Huon Hooke Top Wines of 2005

[Andrew Jordan]

In today's SMH's Good Living liftout, Huon Hooke lists the wines that most excited him in 2005. Although he did make honourable mentions to wines like the pre-release samples of Penfolds Bin 60A and Block 42, and RWT '04 these did not make the list as I suppose they are not yet released to the general public. His top wines were:

2003 Penfolds Reserve Bin 03A Chardonnay (Adelaide Hills)
2002 Giaconda Warner Vineyard Shiraz (Beechworth)
1998 Tyrrells Vat 1 Semillon (Hunter Valley)
2002 Sanalford Prendiville Cabernet Sauvignon (Margaret River)
2001 Woodlands Kevin Cabernet Sauvignon (Margaret River)
2003 Yering Station Reserve Shiraz Viognier (Yarra Valley)
2005 Petaluma Hanlin Hill riesling (Clare Valley)
2004 Yalumba the Virgilius Viognier (Eden Valley)
2005 Grosset Watervale Riesling (Clare Valley)
2002 Henschke Tappa Pass Shiraz (Barossa/Eden Valleys)
2004 Ben Glaetzer Amon Ra Shiraz (Barossa Valley)
2002 Cape Mentelle Wallcliffe Sauvignon Blanc Semillon (Margaret River)

Out of the 12 wines listed I have only tasted 2 (bolded) and these were definitely in my top 10 wines tasted in 2005. What does everybody else think regarding the rest of the list? Are they worthy of being mentioned as the finest releases of 2005?

[JamieBahrain]

Mr Hooke certainly has a fair cross-section & representation of the industry in there.

I haven't tried any, but would be interested in most of them for the cellar- except the Amon Ra & Yalumba viognier.

[Mike Hawkins]

AJ,

I only tried the Yering Station. While its not my go, I could see why others might like it.

Mike

[Cellar Rat]

I tried the Cape Mentelle 2002 wooded SBS a few months ago. One of the worst whites of 2005 for me. Out of balance, arms and legs everywhere - american oak whites are not exactly my style. Yuk.

The Giaconda shiraz 2002 is excellent but not in the outstanding category.

Maybe HH just doesn't taste as widely as one would think.