The Auswine Forum

Posted: **Mon May 21, 2007 9:24 pm**

2003 Wendouree Shiraz Malbec - 13.2% - Clare, South Australia

After the 2001 Clonakilla SV yesterday, I did not feel like opening an average wine, so I picked up a bottle of this from my cellar. It was close to the door. I thought it worth a separate tasting note.

Bright purple with dark cherry red rim. Delightful violets, dark berry, blackberry and dust with drying, wheatgrass, cedar oak on the nose of excellent intensity and interest. As hinted on the nose, the palate is very tight with earth and dust but also excellent depth of dark cherries and blackberries providing middle palate weight, presence and enjoyment until the mass of controlling fine, powdery, slightly chalky tannin and perfect acid, old vines tended meticulously, make their presence felt in a way that only a Ã¢â‚¬Å“structuralistÃ¢â‚¬Â (you may substitute with your own adjective

) like myself can enjoy but to their credit carry the wine superbly, with a hint of mint. This is a wonderful wine that really needs to be moved away from the door of my cellar for at least a decade. Nonetheless, I will enjoy this bottle. I love the control. 95+/100 (18.6+/20).

Kind regards,
Adair

Posted: **Mon May 21, 2007 9:34 pm**

Its wines like that from a drought vintage that is widely shunned as mediocre at best, that really shows why the Clare Valley is really the jewel in the crown of Shiraz growing districts in South Australia.

Why would you choose Barossa when you can have Clare at 13.2% with ripe flavours?

Posted: **Mon May 21, 2007 9:43 pm**

Actually, there is a hint of sweet mint, no, more sweet spearmint running through the entire length of the wine. Nothing herbal / green.

Steely, I think this is more a case of unusually sensational vines and an "old, no need for maquillage /sweet oak, no glycerine, low alcohol, "honest"" style of wine that I love. However, you have a point.

Adair

Posted: **Tue May 22, 2007 9:54 am**

Adair

my thanks for the updates.

I have various Wendourees from each vintage back to 2000 (consumed all of my older vintages) and its great to get regular progress reports from you and Atilla and others.

Keep up the good work!

Oh, and how are my 2000's coming along :?:

Posted: **Tue May 22, 2007 11:43 am**

Gavin Trott wrote:Oh, and how are my 2000's coming along

Sorry. Only got on the mailing list from the 2001 vintage. Next time I come down, you can open a bottle and I will let you know!

Adair

Posted: **Tue May 22, 2007 12:05 pm**

I like reading your Wendy notes Adair! Can u review the 99s for me pls as mine are hard to get to and you could save me a lot of time. :twisted:

Posted: **Tue May 22, 2007 12:11 pm**

Baby Chickpea wrote:I like reading your Wendy notes Adair! Can u review the 99s for me pls as mine are hard to get to and you could save me a lot of time.

No issues. Just send me the key to your cellar and I will invest my time in looking and tasting for you.
Adair

Posted: **Tue May 22, 2007 12:59 pm**

Adair wrote:
Gavin Trott wrote:Oh, and how are my 2000's coming along
Sorry. Only got on the mailing list from the 2001 vintage. Next time I come down, you can open a bottle and I will let you know!
Adair

Deal

You can bring something great and

a) burgundy

or

b) Hunter

and its a goer!

Posted: **Tue May 22, 2007 1:00 pm**

Adair wrote:
Baby Chickpea wrote:I like reading your Wendy notes Adair! Can u review the 99s for me pls as mine are hard to get to and you could save me a lot of time.
No issues. Just send me the key to your cellar and I will invest my time in looking and tasting for you.
Adair

Oh and give me a call when you get Danny's cellar key!

I am so there!

Posted: **Wed May 23, 2007 8:05 pm**

i am doing a tasting on Monday Night in Norwood with a range of Wendourees from 1975 to 2002. between 8 and 10 wines (yet to decide which ones) $45pp.
spaces limited (about 5). PM me if you want further details