The Auswine Forum

Bought a bottle of this wine in UK about a year ago (maybe more), yet it still seems to be working it's way towards a release in Australia. Any ideas why we seem to be 1-2 vintages ahead?
ta
Ian

Ian,

I don't think I saw the 2001 Reynell BP here at all, but the 2002 was released about 3 months ago in Oz. Looking at wine-searcher, the 2001 lists in UK, Ireland, US and Canada but not in Oz. There is still a bit of the 2000 on sale here, not too surprising given the low qpr of most of the Hardys/Reynell 'premium' reds from 2000.

RB

I am in Southhampton at the moment and I actually saw some '02 Reynella BP shiraz lying around on special in a supermarket around £11 ($A24) a bottle. At this price, I guess the qpr may not be too bad.

I am in Southhampton at the moment and I actually saw some '02 Reynella BP shiraz lying around on special in a supermarket around £11 ($A26) a bottle. At this price, I guess the qpr may not be too bad. If anyone could provide a tasting note, it would be much appreciated.

Anonymous wrote:I am in Southhampton at the moment and I actually saw some '02 Reynella BP shiraz lying around on special in a supermarket around £11 ($A26) a bottle. At this price, I guess the qpr may not be too bad. If anyone could provide a tasting note, it would be much appreciated.

That's a good price, it's $A40-$42 street price here. I have tried it, but don't have a TN. It was in a bracket of 6 classy 2002 Shiraz, but ranked 5th. The wines in ranked order were Bullers Calliope (you've got to try this if you see it), Kilikanoon Oracle, Yering Station Reserve Shiraz/Viognier, Tin Shed Single Wire, Reynell, Craggy Range Gimblett Gravels.

This result doesn't make it a bad wine, it's just that this bottle of the Reynell BP came across as much more subtle, less tannic and less overtly oaky than many past releases under this label and this tasting group is a sucker for big rich ripe reds in a nicely balanced package, hence they Reynell and the Craggy range came in at the bottom end as the bigger more obvious wines overshadowed them. I'm happy to have 5 left in my cellar, I think it will mature nicely for around 10 years.

It also scored the top Gold in the small-volume commercial dry red class in the 2004 National Wine Show against strong competition.

Ta Folks
I'd based my initial comment on the fact that Oliver & Halliday always seemed to be a couple of vintages behind & wine-searcher in Aus didn't show it.
Thanks for clearing up the mystery
Ian

I think there is 2 different wines here.

The old Reynella Basket press Shiraz was sold in Oz until a few years ago, and is now only sold overseas.

We get here, Reynell Shiraz, which I think is a different blend.

The Reynell we get here is more expensive, and the label runs up the bottle, so you have to turn the bottle sideways to read it.

Brucer wrote:The Reynell we get here is more expensive, and the label runs up the bottle, so you have to turn the bottle sideways to read it.

Hi Bruce,

The 2002 Reynell has gone back to the 'traditional' label style, REYNELL in an arc across the top of the label and 'Basket Pressed' in smaller letters just below.

Cheers
RB

From memory the 2000 Reynell BP Shiraz won the trophy for top shiraz at the Adelaide Wine Show in 2003. It was on allocation and available in tiny quantities in Australia, I think my retailer only got a six pack. The rest must have gone somewhere - maybe it was a small production like the 98 Grange!!! NOT!

For a while there's been two separate labels - Reynell produced for the local market, and Chateau Reynella for overseas export.

Both are entered in the local wines shows, and I think it was the 2000 Chateau Reynella Basket Press Shiraz which took the trophy in 2003.

There's supposed to be a slight difference in the blends of the two labels, with the overseas exports being more elegant in style (and the Cabernet containing a greater percentage of Merlot). Occasionally the odd batch gets returned, and it's sold at the cellar door at about half the price of the Reynell - it's usually a good buy if you can land it at that price.

Cheers
Ian

Quoted by Ian:
There's supposed to be a slight difference in the blends of the two labels, with the overseas exports being more elegant in style (and the Cabernet containing a greater percentage of Merlot). Occasionally the odd batch gets returned, and it's sold at the cellar door at about half the price of the Reynell - it's usually a good buy if you can land it at that price.

Thanks for the clarification Ian, I was just going to ask about that.
Cheers,
Mishy

Both are entered in the local wines shows, and I think it was the 2000 Chateau Reynella Basket Press Shiraz which took the trophy in 2003.

The 2002 Reynell has gone back to the 'traditional' label style, REYNELL in an arc across the top of the label and 'Basket Pressed' in smaller letters just below.

I stand corrected on the trophy winner - it was indeed the 2000 Reynell and not the Chateau Reynella. The first glance at the label had me thinking it was the export, but after seeing it again in Winestate it is the Reynell with the new (near identical) labelling.

Cheers,
Ian