2003 HardyÂ’s Oomoo Shiraz

[Adair]

2003 Hardy’s Oomoo Shiraz – 14% - McLaren Vale

I bought this wine due to Huon HookeÂ’s praise a few weeks ago.

Deep purple/red. I was not excited about its nose. I thought it would be yet another intensely ripe, warm climate Shiraz with too much alcohol and sweet fruit at the sub-$15 price point. Indeed, dark fruitcake Shiraz fruit powered out of the glass without much class. The palate, however, was simply amazing. The powerful Shiraz fruit was definitely a feature, as were some regional sweet earth and soft spice, but the wineÂ’s structure was my surprise of 2005 so far. The powerful fruit was stopped before it cloyed by sensationally supple tannins. These were assisted by a light but well-controlled glycerine feel that gave the wine excellent breadth and length, maintaining a great seamlessness and consistency throughout this wine of medium depth. Although the wine will last for a few years, donÂ’t miss the opportunity to experience this wine now for its marvellous mouthfeel. A ridiculous bargain at less than $15. 17.7/20 (Solid Silver).

Adair

[Baby Chickpea]

So you prefer this (significantly I might add) to the 2001 disgorged Rockford which only scored 16.5?

Or do you rank only within class not across?

PS - I like it too and thought it almost as good as the 2002.

[Adair]

So you prefer this (significantly I might add) to the 2001 disgorged Rockford which only scored 16.5?

Or do you rank only within class not across?

PS - I like it too and thought it almost as good as the 2002.

Danny,

Yes, I significantly liked it better than the 2001 Rockford Disgorged and better than the 2002 Oomoo. I found a touch of greatness in this wine!

I believe there are fundamentals of wine that hold in all classes, and I attempt to mark that way... obviously there are times when this is hard, but one's/my enjoyment of the wine is also an very fundamental indicator that can be used across wine classes. FWIW, I try not to consider cost.

Kind regards,
Adair

[Adair]

Hello All,

WINE UPDATE: I opened a second bottle of this wine a few days ago (27th February 2005). It had the same flavour profile but there was only a hint of the structure I so adored, and in fact, even this hint dissipated about 2 or 3 minutes after opening the bottle! I am now quite embarrassed . I can still vividly remember the tactile sensations of the first bottle but this second bottle showed not hints of being at all faulty.

This wine is now selling for less than $11 in many shops in Sydney and a few of my friends have bought a bottle based on my recommendation. They have commented that it is a good wine for the price but nothing as special as I commented... and I agree. It is still an enjoyable wine although its depth is not as good as I remembered and what is there tapers away a bit on the back palate, but there is enough intensity, depth and complexity, as well as an uncommon interplay of a little glycerine combining with alcohol on the structure, for this to provide a fair bit of interest. I now rate it a low bronze medal wine, 15.7/20, and definitely worth $11 as a good, quality quaffer.

Kind regards,
Adair