Wolf Blass masterclass with Chris Hatcher

Wolf Blass masterclass with Chris Hatcher. This was an excellent masterclass with both flagship wines - Black Label and Platinum label. These are really well made wines that can be enjoy now but also with good structured and balance for the long haul. I slightly fond to the Platinum label as it is more rounded and refine compared to the more masculine Black label that offer tons of power (less the 1993).

• 2009 Wolf Blass Grey Label Cabernet Shiraz 89 Points

  Australia, South Australia

  Alcohol :: 14.5%
  Shiraz (80%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%). 18 months in new and seasoned French (50%) & American (50%) Oak.
  Medium purplish red. Intense and rounded aromas of mint, nut, sweet dark fruits, savory spices and toasted oak. Very spicy throughout the entry to finish with suave mouthfeel and dark chocolate aftertaste. Concentrated, lots of sweet ripe fruits but with freshness: sweet dark plum and blueberry, star anise and vanilla. The tannin is ripe and chewy, almost fully resolved suggested that this wine could be drunk now or aged for another 3-5yrs. Long finish. Very good.

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• 1993 Wolf Blass Black Label 91 Points

  Australia, South Australia

  Alcohol: 12.8%
  52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Shiraz.
  Medium garnet core with light brick rim. This is so different from the rest, 12.8% alcohol. While not as powerful as the newer vintage, this actually offer better sense of elegance as well as nuances. Very soft and perfume, but with good focus that display complex aromas of soft pepper, spices, mint and leather intermixed with coffee, savory plum and blackcurrant. Light and fresh, full of secondary nuances and inner perfume of savory meatiness, sweet plum lingered in the mouth and leads to the very long, detail finish with light autumn leaves aftertaste. Not necessary the best scale of all today, but the delicate and subtle profile in this wine is rarely found from the newer vintages....

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• 2003 Wolf Blass Black Label 92 Points

  Australia, South Australia

  Alcohol :: 15%
  Cabernet Sauvignon (50%), Shiraz (44%) & Malbec (6%). 24 months in French and American oak barrels (70% new)
  Opaque dark purplish. This is much tighter than the 1993 but the inner core is sweet and fresh. Very soft spiciness, eucalyptus and sweet dark fruits. This will need many years to come around. Wow, what a dense, opulent palate with high concentration of sweet plum and blueberry fruits, almost palate staining. The tannin is silky and firm, with firm acidic backbone for the balance. Long finish with good Grip that lingered with bitter sweet cocoa and spices. I really like the purity and harmony here. This will have no problem to age for another decade. 92-93+

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• 2007 Wolf Blass Black Label 90 Points

  Australia, South Australia

  Alcohol :: 15%
  Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Shiraz (22%), Malbec (8%). Matured for 22 months in 90% French oak and 10% American oak barrels, 85% new and 15% seasoned.
  Dark in color with purple hue. This is more expressive than the 2003, with intense core of sweet dark fruits accompany by spices, savoury plum, smoke meat and earth. Rounded, sweet, a bit heavy. Mouth coating tannin and structured but with good substance and fruits concentration to balance it off. While delicious now, the core is tight and will need time to unfurl for the maximum drinking pleasure. Long spicy finish, dark chocolate a touch of alcohol heat which taken away the purity and balance. Hope this is just too young and the alcohol heat will get control with aged. 90-91?

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• 1998 Wolf Blass Shiraz Platinum Label 93 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa

  Alcohol :: 13.5%
  New and seasoned French oak of varying toast levels for approx 18 - 24 months.
  Dark ruby with brown rim. 1st vintage of this label. Expressive, high tone and broad on the nose: pepper, eucalyptus, blueberry, subtle sweet and savory dark fruits as well as hint of spring flower at the background for the touch of elegance. Opulent, almost voluptuous, with succulent sweet blackcurrant and blueberry fruits all wrapped in creamy texture that bring out the very good mid palate depth and complexity. Powerful but also subtle at the same time, the sweet juicy finish is highlighted by light spiciness, dark chocolate and fresh acidity. Very fine.

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• 2002 Wolf Blass Shiraz Platinum Label 92 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa

  Alcohol :: 14.5%
  Matured in new and seasoned French oak of varying toast levels for 24 months.
  Coolest vintages in record. Dark purplish. Colder aromas of spicy pepper, mint, blueberry and blackberry note that is high tone and intense, with good freshness in it. Savory, lightly toasted bread with meatiness all intermixed harmoniously with concentrated sweet dark fruits. Opulent but not over the top, silky texture and a little bit softer and gentle than the black label. Structured and power but with a bit more of elegance. Juicy finish, drinking well but will aged well too.

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• 2008 Wolf Blass Shiraz Platinum Label 92 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa

  Alcohol :: 15.5%
  Matured for 22 months in 100% new French oak.
  Vibrant purplish. tight but perfume and fresh that display layer of violet, savory meatiness, eucalyptus essence and mint, all surrounded the really sweet intense core of dark fruits. Fresh and elegance, the 15.5% is not detected with really good mid palate depth and succulent of fruits that leads to the detail, intense, complex long finish along with the firm, palate staining tannin and firm strucured.

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