NobleRottersSydney - South Aust trip (1) Barossa

My first interstate trip with the Rotters - to the heartland of Australian wine. I was battling this semi-cold all weekend and though I had some sense of smell I could have been a lot healthier! Pity.

Hosted by Louisa Rose and Kevin Glastonberry, winemakers on site at the winery, followed by a luxurious lunch.

• 1996 Yalumba

  Australia, South Australia

  Actually the 'D' cuvee sparkling. Yeasty, biscuity nose, slightly coarse bead, quite creamy and full on palate but with pleasant acid yet dry finish.

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• 2000 Pewsey Vale Vineyard Eden Valley Riesling

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

  Fragrant nose of pineapple, musk & citcic acid. Very sharp & acidic on palate but fruit still shows strongly, medium-long finish.

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• 1999 Yalumba Viognier Eden Valley

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

  (wild yeast ferment) A gentle woolly, buttery nose. Creamy glycerol palate, quite thick – seems to be very light on acid, not for aging.

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• 1999 Yalumba Grenache Bush Vine

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa

  Red, crimson hint. Earthy plum stew, not unlike pinot. Coarse tannins, earthy fruit flavours fade quickly to short finish.

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• 1998 Yalumba Cabernet-Shiraz

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Faintly cloudy? Cabernet-dominated nose of blackcurrant & cassis. Fruit predominates on palate, shiraz doesn’t really fill mid-palate hole. Quite soft tannins & shortish finish.

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• 1998 Yalumba Shiraz Barossa

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa

  Deep red, bit dumb on nose apart from a little pepper. Raspberry fruit & acid on palate, no hint of unripeness. Strong grape tannins. Finish a bit short.

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• 1998 Yalumba Cabernet Sauvignon Waninga

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley

  Straight Clare Valley cabernet, this. Deep deep red, dark chocolate nose. Strong capsicum, green bean & mint on palate. Very tannic & austere – winemaker working hard to overcome vintage conditions I suspect.

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• 1998 Yalumba Shiraz Clare Valley Shiraz Waninga

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley

  Clear red, a bit dumb – nebulous white pepper? A power lift on the palate then fades to an even finish – better wine then the cabernet.

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• 1997 Yalumba Cabernet Sauvignon The Menzies

  Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra

  Deep coffee & chocolate nose. Again, green cabernet flavours. Not overly tannic. Medium finish, fair wine.

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• 1996 Yalumba The Signature

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Mid purple. Round balanced nose of red berry fruits & oak. Tannins are fine with no coarseness, lovely length. Super wine. We drank this again at dinner where it goes well with food – a big wine yet doesn’t dominate. Also drank some from the bottle in the bus on the way home. No detailed notes, but a very pleasant memory.

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• 1996 Yalumba Shiraz The Octavius

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Aged in little ‘octaves’ 90l barrels made in Yalumba’s own cooperage. Very dark red/purple. Powerful yet lean nose of blackberries & oak. Quite sweet (fruit) but not as large (for me) as Signature. Lovely fine tannins & great length, but lousy value for money beside Signature. Still very young.

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• 1999 Yalumba Sémillon

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  These last two wines were drunk with lunch. Crisp cut-grass & lemon. A zesty, taut wine, but fruit sweetness comes through (+even hint of oak?). Shortish finish though.

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• 1999 Yalumba Chardonnay

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Straw colour with hint of green. Tangy grapefruit nose. Very little malo & sharp acid ensues a long life. Wearing oak lightly. Nice wine.

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In the private tasting room at the Lehmann Cellar Door. Hosted by winemaker Andrew Wigan.

• 2000 Peter Lehmann Riesling Eden Valley

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

  Sharp zesty floral nose. strong acid & varietal characters on nose. Medium length finish of citrus/green apple fruit.

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• 1996 Peter Lehmann Riesling Eden Valley

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

  Mid-straw, still with green tint. Dusty nose with hint of honey & kero, acid has softened & integrated on palate-nice aged characteristics. Good length.

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• 2000 Peter Lehmann Sémillon Barossa

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa

  (no oak) pale straw, very dry, grassy nose. A little glycerolly? Very young strawlike flavours (bland?) obviously need some age. Lacks searing acid of young Hunters.

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• 1994 Peter Lehmann Sémillon Barossa

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa

  Mid straw & pale green. Gently toasted nose. Lemony with lovely clean mouth-watering acid palate. Good length, smart wine.

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• 1993 Peter Lehmann Cabernet Sauvignon

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa

  Still incredibly dark. Essence of blackcurrant – no sign of greenness in fruit or any fading. Tannin & fruit now beautifully integrated.

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• 1998 Peter Lehmann Cabernet Sauvignon

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa

  Rich, dark colour. Raw nose after the ’93. Fine tannins do dominate chocolately fruit. Rather clumsy at the moment.

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• 1994 Peter Lehmann Shiraz Barossa

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa

  Mid red. Vanilla, chocolate & plummy fruit. Fully coats the palate with rich fruit and very strong tannins. Medium length.

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• 1998 Peter Lehmann Shiraz Barossa

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa

  Stunning deep purple. Licorice, inky, tarry, thick fruit & vanilla oak. Nicely full on palate. Really huge – not drinkable now.

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• 1996 Peter Lehmann Mentor

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Cedary nose with hint of eucalypt. Incredibly tannic. Giant cassis with essence of cabernet. A giant wine – long and strong.

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• 1997 Peter Lehmann Shiraz Eight Songs

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Nice to taste in the room with the 8 songs paintings! Deep red, so thick its almost cloudy. Only found dark blackberries from a dumb nose – very closed & intense. Tremendous concentration. Tannins are very strong but fine. Big finish wine.

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• 1995 Peter Lehmann Shiraz Stonewell

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Purple/black. Classic intense Barossa shiraz. Hugely oaky, no sign of the expected 95 unripeness. Palate too weary to detect anything else!

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At Vintner's Bar & Grill in the Barossa Valley. Dinner guests generously supplying the wines were Yaumba red winemaker Kevin Glastonberry and Bob McLean from St Hallets.

• 2000 Heggies Vineyard Riesling

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

  Pale straw, green tint. Strong, flinty, bone dry wine with moderate acid and a slightly short finish. Needs a little time.

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• 1999 Hill Smith Estate Sauvignon Blanc

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

  Typical varietal nose of gooseberries & passionfruit but quite soft acid on palate – almost rosewater/pot-pouri. Not a kiwi! Short finish.

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• 1998 St Hallett Riesling

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

  Richly fragrant lemon & lime. Great acid & tremendous length. Great wine, but I think it’s starting to close down a little.

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• 1998 St Hallett Sémillon

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa

  Mid-straw to light yellow. Oakly flavours over stoney & melon fruits. Bit of an acid hit leads to a medium finish.

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• 1995 St Hallett Shiraz Blackwell

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa

  Deep red. Plum & cherry nose. Light tannins & acid. Medium body & length. Nice wine for the vintage.

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• 1996 St Hallett Shiraz Old Block

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa

  Deep glowing red. Thick tarry nose which oozes shiraz. Beautifully fine tannins with great balance on the palate. Good length & strong finish. Something of a revelation!

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• 1998 Yalumba Mawson's

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  Brought by Kevin as a mystery/options wine. New release – 1st vintage. $20-odd slots in below Menzies. Deep colour, almost black. Spicy nose with cherry & plums. Incredibly fine tannins with grippy finish & great length. Needs time! Great value.
  Note this first vintage is all Coonawarra fruit - it changed in subsequent years.

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• 1998 Yalumba Viognier Hand Picked Botrytis

  Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Wrattonbully

  Mid straw. Smells like Black Tower! Floral perfumed sweet violet nose. On palate not overly sweet, but a bit 1-dimensional. Not much acid to carry fruit, a bit simple & short.

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• 1996 Yalumba Riesling Botrytis

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

  An auslese style – not overly sweet. Just enough acid to carry fruit. Quite light & pleasant, but ultimately unsatisfying.

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• 1996 Yalumba Yalumba 'D'

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa

  A cabernet-shiraz blend. Raspberry, plum & blackberries. Coarse bead with strong finish. Pleasant but not memorable.

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continued in part 2 & 3