Which Big Gun Shiraz?

707 · Post by **707** » Sun May 22, 2005 10:06 am

I'm in the planning stages for the annual Blacktongues "Big Gun" Shiraz tasting. We have about 8-9 current release wines in this line up, often but not always expensive and hard to find bottles.

I've already got a few tucked away like the 2002 O'Leary Walker Reserve, 1999 Roennfeldt Road, 2003 Johann Georg and a few more in mind but what current/recent release wines would you suggest are a must starter?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun May 22, 2005 10:51 am

Expensive but you have to have a Blass Platinum Shiraz 2001 in there. I love the stuff and its Olivers WOTY.

Noon Reserve Shiraz 2002.

Petaluma · Post by **Petaluma** » Sun May 22, 2005 11:00 am

St Peters 02 should be a big gun although this style usually relies on time to strutt its stuff.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun May 22, 2005 11:31 am

2002 Clarendon Hills Piggot Range Shiraz is the best Shiraz on the market today!!! Sumptous flavours linger on for a month

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 23, 2005 12:26 pm

Are you able to find Gioconda?

n4sir · Post by **n4sir** » Mon May 23, 2005 12:40 pm

The following is made with the caveat that I haven't tried them, but have heard glowing reports from good sources:

2002 Tim Adams Aberfeldy
2002 Penfolds RWT

If it's available you should try to sneak in a Kalleske too.

Cheers
Ian

Muscat Mike · Post by **Muscat Mike** » Mon May 23, 2005 1:11 pm

Steve,
not sure if you mean high profile or big on flavour. If the latter why not try a Warrabilla Parola Shiraz. They can hum a very nice tune even when young.
MM.

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Mon May 23, 2005 2:31 pm

You need some non-sth australian juice.

I suggest the Giaconda Warner Shiraz 2002 and 2001/2002 Castagna Genesis. And surely there is at least one Hunter wine you could drop in, maybe a Brokenwood Graveyard??

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 23, 2005 3:36 pm

Adam wrote:You need some non-sth australian juice.

I suggest the Giaconda Warner Shiraz 2002 and 2001/2002 Castagna Genesis. And surely there is at least one Hunter wine you could drop in, maybe a Brokenwood Graveyard??

for Massacre?

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Mon May 23, 2005 5:44 pm

Anonymous wrote:
for Massacre?

Huh?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 23, 2005 5:59 pm

Adam wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
for Massacre?
Huh?

Do you mean the SA Shiraz will massacre any non SA Shiraz?

What about Heathcote, what's the best stuff from there?

Kieran · Post by **Kieran** » Mon May 23, 2005 6:07 pm

How about a Gralyn Old Vine for a WA representative? Or a Houghton Show Shiraz 95?

Kieran

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Mon May 23, 2005 6:16 pm

Yip...I would go:

2002 O'Leary Walker Reserve
1999 Roennfeldt Road
2003 Johann Georg
2002 Castagna Genesis
2002 Giaconda Warner Shiraz
2001 Gralyn Old Vine Shiraz
2003 Wild Duck Creek Pressings Shiraz or Reserve
2002 Craiglee Shiraz
2002 Two Hands Ares

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 23, 2005 7:02 pm

I would Go

02 O Leary Walker Reserve
99 Roennfelt Road
02 Gioconda Warner
01 Blass Platinum
03 Wild Duck Creek Reserve
02 Noon Reserve
02 Alberfeldy
RWT {01 or 02?}
02 St Peters
03 Johann Georg

Mike Hawkins · Post by **Mike Hawkins** » Mon May 23, 2005 11:55 pm

Steve,

If the 02 Mt Ed is available, it might be worth a look as well. Or if someone is on the mailing list (which I'm sure you are), the latest Dutschke Single Barrel shiraz.

Cheers

Mike

707 · Post by **707** » Tue May 24, 2005 7:59 am

Thanks guys, keep any more thoughts coming. Thinking we might go a bit more "Super" this year too and notice we had three non SA wines.

Found this on page 14 of the forum, the line up from last years Super Shiraz tasting and my best voting

2002 Australian Old Vine Collection by Gibson
2002 Dead Arm
2002 Summerfield Reserve
2002 Dalwhinnie
2001 E&E Black Pepper
2002 Kaesler Old Vine
2002 Veritas Hanisch
2000 Houghton Gladstones
2001 Rockford Basket Press
1999 Lehmann Stonewell (very slightly corked)

I agonised over my voting before splitting them by whiskers, Dalwhinnie, Kaesler, Aust Old Vine, Hanisch

Baby Chickpea · Post by **Baby Chickpea** » Tue May 24, 2005 10:27 am

From heathcote:

Wild Duck creek Reserve Shiraz, or shiraz pressings, or if you were fortunate to get Duck muck for $40 a bottle 4 years ago then this too. Also Barnadown Run's Voluptuary, and Red Edge and Whistling Eagle "Eagle's Blood" and Jasper Hills.

Baby Chickpea · Post by **Baby Chickpea** » Tue May 24, 2005 10:33 am

Oh, and finish it off with a Liqueur Shiraz ala Dutschke or Langmeil or Kellermeister/Trevor Jones!

And, of course, start with Rockford Black Shiraz!

KMP · Post by **KMP** » Tue May 24, 2005 11:09 am

Well I know what I would like to have in a blind tasting for no other reason than if I could get all 8 together at one time I'd be a happy camper.... all I have at present is 2 of them :cry:

2000 AusVetia
2000 Mt Pleasant Maurice O'Shea
2001 Penfold's St Henri

2002 Dutschke Oscar Semmler
2002 Torbreck The Factor or Run Rig
2002 Penfold's RWT

2003 Two Hands Ares
2003 Kalleske Johann Georg

Mike

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Tue May 24, 2005 11:17 am

Nice call on the RunRig...that would have to be a starter!

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue May 24, 2005 12:36 pm

I thought Run Rig was a blend not straight Shiraz?

I have tried all their current range and prefer the Descendant for its composure but then better finish. Just my taste.

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Tue May 24, 2005 12:56 pm

Anonymous wrote:I thought Run Rig was a blend not straight Shiraz?

I have tried all their current range and prefer the Descendant for its composure but then better finish. Just my taste.

"Technically" it could be classed as a straight shiraz as the Viognier component is reasonably small...

Rudy Wolf · Post by **Rudy Wolf** » Tue May 24, 2005 1:13 pm

The 2002 Bullers Calliope Shiraz is definately an expression of gigantism

707 · Post by **707** » Tue May 24, 2005 3:33 pm

Mike, tell me about the 2000 Ausvetia, is it really in that class?

I can get hold of a bottle easily if it rates that highly.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue May 24, 2005 3:41 pm

Had the '96. No big deal. I don't see how Kim Tolley can outperformed the 2000 vintage.

KMP · Post by **KMP** » Wed May 25, 2005 2:40 am

707 wrote:Mike, tell me about the 2000 Ausvetia, is it really in that class?

I can get hold of a bottle easily if it rates that highly.

Steve

First, if you are after straight shiraz the 2000 AusVetia is not what you want as it has some Cab (11%). But I have tasted this twice in blind tastings against The Bee's Knees in Aussies and against the world in Que Syrah, Shiraz and Sirah and both times it has come out as my first or second place wine. But it is worth noting that I am very easily seduced by Cabernet, even a minor blend and I am a big fan of this style of wine. It is very different to the other Shiraz that have been mentioned and could well get lost in amongst fruit forward Barossa Shiraz or high alcohol, high oak wines; although it seemed to do very well in the two tasting mentioned above where those wines were present. Its certainly not a Parkerized wine.

What about the Elderton Command?

Mike

707 · Post by **707** » Wed May 25, 2005 8:45 am

Thanks for the continuing thoughts everyone.

The wines don't have to be 100% Shiraz just predominantly Shiraz. In fact as we all know, any apparent straight labelled varietal is likely to have bits of other varieties if the maker thought it would improve the wine. Labelling laws allow that of course.

There are a number of wines labelled straight Shiraz that I'd swear have a touch of Viognier despite it not being declared on the label. I think at the upper end of the market, Viognier may be seen as a detriment whilst at the lower end it's seen as a plus to declare it on the label.

707 · Post by **707** » Wed May 25, 2005 8:47 am

Baby Chickpea wrote:From heathcote:

Wild Duck creek Reserve Shiraz, or shiraz pressings, or if you were fortunate to get Duck muck for $40 a bottle 4 years ago then this too. Also Barnadown Run's Voluptuary, and Red Edge and Whistling Eagle "Eagle's Blood" and Jasper Hills.

Anyone got thoughts on which vintage is good for these wines given I may be able to have a choice of more than one?

Christo · Post by **Christo** » Wed May 25, 2005 3:29 pm

707 wrote:
Baby Chickpea wrote:From heathcote:

Wild Duck creek Reserve Shiraz, or shiraz pressings, or if you were fortunate to get Duck muck for $40 a bottle 4 years ago then this too. Also Barnadown Run's Voluptuary, and Red Edge and Whistling Eagle "Eagle's Blood" and Jasper Hills.

Anyone got thoughts on which vintage is good for these wines given I may be able to have a choice of more than one?

my 2c:
2000 reserve or duck muck or 2002 duck muck (however i was not forntunate to get it at $40... Thanks RPJ);

01 or 02 whistling eagle
christo