The Auswine Forum

Went to a tasting last night of Coonawarra wines.


Some highlights I wanted to share are as follows;


Balnave "The Tally" 2000

Ladbroke Grove Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2002

Leconfield Shiraz 2002

Orlando St Hugo 2000

Zema Estate Cluny 2001


Will write up my tasting notes in the next week and post.


Overall there were great wines abound at the tasting however one needs to keep value for money in mind when there is so much choice.

Was this the Road Show at GPO by chance? If so, by 7:30 there was a brilliant selection on tasting...at 24+ degrees. Victorian Wine Week deja vu, doh Trying a few known great wines showed they were all suffering, served much too warm, for my taste in any case. I left a wrap-around thermometer on a desk for a few minutes, and it had just a slight trace of colour left on the final ('24') mark when I picked it up - with all the wines served at this room temperature, it was just not an ideal setting. Such a shame, the 1999 John Riddoch, 2000 Menzies, two Bowen Estate Cab and Shiraz vintages, Cluny, etc, were a shadow of what they should be. The omnipresent city suits seemed to be enjoying themsleves with the provided note pad, though

Coonawarra Wine Tasting – Sydney – September 1, 2004.

Balnaves – The Tally – Cabernet Sauvignon 2000

Dense purple hue, high alcohol, huge upfront fruit on nose, restrained at first but opens up within minutes, blackcurrant and cassis flavours. Oozes subtleness, well oaked and balanced with good length and finish. A classy wine, albeit, it should be for the price - $80 range. Should cellar very well into the future. Try it with a good aged rib eye steak.

Ladbroke Grove Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2002

Rich purple liqueur colours, fragrant ripe blackcurrant nose. Strong firm length in flavour, cedar oak cigar box tinges. Smooth fine tannins with a velvet finish on the back palate. Quite a sophisticated wine and even at this very early stage. Should cellar 10 plus years and develop accordingly with its varietal characteristics. Interesting to see its development. At $40 range, well priced and very good value for money. Drink with veal parmigana. This wine was a personal favourite of mine at this tasting.

Leconfield Shiraz 2002

Classic Coonawarra Shiraz with dark red and purple tinges, concentrated earthy nose which also carries blackberry fruit through to it, the oak and the fruit carry very well onto the palate, with harmonious texture and a fused and balanced flavour and length on the back palate. Despite its typical characteristics which indicates a long life of at least 5 yrs plus, it has drink now capacity. Very good value for money at the $30 range. This would be well matched with steak and mushroom pie.

Lindemans St George 2000

This wine impressed with its very dark red hues, classic blackcurrant nose, smooth and balanced texture and the very good integration of oak and tannins. Cedar, cigar box nose carries to the palate with a tinge of capsicum. It is drinking exceedingly well right now and will be interesting to see its development into the next 7-10 years. Very typical Cabernet structure which the winemaking reflects. Some earlier vintages of lesser years have made this wine a variable choice on a value for money scale, this vintage has certainly put the wine back on its track. Drink with King Island aged cheddar or hearty beef and vegetable stew.

Zema Cluny 2001

This Cabernet blend impressed with its blacky purple red hues, some dominant cigar box aromas, quality blackcurrant fruit and truly lovely balance and length of tannin finish on the palate. The oak seems to have integrated almost perfectly with the fruit as you can tell it is there but in harmony. 3 yrs in the bottle has done wonders for this wine but indications are it has a long and happy future. There is enough lovely fine tannin as well as structure and length to indicate the wine should peak in the next 4-5 years.

Orlando St Hugo 2000

Beautiful rich red colour. Very aromatic. Classical cabernet cassis fruit nose, very smooth taste with fine tannin but with a strong finish. This wine shows it has guts and is nowhere near its peak currently. Again another example of Classic Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon. Very reliable pedigree of a wine, I recall the 1988 also being of this high quality. Should cellar for 5-7 years and develop and refine itself further during the course of this time. Try with slow roasted lamb shanks in a tomato sauce.


Happy drinking! In moderation of course.

Neville, was Highbank represented at the tasting and if so what did they and your opinions please.

Their 2001 Basket Pressed Coonawarra is stunning wine, up there with the best Coonawarra I've tried.

Anonymous wrote:Neville, was Highbank represented at the tasting and if so what did they and your opinions please.

Their 2001 Basket Pressed Coonawarra is stunning wine, up there with the best Coonawarra I've tried.

No, Highbank was not there.

Adair

Adair wrote:No, Highbank was not there.

Adair

You should be known as The Scarlet Pumpernickel - you see him here, you see him there, you see him everywhere - especially if there is good plonk around.