Its Sunday again....

[GrahamB]

I tried the Tyrrells 2005 Vat 1, Vat 4 & Vat 18 last week along with the 04 reds. Now I am unsure when they are delivered. Do they get held for a period of time before delivery? Or are the ready for me to cellar?

Graham

[Adair]

Hi Adair,

I bought both the 03 VAT9 & the 04 VAT1.. What are your thoughts on these vs the 04 VAT9 and the 05VAT

Cheers
Chris

Hello Chris,

You buy well. The 2004 Vat 1 and 2003 Vat 9 are the pick of last year's bunch and would be the pick of this year's bunch as well (if they were in this year's bunch... if you know what I mean ). My only reservation is due to my experience of bottle variation with the 2003 Vat 9 (I originally purchased 3 bottles with the expectation of buying a case, but did not). However, if you are lucky to get a good batch, they will be gems of your cellar. I did not want to take any further risk.

With regard to comparisions, I think the 2004 Vat 9 is of slightly less quality than the 2003 Vat 9 (asssuming a good bottle), but both worthy of purchase, especially at $25 a bottle, but for budgetary reasons, I will not be buying any 2004 Vat 9.

I have a cases of 2004 and 2005 Vat 1, however I have not tasted the 2004. I expect them to be on par given the vintage and Attila's write up a while ago on the 2004. If you even remotely like Hunter Semillon, purchasing the 2004 and 2005 Vat 1s are no-brainers!

I think that answers your question.

Adair

[Adair]

I tried the Tyrrells 2005 Vat 1, Vat 4 & Vat 18 last week along with the 04 reds. Now I am unsure when they are delivered. Do they get held for a period of time before delivery? Or are the ready for me to cellar?
Graham

They get delivered straight away.

Adair

[Andrew Jordan]

A few nice wines this week. Some impressions:

2001 Junipier Estate Cabernet - can see why Halliday gave this a +90 score. Great example of Margaret River Cab. Drinking very nicely now but will put the rest of the six-pack to sleep for a few years before I open another.

2003 Dutschke St Jak's Shiraz - nice wine. Not as good as the 2002, but it does have potential. The wife liked it so I suppose that is all that matters

2002 Richard Hamilton Hut Block Cabernet - another cab that halliday gave +90 too. Wasn't a bad wine but can't recall anything good about it either. For around $15 a bottle, a good quaffer.

AJ

[Guest]

Hi Adair,

I bought both the 03 VAT9 & the 04 VAT1.. What are your thoughts on these vs the 04 VAT9 and the 05VAT

Cheers
Chris

Hello Chris,

You buy well. The 2004 Vat 1 and 2003 Vat 9 are the pick of last year's bunch and would be the pick of this year's bunch as well (if they were in this year's bunch... if you know what I mean ). My only reservation is due to my experience of bottle variation with the 2003 Vat 9 (I originally purchased 3 bottles with the expectation of buying a case, but did not). However, if you are lucky to get a good batch, they will be gems of your cellar. I did not want to take any further risk.

With regard to comparisions, I think the 2004 Vat 9 is of slightly less quality than the 2003 Vat 9 (asssuming a good bottle), but both worthy of purchase, especially at $25 a bottle, but for budgetary reasons, I will not be buying any 2004 Vat 9.

I have a cases of 2004 and 2005 Vat 1, however I have not tasted the 2004. I expect them to be on par given the vintage and Attila's write up a while ago on the 2004. If you even remotely like Hunter Semillon, purchasing the 2004 and 2005 Vat 1s are no-brainers!

I think that answers your question.

Adair

Adair,

Thanks for your impressions. Might have to get up to the hunter and try them out myself before putting my hand in my pocket. Somewhat concerned with your comments about the 03 VAT9!! Tried a bottle and loved it so went ahead and bought a case which is now sitting in the cellar. May have to break one out i think

[GrahamB]

I tried the Tyrrells 2005 Vat 1, Vat 4 & Vat 18 last week along with the 04 reds. Now I am unsure when they are delivered. Do they get held for a period of time before delivery? Or are the ready for me to cellar?
Graham

They get delivered straight away.

Adair

Thanks.

[JDSJDS]

The northern fanatics (a small local wine group) met and managed to drink some wine while we solved the world's problems. Have you noticed a difference yet?!?

I couldn't find the wine I meant to bring, so I opened up Plan B, a Merryvale Hillside Cabernet 1996. Medium brink in colour, with sweet cassis, blackberry and a touch of cigar box on the nose. A medium-full bodied wine, with a slightly elegant texture and profile, with classic cab notes. This wine put on weight as the night went on. Ready now but will last another 5 years at least I would think (A-).

Kipper opened up a Rosemount Balmoral Shiraz 1996, and it wasn't all that open at first. But it developed in the decanter, and finished up being a very good if not great Balmoral. Meaty, smoky notes on the nose, which had a fair whack of alcohol at first as well, but then slowly disappeared. A smooth wine, with plums and peper predominant on the medium-full bodied palate (A-).

Danno selected a Leasingham Classic Clare Shiraz 1998 for our edification. Dark purple in color, with plums, dill and slight mint in the nose. Slightly sweet redfruits and a smooth texture completed the package. I got the impression that this wine was only just starting to open up and develop secondary characteristics; in another 5 years, this wine could really improve. But that's just a guess! Nice wine now too though (A-).

The Merryvale and the Clasiic Clare stood out first, but the Balmoral made a late charge at the finish line. So it was a dead heat overall, with all the wines giving lots of pleasure.

N.B. An A- to me is supposed to equate to a 90-92 point range.