TN: 2005 Chateau Reynella Shiraz (cleanskin)

[n4sir]

2005 Chateau Reynella Basket Pressed Shiraz, McLaren Vale (cleanskin): Some light crusting on the shoulder already. Glowing, glass staining, decanter staining, inky red/purple. Earthy and sweet blackberry/plums and liquorice, just a touch of iodine/tar, floral carnations/sweet jubes and gluey/biscuity oak way off in the distance. The palate's medium to full weight, dry and slightly smoky/tarry with tangy plum fruit, just a hint of smoky bacon/black licorice, finishing with gum-sapping, slightly powdery tannins and a hint of coffee. A big, dry, savoury style of McLaren Vale shiraz that should go the distance.

Cheers,
Ian

[Red Bigot]

Yeah, good wine and a bargain as a cleanskin...

[orpheus]

Yes, I bought several dozen as cleanskins, and have bought another dozen now that it is $15 a bottle.

I agree that it's a good wine, specially at that price, and that it will go the distance.

Only caveat is that at present, I find the tannins a little too drying and astringent, and think that I will enjoy it more in a few years.

Also, I thought I detected a slight stalkiness.

[tpang]

I'm unashamedly hijacking Ian's thread, but since we're on the topic of Reynella, I picked up a Reynella Tawny at the local shoppe. It's not the usual 500mL bottlings, but a 750mL. It was discounted and dispalyed along with similarly labeled rutherglen ports. Guess it's a Constellation sale of their ports? If so, it's great stuff for your personal barrel!

Nice varnished oak colour, notes of sultanas and hint of nuttiness. Mild warm flavours typical of tawny ports with touch of dryness in the mid palate. All for $14.95, no complaints.

[Alex F]

I bought some of these cleanskins as well, and despite the current uncertainty about what is actually in the bottle, I have the following:

The first surprise I had was that the corks are very crappy looking and quite short, for a super premium wine.

However, after having two bottles I can say that nose is beautiful, sweet with fruit, plums, blackberries, and also carries this exotic hint of meatiness and spices. This carries through to the palate, the dark fruits are framed by strong fine tannins, with oak very present, combining for a long creamy, vanilla finish.

[mkw61]

My first purchase of a cleanskin and just recieved my cartons of the alleged reynella 05 I have got to question its nose & follow thru tried decantering it started to open up after about 1/2 hr compared to the genuine article something seems to be missing i have had a few bottles prior to this purchase. Maybe is it my snob value of drinking it with no label getting the better of me either way wished I had only purchased one carton, may be the cellar is the answer & reopen it in 3 years. Probably good value if you have never tried the real thing.
If you get the chance to try the reserve shiraz it is something very special.

[n4sir]

My first purchase of a cleanskin and just recieved my cartons of the alleged reynella 05 I have got to question its nose & follow thru tried decantering it started to open up after about 1/2 hr compared to the genuine article something seems to be missing i have had a few bottles prior to this purchase. Maybe is it my snob value of drinking it with no label getting the better of me either way wished I had only purchased one carton, may be the cellar is the answer & reopen it in 3 years. Probably good value if you have never tried the real thing.
If you get the chance to try the reserve shiraz it is something very special.

There's been a lot of it flogged off at different places, so it could be a different batch. If you want to see if it's the same you can check the log code stamped on the neck of the bottle - the ones I had were L7038 3 D4010.

Other than the lack of a label/capsule the bottling should be identical to the official release - the bottles should be the same type with eight raised dots and A 5362 on the base of the bottle, and the same same 4.5 cm cork with a little hill and tree stylised brand.



Cheers,
Ian

Ps. It appears the 2006 vintage is starting to be be sold as cheaply by the same initial e-tailers as this one. Another major trophy/gold medal winner on the show circuit with a $54 RRP being dumped as a cleanskin at (I'm guessing) something close to cost by Constellation.

[Alex F]

From the second batch I got:

no stamp on the neck (afaic tell), but at the base there is a stamp with ad5170330150.

I will check the first batch and report back. This is truly mysterious! (If you have been following the redbigot page...)

[Red Bigot]

The 2006 McLaren Vale cleanskin from Skye is NOT the Ch Reynella wine. They specifically told me it is not, but I haven't worked out what it is yet. It must have been in tank for a fair while, it was only bottled a few weeks ago.

[Alex F]

From the first batch:

No markings on the neck either, but the code stamped on the bottom is different:

AD5170362202

[Scoobth]

Ps. It appears the 2006 vintage is starting to be be sold as cheaply by the same initial e-tailers as this one. Another major trophy/gold medal winner on the show circuit with a $54 RRP being dumped as a cleanskin at (I'm guessing) something close to cost by Constellation.

Why would Constellation be clearing them at such cheap prices?

I just picked up some bottles from Skye with the "L7038 3 D4010" print on them sold as 2005 Chateau Reynella Basket Press Shiraz (cleanskins) I look forward to tasting them.

[n4sir]

The 2006 McLaren Vale cleanskin is NOT the Ch Reynella wine. They specifically told me it is not, but I haven't worked out what it is yet. It must have been in tank for a fair while, it was only bottled a few weeks ago.

I noticed after following your link from Winefront the 2006 is not described as 'Basket Pressed' shiraz like the Reynella, so I had my suspicions it mightn't be the same.

Why would Constellation be clearing them at such cheap prices?

I just picked up some bottles with the "L7038 3 D4010" print on them sold as 2005 Chateau Reynella Basket Press Shiraz (cleanskins) I look forward to tasting them.

It's good to see someone else has confirmed they've got bottles from the same batch as I got.

They're being dumped because significant export orders were cancelled because of the GFC and the slump in demand for Australian reds at the upper end of the quality scale in the USA & England. In the past occasionally a pallet would arrive back and be sold at Reynella for about $20/bottle, but this time a huge quantity destined for export was torpedoed before it had a chance to leave the country.

Constellation are in deep financial shit (just as deep as Fosters) and can't afford to have stock like this sitting around anymore. That and they're selling off historic vineyards and wineries to be bulldozed for housing just to get by...

Cheers,
Ian

[Red Bigot]

The 2006 McLaren Vale cleanskin is NOT the Ch Reynella wine. They specifically told me it is not, but I haven't worked out what it is yet. It must have been in tank for a fair while, it was only bottled a few weeks ago.

I noticed after following your link from Winefront the 2006 is not described as 'Basket Pressed' shiraz like the Reynella, so I had my suspicions it mightn't be the same.

The 2006 at that Wine Front link is the real deal. If you were a subscriber to my site you would have the full gory details.

[orpheus]

I have tasted the 2006 in its cleanskin form.

I bought a few dozen of the 05 as well as a dozen of the 06.

In my opinion, the 06 is a signficantly better wine, without any of the stalky, under-ripe, drying tannins that I felt were present in the 05. The 06 is a good, rich, powerful McLaren Vale shiraz, with a lovely, rich berry palate, and a nice, firm finish.

To give an idea of what I think of the difference, if I were a points man I would give the 05 90, and the 06 95.

It is an absolute bargain.

[Alex F]

Okay... comments about the 2006 Chateau Reynella shiraz prompted me to try one of my cleanskins which I just collected today!

To me this is quite similar to the 05. It has quite a similar mouth coating tannin structure. Very much like the 05, it has plums and dark fruit, and mclaren vale chocolate, with creamy oak on the nose and in the mouth. It smells and tastes sweeter than the 05. This one is more like fruitcake richness compared to the somewhat meatiness of the 05. I think I understand what Orpheus means about the tannins. This one is dusty instead of stalky, to my tastes. I also perceive a bit more oak which contributes to the sweetness.

Both are good.

p/s I have noticed quite some variation on the 05... the last one was more astringent than the others...

[n4sir]

Well, I was impressed enough with the 2005 to snag another couple of dozen (same log code on the box, so I'd say the same batch). Down to $125/dozen now.

Cheers,
Ian

[pc79]

$125/case? That sounds very tempting. May I ask where?

[WW Country Boy]

I think I favour the 06 could I also ask where this can be purchased?

[orpheus]

Not sure that I should give an online answer to this question.

Have a look at the red bigot's website, google redbigot and you will find it.

[n4sir]

Agreed - The places selling this wine are competitors to Gavin, so the only mention of them by name should be by PM/request.

[pc79]

There is alot of conjecture as to whether or not the advertised cleany from the competitors website is the real deal. Perhaps the '05 is, but the '06 is a tad shady