The Auswine Forum

I recall this wine getting a few people excited a little while ago. I got my hands on some, had one for new years eve 2001 and loved it. I've now tried two bottles in the past two weeks, and the wine has changed completely, and for the worse. The TN applies to the second bottle, the first one was worse.

Its still inky black, but the nose has changed from a peppery, spicy, fruity delight to dusty, peppery, salty, beefstock, and eventually evolved to show some black olive. the palate starts out with white pepper, a trace of black fruit and doesnt show a lot of fruit initially. 24 hours later this has evolved to indistinct chocolately plums, and the chalky, muddy tannins are a constant through the whole time.

This is really ordinary. Someone please tell me I've just been very unlucky.

AB

Wizz,
U r not alone. Upon released, I lauded this wine to the sky. Drank a bt. fortnite ago n I shared the same opinion.
At this point their Wade Blk 2001 is a much better wine.

Martin, I wondered how long it would take for you to find this thread, although I didnt expect 8 minutes!!

Interesting you have found the same. I remember your notes from ages ago, they were pretty enthusiastic.

Oh well, win some, lose some.

I hope this "changing" habit in the Rayner's will not affect my 2001 bottle as I'm taking it to Europe for a tasting this July. I absolutely loved it on release and I certainly hope it's still the same great wine!
Cheers,
Attila

Andrew,

Sounds like the wine could possibly be falling apart. Two very respected winemakers I spoke to recently both thought that many of the big 98's may have been better drunk young and will not gain secondary complexities when the fresh fruit drops off.

I don't know, but time will tell. There are a few in my cellar that I have tried that I am not sure about. And, if the predicition proves accurate for the 98's, the 01's could be worse.

TORB wrote:Andrew,

Sounds like the wine could possibly be falling apart. Two very respected winemakers I spoke to recently both thought that many of the big 98's may have been better drunk young and will not gain secondary complexities when the fresh fruit drops off.

I don't know, but time will tell. There are a few in my cellar that I have tried that I am not sure about. And, if the predicition proves accurate for the 98's, the 01's could be worse.

Indeed. I guess "falling apart" could mean a lot of things: falling out of balance, no secondary characters, etc etc.

The Rayner is definitely not following a path I'd be happy with, and I'm relieved in a way that Martin has had the same experience, I thought these could be the victim of imperfect cellaring. If I hadnt had this wine earler in life, I'd characterise it as faulty. Now I just dont know.

Andrew
I have tried this wine early in life and rated it highly before it won all the awards. We were out at dinner and someone bought this at cellar door for us to try.
I am intrigued to see if you others taste the same as your recent two.
michel

michel wrote:Andrew
I have tried this wine early in life and rated it highly before it won all the awards. We were out at dinner and someone bought this at cellar door for us to try.
I am intrigued to see if you others taste the same as your recent two.
michel

So am I...

Wizz wrote:

michel wrote:Andrew
I have tried this wine early in life and rated it highly before it won all the awards. We were out at dinner and someone bought this at cellar door for us to try.
I am intrigued to see if you others taste the same as your recent two.
michel

So am I...

Hey you are up wayyyy to early holiday boy
michel

michel wrote:
Hey you are up wayyyy to early holiday boy
michel

Got up at 7.30. Thats a major sleep in!