The Auswine Forum

We've all heard about some of the legendary Australian wines of the 20th century:
- Wynns Michael 1955
- Lindemans Bin 3110 1965
- Peppermint Patties
- O'Shea's wines
- Grange 1971
- John Riddoch 1982
- Graveyard 1986

A lot more of course.

What are the Australian wines of the last 16 years that will reach legendary status similar to the wines above?

Tyrrell's 4 Acres 2014 seems to be a candidate, judging from recent pro reviews.

An interesting topic to be sure, but at the time these wines were made they did not receive the acclaim that we now accord them. It took time, and evolution in the bottle, for them to show their pedigree. I think it is premature to decide on the legendary status of today's wines so early in the century, though it certainly might be a fun thing to discuss.

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

(Edited for a couple of typos)

My guess is that some will emanate from Margaret River. Cullen, Woodlands come to mind.

St Henri 2010? Certainly got the hype on its release

2004 Penfolds Bin 60a

And ..
2004 Penfolds Block 42 Kalimna Cabernet
2010 Penfolds Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet

I expect some '14 Hunter Shiraz might be regarded as legendary down the track.

Many really great legendary wines were also affordable once. It would be great if there were certain releases of wines like D'Arrys Original, or Chalambar, or any number of Rieslings for example, that became revered and/or highly sought after over time.

cuttlefish wrote:Many really great legendary wines were also affordable once. It would be great if there were certain releases of wines like D'Arrys Original, or Chalambar, or any number of Rieslings for example, that became revered and/or highly sought after over time.

Excellent point. We can presume that all the super-charged, expensive, Penfold's Block 42, Bin 60a, and Grange from 2004 and every great vintage onwards for the rest of the century will be legendary wines, but the real mystery is when an affordable or 'regular' wine becomes the one-off that people look back on in admiration. There was a D'Arry's Original from the 60s that was legendary, as was a Mildara wine that was dubbed 'Peppermint Patty'. Was there a particular vintage of Chalambar that became legendary?

Mahmoud.

Note: edited to put the word "onwards" in the correct place.

Yes, I also agree that it is a great thing when a wine that you might describe as a commercial bottling, regular label, etc is recognised as outstanding. What would make a wine from this century end up in the same company as the classic wines originally mentioned? Structure? balance? Probably the ability to age and develop complexity. All of the previous examples were still going strong at 30 years or more. Which day to day wines nowadays are going to do that? I had an '86 and '90 Wynns BL last week, both excellent wines and drinking superbly, but probably not "classic". Is there a recent BL that's going to be a classic? A Margaret River perhaps? One thing is that we have far more choice and diversity of wine than we had 30, 40, 50 years ago and a lot of it very good, we just need the occasional "freak" at say $24.99! A Cabernet Shiraz perhaps? Perhaps it is going to be harder to agree on which wines are going to become classic, and of course the proof of the pudding is not going to be evident for another twenty years

I reckon 1991 Wynns Centenary is a chance. If we can stop drinking them (they are an offline favourite)!

-- George Krashos

George, I would agree with you (and the off-line bit) but 1991 is so 20th century!!

As is Bin 90A!!

Possibly more chance with mainstream whites - perhaps a Drumborg or 1927 vines Tahbilk Marsanne? Or maybe the moment someone gets one of the 'new varieties' right, with enough vine age to really show what can happen?

I was focusing on legendary within my lifetime!

-- George Krashos

1973 Leo Buring riesling
1984 seppelt eden valley riesling

Are pretty good- not sure how they drink now

I dont know any potential classics

tarija wrote:We've all heard about some of the legendary Australian wines of the 20th century:
- Wynns Michael 1955
- Lindemans Bin 3110 1965
- Peppermint Patties
- O'Shea's wines
- Grange 1971
- John Riddoch 1982
- Graveyard 1986

A lot more of course.

What are the Australian wines of the last 16 years that will reach legendary status similar to the wines above?

Tyrrell's 4 Acres 2014 seems to be a candidate, judging from recent pro reviews.

People, original post .... wines of the last 16 years!!

From the wines I have tried and think are pretty special...

2014 Tyrrells 4 Acres... Best young wine I think I have ever had.
2014 Mount Pleasant 19xx Vines wines... These are phenomenal.
2004 Penfolds Block 42 and Bin 60a... Massive futures
2012 Cullen Vanya Cabernet

I think there are going to be an amazing number of legendary wines due better cellaring and possibly screwcap for whites.

JamieBahrain wrote:I think there are going to be an amazing number of legendary wines due better cellaring and possibly screwcap for whites.

Yes agreed, 02 Leonay and Pewsey Contours
2012 Pikes Merle closely followed by JC Steingarten...and probably 2012 Contours

Could see 06 Vat one being a star too...if a recent Adelaide offline was anything to go by.
Cheers
Craig

My mate is drinking this now
He said alive & young

Where are these great Australian wines?

michel wrote:

My mate is drinking this now
He said alive & young

Where are these great Australian wines?

Your mate is a lucky man.

Without knowing what the 60A tasted like on release, it's hard to know what post 2000 wines will vaguely approach that level of greatness down the track. Anyone out there old enough and into wine enough at the time to remember the flavour profile of a very young Bin 60A?? i.e tasted it pre 1970?

mjs wrote:

tarija wrote:We've all heard about some of the legendary Australian wines of the 20th century:
- Wynns Michael 1955
- Lindemans Bin 3110 1965
- Peppermint Patties
- O'Shea's wines
- Grange 1971
- John Riddoch 1982
- Graveyard 1986

A lot more of course.

What are the Australian wines of the last 16 years that will reach legendary status similar to the wines above?

Tyrrell's 4 Acres 2014 seems to be a candidate, judging from recent pro reviews.

People, original post .... wines of the last 16 years!!

Pffft!
We are reminiscing

Out of interest, how much was 60A compared to Grange at the time of release??

And do people think there was a 'wild' element of winemaking in the 50's and 60's, bending the rules, making up the rules, lack of strict regulation/additive controls/cleanliness regimes, 'chuck in some port she'll be right mate' etc etc that made some of these older wines so much more complex and great than anything modern could likely ever be??

michel wrote:

mjs wrote:

tarija wrote:We've all heard about some of the legendary Australian wines of the 20th century:
- Wynns Michael 1955
- Lindemans Bin 3110 1965
- Peppermint Patties
- O'Shea's wines
- Grange 1971
- John Riddoch 1982
- Graveyard 1986

A lot more of course.

What are the Australian wines of the last 16 years that will reach legendary status similar to the wines above?

Tyrrell's 4 Acres 2014 seems to be a candidate, judging from recent pro reviews.

People, original post .... wines of the last 16 years!!

Pffft!
We are reminiscing

I know, I know, just don't get me reminiscing, otherwise we'll be here forever

TiggerK wrote:Out of interest, how much was 60A compared to Grange at the time of release??

And do people think there was a 'wild' element of winemaking in the 50's and 60's, bending the rules, making up the rules, lack of strict regulation/additive controls/cleanliness regimes, 'chuck in some port she'll be right mate' etc etc that made some of these older wines so much more complex and great than anything modern could likely ever be??

There is a copy of a letter from Dr Max Lake to Peter Gago in the Rewards of Patience book, that quotes Lake as purchasing 14 dozen Bin60A at the time from Max Schubert for the Penfolds accountant's book entry of $1.67/bottle

The 2004 Bin60A on the other hand was about $495rrp at release

From Rutherglen, I might suggest a couple from Warrabilla - 2006 Parola's Durif and 2014 Parola's Shiraz. The Durif is still a bit young, but is certainly going through some interesting early changes - I'm guessing it'll be ready sometime in the 30's. The Shiraz was amazing when first sipped and I think I'll try avoiding that one for at least 15 years to let it settle a bit.

Since Mr. Hawkins purchased 12 bottles ... 2014 Lakes Folly Cabernet.

given 10-15 yrs 2010 Rockies BP will be going alright.
supposedly 2010 grange.
2012 cabs from the 'warra will be around the mark too.

also i agree with jamieB in that cellaring practices are improving a lot so there'll be a chance
for medium level vino to shine.

phillisc wrote:

JamieBahrain wrote:I think there are going to be an amazing number of legendary wines due better cellaring and possibly screwcap for whites.

Yes agreed, 02 Leonay and Pewsey Contours
2012 Pikes Merle closely followed by JC Steingarten...and probably 2012 Contours

Could see 06 Vat one being a star too...if a recent Adelaide offline was anything to go by.
Cheers
Craig

I hope you're right Craig... I just picked up another another case of Merle

Mike Hawkins wrote:

phillisc wrote:

JamieBahrain wrote:I think there are going to be an amazing number of legendary wines due better cellaring and possibly screwcap for whites.

Yes agreed, 02 Leonay and Pewsey Contours
2012 Pikes Merle closely followed by JC Steingarten...and probably 2012 Contours

Could see 06 Vat one being a star too...if a recent Adelaide offline was anything to go by.
Cheers
Craig

I hope you're right Craig... I just picked up another another case of Merle

2012 Mike or current release?
I think I might have to source some 15 and 16.
Cheers
Craig