The Auswine Forum

Hi,
I have two bottles of this wine. I was not aware that Platinum label came in Cabernet, I though it was only Shiraz. I figured it was an advertising error until It arived. I also got two bottles of the Shiraz, 2001. Does any body have any tasting notes or ideas if they are drinkable now or if they should be left in the cellar? I just recall reading something about it being un-aproachable but can't remember if that was actually regarding the '02 Grey Label.
Cheers,
Mick.

Can't help you with any info on the 98 Platinum Cabernet, it was I think also entirely export. As a matter of interest, does it say where the grapes are from?

The 2002 Grey Label Shiraz is certainly very drinkable now and I tried the 2001 Platinum at a show tasting and don't recall making mental notes that it was unapproachable.

Be interesting to see how you find them. BTW, what price for these gems?

Steve,
The 1998 Cabernet is "sourced from a vineyard at light Pass on the Barossa Valley floor that is more than thirty years old and sits on a gentle slope of red loam soil" (according to the label) it's 14% alc and cost $45.00 each. Can get more but now it's $57.95 now.
The 2001 you probably know is from a single vinyard at Oakbank in the Adelaide hills. Interestingly it's not a screw cap it's corked so I assume the export Paltinum was corked not screw capped??? $51.99 I can get more of this quite easily, 99 too usually $55-60
I guess there is nothing stopping me opening them and seeing what all the fuss is about. The '98 cabernet has got to be pretty hard to replace though.
Note this is US dollars but still a good buy IMO.
Can get the Black Label for as low as 44.00 only the '99 available, I just thought the Platinum would be superior?
The labels are identical on front except one says 'Barossa Cab Sav 1998'
One more question 'In vino veritas' any idea what that means?
I tried a 1996 Wolf Blass grey label last year and it blew everything else we tried away, including a John Riddoch (Wynns) and a Peter Lehmann eight songs. Everyone at the table agreed the wolf blass stood out so ever since then I've dreamt of getting hold of a platinum label and when I got to the U.S I saw it for $40-$60 and said, give me two of each!

Cheers
Mick.

'In vino veritas' literally means "In wine, the truth" but figuratively means wine loosens the tongue or that you're more likely to speak the truth while drunk, which is not always a good thing.

Mick, Light Pass is in the North east of the Barossa Valley and not noted as a Cabernet area so I'll be interested to see how you find the 1998 Platinum Cabernet. Platinum costs us the equivilent of US$110 !

Because the US market is not keen on screwcaps, the majority of wineries put their US production under tree bark still.

'In vino veritas' as previously mentioned means In wine truth, never truer words were spoken, inibreated people usually tell the truth!

A 1996 Wolf Blass grey label beating a John Riddoch and Peter Lehmann eight songs is a surprise. Most Blass wines are fairly heavy on the oak, particularly as far back as 1996 so if the tasters love overt oak they might well have voted for it.

Platinums are very good, I always make them an early priority at wine show tastings before they all get drunk. Just wish I could afford them. The only wines I currently buy in their price range are Torbreck RunRig, Greenock Creek Roennfeldts and Kaesler Old Bastard, wines I think have more "personality" than the Platinum. In the US it seems that the Platinum is well below those three in price so buy up!

Mick,

I was fortunate to be invited to the Platinum '98 launching in Kuala Lumpur back in April of 2002. My tasting notes along with the wine notes that were handed out below:

“This year for the first time there will be two other wines released alongside the Black Label, also from the 1998 vintage. The two brand new Wolf Blass Platinum Label wines are individual vineyard wines that showcase the very finest individual parcels of fruit the winemakers select from great vineyards and vintages. Wolf Blass Chief Winemaker Chris Hatcher, who has been the prime force behind these wines, refers to them as the ‘ultimate winemakers wines’.”

So, what does it takes for a wine to make it to the Platinum Label?
“These wines will always represent a very particular place, an individual parcel of fruit the winemakers believe to be of extraordinary quality and a true reflection of a vineyard and a vintage. The first two Platinum Label wines come from the much-heralded 1998 vintage and both wines have as their source wonderful old vineyards in the Barossa.”

1998 Wolf Blass Platinum Label Barossa Shiraz – Winemaker Caroline Dunn
Now I can tell that this is a real brute by just one look. The colour was simply a really no-see-through dark deep purple. It has beautiful berries on the nose and with good soft round tannin and a medium length. Gosh, how many great wines can one have in an evening! This is certainly one to be cellared and definitely a heavy hitter. A gloriously beautiful wine and I certainly wonÂ’t mind a case in my cellar. Unfortunately I am told that there were only 500 cases produced Â… thatÂ’s 6000 bottles only! Arrgghh..why must great things come in small amount? Grab it if you can. Interestingly, the Platinum Label is cheaper than the Black Label. The price? It was listed in the pamphlet for US$64 but I am sure you would probably get is slightly cheaper than the list price with the retailers, that is if you can find that wine on the shelf!

“The first vintage of the Wolf Blass Platinum Label Shiraz was sourced from a 50-year old vineyard in the Eden Valley, at the east of the Barossa Valley. The 1998 vintage produced magnificent fruit due to a near perfect growing season and warm, dry conditions throughout ripening. After fermentation the wine was matured exclusively in new French oak for 18 months before bottling. This wine will cellar well for 8 – 10 years. It was winner of the 2000 Great Australian Shiraz Challenge and has won six gold medals at wine shows across Australia.”

1998 Wolf Blass Platinum Label Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon – Winemaker Caroline Dunn
This wine came across deeply purpled with good viscosity that leaves high legs in the wine glass. It has a caramel and floral nose with round puckering tannin, oak, hints of chocolate on the palate and a good length. Another really truly great wine but needs a lot of patience. This one goes for US$64 as well.

“The first vintage of the Wolf Blass Platinum Label Cabernet Sauvignon was sourced from an old Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard at Light Pass at the very centre of the Barossa Valley floor. 1998 was considered a classic vintage throughout Barossa region. Conditions were near perfect during the growing season, there was no rain at harvest and the resulting wines have impeccable concentration and varietal definition. After fermentation the wine was matured in new French oak barrels for 18 months before being bottled and further matured in our cellars. It has won four gold medals in wine shows across Australia. The wine will reward further cellaring for 8 – 10 years.”

Cheers,
Henn

I've drank 2 Wolf Blass Grey 96 this year. The first one I got cheap from auction to see if I should open my only bottle in my cellar which I have had from release. This wine had been exposed to heat or something as it was'nt corked but was undrinkable. Then I got in a mild panic and thought its time to crack mine, particually with the modest cellaring period given by the winery. This wine was bloody lovely and could mix it with the 96 389 (from my cellar) on the same night. I only wish the current Greys could compare to current 389's as well as this did against a great 389 in the 96.

I really wish blass would do a Shiraz/Cab blend again in Grey.

Trent

Trent,
I pick up you are a fan of the 389? I can get it at a good price, is the '02 or the '01 the better pick? they are the same price. I know the '02 was supposedly an orsome year but I also hear the '01 is great for the ceallar? I was thinking of grabbing a case for the longer term cellar?
Any advice on the 389 would be appreciated.
Mick,

The 02 is the far better wine. There are tasting notes on both on Torbwine.

Mick, I agree with TORB, the 2002 is the way to go, best of the Penfolds Bin range in that vintage IMO, the rest didn't excite me much.