The Auswine Forum

Hi guys, after a long absence from the forum I'm back from a day in the Barossa with some of the Blacktongues. A full day and only three wineries covered but some serious tasting done.

Started at Kalleske where we looked at a heap of 05 barrels, some still going through malo but all had great colour and intensity. This is shaping as a great vintage. The 04 Clarry's red was even better than when I first tried it a few months ago, serious wine at a quaffing price.

Second stop was Glaymond where the 05s barrels ranged across not only the usuals but several Italian varieties. Again the colour and fruit intensity was great, the Zinfandel was especially speccy as was two clones of the Cabernet, maybe the best Barossa Cabs we've ever tried!.

We looked at six 2003s. Don't get sucked into generalising about vintages, these are seriously good wines. Every wine had good points for someone in the group, I particularly liked the Shiraz (The Distance), the Cabernet, and the straight Grenache which was as good as this variety gets. None of these are yet released and may be hard to source but keep a look out, they're excellent wines.

Last stop was the Stonewall Cellar at Rockford where Ian looked after us in his usual generous style despite short notice. The 2002 Basket Press Shiraz, 2002 Rifle Range Cabernet are excellent wines with long futures. The 1998 Vintage Port is a blinder, will I still be on this planet when it hits maturity?

I like the 02 Rod and Spur Shiraz/Cab from Rockfords but this doesnt include Basket pressed.

I loved the 03 Descendant. Rate it {slightly} higher than the 02 so I dont genaralise.

Steve,

I still maintain that 2003 is a vintage where caution is required. There will be some terrific wines but there will also be a higher amount of very ordinary wines than say 2002 in Mc L, Clare and the Barossa.

Many of the wines from 2003 will probaly drink sooner than the 2002, many of the 2003's have harder tannins and I can not think of too many wines where the 03's are better than the 02's. That does not mean the 03's are not good, they are just not as good as the 02's.

At the risk of getting too general about it all, I think a lot of folks might like to hear whether they should be searching out the 2003s or waiting to see if 2004 or 2005 have better overall quality? Why? Well I seriously doubt that everyone out there has the opportunity or the finances to chase down all the wines they would like to taste in each vintage. So unless you have a critic that you firmly believe in or a wine you are addicted to, some folks wait until they hear a lot of solid approval for a vintage.

Mike

Mike,

As a generality, I would say that 02 and 04 will be better than 03 in McL, Barossa and Clare. I certainly will not be buying many from the 03 vintage as I have more than enough wine peaking in the next few years. I need longer ageing wine, but that is just a result of my current cellar stocking level. In reality, I am trying to reduce the size of my cellar and need to flog off about 100-200 bottles.

TORB wrote:Mike,

As a generality, I would say that 02 and 04 will be better than 03 in McL, Barossa and Clare. I certainly will not be buying many from the 03 vintage as I have more than enough wine peaking in the next few years. I need longer ageing wine, but that is just a result of my current cellar stocking level. In reality, I am trying to reduce the size of my cellar and need to flog off about 100-200 bottles.

As another generality...I agree across the board on all these comments and I'll buy your 200 if you buy my 400!!

M.

TORB wrote:Mike,

I am trying to reduce the size of my cellar and need to flog off about 100-200 bottles.

i'll be looking out for these on your trading wine page.


c

Steve

Can you elaborate on how the boys found the 02 Basket Press?

Torb knows his wine he will only get rid of the stuff thats not looking great.

Anonymous wrote:Torb knows his wine he will only get rid of the stuff thats not looking great.

Not true, much of what I will be selling is perfectly good. In many cases I have sold a six pack and still keep 4 or 5. In some cases, the wine may mature with a particular spectrum of blackberry that does not appeal to me.

In some cases I flat out don't like the way the wine matured but at least the price will be right, sometimes less than origional cost.

[quote="707"The 1998 Vintage Port is a blinder, will I still be on this planet when it hits maturity?[/quote]

If you are worried about this young fella, what chance have I got
MM

Muscat Mike wrote:[quote="707"The 1998 Vintage Port is a blinder, will I still be on this planet when it hits maturity?

If you are worried about this young fella, what chance have I got
MM[/quote]

Mike,

I am hopefull, I bought one bottle just in case.

JamieBahrain wrote:Steve

Can you elaborate on how the boys found the 02 Basket Press?

Jamie, found it to be a great Basket Press but as always with this label it needs ten years.

They opened an 88 whilst we were there - lovely!

Mike, just make sure you live to a ripe old age so you catch the 98 VP somewhere near it's paek, no dropping off the perch early ok?