The Auswine Forum

I haven’t had much Bleasdale wine, other than a few old bottles which have found there way to Christmas lunches and the like courtesy of others. They always seem (at least recently) to rate highly with certain critics and the pricing seems reasonable.

I grabbed a few bottles from last year (haven’t tried yet) and don’t often see them mentioned on this forum.

So…. Does anyone rate Bleasdale and if so, what are the picks?

Cheers Ed

I've only tried a couple myself, but there's some Frank Potts cabernet blend in the cellar, including one double magnum.

Ed, Apparently Paul Hotker (winemaker) can't put a foot wrong. At least in JHs eyes!!
Like Allan, I have a few vintages of the Frank Potts (Bordeaux Blend). Picked up the 2019/21s for less than $20.
On another forum that I am on, punters speak highly of the Mulberry Tree. The winery puts out a large range plus quite a few fortified wines.
Cheers Craig

I used to love the Frank Potts blend, for it having decent complexity on release, but also cellaring well. A brilliant each-way bet.

I've not seen any in a while though (it used to be an Oddbins stalwart until they f*cked themselves over)

Thanks for the responses.

I’m fascinated by them in some ways, they seem to fly under the radar despite being a critic darling and very well priced. I’m going to have to dig one out of the storage and give it an early whirl to see if it’s a winery to invest some more time in.

Cheers Ed

I recall they do some nice Malbecs and blends.

Great Malbecs and good Cabernet. The whole range is very good VFM. Frank Potts is a good wine.

Cheers

Michael

Agree with all above comments, and they are certainly flying under the radar since ownership changes 10 - 15 years ago.
And you certainly don't fluke a Jimmy W. win with a GSM! Also, always good value on wine lists. There must be something in the water in LC because the other great VFM label is Lake Breeze.

WineRick wrote: ↑Thu May 02, 2024 6:58 pm There must be something in the water in LC because the other great VFM label is Lake Breeze.

Indeed I recall one of the peculiarities of the region, was regular winter flooding of the vineyards.

Yes Bremerton river floods the vineyards most years.
When speaking of LC...don't forget the mighty Metala...put LC on the map!
Cheers Craig

phillisc wrote: ↑Fri May 03, 2024 4:25 am Yes Bremerton river floods the vineyards most years.
When speaking of LC...don't forget the mighty Metala...put LC on the map!
Cheers Craig

Yes, and I reckon the proportion of LC fruit in Wolfies first three Jimmy W's would have been quite significant.

Lake Breeze! That's a name I had forgotten about. First tried their wines back in the mid 90s. Fantastic value for money.
Why don't we hear any chatter about Langhorne Creek? We need some young and trendy winemaker to put it back on the map.
Is it's good enough for Wolfe then it's good enough for me.
Cheers

TravisW wrote: ↑Fri May 03, 2024 12:15 pm Lake Breeze! That's a name I had forgotten about. First tried their wines back in the mid 90s. Fantastic value for money.
Why don't we hear any chatter about Langhorne Creek? We need some young and trendy winemaker to put it back on the map.
Is it's good enough for Wolfe then it's good enough for me.
Cheers

It's already on the map! Why get the Bogong moths to push a $25-30 bottle to $75 just so they can brag about it. Get on the mailing lists of a number of LC winemakers and just keep mum about it.

WineRick wrote: ↑Fri May 03, 2024 3:33 pm
It's already on the map! Why get the Bogong moths to push a $25-30 bottle to $75 just so they can brag about it. Get on the mailing lists of a number of LC winemakers and just keep mum about it.

I love the specificity of not just moths to a flame but Bogong moths !

Langhorne Creek experienced massive planting of grapes a decade or 3 ago with majors the big players. LC fruit has been used in many multiregional blends for decades. As stated above Wolf Blass put it on the map. Cooling breezes from Lake Alexandrina and flooding from the Bremer River (although only experienced by some of the original wineries) produced some pretty smart fruit. Reds only I think. Malbec does well there. Lake Breeze produce some great wines. Their cabernets are excellent and age well.

So I retrieved a couple of bottles from storage and gave them a whirl.

The Grenache was a light cherry red colour, good acid profile, but of tannin, good mouth feel - a bit more structure than some Grenache I’ve had (noting I’m an absolute novice who hasn’t had much of the varietal). At the $30 a bottle mark it’s decent value. Not sure I love Grenache enough to purchase again.

The Mulberry Tree by contrast is a much darker colour, and is classic Cabernet. Tannic, dark fruits, oak and dense in its early life and to me showing a good potential to age and grow in interest. This is a great get at the $21 price per bottle.

Cheers Ed

JH rated the Mulberry Tree at 95/100 so although JH's rating are generally generous, at $21 it looks like a steal to me.

Chuck wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 9:31 am JH rated the Mulberry Tree at 95/100 so although JH's rating can be generous, at $21 it looks like a steal to me.

Dan's have it as a member's special at $17 pb. Astonishing value.

Chuck wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 9:36 am

Chuck wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 9:31 am JH rated the Mulberry Tree at 95/100 so although JH's rating can be generous, at $21 it looks like a steal to me.

Dan's have it as a member's special at $17 pb. Astonishing value.

At that price it could be the new Metala, minus the Shiraz of course!!
Cheers Craig

Chuck wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 9:36 am

Chuck wrote: ↑Thu May 23, 2024 9:31 am JH rated the Mulberry Tree at 95/100 so although JH's rating can be generous, at $21 it looks like a steal to me.

Dan's have it as a member's special at $17 pb. Astonishing value.

Stop twisting my rubber arm!

Great value. Will have a look.

Cheers Ed

TravisW wrote: ↑Fri May 03, 2024 12:15 pm Lake Breeze! That's a name I had forgotten about. First tried their wines back in the mid 90s. Fantastic value for money.
Why don't we hear any chatter about Langhorne Creek? We need some young and trendy winemaker to put it back on the map.
Is it's good enough for Wolfe then it's good enough for me.

Indeed one doesn't hear much about Lake Breeze. Back in Canada I found a few bottles of the 1999 'Bernoota' Cabernet-Shiraz on clearance and after tasting one went back and picked up the remaining few to drink and cellar as I felt it could use more time. After a long hiatus I came across a pair of 2007 'Bernoota' and immediately scooped them up.

Wolf Blass credited Langhorne Creek fruit for his numerous show medals. The first Yellow Label Cab-Shiraz I ever drank, a 1983, had Langehorne Creek prominently on the label - and a fine bottle it was!

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

The fruit for Noon Reserve Shiraz and Cabernet comes from Langhorne Creek. Very sought after wines….

Mahmoud Ali wrote: ↑Fri May 24, 2024 8:08 pm

TravisW wrote: ↑Fri May 03, 2024 12:15 pm Lake Breeze! That's a name I had forgotten about. First tried their wines back in the mid 90s. Fantastic value for money.
Why don't we hear any chatter about Langhorne Creek? We need some young and trendy winemaker to put it back on the map.
Is it's good enough for Wolfe then it's good enough for me.

Indeed one doesn't hear much about Lake Breeze. Back in Canada I found a few bottles of the 1999 'Bernoota' Cabernet-Shiraz on clearance and after tasting one went back and picked up the remaining few to drink and cellar as I felt it could use more time. After a long hiatus I came across a pair of 2007 'Bernoota' and immediately scooped them up.

Wolf Blass credited Langhorne Creek fruit for his numerous show medals. The first Yellow Label Cab-Shiraz I ever drank, a 1983, had Langehorne Creek prominently on the label - and a fine bottle it was!

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

I've always had bottles of Lake Breeze wines in the stash. Mainly the Bernoota and cabernet. Smart wines. Nice winery to visit. As you pass over the elevated entrance road (to escape floods) the gnarled old vines to the left give an indication of the history.