The Auswine Forum

...visiting friends in Melbourne / Yarra Valley trying not to find any decent cabernets that we will have to buy.

So, what have you been drinking this week?

For me the highlights were the Kalleske Greenock Shiraz 2003, I had to try one to decide whether to buy another 6-pack that was offered to me, just before the Parker scores were released. After trying the wine I jumped at the offer, this is one fine wine, a sweet pure shiraz fruit hit at the front of the palate, but nothing jammy or flabby about this, firm backbone, fresh clean finish, impeccable balance, grab some if you find any.

Also last night Eileen Hardy Shiraz 1994 about at it's peak for my palate, although it should hold for many years yet, smooth as silk, some nice earthy overtones, hits all corners of the palate nicely.

Highlights this week were from opposite ends of my price spectrum. 1998 Orlando St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet is right in its early drinking window. All components now in balance and a real pleasure to drink 13%. 2001 Steppingstone Coonawarra Cabernet continues to please the palate and improve and is astounding for the price 13%. How I love Cabernet now being the poor cousin to Shiraz.

Chuck

Hello

Out last night with Robyn for an evening away, stopped in at Universal Wine bar.

After going through the doldrums recently, the wine list is back to its best, interesting, different, unusual.

Tried the Tuesner GSM blend, interesting, enjoyable, very spicy blend that was a nice wine.

Next, wow! I've not had this since its first release, what a stunning wine.

Long long pure raspberry and berry fruit flavours, great length, perfectly judged oak (light background), the slightest hints of moccha but mostly just long and pure fruit. I could drink this all night, indeed, I am going to see if I can still find a case.

2002 Mr Riggs Temperanillo

a class act.

I've had a pretty quiet week, but the quality of these two wines made up for it:

1994 Yalumba Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz: Medium crusting; decanting recommended. Dark, glass hugging & glowing inky crimson. A beautiful open & complex nose of perfumed fruit and classy oak; cassis, soy, chocolate, iodine, hints of earth, coconut essence, leather, concentrated tomato, cedar & some fish sauce. The palate has a very savoury entry, with concentrated tomato, black olives, sweet blackberry, and a hint of leather; a great balance of acid and soft/fine but dry tannins, finishing with sweet oak, olives, and a hint of greens. It’s great drinking now, but will cellar and develop for quite a few more years.

1996 Yalumba Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz: Heavy crusting; decanting essential. Dark(er), glass hugging, inky crimson. Slightly closed/reserved nose at first, with pretty perfumed hints of earth, tobacco, spicy Asian mint, and some violets; breathing brings out cedar, iodine and some complex hints of biscuit dough. The palate has a soft entry, followed by a slow build-up of powerful acid & powdery tannins that are enveloped by spicy briary/blackberry fruit, with hints of chocolate, olives, liquorice and coffee/malty oak. The smoky structure is wonderfully layered with a bare hint of VA far in the background, and has fabulous length with black cherries on the finish. Every facet of the wine is not surprisingly younger and on a far bigger scale than the 1994, but is remarkably complex and well integrated even at this early stage.


Cheers,
Ian

One monumental night last week, in order of consumptionÂ….

St Hallett Blackwell Shiraz 1996 (magnum)

Three self confessed Blackwellofiles were to assemble with other tasters.

Very closed initially. As it began to open, I felt and commented that I thought we would be disappointed in the wine. Wrong, wrong, wrong again. Opened up to be a delicious, well integrated taste treat, enjoyed for many hours.


Wolf Blass Gold Label Shiraz/Viognier 2002

This wine sold out very quickly and it was only for the sharp eyes of one of our tasters that we got this one. Someone described it as ‘a gorgeous wine’ and that is an appropriate description. A wine that is destined to be consumed early as you won’t be able to keep your hands off them. Just writing about this wine could become a very sexy, erotic tale similar to a tasting note on a US site some time back. Don’t open and drink one these at home Wizz or your self imposed removal from 02 Barossa Shiraz will be over as Mrs Wizz will be sending you out to buy more.


Hardys Tintara Shiraz 1998

We have had this wine several times now. Seems to be in a lull, but compared to the company it was tasted in, it is drinking well.


Wynns John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon 1990

A wonderful wine that has many years ahead of it. I would if pushed say there were five or more years maturing left in this wine until it reached its peak. And then how many years will it stay at its drinking peak? Great C/S nose and depth of colour with almost no bricking on the rim. Anyone who has stocks of this wine is a fortunate person.


Grant Burge Filsell Shiraz 1998

As happens, you need to drink something while waiting for some wines to open up. This was the case for the 98 Filsell. I still believe that the 2000 is the best Filsell made so far but this was a wine of great quality. The end of this bottle was consumed 18 hours later and was good.

Graham

GrahamB wrote:Wolf Blass Gold Label Shiraz/Viognier 2002

This wine sold out very quickly and it was only for the sharp eyes of one of our tasters that we got this one. Someone described it as ‘a gorgeous wine’ and that is an appropriate description. A wine that is destined to be consumed early as you won’t be able to keep your hands off them. Just writing about this wine could become a very sexy, erotic tale similar to a tasting note on a US site some time back. Don’t open and drink one these at home Wizz or your self imposed removal from 02 Barossa Shiraz will be over as Mrs Wizz will be sending you out to buy more.



Graham

Couldn't agree more, and couldn't have said it better!

This is just a quicky. I opened a 01 Greenock Creek Apricot Block after reading about Parkers high score.

Oh my, this is simply sensational. I think Mr. Parker is really on the money here. I suppose thats why everybody listens.

I also opened a Bullers Calliope 02 to compare, and as much as I love the Bullers, the GC is better.

I have just received the 02 GCs, so I wonder how they will go in 12 months time!

I read a lot of people putting shit on GC a couple of weeks ago, and I didnt agree, all I can say is for those who have this wine, to open a bottle, and comment!

Bruce

Gavin Trott wrote:Next, wow! I've not had this since its first release, what a stunning wine.

Long long pure raspberry and berry fruit flavours, great length, perfectly judged oak (light background), the slightest hints of moccha but mostly just long and pure fruit. I could drink this all night, indeed, I am going to see if I can still find a case.

2002 Mr Riggs Temperanillo

a class act.

I tried this 6 months ago: Medium red. Earthy red fruits, dusty light spices and bark. With time, some raspberry fruit and a malty character. The palate was lighter bodied, more savoury in style than a lot of other wines, but seems to lack some fruit weight. 82 points.

I didn't grab me at all: do you reckon it's settled in the past 6 months, or I had a dud bottle, or we just like different things?

A weekend " surviving " on some of the drink now components of my Rockford order....................

The Alicante '04 seems a darker colour than previously but is still Nice. The 2001 Semillon was it's usual reliable self ( if you don't dig it put a good roast chook in the oven yer lazy sods ) and the 2001 Eden Valley Riesling was a fuller style - a nice contrast to the good but predictable current release Clare etc rieslings.

2002 Rifle Range Cabernet Sauvignon ( $33 ) : lovely soft tremendous red wine. No donuts here !

BBQ wines last night...

Fox River cab/shiraz 2000 (magnum) Mt Barker Initially seemed past it, then the VA blew off to leave a mellow quaffer, nice aged characters, not much fruit left.
Xabregas cab/merlot 2002 Mt Barker Plummy, full & fruity, suprisingly good for a random on-special unknown new winery quaffer picked up by a friend on the way to bbq. Fairly high % of merlot?
Glaetzer shiraz 2000 (cleanskin) Barossa Very nice, smooth, better quality plum, rasberry & spice, emptied extremely quickly. Looking forward to sampling the rest of the case at intervals over the next few years.
Evans & Tate Salisbury sem/sav 2004 Margaret River For the minority who wanted a c-thru. Initially hard acid, sharp pungent nose, eventually smoothed off to a crisp typical "classic blend". Nothing special.
Heartland 2001 shiraz Limestone Coast Initially very peppery, nice fruit, then turned hard after an hour open. Not happy Jan. Yet to try left overs tonight. Hopefully not turned already!

Today...

Baxter-Stokes chardonnay 2004 Swan Valley Quite nice crisp yet fruity dry white to wash down more bbq chicken! Good value for a small volume handmade chard ($14 cd).

How are the 2001's? I had the 2000 Shiraz and I was very unimpressed. We can get the 2001 Cabernet $30 Canadian. Thanks - Rick

rwatkins wrote:How are the 2001's? I had the 2000 Shiraz and I was very unimpressed. We can get the 2001 Cabernet $30 Canadian. Thanks - Rick

I think the 2000 and 2001 were Barossa and the 2002 Shiraz/Viognier was all Adelaide Hills. I can't remember the 00 or 01 in a tasting.

Graham

Lincoln wrote:

Gavin Trott wrote:Next, wow! I've not had this since its first release, what a stunning wine.

Long long pure raspberry and berry fruit flavours, great length, perfectly judged oak (light background), the slightest hints of moccha but mostly just long and pure fruit. I could drink this all night, indeed, I am going to see if I can still find a case.

2002 Mr Riggs Temperanillo

a class act.

I tried this 6 months ago: Medium red. Earthy red fruits, dusty light spices and bark. With time, some raspberry fruit and a malty character. The palate was lighter bodied, more savoury in style than a lot of other wines, but seems to lack some fruit weight. 82 points.

I didn't grab me at all: do you reckon it's settled in the past 6 months, or I had a dud bottle, or we just like different things?

Lo and behold I had this on the weekend! Agree with Lincoln ... just didnt grab me at all ... will post TN later

Lincoln wrote:

Gavin Trott wrote:Next, wow! I've not had this since its first release, what a stunning wine.

Long long pure raspberry and berry fruit flavours, great length, perfectly judged oak (light background), the slightest hints of moccha but mostly just long and pure fruit. I could drink this all night, indeed, I am going to see if I can still find a case.

2002 Mr Riggs Temperanillo

a class act.

I tried this 6 months ago: Medium red. Earthy red fruits, dusty light spices and bark. With time, some raspberry fruit and a malty character. The palate was lighter bodied, more savoury in style than a lot of other wines, but seems to lack some fruit weight. 82 points.

I didn't grab me at all: do you reckon it's settled in the past 6 months, or I had a dud bottle, or we just like different things?

Lincoln

Don't know to tell the truth, Saturday's wine was sensational, Mr Riggs is getting me a case so hopefully it was not just the occasion as its for us over the next 12 months or so?.

We both loved it.

Brucer wrote:This is just a quicky. I opened a 01 Greenock Creek Apricot Block after reading about Parkers high score.

Oh my, this is simply sensational. I think Mr. Parker is really on the money here. I suppose thats why everybody listens.

I also opened a Bullers Calliope 02 to compare, and as much as I love the Bullers, the GC is better.

I have just received the 02 GCs, so I wonder how they will go in 12 months time!

I read a lot of people putting shit on GC a couple of weeks ago, and I didnt agree, all I can say is for those who have this wine, to open a bottle, and comment!

Bruce

The 2001 GC's I have had I didn't like, however, I had the 2002 Alice on Friday night and it is excellent (tasting notes later) - Massive fruit intensity, chewy tannins, juicy and fruity and very drinkable.

Well, my Greenock Creek mailer arrived yesterday! Suppose it is all gone by now.

Quiet week, quaffed a Saltram's Mamre Brook shiraz 02 over three days. Pleasant Barossa shiraz, all components neatly packaged and I can see why so many happy with the wine.

I had a bottle of Henschke Cyril 1994. Master crafted strucure but the fruit did not come out to play. 88 pts for a wine that should be in the mid 90's. I will drop a note under Dannies Cyril thread for posterity.

1997 Petaluma Riesling
The colour was a little deceptive, as it looked quite advanced (a real golden honey colour). However, on the palate there was still plenty of acidity to keep this wine alive. I think the '97 is developing a lot like the '90 at this stage. Probably won't be the longest-living petaluma, but it's certainly (for my palate at least) far from dead. I felt the '90 was drinking beautifully at 8-11 years after vintage, and the '97 likewise. I think I'll be drinking the rest from '05-'08.

A great match with veal schnitzel: rich enough to partner the sweet tender veal, but with enough acidity to help cut through the pan-fried crumbed coating.

1997 Turkey Flat Cabernet Sauvignon
Not sure if this was a faulty bottle or its going through a strange patch. Funky wine for a TF. Not particulary appealling by itself but with food yummo- great length, complexity and richness

196 Maxwell Ellen Street Shiraz - This has finally come together, the last bottle I drank was disjointed but this has evolved in great example of Aussie shiraz. But I would have picked it as a Barossa rather than Mclaren Vale

Millsreef Hawkes Bay Reserve Chardonnay '02.
Lovely nutty, flinty nose flows into a concentrated flint, mineral and stone fruit palate with good length. Took some time to open up (a good sign for ageing). Will be best in 2-5 years time. Liked it very much.

Seppelt Original Sparkling Shiraz '98.

1st Bottle...... faaaaark I hate cork!!

2nd and last bottle in my cellar:

Ah yes, this is the real deal, as good as all the reports, and getting better. Better value for money you'd be hard pressed to find.
I must admit, i'm eagerly awaiting the '97 & '98 release of the Show Reserve based on the strength of the GW shiraz of the same vintages.

'96 Blue Pyrenees Red.

Yep, as ordinary as ever and going nowhere.


Rory

Rory, you'll be happy to know that from '94, the Seppelt Show Reserve is being sealed with a crown seal, as well as cork. Got some when I was last up there.

Opening this wine was very disappointing. Adair said that he "hated" the 2001 vintage of this (I can now see why) and TORB advised that he read mixed reports regarding ths Cabernet.

2002 SANDALFORD Cabernet Sauvignon-Margaret River W.A.

Blue gold winner at the 2004 Sydney International, Gold at the 2003 Qantas wine show, best Cabernet at the 2003 Margaret River Wine Show. Fruit picked from 30 years old vines at Wilyabrup.

So then-

Colour bright cherry red. Clean and beautifully fragrant nose, very inviting.
The palate however was packed with ribena flavours, not varietal at all! The fruit was clearly overripe. It was a diluted wine lacking concentration. Medium bodied, with a short finish with no focus or direction, it is a cabernet with nowhere to go. I didn't enjoy it at all and done the rare, pour it down the sink excercise. Not $25 worth...drunk better for $15.
Cheers,
Attila

Attila wrote:Opening this wine was very disappointing. Adair said that he "hated" the 2001 vintage of this (I can now see why) and TORB advised that he read mixed reports regarding ths Cabernet.

2002 SANDALFORD Cabernet Sauvignon-Margaret River W.A.

Blue gold winner at the 2004 Sydney International, Gold at the 2003 Qantas wine show, best Cabernet at the 2003 Margaret River Wine Show. Fruit picked from 30 years old vines at Wilyabrup.

So then-

Colour bright cherry red. Clean and beautifully fragrant nose, very inviting.
The palate however was packed with ribena flavours, not varietal at all! The fruit was clearly overripe. It was a diluted wine lacking concentration. Medium bodied, with a short finish with no focus or direction, it is a cabernet with nowhere to go. I didn't enjoy it at all and done the rare, pour it down the sink excercise. Not $25 worth...drunk better for $15.
Cheers,
Attila

I better be careful what I say to you... It might get posted on a website.

Seriously though, the 2001 too had some impressive medals and the shopkeeper I was speaking to was raving about it. However, the wine seemed quite similar to your experience of the 2002, with a heap on unripe fruit mixed in with some good fruit absolutely destroying the wine. A cynic would think that they won the awards with the ripe fruited wine and added the unripe at a later date. I would not be suggesting that of course.

Kind regards,
Adair

I shared a couple of bottles of the Sandalford 02 Cab at a Chinese restaurant a month or two ago, and found them very good indeed. Certainly didn't taste any unripe fruit. It sounds like bottle variation.

Kieran

I agree with Attila and his notes on the Sandalford Cab/Sav 02. Likewise For me there was no varietal flavor and the wine was very disjointed and with experience having tasted similar type of wine before they never seem to come together.
I did leave it for a couple of days but it made no difference. I was most disappointed as id read some good reviews on the wine. Bad bottles??

Cheers
Geoffrey

Geoffrey wrote:I agree with Attila and his notes on the Sandalford Cab/Sav 02. I was most disappointed as id read some good reviews on the wine. Bad bottles??

My bet is two batches.