The Auswine Forum

2003 TYRRELLÂ’S Vat 9 Hunter Shiraz

Although I visit the Hunter Valley every year, I havenÂ’t been to TyrrellÂ’s for many years, quite simply because I usually go on a Sunday and they are closed.

Lucky for me, this time I drove the 160 km from Sydney on a Friday and I was given the chance by the 100% Aussie guy and friendly Richard Earnshaw at the cellar door to taste the top TyrrellÂ’s wines, but I wasnÂ’t quite prepared for this awesome Shiraz.

I tasted many Vat 9s in the past (including the great 1979) but none impressed me as much as this new release.

Grapes picked from the 35 years old vines of the Brokenback and 125 old vines off the AshmanÂ’s vineyards grown on red volcanic clay soil. This Shiraz matured solely in French oak, half of them brand new 2700 litre casks. According to Bruce Tyrrell, it is one of the biggest and intense Vat 9 ever made and you better believe it. It is huge. Alcohol is at 13.5% vol.



Wow, wow and wow! What a wine!

Colour very young, looking inky dense purple. Fresh Ribena aromas on the nose with red berry fruit and peppery spice. The palate is really a beautiful surprise. Thick and massively rich fruit up front with almost creamy Shiraz flavours. YouÂ’ve got to taste it to believe it. It is amazingly concentrated and flavourful. A great promise that will fulfil its destiny in the years to come as one of the best and biggest Vat 9Â’s ever made. This wine is huge and powerful with great body and character. Already showing promise with excellent balance and great complexity. An awesome tasting experience, I was blown away.
It is a truly exhilarating, intense and exciting wine. Available at cellar door only, a ridiculous bargain for less than AU $30.
Everyone should try one fresh and young now for the quite amazing experience. I think itÂ’s simply superb.

Just for the record, I tasted the 2001 Vat 9 Shiraz as well on this occasion and I found a very well made, authentic, medium bodied Hunter red that was very decent but for me certainly lacking the magic of the 2003.

Cheers,
Attila

Tasted: January 2005

Attila, I don't bother with Hunter wines normally but your TN is so enthusiastic I'll be tracking down a bottle for a real Blacktongues test against some good South Aussies.

The only Hunter wine to ever wine a Blacktongues tasting in 20 years is the 1998 Rothbury Brokenback Shiraz. I've still got a couple in the cellar so would appreciate if anyone could tell me how they are travelling.

707 - you might need to contact Tyrrells to get a bottle of the 2003 in the next year or so. According the Tyrrells website the current commerical release is the 1999. So 2003 I would expect to be technically in the private bin range largely only available to mailing list. (I am not actually on the Tyrrells mailing list - I just use my father's)

Attila - if you are on the mailing list there is a private tasting room run by Murray Flanagan. Here you would try all the private bins.

David

The only Hunter wine to ever wine a Blacktongues tasting in 20 years is the 1998 Rothbury Brokenback Shiraz. I've still got a couple in the cellar so would appreciate if anyone could tell me how they are travelling.

The last one I had over a year ago (I'll have to check my notes when I get home) was very oaky - wasn't that way on release at all.

I've still got a couple left myself, so I'll have to open another soon (or bring it along the next time we catch up).

Attila, I don't bother with Hunter wines normally but your TN is so enthusiastic I'll be tracking down a bottle for a real Blacktongues test against some good South Aussies.

Tyrrell's Vat 9 always been one of those wines I have thought about trying, but somehow never got around to it. Like Steve, I found Attila's TN real motivation to rectifying this - very encouraging indeed.

Cheers
Ian

Hello,

I must mention that since tasting this wine at the cellar door and writing this tasting note, I have tasted the 2003 Tyrrell's Vat 9 three additional times from 3 separate bottles. None have displayed the characters that I wrote about so enthusiastically. For this I can't offer you any explanation.

Cheers,
Attila

Attila, I've managed to secure a bottle or two via Tyrell's SA rep who was most helpful. We'll give the bottles a blind test in the next few weeks against some south Aussies, hopefully they will show as well as your CD bottle.

Tyrell's is the one Hunter winery that seems to have a following here in SA.