The Auswine Forum

Appreciate opinions on some 1998s I'm eyeing off at a good price from a friend who's culling their cellar.

Taylors St.Andrews Shiraz
Shottesbrooke Eliza Shiraz
d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz
Dalwhinnie Shiraz
Murdock Cabernet
Kilikanoon Oracle
Warrenmang Shiraz
Balnaves Cabernet
Annie's Lane Shiraz
Saltram No.1 Shiraz
E&E Black Pepper Shiraz
Bowen Ampelon Shiraz (Black Label)

Thanks for any opinions you can provide

There all rubbish.

Whats your friends contact details?

Grand Cru wrote:Appreciate opinions on some 1998s I'm eyeing off at a good price from a friend who's culling their cellar.

Taylors St.Andrews Shiraz
Shottesbrooke Eliza Shiraz - avoid, it peaked early
d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz - going strong, no hurry
Dalwhinnie Shiraz - peak drinking about now
Murdock Cabernet
Kilikanoon Oracle - may be getting tired
Warrenmang Shiraz - OK in a rustic way, prob downhill from here
Balnaves Cabernet - nearing peak, will hold
Annie's Lane Shiraz
Saltram No.1 Shiraz - Good
E&E Black Pepper Shiraz - Good if you like the style
Bowen Ampelon Shiraz (Black Label) - overripe crap

Thanks for any opinions you can provide

My brief opinions on the ones I know are appended above. The Dalwhinnie, Balnaves, Saltram #1 and E&E are still in my cellar, had some Eliza and Warrenmang but all gone now.

Red Bigot wrote:Bowen Ampelon Shiraz (Black Label) - overripe crap

I'm just waiting for Steve's heated reply to this one...
... should be any second now.


I've had the 1998 Murdock Cabernet a couple of times and been pretty impressed, the last bottle about two years ago.

Is the Annie's Lane the standard Shiraz or Coppertrail? If the cellar conditions are good either should be pretty smart.

The 1998 Taylors St Andrews could be pretty good too, albeit in an big oaky style for a Clare Shiraz.

Cheers,
Ian

n4sir wrote:

Red Bigot wrote:Bowen Ampelon Shiraz (Black Label) - overripe crap

I'm just waiting for Steve's heated reply to this one...
... should be any second now.

Yeah, I think it's a caricature of Coonawarra cabernet, alcoholic Ribena. Steve if you bring one over in August, don't open it anywhere near Ric or I or if you do, wear black or dark red clothing.

PS, It's Coppertrail, Coppermine Rd is the d'Arenberg

Red Bigot wrote:PS, It's Coppertrail, Coppermine Rd is the d'Arenberg

Corrected - thanks Brian. That's what happens when I'm typing as I'm just about to leave work.

Taylors St.Andrews Shiraz - good wine if you like oak, I like it
Shottesbrooke Eliza Shiraz - fading fast, avoid
d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz - very good
Dalwhinnie Shiraz -
Murdock Cabernet - the best bottles are pearlers but alot of them are corky
Kilikanoon Oracle - not as good as the 1999 version
Warrenmang Shiraz -
Balnaves Cabernet - good
Annie's Lane Shiraz - I assume thgis is Coppertrail, good last time tried two years ago
Saltram No.1 Shiraz - very good
E&E Black Pepper Shiraz - good
Bowen Ampelon Shiraz (Black Label) - excellent! I love it


Brian, noted about Ampelon. None coming your way in August!

Grand Cru wrote:Shottesbrooke Eliza Shiraz

Dead, by my reckoning.

Lincoln wrote:

Grand Cru wrote:Shottesbrooke Eliza Shiraz

Dead, by my reckoning.

I agree unfortunately (still three in the cellar) and here's a note Brian did in 05

M.

RB 10/05
This wine was stunning at release and until about 2 years ago seemed to be developing nicely, then it took a fairly sudden turn downhill. I kept one to see if it was just "in a lull' and might emerge again, but sadly no. Colour is still a reasonable red with slight bricking at the edge, lighter than it was as there is a fair amount of fine crust on the bottle.
Aromas of dusty oak and earth, no real sign of primary or secondary fruit on the nose, not attractive.
Palate features hard oak flavours and tannins, a brief glimpse of what could be shiraz fruit, quickly fading and replaced by a hard slightly bitter finish (not metallic, no overt signs of brett either). It's as iff all the good stuff dropped out in the crust leaving a hard shell.
Certainly one 98 that showed promise but did not fulfill it, I should have trusted the JO drinking window of 2000-2003. At least I had 6 good bottles of the 9 I bought.

n4sir wrote:The 1998 Taylors St Andrews could be pretty good too, albeit in an big oaky style for a Clare Shiraz.

If you like GREEN as ghandi styles of wine, I will agree on the over the top oak on this wine

Moreover all of the St Andrews range is a pile of crap and not even worth considering

steeley wrote:Moreover all of the St Andrews range is a pile of crap and not even worth considering

I disagree with this bit steely - the 1999 Cabernet Sauvignon is a stunner, and somehow soaked up all the oak and managed to keep the 15% alcohol under wraps, pretty amazing considering how sensitive I am to that sort of heat in a Cabernet. It will be interesting to see where it sits with 10 years of bottle age, but I suspect this one will continue to break the rules and remain surprisingly intact. I haven't tried it, but I'm guessing the 2001 Cabernet didn't take out the best Cabernet trophy at the London International Wine Challenge by pure fluke either.

For the white lovers the 1998 Riesling is excellent too - pity it's not under screwcap. I admit I haven't been as impressed by the Shiraz and they're very pricey at CD/retail, but the auction prices bring them back to earth where they're good value.

Cheers,
Ian

MartinE wrote:

Lincoln wrote:

Grand Cru wrote:Shottesbrooke Eliza Shiraz

Dead, by my reckoning.

I agree unfortunately (still three in the cellar) and here's a note Brian did in 05

M.

RB 10/05
This wine was stunning at release and until about 2 years ago seemed to be developing nicely, then it took a fairly sudden turn downhill. I kept one to see if it was just "in a lull' and might emerge again, but sadly no. Colour is still a reasonable red with slight bricking at the edge, lighter than it was as there is a fair amount of fine crust on the bottle.
Aromas of dusty oak and earth, no real sign of primary or secondary fruit on the nose, not attractive.
Palate features hard oak flavours and tannins, a brief glimpse of what could be shiraz fruit, quickly fading and replaced by a hard slightly bitter finish (not metallic, no overt signs of brett either). It's as iff all the good stuff dropped out in the crust leaving a hard shell.
Certainly one 98 that showed promise but did not fulfill it, I should have trusted the JO drinking window of 2000-2003. At least I had 6 good bottles of the 9 I bought.

Geez, Martin, that RB database of yours must be getting pretty big with all notes you copy into it! I hope you are backing it up regularly...

Red Bigot wrote:

MartinE wrote:

Lincoln wrote:

Grand Cru wrote:Shottesbrooke Eliza Shiraz

Dead, by my reckoning.

I agree unfortunately (still three in the cellar) and here's a note Brian did in 05

M.

RB 10/05
This wine was stunning at release and until about 2 years ago seemed to be developing nicely, then it took a fairly sudden turn downhill. I kept one to see if it was just "in a lull' and might emerge again, but sadly no. Colour is still a reasonable red with slight bricking at the edge, lighter than it was as there is a fair amount of fine crust on the bottle.
Aromas of dusty oak and earth, no real sign of primary or secondary fruit on the nose, not attractive.
Palate features hard oak flavours and tannins, a brief glimpse of what could be shiraz fruit, quickly fading and replaced by a hard slightly bitter finish (not metallic, no overt signs of brett either). It's as iff all the good stuff dropped out in the crust leaving a hard shell.
Certainly one 98 that showed promise but did not fulfill it, I should have trusted the JO drinking window of 2000-2003. At least I had 6 good bottles of the 9 I bought.

Geez, Martin, that RB database of yours must be getting pretty big with all notes you copy into it! I hope you are backing it up regularly...

Certainly do...I learnt that lesson as you may recall!!

M.

Hi Grand Cru If your friend still has any Bowen Estate Ampelon I would love to purchase a few bottles from him. Could you let me know either way. Appreciated David

DavidL wrote:Hi Grand Cru If your friend still has any Bowen Estate Ampelon I would love to purchase a few bottles from him. Could you let me know either way. Appreciated David

David, I bought the only six he had and have thoroughly enjoyed three so far. I can see how it is a wine that polarises opinion as displayed by the comments posted above and when I've shared a bottle opinions range from "I love it" to "ugghh".

Good luck with finding some, Langtons may be your only hope at this late stage, under $75 inc commission isn't bad for a wine that was $55 on release in 2000.

98 St Andrews is drinking fantastic
98 annies lanes (just had) silky smooth
how is the e and e traveling as i have some 96 and 98 left?

Had the '98 E & E at the winery in July. Still stunning, surprisingly youthful for a '98.