Well past its drinking best but still quite lively. Brownish colour and heaps of brandy tones on the nose. Some fruit but mainly earthy, leathery and lingering. Have a '99 to try next.
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Still drinking magnificently despite its 18 years. Deep inky colour, lovely mouth coating but still some acidity to lift the palate. Lots of dark fruit, nice spice too and a very long finish. Sad it's the last of the line for us ....but younger siblings await!
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Dinner for Simon and Allison (Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand): Big and rich - certainly the product of a warm vintage. Resolved tannins, but still comes across as young. Coconut American oak adds a warm background to the very complex fruit and tertiary character. Beautifully modulated and silky smooth. This is a wonderful Aussie shiraz.
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NobleRottersSydney - Mostly Torbreck magnums (360 Bar & Dining, Sydney): {cork, 14%} (Ronnie) This was brought just as a contrast to the Barossa Torbrecks, and would it be rude to say I think I preferred it to all of them? Showing a little age, but still offering plenty of spiced blackberry, earth and sandalwood aromas. Similar palate; savoury and polished; dry, with medium dusty tannins, medium/full body and a classy seasoning of French oak. There’s a better balance of fruit and acid/tannin structure here than the preceding wines. Even palate, with presence all along the tongue; medium-long finish; great Victorian shiraz with another decade ahead of it at least. Really good.
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Dinner for a Yogini (Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand): Excellent, mature cool climate shriaz with coconut American oak matching in a beautiful manner. Certainly ready but is holding well and will continue to develop. In mid maturity. Very classy and very correct to its terroir - an excellent wine.
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Another lovely bottle. Still a deep colour, which is reflected in the blue and black fruits on the nose. Also chocolate, and a little spice. The palate is beautifully textured, with denseness and an earthy note. Improved the following day.
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Opened up after a couple of hours in a decanter. Lots of dark berries and dark plums and dried herbs on the nose. The medium bodied palate was fine, spicey, and had integrated oak and tannins. Flavours of liquorice, berries, dark chocolate. The finish was long with hints of spice and dried herbs.
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Excellent dark and brooding burnt rubber nutmeg! Dark plums us oak - liquer like- a hint of sur maturite. Ready but will last. Very complex. Next one in 2012.
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Decanted. Lots of fine sediment even though the bottle had been standing for 48hrs. Fine aromas of black fruits and spices, complemented by dried herbs like rosemary. There was a hint of brett, but only way in the background, which seemed to add some complexity to the wine. Balanced palate which reflected the aromas. Good fruit and structure, and a reasonably long finish. Drink now.
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Very exotic smelling, lightly sandalwood, middle eastern spices, some garrigue but extremely classy and elegant in presentation. Smooth , understated and gentle palate flow that gives fleeting glimpses of its age and grace. Lots of licourice and some bitter herbs at the finish. Fruits are gentle and unassuming. This is very classical. High class feel to it. Not sure if this was still tightly closed still or fading away gently but in that sense , this wine is aging gracefully.
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Aromatic nose of blackberry, roses, cedar, licorice. Smells like it may have some viognier in it, although it may just be a cool climate characteristic. Big mouth of plums, blackcurrant and floor planks. The finish has excellent height with good balance. It lasted 60 seconds but is faint for most of it, which was a slight disappointment.
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A fabulous bottle! Great refinement superb fruit quality and perhaps the finest American Oak handling I have experienced in an Australian wine. Not a blockbuster, but rather a mature, refined and complete wine. Feels quite French in terms of balance. opened up beautifully in the glass - had hints of the kind of fruit that sublime wines possess. A point at the moment but will no doubt improve over time.
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Shirazes of Australia (Astons Prime): Garnet with slight brownish hue. Cooked plums with a lift of orange peels. The aromas are beautifully restrained ….emitting gentle waves of savory plums , bbq meats and ribena. Beautifully aged dark round fruits with licourice and nutmeg spice. Exceptionally refined and elegant with graceful stature. The finish is smooth and gentle…fading to a gentle glow. I had actually accidentally bottle decanted it the night before but it was a good mistake. After decanting, the nose is amazingly pinot noir-ish…of fart and muskiness. The palate is ever so gentle with a radiating glow of raspberry fruit. I can see this going with a wide range of cuisines besides the traditional pairing of Shiraz with heavy meats. Versatility that comes with the age and experience, this Shiraz totally does it for me. I love it! Persona Cooked and weathered yet still exuding signs of her sprightly succulence of her younger days. However, wisdom and age has made her more savory and given her an aura of stately grandeur. Maturity has curbed her desires to be fully frontal and given her a gentleness that soothes the savage throat. Your Excellencies, may I present her royal highness - Helen Mirrin.
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10/17/2022 - NoelB Likes this wine: 92 Points
Getting old, but still very good.
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1/13/2022 - gb1406 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Well past its drinking best but still quite lively. Brownish colour and heaps of brandy tones on the nose. Some fruit but mainly earthy, leathery and lingering. Have a '99 to try next.
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2/14/2016 - peter.mancell@mfg.com.au Likes this wine: 94 Points
Still drinking magnificently despite its 18 years.
Deep inky colour, lovely mouth coating but still some acidity to lift the palate. Lots of dark fruit, nice spice too and a very long finish.
Sad it's the last of the line for us ....but younger siblings await!
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9/12/2015 - Marc wrote: 90 Points
Dinner for Simon and Allison (Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand): Big and rich - certainly the product of a warm vintage. Resolved tannins, but still comes across as young. Coconut American oak adds a warm background to the very complex fruit and tertiary character. Beautifully modulated and silky smooth. This is a wonderful Aussie shiraz.
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8/4/2014 - graemeg wrote:
NobleRottersSydney - Mostly Torbreck magnums (360 Bar & Dining, Sydney): {cork, 14%} (Ronnie) This was brought just as a contrast to the Barossa Torbrecks, and would it be rude to say I think I preferred it to all of them? Showing a little age, but still offering plenty of spiced blackberry, earth and sandalwood aromas. Similar palate; savoury and polished; dry, with medium dusty tannins, medium/full body and a classy seasoning of French oak. There’s a better balance of fruit and acid/tannin structure here than the preceding wines. Even palate, with presence all along the tongue; medium-long finish; great Victorian shiraz with another decade ahead of it at least. Really good.
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12/5/2013 - Marc wrote: 91 Points
Dinner for a Yogini (Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand): Excellent, mature cool climate shriaz with coconut American oak matching in a beautiful manner. Certainly ready but is holding well and will continue to develop. In mid maturity. Very classy and very correct to its terroir - an excellent wine.
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6/21/2012 - fizz wrote: 91 Points
Another lovely bottle. Still a deep colour, which is reflected in the blue and black fruits on the nose. Also chocolate, and a little spice. The palate is beautifully textured, with denseness and an earthy note. Improved the following day.
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5/16/2011 - fizz Likes this wine: 89 Points
Seems similar to the last bottle had a few months ago. In a good spot - still plenty of dark fruit with chocolate, dried herbs and fine tannins.
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11/28/2010 - fizz Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opened up after a couple of hours in a decanter. Lots of dark berries and dark plums and dried herbs on the nose. The medium bodied palate was fine, spicey, and had integrated oak and tannins. Flavours of liquorice, berries, dark chocolate. The finish was long with hints of spice and dried herbs.
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10/24/2010 - Marc wrote: 93 Points
Excellent dark and brooding burnt rubber nutmeg! Dark plums us oak - liquer like- a hint of sur maturite. Ready but will last. Very complex. Next one in 2012.
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7/21/2010 - fizz Likes this wine: 89 Points
Decanted. Lots of fine sediment even though the bottle had been standing for 48hrs. Fine aromas of black fruits and spices, complemented by dried herbs like rosemary. There was a hint of brett, but only way in the background, which seemed to add some complexity to the wine. Balanced palate which reflected the aromas. Good fruit and structure, and a reasonably long finish. Drink now.
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6/14/2010 - Alex H wrote: 90 Points
Very exotic smelling, lightly sandalwood, middle eastern spices, some garrigue but extremely classy and elegant in presentation. Smooth , understated and gentle palate flow that gives fleeting glimpses of its age and grace. Lots of licourice and some bitter herbs at the finish. Fruits are gentle and unassuming. This is very classical. High class feel to it. Not sure if this was still tightly closed still or fading away gently but in that sense , this wine is aging gracefully.
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11/29/2009 - tenorselbow wrote: 91 Points
Aromatic nose of blackberry, roses, cedar, licorice. Smells like it may have some viognier in it, although it may just be a cool climate characteristic. Big mouth of plums, blackcurrant and floor planks. The finish has excellent height with good balance. It lasted 60 seconds but is faint for most of it, which was a slight disappointment.
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10/3/2009 - Marc wrote: 93 Points
A fabulous bottle! Great refinement superb fruit quality and perhaps the finest American Oak handling I have experienced in an Australian wine. Not a blockbuster, but rather a mature, refined and complete wine. Feels quite French in terms of balance. opened up beautifully in the glass - had hints of the kind of fruit that sublime wines possess. A point at the moment but will no doubt improve over time.
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5/31/2009 - tenorselbow wrote: 92 Points
Nose of roses, Ditto fluid and earth. Mouth with lots of high notes of buttery steak, touch of charcoal. Fine tannins with a long finish of leather.
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8/9/2008 - Alex H wrote: 93 Points
Shirazes of Australia (Astons Prime): Garnet with slight brownish hue. Cooked plums with a lift of orange peels. The aromas are beautifully restrained ….emitting gentle waves of savory plums , bbq meats and ribena. Beautifully aged dark round fruits with licourice and nutmeg spice. Exceptionally refined and elegant with graceful stature. The finish is smooth and gentle…fading to a gentle glow.
I had actually accidentally bottle decanted it the night before but it was a good mistake. After decanting, the nose is amazingly pinot noir-ish…of fart and muskiness. The palate is ever so gentle with a radiating glow of raspberry fruit. I can see this going with a wide range of cuisines besides the traditional pairing of Shiraz with heavy meats. Versatility that comes with the age and experience, this Shiraz totally does it for me. I love it!
Persona
Cooked and weathered yet still exuding signs of her sprightly succulence of her younger days. However, wisdom and age has made her more savory and given her an aura of stately grandeur. Maturity has curbed her desires to be fully frontal and given her a gentleness that soothes the savage throat. Your Excellencies, may I present her royal highness - Helen Mirrin.
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