The Auswine Forum

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Great write-up thanks Sean!

Chalambar has long been one of those "go-to" wines that is usually pretty good and often very good.

the 2006 I had earlier this year was not great, quite hard and tannic for 7-year-old. I guess it might need time as you say, but I wouldn't bet on it.

Cheers

Michael

Thanks for the write up Sean, good to see what vintages you thought were travelling nicely.

Hi Sean
Thankyou for you comprehensive notes, it would taken a lot of work to compile. I started with the Chalambar from the 2000 vintage, and have been folowing the vintages. The 2005 is a vintage where I lost interest, however I stll have a few which may suprise me. The 2007 won me back. I have recently posted a comparison between the 2010 Mount Langhi Cliff Edge. Interesting an article in the Good Living section of the SMH, listed the 2010 Chalambar as the best Shiraz of 2013. (I am sure there are many wines that will compete for this title and I don't agree, however maybe value for money it may win). This article was published despite an earlier article in the same paper, about 3 weeks ago giving it to the Cliff Edge.
Either way, it is a great wine to follow vintage variation, and considering in the last 10 years it can be bought under $20 a wine that still stirs my interest.

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Great notes Sean, really appreciated it.

Even though we don't get the wine over here in Edmonton my connection is with the '98 which I picked up on a visit to Australia some years ago. My bottle has a small stamp-like "gold" label. Interesting that you think it still has years to go. It is a more "commercial" bottling but then again so is the Koonunga Hill and they age beautifully.

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

Thank you very much indeed, Sean.

I have every vintage from 2004-2010 (+2012) in the cellar, usually in half dozens. I agree with several posters that this is a reliable, value-for-money and above all interesting expression of shiraz, with an amazing history to draw on.

I'd like to suggest that the 2006 might be the longer living of the 2004-2009 range. We opened one last Friday (after some much more expensive Margaret River Cabernets), and while a little closed, the quality and points of interest were evident, and remarked upon by my guests. From 2004-2010, I don't think there is a bad vintage, and evaporation of my first 6 pack of 2010 resulted in the prudent purchase of a second.

Especially for those of us that cannot afford St Peters (a fabulous shiraz) on a weekly basis, the Chalambar is a fascinating wine to watch in its evolution. Thanks for the notes, Sean - this is a thread that could potentially be added to over a long period.

Cheers

Allan

Agree with others here in that it's a nice write up Sean.

I've been buying Chalambar since the '99 vintage, but I only have from '03 on left. It is always discounted at the big chains and I don't think I have ever paid over $16 for it. We were drinking the '02's as quaffers for a couple of years and they always went down very well. At the discounted prices, it is always a candidate for VFM wine of the year. I've put a 6 pack of the 2010's at the back of the cellar and I'm going to leave them for a long sleep as I've read reviews which suggest it could be a cracker.

Cheers
Ian

Welcome back Sean!!
Great notes, it's been too long mate

Thanks Sean. As a fellow Chalambar collector (every vintage since 2000) I'm pleased to see that I'm not alone in seeing these as uniformly great wines. They have now released the 2012. I tried one - disjointed a bit on the first night, but absolutely singing the night after. Great stuff.

great wines in the early 2000's, distinct personality and character all different 00,01,02,03 liked them all