Vintage Aussie Wine Tasting at WWWB

“The food we were given was no more than eatable, but the patron was not mean about drink; he allowed us two litres of wine a day each, knowing that if a plongeur is not given two litres he will steal three.”

- George Orwell, Down and Out in Paris and London

I knew there was a reason I liked George Orwell and two liters is my kind of ration when it comes to wine- that is why I like Australia.  Australia is the only country that I have visited where they offered us beer after every wine tasting, Coopers was the brew of choice and it is so refreshing to have a beer after drinking a lot of red wine, especially Australian Shiraz.

After this first trip down under I fell in love with Australian wines and have been selling and collecting wines from Australia for over 15 years now.  With the bottom falling out of the market in 2008 we have struggled to sell some of the higher end brands that were developed in the 1990's but that is no problem because I am happy to drink these wines as they are some of the best examples of this variety on the face of the earth. 

Every year we have experienced a similar phenomenon but are still in our beginning stages of our scientific process of tasting through the top wines from the land down under that are reaching their peak years of maturity.  That is why we made this an annual event- there is a lot of research that needs to be done on the subject of vintage Australian Shiraz.  Will they age like the great wines of France, Italy and even California?

Join us as we experience ten 10+ year old Aussie wines and Toni Lampasone will be providing a special menu to accompany the tasting wines.  The fee for this tasting is $125 per person + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com

Vintage Aussie Tasting at Wine Watch
Friday, April 27, 2018
7:30 PM

1999 Penfolds Grange Shiraz South Australia
Price: $438.00    Sale Price: $350.00           Quantity in Stock: 28

(94-96 Points) Only the third Grange to be made from 100% Shiraz , the 1999 Grange is superb. The color is inky purple. The wine shows unformed but gorgeously sweet notes of blackberries intermixed with smoke, licorice, and asphalt. This is a wine of great intensity, sweet tannin, voluptuous texture, and a spectacularly long finish. Patience will be required, as it will not be released until May 1, 2004. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2025.  The Wine Advocate

2000 Jim Barry Shiraz The Armagh Clare Valley
Price: $124.00    Your Price: $109.12          Quantity in Stock: 5

(92 points) The 2000 Shiraz The Armagh, produced from a 34-year old vineyard, is one of the vintage’s better efforts. Offering notes of melted chocolate, licorice, blackberries, and black currants, it is full-bodied and ripe, with low acidity as well as tremendous opulence, palate presence, and purity. Consume it over the next 10-12 years. Wine Spectator Issue: Nov 30, 2001

2000 Wild Duck Creek Shiraz Duck Muck Heathcote
Price: $199.00    Sale Price: $159.00           Quantity in Stock: 3

(95 points) Readers looking for a winery that unleashes a hedonistic style should check out the 2000 Shiraz Duck Muck (200 cases). This is Shiraz at its ripest and headiest (16% alcohol). Lavishly wooded (100% high toast new oak is employed), it boasts an unevolved, sweet, layered, explosively full-bodied personality. This thrilling, hedonistic effort pushes Shiraz to the limit. It falls somewhere between an over-the-top Shiraz and a late-harvest offering. Extremely pure and concentrated, it is the type of wine that does not exist anywhere except South Australia. Drink it over the next 10-15 years. Unique! Wine Advocate #143 Oct 2002

2001 Shiralee Shiraz Old basket Barossa
Price: $45.00    Your Price: $39.60               Quantity in Stock: 7

(91 Points) From a 40-year old vineyard, Shiralee's 2001 Shiraz was aged in both new and old American oak. This classic Barossa Shiraz emphasizes American oak, high levels of glycerin, gorgeous quantities of sweet blackberry and earthy black cherry/currant fruit, an unctuous texture, numerous layers, and abundant succulence. This is an uncomplicated, fat, fleshy, tasty Shiraz to enjoy over the next decade. Wine Advocate #143, Oct 2002

2003 Teusner Shiraz Albert Barossa Valley
Price: $67.00    Sale Price: $55.00                Quantity in Stock: 5

(93 Points) The 2003 Albert, a 100% Shiraz cuvee produced from 45- to 89-year-old vines, is brought up in 100% French barrels. A dense purple color is followed by a sumptuous perfume of blackberries, smoke, and cassis, medium to full-bodied, opulent flavors, low acidity, ripe tannin, and a long, luscious finish. It should drink well for 7-8 years.  Wine Advocate #155, Oct 2004 

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2004 Hazyblur Shiraz Barossa
Price: $86.00    Your Price: $75.68               Quantity in Stock: 2

(89 points) Cut from the same mold as the Baroota, but revealing more complexity is the 2004 Shiraz Barossa (from 28-year old vines). It boasts an inky/purple color in addition to a sweet nose of white chocolate, blackberries, pepper, and toasty oak. With superb fruit, glycerin, opulence, and a chewy, long finish, it should evolve for 10-12 years. Wine Advocate #167 Oct 2006

2004 Marquis Philips Shiraz #9 McLaren Vale
Price: $65.00    Sale Price: $50.00                Quantity in Stock: 6

(92 points) No Shiraz Integrity was made in 2004, so the superb 2004 Shiraz 9 includes the wine that would have been earmarked for that flamboyant cuvee. The rich, full-bodied, opulent Shiraz 9 boasts abundant amounts of concentrated blackberry and cassis fruit intermixed with smoke, camphor, and tar notes. It is a powerful Shiraz (16% alcohol), so those looking for restraint and delicate European-styled reds should steer clear of this monster. It should drink well for at least a decade. Wine Advocate #161 Oct 2005

2004 Massena Epsilon Coalshack Shiraz Barossa
Price: $27.00    Your Price: $23.76               Quantity in Stock: 3

(91 Points) The 2004 Shiraz Epsilon (all from the Greenock Creek area) is a big, layered, textbook Shiraz possessing a dense ruby/purple color as well as loads of creme de cassis, peppery blackberry fruit, and hints of road tar and earth. Although not complex, it is a savory, full-throttle Shiraz to enjoy over the next 4-5 years.  Wine Advocate #161Oct 2005 Reviewer: Robert Parker

2005 Amon Ra Shiraz Barossa
Price: $107.00    Sale Price: $85.00              Quantity in Stock: 3

(92 Points) Smooth, round and spicy, with star anise and soy sauce overtones to the rich cherry and toast flavors, lingering on the generous finish. Has depth and impressive detail. Best from 2008 through 2015. 1,000 cases made. “HSWine Spectator May 31, 2007

2005 Two Hands Shiraz Ares Barossa
Price: $190.00    Sale Price: $150.00           Quantity in Stock: 2

(98 points)  A majestic wine that's tremendously aromatic and dense in texture, but amazingly refined. Delineates its ripe plum, blueberry and currant flavors with precision, shading the fruit with nuances of coffee and dark chocolate, hinting at smoke and licorice as the finish laps at the palate like the shore of a deep lake. Shiraz. Best from 2010 through 2020. (9/2007) Wine Spectator

2001 Hazyblur Late Picked Shiraz Kangaroo Island (375ml)

This is a unique dessert wine that is made on a remote island off the coast of Adelaide.  I visited Kangaroo Island on both of my trips to Australia and its pristine beauty is one of the most isolated and pure parts of the outback.

Menu
Selection of Cheese:  Beemster Gouda, Parmesan Reggiano
Australian Rack of lamb with Jalapeno Mint Jam and Sweet Potato Soufflé
Dark Chocolate covered Berries

The fee for this tasting is $125 per person and there are only 14 spaces available for this event.  for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com.