The Auswine Forum

No one should get too excited as I didn't have a chance to go, so no report from me as I was in Young, country N.S.W.
There is however my question to ask:
Can those who went list their best three or five wines?
Only the top stuff please?
Cheers and Thanks,
Attila

Not sure where your "top stuff" cuts off, but my top wines were:

Moss Wood Cab Sav 2001
Voyager Estate Reserve Cabernet 1998
Wirra Wirra RSW Shiraz 2002
Fox Creek Reserve 2002

The 1904 Para Liquer Port was in a different league again, but not really a "wine"

Hello Attila,

I spent nearly 4 hours at Wine Australia.

The 3 wines that absolutely blew me away were:
1) 2001 CASTAGNA "Genesis" Syrah – Perfumed. Great dark depth and complexity without even hinting towards prune or overripeness – amazing power and depth. The tannins were spectacular – big, prominent yet so integrated within the wine. Long. Easily Outstanding and probably better. The 2002 has the potential to be as good but it is not there yet.
2) 2002 YARRA YARRA "The Yarra Yarra" Cabernet Sauvignon – I look forward to serving this wine blind and seeing how many believe this to be Bordeaux. Once again, a wine’s structure has captivated me. Powerful Cabernet fruit is totally restrained by abundant fine tannins that somehow create a velvety texture over the palate. Long and no holes. Power and balance to age easily for over a decade. I look forward to getting bottle and exploring this wine further.
3) 2003 CASTAGNA “Ingénue” Viognier – I don’t like this variety but what Julian Castagna has achieved with this wine is mind-blowing. I believe this to be due to both winemaking and great fruit. This wine displays all the great flavours of Viognier but restrains the variety’s inherent weaknesses, oiliness and flabbiness, by outstanding oak handling and the remarkably strong and integrated natural acid of the grapes. A most pleasant nut and oak almond streak takes the smooth Viognier flavours for a very long time. Outstanding in every way.


Other Outstanding wines worth mentioning:
* 2003 DEVIL’S LAIR Chardonnay – won my 5 minute WA Chardonnay taste off including 2003 Moss Wood and 2003 Cape Mentelle.
* 2001 MOSS WOOD Cabernet Sauvignon – It is no surprise that I found this worth mentioning. Obviously Australian, the wines fully integrated long, fine and powerful tannin structure separate this wine from the majority. However, I am still not convinced that this is the great aging wine that wine critics are heralding and for my $85, I will continue to look elsewhere – like (1) and (2) above. I also want greater power. (I realise that some people will think that I am crazy but I write what I think)
* 2004 MOSS WOOD Semillon – Ripe yet so racy. Wow!
* 1994 SEPPELT Show Reserve Sparkling Shiraz – finally living up to its reputation. There is a lovely meaty complexity to the deep fruit of this wine. I hope that does not turn this wine into the disasters that are 1991 and 1993.
* 1998 RESCHKE “Empyrean” Cabernet Sauvignon – Worth the $100… probably!
* 2001 WOODLANDS “Reserve” Cabernet Sauvignon – Powerful and coming together very well. Needs more time than and just outpoints the Moss Wood in my books. More cedar and cigar in style than the Moss Wood.
* 1997 YARRA YARRA Semillon / Sauvignon Blanc – answered my criticism to the over-oaking of their current release in the best possible way.
* The SEPPELT fortifies. Enough said about these. I can only agree.

Best Value for Money Wine: 2002 McKellar Ridge Shiraz (ACT Region) – This wine has a $14 price tag but drinks like an excellent $40 wine. Superb fruit that ends with the most delightful ripe black pepper.

I wish I had more time. I would have loved to have spent 2 days.

Kind regards,
Adair

I did spend three days there and it was bloody hard work. The biggest poroblem bescides typing up 120+ tasting notes will be working out what not to buy, there was so much good stuff.

From my perspective, and remeber I have tried a lot of wines that were there previously I will break the list into two. There are the top wines and the bloody good wines that represent great value for money. In no particular order.....

Top wines
Renschke 98 Empyren
Balnaves 2001 The Talley
Castagana 02 Genesis
Torbreck 02 Run Rig
Torbreck 03 The Decendants
Yarra Yarra 02 The Yarra
O'Leary Walker 02 Reserve
Houghton 00 Gladstone Shiraz - I was more impressed with it than previously.
Moss Wood 01 Cabernet

The quality/value bracket - based on street price not RRP.
Wirra Wirra 02 RSW
Zema 01 Family Selection Cabernet
Balnaves 01 Cabernet
Picardy 01 Merlot Blend
Katnook 01 Cabernet
Hollicks 02 Cabernet
Browns 2002 Edward Malbec

Thank You all so far,
Ric, is there any reason why you didn't mention the 2001 MOSS WOOD Cabernet?
I believe it's a wine many people liked and raved about it previously?
Do you prefer the 2001 KATNOOK over it?
Cheers,
Attila

Attila wrote:Ric, is there any reason why you didn't mention the 2001 MOSS WOOD Cabernet?
I believe it's a wine many people liked and raved about it previously?
Do you prefer the 2001 KATNOOK over it?
Cheers,
Attila

Hi Attila,

I did mention it - the list has been amended.

The reason I missed it was that I was mainly working from a list that I had isolated as wanting to think about buying and the Moss Wood is in my cellar already.

The Katnook was not in the same class but as it can be found for $30 its terrific value and the best since 96 IMO.

Ric

The O'Leary Walker Reserve, was it the wine they are calling "The Clair" (not spelt the same as Clare Valley)? About $80+?

I have been trying to get a taste of this wine for some time. Hope it is in your notes.

Graham

Hi Graham,

Thats the one. I tasted the wine but did not make a TN as I tried it in barrel last May. The TN can be found here.
http://tinyurl.com/4vf8s

It is now pretty closed down/tight but I am gald I bought it. They have already sold over half (it has only been available for less than a couple of months) and that was prior to the show.

TORB wrote:Moss Wood 01 Cabernet
Wirra Wirra 02 RSW
Castagana 02 Genesis
Torbreck 02 Run Rig
Yarra Yarra 02 The Yarra
Picardy 01 Merlot Blend

Bloody hell...what is the world coming to when agree on so many wines (and I have Picardy and Yarra Yarra specifically in mind)

GW

GrahamB wrote:Ric

The O'Leary Walker Reserve, was it the wine they are calling "The Clair" (not spelt the same as Clare Valley)? About $80+?

I have been trying to get a taste of this wine for some time. Hope it is in your notes.

Graham

Graham

Can't help you with a taste, but your quality etailer has small stocks on the way in.

its Claire, not the region, but the woman's name.

I tried the O'leary Walker Reserve from barrel in May and it was a blinder.

I've patiently waited to get my hands on some so glad to see it's actually available.

Despite the price it's worth every cent, one of the most impressive wines I've had this year.