Rosemount Show Reserve Range - What are they doing?

[Chuck]

Did anyone see the ad for this range? The show reserve range has been quite ordinary for many years but at sub $10 thought they were worth a try. In store tasting there was the Traditional. When Rosemount acquired the Rycroft (Mc Laren Vale) winery about 15 years ago the Traditional label and style were maintained but the price doubled. A cabernet blend and very nice. Also bought the straight cabernet on spec. TWF rated it 93 and I agree. Seriously good Coonawarra fruit, a little extracted and needs a few years in the cellar. All under $10.00. Stupid pricing. Perhaps the label is being dumped.

[Michael McNally]

What vintage was this Chuck?

[Chuck]

What vintage was this Chuck?

Both were 2008

[Michael McNally]

Ta!

[daz]

I've had a few bottles of the Barwang Hilltops Shiraz 2008, think I posted an impression here somewhere. Definitely cool climate shiraz, very+ good vfm. The cab seems to be rated slightly higher by the critics. I'm planning to grab some of each this week at the discounted price, may end up with a mixed case including the Rosemount SR cab, shiraz and chard but I'm more focussed on the Barwangs.

daz

[underwraps50]

I went in to buy the Barwang which seemed like good value as I have had quite a few bottles successfully through the cellar in the past. I was intrigued by the Rosemount range on tasting as I had no knowledge of this normally higher priced range. I would normally have tasted the full range on offer but was in a hurry and simply asked which the in-house wine experts thought was the best of the range. They both thought the Traditional was, so I tasted it and thought it was quite reasonable for $10. and would probably improve a bit, so bought a case. When I got home I had a look in the BRW book and noted that the Traditional was rated at 89 & the Shiraz & Cab both at 93. The story of my life. I thought about taking the case back & swapping it for the Cab but in the end I thought I would live dangerously and see what happens with the Traditional. Guess I'm just a risktaker!

[Waiters Friend]

G'day

Firstly, I'm a bit confused about the references to Barwang - isn't that a McWilliams label?

Apart from that, the Rosemount Show Reserves all used to be very good wines 10-15 years ago (in some years, I reckon the SR Chardonnay was better than the Roxburgh). However, I'd be very surprised if they are the same wines at $10 a bottle. That's half what they were on special for 10 years ago.....

Cheers

Allan

[Mahmoud Ali]

I saw bottles of what appeared to be the the Rosemount "Reserve" wines at a local bottle shop but they were in those stupid square-like bottles with the flange tops, nothing like the Rosemount Reserve wines of old. So I walked right by them.

At $10 a bottle I just might try a bottle of the "Traditional". Might, maybe, if I need a quaffing wine and am prepared to be surprised. But I wouldn't count on it. In fact I can't recall the last time I has a Rosemount wine.

Cheers.............Mahmoud.

[underwraps50]

Confusing isn't it Allan. For it to make sense you need to know that the Barwang was one of the other reds 'on special' at Uncle Dan's that week.
The story is that the Reserve trio normally sell in the $18. range so $9.90 would be a pretty good price if the wine is any good.
No, Mahmoud, they are not the 'square' bottles - that is the Diamond Label and I don't drink those either.
The significance of this thread for winesnobs like Daz & I is probably that we live up in the sticks and don't have access to the wider range & other benefits that city dwellers do - so what is on offer at Uncle Dan's is actually of interest to us. You'll have to excuse us country bumkins.

[Roscoe]

No, Mahmoud, they are not the 'square' bottles - that is the Diamond Label and I don't drink those either.

I have had a bottle here and there of the Diamond label shiraz over the years. In bad years it is good, in good years it is very good- a quaffer but not a bad one. I understand it is an enormous export wine and a good effort considering the quantities produced.
BTW, I thought the Show Reserve Coonawarra Cab was worth buying a few months back when I saw it at ?14.99 (after an obligatory sample bottle). Needless to say I bought a few more at 9.90.

[rooman]

Having read this thread recently I thought it might be timely to try an bottle of the Cab Sav Show Reserve 1998. So I opened one on Saturday night. This is tracking well, especially for a wine that cost me $21 at the time I picked it up. The tannins are softening but still have some way to go. Good secondary development coming through, cassis fruit, cedar box tones. It still has years ahead of it.

[Mahmoud Ali]

The Rosemount Show Reserve wines have always been good and not to be confused with the current state of the Rosemount Diamond Label wines. Once upon a time the 1990 Rosemount Diamond Label Shiraz made it onto the Wine Spectator's annual Top 100 Wine list. At the time it cost about C$12. However, in the intervening years all the varieties of the Diamond label (mostly the same price after all these years) are sweet, industrial concoctions with very little palate interest.

The last Rosemount Show Reserve I had was a very good bottle of the Traditional and it's retail was about C$30. If the wines on offer at A$10 are anyway near the same level of quality then they certainly would be a bargain. I will definitely try a bottle of the Traditional.

Underwraps, us "city folks" love a bargain just as much as you "country bumkins"................Mahmoud.

[Roscoe]

The Rosemount Show Reserve wines have always been good and not to be confused with the current state of the Rosemount Diamond Label wines.

Mahmoud,
I don't think there was any confusion between the two, apart from your previous post.

[Mahmoud Ali]

Roscoe,

Perhaps my post was a bit unclear but there is no confusion about the wines. Originally the Diamond Label wines were bottled in the square-shaped bottles while the Show Reserve range were in normal bottles with a mainly white label.

It appears that Rosemount is now confusing matters by bottling the so-called Show Reserve wines in the same square-shaped bottles that are used for the Diamond Label wines. It was square-shaped bottles that I walked by in the Dan Murphy store and there was a sign above a stack of bottles that something about show Reserve wines though to my eye they looked much like the Diamond Label wines.

Here is a quote from Wine Front:

"The Show Reserve range is now in the cringe-worthy square-footed bottle – say no more."

On the Winetastic site there is a picture of a square-shaped bottle (as is on the Wine Front site) as well as the following review by Murray of the 2004 Rosemount Show Reserve Shiraz:

"I wish I could find some more positive things to say about this wine since the 2002 vintage was the first red I really got excited about. Slash the price to $10 and you would have a bargain bbq red I suppose.

Score: 86/100
Price: $20
Closure: Screwcap
Alcohol: 14.5%
Would I buy this wine? No "

Now I'm wondering if the juice that went into the Show Reseve range has gone somewhere else. Perhaps the real Show Reserve range has been discontinued and the Diamond Label wines "upgraded" in terminology/designation but not in content.

While writing this I thought it prudent to check the Rosemount website. After a quick look it seems that apart from their flagship range which are in traditional bottles, there are four ranges that use the square-shaped bottles, the Show Reserve, Diamond Label, Diamond Cellars, and Exclusives. These four different ranges all use diamond-shaped labels now so good luck telling them apart.

A few years ago when Penfold's took over Rosemount there were some comments about whether Rosemount took over Penfolds because many of the Rosemount wine makers were retained in the merger while many Penfold's wine makers were made redundant. Whatever it was there seems no doubt now that the Rosemount Label is dying a slow death.

Mahmoud.

[Roscoe]

Thanks for clarifying, Mahmoud. I wasn't confused about the labels, but it did sound a little like you were.
My take on this is that the Show Reserve label has already been significantly eroded over the past ten years, both in wine quality and appearance. The last Show Reserve Cabernet I bought for cellaring before the 2008 was the 1996. Ironically, I think the wine is much improved in 2008, but the severe discounting looks like it will hasten the death of the label.
The Diamond label shiraz has actually been stronger at its price point than the Show Reserve range at its price point in recent years in my opinion. Having said that, I can't say I have consumed either in any great quantity. Now they are at the same pricepoint
As Alan was, I was a fan of the Show Reserve Chardonnay as well as the SR Cab in their heydays - a while ago.
It does seem indeed the label is dying a slow death.

[Waiters Friend]

Thanks for clarifying, Mahmoud. I wasn't confused about the labels, but it did sound a little like you were.
My take on this is that the Show Reserve label has already been significantly eroded over the past ten years, both in wine quality and appearance. The last Show Reserve Cabernet I bought for cellaring before the 2008 was the 1996. Ironically, I think the wine is much improved in 2008, but the severe discounting looks like it will hasten the death of the label.
The Diamond label shiraz has actually been stronger at its price point than the Show Reserve range at its price point in recent years in my opinion. Having said that, I can't say I have consumed either in any great quantity. Now they are at the same pricepoint
As Alan was, I was a fan of the Show Reserve Chardonnay as well as the SR Cab in their heydays - a while ago.
It does seem indeed the label is dying a slow death.

I agree with Roscoe - thanks Mahmoud. "the label is dying a slow death" and we will mourn its passing.

In practice, we've already done so - I stopped buying early in the 2000s - but let's consider this the nail in the coffin.

Cheers (not sure 'cheers' is appropriate for a maudlin post )

Allan

[underwraps50]

All this is making it sound like I might have wasted my money on the case of SR '07 Traditional that I bought. Whilst (as I mentioned) the BRW Book gave it only an 89 and thought it was not fresh or refined, the SR Cab Sav (08) did get a 93 & considerable praise - so maybe all is not lost for the label.
The Traditional is described as loaded with oak & tannin & not well balanced, so maybe it will improve with a few years sleep.
I've recently been working my way through half a dozen '03 Rosemount Hill of Gold Cab Savs and would have to say they are drinking in a manner that reminds me of the above description.

[Chuck]

All this is making it sound like I might have wasted my money on the case of SR '07 Traditional that I bought. Whilst (as I mentioned) the BRW Book gave it only an 89 and thought it was not fresh or refined, the SR Cab Sav (08) did get a 93 & considerable praise - so maybe all is not lost for the label.
The Traditional is described as loaded with oak & tannin & not well balanced, so maybe it will improve with a few years sleep.
I've recently been working my way through half a dozen '03 Rosemount Hill of Gold Cab Savs and would have to say they are drinking in a manner that reminds me of the above description.

Personally I found the Traditional quite a good wine. Not up there with the 08 Cabernet but generally a good quality wine from a tough vintage. I tasted and bought a dozen Traditional and am very happy I did. A little more oak is just a personal preference and tannins will generally settle with time. A few years in the cellar should improve it. JH gave it 90 which is consistent with Winefront. JH can be a point or occasionally 2 higher than WF. On my scale its at 91+.

Watch out for the 08 Traditional. A better vintage and hopefully will be assigned to the rediculous special bins.

Chuck

[Mahmoud Ali]

Okay, I went by Mr Murphy's place and found the '07 Traditional still on special and picked up a bottle (the Shiraz and Cabernet were sold out). Cracked it open as soon as I walked in and set in on the kitchen counter; it was time to watch the Leader's Forum with a glass of Manzanilla Sherry. By the end of the first part I picked the Osborne Manzanilla Sherry over Tony Abbot for depth and richness.

Now, onto the wine, the '07 Show Reserve Traditional. Had it with a rare steak while watching the second part of the forum trying to divide my time between listening to Julia Gillard and tasting the wine. In the end, I picked the wine over Gillard for character and complexity.

I have to say that the '07 Traditional is a pretty good wine, especially for $10. It is far better than any Diamond Label wine that I've tasted at parties and such back home in Edmonton. It has a nose that is redolent of black, briary fruit, but still somewhat closed. The palate is restrained, young and tannic, appearing to need more time. Apart from the terrible package (both bottle and label) I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this wine. Oh, and my partner's Mum loved it. So there you have it.

Cheers......................Mahmoud.

[Mahmoud Ali]

I should mention that one of the reasons I liked the '07 Traditional was that unlike so many inexpensive (and expensive) wines, it was dry, savoury and had backbone. I must admit to not liking overly ripe, sweet, and thick wines.

Mahmoud.

[underwraps50]

Well, I went back to Uncle Dan's this arvo with the intention of giving the Red Knot another chance to impress me, it didn't.
I asked whether they had sold all the Rosemount SR Cab Sav and they had one case left at the discount price of $9.40/bottle. So I took it.
So in view of the above comments, I am starting to feel a bit better about things as I now have a case of both the Traditional and the Cab Sav. for $9.40 a bottle. Sometimes things work out in the long run. I will put them both away for a while, maybe 3yrs before I try one.
Thanks for all your input. Much appreciated. Cheers.

[Mahmoud Ali]

ALERT - THREAD RESURRECTION FROM SEVEN YEARS AGO !!

I am back in Australia and tonight, with baked lamb shanks, I decided to open a bottle of 2007 Rosemount Show Reserve 'Traditional', McLaren Vale (14.5%). It was a bottle that I bought on special for A$10 at Dan Murphy's as mentioned in the above posts. Back then, in 2010, I thought the wine had the depth and structure to age.

At first I opened a bottle of 2005 Mountadam Barossa Shiraz (14.5%) that had been given to me by my brother-in-law. The nose from the decanter suggested a sweet, baked quality so I decided to open a Cabernet-centric wine, hence the Rosemount. Sure enough, when I tasted the Mountadam, it was not to my liking. My partner on the other hand liked it.

The Rosemount Traditional is still dark in colour, right to the rim. The nose is cool, dark-fruited, and has a perfumed, spicy, hawthorn element. The colour and nose prompted me to read the label and I saw that the blend is Cabernet, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Having recently had a '97 Pirramimma Petit Verdot, I sense the role of Petit Verdot in this blend. The wine is still dry and tannic, has subdued, dark, berry fruit, plenty of wood influence, and a savoury, dry, astringent finish. A good cellar would allow this wine to develop and blossom. If this was with my cellar wines at home I would easily allow it another decade.

In keeping with my earlier comments in 2010, I would say the Mountadam is more Barnaby Jones, slutty, incoherent, and a bit overblown, while the Rosemount is more Turnbull, somewhat dour, intellectual, and restrained, very much in need of time to develop a bit more character and flair.

Chances are the Rosemount will outlast both Barnaby and Malcolm.

Cheers ............. Mahmoud.

[phillisc]

ALERT - THREAD RESURRECTION FROM SEVEN YEARS AGO !!


Chances are the Rosemount will outlast both Barnaby and Malcolm.

Cheers ............. Mahmoud.

Mahmoud the Fizz in $5 Yellowglen will as well.

Now how to get rid of the lousy SA govt... 16 years of rubbish and spin, and people keep voting them in

Cheers
Craig

[Michael McNally]

In keeping with my earlier comments in 2010, I would say the Mountadam is more Barnaby Jones, slutty, incoherent, and a bit overblown, while the Rosemount is more Turnbull, somewhat dour, intellectual, and restrained, very much in need of time to develop a bit more character and flair.

Chances are the Rosemount will outlast both Barnaby and Malcolm.

Cheers ............. Mahmoud.

I think you might mean the Australian politician - Barnaby Joyce, rather than the 70s/80s TV detective Barnaby Jones. Not sure Malcolm needs time to develop......

Avoiding political commentary!

Cheers

Michael

[Chuck]

Snap!. Opened a bottle of the 2008 Show Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon a few nights ago and it has truly blossomed. Still plenty in the tank. The 2007 Show Reserve Traditional never overcame it's lack of balance and overblown fruit (probably the hot vintage) and remaining stocks went to auction some time ago.

Carl