For those of you not familiar with these events all the following wines were tried blind, and after about an hour all participants voted for their most preferred, two next preferred and their least preferred drops.
I’ve included my own impressions and rankings, the group votes, and a group ranking based on most preferred votes counting for double, second and third one vote, and least preferred minus one vote.
After the last two tastings we were all looking forward to trying these superb wines, and they certainly didn’t disappoint. My voting was pretty much in line with the rest of the panel, with three superb standouts sharing equal top points on my scoresheet.
1996 Leasingham Classic Clare Shiraz: Dark to inky red colour with a hint of purple on the rim. A beautiful, complex, regional nose to start the tasting, with menthol/eucalyptus, chocolate, soy sauce, and finely milled black pepper. The entry of the palate is spicy/peppery, followed by sweet/tangy blackberries with subtle chocolate/mint accents, finishing long with sweet, fine, dry tannins and some more ground pepper. Right from the beginning I recognized this was a Clare wine with Kerri Thompson’s fingerprints, and if this was options I would have got it spot-on, and the rest very wrong! In a tough decision it just missed out on my top vote, but was voted WOTN by the panel; no complaints about that from me, as it was Classic Clare by nature as much as by name.
My ranking: =2nd place
Panel ranking: 1st place
Votes: 4 most, 8 second & third, 0 least
1990 Wynns Michael Shiraz: Inky red colour. The nose was dark/toasty and smoky at first, gathering some slightly green characters, followed by chocolate and some ozone with breathing. The palate opens softly, followed by spicy/peppery fruit with smoky dark chocolate accents, finishing with great length and some sweet mixed spices on the aftertaste. This was an awfully good wine to finish in the mid to lower end of the group but that just shows how strong the rest of the wines were, and in all fairness this had up to 6 additional years bottle age. This probably wasn’t quite up to the form of a bottle at an offline dinner last year, but it wasn’t too far off and fantastic for a 15-year-old wine.
My ranking: =6th place
Panel ranking: 5th place
Votes: 1 most, 5 second & third, 0 least
1994 Saltram No.1 Shiraz: Dark red/brick colour. Right from the first whiff something wasn’t right about this one, with sharp vinegar scents matched to old leather, dry prunes and some chocolate. My fears are confirmed by the palate, with shallow, dry, tangy fruit totally overwhelmed by acid. I think most of us suspected it was oxidized but it wasn’t removed from the tasting, which made it a very easy wine to pick as least preferred.
My ranking: 9th place
Panel ranking: 9th place
Votes: 0 most, 0 second & third, 14 least
1991 Lindemans Limestone Ridge Shiraz Cabernet: Dark to inky red colour. A slender nose at first with hints of nail polish remover, growing slowly to reveal dark chocolate and roasted nuts with a hint of varnish and VA. The palate features a soft opening and a slow build-up of chocolate/raspberry fruit and substantially bigger tannins, finishing very long, sweet, and remarkably fruity. I was thinking this may have been a Barossa heavyweight - for a 14 year old wine it still seems remarkably shy, with a lot still to reveal.
My ranking: =6th place
Panel ranking: 6th place
Votes: 0 most, 6 second & third, 0 least
1994 Mt. Langi Ghiran Shiraz: Dark to inky red colour. Superb, complex cooler-climate Shiraz characters of mint, chalk, menthol, dark chocolate all leap from the glass, with white pepper gradually becoming dominant by voting time. Opening slightly green, the palate features tangy/peppery raspberry fruit with some interesting nectarine characters, white pepper, milk chocolate, and perfectly balanced tannins providing backbone and length. This really reminded me of the 1997 Bowen Estate Shiraz a few months ago, but this was better again with superior structure, complexity and length. Like the Classic Clare it was pretty unlucky not to get my top vote, and was highly regarded by most of the panel.
My ranking: =2nd place
Panel ranking: 3rd place
Votes: 4 most, 3 second & third, 1 least
1994 Dalwhinnie Moonambel Shiraz: Dark to inky red colour. In this group of wines the nose was relatively simple, with smoky red fruits and a hint of soy and some heavy toast characters. The palate opens with ripe/tangy raspberry/blackberry fruit with very obvious chalky tannins, and after a spicy mid-palate those tannins really dominate the finish of the wine making it unbalanced. In an exceptional group of wines this really looked over-ripe and over-oaked; although I could see it working with food, without the oxidized wine this may have fared even worse with the votes.
My ranking: 8th place
Panel ranking: 8th place
Votes: 0 most, 0 second and third, 1 least
1996 Tatachilla Foundation Shiraz: Dark to inky red/purple. The nose was sweet and slender, with deftly handled vanilla oak matched to deep, blackberry fruit with a hint of beetroot. The palate is noticeably riper, with spicy/peppery, rich blackberry fruit completely enveloping the oak, finishing with powdery tannins. There’s no questioning the quality of the sweet fruit or the handling of the oak, but at the moment it needs some more cellar time or a good cut of steak to bring out its best.
My ranking: 4th place
Panel ranking: 7th place
Votes: 2 most, 1 second & third, 0 least
1995 Tisdall Mt. Ida Shiraz: Dark to inky red/purple. I actually found the nose of this wine rather puzzling and yet strangely addictive throughout the tasting with a bewildering array of aromas; wet limestone, varnish, floor polish, smoke, chalk, roasted capsicum, dried herbs and some roasted coffee. While I was still trying to decipher the nose the palate won me over with rich, ripe, smoky fruit balancing massive chalky tannins, finishing with the best length and weight of the night and a hint of tobacco to boot. I was thinking this could have possibly been a 1994 or 1996 Wynns Michael, so I was quite surprised when its identity was revealed. In the last four tastings this is the third Heathcote Shiraz to be my most preferred, and the fourth Victorian – I think a secret fetish may have been uncovered here!
My ranking: 1st place
Panel ranking: 2nd place
Votes: 2 most, 5 second & third, 0 least
1993 Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz: Dark to inky red colour. A strange nose at first, with menthol, soy sauce and slightly meaty characters, but with time it’s dominated by huge, sweet coconut oak. The palate is predictably a huge scale mixture of rich blackberry fruit, entwined tannins, and massive oak. While it’s not quite my style of wine, I couldn’t help myself being impressed by the sheer scale of this wine which somehow manages to balance up these massive elements – at least for now anyway.
My ranking: 5th place
Panel ranking: 4th place
Votes: 2 most, 4 second & third, 0 least
Cheers
Ian
TN: Blacktongues Mature Shiraz 22/6/05
TN: Blacktongues Mature Shiraz 22/6/05
Forget about goodness and mercy, they're gone.
TORB wrote:Ian,
Your vote and the groups were so close; I hope you start to better soon mate.
With the mature age wines my votes tend to really mirror the tasting group, while with new releases it tends to be 50/50.
We'll see which way I go this Wednesday when we're tasting new release Cabernet Sauvignons.
Steve's probably taking bets already!
Cheers
Ian
Forget about goodness and mercy, they're gone.
-
prester john
As usual, Ian, excellent reading.
I'd like to get your thoughts on the longevity of the 1994 Mt Langhi Ghiran shiraz. I have a few bottles of this waiting for consumption and from your notes I glean that this is not on the downhill slide by a long way. Is it fair to assume that this wine has a few more years left in it?
I would greatly appreciate your opinion.
PJ.
I'd like to get your thoughts on the longevity of the 1994 Mt Langhi Ghiran shiraz. I have a few bottles of this waiting for consumption and from your notes I glean that this is not on the downhill slide by a long way. Is it fair to assume that this wine has a few more years left in it?
I would greatly appreciate your opinion.
PJ.
The thing that struck me about the 1994 Mt Langhi Ghiran was the perfect balance of the wine right now. There's no sign of it falling over, but the fruit and tannins are seamless and the complexity would make it hard to resist drinking now.
I'd also factor in that it was surrounded by some pretty big hitting wines in this tasting too. On that basis I'd predict it should safely have a few years left.
It would be interesting to get Steve's and Mark's opinions, who were also at this Blacktongues and would have more knowledge/background of the wine than myself.
Cheers
Ian
I'd also factor in that it was surrounded by some pretty big hitting wines in this tasting too. On that basis I'd predict it should safely have a few years left.
It would be interesting to get Steve's and Mark's opinions, who were also at this Blacktongues and would have more knowledge/background of the wine than myself.
Cheers
Ian
Forget about goodness and mercy, they're gone.
-
prester john
Ian, Steve,
I'm grateful to both of you for your opinions. I'll schedule to consume the 5 bottles I have left during the course of the next 12 months.
Steve, if you were in Melbourne, I'd certainly give you a call to assist me in the consumption, however since you're so distant, I'm afraid I'll just have to drink your portion. I'm sure you understand.
PJ
I'm grateful to both of you for your opinions. I'll schedule to consume the 5 bottles I have left during the course of the next 12 months.
Steve, if you were in Melbourne, I'd certainly give you a call to assist me in the consumption, however since you're so distant, I'm afraid I'll just have to drink your portion. I'm sure you understand.
PJ
Ha, don't think you're safe in Melbourne, I'm over there for a week in early August, I might darken your doorstep demanding a share!
I'm actually having a few days on the Mornington Peninsula although there's nothing wine wise worthy from there. The highlight will be going to the Dome to see Sydney kick Melbourne's arse!
I'm actually having a few days on the Mornington Peninsula although there's nothing wine wise worthy from there. The highlight will be going to the Dome to see Sydney kick Melbourne's arse!
Cheers - Steve
If you can see through it, it's not worth drinking!
If you can see through it, it's not worth drinking!
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prester john
Steve, in all seriousness, if and when you arrive in Melbourne, if you're in the mood and have time, I'm more than happy to reserve some time to catch up with you and any other members of this forum for bite and a drink of wine (emphasis on the drinking).
For example, I have heard very little from Doc Holliday for quite a while, a long-time friend of this forum.
In any event, let me know if you're keen.
PJ.
For example, I have heard very little from Doc Holliday for quite a while, a long-time friend of this forum.
In any event, let me know if you're keen.
PJ.