The Auswine Forum

Hi,
I was having an argument with a friend. He said Noon is located in Langhorne Creek and on the bottle it clearly stated McLaren Vale.
Who is right
Thanks all.

The Noon winery/cellar door is located in McLaren Vale as are their Grenache vines. The grapes for the two Reserve wines are sourced from old floodplain vineyards in Langhorne Creek, about 25 miles South East of McLaren Vale.

Steve,

So the Eclipse is their proprietary Red and the reserves were from brought in fruits. Given a choice which Eclipse should I get?

1997 - US$85
1998 - US$125
1999 - US$65
2000 - US$50
2001 - US$65
2002 - US$90
2003 - US$70

Thanks!

Steve,

I had the '03 Noon Reserve Shiraz last night. Fruit on the nose wasn't 'classy' and I don't think was fully integrated yet. Delicious mouthfeel and rich in the mouth though - gorgeous in fact.

Do you know if he sources the fruit for his Cabernet and Shiraz from Langhorne creek every year?

MT, I've only tried the '03 Eclipse, but can certainly vouch for that vintage and have bought the last stocks from the importer in NZ (two bottles). A beautifully rich, complex wine and IMO, a grade above the Reserve Shiraz I tried.

Milwaukee Twin wrote:Steve,

So the Eclipse is their proprietary Red and the reserves were from brought in fruits. Given a choice which Eclipse should I get?

1997 - US$85
1998 - US$125
1999 - US$65
2000 - US$50
2001 - US$65
2002 - US$90
2003 - US$70

Thanks!

MT, they are cunningly (and accurately) priced to match perceived vintage quality, no bargains for Noon on the secondary market. I don't always buy the Eclipse as I'm not a big Grenache / grenache dominant blend fan and which one to buy depends on whether you want to drink it soon or keep for a few years.

Over the past year I've tried 97, 98 and 2002 Reserve Shiraz and 98 reserve cabernet, the 97 is nearing ready to drink, the 98 is drinking superbly and has many years ahead of it yet and the 2002 is a classy baby but way too young to enjoy drinking much of right now.

So, it you are happy to assess a young wine that is just starting it's journey, go for the 2003, if money is no object, go for the 98, otherwise probably the 99.

Milwaukee Twin wrote:2000 - US$50
2001 - US$65
2003 - US$70

Red Bigot wrote:MT, they are cunningly (and accurately) priced to match perceived vintage quality, no bargains for Noon on the secondary market.

Brian,

I was under the impression that unlike the Barossa and Clare, McLaren Vale had a good vintage in 2000, better than '01 and on par with '03. The cheapest price of the three vintages mentioned above would suggest otherwise though...?

Be careful about the term "bought in fruit" which sometimes gives the impression any fruit will do and that vineyard sources change year to year.

Whilst Noons don't own the vineyard in Langhorne Creek, the relationship is very long standing and very close so it's as good as home grown fruit.

Vintage generalisations are dangerous. 2000 was much better in McLaren Vale than in Barossa where it rates as one of the poorest in a decade or more. 2000 was excellent in Coonawarra and quite good in Langhorne Creek.

I love Eclipse and Brian is correct, the pricing is cunningly done to reflect vintage perceptions.

2000 is drinking very well now and worth a look at the cheapest price.

1998 is a classic but I think the 2002 may outdo it in time. The 2002 won the Blacktongues Grenache tasting last year. All the 2002 s can be drunk now but will last long term.

2003 are still disjointed and a bit raw, they need a good lie down.

Skip the 2000. A V.good wine by any standard but a weak Eclipse by NOON's exalted pedigree.
The 2001 makes my jaw dropped .... a lip-smacking wine.
Bought some 2002 fr Wickman, yet to open any but on all accounts it should outperformed the 2001.

I have a couple of 02's but havnt opened any either. Ive only heard good reports here.

Maximus wrote:I was under the impression that unlike the Barossa and Clare, McLaren Vale had a good vintage in 2000, better than '01 and on par with '03. The cheapest price of the three vintages mentioned above would suggest otherwise though...?

Max, more or less what 707 said, I didn't buy many 2000 reds from SA and the larger proportion of those were Coonawarra Cabernet, then McLarenVale/Langhorne Ck, with some Barossa and Clare stalwarts (eg Rockford, Wendouree). WA and Victoria took up the slack, but my 2000 vintage buys were the lowest since the 1995 vintage, even bought more 1997 than 2000.

Can anyone tell me how can I get into Noon's mailing list?
Thanks in advance!

Dear Don,
I don't like your chances. I read in the local Advertiser about 2 months ago that Drew has closed his "waiting list", sitting at 100. No more room on the page apparently for those even to get on this list, let alone the "mailing list".

Speaking of Noon's, I opened a bottle of 2001 Eclipse recently to see how it was going - badly! Cork Taint!!

Sent Drew a fax at night, got a reply by fax early the next morning saying a replacenet was on the way. It arrived two days later and it was the same vintage. Great service!!!

No high tech stuff like e-mail at Noons. The newsletter is sent by mail with hand written notes from Drew, the service however is always excellent and personal.

Their production is small and varies with the crop size each vintage so each customer can only get small amounts of each wine. The mailing list has been closed for about four years after Parker awarded the 98s high scores. They got snowed with people jumping on the mailing list, unfortunately probably alot were speculators judging by how quickly after release Noons appears at Langtons.

So with limited production and no plans to increase, almost no one falling off the mailing list and a hundred waiting I'd say you've got as much chance of winning lotto.

As expected, Drew allocates a certain amount of his wine for export. I periodically have access to some in Christchurch and rather than share the Noon secret with Kiwi folk, I'd be much happier to supply Aussie natives like yourselves. If anyone is desperate for a particular wine - albeit in small quantities - let me know and I can keep you in the loop.

His '03 stock over here has already sold out(bar a couple bottles of the Reserves). Does anyone know what time of year his releases generally are? Can we expect great things from the 2004 vintage in McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek???

Thanks for the replies folks. Not very encouraging
Max, How much does it sell for in NZ?
I've colleagues that commute regulary.

Don,

Prices are subject to fluctuation, but the latest '03 Reserves and Eclipse were around NZ$60. I was lead to believe the prices for the Reserves were a 'special deal'. Could probably obtain at AU$40-50. However, after a quick look through Langtons, the prices (for Eclipse anyway) seem reasonable. I have no idea what the mailing list prices are for Noon wines. Would someone care to enlighten us all?

$25 miserable dollars. Drew Noon should raise the price to enrich himself rather than the flippers on his mailing list.

Anonymous wrote:$25 miserable dollars. Drew Noon should raise the price to enrich himself rather than the flippers on his mailing list.

There are some people who don't do everything in life for money and try and do what they can to help other people without thought of financial reward. I know that may sound starnge, but there are still people like that around and frankly the world is a better plac because of them.

Drew Noon is a rare breed. I'm more than willing to pay $60 for his Eclipse and $100+ for his Reserve Shiraz in the secondary market.

@ $25, I wonder what are his margins given his miniscule production?

Anonymous wrote:$25 miserable dollars. Drew Noon should raise the price to enrich himself rather than the flippers on his mailing list.

Not too certain I like being called a 'flipper'.

Drew quite openly states he loves what he does and is not there for the $'s - Like him I love what he does and am not on his mailing list for the $'s I could get on the secondary market, but quite simply to enjoy his exceptional wines.

I think a flipper is someone who buys up big on an exclusive mailing list and then flips it all into auction for profit.

Kieran

Just a quick question regarding Drew's Eclipse.

According to the back label:

"This is our signature red, based on our old estate-grown bush vines planted in the 1930's and 40's. It is produced in small quantity and made by hand, using traditional methods.

The crop was very small due to drought, reducing Eclipse production by almost 50%. The small berries and tiny yields have produced a full bodied wine with great concentraton and flavour."

Now, as I understand it, Eclipse for '03 was 70% Grenache, 30% Shiraz.

Now, is the Shiraz from vines that are on his estate, or from Langhorne Creek? Reading the back label, one would assume his estate, but I thought Drew only had Grenache vines on his property...

Max, don't get over sentimental. Whether it's single vinyard, estate grown or sourced, Noon never disappoint

Max, don't get over sentimental. Whether it's single vinyard, estate grown or sourced, Noon never disappoint

Have just spoken with Drew an hour ago. To answer my own question, the Shiraz sourced for the Eclipse is currently the same as the fruit used in the Reserve Shiraz, ie. from Langhorne Creek, making the Eclipse a regional blend.

However, Drew has planted Shiraz vines on his McLaren Vale vineyard in anticipation of an estate vineyard Eclipse in 5-10 years time. The fruit produced from these young vines is used in his 'House Red' cleanskin until mature enough for inclusion in the Eclipse.

Apparently '05 is looking like a stellar vintage, quantity and quality wise.

Cheers,

The House Red, when released, is IMO australia's best quaffer.

04 will be very good too

04 will be very good too

As I read this thread I am coincidentally sipping on a 01 Noon Cleanskin Cabernet, Drew's house red of that year...I won't call it varietal but it's a bloody good drink and worth double the $15 I paid.

In reply to the original question (and I'm a bigger fan of grenache blends than RB) I think the 99 and 01 are both excellent Eclipse's and I would go with them at the comparative prices.

As far as the anonymous "flipper" comment goes, I agree with JohnP and RicE... I regard myself as fortunate to be on Drew's mailing list, regard him has as an all round good bloke who gives great service and is loyal to his mailing list and I am less likely to flip his wines for that reason.

MartinE