The Auswine Forum

Yes, Ullage was noticeably less than my "professionally cellared " 94 shiraz so I foolishly got hooked into bidding for the wine. No obvious cork protrusions.

I have to say, with consideration to ullage, there's sweet $%^& all with my wines at 25 years of age when cellared professionally since release. It's a bit of a con in the trade I reckon! You have ullage into the neck at 20 yrs and the wines taken a baking somewhere. I see a lot of ullage BS from the UK trade who liberate wine from uncontrolled European cellars and pass off as great provenance

Wendouree Cabernet Malbec 1998- I awoke this morning, made a coffee and decanted tonight's Wendouree. I think the 98 cabs are still 5 years away from a proper window.

Juicy cassis/ black currant pastille, having extracted dark violet fruit with nuances of lavender and seaweed. Palate is just beginning to open up from a position of latent intensity and the wine should improve for decades to come. It's dense, with a breath of menthol presenting a mid palate dip and tannins starting in perfect harmony though a later glass some rusty Malbec grip emerges . A remarkable youth and awkward energy by bottles end; overtaking a convincing earlier harmony .



93pt+

Where is the photo from, just out of interest? looks like a nice view.
Cheers
Craig.

JamieBahrain wrote:Wendouree Cabernet Malbec 1998- I awoke this morning, made a coffee and decanted tonight's Wendouree. I think the 98 cabs are still 5 years away from a proper window.

Or more...from the last one I had...

Makes me miss the old style...

Myponga Beach farm stay just beyond McLaren Vale.

The Cabernets can go to another level when a little tertiary development comes into the play - and I hope I'm still about when this happens with the 98s!

Red crayon from Victoria. Credit card been hit for full order. Looking forward to delivery.

Wendouree Shiraz Malbec 1998- Always seems the quickest to come together and the 98 is ready to go. From my personal cellar which is a nice change from auction buys above and note the perfect cork. Anyways, very energetic and fresh, dark and unyielding violet fruit dominate aromatically, complexity from cherry extract, earth and saline. Northern Italian lovers would get this wine straight up. Front palate is well loaded, hollows out a touch as the wine drifts toward the back palate and this could be an emerging eucalyptus influence as the wine breathes. Earthy-cedar resolved tannin persistence. Excellent and a pop and pour next bottle.

92pts

Wendouree Cabernet Sauvignon 1997 - 13.3% alc.
Cork in excellent condition. Half hour decant with minimal sediment that I found surprising given age of the wine. Bouquet had a definite whiff of nail polish/mothballs that did not go away. A wine that shows good structure however I found the eucalypt flavour too overpowering.

I'm trying to find a date of significance, in the Clare or in Wendouree's history, to try and get the forum to participate in an inaugural Auswine Wendouree wine day. Where we all drink a bottle of Wendouree and post an impression. Plenty affordable at auction so was going to give 3 months or so lead time.

I don't have any, but have drunk a bottle on 6 occasions now...88 Pressings. Something about a photographic palate on that one.
Great idea
Cheers
Craig

I have attended 2 Wendouree offlines over the last 8 years, both initiated through this forum I think. With the increased interest in the brand maybe time to organise another one.

Jamie, love the sound of Wendouree Day. As 1893 is the date most associated with Wendouree, so what about 9/3 (9th March or 3rd September depending on your location!). Or what about the 93rd day of the year? April 3rd.

OK Simon sounds good as there's no specific dates I can find. I will call the winery and see if they have anything or the Clare Council history boffins.

Notes from a tasting a month or so ago, such a treat to see a line-up from Wendouree; with some attention paid to provenance, decanting, and choosing representative wines.

I was struck by how oak contributed, but did not overwhelm and appear in my notes, a consequence of the fruit power and density; savoury was a repeated word. Wines were served masked in brackets with sparse clues – although the audience knew we were concentrating on Shiraz, Cabernet Malbec, and shiraz Mataro. Unclear if people were expecting tannic monsters; the wines in fact were medium bodied; and best treated perhaps as a Burgundy or Nebbiolo; density with tannins.

Lighting was a bit dim, so colour observations tricky for me.

#1 1996 Shiraz 13.5%
immaculate cork, with no travel. Pale red with some bricking; savoury, menthol and mineral bouquet. Textural contribution from oak, creamy, some spiky acidity too, and fine tannins still present. Overall a cuddly wine drinking at an excellent window, but no dangers from further cellaring. Nothing really defining variety, Slight alcohol heat, but still very good- and how often do we try a 20 yo Wendouree?

#2 1998 Cabernet Malbec (60/40 blend) 13.8%
Immaculate cork with no travel. Much darker colour than previous wine; Eucalypt; dark fruits; ultra-refined chalky tannins; juicy, very lively wine; china black tea, cedar; Beautiful mouthfeel, astounding palate length. Outstanding, and plenty of time in reserve.

#3 2004 Cabernet Malbec (60/40 blend) 13.2%
Driven, savoury, grainy, long – just a little warmth on the palate. Very good, almost outstanding

#4 2004 Shiraz Mataro (76/24 blend) 13%
Cork stained to about halfway point (believed to be an auction purchase)
Big, dense and savoury; Choc-mint (more choc though) with a mid-palate dip; again, some alcohol warmth, and overall a bit ungainly. Good, maybe time will assist, as 2004 generally an exceptional vintage in SA.

#5 2002 Shiraz 13.7%
Big colour; with some blue fruits mingled with black, and touch of balsamic influence and exotic spices. Initially looked ungainly but powered on; Beautifully weighted, lovely mouthfeel. Many years ahead. Very good, almost outstanding.

#6 2010 Shiraz Mataro 53/47 blend 13.7% under screwcap (as are all the following wines)
Take no prisoners; deep purple colour; boot polish, earth and some VA; also some lactic elements, and some very tarry flavours, ameliorated by some red jube and red fruits. Good

#7 2011 Shiraz Mataro 80/20 blend 13.9%
From a maligned very wet vintage in South Australia and Victoria, but old vines and experience count. It’s an unusual vintage and not a typical Wendouree red. The colour is significantly lighter than previous wines; boot polish, and perhaps VA too. But its creamy palate and refined texture is seductive. Drink in the next 5 years, but its convincing, and rates as very good

#8 2014 Shiraz 13.7%
Bright crimson; Dense, creamy, with gritty tannins. Its not ungainly, but there is much more pleasure ahead. Straightforward now, but very powerful black fruits are lurking, and it’s a question of when they unfurl (at least 10 more years) will this wine be very good, or outstanding? Just needs time

#9 2014 Cabernet Malbec (45/35 and 20% Shiraz) 13.6%
Eucalypt again here; what a baby! This is a powerhouse of sulikiness; mingled red and black fruits; At least very good in 10 years, outstanding if the eucalypt fades somewhat.

#10 2010 Muscat of Alexandria
Grapey, aromatic, flowery. Talcy, light spirit. Cleverly made to avoid phenolic brassiness. Not a familiar style for me, but not a fan

So much of a wine's performance is in its preparation ( and climate controlled cellaring as shown by the corks here ). Tonight, we have our informal Hong Kong Wine Society Christmas party at the Kowloon Cricket Club; relaxed BYO event compared to our more formal Xmas dinner last week. Wendouree has been well received over numerous verticals. So I thought I'd present a few 99's that should be entering their long maturation windows.

I decanted the wines into half-decanters to see where they were. The Shiraz-Malbec seemed ready, a touch of VA needing to blow off but I took the punt the aeration and re-pour would do that just fine. The Shiraz-Mataro was denser and more unyielding so I re-decanted into a full vessel.

I had 50 or so amazing bottles open so just a few vibes on the Wendourees.


Wendouree Shiraz Malbec 1999- The earth-truffle nose distinguishes the malbec from the mataro blend, as well as more intriguing lavender-menthol and rusty dark fruits. Medium bodied but filled to the brim with fruit volume, elegant typically 1999 rounded finish.

92pts


Wendouree Shiraz Mataro 1999- Elegant wine, less expressive than the above, more saline licorice and bold dark fruits, rustic, near austere and earthy on the palate with some more in the engine, fine, gritty tannins help complete.

91pts

Those corks look pristine.
thanks for sharing.

worth a read: http://winetenquestions.com.au/tony-brady-wendouree-clare-valley/

Cheers Matt! Great read and pics

Matt@5453 wrote:worth a read: http://winetenquestions.com.au/tony-brady-wendouree-clare-valley/

Yes thanks Matt, spotted this yesterday on another blog, intrigued that TB is a teetotaler and he makes Wendouree!!!! Lucky Mr George has been onboard all these years.
Whilst we are at it...any news Jamie re sale??

cheers
Craig

That is a fantastic article. Great read.

Matt@5453 wrote:worth a read: http://winetenquestions.com.au/tony-brady-wendouree-clare-valley/

great read, good article.
I noticed an unnamed retailer is doing a vertical tasting of Wendouree for the TA festival with Stephen George.
mid 80's stuff thru 'til current vintage. Might be worth a look.

Scotty vino wrote:

Matt@5453 wrote:worth a read: http://winetenquestions.com.au/tony-brady-wendouree-clare-valley/

great read, good article.
I noticed an unnamed retailer is doing a vertical tasting of Wendouree for the TA festival with Stephen George.
mid 80's stuff thru 'til current vintage. Might be worth a look.

I'm booked in for this. Ticket price a bit exxy, but a good opportunity to taste some back vintages of Wendouree with reliable provenance and keen to hear Stephen George and Col McBryde talk (Adelina is also a big favourite of mine).

Don't worry bout the $ - should be an amazing experience. Please take the time to report.

phillisc wrote:

Matt@5453 wrote:worth a read: http://winetenquestions.com.au/tony-brady-wendouree-clare-valley/

Yes thanks Matt, spotted this yesterday on another blog, intrigued that TB is a teetotaler and he makes Wendouree!!!! Lucky Mr George has been onboard all these years.
Whilst we are at it...any news Jamie re sale??

cheers
Craig

Not getting many nibbles there Craig. I believe there is no truth to the rumour, it's business as usual.

That is true Matt that is true. However have been known to throw out a bait or two and some come back to scale pretty large
Will be more than happy if it's business as usual come first week of June.
Cheers
Craig

No news is good news!

Still been meaning to find a date for Wendouree day to try and draw some of these wines from peoples cellars. I have never seen a wine more talked about but not consumed.

JamieBahrain wrote:No news is good news!

Still been meaning to find a date for Wendouree day to try and draw some of these wines from peoples cellars. I have never seen a wine more talked about but not consumed.

I think the problem here for some of us (myself included) is that we have very young collections of Wendouree.
I've only been on the mailing list since the 09 vintage so I haven't really been thinking about cracking
such a precious commodity for fear of drinking it way too young.
Whenever I get onto the topic of Wendouree whether it be with retailer, critic, winemaker or general wine geek the mantra
is always the same...'Hang onto them, let them age'. etc etc.
I've only consumed about 8 bottles of Wendouree, but i must say I really am a fan.
I've talked it down in my mind as to not fall for the BS, but everytime I've really enjoyed it.
The 96 Cab mal at the last ade offline really got my attention.
It was a 'wine moment' and validated my plan to keep collecting them.
An absolutely beautiful and elegantly structured wine holding its own easily against some other mighty vino.

I'd go for a wendouree day, but I'd be popping something pretty young.
What would be even better would be an Auswine Adelaide offline where the last 20-25 vintages could be benched
and a wide variety of vintages could be sampled.
Not unlike the Tasting Australia Wendouree vertical coming up in may. But without the price tag!
Mind you, a wendouree vertical with Stephen George isn't going to happen too often so I'm considering it.

Scotty vino wrote:I think the problem here for some of us (myself included) is that we have very young collections of Wendouree.
I've only been on the mailing list since the 09 vintage so I haven't really been thinking about cracking
such a precious commodity for fear of drinking it way too young.
Whenever I get onto the topic of Wendouree whether it be with retailer, critic, winemaker or general wine geek the mantra
is always the same...'Hang onto them, let them age'. etc etc.

I'm not sure that mantra is even accurate anymore...They're all very approachable now...It used to be like drinking young barolo and then somewhere around the 20 year mark they start morphing into something really great (or sometimes they don't) but the more recent vintages, I'm not sure where they're going....For sure you don't have to wait to enjoy them other than the typical aging of a wine..whereas before it was almost a must because the wines were a bit too hard for most people to enjoy...

Scotty vino wrote:
I'd go for a wendouree day, but I'd be popping something pretty young.
What would be even better would be an Auswine Adelaide offline where the last 20-25 vintages could be benched
and a wide variety of vintages could be sampled.
Not unlike the Tasting Australia Wendouree vertical coming up in may. But without the price tag!
Mind you, a wendouree vertical with Stephen George isn't going to happen too often so I'm considering it.

+ 1 for an Adelaide Wendouree offline (my first). Like Scotty Vino, I'm a relatively new mailing-lister, so my old stock is auction sourced. But would be very keen if someone wants to try to cobble something together.