The Auswine Forum

Any comments from the team? My local DM had the Alex 88 2010, BL 2008, BL Shiraz 2012 and the 2012 Shiraz on tasting. The sommelier had the foresight to open them the day before and I was impressed to say the least. Bloody nice wines - all of them (maybe except the striped Cab/shiraz/Merlot which I found a bit innocuous). The $12 Shiraz after a day of breathing was unbelievable value, the Alex is so beautifully balanced, and the BL Shiraz 2012 hasn't got that missing hole in the middle palate that it's predecessor had. I'd be interested in what the 2012 BL Cabernet was like. The 2008 of the same ilk was wonderful.

Interesting to hear your thoughts on the Alex 88.

I too am curious as to what the 2012 BL Cab is like. Noticed it's still $25, no massive price hike.

Hi Luke, I am glad you started this thread. I attended my local Dans on Friday, and despite the promotion they were not aware they were supposed to tasting the Black Label Shiraz & Cab (not the premium range). I have not been a huge fan of the B.L. Cab and was not expecting much. There was no decanting, it was straight out of the bottle, with a minuscule tasting. The Shiraz was disappointing, with oak playing a prominent role. However the Cab was right on the money, a classic Coonawarra cab - tannins, fruit, everything in balance showing great potential.
I have recently tasted other similar price point wines -Leconfield & Parker, however I believe the B.L. Was a class above.
I have purchased a couple of bottles, and plan to open one shortly. I would be interested to see notes on the Michael & John Riddoch, along with the other relatively new range, but at the price increases ( $90 last year to about $140 this year) it is hard to justify). Perhaps I will have to wait 4 months to buy 6 bottles of B.L. And get a free bottle of Riddoch

The BL Cab Sav is a standard buy for me usually, certainly in a good year. I bought 5 plus one BL shiraz 2012 just to try the latter and see if it was up to the hype. Have not tried the cab yet, but the shiraz was very disappointing, thin sweet fruit and oak dominated. Did not work for my palate at all.

Cheers

Dave

I had a 2006 Alex 88 earlier in the year and it was a fabulous wine so I was keen on picking up some 2010 when news came out of its release.

I noticed that all the Alex 88's were sold out at the 3 DM stores near me and so had to travel a bit further to pick up 2 bottles. At close of $60 a bottle, it is a huge increase compared to the $30 a bottle I paid for the 2006 vintage. Given the budget has been hit hard by the recent Wendouree purchases, it was hard to justify to buy any more at this price. I hate to see what price the 2012 JR will be when it is released

Also picked up some 2012 BL Cabernet for the cellar. Tasted the 2012 BL Shiraz but my preference remains the regular white label, which I was happy to pick up at more than 1/2 the price of the Black Label.

Just back from picking up 6 bottles from the local FC. They also had some 2010 there as well that were mistakenly delivered from HO. They had an opened bottle of the '12 in the back room left over from yesterday's tasting. Hell of a nice wine with the key word being balance. The fruit says it all with oak only in a supporting role in the background. It has it all including the trademark mint (which I don't like unfortunately) and continues the revival of this label after good work by the viticulturist and winemaking team. Surprisingly approachable now it will get better with medium term cellaring. May also go for the long haul. At the price it's a no brainer. If the BL is this good what will the JR be like?

Carl

Well guess it did not take me too long to weigh into this one.
Went to the only DMs in Adelaide, (after reading Friday's ad in the Tiser) that had the range on tasting.

My impressions of the wines were that they are very good and as the last vintage that I choose to buy (2012) cause bluntly enough's enough, 2012 is looking really good.
The BL Shiraz and V&A shiraz were really nice wines and will cellar for 20+.
The BL cab after the shitty green weedy 2011 (that should have never never ever been made) was a revelation. i reckon its the best since the 98. The V&A shiraz cab needs a lot of time..but good first impressions.
The 2010 Alex cab is classy...not the fruit bomb that the 2010 messenger is, but very good...probably worth the $60 and yes got a few, but I am not in a hurry to get anymore, and neither is TWE it seems...the wonders of drip feed marketing practices. The store I was at was allocated 6 bottles...WTF..what is up with a company that has just been sold...seems a vintec fridge is its Savior

A word about marketing...the person serving me and I was the only taster there for over 30 minutes told me that they have been in the job 4 weeks...knew nothing about the wines, no decanting shitty XL5 glasses. told me that TWE have laid off a swag of sales and managerial staff in the last few weeks in SA...yet a newbie is holding the fort on what is considered a marque event for TWE...go figure?? Agreed that there is a lot of talk at company level about disenfranchised domestic customers and it will be a wait and see on what happens..all this from someone a month into the job!

2012 JR, Michael and single vineyard should be massively good wines. JR to sell for about $130ish next year with a RRP of $180+

Nearly the end of an era. Got a dozen each of the BL's and 6 each of the rest...all ready for a very long sleep.
Oh and 2012 shiraz currently at $11 pb (Sorry to mention price Gavin, but know you don't stock these wines)...go and buy as much as you can.

My 2c
Cheers Craig.

Got to try both the BL's on Thursday night. Thought they were both good.

Grabbed two of the BL Cab and two of the Alex 88. I liked that the BL Cab came in a little tin box, looked very neat. Would be great as a gift wine for people that aren't super into it ($25 for a decent drop and its own custom box seems like fair value), may grab more in the future for that purpose.

Also grabbed a 2009 Château Canon-la-Gaffelière and some 2012 John Duval Plexus while I was at it. Can't help myself...

Tasted the BL Cab, Shiraz and the 2x V&A wines.

Loved the BL Cab. Classic Coonawarra cab for me, and at $25 price point is the winner for me. Picked up 12x to throw down to add some years. Was inspired to drink a 2008 BL Cab that night too, opened up nicely after a double decant, but probably still a bit young.

As for the BL Shiraz, I was actually a bit dissapointed. Didnt really have much too it in my opinion.

The V&A's were a shiraz and a shiraz cab blend from memory. I thought they were nice, but not sure I would choose those over other $40-60/bttles that just have more to them. Still found myself enjoying the full BL Cab more.

my local dan use those small cough syrup cups for the wynns tasting, very disappointed. tasted the alex twice, went home and ordered online(cheaper).

Greetings all .... have been out of action for quite a while. Redstuff contacted me recently saying somebody from here was asking where I've got to etc. .... So I thought I should start posting again, albeit only occasionally until I get myself sorted ...... I just finished another bottle of Wynn 2012 Shiraz (white label - 91 points) ... probably the best vintage since the wonderful 1986. The other 2012s from Wynn's I've tried to date has been the Siding (89) and the Black Label Cabernet (90). Both excellent wine's ..... with the black label only a tad better and almost twice the price. IMHO the Shiraz is the best drinking of the three at the moment. Oh .... and I did try a bottle of the red stripe too but it was marginally confected and a little soupy but certainly very drinkable .... probably about 85 points.To my thinking, 2012 seems a very good year indeed with 2004 still remaining the best BL Cabernet Wynn's made since the great 1991.

Didn't get to a Wynnsday tasting. Somehow a third child has negated my ability to slip out to go tasting. Anyway, picked up a bottle of the Shiraz at sub $12 and the BL Cab for $25. Been open two nights and the cab is very good and worth buying a sixer for the cellar the Shiraz is better tonight and for the asking price a good midweek drinker. Looking forward to seeing how they both go on night three-I think the cab will be even better with 24 hours exposed to the air in the 2/3 empty bottle.

Hi Rens,

Sorry for a newbie's question: when you say

rens wrote:exposed to the air in the 2/3 empty bottle.

, do you leave the cap on or off?

Thanks,
Don

Leave the cap on donX

dlo wrote:Greetings all .... have been out of action for quite a while. Redstuff contacted me recently saying somebody from here was asking where I've got to etc. .... So I thought I should start posting again, albeit only occasionally until I get myself sorted ...... I just finished another bottle of Wynn 2012 Shiraz (white label - 91 points) ... probably the best vintage since the wonderful 1986. The other 2012s from Wynn's I've tried to date has been the Siding (89) and the Black Label Cabernet (90). Both excellent wine's ..... with the black label only a tad better and almost twice the price. IMHO the Shiraz is the best drinking of the three at the moment. Oh .... and I did try a bottle of the red stripe too but it was marginally confected and a little soupy but certainly very drinkable .... probably about 85 points.To my thinking, 2012 seems a very good year indeed with 2004 still remaining the best BL Cabernet Wynn's made since the great 1991.

David

Good to see you still up and running. Welcome back. I picked up a case of the Siding 12 to use as a mid week wine. Got to say I ain't feeling the love at this time. Perhaps I should just throw the balance in the cellar. On the other hand, I am in love with the Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz 2010 as a Tuesday night wine. Perhaps its just the difference between young Shiraz and young Cab Sav.

Mark
PS any decent rieslings recently?

Ddavew wrote:my local dan use those small cough syrup cups for the wynns tasting, very disappointed.

That ticks me off. Either they don't understand wine and wine tasting or they don't understand their customers. Appalling. The manager and fine wine rep should be dragged into the street and horse-whipped.

rossmckay wrote:

Ddavew wrote:my local dan use those small cough syrup cups for the wynns tasting, very disappointed.

That ticks me off. Either they don't understand wine and wine tasting or they don't understand their customers. Appalling. The manager and fine wine rep should be dragged into the street and horse-whipped.

My Dans use Riedel tasting glasses and decant the wines prior. Good to have a wine manager with wonderful wine knowledge and generosity.