The Auswine Forum

Had a fairly big week, so its out to the garbage bin to check on all the empties.

98 Seppelt Sparkling Shiraz.
Good east drinking. not too sweet, and is amazing value.

91 Seppelt Show Sparkling Shiraz.
Opened this after reading that this is effected by Brett.
Noticed the bandaid taste, which was not really on the nose, but after half a glass, it became really obtrusive. I have tasted this in quite a few reds, and its nice to be introduced properly to Mr. Brett. Could not drink a second glass, and half a bottle down the sink. Not very good at all.

97 Haselgrove H Reserve Shiraz McLaren Vale.
My favouritre area, and this one is drinking beautifully now.

96 Bullers Calliope Shiraz.
Sensational. Beautiful aged sweet fruit, that just sings. One of the best wines Ive had this year.

02 Bullers Calliope Shiraz.
Opened it to compare to the 96. This wine is simply sensational. Again sweet rich , concentrated fruit that is simply a joy to drink.

98 Bannockburn Shiraz.
This is the one with fruit from all over the country.as he lost all his fruit to hail. Didnt know what to expect. It is made in the Bannockburn Rhone style, and it quite a nice drink. Generally, not my style, though.

95 Turkey Flat Shiraz.
I have always had a problem with this wine. It has a very strange off nose and taste, which has got worse as the wine has got older. Undrinkable.

97 Turkey Flat Shiraz
Nice wine. Lots of flavour, which keeps on coming, but not a blockbuster.

98 Turkey Flat Shiraz.
On a Turkey roll! Better than 97, more complex, with lots of sweet fruit and layers and layers. I like this a lot.

96 Grant Burge Filsell
This has got better in the last 12 months. Nice rich fruit, good oak treatment, about the right age.Will last another 3-4 years in good storage conditions.

97 Charlie Melton Shiraz.
Usual good wine from Charlie. Half a bottle left over , and the next day was heavily oxidised, so I would suggest it needs drinking.

98 Coriole Shiraz.
I have had this a few times, and it is very very boring. It tastes like its a bit green, but its not. Maybe savoury is closer, but no. Off to auction.

02 Olivers Taranga Shiraz.
Good wine, though much younger than I would want to drink. Good McLaren fruit, with about the right amount of oak to bring it together in about 5 years.

02 Fireblock Old Vine Clare Shiraz.
Only costs around $15, and is good value. Good fruit, and lots of oak (too much for me now) but will be better in around 4 years.

Edizione Cinque Autoctoni Farnese.
Obviously Italian, and in the heaviest wine bottle I have ever held.
No year on the bottle, because its not allowed because there is fruit from 2 different places. Huh figure that out! Has five grape varieties including Primitivo. Initially thought it was corked, but was so different, ended up thinking it wasnt, but didnt like it much. Down the sink.

98 Petaluma Adelaide Hills Shiraz.
This wine was well made, but in the usual reserved Croser style, which I find quite boring.

Amongst all this, found the time sat arvo to go to Ultimo Wine Store Saturday tasting, where they had 4 or 5 Rhone reds, varying from $42 to $94. Not being a big fan of Rhone, found one was okay, one was average and 2 were crap.

Brucer wrote:91 Seppelt Show Sparkling Shiraz.
Opened this after reading that this is effected by Brett.
Noticed the bandaid taste, which was not really on the nose, but after half a glass, it became really obtrusive. I have tasted this in quite a few reds, and its nice to be introduced properly to Mr. Brett. Could not drink a second glass, and half a bottle down the sink. Not very good at all.

Agreed, I could not drink more than a couple of sips from the bottle I tried, it was revolting.

96 Bullers Calliope Shiraz.
Sensational. Beautiful aged sweet fruit, that just sings. One of the best wines Ive had this year.

02 Bullers Calliope Shiraz.
Opened it to compare to the 96. This wine is simply sensational. Again sweet rich , concentrated fruit that is simply a joy to drink.

The 96 is just humming along fine. Its a big bugger but I love it and the 02 will be just as good in time. They are not everyones cup of tea and I would not like to drink them every night, but I do enjoy this style from time to time.

98 Coriole Shiraz.
I have had this a few times, and it is very very boring. It tastes like its a bit green, but its not. Maybe savoury is closer, but no. Off to auction.

Pity about that, all I can say is that mine was listed on the Trading Plonk section a couple of weeks ago.

02 Olivers Taranga Shiraz.
Good wine, though much younger than I would want to drink. Good McLaren fruit, with about the right amount of oak to bring it together in about 5 years.

I need more wine like I need a whole in the head, but this is one that I am still thinking about buying, it is damn good for the price.

98 Petaluma Adelaide Hills Shiraz.
This wine was well made, but in the usual reserved Croser style, which I find quite boring.

Boring as bat turd in fact.

Cheers
Ric

Am moving to New York for a few years, so thought I'd rummage through the cellar over the past few weeks.....

1980 Penfolds Bin 80a - Lovely complex nose of malt and earth. Palate revealed surprisingly sweet fruit with hints of cherry, chocolate and malt. Fine tannin finish and a highly enjoyable wine.

1990 Penfolds Bin 90a- – although this wine is a pup, it is one of the greatest wines I’ve had. Gloriously perfumed nose of chocolate, cedar, tobacco and coffee. Palate was simply divine, with extraordinarily rich, sweet fruit and a gorgeous fine, lingering tannin finish. The Bin 80a, while an excellent wine, was not in the same postcode. This will be an all time great of the Australian wine industry in 25 years time.

1976 Wynns Cabernet Sauvignon- well, they don’t make Jimmy Watson Trophy winners like this anymore. I was expecting this to be dead, but it was a great old bottle. Still plenty of fruit sweetness, albeit a touch earthy on the finish. Tannins had all but disappeared, so drink up some time soon, so that you don’t miss an excellent experience.

1982 Wynns Cabernet Sauvignon – lacked the polish and class of the 76, but a pretty good wine nonetheless.

1996 Hardy’s Tintara Shiraz – a reasonable wine, but nothing to get excited about. A touch one dimensional.

1999 Yalumba The Signature - - plenty of oak and ripe fruit, its like it was made to order for the US (which it probably was)

1990 Henschke Mt Edelstone – in my opinion, one of the best ever Mt Eds. Lovely peppery, malty nose, with great mouthfeel. Elegant, albeit long finish, with everything in balance.

2002 Hares Chase Shiraz - lacked the length and intensity of the 2001, but a pleasant wine all the same.

1995 Leasingham Bin 61 Shiraz - a little on the bland side

1996 Rufus Stone Cabernet Sauvignon – one dimensional, unlike other bottles I’ve had recently.

1998 Rockford Basket Press - had one given some people have indicated its not a stayer. While I don’t think this will reach the heights of the 90 and 91 vintages, I didn’t get the feeling it will fall over in the next six years. Plenty of fruit and tannin to help it age.

2001 Rockford Basket Press - I’ve had this several times, and this bottle was the perfect advertisement for Stelvin. No obvious taint, but lacked fruit vibrancy, although still had decent length.

1986 St Henri - still one of my favourites of all time, this was a beauty, highlighting that lashing of oak is not necessary to make a classic.

michel wrote:

Rob wrote:Bannockburn Geelon Pinot Noir 2000
.

It has been good from day one- lovely silky new world pinot. I wonder how long to leave it for?!
Have you tried the other pinot ?Range not the Serre.

michel

This is the first time I tried a Bannockburn pinot noir. I will be getting more of it now.

Mike Hawkins wrote:1990 Penfolds Bin 90A- – although this wine is a pup, it is one of the greatest wines I’ve had. Gloriously perfumed nose of chocolate, cedar, tobacco and coffee. Palate was simply divine, with extraordinarily rich, sweet fruit and a gorgeous fine, lingering tannin finish. The Bin 80a, while an excellent wine, was not in the same postcode. This will be an all time great of the Australian wine industry in 25 years time.

Yes, I agree that this is an amazing wine. I have drunk 2 and have 2 left... and I will be trying my best not to drink them in the next 10 years... try!

Adair

Mike wrote :

1976 Wynns Cabernet Sauvignon- well, they donÂ’t make Jimmy Watson Trophy winners like this anymore. I was expecting this to be dead, but it was a great old bottle. Still plenty of fruit sweetness, albeit a touch earthy on the finish. Tannins had all but disappeared, so drink up some time soon, so that you donÂ’t miss an excellent experience

I bought a bottle of this a few years ago, not expecting it to have lasted - but it was tremendous like yours. A beautiful surprise.


regards
Chris

Mike Hawkins wrote:Am moving to New York for a few years, so thought I'd rummage through the cellar over the past few weeks.....

1980 Penfolds Bin 80a - Lovely complex nose of malt and earth. Palate revealed surprisingly sweet fruit with hints of cherry, chocolate and malt. Fine tannin finish and a highly enjoyable wine.

1990 Penfolds Bin 90a- – although this wine is a pup, it is one of the greatest wines I’ve had. Gloriously perfumed nose of chocolate, cedar, tobacco and coffee. Palate was simply divine, with extraordinarily rich, sweet fruit and a gorgeous fine, lingering tannin finish. The Bin 80a, while an excellent wine, was not in the same postcode. This will be an all time great of the Australian wine industry in 25 years time.

1976 Wynns Cabernet Sauvignon- well, they donÂ’t make Jimmy Watson Trophy winners like this anymore. I was expecting this to be dead, but it was a great old bottle. Still plenty of fruit sweetness, albeit a touch earthy on the finish. Tannins had all but disappeared, so drink up some time soon, so that you donÂ’t miss an excellent experience.

1982 Wynns Cabernet Sauvignon – lacked the polish and class of the 76, but a pretty good wine nonetheless.

1996 Hardy’s Tintara Shiraz – a reasonable wine, but nothing to get excited about. A touch one dimensional.

1999 Yalumba The Signature - - plenty of oak and ripe fruit, its like it was made to order for the US (which it probably was)

1990 Henschke Mt Edelstone – in my opinion, one of the best ever Mt Eds. Lovely peppery, malty nose, with great mouthfeel. Elegant, albeit long finish, with everything in balance.


1998 Rockford Basket Press - had one given some people have indicated its not a stayer. While I donÂ’t think this will reach the heights of the 90 and 91 vintages, I didnÂ’t get the feeling it will fall over in the next six years. Plenty of fruit and tannin to help it age.


1986 St Henri - still one of my favourites of all time, this was a beauty, highlighting that lashing of oak is not necessary to make a classic.

Well done Mike and excellent TNs! Gotta say I agree with you on every wine above! The 90A I reckon will in time surpass the Grange (the 920 ain't bad either, and FAR supertior to the 820). It remains the 2nd best 1990 Aussie wine I have had after the Hill of Grace.

I last had the 76 Wynns 3 years ago from my cellar - excellent wine. I reckon your remarks on the other wines are spot on (esp. St henri, BP, Mt Edel and Yalumba).