The Auswine Forum

has anybody sampled this yet? I loved the 2002 - any similarities?

We asked, but it wasn't available for tasting at the winery when we were there late February.

The 2002 seems to be in a bit of a hole currently, based on a tasting about 6 months ago and again at the winery in Feb. I'm hoping the fruit will come back up over the oak, but it's not all that nice a drink right now.

Always thought Brown Brothers was really cheap crappy wine. Is this still true?

immature_grape wrote:Always thought Brown Brothers was really cheap crappy wine. Is this still true?

It never was.

Any maker with a big range of wines will have some that some/many people think are crappy.

I haven't bought much BB wines for quite a long time, but that's just 'cos there are other wines I'm more interested in.

The fact that they have survived and are prospering (they are ranked 9th in sales of branded wines in Aus, 16th largest producer by volume 15th largest exporter etc.). Nobody gets to that position by producing wines that most people consider crappy.

Have either of you gents tasted the 02 Cab - if so what is opinion of the wine

cheers
Seddo

immature_grape wrote:Always thought Brown Brothers was really cheap crappy wine. Is this still true?

I would think the same as you until I visited their cellar door in Milawa and tasted some very good stuff like 2004 Patricia Shiraz, 2005 Tempranillo, 2004 Petit Verdot and 2005 Shiraz Sparkling (last two wines cellar door release).
I do agree with Red Biggot and admit my previous opinion was solely based in prejudice against cheap wines producers.

seddo wrote:Have either of you gents tasted the 02 Cab - if so what is opinion of the wine

cheers
Seddo

I have a vague memory that it was too oaky for the fruit, but that would be a couple of years ago now.

I thought the fruit would survive the oak on the shiraz though, hoping I'm still right, but a little worried right now, but will give it another year or two.

immature_grape wrote:Always thought Brown Brothers was really cheap crappy wine. Is this still true?

A pretty common fallacy, but an easy assumption to make if your only going on what's in your local supermarket.

As a company they are great operators. They know what pays the bills, and to that end you'll find plenty of sweet things...Moscato, Crouchen Riesling, Dolcetto, Cienna, Zibbibo and so on. All well made for what they are.

At Cellar Door you will find the weirds and wonderfuls that they are constantly tinkering with in their Kindergarten winery; Vermentino, Lagrein, Nero D'Avola etc. Ten or fifteen years ago those same weird and wonderfuls would have been Sangiovese, Tempranillo and Nebbiolo...if something is going to catch on, they are generally at the forefront, Moscato being a great case in point.

Over the years they have had some incredible CD only releases...wines like the Dinnings Shiraz, which no doubt now finds it's way into Patricia Shiraz now. People still get misty eyed at the Shiraz Mondeuse Cabernet blend, IMO their best wine. Add in one of the country's top sparkling whites, certainly one of the best dessert wines in the Noble Riesling...you start to get the pictue.

I think they are still finding their way a bit with the Patricia range, but time will judge it well I am sure. Don't get me wrong...I have tried some bloody awful Brown Bros wines, but if you are not making mistakes your not having a go are you?

Could be wrong but it contained a fair bit of Heathcote fruit

Could still be a bit tight and unrevealing.

Chris Shanahan's TN:

Brown Brothers Patricia Shiraz 2004 $54 (cork)
Fruit sources: 33 per cent Brown Brothers’ Heathcote vineyard; 33 per cent Dinning’s Vineyard, King Valley; 34 per cent Glenkara vineyard, Western Victoria.

I suspect a poor cork might’ve let Patricia down, muting the fruit and allowing oak and tannin to take over and dry the wine out. We’ll try another bottle some time.

daz