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TN: from good food and wine show 19/6/2004

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 6:40 pm
by brunello_CH
Hi All:

I am new to this forum, and have only just begin to putting pen to paper to record my take on wine, and any tips and pointers are welcome.

Please note that it was an extremely busy day with people shoving each other for free samples and needless to say please take my note with a grain of salt. :shock:

Here's the load down of a few wine which I think is worth mentioning at the food and wine show last weekend.

Mc WilliamÂ’s Maurice OÂ’shea Shiraz 2000

This is one black monster of a wine. The nose carries an inviting perfume rich with toffee, caramel, chocolate with a touch of spice, all in all great nose, can sniff this all day.

The tannins are powdery, drying persistent and stalky, but not over bearing. The acid is balanced and sharp. The fruit are balanced, concentrated, powerful and potent.

Final remark, it was a beautiful oaky smooth drop, it is drinking very well, but will most certainly improve after a few years of zzzz, wine of the day for me and my other half and needless to say I am ordering a case. [b]Excellent [/b]and at 27$ per bottle it is a steal (offer for food and wine show)

Hollick Ravenswood 2000

This is a dark purple looking beast with an earthy, mushroom nose following by a good dose of vanilla.

The tannins are well integrated with dusty woody aftertaste. It carries a lively tarty dose of acid which is well balanced, follow by a big powerful punch of fruit.

Final remark, it was a deep silky velvety vanilla choc shake, and has the body and complexity to turn in to something wonderful. At 55$ plus per bottle it is a bit rich for me, but all in all a nice drop. [b]Highly recommended[/b]


Katnook Estate Shiraz 2002

This is a rich black wine, with a rich herbaceous, inky nose follow by oak and spice.

The tannins are big, silky and velvety. The acid was balanced and tart, follow with strong concentrated fruit.

Final remark, a spicy peppery choc shake, carrying magical layers of flavour waiting to be discovered. [b]Highly recommended[/b]


Katnook Estate Cabernet Sav 2001

This is a dark purple beauty, with a spicy, blueberry, tobacco nose.

The tannins are integrated, silky and smooth. The acid was refreshing and the fruits were pure distinct and yet delicate.

Final remark, it is every bit a good cabernet sav should be with well integrated oak reflected by the silky smooth choco vanilla finish. [b]Highly recommended[/b]


Katnook Estate Merlot 2001

This is a dark purple drop with an earthy mushroom nose.

The tannins are smooth, dusty and woody. The acid was balanced and tart, fruit was balanced and distinct.

Final remark, a savoury wine, I am not a fan of straight merlot, but can understand why merlot lover would rave about this wine. It was magical to see the bouquet evolves in minutes as I swirl the glass while trying to avoid the mess of traffic around me. [b]Recommended[/b]

PS special thanks to Torb for your excellent wine sheet

good tasting :wink: ,
Chris

Posted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 7:36 pm
by George Krashos
The comments on the 02 Katnooks are very interesting. My understanding was that whilst the long, cool ripening season of the 02 vintage was perfect for the Barossa and McLaren Vale, there were some ripening problems in the cooler Coonawarra region. Anyone else know how vintage 02 was for the Coonawarra?

-- George Krashos

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 10:36 am
by markg
Good notes Chris, thanks. Sounds like an interesting day.

Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2004 11:19 am
by brunello_CH
Thanks, but I will rather go to a proper tasting or take a trip to cellar door anyday over this... nothing fun about having wine splash in your face (due to ppl walking into you) or spitting in rubbish bin (most stands do not have a proper spit bucket, and if you do spit on them people "female" around you start to curse in horror)

As for the katnook estate shiraz comment, pls take into account of the tasting environment and the taster (I am very green when it comes to translating what my senses tells me into pen and paper)

PS Can you believe that in one stand, the staff said he don't know what grape was use in the wine they carry and said "it is a surprise?"-- What are great way to educate the public.... sign

best regards,
Chris

update

Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2004 11:06 pm
by brunello_CH
Have opened a couple of this babies since I ordered a case from the show, have to say it does not taste anywhere close to the wine which I tasted back in Jun, the wine takes a good while to open up and when it does, it does carry the beautiful toffee nose as I posted before but the tannin is way overpowering and all in all unbalance, my guess is the wine presented in the show must be of a pre release batch and have gone pass the inital bottle shock phase,,,, still have 10 to go and I hope they will get back to form

Chris