1983 Grange, 1986 HOG + others
Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2006 1:59 am
A slightly over the top lunch last week and the comments below are in order of my ranking with minimal notes, only from memory. (which faded rapidly)
An 8 course degestation menu ( fantastic modern italian food ) at
il Bacaro in Melb accompanied these wines. Normally no BYO, but with early pleading and an exxy corkage, the following wines were had. And not one bad bottle in the whole showing. Woohooo....
WOTN
1983 Grange
I must say, I don't drink alot of Grange, but this is what I have expected a true classic to be like. A deep, dark black/red color with a little bricking only. Subtle nose of cassis and vanilla and cinamon. Mocha, chocolate and plum flavours flowed as this complex wine continued to develop in the glass. Superb. Easily another 5-8 years to go.
95 pts
1986 HOG
An awesome wine. Far greater fruit influences on the nose and palate. A long aftertaste of ripe blackberries. Excellent. 94 pts
1986 John Riddoch
I have spoken about this wine before and still believe this is one of Australias best long living cabernets. Earthy and wood / cedar flavours. Will live for years and I think is drinking at its peak. 94 pts
1986 Bin 707
Equal to the JR and perhaps even more complex. A tribute as to how this wine has matured and held up. Pure cabernet fruit with less oak or cedar influences than the JR. Many times I recalled myself swooning over this wine and wishing I had brought one more. 94 pts
1990 Cyril Henschke
WOW. All the smells of the forest floor. A beautifully structured wine that has aged perfectly. Still tight and refined with a wonderful oak presence integrated into this wine. Top Stuff 92 pts
1983 St Henri
Not quite in the same league as the wines above and perhaps just getting past its best. Nevertheless, a seamless, lush shiraz that oozed class. An elegant wine but not quite as complex or breathtaking as the others.
90 pts
1994 CH de PEZ Cru Bourgeois Superieur St Estephe
At first, a lot of bottle stink and I nearly thought it was gone. After about 2 hours this wine was stunning. Spicy with white pepper and vanilla sticks. My first bottle of this wine and it was great. 90 pts
1997 RWT
Strong mocha and plum flavours. A little bit tannic and acidic but still a very pleasant wine with an elegant finish. 89 pts
2000 Gaja Barolo
A great wine but after this line up, the fruit bomb youth of this wine was not enjoyable. One its own I think it would score a fair bit higher. It reminded me of the Godolphin power and upfront flavours. 89 pts
This weekend I have slated a 1994 Basket Press Shiraz and the 1990 Cyril was so good that I am having another.
An 8 course degestation menu ( fantastic modern italian food ) at
il Bacaro in Melb accompanied these wines. Normally no BYO, but with early pleading and an exxy corkage, the following wines were had. And not one bad bottle in the whole showing. Woohooo....
WOTN
1983 Grange
I must say, I don't drink alot of Grange, but this is what I have expected a true classic to be like. A deep, dark black/red color with a little bricking only. Subtle nose of cassis and vanilla and cinamon. Mocha, chocolate and plum flavours flowed as this complex wine continued to develop in the glass. Superb. Easily another 5-8 years to go.
95 pts
1986 HOG
An awesome wine. Far greater fruit influences on the nose and palate. A long aftertaste of ripe blackberries. Excellent. 94 pts
1986 John Riddoch
I have spoken about this wine before and still believe this is one of Australias best long living cabernets. Earthy and wood / cedar flavours. Will live for years and I think is drinking at its peak. 94 pts
1986 Bin 707
Equal to the JR and perhaps even more complex. A tribute as to how this wine has matured and held up. Pure cabernet fruit with less oak or cedar influences than the JR. Many times I recalled myself swooning over this wine and wishing I had brought one more. 94 pts
1990 Cyril Henschke
WOW. All the smells of the forest floor. A beautifully structured wine that has aged perfectly. Still tight and refined with a wonderful oak presence integrated into this wine. Top Stuff 92 pts
1983 St Henri
Not quite in the same league as the wines above and perhaps just getting past its best. Nevertheless, a seamless, lush shiraz that oozed class. An elegant wine but not quite as complex or breathtaking as the others.
90 pts
1994 CH de PEZ Cru Bourgeois Superieur St Estephe
At first, a lot of bottle stink and I nearly thought it was gone. After about 2 hours this wine was stunning. Spicy with white pepper and vanilla sticks. My first bottle of this wine and it was great. 90 pts
1997 RWT
Strong mocha and plum flavours. A little bit tannic and acidic but still a very pleasant wine with an elegant finish. 89 pts
2000 Gaja Barolo
A great wine but after this line up, the fruit bomb youth of this wine was not enjoyable. One its own I think it would score a fair bit higher. It reminded me of the Godolphin power and upfront flavours. 89 pts
This weekend I have slated a 1994 Basket Press Shiraz and the 1990 Cyril was so good that I am having another.
