The shelf price of this was £8.99. My bottles say Bin No 17 in fairly small font in the bottom left corner. Would be interested to know if everyone has the same. OK, tasting note:

It's been in the (ISO) glass for maybe ten minutes, so has had some time to open up. It's a pleasant enough, baked fruit aroma, and there's definitely some heat, but it isn't a beautiful smell and I remember the smell as being really noticeable. The taste is good, but it's young and pretty warm. I have just cleansed my mouth with a cherry tomato (after something sweet), but have had three mouthfuls to check. I would say that if you were going to buy some, that you should hold off the drinking for 6 months or so and, actually, if you can bear to wait 2-3 years it will turn into something beautiful.

I only poured an inch, and there's still half an inch in the glass, so I'll do some other work and come back to it in half an hour or so.

_________________
mel

About an hour later. Dark, liquorice and black fruits on the nose. Warm and spicy taste, but too much accent on the warm. I'll leave the other bottles for a while. There's fresh, juicy fruit, perhaps like black cherries, but no complexity.

DO NOT BUY TO DRINK NOW

_________________
mel

Is the correct opinion.

We were last drinking the '06, 4 - 6 months ago. The 2006 vintage was reckonned to more favorable in upscale high end Barossa shiraz wines.

I have a few '06's left - biding their time.

_________________
Duncan

This is on offer again. We are now onto vintage '09. There may be a few 08's left if you're lucky. So a little over 12 months ago most of us (sadly not me) were enjoying the '06 - 4 years after harvest. Now we are onto the '09 vintage - 2 years after harvest

Is it the case that this wine has become too popular? I wonder if this means the winery will have to produce more to meet demand at the expense of quality.

I have picked up some '08 and '09 although I'm reluctant to open them for a while.

_________________
tribs

Mel, have been watching your latest "Bird with Bottle" vids.

Great stuff. Keep 'em coming.

In one you tasted the '09 version of this. Is this more suitable for drinking now than the '08?

_________________
tribs

Dont expect a reply, now that she's starring in Adult videos !

Still waiting for that meer Lust Q. to be dealt with

_________________
Duncan

I am presuming (and hoping) the answer is "Yes".

_________________
tribs

She's doing a video for Buy and drink this week folks. So she can hardly say.

Red suits Mel in the latest Pinot Gris / Grigio vid.

Having said that, I think the Gris / Grigio appreciation society is going to be Bi-Polar Styles of MSB are going down a similar track....

No, forgive my play. I will get some in this Spring, and based on the video, Cas'del'Dia from the Limari valley looks to be a good option.

_________________
Duncan

if you can bear to wait 2-3 years it will turn into something beautiful.

Update for the 2009 Release. If you know my particular angles, you'll know what I mean.......

I've tried the 09 now.

Hmmnn - I'm not sure if the 2009 or even when it could turn into something marvelous. The '09 seemed to me to be too sweet, a boiled and confected and concocted wine. No real clout, insufficent tannin, very little in the way of earthy minerality or iron. Too soft straight out of the bottle at cellar temperature.

If you like Hardy's Crest, then for pity-sake buy this, it is a much better wine, and does open quite well after 30 hours or so.

I'm not going there again, unless somebody says the '09 is great in 2013 - Duh !. Maybe the Barossa '09s were / are a bit jammy. I might look out for an '06 or an '08 but the 2009 seems to me to be a Jo Public cuvee'

1'd say - rather disappointing for Ole world Oz Shiraz fans.

Ole world OZ as opposed to Formula New World OZ, is how they once were, when many of you were still in nappies

Sorry Tribs: I have picked up some '08 and '09 although I'm reluctant to open them for a while I would leave it for a while in the hope that it somehow develops...... ...... The '09 is not up my street.

_________________
Duncan

I have tried this and the TTD St Hallett made shiraz, and believe it or not this is the best of them. The TTD is even sweeter than this one .

It seems to be the trend as it seems every Oz Shiraz I try these days is the same. It is a shame.

I was lucky enough to share a 1998 Clarendon Hills Liandra some months back. Now that is how Oz Shriaz should be made.

_________________
tribs

Hi tribs - U been away on hols ?

I knew 98 was a Biggy at the auctions for best Oz, so I looked it up. Your friend knows his stuff alright - An important wine. Clarendon Hills '98 ........ pretty legendry stuff I'd say. A bit unreasonable to make comparisons with a supermarket jobby

Clarendon Hills Liandra Shiraz 1998
Region: Southern Aus - Clarendon

Robert Parker 91 points!
Jeremy Oliver Rating 91!

A$80.00 = I haven't done the sterling conversion



Select the OZ region for the Reports and Charts

_________________
Duncan

Yeah, I've been away. And busy with various things.



Well, that is very true. But, it certainly was not sweet or confected.

_________________
tribs

A good point, well made.

I was enjoying a jar of London Pride with some Ozzy folks, an ole school friend of my Misses had emigrated, but returned to old Blighty for a fortnight last Summer with her hubby.
He really liked the fresh barrel Pride, we were in a pub just across the river from the Chiswick brewery...... I knew I'd got'im on that. The conversation inevitably turned to Oz cab and shiraz - he teased me, wicked smile like they do, when I mentioned various volume brands here. We don't see the hand crafted, slightly rustic corrugated iron shed stuff here anymore, and if we do - it is exported here as a boutique wine for much stronger money.

Oh well - such is the market demand for the new stuff.

_________________
Duncan

I like London Pride. Its perhaps my favourite of the well established real ale brands. Fullers do a great job with their bottled beers, too, although the cask versions are notch or two above. I can't recall ever being disappointed with one of their bottles unlike many other breweries.

_________________
tribs

A man with discerning taste and good judgement. When, or if you find yourself on the river bank in Chiswick or Putney or local to the wrought iron gates of Fuller Smith & Turner, and you have time to go into a Fullers pub and ask for a jar of Pride from a fresh cask - (mind you, turn over of Pride is fast) when in their domain. You'll find it quite a few notches above the bottle, sometimes it is 'extra ordinary' bitter.

Not too strong - so you can walk back fairly straight with a few jars down the hatch, which is another benefit for geezers like me.

_________________
Duncan