April 30, 2018 - Well this is a turnaround. I am actually enjoying the bottle. The balance is better than previously - still the slightly bitter notes, but now offset by a bit more fruit intensity. The tannins are firm though not coarse. The acidity is present but not overwhelming. It could improve further from here.
December 14, 2015 - This bottle shows a bit more length and depth than the last, however the core of the previous note remains the same. It definitely improved on the second day, but still not a great wine. There is a certain bitterness to the taste which is not unattractive, but is definitely an acquired attribute. The core question is how will this wine develop? Its not showing signs of age so will probably last for a while. I just can't see where the fruit will go.
August 18, 2015 - Not really a classic Barossa Shiraz. This has a deep colour. The nose is very dry, almost brooding, with no real fruit. The taste is plum, prune and dark fruit, without the typical fruit concentration you expect from Barossa. The tannins are soft and the wine lacks complexity. The most disappointing part is its lack of length - it just dies away. There is nothing wrong with the flavour, but there is no depth. I'll try another bottle in a couple of years to see if it progresses.
December 24, 2014 - Dark purple. Nice nose of blueberry backed by a bunch of dusty, funky notes. Fairly straight forward on the palate, medium density and length. Seamless and smooth, but I agree w/ other notes suggesting that it lacks anything really distinctive.
April 14, 2013 - Kaesler 2008 The Bogan Shiraz Medium weight, fruit forward barossa shiraz, doesn't have much depth or the penetrating darkness of many of its competing wines in the price bracket. Single noted and unremarkable, smooth palate right through, with a name like this you'd expect something rough that's going to yell obscenities at the footy and do jagerbombs at your birthday, this is more likely to be told what to do by the boring woman it married.
December 25, 2012 - Really needs time to breathe and open up. Bouquet of deep red fruit but flavours are indistinct. Mouth feel is surprisingly light for a wine named the bogan. Finish is dominated by strong tobacco box and unbalanced with the rest of the wine. It is poorly balanced. Wife did not like it. I thought it was interesting but not really worth the 50 bucks.
December 4, 2012 - Nothing wrong with this but boy is it 1-dimensional. I can find you a Barossa shiraz that tastes just like this for 17.50, probably from Kaesler! (try the Stonehorse)
June 15, 2012 - Kaesler wine-tasting (Watson's, Hong Kong): 80% comes from an 1899 block, the rest from a 1965 block. The name is a derogatory term for a unsophisticated lout. Go figure.
This is now mostly casked in new french oak with the remainder old American oak. They've introduced micro-lot vinification since 2010.
This is a big wine with a supple fleshy palate - velvety even. Round and long with fine tannins and chocolate on the finish.
May 30, 2012 - fruit bomb. milk chocolate finish. one-dimensional. not my taste.