TNR: Rosemount Mountain Blue

Bick · Post by **Bick** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 12:20 pm

I can't find anything on the 02, but I've seen it really cheap somewhere, so wondering if its worth a try. I know the 02 Balmoral got slated. Anyone tried it and what do you think of the quality of this label generally?

Gustav · Post by **Gustav** » Fri Jul 18, 2008 4:51 pm

Bick,
I tried the 1996 and 1998 this at a Classic Wines Club tasting not long ago and was not impressed. Maybe they are better young? Ian aka "n4sir" wrote some good notes from that tasting, see http://forum.auswine.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=8254

Here are Ian's notes on the Mountain Blue 96 and 98:

n4sir wrote:1996 Rosemount Mountain Blue Shiraz Cabernet: Medium red. A tired and heavily oxidised wine full of stocky/vinegar and varnish characters, the palate short, completely dried out and undrinkable.

1998 Rosemount Mountain Blue Shiraz Cabernet: Medium to dark red. The nose opened with the same terribly stocky/varnishy oxidised characters as the '96, but with a little breathing it did manage some herbal/cedar characters too. Likewise the palate’s just as dried out with the same herbal/stocky characters with some dill-like oak still hanging around – not quite as shot as the ‘96 but it’s still heavily oxidised and unpleasant.

cheers,

Bick · Post by **Bick** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 6:44 am

Many thanks Gustav. I had read Ian's comments but those bottles sounded faulty to me (oxidised) - maybe I'm wrong. I've also read that a 98 was drinking well last year and Ric has reviewed older vintages quite positively on his site too, so if there are any other impressions... particularly of the 02 vintage? Much appreciated.

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 8:24 am

resist thew rosemount bick. buy pams blackberry jam instead its cheaper :lol:

go for the penfolds 389

n4sir · Post by **n4sir** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 10:26 am

Bick wrote:Many thanks Gustav. I had read Ian's comments but those bottles sounded faulty to me (oxidised) - maybe I'm wrong. I've also read that a 98 was drinking well last year and Ric has reviewed older vintages quite positively on his site too, so if there are any other impressions... particularly of the 02 vintage? Much appreciated.

That's why I didn't reply - Rosemount's rate of dodgy corks was pretty bad over those vintages, so my hunch is the oxidised bottles I struck were possibly randox as opposed to bad wines. That said I haven't tried a good one either, so I really just don't know for sure.

I haven't tried the 02 vintage - hopefully it's better than the Balmoral, which by most comments was a shocker and a disgrace to the label.

Cheers,
Ian

Bick · Post by **Bick** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:02 am

Thanks guys. Despite reservations maybe I'll just get one as an experiment, as there doesn't seem to be much known about it - I'll report back if I do with a TN.