Jacaranda Ridge 1997(?)

[simm]

Hi all,
Has anyone tried this vintage from Orlando? And what price would you expect to pay for it nowadays. Was around $50+ upon release wasn't it?

Any TN/TV's would be appreciated.

Best to all,

[Debbie]

Another question: Is the 1998 Jacaranda out yet? I haven't seen it in bottle shops but in JH's Wine Companion, it says it was due for release in September 2003?

Thanks

[simm]

Another question: Is the 1998 Jacaranda out yet? I haven't seen it in bottle shops but in JH's Wine Companion, it says it was due for release in September 2003?

Thanks

Hi Debbie,
I've seen the Lawsons 98 but not the Jacaranda. I would have assumed they were released at the same time.

best,

[Debbie]

Yeah me too! I've seen the Lawsons 98 everywhere, but not sure what happened to the 98 Jacaranda...

[Gavin Trott]

Another question: Is the 1998 Jacaranda out yet? I haven't seen it in bottle shops but in JH's Wine Companion, it says it was due for release in September 2003?

Thanks

Hello

Chatted to my rep recently re the 1998. He said its due soon, what they tend to do is wait until the 97 is sold out before releasing. This has almost happened, so in the next month or so is the latest.

[GraemeG]

Hi all,
Has anyone tried this vintage from Orlando? And what price would you expect to pay for it nowadays. Was around $50+ upon release wasn't it?

Any TN/TV's would be appreciated.

Best to all,

Now, I did taste this, I think, alongside the 97 Lawsons at a dinner in the Hunter about 18 months ago. Also there was the 97 Jacobs Creek LR Shiraz-Cab. I remember finding all 3 rather lacking in concentration and purity. It wasn't just a matter of power - there was just something missing. Made me begin to wonder if 97 in S Aust will turn out to be much worse than everyone thought - the effect exaggerated by the towering vintages either side of it.

In fact lucky you - I still have the notes on my PC. From September 2002:

1997 Jacaranda Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon (Coonawarra)
Diffuse notes of a strongly menthol character on the nose of this one. ItÂ’s has plenty of fine-pixelled tannins, and firm acid too, but the fruit is well overshadowed by these structural elements. Tastes as though the makers had to work very hard to compensate for inadequacies in the fruit. It has the skeleton of a much bigger wine, but has not the stuffing to fill it out. A boy on a manÂ’s errand, if you will. A pretty decent sized mid-palate hole is the give-away to the struggle it took to get this wine to the point where they felt they could ask $50 (or whatever) for it. Good for $25, but thatÂ’s all.

1997 Jacob’s Creek Limited Release Shiraz Cabernet (not sure – Barossa & Coonawarra?)
This was the big gun as I recall - $60-worth? It displays an extracted liquorice quality, with some fruit-cake aromas and vanillan oak. There are distinct vintage similarities with the Jacaranda Ridge, except this was made to be a blockbuster. The herbaceousness of the fruit is disguised as a flavour, if not as a texture. It feels as though the fruit was unripe, rather than tasting that way, if that makes sense. Even the shiraz doesnÂ’t fill out the palate somehow. Maybe these notes are harsh, but I canÂ’t help judging in the context of price, and from that perspective it doesnÂ’t measure up. For big money I want a long finish, and this wine doesnÂ’t have that. Actually I prefer the JRidge given the vintage.

1997 Lawsons Shiraz (Padthaway)
Lush, plummy aromas. Some rich-ish blackcurrant fruits & vanillan oak. This has a much better balance than the previous two wines, and ends with a medium length finish. It’s still quite a lightweight wine beside previous Lawsons wines – doesn’t match up to even the 96, let alone the 94, which I think is the best Lawsons of the 90s. Oddly enough, at this stage of the night the 97 McWilliams Rosehill (having been open a few hours longer) was the better wine to drink. This is probably one of those ‘good-for-the-vintage wines which you’d only buy if a) they were massively discounted or b) you’re addicted to vertical tastings.


Hope that's some help...

cheers,
Graeme

[simm]

Sure is some help Greame,

I couldn't help wondering just how long they had had to breath? You haven't had the chance to try one recently? The reason I ask is because I had a release tasting of Vasse Felix Cab 00 which was somewhat disappointing at the time and then a year later was a completely different beasty. In fact I am glad I couldn't help myself and buy at least a half doz. I have also heard other people comment on the Lawsons 97 as a cracker (wish I could remember where now).

Cheers,

[Anthony]

The 98 Jacaranda should be released within 6 weeks. Orlando have a policy of not releasing a vintage until the other wine is sold out, that's why it takes them so long after a bad vintage.

I tried the 98 Jac. around three months ago and found it to be a very good wine. Heaps of fruit and a really good backbone and not over-oaked. In the past, I nearly always prefered St Hugo to Jacaranda because Jac. was normally always smothered with oak and it hardly ever came back into balance. St Hugo got less time in new oak and was more fruit driven.

The 98 Jacaranda in time will be head-and-shoulders above Lawsons Shiraz in time and definitely a 10-year plus prospect.

cheers
anthony

[n4sir]

The last time I tried the 1997 Jacaranda Ridge was at the last Norwood Hotel Coonawarra Winemakers tastings back in late 2002, and it was incredibly disappointing.

Shared a lot in common with the 1997 Wynns Michael and John Riddoch that day - too heavily oaked and/or not enough fruit. You're better off waiting for the 1998, trying to hunt down a 1996, which was the wine of the event 12 months earlier.

Ian

[simm]

Well that just about seals it then!! Thanks all, may still give the wine a go as I have found a six pack of St. Hugo going at $31 p/b with a free bottle of the 97 Jacaranda thrown in.

cheers,