Opinions or TNs on These Wines?

Staybaker · Post by **Staybaker** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 11:38 pm

I've noticed the following wines in my local wine supermarket at reasonable prices, and was wondering if anyone has tried them and would be able to offer their opinion?

Wolf Blass Heritage Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
Paul Osicka Heathcote Shiraz 2003
St Hallett's Blackwell Shiraz 2003
Kaesler Stonehorse Shiraz 2003

Thanks and regards, Staybaker.

rwatkins · Post by **rwatkins** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 12:07 am

The Kaesler is quite good. Very full bodied with good finish. $39.00 Canadian here in Canada. Cheers - Rick :lol:

707 · Post by **707** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 7:23 am

What prices are they asking for them at your supermarket?

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 8:35 am

The Wolf Blass Heritage Cabernet 2001 is a nice wine @ $18, not over-oaked, nicely balanced with good berry fruit, not overtly varietal in the Coonawarra / MR mode, but a nice package for drinking now or short-term cellaring.

In a recent blind tasting it just pipped the Chalambar 2003, probably because it's more approachable and integrated right now.

Staybaker · Post by **Staybaker** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 4:01 pm

Thanks for the notes, RB and RW.

707 wrote:What prices are they asking for them at your supermarket?

If I remember correctly (and my memory is not what it used to be

):

Wolf Blass - $18.50
Paul Osicka - $24-ish
Blackwell - $22-ish
Kaesler - $23-ish

Prices are for a dozen or mixed-dozen buy. (By the way, I saw them at a "wine supermarket", referring to a large national wine retailer, not a regular supermarket - just to be clear!)

I also recall seeing a 2003 Saltram Mamre Brook, but not sure now if it was the Shiraz or the Cabernet Sauvignon; either way, anyone tried it yet (price was around $20)?

Thanks again, Staybaker.

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 6:44 pm

Staybaker wrote:I also recall seeing a 2003 Saltram Mamre Brook, but not sure now if it was the Shiraz or the Cabernet Sauvignon; either way, anyone tried it yet (price was around $20)?

Thanks again, Staybaker.

The prices you quoted are good, but the Mamre Brook Shiraz should be closer to $17, it's good, not quite as good as the 2002 which is still around, it was ranked third in the tasting I mentioned above, not too far behind the Chalambar, but that group tends to favour SA/Barossa shiraz. If it's more than the Wolf Blass, go for the Blass or the 2002 MB Shiraz in preference. I haven't tried the 2003 MB Cabernet.