The Auswine Forum

err, um, that would be wines of course.

While in Sydney following up our Singapore to Sydney cruise, I stopped in the Australian Wine Center and asked Rob McGregor to select some Australian wines that I could not find or would have a hard time finding in the U.S. Upon his recommendations, I purchased the following:

2002 Schulz Marcus Shiraz
2002 Henschke Tappa Shiraz
2003 Langmeil Freedom Shiraz
2003 Kilikanoon Oracle Shiraz
2003 Teusner Albert Shiraz
2004 Red Edge Shiraz
2003 By Farr Shiraz
2003/2004 Deisen Winter Sun Shiraz
1998 Grant Burge Meshach Shiraz
2002 Battely Durif
2003 Savaterre Pinot Noir
2003 Akarua Pinot Noir
2001 Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon
2000 Parker 1st Growth Cabernet Sauvignon
2001 Magpie Gomerol Grenache
2003 Torbreck Les Ami Grenache
2003 Dalwhinnie Chardonnay
2004 Moss Wood Chardonnay
2003 Cullen Chardonnay
2005 Grosset Polish Hill Reisling

Any notes including cellaring times would be greatly appreciated.

I've tasted about 1/4 of these and will leave the detailed notes to the experts, but I think you can rest assured you have been treated well - there are some truly excellent bottles in that list.

I'll let the experts give their sage adivce, but I'll make a couple of comments. The 98 Meshach was a very tidy drop from recollection and is drinking well now. The Battely Durif will need a LOT of time to settle down, young durifs can be quite an assault on the senses. I would give that one at least 8-10 years before even considering drinking it.

Tom,

A very solid line up of Australia wine (could have done with a few more bottles of cabernet though ), although I am sure some of those you could fine in the US, not sure on prices though. I know the Meshach retails for around US$140 per bottle over there so you probably picked up a good deal on this one!

No idea on the whites, but a few comments/opinions on the reds:

2003 Kilikanoon Oracle Shiraz - lose this one for at least 5 years as it is a monster, but will reward hansomly to those with patience.

2002 Schulz Marcus Shiraz - have a few of these in the cellar and haven't tried them yet. Have my first bottle slated down to drink somewhere between 2008-10.

1998 Grant Burge Meshach Shiraz - Agree with Manning on this, great wine. Probably still a bit oaky now but a few more years cellar time will help in this department. I won't be drinking mine till after 2010.

2003 Torbreck Les Ami Grenache - haven't had the 2003, but the 2002 was seriously good booze. The best Grenache I have tasted IMHO. Definitely a special occassion wine as it is expensive and very hard to find. Be selfish and don't waste this one on friends!

Hope this helps.

Yes, if you run the list through WineSearcher you will find that many are available in the USA, although perhaps not the vintages listed. And it would be quite hard to find a single retailer with this sort of range.

Mike

Tom,

I've seen most of those in New York and California, so if you lkike them, you should be able to find them.

The other thing is to get them freighted from Australia. From memory, due to tax concessions (WET, GST aren't applied), a dozen bottles of wine at about AUD50 each can be sent to the US for basically the same price as you buy them in Oz. I think Gavin could possibly steer you in the right direction.

Mike