I FINALLY got my case of Fox Creek Short Row Shirz and

Serge Birbrair · Post by **Serge Birbrair** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 12:17 pm

my wine guy switched the year on me,
instead of 2002 I liked so much he got me 2001.

well.....I like 2001 even more!

Strong finish from start to the last drop, no falling off the cliff,
excellent juice, even if it didn't produce a wine orgasm.

Jakob · Post by **Jakob** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 12:55 pm

If you can, try the 1999...it's an absolute pearler. I had a bottle yesterday and the wine has a very very long life ahead of it. Was Sparky still making the wines back then? I found the 2002 to be a little on the thin and savoury side, with noticable alcohol heat - though there's complexity there, it's just not what it used to be

Chow Chow · Post by **Chow Chow** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 1:48 pm

If my memory served me correctly, Sparky left after the 1998 vintage. His asst. Dan Hill took over. Now it's Chris Dix. The recent style of FC has evolved fr a OTT Fruit Bomb to more restraint.

No Reserve Shiraz was made in 2003 and it was declassified into the Short Row.

Jakob · Post by **Jakob** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 2:56 pm

Thanks Chow, have been meaning to get a hold of a bottle for testing purposes

Anybody got a recent tasting note on the 2003?

bigkid · Post by **bigkid** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 8:00 pm

Hi Jakob,

I am a novice at the notes thing but had a bottle of the 2003 a week ago (from Winebizz - the Summer Hill Wine Shop). We thought that the description by the vineyard was pretty close to the money:

"Notes from Fox Creek: Deep dark red with vibrant ruby rim. Powerful aromatics of blackberry, ripe raspberry chocolate mocha and all spice. The subtle lifted vanilla and toast from barrel fermentation adds complexity. Strong vibrant black fruit with syrupy richness, lively lifted fruit with integration and generosity and length. The depth and intensity of the palate is well balanced by oak maturation characters and ripe tannin structure. The finish shows great length and has supporting acid for mid term cellaring. This wine, while made to drink well upon release will certainly improve with five years cellaring if stored under favourable conditions."

We picked up on the berry and mocha, the 'richness' and touch of oak, possibly some cinnimon or nutmeg???.

Please let me know if I am breaching any protocol by quoting winemakers notes.

Regards,

Allan

Serge Birbrair · Post by **Serge Birbrair** » Thu Apr 07, 2005 10:39 pm

bigkid wrote:Please let me know if I am breaching any protocol by quoting winemakers notes.

Regards,

Allan

nope, as long as you attribute them to proper sources.

Gavin Trott · Post by **Gavin Trott** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 10:45 am

bigkid wrote:Hi Jakob,

I am a novice at the notes thing but had a bottle of the 2003 a week ago (from Winebizz - the Summer Hill Wine Shop). We thought that the description by the vineyard was pretty close to the money:

"Notes from Fox Creek: Deep dark red with vibrant ruby rim. Powerful aromatics of blackberry, ripe raspberry chocolate mocha and all spice. The subtle lifted vanilla and toast from barrel fermentation adds complexity. Strong vibrant black fruit with syrupy richness, lively lifted fruit with integration and generosity and length. The depth and intensity of the palate is well balanced by oak maturation characters and ripe tannin structure. The finish shows great length and has supporting acid for mid term cellaring. This wine, while made to drink well upon release will certainly improve with five years cellaring if stored under favourable conditions."

We picked up on the berry and mocha, the 'richness' and touch of oak, possibly some cinnimon or nutmeg???.

Please let me know if I am breaching any protocol by quoting winemakers notes.

Regards,

Allan

That's fine, properly attributed as above, its fine.

Loved the winemyself, step up in intensity from the 2002, big firm structured kind of Shiraz

Jakob · Post by **Jakob** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 11:24 am

Thanks Allan. Sounds like it might be worth a throw, though the 5 year prospect seems a little bit cautious. The '99 is probably a 15-20 year wine. You can quote me on that

What do you think, as far as cellaring is concerned, for the 2003?

KevinT · Post by **KevinT** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 12:54 pm

Jakob wrote:Thanks Allan. Sounds like it might be worth a throw, though the 5 year prospect seems a little bit cautious. The '99 is probably a 15-20 year wine. You can quote me on that What do you think, as far as cellaring is concerned, for the 2003?

The 99 is a suberb wine. :cry:

unfortunately I drank my last one over christmas. Agree that it has got a good life ahead of it..... just not sure that it will last another 15 years. If you think that it will last that long, I'm getting on the phone to see if there are some museum stocks lying around somewhere.

Jakob · Post by **Jakob** » Fri Apr 08, 2005 2:17 pm

I see it go for under $20 at auctions pretty often...got another case a few months back at $18/bottle.

bigkid · Post by **bigkid** » Sat Apr 09, 2005 8:13 am

Hi Jakob,

I have only recently returned to red wine after a long hiatus (due to a massive Sydney mortgage, kids and a recurring case of gout). I have been drinking white for a long time. The last time I was seriously into red wine Moss Wood was $11 a bottle and Grange $25. I would be reluctant to express a view about the cellaring potential of this wine, it is just beyond my ability. I enjoyed the wine when I drank it last week, very drinkable for such a recent wine, smooth no rough edges - I expect it would age very nicely indeed, but would have no idea when it might be at its best. I have a case of it on my list should it last long enough in the shops for me to get my mastercard under control. It is presently going for $24 per bottle by the case at WineBizz (the Summer Hill Liquor Shop).

Regards,

Allan