imparting some flavor though and that is actually the missing part of the development we want to see...

Older Sem under cork is just such a minefield as well...

I wouldn't mind seeing more experimentation there (and maybe it is happening) with more ingress screwcap...or even DIAM. We shouldn't be at 20 years and Vat1s under screwcap are still not ready to go..that's silly...I don't mean they aren't developing, I don't mean you can't drink them..just they're not at that spot where they have that toast and honey character..where they actually feel like they've put on weight...the color tended to be a bit darker...at least IMO, that is when Sem goes from something meh to something magical...

[JamieAdelaide]

I was happy with 05 Lovedale under SC at about 15 years. It turned after being stationary developmentally prior that. It didn’t have the colour nor X factor of cork.

It will be interesting to see how much of a minefield these perfectly cellared Elizabeth’s will be. I know their reputation.

Last night had an 05 Henschke Abbots Prayer which was better than the last SC experience. Another Wolf Black Blaxk Label 01 was well received as a timepiece of SA entrepreneurship. A glass of 98 Wendouree Shiraz Mataro rusty- let’s see where it is tonight. Interestingly wines straight from cellar, kept upright, private flight at 30,000 feet for two hours. Wouldn’t dare present old wines that had travelled conventionally so soon.

[JamieAdelaide]

I’m starting to crave pinot in the warmer weather and drinking up 10 year old plus NZ Pinot under screw cap. I actually think that many need decanting to draw something from their time suffocating in screw cap. Not a practice I’m accustomed to as a former heavy Burgundy drinker.

Back to old Aussies. I presented aged Henschkes a few days ago. Mt Edelstone on fire. 92,94 & 96. A 96 Cyril delicate and holding.