- 1997 Elderton Shiraz Command - Australia, South Australia, Barossa (10/1/2007)
A sweet and tarry nose, typical for Barossa if a bit toffeed and oaky still. The palate is thick, very dense in texture, rather chocolatey but with a very delectable saltiness and acidity. The very high alcohol (14,5%) is not noticable. Excellent, if you can handle more of a bruiser style than I can. - 1997 Glaetzer Shiraz The Bishop - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (10/1/2007)
A lifted nose which is a bit leafy - this is actually a rather pretty and aged nose if I only could look more past the oak. The palate is fairly light for a Barossa, with good structure from both tannins and acids, but the alcohol (14%) sticks out too much. It doesn't really seem very Barossa-like to me, however. Not bad if you're not as allergic to high alcohol as I am. - 1997 Saltram Shiraz No.1 - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (10/1/2007)
A fairly classic Barossa style with lots of dark fruit, tar, mulberry and bramble. Thick, smooth and for my delicate palate rather overwhelming, but still very Barossa in feel. Very nice if you like that style. - 1997 Rosemount Estate Mountain Blue - Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Mudgee (10/1/2007)
A very minty nose, tarry and lifted. Very spicy and oaky palate but with lots of fruit and a lifted feel from the Cabernet. I wasn't terribly keen - the minty aspect was too dominant. - 1997 Cape Mentelle Cabernet Merlot - Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River (10/1/2007)
The nose is dead and shows only rye bread like aromatics of too old a wine. The palate is still fleshy and sweetly fruity but shows a dried aspect to the fruit. Drinkable, but not sniffable, ergo dead to me. - 1997 Howard Park Cabernet-Merlot - Australia, Western Australia (10/1/2007)
The floral and lifted nose shows maturity. The palate is a bit thick for my tastes, but is still refreshing/lifted, savoury and has good acidity. Pretty nice and for my tastes an optimum time to drink it. - 1997 Xanadu Lagan Estate Reserve - Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River (10/1/2007)
A sweet nose of chocolate-like oak, menthol, lots of red berries and jalopeño. A lighter, charming palate which is very savoury and Bordeaux-blend like. I like the savoury palate, but the oak + jalopeño combination on the nose I find rather off-putting. - 1997 Penley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra (10/1/2007)
Apparently this is now called the CS Reserve. This was perhaps my favourite of the tasting: savoury nose of true Bx-blend character but in a more overtly fruity way than in Bordeaux. The palate is sweet yet savoury and shows a lovely acidity. If there is anything wrong it is that it comes across as a bit brutish and harsh. Not bad at all, but I wouldn't buy it for myself. - 1997 Peter Lehmann The Mentor - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (10/1/2007)
A strange nose of rancid milk, blueberry and chocolate milk. The palate was sweet and nicely tannic but too oaky. Not to my taste.
We finished with a couple Rieslings to refresh the palate after such monsters:
- 2005 Georg Breuer Rauenthaler Nonnenberg Riesling QBA (Monopol) - Germany, Rheingau (9/27/2007)
Light gold. A nose of white flowers and vanilla. The palate is dry and forceful with good acidity - a bit charmless but very well made. Served blind, I though Austrian. Pretty good. - 2005 Georg Breuer Rüdesheimer Berg Schloßberg Riesling QbA - Germany, Rheingau (9/27/2007)
Light gold. A pretty nose of minerals and pure Riesling fruit and earthyness. The palate is dry, very mineral, with fair acidity, plentiful fruit and a long, mineral aftertaste. Nice!
Posted from CellarTracker
