Dark but not opaque garnet in color, the nose is earthy pine forest; bright, black cherry, laser acidity, strong finish with tannins mostly resolved. Here in California you hear talk of Pinot being made in a Syrah style - ripe, extracted, over the top. This is the counterpoint to that: an Aussie Syrah made almost in a Pinot style, refined, high acidity, more Hermitage-like than Shiraz. Very nice wine, glad to have a couple more - which I'll hold for several more years. Frankly, despite the kudos for the 98 version, I think I like this better. When the monthly discussions start up here about aging Australian Shiraz, this is one of the wines I offer as evidence that they're not all the huge licorice bombs that garner the big scores.
Regards,
Alan
TN: 1999 Tim Adams Aberfeldy Shiraz
Re: TN: 1999 Tim Adams Aberfeldy Shiraz
Alan Rath wrote:Dark but not opaque garnet in color, the nose is earthy pine forest; bright, black cherry, laser acidity, strong finish with tannins mostly resolved. Here in California you hear talk of Pinot being made in a Syrah style - ripe, extracted, over the top. This is the counterpoint to that: an Aussie Syrah made almost in a Pinot style, refined, high acidity, more Hermitage-like than Shiraz. Very nice wine, glad to have a couple more - which I'll hold for several more years. Frankly, despite the kudos for the 98 version, I think I like this better. When the monthly discussions start up here about aging Australian Shiraz, this is one of the wines I offer as evidence that they're not all the huge licorice bombs that garner the big scores.
Regards,
Alan
It's interesting that you found the tannins to be mostly resolved in the 1999. I tried a 2000 Aberfeldy recently, and thought it was still a baby. Lots and lots of chewy, drying tannins. Great wine though. My remaining 5 bottles will have a lie down for the next few years.
Stuart