The Auswine Forum

I'm putting together a Blacktongues current release Super Cabernet tasting in a couple of months, so I'm collecting a few wines at present. Of course there's a strong representation from Coonawarra and there'll be a few from MR as well.

I only know WA wines through occasional bottles and do follow the general vintage ratings for somewhere like Margaret River although I hate vintage generalisations generally.

I notice Langton's Vintage chart has 1999 rated as 8, 2001 rated as 10 and 2002 rated as 9.

I"ve tried them and concur 2001 was a great vintage for wines like Moss Wood and Cullen but how about 2002? Does it really rate higher than 1999? Any opinions on the big gun MRs in 2002.

Thanks in advance

Steve - 2002 was really good for whites over there - though as a very general generalisation, 2002 was good for whites just about all over the country.

2002 wasn't so hot for reds over there - certainly not in the league of 1999. Personally, for reds, I would rate 2002 as a 6 out of ten.

2003: in my book, 7 out of ten for reds in MR.

2004: about 8 or 9.

campbell.

Thanks Campbell, that's what I'd heard about 2002 but the Langton's vintage chart threw me a bit although I don't like numbers for vintages and I'm a little suss about how good they are at doing it too.

Steve,

Excellent MR red vintages: 1991, 1995, 1999, 2001 (and although not tasted 2004 to follow).

1983 & 1987 are much underrated, while Cullen & MW 1985s were brilliant (and of course the classic 1975 MW). THe 1983 is stil drinking superbly now(as is 87). See also the Willespie 1987 - a freakish wine.

1994 has its fans too: the Cape Mentelle and Cullens being particularly fine.

MR has less variation between "excellent" and lower ranks than other areas as it seems a kinder climate than say Coonawarra!

I think 1995 has been underrated by many - and bearing in mind that the good wines (Moss Wood, Cullen, Heytesbury, Cape mentelle are CS based they take over a decade to integrate, really and about 15 years to hit peak and will hold/improve another 5 in good vintages).

Newer winners like Devil's Lair and Voyager have not established the same lengthy track record, and although I really like the Voyager - the Devil's Lair is the better longterm proposition.

fred

95 Moss Wood is awesome. Too early to compare the 01. 2004 promises to be very good with Cabernet not being the stongest variety in 05 at MW.

1995 - Outstanding
1996 - Excellent
1997 - Average
1998 - Average
1999 - Outstanding
2000 - V.Good
2001 - Outstanding
2002 - Average