The Auswine Forum

Hi Good Peoples,

Time for your weekly drinking reports. Hopefully Brian will tell you a bit about some of the wines we consumed last Thursday night, now that he is retired we have to keep him busy.

What have you guys been drinking?

Interesting experience with the 2003 SEPPELT Chalambar Shiraz tasted again yesterday, freshly opened under screwcap. Nice, fresh, fruity and sappy wine that tasted closer to a Victorian Pinot Noir than a Shiraz. Good though.
The AU $27 however is a tad high price to ask I reckon. Much better value was at AU $33 the 2001 ORLANDO St.Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon with rich, ripe and varietal fruit and well judged oak. Prefer it to the 2000 vintage and like it as much as the 1999.Cheers,
Attila

Ric,

I've been so busy since I retired I want to go back to work for a holiday!

The memory of one of the wines from Thursday has disappeared (I'm sure you'll tell me Ric), the rest were:

Rockford Black Shiraz 2000 disgorgement, started drinking this one when it was still a bit cold, it got better as it warmed up, good, but not a stunner at this stage, needs more bottle time.

Killerby Shiraz 1998 opened up very stinky and we didn't think it would blow off, so opened Meta's backup, which is the one I've forgotten, but it was another shiraz. By the time we got to the restaurant the stink had mostly blown off letting some fairly nice fruit appear in a mid-weight package, nice enough with the food, not peaked yet, but the bottle-stink is a worry.

Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz 1994 - classic barossa shiraz drinking very nicely now with a few years ahead of it.

Yalumba Octavius Shiraz 1994 - I thought this one would be a gift in the options game, but the oak treatment this year was more sympathetic to the very nice fruit and it is a nicely balanced package drinking at it's peak now.

Devil's Lair Cabernet/Cab Franc/merlot 1995 - another one that worried at the time of double-decanting, strong tomato/tobacco leaf and peculiar minty overtones detracted. Thankfully most of this had dissipated by the time we got to it and it became a fairly obvious but acceptable Margaret River grean-bean character as part of a softening but still-firm food-friendly wine nearing it's peak.

I think I stuck to the reds with the cheese platter, leaving the Morris CD-only Tokay to those indulging their sweet tooth.

We did it all again last night, with a couple of duds rejected before we got to the good stuff.

Edwards & Chaffey McLarenVale Shiraz 1994 - this one was losing fruit, drying out leaving an acidic shell, quickly gave up on this one.

Koltz McLarenvale Shiraz 2003 - I like the 2002 version of this, but the nose on this one was a worry and Meta's first comment on sipping this one was "metallic!" and then the horse appeared... This one has far more brett than I can tolerate, I just re-tasted it this morning and needed an espresso to get rid of the metallic taste.

Simon Hackett Anthony's Reserve McLarenVale Shiraz 1998 - this was opened with some trepidation too, as the 97 vintage of this had been a bit bretty too, but the 98 was nice and clean, the first of the three wines opened to show any fruit, medium-weight and a nice start but there is a little left this morning as we got to the better wines.

Metala Original Plantings Shiraz 1994 - lovely soft earthy Langhorne Ck shiraz drinking at it's peak now, lovely wine.

Gibsons Old Vine Collection Barossa Shiraz 1999 - picked up some of this for $25+commission from Langtons, it has a USA import back label, so don't know the full story (it sold in Aus for around $70), but it is showing deft and classy oak treatment to match the fruit, nicely balanced, just needs a bit more complexity, hopefully that will develop a little with a few more years in the cellar.

Noon's Reserve Shiraz 1998 - finally we got to some real complexity, nice fleshy LC shiraz in a firm tannin blanket with initial minty overtones merging into the dark fruit, coffee, liquorice and even a little dark chocolate. Still youthfull.

There was a Yalumba Vintage port of some age, but I didn't note the vintage (it was a half-bottle remainder of a full bottle apparently opened last week), quite mature, the colour is turning tawny at the edges, but still in good condition, plus a Chambers Special Muscat (I think this is the Grand level) showing some aged material and viscous mouthfeel, but not enough acid freshness on the finsih to be really great.

There is another session tonight at SukoThai as Meta works through his wines to see what he can leave here and what he should take back to Thailand for drinking soon, I'm glad he doesn't visit every year!

Attila wrote:Interesting experience with the 2003 SEPPELT Chalambar Shiraz tasted again yesterday, freshly opened under screwcap. Nice, fresh, fruity and sappy wine that tasted closer to a Victorian Pinot Noir than a Shiraz. Good though.
Cheers,
Attila

Attila, Victorian Pinots must have improved a lot in recent years then? Or have they given up and are just making them like shiraz now?

Henschke Keyneton Estate 95- Good but drink up.

Chapoutier La Bernadine CNP 2001- Sound and wouldn't pay big bucks in Oz for this wine.

Bannockburn Chardonnay 1999- Mature with lots of malo characteristics. Rich & vgood.

Leasingham Classic Clare 2001- Didn't enjoy this much. Too young and raw. Needs time.

Seppelt Moyston Cabernet Merlot 2003 - Prominent tannins initially but they softened with a bit of time in the glass. Great value at this price point ($20). Will get better after a few years in the cellar. [/b]

Hi all,

Penny's Hill McLaren Vale Shiraz 2002 $28 (have spotted since for $20 by the case) - Big 15% alcohol content. Blood/brick red colour. Nose pretty sharp in the Riedel's even after an hour in the decanter, almost overwhelmed the sultanas and plummy fruit. Bit of mocha, caramel and nutmeg on tasting, light tannin and acidity (although the hummus we had with bickies may have interferred). Long, sweet finish. A lighter textured wine. I liked it a lot and will be getting a case to put down. My wife, Ann, wasn't impressed - reached for the fruitier Fire Block Old Vine 2002 Shiraz which she describes as "a gob full of cherries".

We had a couple of bottles of the Fire Block during the week - great quaffer around $20, down to $15 by the case. Bit rambuctious on opening but improves in the bottle for the next 24-48hrs - ideal for us when just a glass will do during the week.

Pirramimma McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 - Update: Hmmm... a bit dissappointing, volatile acidity (thanks for the words Ric) is a bit intense, significantly more so than the Penny's Hill the day before. Couldn't get near the wine for a good sniff for a good two hours. Fruit very laid back, you have to concentrate - blackberries perhaps, more oaky than some. The fruit seemed to liven up a little with tart flavoured food. Probably not a keeper for us this one. The chief critic has demanded more fruit, so the search continues.

Regards,

Allan

Saturday night, dinner with friends.

Pikes 98 Shiraz A good wine drink over the next 1-2 years.

Clos Clare 99 Shiraz Very dark red in colour and lots of dark rich fruit
flavours should improve over the next 2 years
a very nice wine


Cheers Martin

Tyrells Vat 1 Semillon 98

I know there are many on this forum who think white wine is for putting on your chips but this is a cracker. Still relatively fresh but starting to devlop those toasty honeyed aged hunter semillon characteristics. Really clean on the nose and very complex on the palate. A Great wine that i think will improve further in years to come

St Hugos Cab Sav 2001

When i first opened this i wasn't that impressed but after an hour in the decanter it started to open up. I was getting lots of black fruit with a hint of mocha.. Seemed to hide the 14.5% alcohol with ease. Not sure i'd want to pay the usual $30-35 for this one but it's being knocked out at around $25 at the moment ( Clearing the desks for the 02 i assume ) which is pretty good VFM in my opinion

MartinJohnC wrote:Pikes 98 Shiraz A good wine drink over the next 1-2 years.

Martin, this is a nice wine isn't it? Definitely a 98 that isn't at all falling apart, I'd even give it a year or 2 longer than you indicated. It must be about time I enjoyed another one from my stash.

2002 Seppelt St Peters. Not your standard Vic Shiraz. Enough punch to make it seem as though it has Cabernet blended although this could just be its concentration from the fruit and also shows what a baby it is.This is a good thing. Wolf Blass Black Label 98 taste without the agressive oak and more fruit sweetness. 95 points now and a few more in years to come without doubt.

Bullers Caliope Shiraz 2002
Dark and bright in the glass with abundant fruit on the nose, slightly overwelmed by the alcohol though.Showed a good balance of rich ripe fruit, dusty tannins and suttle oak on the palate The alcohol was not as noticable in the mouth. Good stuff. Went well with BBQ kangaroo fillet Saturday night

Red Bigot wrote:

MartinJohnC wrote:Pikes 98 Shiraz A good wine drink over the next 1-2 years.

Martin, this is a nice wine isn't it? Definitely a 98 that isn't at all falling apart, I'd even give it a year or 2 longer than you indicated. It must be about time I enjoyed another one from my stash.

Piling on: I've had the 01 and 02 in the last 6 months and liked them both. Must pay more attention to this label.

AB

Red Bigot wrote:

MartinJohnC wrote:Pikes 98 Shiraz A good wine drink over the next 1-2 years.

Martin, this is a nice wine isn't it? Definitely a 98 that isn't at all falling apart, I'd even give it a year or 2 longer than you indicated. It must be about time I enjoyed another one from my stash.

have you tried the 98 Pikes Reserve shiraz? I have a couple of bottles and wondering how much longer to leave them. I don't have much experience with aged Clare shiraz.

Handy wrote:have you tried the 98 Pikes Reserve shiraz? I have a couple of bottles and wondering how much longer to leave them. I don't have much experience with aged Clare shiraz.

Sorry, I don't have any of the Reserve and I don't know how it's developing in comparison to the standard shiraz. What is your definition of aged?

1999 Warramate Cabernet Merlot - Yarra Valley - 12.6%: Cool year but obviously excellent work in the vineyard. Very complex. Lots of integrated greenery on harmonious base of blackcurrant. Liked it a lot although I am sure others will describe it as weedy.

2000 Kay's Merlot blended 50/50 with 2002 Kurtz GSM: an 18/20 wine, while the components are both past their best and are 15 and 15.8 point wines respectively on their own. The fruit on the Merlot has subsided leaving too much structure and appears bitter, while the GSM seems to have lost some of its structure and depth and is now too sweet and cloys. A great combination though - Two ordinary $10-$15 wine created an impression $25-$30 wine. This is the second time I have done this, with the same success.

Adair

action2096 wrote:Tyrells Vat 1 Semillon 98

I know there are many on this forum who think white wine is for putting on your chips but this is a cracker. Still relatively fresh but starting to devlop those toasty honeyed aged hunter semillon characteristics. Really clean on the nose and very complex on the palate. A Great wine that i think will improve further in years to come

... but there are many that find that they can be great, especially from Australia's greatest white grape/region combination!

Adair

Red Bigot wrote:

Handy wrote:have you tried the 98 Pikes Reserve shiraz? I have a couple of bottles and wondering how much longer to leave them. I don't have much experience with aged Clare shiraz.

Sorry, I don't have any of the Reserve and I don't know how it's developing in comparison to the standard shiraz. What is your definition of aged?

Oldest shiraz I've had from the Clare was a 95 McCrae Wood shiraz, and that was a couple of years ago. It was purchased straight from the winery and I don't recall it having many aged characters.

Anyway my question was probably too simplistic, I've had shiraz from the 60s that was still in its prime as well as bottles from the late 90s that were already past it. I think I'll pull a bottle of this out and give it a try!

Handy wrote:Oldest shiraz I've had from the Clare was a 95 McCrae Wood shiraz, and that was a couple of years ago. It was purchased straight from the winery and I don't recall it having many aged characters.

Anyway my question was probably too simplistic, I've had shiraz from the 60s that was still in its prime as well as bottles from the late 90s that were already past it. I think I'll pull a bottle of this out and give it a try!

Handy, apart from Wendouree (a polarising style) reds back to 1990 vintage , the oldest Clare red I have is the 94 Sevenhill Shiraz and it's probably peaked by now. After that from Clare it's 96's, I haven't bought McRae Wood Shiraz since the 98 vintage, I don't think it's great value in recent vintages.

I had a bottle of Annies Lane Contour Shiraz 1995 (now Coppertrail) last night, from a Canberra passive cellar and it was fading fast, fruit drying out, hard/acid finish, anyone else tried one of these recently?

Hi Brian,

I have 5 left (from a dozen) and have them listed to drink over the next couple of years. The tannins are firm, but mine have not been drying out --- yet.

Let’s see. Had Sunday afternoon and evening at a friend’s house sampling his home made Chardonnay, Stout, and Mead. All quite drinkable, but nothing to write extensive notes about. I took along a Trevor Jones Virgin Chardonnay 2003 which lived up previous TN - light straw in color, very open with melon and floral notes. Not in the class of the 2002, it is still a very well balanced wine with wonderful freshness and great mouthfeel. (2, 2, 4.0, 10.1 = 18.1/20). Obviously a better wine than the home made chardy, but clearly less fun acquiring. My friend dragged out a bottle of Chateau Rauzan – Segla 1999 that was pretty ordinary. Fortunately it was a gift from a business acquaintance.

Mike

1986 Henschke Mt Edelstone - can't remember having a better Mt Ed - ever. Complex nose and palate with mushrooms, mint, graphite, chocolate and a lovely earthy finish. I have 5 bottles left and will be drinking them over the next 5 years. WOTY so far, narrowly in front of Krug 1990.

1988 Penfolds Bin 707 Cab Sauvignon - despite the age and an hours air, very closed on the nose. Palate was dominated by tannins. A surprisingly youthful wine. Don't really know what to make of this one.

2001 Wolf Blass Platinum Label Shiraz - justifies the hype (but probably not the price in Oz. Over here it is at the same price point as a Rockford BP, Henschke Mt Ed etc). None of the overripe fruit that has been a hallmark of the vintage. This one has a long life in front of it.


Mike

Mike Hawkins wrote:2001 Wolf Blass Platinum Label Shiraz - justifies the hype (but probably not the price in Oz. Over here it is at the same price point as a Rockford BP, Henschke Mt Ed etc). None of the overripe fruit that has been a hallmark of the vintage. This one has a long life in front of it.


Mike

U lucky man. Fruits sourced fr Adelaide Hills for this vintage. My mind went bonkers!!! How the hell can they get so much power and mass fr a cooler climate region?