which of these Barossans would you recommend?

[kenzo]

Hi y'all,

Have a quick question regarding the following Barossa shiraz from the 1998 vintage. Which would you recommend as being of the best quality, and the most delicious?

Bearing in mind that I have a bit of an aversion to obvious oak, rank the following for me if you will:

Rockford Basket Press
Turkey Flat
Kaesler Old Vine
Langmeil The Freedom
Heritage Rossco's
Veritas Hanisch

Thankee kindly!

[Noel]

Based on your criteria of not too much obvious oak, these are my suggestions. Have tried most of these in the last 12 months!

1. Veritas Hanisch
Incredible concentration. Needs years. Oak only part of the make up.
2.Rockford Basket Press
A great Rockford. Chris never uses more than around 25% new oak, this is savoury, spicy, earthy and rich
3. Heritage Rosco's
A bargain. Great fruit, not over the top. Fair degree of oak but beautifully integrated
4. Turkey Flat
This could easily be 3rd as well. Showing well, quite flashy more oak than above but still showing that old vine concentration.
5. Kaesler Old Vine
I would rank this higher, but it has more obvious American oak, again with great fruit
6. Langmeil Freedom
Only one of this list that i am not a fan of. Fairly obvious oak, big but with a slight dead fruit character. Good not great

Hope this helps!!
Cheers
Noel

[MartinC]

None of the above

The wine that came into my mind is the <b>"Elderton Command'98"</b>

...and the most delicious?

lusty and sexy too

[kenzo]

MC - I'm afraid I am sure that the Command would set off my oak alarms. FWIW I still have the two bottles of the 92 Command I bought with my first ever purchase of wine to cellar - $36 oz a pop back then.

Noel, thanks for that - I should have probably also mentioned the following:

Charles Melton shiraz - out-performing the Nine Popes of late?
Grrenock Ck Seven Acre
Greenock Ck Creek Block

If subsequent posters could also comment on these it'd be appreciated.
Interesting to see the Heritage up there!

[Noel]

Noel, thanks for that - I should have probably also mentioned the following:

Charles Melton shiraz - out-performing the Nine Popes of late?
Grrenock Ck Seven Acre
Greenock Ck Creek Block

Agreed these are good wines. The Creek Block is a tour de force, though not quite up their with the outstanding 1996. Seven Acre is good, no more.
Re Melton the 1998 Shiraz is excellent and would have placed 3rd or 4th. Creek Block 2nd. 2000 Nine Popes however is far superior to the slightly herbaceous Shiraz 2000. Sure there are plenty of other 98's to consider but most would be too oaky for you- E&E, RWT, and of course the mega buck Parker rated Draycott Reserve-fantastic, RunRig.. etc

[kenzo]

Noel - some excellent suggestions - I see you are well-versed in the lore of Barossan shiraz. I did indeed forget the Draycott post-reserve. Your ranking?

If anyone wishes to add other wines such as Kaesler's OB, the Viking Grand, or Trevor Jones's Wild Witch, please do! Penfolds...ho hum.

I do indeed like Torbreck wines, but neglected to include them as I feel they are slightly variant from the theme I was intending (eg addition of viognier + perhaps more "Rhone"/savoury in style). FWIW I think the Steading is the best QPR in that line up; this, the Draycott Olive Hill, and especially the Veritas Bull's Blood are all fine G/S/M blends IMO.

[Gavin Trott]

[quote="Noel"]Noel, thanks for that - I should have probably also mentioned the following:

Charles Melton shiraz - out-performing the Nine Popes of late?

Hi

Had the 2001's in an advance tasting and for my palate, while they're all actually very good, the Shiraz outperformed the 9 Popes, at least at that tasting.

[Gavin Trott]

Hi y'all,

Have a quick question regarding the following Barossa shiraz from the 1998 vintage. Which would you recommend as being of the best quality, and the most delicious?

Bearing in mind that I have a bit of an aversion to obvious oak, rank the following for me if you will:

Rockford Basket Press
Turkey Flat
Kaesler Old Vine
Langmeil The Freedom
Heritage Rossco's
Veritas Hanisch

Thankee kindly!

Of those IMO the cream is Veritas Hanisch and Basket Press, I love the wine maker's Reserve, held back a bit.

Both share a fruit dominant ethos, make the wine, keep the wood and yourself from wrecking it, and let the fruit and vineyard do most of the work.

Turkey Flat is very good indeed, love the style, and great value for money, but a level down.

[Noel]

Noel - some excellent suggestions - I see you are well-versed in the lore of Barossan shiraz. I did indeed forget the Draycott post-reserve. Your ranking?

Draycott Reserve on last tasting ny absolute pick of all Barossa 1998, though i think the Hanisch may eclipse in 10 years!

. FWIW I think the Steading is the best QPR in that line up; this, the Draycott Olive Hill, and especially the Veritas Bull's Blood are all fine G/S/M blends IMO.

[quote]Agreed Olive Hill is super as is the Bulls Blood. Liked Steading 97 and 98 have real problems with 99 and 2000[/quote]

[Gerard Connors]

Of those which I've tried, I'd rate the Hanisch, BP and Creek Block the highest, not in a particular order. (Although the Creek Block REALLY blew me away on release, I've not tried it since).

Ged