| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.6 pts. and median of 93 pts. in 49 notes) - hiding notes with no text |
| | Tasted by TWSA on 10/12/2022 & rated 90 points: Colonial Estate Emigre 2002 & 2003
Tasted both in the form of magnums. I've always found this to be quite an interesting wine. To be honest I was never a fan of Australian Shiraz, always thought that it's a little too heavy and on the sweet side for my palate. The Emigre I would say is also quite heavy and sweet, nevertheless I do believe that their advertised French influence in wine making made a difference. This Barossa Valley winery started off as a venture of the English wine maker Jonathan Maltus who made his name with Le Dome from St. Emilion. I believe he's no longer in charge of the estate now but certainly 2002 and 2003 I believe were his first 2 vintages. Despite only 1 year apart, the 02 had very strong notes of cinnamon, coffee and some spices, the 03 in comparison was much more fruit forward and more ripe (I believe this has something to do with the exceptionally hot weather in 03). Both wines are at 15.5% ABV (this high alcohol content seems to be a typical Shiraz thing) but I would consider this to be quite elegant for Barossa Valley. I liked both wines and they would make a good casual drink. Should work nicely with bbq meat or some of the heavier food.
Colonial Estate Emigre 2002 - 90 pts Drink now-2026.
Colonial Estate Emigre 2003 - 88 pts Drink now - 2030. (673 views) |
| | Tasted by Mark Dignam on 12/27/2021 & rated 80 points: Folks, I actually liked this wine when it was young. This Magnum had been properly stored, and was in perfect condition - full level, cork was clean, no faults, and great dark red colour. Nose was full of red and black fruit, an in the decanter, the black fruit started to show thru more with air.
The palate was too alcoholic and with a rather dry, tannic and slightly bitter aftertaste. Fruit showed aged Syrah characters typical of the Barossa - dark berries, a touch of licorice and pepper. Yet the wine lacks any sense of balance, freshness or complexity and I think I should have drunk it 10 years ago. The red fruit and spice I recalled from prior bottles had gone, with the wine being simply too high in alcohol (15.5%). Whilst a crust had been thrown, it was still quite tannic and slightly bitter at the end.
This was quite an expensive wine and I was very disappointed it had developed badly. Yet in 2021, I am finding high alcohol wines to be virtually always be underwhelming. (1225 views) |
| | Tasted by BradE on 12/30/2018: Opened by the kids. Riper and jammier than I like. (2446 views) |
| | Tasted by firstgrowth on 12/15/2016 & rated 89 points: Started off as Robitussin & became very nice after an hour or so (3630 views) |
| | Tasted by buckeye76 on 11/23/2014 & rated 94 points: VERY RICH DEEP BERRY FRUIT IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR WITH HINTS OF LICORICE, CHOCOLATE AND SPICE. NICE COMPLEXITY AND A LONG FINISH. IMPRESSIVE (3516 views) |
| | Tasted by Burgundy Al on 10/19/2014 & rated 89 points: Much like another bottle from last year, this has lots of very ripe black fruit with some liqueur hints. Good density, but I think the ripeness isn't quite as exciting vs when it was fresh and more vibrant closer to release. (5289 views) |
| | Tasted by spectrumphoto on 8/30/2014 & rated 85 points: Past its prime.... Still has love but its a bit Pinotage in qualities these days (4601 views) |
| | Tasted by Burgundy Al on 8/30/2013 & rated 90 points: Ripe plum, black cherry aromas with black pepper and anise. Similar fruit on palate, just as ripe, slightly mature and evolved. Good concentration, reasonably balanced, just a bit of heat protruding at the very end. (5426 views) |
| | Tasted by suarezd on 1/1/2013 & rated 85 points: PnP. This is my third bottle in a year and they keep getting sweeter and less complex. I get raisins and rum-cake. For me these have ran their course. (4337 views) |
| | Tasted by libero on 12/1/2012 & rated 93 points: I HAVE BEEN DRINKING THIS WINE EMIGRE 2002 FROM BAROSSA VALLEY, AUSTRALIA FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS. IT IS GETTING BETTER YEAR AFTER YEAR. IT IS DENSE, BALANCED WITH RED BERRIES TASTE WITH TANNIN IN HARMONY. DESERVE A SOLID 93.
IT WORKED WELL AS APERIVITIVE WITH BLUE CHEESE AND WITH GRILLED MEAT FOR DINNER. I WISH TO HAVE MORE THAN TWO BOTTLES REMAINNING.. (4470 views) |
| | Tasted by drinkwine2 on 11/23/2012 & rated 93 points: Enjoyed with duck and stuffing. Still going strong. Double decanted. Thick, concentrated, almost port like, but not as concentrated as a noon. (3174 views) |
| | Tasted by dekay on 9/8/2012 & rated 92 points: Notes of dark stewed figs, sandalwood, tar and spice. Plush mouthfeel - full, smooth, without rough edges - but like a worn easy chair, a bit past its prime, with less fruit and complexity, but still nicely textured and enjoyable. Moderate finish (2816 views) |
| | Tasted by ogres3 on 8/18/2012: Still with lots of fruit. A bit much glycerin for me but seemed to dissipate with decanting. A very good wine. (2393 views) |
| | Tasted by ogres3 on 8/4/2012: Deep rich lush fruit. Drinking well. Seemed to fade after 60-90 minutes. Enjoyable and not an overwhelming Aussie fruit bomb but certainly not old world. (2023 views) |
| | Tasted by Jflawrence on 8/1/2012 & rated 90 points: Again took a long time to open. It never opened as much as the other bottle. I think it may be passing its prime on some bottles. (1964 views) |
| | Tasted by Jflawrence on 7/26/2012 & rated 92 points: This one opened like a scotch. Tons of heat, burning down the throat. Thought this one was skunked. I opened the day after it arrived. I almost tossed it. I could taste a lot of fruit beneath the heat, so I aerated into the decanter. I am glad I did. It became drinkable in 30 minutes. Started to mellow by an hour. About two hours in it tasted of current, smoke, and almonds with an almost buttery finish. It changed little over the next hour. I am going to let my other bottle sit undisturbed for a few months before I try it. (1928 views) |
| | Tasted by fitchbuck on 7/7/2012 & rated 93 points: Big creamy alcoholic wine that's well integrated at this point. Butterscotch, raisin, smoke, glycerin, & spice. It overpowered the short ribs we paired it with - therefore leave this for a rare fatty steak, or perhaps dessert. (2159 views) |
| | Tasted by spectrumphoto on 5/28/2012 & rated 93 points: Still a fun one... (2036 views) |
| | Tasted by libero on 5/12/2012 & rated 92 points: RV 92 (2178 views) |
| | Tasted by arthrovine on 4/9/2012 & rated 93 points: Still a great finishing wine. I opened 3 hours prior to opening and it rocked. Still great the next day. (2504 views) |
| | Tasted by libero on 4/8/2012 & rated 93 points: A SOLID 93. (2295 views) |
| | Tasted by prism on 2/25/2012 & rated 92 points: In a dinner flight of Syrahs and Shirazes, this was the final, bridge-to-dessert wine. Slow-O'ed for an hour or so' Vintuired into a decanter, poured. Good concentrated dark fruit promised on the nose; on the palate, the berry flavors are overladen with saline, roasted plums and figs, and mocha. A good point in the meal for this one; it connected well with the Aussie Muscat that followed. (2481 views) |
| | Tasted by ricko on 9/7/2010 & rated 93 points: 2002 Colonial Emigre Barossa shiraz (RP95/WS92) 15.5%. Cab+G/S/M blend. Powerful smoke/creosote notes. Pretty port-like, but nonetheless a real pleasure to drink. Full-bodied, nice length. Color still great, should last for years, but will balance last? Should likely drink up my couple remaining bottles. RF93. (3535 views) |
| | Tasted by JBVino on 8/25/2010: these type of wines amaze me for the polarity of opinions...I would agree with a couple of the other reviews below as porty, raisny, hot, alchoholic, disjointed...not my style at all. amazing to me the high ratings this wine is given...I am clearly in the minority (3324 views) |
| | Tasted by eastover on 6/26/2010: All three given the the LG Australia Wine Dinner 2010. Good/Very good - though not GREAT. (3498 views) |
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