Brisbane Wine Club - Barossa Shiraz Report
Posted: Mon Apr 03, 2006 12:33 pm
Brisbane Wine Club members met for the second time on Friday night at Isis Brasserie in the Valley. The event was kindly organised by Graham, who chose the venue and Barossa Shiraz theme, and was a great success. My opinion only below.
We were at a private table downstairs, seated next to some (disturbingly warm?) racks of wine. Great atmosphere. Plenty of good glasses and decanters (though I had taken the forum’s advice and decanted the Old Block at home). When we arrived, there were staff hovering everywhere, but my wife noticed that by the end of the night we were being left alone more than was desirable, and the desert did come out quite late. We were still wondering at the end of the evening what had become of peterk.
The first three wines of the night were bubbly ones consumed while waiting for and with the first course of farmed white rabbit minestrone w parmesan oil. The NV Pol Gessner Champagne was fresh and yeasty, though I fear not served cold enough, and it was gone by the time the soup was served. The Seppelts 1994 Show Reserve Sparkling Shiraz went nicely with the food, complexity and dried herbs standing up to the rich bunny flavour. The 1998 Yalumba D Black Sparkling had more up front savoury fruit flavour, and perhaps the structure was firmer, but it lacked the complexity of the Seppelts by comparison.
Into the still Shiraz then, a majority of which were from the 98 and 02 vintages. In the 02 vintage the Saltram No.1 Shiraz was the standout for me. Quite soft and displaying a range of dark and red fruits it was already drinking well. The most muscular of the group it ranked for me ahead of the nevertheless impressive Dutschke ‘Oscar Semmler’ Shiraz, which probably needs a little more time. I fear that for me at least the Turkey Flat Shiraz may have been lost in the ‘decanter confusion’. I am not sure I even tasted it, and certainly have no distinct recollection of the wine.
There was one 99, a Rockford Rod and Spur Shiraz/Cabernet. This wine is huge and still needs some time to come together IMHO. I would love to try this in another 5 years’ time.
In the 98 section there were some problems with the line up. The Grant Burge Meshach was apparently ‘gone’ and hadn’t made it to the table, being replaced at the last minute by a McLaren Vale ring-in, the 98 Fox Creek Reserve. Despite having just arrived from ‘down south’ that day, the Fox Creek held its own against the 98 Saltram No.1. The former had some typical McLaren Vale white pepper and spice, though clearly could have done with a rest after its travels. The Saltram on the other hand, while a very nice wine, lacked any distinctiveness and didn’t really appeal to my palate. The other GB, a 98 Filsell, had been branded as ‘gone’ at the beginning of the night, but when I tried it later, seemed fine with the fruit there hiding behind what might have been a bit of brett.
The other Shirazes of the evening were older. The 97 Rockford Basket Press was delicious, with lovely small berry fruit, nice balance across the palate and great aged characteristics. Absolutely brilliant with the food. The 91 St Hallett Old Block still had both red and dark sweetish fruit at the front and had great structure, being supported by tannins that will still keep the wine going for a while (but why wait!). There was nothing to split these two and they will have to be joint WOTN for me.
A great night. I believe that the next was already being organised at the other end of the table and I heard the words ‘Tapas’, ‘Pinot Noir’ and ‘we should have some white wine next time’ at different stages. Should be interesting to see what comes out of that.
Michael
We were at a private table downstairs, seated next to some (disturbingly warm?) racks of wine. Great atmosphere. Plenty of good glasses and decanters (though I had taken the forum’s advice and decanted the Old Block at home). When we arrived, there were staff hovering everywhere, but my wife noticed that by the end of the night we were being left alone more than was desirable, and the desert did come out quite late. We were still wondering at the end of the evening what had become of peterk.
The first three wines of the night were bubbly ones consumed while waiting for and with the first course of farmed white rabbit minestrone w parmesan oil. The NV Pol Gessner Champagne was fresh and yeasty, though I fear not served cold enough, and it was gone by the time the soup was served. The Seppelts 1994 Show Reserve Sparkling Shiraz went nicely with the food, complexity and dried herbs standing up to the rich bunny flavour. The 1998 Yalumba D Black Sparkling had more up front savoury fruit flavour, and perhaps the structure was firmer, but it lacked the complexity of the Seppelts by comparison.
Into the still Shiraz then, a majority of which were from the 98 and 02 vintages. In the 02 vintage the Saltram No.1 Shiraz was the standout for me. Quite soft and displaying a range of dark and red fruits it was already drinking well. The most muscular of the group it ranked for me ahead of the nevertheless impressive Dutschke ‘Oscar Semmler’ Shiraz, which probably needs a little more time. I fear that for me at least the Turkey Flat Shiraz may have been lost in the ‘decanter confusion’. I am not sure I even tasted it, and certainly have no distinct recollection of the wine.
There was one 99, a Rockford Rod and Spur Shiraz/Cabernet. This wine is huge and still needs some time to come together IMHO. I would love to try this in another 5 years’ time.
In the 98 section there were some problems with the line up. The Grant Burge Meshach was apparently ‘gone’ and hadn’t made it to the table, being replaced at the last minute by a McLaren Vale ring-in, the 98 Fox Creek Reserve. Despite having just arrived from ‘down south’ that day, the Fox Creek held its own against the 98 Saltram No.1. The former had some typical McLaren Vale white pepper and spice, though clearly could have done with a rest after its travels. The Saltram on the other hand, while a very nice wine, lacked any distinctiveness and didn’t really appeal to my palate. The other GB, a 98 Filsell, had been branded as ‘gone’ at the beginning of the night, but when I tried it later, seemed fine with the fruit there hiding behind what might have been a bit of brett.
The other Shirazes of the evening were older. The 97 Rockford Basket Press was delicious, with lovely small berry fruit, nice balance across the palate and great aged characteristics. Absolutely brilliant with the food. The 91 St Hallett Old Block still had both red and dark sweetish fruit at the front and had great structure, being supported by tannins that will still keep the wine going for a while (but why wait!). There was nothing to split these two and they will have to be joint WOTN for me.
A great night. I believe that the next was already being organised at the other end of the table and I heard the words ‘Tapas’, ‘Pinot Noir’ and ‘we should have some white wine next time’ at different stages. Should be interesting to see what comes out of that.
Michael
was a bit strong as they did not come back after that.
