TN: NV Wild Duck Creek Estate Sparkling Duck 2

[Baby Chickpea]

<b>NV Wild Duck Creek Estate Sparkling Duck 2</b>
93, 94, 95, 97 Shiraz, 96 Merlot – Disgorged 2000. I always remember Parker in his Wine Buyer’s Guide proclaiming this wine to be “over the top…bizarre…for me undrinkable[!]”. Took me 10 minutes to get the massive cork out! Dark to mid red colour – lovely with scintillating clarity. Nose is chock-block full of red peppers, sweet berries, ripe plums. Little hint of 14.6% alcohol. Excellent bouquet. On the palate, really good balance. Initially some “hardness” but attenuated further with time. Excellent length with heightened richness along the whole way. Sweet start with textbook dry finish. Impeccable structure and balance with no hint of oak or alcohol. Needs 3+ years at least. Big yes, but a rich and beautiful wine with abundant dry and chalky tannins on the finish. I last tasted this wine on release in 2001 and it was almost porty. Now it’s a near gem (the beast has been tamed) and would love to put it up against a Rockford Black Shiraz or Primo Estate Joseph. Much, much better than I expected. Now, how do I get some more (winemaker Dave Anderson has a really haphazard way of allocating this infrequently made wine – get it one time, miss out the next!!)
<b>Excellent 18.0 / 20</b>