, although the Duck Larb was divinely spicy, most of the other food was milder. These are those I remember...
Ulithorne Flamma Sparkling Shiraz 2006, pretty yummy, rich but not over-sweet, some complexity for such a young wine, will get some more of this.
Morris Sparkling Shiraz-Durif - half the price of the Ulithorne, but also a bit of a letdown after it. Should have had them the other way round.
Rosemount Show reserve Shiraz 1996 - from the hosts passive and too-warm cellar, fully mature but still nice drinking.
Schild Estate Moorooroo Shiraz 2001 - very drinkable, but ultimately a little sweet and simple, not worth the $80+ asking price IMO.
Wendouree Shiraz 1991 - this was poured from the Grange 86 bottle, the person who brought these was playing games, I hadn't tried this wine for about 10 years, the last one from his cellar too, he has 17 left! Anyway, I was a little surprised at the way the wine appeared to have softened and matured, tannins were fine, but no longer powerful, suggest I help him drink some more soon as it was drinking well and may not get much better although it would probably hold for another 20 years.
Penfolds Grange 1986 - then he poured the Grange from the Wendouree bottle, it was a bigger wine than I rememebered for the 91 and the tannins were still very strong, indicating more maturation required yet. He then took great delight in telling us about his switch.
I actually preferred the Wendouree on the night, it is drinking very well right now and he has about 17 of them left too, so I can't complain about his trickery too much or I may not get to drink any more of them.
Wirra Wirra RSW Shiraz 1996 - Nicely mature wine, but sort of lost in amongst the other classy wines.
Seppelt Dorrien Cabernet 1998 - very good wine, needs more time yet.
Shadowfax Pink Cliffs Heathcote Shiraz 2001 - lovely wine, firmly structured, good fruit, but not fruit-driven, nice minerally and savoury notes, needs a bit more time yet.
I'm sure there were a couple more too, but things were starting to get a little fuzzy about then.
Ah, remembered one other, it was a NWS sample, Thorn Clarke William Randall Shiraz 2005, lovely sweet shiraz fruit, milk chocolate, soft tannins and a fair dose of vanilla oak, quite few people liked it, but it only scored a Bronze at the NWS.
And last, but not least Penfolds St Henri Shiraz 2002, quite enjoyable, very pure, way too young to be showing it's best, but you can see the potential there.
I think I have one left now before I can start on the current vintage.
