Last Sunday, we assembled at the Jahnke's for our November wine salon. Food was delicious and we tasted through a bunch of Australian wines. As you read my notes, please bear in mind that I have generally abdicated the idea of drinking Aussie wines, so some of the wines served were a real revelation while others were huge disappointments. Interestingly enough, we started off with a Tasmanian Sparkler that was actually pretty good. I don't remember the name, but I digress...on to the formal tasting.
Flight #1: Australian Cabernet Sauvignon (Take 1)
- 1996 James Irvine Merlot Grand Merlot - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
Decent wine, but nothing to write home about. Blackberry, decent acidity, tar, but slightly raisiny and lacking excitement. - 2002 Marquis Philips Cabernet Sauvignon S2 - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
I really didn't like this much. Blackberry jam, creosote, spice and hot finish. I've had worse, but this will never be a wine I'll like. - 2001 Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon - Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
I don't know why, but this wine was very disappointing today. Just very oaky. It's got massive dark fruit and good freshness...the balance is there, but the oak was obtrusive. Not my cup of tea tonight. - 2001 Cullen Wines Diana Madeline - Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
By far my favorite wine in the first Cab flight. Lovely balance, elegance and finesse. Red fruited with great earthiness and freshness. I really liked this, although it seemed very advanced for a 2001.
Flight #2: Australian Cabernet Sauvignon (Take 2)
- 1998 Yarra Yering Dry Red #1 - Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley
This was a very understated wine. Raspberry, cherry, treebark, earth, licorice, and marshmallows. Very soft wine and not even one bit warm or hot on the finish. - 1991 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
Another interesting wine. It had a very odd smell, some thought it was corked, others thought it was funky Coonawarra Cab. I personally didn't find it too distracting one way or another. Medium bodied, yet dark fruit, menthol, vegetables, and some dill pickle (think Silver Oak). All in all, it was drinkable. - 1998 Mount Mary Quintet - Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley
My favorite in the second flight, this was a very light rendition of a Bordeaux blend. Medium to light bodied with cherry, raspberry, earth, mushrooms and leather. A very elegant and finessed wine that really conjures up Burgundy more than it does Bordeaux. To me, the most food friendly wine of the flight. Seemed somewhat advanced in age. - 1997 Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 707 - Australia, South Australia
Big disappointment for me. Shiraz-like in its texture and flavors, this wsa redolent with oak, vanilla, red licorice, and a fruit structure of a modern, common Aussie fruit bomb. Just very underwhelming.
Flight #3: Australian Grenache
- 2002 Torbreck (Cuvée) Juveniles - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Very straightforward wine. Smells like freshly poured cherry juice and shows little extra complexity on the nose. The good news is that it didn't get oaked and that the vibrant fruit was preserved well as a result. I can see myself drinking this, although I would add that if I had a choice of CdP vs this, I would choose CdP everytime. At the current price point though, this is actually a decent wine and QPR. - 2000 Torbreck The Steading - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Stinky wine that seemed marred by Brett in a major way. Although the oak didn't stand out terribly much, I didn't like the lingering flavors anyway in comparison to the Juveniles. Very mellow palate and the fruit was very advanced. Maybe the brett infestation was so severe that it took the fruit out completely. Hard to know what happened, but this bottle was a mess in my opinion. - 1999 Noon Eclipse - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
This wine had some fans around the table, but I wasn't one of them. Huge fruit, tobacco leaf, black and blueberry, and road tar. Not my style. That much is clear. - 2001 Clarendon Hills Grenache Old Vines Romas - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Clarendon
Like the Noon Eclipse, this showed too big and ripe, and the Mourvedre in the blend overpowers the Grenache. I'd never even be able to taste that this is a Grenache based wine. Hollow on the finish and beginning to dry out ever so slightly. If you hold some, I suggest opening and consuming one to check in on your stash.
Flight #4: Australian Shiraz (Take 1)
- 2000 Wild Duck Creek Shiraz Springflat - Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Heathcote
My least favorite wine in this flight. Surprisingly sweet cranberry and blackberry fruit with a grapey, primal twinge that I really disliked. Very weird wine that seems artificial. - 1996 Leasingham Shiraz Classic Clare - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Now we 're talking. I really enjoyed this wine. It had depth, it had layers, it had complexity. And it achieved this without having to resort to black and blueberry flavors. On the contrary, this showed red fruit like cherry and gave you a hit of red licorice. Delicious wine. reminded me a lot of Kay Brothers Hillside Shiraz (which is one of my favorite Shiraz). - 1997 d'Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
Brilliant wine. Started out rough with a very distinctive nail polish remover smell, but that blew off and what was left was one of the most perfumed noses of the night. The palate is all about spicy maraschino cherry, but this vino is completely dry. Long finish, great mid-palate and some real ageing potential. This is as good a Shiraz sa I've had. - 1987 Henschke Shiraz Mt. Edelstone - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
Another brilliant wine. red fruits, mushrooms, earth, and tobacco leaf. Lovely elegance and real restraint. Freshness and poise. Winner.
Flight #5: Australian Shiraz (Take 2)
- 1993 Brokenwood Shiraz Rayner Vineyard - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
My favorite wine of the night. This is a dead ringer for Cote Rotie. It showed bacon fat, pepper, black olive and incredible complexity. And the smells wafting from the glass were a real treat. This is a wine that I would stick in my cellar in a heartbeat. - 1999 Penfolds Grange - Australia, South Australia
Another disappointment. Dark, tannic, plum and blackberry fruit. Pretty oaky, and it may have great potential, but tonight, this wasn't even close to my top wines. - 1994 Peter Lehmann Shiraz Stonewell - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
Some thought this was corked, others didn't. I fell in the camp of those who thought it was DNPIM. - 1996 Greenock Creek Shiraz Seven Acre - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
A bona fide RP 99 pointer and what a dud this was for me. It has the dreaded menthol and dried apricot taste and it's got the texture of vintage port. If you're looking for something to drink with dinner, this isn't it. Maybe with chocolate dessert. It is worth noting that this wine was made from only 9-year old vines.
Thanks to everyone who organized the event and thanks to Bob and Lauren for putting up with us at their abode.
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