The Past months reds

[Brucer]

These are from memory, as I dont take notes.

98 Tatachilla Foundation.
Fairly balanced, and a good drink.

98 Steve Maglieri Shiraz
Far too much oak, which virtually made it undrinkable.

98 Wirra RSW
Bloody good drink. Cant go past Wirra.

96 Penfolds Kalimna
Typical Penfolds, but pretty good. Has a way to go.

98 Henschke Keyneton
Typical Henschke, which I find a bit boring.

94 Leasingham Classic Clare Sparkling Shiraz.
In a class of its own. Brilliant.

98 Turkey Flat Shiraz
Seems to be growing in the bottle over the past year or so. Very good.

96 Coriole Lloyd Reserve Shiraz
Really filled out, and has everything in balance. Outstanding

96 Jenke Shiraz
Down the sink

84 Skillogalee Vintage port.
Sensational

75 d'Arenberg Vintage port
Past it, but others with me liked it.

00 Veritas Barossa Shiraz
Simple, overoaked, overcooked.

02 Keith Tulloch Kester Shiraz
Would not pick it as Hunter. Very classy.

01 Keith Tulloch Kester Shiraz
Very Hunter, but still a good wine

94 Jack Mann
Classy wine, which was a joy to drink.

94 Knappstein Cabernet
Down the sink

01 Greenock Creek Alices
Oak has come up since last tasted, needs time. Could be very good.

98 Reynell Cabernet
Beautiful wine, great balance, years to go.

96 St Hugo
Good wine

01 Chapel Hill The Vicar
Drinking really well at the moment. Hope it holds.

98 Moss Wood Cabernet.
Wow, what a big wine. huge tannins, needs time.

98 Pepper Tree Coonawarra reserve Cabernet.
Classy wine, few years left.

95 Crofters Cabernet
All wrong. Down the sink

92 Thomas Hardy Cabernet
Reasonable wine

02 Two Hands Lilys Garden Shiraz
Inky, lots of everything, needs a bit more time

98 Wirra Chook Block Shiraz
Fantastic wine, years left.

98 Grant Burge Filsell
Drinking well now

96 Wirra RSW
My last bottle, simply fantastic

96 Coriole Shiraz
Drink up if you have any

99 Rockford Black Shiraz
Very disappointing. Hope it improves!

98 Kays Block 6
Hope its in a hole now. Could not drink the second night.

94 389
Good wine, pretty typical

94 Brian Light Reserve Shiraz
Simply brilliant.

97 Anderson Sparkling Shiraz
Rutherglen, I like these wines. 95 and 98 are also good.

02 Bullers Calliope Shiraz
Just gets better with each bottle I drink. Brilliant.

98 Glaetzer Shiraz.
Pretty good, needs drinking soon.

98 Charles Melton Shiraz
Good wine, drinking well now.

96 Charles Melton Shiraz
As above

02 Shirvington Shiraz
Had a tasting with this and the following 2 wines.
This wine is totally disjointed, and I wonder if it will ever come together. Very disappointing, considering the high Parker scores.

02 Ulithorne Fru Frigis McLaren vale Shiraz
Fantastic wine. Great fruit, oak in balance, long length, years to go.

02 Cape Barren Old Vine McLaren Vale Shiraz
Not in the class of the Ulithorne, but still good, and much more drinkable than the Shirvington.

94 Eileen Hardy Shiraz
About at its peak for me, and drinking well.

[TORB]

Geeessss Bruce, when are you gonna start drinking some good wine and stop with all those quaffers.

[Red Bigot]

Forty-two reds, 3 down the sink, 1 past it, couple of diappointments. Average month I'd say.

Thanks for the brief update on these, quite a few are in my cellar, must try a Steve Maglieri 98, that's a bit worrying, I have a few of those, it was brilliant at release, I thought the fruit would cope with the oak.

[TORB]

Brian and Bruce,

I had a 98 Steve M a few months ago and it was fine; I would say you may have had a slightly suspect bottle Bruce.

[Brucer]

Ric,
I have had a few 98 Steve Maglieri over the past months, and they are all the same....too much oak for me.
Bruce

[MartinJohnC]

Thanks for the great notes Brucer.

You don't need scores to tell the real story about a wine.

Had the 94 Jack Mann last week and it started off well but fell apart, a
bad bottle I think.

The Ulithorne 01 in my view is there best , but all great wines.

The Bullers Calliope, tried recently, found a touch hot but latter
great with food.

Cheers Martin

[707]

96 Jenke Shiraz, Down the sink

94 389 Good wine, pretty typical

94 Brian Light Reserve Shiraz
Simply brilliant.

02 Shirvington Shiraz
Had a tasting with this and the following 2 wines.
This wine is totally disjointed, and I wonder if it will ever come together. Very disappointing, considering the high Parker scores.

02 Ulithorne Fru Frigis McLaren vale Shiraz
Fantastic wine. Great fruit, oak in balance, long length, years to go.

Jenke 96 Shiraz - I thought this was a great wine young and I've kept an eye on Jenke ever since. To me they are a huge disappointment given the old vines they own. Not sure if it's viticulture or winemaking.

Penfolds 94 Bin 389 - been really enjoyed in my group recently, one of the best 389s

Brian Light 94 Reserve Shiraz - had my last one of a case a year or so back. Drank beautifully throughout it's days albeit well oaked.

Shirvington 02 - I'm not sure what the fuss is with these, always seem unbalanced and sweet fruited. Not sure they're going anywhere, good con job on the yanks I reckon!

Ulithorne 2002 Frux Frugis - great wine, has a firm foothold in my cellar, will be a ripper with time although it's lovely now.

[Mike Hawkins]

Loved the 94 Bin 389 when I last had it - I think its got many years left.

As for the 02 Buller's, I had a glass of the first bottle and tipped the rest down the sink. Decided to give it another chance a month later and went on to tip all but one mouthful down the gurgler. Hot and unbalanced IMO. The rest went to Langtons.

Mike

[Red Bigot]

Loved the 94 Bin 389 when I last had it - I think its got many years left.

As for the 02 Buller's, I had a glass of the first bottle and tipped the rest down the sink.

Mike, that probably defines your palate nicely. Mine is a bit more promiscuous than yours, I love them both and don't find the Calliope 02 unbalanced or hot at all.

[Mike Hawkins]

Brian,

That's the beauty of wine. Wine has its own individuality just as we do !

Mike

[markg]

Wow - nice little cross section there.

I agree with your take on the 94 Leasingham Classic Clare Sparkling Shiraz, simply a wonderful sparkler.. Could do with more of these for the summer actually.

[Red Bigot]

98 Steve Maglieri Shiraz
Far too much oak, which virtually made it undrinkable.

Bruce,

I finally got around to trying this tonight, the oak is certainly there, but the exuberant fruit handles it well, nicely balanced and just into its drinking window for my tastes. There can't be too much oak, it drank marvelously with one of my fiery Thai green chicken curries.