Great Australian Shiraz Challenge 2005

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 12:16 am

And the winners are (Top 50):

(I've updated this to show with * the wines I already have from the list and those I'm considering buying at street price, not the RRP shown)

Annie's Lane at Quelltaler Trophy Winner First Place 2001 Annie's Lane Copper Trail Shiraz 19.00 Gold Clare Valley $54.99 * $33 best street price I've seen.
Mr Riggs Second Place 2004 Mr Riggs McLaren Vale Shiraz 18.80 Gold McLaren Vale $40.00 * RP 95
Kilikanoon Wines Third Place 2003 Kilikanoon Oracle Shiraz 18.70 Gold Clare Valley $59.00 * RP 98

Morris Wines Best Under $25.00 – ASA Cork Trophy

2001 Morris Shiraz 18.50 Gold Rutherglen $14.99
Cathcart Ridge 2000 Grampians Shiraz 18.50 Gold Grampians $80.00
Hardy Wine Company 2004 Hardys Oomoo Shiraz 18.50 Gold McLaren Vale $13.95
Penfold Wines 2002 Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz 18.50 Gold South Eastern Australia $24.00
Rosemount Estate 2001 Rosemount Estate Show Reserve McLaren Vale Shiraz 18.50 Gold McLaren Vale $23.00
Tatachilla Winery 2001 Tatachilla Foundation Shiraz 18.50 Gold McLaren Vale $45.00
Westend Estate 2003 Westend '3 Bridges Reserve' Shiraz 18.50 Gold Riverina $29.99
Langmeil Winery 2003 Barossa Shiraz 'The Freedom' 18.13 Silver Barossa Valley $100.00
Kilikanoon Wines 2003 Kilikanoon Covenant Shiraz 17.88 Silver Clare Valley $40.00 RP 94+
Saltram Wine Estates 2002 Saltram No.1 Shiraz 17.88 Silver Barossa Valley $65.00
Wirra Wirra Vineyards 2003 RSW Shiraz 17.88 Silver McLaren Vale $50.00
Grant Burge Wines 2003 Grant Burge Wines Filsell Shiraz 17.75 Silver Barossa $28.00
Hanging Rock Winery 2003 'Heathcote' Shiraz 17.75 Silver Heathcote $55.00 *
Taylors Wines 2001 St Andrews Shiraz 17.75 Silver Clare Valley $60.00
Pennys Hill 2004 Pennys Hill McLaren Vale Shiraz 17.63 Silver McLaren Vale $25.00
Rees Miller Estate 2003 Thousand Hills Shiraz 17.63 Silver Upper Goulburn $20.00
Serafino Wines 2003 Serafino Shiraz 17.63 Silver McLaren Vale $20.00
We’re Estate 2003 We're Wines Shiraz 17.63 Silver Margaret River $20.00
Brown Brothers Milawa Vineyard 2002 Patricia Shiraz 17.50 Silver Victoria $44.95
Casella Wines 2003 Yellowtail Premium Shiraz 17.50 Silver McLaren Vale $50.00
Domaine Chandon 2003 Green Point Reserve Yarra Valley Shiraz 17.50 Silver Yarra Valley $47.00
Grant Burge Wines 2000 Grant Burge Meshach 17.50 Silver Barossa $98.00
Kilikanoon Wines 2003 Killerman's Run Shiraz 17.50 Silver $20.00
Leasingham 2001 Leasingham Classic Clare Shiraz 17.50 Silver Clare $49.99
Rosemount Estate 2000 Rosemount Estate Balmoral Syrah 17.50 Silver McLaren Vale $50.00
Wirra Wirra Vineyards 2003 Woodhenge McLaren Vale Shiraz 17.50 Silver McLaren Vale $30.00
Chateau Reynella 2002 Reynell Shiraz 17.38 Silver McLaren Vale $50.00 * (already have some of this)
Curnow Family Vineyards 2003 EighteenFortySeven Pappy's Paddock Shiraz 17.38 Silver Barossa Valley $48.00
Houghton Wine Company 2001 Houghton Crofters Shiraz 17.38 Silver Mount Barker $24.99
Kingston Estate Wines 2002 Echelon Shiraz 17.38 Silver South Australia $22.24
McGuigan Wines - Yaldara Estate 2002 Farms Shiraz 17.38 Silver Barossa Valley $90.00 * (I paid $25 for this)
Rosemount Estate 2003 Rosemount Estate Hill of Gold Mudgee Shiraz 17.38 Silver Mudgee $18.00
Saltram Wine Estates 2001 Metala Black Label Shiraz 17.38 Silver Langhorne $55.00
Seppelt Wines 2003 Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz 17.38 Silver Bendigo / Grampians $24.99 * (already in the cellar)
Step Wines Australia 2003 Beresford Shiraz 17.38 Silver McLaren Vale $24.00
Yarra Burn Winery 2001 Yarra Burn Shiraz 17.38 Silver Yarra Valley $24.00
Brothers In Arms 2001 Brothers In Arms Shiraz 17.25 Silver Langhorne Creek $38.00
Cape Barren 2003 Old Vine Shiraz 17.25 Silver McLaren Vale $33.00
Evans and Tate 2001 Evans & Tate Margaret River Shiraz 17.25 Silver Margaret River $21.99
Rosemount Estate 2004 Rosemount Diamond Label Shiraz 17.25 Silver South Eastern Australia $13.50
Sevenhill Cellars 2002 Sevenhill Shiraz 17.25 Silver Clare Valley $20.00
Tapestry Wines 2002 Tapestry Shiraz 17.25 Silver McLaren Vale $20.00
Willow Bridge Estate 2002 Black Dog Shiraz 17.25 Silver Geography $60.00
Mitolo Wines 2003 G.A.M Shiraz 17.13 Silver McLaren Vale $55.00 * (already in the cellar)
Olivers Taranga Vineyards 2002 Olivers Taranga Shiraz 17.13 Silver McLaren Vale $25.00
Tintara Winery 2001 Tintara McLaren Vale Shiraz 17.13 Silver McLaren Vale $45.00
Witchmount Estate 2003 Estate Shiraz 17.13 Silver Sunbury $25.00

Mike Hawkins · Post by **Mike Hawkins** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 12:20 am

Some nice wines there, but unfortunately not exactly a who's who of Australian shiraz.

Ian S · Post by **Ian S** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 1:23 am

Mike Hawkins wrote:Some nice wines there, but unfortunately not exactly a who's who of Australian shiraz.

Which as ever, is what you need to know when XYZ wine wins a gong.
What was it up against
In what environment (food, decanting etc.)
Who was judging
Why did they like it!
Why didn't they like the others as much

The more shows I see the less I care about them.

Ian

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 5:38 am

Mike Hawkins wrote:Some nice wines there, but unfortunately not exactly a who's who of Australian shiraz.

Sums it up perfectly! As a result, yawn.

KMP · Post by **KMP** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:03 am

2004 had something less than 300 entries, so yes the Challenge is probably not representative of Shiraz Australia-wide. But I'd say its a valid comparison of the wines tasted. The problem is that the web site does not list all the wines, so that is a major limitation. The 2005 judging panel (from the web site was slated to be: John Duval, Stephen Henschke, Geoff Merrill and James Halliday.

Mike

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 9:34 am

KMP wrote:The 2005 judging panel (from the web site was slated to be: John Duval, Stephen Henschke, Geoff Merrill and James Halliday.

Mike

Martin Moran MW from Ireland replaced Stephen Henschke, he must be Ok though, he's writing a book about Oz Shiraz. :-)

I'll do a blurb on the awards dinner later, the Annies Lane is a pretty nice wine, worth considering at under $40 street price, less in-your-face than the Mr Riggs and Oracle (both lovely wines though). The Langmiel Freedom is definitly not worth the $100 asking price, should have stuck to the $50-$60 range.

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 9:40 am

Red Bigot wrote:Martin Moran MW from Ireland replaced Stephen Henschke, he must be Ok though, he's writing a book about Oz Shiraz.

That's like a catholic priest writing a book about the joys of sex before marriage. Possibly a lot a theory and not necessarily a lot of practical experience. :roll:

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 6:00 pm

TORB wrote:
Red Bigot wrote:Martin Moran MW from Ireland replaced Stephen Henschke, he must be Ok though, he's writing a book about Oz Shiraz.

That's like a catholic priest writing a book about the joys of sex before marriage. Possibly a lot a theory and not necessarily a lot of practical experience.

You may be right, but I suspect you may be wrong and I don't see any need to rubbish a guy because he was invited to judge at a competition you may hold in low regard.

FWIW a quite a few of the high-pointed wines from the top 50 in prior years are in my cellar, some of them in yours too. :-)

I suspect a few of this years will make it too.

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Sat Oct 29, 2005 6:08 pm

Brian,

I wasn't criticising him because he was invited to judge at this competition. The comments were aimed at a person who lives overseas, that very few winelovers in this country have heard of, writing a book about Oz wines when he has had ???how much??? experience drinking our product?

Nothing to do with the competition, all about his experience with the category.

As at this point, I have purchased exactly one of the top 50 (which I had not tried but you got at a very low price) tasted it, thought it was OK but not my favourite style and the rest of the six pack has already been sold. Previous years are a different story, but this years top line up look a bit pedestrian.

Staybaker · Post by **Staybaker** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 5:41 pm

I was interested to see the Cathcart Ridge Grampians 2000 shiraz near the top of the list. This wine won the Winestate Wine of the Year and Shiraz of the Year gongs for 2004. I've not tasted it, but have two bottles in my cellar, which I bought on spec when I found them on sale at $25, compared with the RRP of $80. I wonder if anyone has tried this wine?

Cheers, Staybaker.

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 5:59 pm

Staybaker wrote:I was interested to see the Cathcart Ridge Grampians 2000 shiraz near the top of the list. This wine won the Winestate Wine of the Year and Shiraz of the Year gongs for 2004. I've not tasted it, but have two bottles in my cellar, which I bought on spec when I found them on sale at $25, compared with the RRP of $80. I wonder if anyone has tried this wine?

Cheers, Staybaker.

Good pickup at $25, there seem to be 2 CR 2000 Shiraz, the Estate at $30 street price and a limited release "The One" @ $80. I didn't look closely at the label as they poured, but listing at $80 it must be "The One".

This wine was served with the cheese course, along with the Morris 2001 Shiraz, the Cathcart was more powerful than the Morris, which was nicely rustic in comparison.

Dense and youthful still, fragrant black fruit nose, strong palate with both red and black fruit, similarities to a good St Peters, but a little more full-bodied, good tannin structure, nice wine, but stretching it a bit at $80.

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 6:12 pm

TORB wrote:
As at this point, I have purchased exactly one of the top 50

I've updated the post with wines I already have (4) and those I would consider buying, having tasted them at the Awards dinner (4)

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 6:20 pm

Brian,

I think you missed one that's in your cellar. :wink:

Yaldara Estate 2002 Farms Shiraz.

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Sun Oct 30, 2005 7:14 pm

TORB wrote:Brian,

I think you missed one that's in your cellar. Yaldara Estate 2002 Farms Shiraz.

Interesting how my mind is conditioned to skip any sentence or wine name starting with McGuigan... :-(

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 6:35 pm

I asked if there was a full listing of entrants, but it appears they don't want to divulge it, the only indication I got was:
"Entries for this years event included Wolf Blass “Platinum”, Penfolds RWT , Grant Burge Meshach, Saltram No1, Tahbilk 1860 Vines-- just to name a few"

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 7:54 pm

TORB wrote:Brian,

I wasn't criticising him because he was invited to judge at this competition. The comments were aimed at a person who lives overseas, that very few winelovers in this country have heard of, writing a book about Oz wines when he has had ???how much??? experience drinking our product?

I think you will find with a little investigation that he has infact worked in Australia before in restaurants, done vintages in Sth Aus and Hunter and may have actually tasted his way through quite a significant amount of aussie wines...he seems as well qualified as the next person.

In fact as a overseas consumer, I would love to read his views, rather than the normal dribble fron what could be construed as conflicted views of writers who talks about their home country.

best of luck to him.

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 8:39 pm

Adam wrote:I think you will find with a little investigation that he has infact worked in Australia before in restaurants, done vintages in Sth Aus and Hunter and may have actually tasted his way through quite a significant amount of aussie wines...he seems as well qualified as the next person.

Adam,

If that is the case, great - he will know what he is talking about.

In fact as a overseas consumer, I would love to read his views, rather than the normal dribble fron what could be construed as conflicted views of writers who talks about their home country.

That is a rather big call.

Why do Aussie wine writers have "conflicted views"? I honestly don't understand what you mean.

Also, please be kind enough to let us all know, in your opinion, which Australian writers produce "dribble."

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 8:49 pm

TORB wrote:Why do Aussie wine writers have "conflicted views"? I honestly don't understand what you mean.

Also, please be kind enough to let us all know, in your opinion, which Australian writers produce "dribble."

People tend to be more one-eyed and bigotted when talking about their home country. Sometimes it refreshing to read from someone who has taken a step back from all that.

And No, I wont name names and make examples, I read your article on the power of whine forums and agree that it is best to keep such negative comments to myself.

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Tue Nov 01, 2005 9:36 pm

Adam,

I can understand the 'fresh approach' perspective.

Adam wrote:And No, I wont name names and make examples, I read your article on the power of whine forums and agree that it is best to keep such negative comments to myself.

Fair enough, but if that is the case, why make the call in the first place?

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Wed Nov 02, 2005 11:35 am

TORB wrote: Fair enough, but if that is the case, why make the call in the first place?

I didnt want to single anyone out just because that is my feeling...I still dont.

Staybaker · Post by **Staybaker** » Sat Nov 05, 2005 10:54 pm

Red Bigot wrote:
Staybaker wrote:I was interested to see the Cathcart Ridge Grampians 2000 shiraz near the top of the list. This wine won the Winestate Wine of the Year and Shiraz of the Year gongs for 2004. I've not tasted it, but have two bottles in my cellar, which I bought on spec when I found them on sale at $25, compared with the RRP of $80. I wonder if anyone has tried this wine?

Cheers, Staybaker.

Good pickup at $25, there seem to be 2 CR 2000 Shiraz, the Estate at $30 street price and a limited release "The One" @ $80. I didn't look closely at the label as they poured, but listing at $80 it must be "The One".

Mr Bigot,

Thanks for the info and the tasting note. You've got me worried now, I didn't realize there were two different wines, I'll have to check my bottles again (they're cellared offsite, so can't take a look without taking a 15 minute drive). I'm fairly sure the one I own is the one which won the Winestate award - I remember checking the label at the time.

Cheers, Staybaker.