The Auswine Forum

For general discussion about vertcals and their merits or otherwise, please see this thread:
http://forum.auswine.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=16481

On this thread I am looking for advice as to which wines to open in a vertical tasting. I will open 5 or 6 (maybe more). The criteria for possibles is that I have 5 or more vintages and that some at least are well into their drinking window. The whites select themselves:
Seppelt Drumborg Vineyard Riesling - 2019, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2012
Hoddles Creek Chardonnay - 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2013

There are more options with the reds:
Cirillo Grenache 1850's Old Vine - 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008
Head Wines Head Red GSM - 2018, 2017, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012
Head Wines Head Red Shiraz - 2018, 2016, 2014, 2013, 2012
Lindeman's Limestone Ridge Shiraz/Cab - 2013, 2012, 2010, 2001, 1998
Majella Cabernet Sauvignon - 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2004
Marius Wines Shiraz - 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002
Marius Wines Symphony - 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 2005, 2004
Metala Shiraz/Cab - 2017, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010
Noon Eclipse - 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010
Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz - 2013, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2001
The Story Wines Grampians Shiraz - 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006
Turkey Flat Shiraz - 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2004, 1999
Wild Duck Creek Springflat Shiraz - 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2002
Wynns Cabernet Sauvignon - 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006

Also, if anyone in Brisbane is interested in tasting the wines, please PM me for details.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Cheers

Michael

Hi Michael, looks as we have very similar tastes and indeed very different tastes, there are some above that I do not have a single bottle of.
The picks are the Marius, particularly the Shiraz (?inaugural vintage, wow!). I would follow with WDC, again a really nice spread.
IMHO the Majella, 2010 onwards tasted last month, is not ready. I suspect that the Wynns is in the same boat, as is the Noons, as is the 28. I had a bottle of the 01 a few weeks ago, smashing wine, but eons to go
The Limestone Ridge looks interesting as does the Turkey flat.
But I am really laughing and hats off to you Sir! Metala...you and me must be the only ones in Australia who one buy it, but two love it. I have just purchased a dozen of the '18 for $9: 50 a bottle. I have consistently stunned snobs who think its shit and then have to eat humble pie when it smashes their $50 plus red out of the park. Aged Metala is stunning, I have it going back to 86, with a few 90s vintages and then most from 2000 onwards. Would be great to see how a wine that I have never paid more than $10 for stacks up

Hope that helps...or indeed may not.
Cheers Craig.

I assume the Wynns is the Black Label? Don't open any of them yet. They need more cellaring time.

Ozzie W wrote:I assume the Wynns is the Black Label? Don't open any of them yet. They need more cellaring time.

Yes Ozzie, think same, no '14 or '07 JR made, so would be BL.

Cheers Craig

Hi Michael,

Great line up!

I've had the Turkey Flats '99, '04 through to '12. Haven't opened the younger ones yet.
The '99 is still drinking beautifully, as is the '04. I am on to my '06 now.
The rest are drinking as should be, the '12 for an average vintage, is superb, as is the '09.
I haven't even touched the vintages of Black Label yet!

Thanks for the responses. Interesting that none of the people confirmed as coming have expressed a preference!

I appreciate that some of the younger wines will go much longer, but I have 4-6 of most of them and in many cases this would be the first bottle opened. In my view the vertical can include some (not too egregious) vinfanticide, if it shows the direction of some of the younger wines and reminds us of how they taste as young wines.

Cheers

Michael

I don't know how I missed this thread. Anyway, I do have a very clear preference and it is for the two wines with a minimum 20 year old in the line up: Turky Flat Shiraz (1999) and Lindeman's Limestone Ridge (1998). When it comes to verticals (ahem) make sure they're over 18 years of age.

phillisc wrote:But I am really laughing and hats off to you Sir! Metala...you and me must be the only ones in Australia who one buy it, but two love it. I have just purchased a dozen of the '18 for $9: 50 a bottle. I have consistently stunned snobs who think its shit and then have to eat humble pie when it smashes their $50 plus red out of the park. Aged Metala is stunning ...

Yes, less expensive wines, given the right age, can indeed better their superiors. Good thing you've not mentioned any names. When I said pretty much the same thing I got clobbered!

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

Mahmoud Ali wrote:
Good thing you've not mentioned any names. When I said pretty much the same thing I got clobbered!

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

Mahmoud you are just a glutton for punishment

In terms of the verticals, I would agree Turkey Flat or actually purely selfishly I would be interested to hear how the early Marius wines are looking now to get a sense how (and how long) more recent vintages might age.

Sorry Michael, my other post should be in here, what have you decided on?
Cheers craig

Though I'm not confirmed to attend yet... Keen to look at both the whites for sure. Reds, my thoughts would be:

Marius Shiraz, be great to try some of the earliest vintages.
Then Limestone Ridge and the Turkey Flat, due to preference, and that there are a couple of old vintages in those wines.

If I can come along Michael, I could bring a couple of older vintages of Drumborg too.

I guess it depends on what you want out of the vertical.

I'd probably do a bit of homework on the one that has the biggest vintage variation to give you a better overview of the wines and how it affects the end product.

If you feel the wines have changed stylistically and to see the progression and confirm it.

If the wine is suited to shorter term cellaring it gives you a broader range (unlike BDX you'd want it 10 years apart over 40 years, but a wine like WDC you could see 4 wines development in a 15 year bracket 2002/2008/2012/2016)

Maybe a horizontal of some different wines to show how they age 2005?

I'd lean towards the Lindemans Limestone ridge, mainly because that has the sub-text of "Did Lindemans drop the ball?" to debate. It also has some genuinely mature older wines.

Not familiar with all of those wines, but the Turkey Flat sounds good

Ian S wrote:I'd lean towards the Lindemans Limestone ridge, mainly because that has the sub-text of "Did Lindemans drop the ball?" to debate. It also has some genuinely mature older wines.

I think it's actually TWE that's dropped the ball unfortunately

phillisc wrote:Sorry Michael, my other post should be in here, what have you decided on?
Cheers craig

At the moment it's a toss upbetween the Turkey Flat and the Marius for Shiraz. I would do both but not sure a Shirazathon is what I had in mind, so it will be one of those two and the Majella for Cabernet.

Cheers

Michael

PS Agree on the Metala. Almost always buy six and often 12. With 5+ years on them they are fabulous wines for $10.

Willard wrote:If I can come along Michael, I could bring a couple of older vintages of Drumborg too.

You would be most welcome (as would some older Drumborgs!)

Cheers

Michael

dave vino wrote:Maybe a horizontal of some different wines to show how they age 2005?

This reminded me that we tried the 4 x 2014 Aphelion Grenache wines in a comparartive tasting here with mainly the same people about 4 years ago and we could revisit those 4 wines and a throw in couple of younger versions. We could see if our predictions then were right.

Cheers

Michael

mjs wrote:

Ian S wrote:I'd lean towards the Lindemans Limestone ridge, mainly because that has the sub-text of "Did Lindemans drop the ball?" to debate. It also has some genuinely mature older wines.

I think it's actually TWE that's dropped the ball unfortunately

Yes indeed Malcolm, the ball was dropped so long ago that the leathers cracked and what air that was in the bladder has long expired
Not sure how Brett Sharpe keeps hanging in, I will get some '16s soon. Bathroom quotes have knocked around the wine budget.
Cheers
Craig

mjs wrote:

Ian S wrote:I'd lean towards the Lindemans Limestone ridge, mainly because that has the sub-text of "Did Lindemans drop the ball?" to debate. It also has some genuinely mature older wines.

I think it's actually TWE that's dropped the ball unfortunately

Indeed

Hi Michael, Both the Majella and Marius sound great - sorry rarely get on the forum these days - happy to bring some fizz or if there is anything more specific I can bring please let me know - cheers, Nick

I’ve been watching with some interest this thread evolve. My instant reaction was the Marius, WDC and the Bin 28.
Same grapes, different regions, boutique v capitalist swine. Would make for a very interesting debate/tasting.