California Wine Weekend; 12/1/2023-12/3/2023 (Mos Eisley Cantina & Waterhouse Restaurant): Dark sweet berry fruit, dried herbs, intense eucalyptus, charcuterie (jamon), black olives, elements of spice. This is exotic to the core and the added ripeness took me away from the normal Aussie producer to someone that pushes the limits a bit. It is incredibly young and tannic still, and the black fruit has a ton of development ahead.
This is a remarkable wine, and so individual in its expression of Australia. I see why this gets chased, but it is not a every day choice for shiraz. A wine that defies all sense when you consider the 16.4% abv.
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My first time coming across a Ringland wine (and probably last time too). I understand why these wines command such high prices: it‘s so complex, with the highest precision and in an Australian Shiraz context, it has a uniqueness to it. At the age of 23, it is still very young and has not yet shed its baby fat. Because of that overbearing concentration it is at 94/95 points for me today, but I can see it go up there to the 97+ category once mature (in 15 years?).
TN: Sweet, delicate, pure red and dark red berries, some red fruit candy, meaty notes. Medium+ intensity and with a high precision. Very concentrated palate with payers and layers of sweet, fresh fruits of all kind, wet forest floor, tobacco, some spices and herbs, some meaty notes. Lots of potential, tons of smooth tannins, high acidity and creamy texture.
Decanting: Not decanted but we got to it later in the evening with half the bottle empty so it got quite some air. could have used even more (probably a solid 3-4 hours easily).
Glass: Gabriel
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Magnum rarities tasting; 7/2/2021-7/3/2021 (Zunfthaus zur Waag, Zurich): Magnum rarities tasting hosted by a merchant and collector. The headline line-up of the main event featured 18 aged red wines from magnum which was preceded by warm-up tasting of a dozen aged reds. The highlights across both days were Chris Ringland 1998 (99), Montrose 1990 and Yquem 1948 (both 98). Also strong were Palmer 1989 (97), Cheval Blanc 1985 (97) and Léoville Poyferré 1990 (96). None of the wines were decanted prior to serving.
Tasting note: Dark berry fruit, dried herbs coupled with a few fresh herbs, dried meat (beef jerky), black olives, elements of spice. So far, this reminded me much more of Northern Rhone Syrah than Aussie Shiraz. Such immense density on the palate that it creates its own gravitation field. Boat loads of electric acidity. Fully balanced by the aroma intensity (sweet berry fruit) and tannins which are perfectly forged into the structure and add to the perfect symmetry. This is in every possible way an exception wine and for me along with Torbreck Laird 2008 and Grange 1983 one of the best Aussie Shiraz I ever had. A total baby still of course and absolutely no rush in popping bottles for easily another decade – if you can resist, of course...
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A controversial bottle of wine, but man did I love it. Super intense with mint, eucalyptus, black berries and incredible density it is being held together by a healthy acidity that elevates this wine and integrates the alcohol perfectly. From well stored cellars, it also gives it at least another decade of life, if not more. My wine of the night.
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17 years old and it tastes like it is a couple of years out of the vineyard. While it is drinkable, and for its genre, better than most, it is perceptually modern and like so many other wines of its type, wether cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, pinot noir, tempranillo, grenache, etc., it comes across hot and alcoholic, with heavy, oaky, vanilla, and over-ripe blackberry liquor. To be sure, this is drinkable and not flawed, it is just, for what it is, outrageously overpriced. I wish I would have sold this bottle, in its original wooden case, at auction. My advice: If you bought this wine a while ago based on all of the hype and your tastes have maybe gone in another direction, sell it and buy a case or two of wine you love.
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Enjoyed many really nice vinos celebrating HS's 50th and RS's 60th w/wives and D&B R. Dinner at SD26 in NYC. Extremely reasonable corkage fee and good menu, too. Lineup was:
2007 Williams Selyem Flax 1992 Dalla Valle 1998 Chris Ringland Shiraz Dry Grown 1982 Lynch Bages 1999 Salicutti Brunello 2009 Outpost True
The Ringland Shiraz was a smooth, concentrated drink, not as flamboyant as Grange. Tannins shed, can't see any point in waiting much longer to consume. Salicutti still has long life ahead, and Outpost is a tasty youngster.
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Decanted 6 hours. An interesting wine but hard for me to judge. Incredibly complex perfumed nose of blueberry, violets, graphite, tar, sawdust, steak rub, and god knows yet else... there were layers upon layers of aromas. Unfortunately, there was a VA component that seemed to weave itself in and out of the nose. Intense and primary on the palate, insanely concentrated, insane length and persistence. At times it hinted at grace, but then an almost unpleasant sharpness would take over. I don't generally think of high alcohol wines as food friendly, but this wine was better with food. I'm sure this wine needs time, but I can't tell where it's going to end up. If the palate ever comes into balance and the VA subsides then I can see this being a perfect wine given the great material, but if and when that will happen I have no clue.
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1998 Chris Ringland Shiraz, South Australia, Australia Black. Very oaky with sweet vanilla spice on the nose. Extremely powerful on palate impact with huge intensity and thickness. Oily and chewy in texture with high levels of alcohol. I did not check the bottle but 16.5% is probably not a bad guess. I was not too crazy about this wine, though it was not as overblown as other examples I have tried.
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12/2/2023 - RockinCabs wrote: 95 Points
California Wine Weekend; 12/1/2023-12/3/2023 (Mos Eisley Cantina & Waterhouse Restaurant): Dark sweet berry fruit, dried herbs, intense eucalyptus, charcuterie (jamon), black olives, elements of spice. This is exotic to the core and the added ripeness took me away from the normal Aussie producer to someone that pushes the limits a bit. It is incredibly young and tannic still, and the black fruit has a ton of development ahead.
This is a remarkable wine, and so individual in its expression of Australia. I see why this gets chased, but it is not a every day choice for shiraz. A wine that defies all sense when you consider the 16.4% abv.
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7/15/2021 - Cailles wrote: 94 Points
My first time coming across a Ringland wine (and probably last time too). I understand why these wines command such high prices: it‘s so complex, with the highest precision and in an Australian Shiraz context, it has a uniqueness to it. At the age of 23, it is still very young and has not yet shed its baby fat. Because of that overbearing concentration it is at 94/95 points for me today, but I can see it go up there to the 97+ category once mature (in 15 years?).
TN: Sweet, delicate, pure red and dark red berries, some red fruit candy, meaty notes. Medium+ intensity and with a high precision. Very concentrated palate with payers and layers of sweet, fresh fruits of all kind, wet forest floor, tobacco, some spices and herbs, some meaty notes. Lots of potential, tons of smooth tannins, high acidity and creamy texture.
Decanting: Not decanted but we got to it later in the evening with half the bottle empty so it got quite some air. could have used even more (probably a solid 3-4 hours easily).
Glass: Gabriel
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7/2/2021 - sirpat00 Likes this wine: 99 Points
Magnum rarities tasting; 7/2/2021-7/3/2021 (Zunfthaus zur Waag, Zurich): Magnum rarities tasting hosted by a merchant and collector. The headline line-up of the main event featured 18 aged red wines from magnum which was preceded by warm-up tasting of a dozen aged reds. The highlights across both days were Chris Ringland 1998 (99), Montrose 1990 and Yquem 1948 (both 98). Also strong were Palmer 1989 (97), Cheval Blanc 1985 (97) and Léoville Poyferré 1990 (96). None of the wines were decanted prior to serving.
Tasting note:
Dark berry fruit, dried herbs coupled with a few fresh herbs, dried meat (beef jerky), black olives, elements of spice. So far, this reminded me much more of Northern Rhone Syrah than Aussie Shiraz. Such immense density on the palate that it creates its own gravitation field. Boat loads of electric acidity. Fully balanced by the aroma intensity (sweet berry fruit) and tannins which are perfectly forged into the structure and add to the perfect symmetry. This is in every possible way an exception wine and for me along with Torbreck Laird 2008 and Grange 1983 one of the best Aussie Shiraz I ever had. A total baby still of course and absolutely no rush in popping bottles for easily another decade – if you can resist, of course...
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7/2/2021 - G_H wrote: 97 Points
A controversial bottle of wine, but man did I love it. Super intense with mint, eucalyptus, black berries and incredible density it is being held together by a healthy acidity that elevates this wine and integrates the alcohol perfectly. From well stored cellars, it also gives it at least another decade of life, if not more. My wine of the night.
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2/27/2015 - Charlie Carnes wrote: 88 Points
17 years old and it tastes like it is a couple of years out of the vineyard. While it is drinkable, and for its genre, better than most, it is perceptually modern and like so many other wines of its type, wether cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, pinot noir, tempranillo, grenache, etc., it comes across hot and alcoholic, with heavy, oaky, vanilla, and over-ripe blackberry liquor. To be sure, this is drinkable and not flawed, it is just, for what it is, outrageously overpriced. I wish I would have sold this bottle, in its original wooden case, at auction. My advice: If you bought this wine a while ago based on all of the hype and your tastes have maybe gone in another direction, sell it and buy a case or two of wine you love.
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12/10/2014 - hongkongtom Likes this wine: 95 Points
This bottle had perfect provenance and it showed in a great wine. Perfumed, lot of fruit, peppery but all in balance. Still good for a few years
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4/15/2012 - bobbubbabs wrote: 92 Points
Enjoyed many really nice vinos celebrating HS's 50th and RS's 60th w/wives and D&B R. Dinner at SD26 in NYC. Extremely reasonable corkage fee and good menu, too. Lineup was:
2007 Williams Selyem Flax
1992 Dalla Valle
1998 Chris Ringland Shiraz Dry Grown
1982 Lynch Bages
1999 Salicutti Brunello
2009 Outpost True
The Ringland Shiraz was a smooth, concentrated drink, not as flamboyant as Grange. Tannins shed, can't see any point in waiting much longer to consume. Salicutti still has long life ahead, and Outpost is a tasty youngster.
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1/24/2009 - rsepulve wrote:
Decanted 6 hours. An interesting wine but hard for me to judge. Incredibly complex perfumed nose of blueberry, violets, graphite, tar, sawdust, steak rub, and god knows yet else... there were layers upon layers of aromas. Unfortunately, there was a VA component that seemed to weave itself in and out of the nose. Intense and primary on the palate, insanely concentrated, insane length and persistence. At times it hinted at grace, but then an almost unpleasant sharpness would take over. I don't generally think of high alcohol wines as food friendly, but this wine was better with food. I'm sure this wine needs time, but I can't tell where it's going to end up. If the palate ever comes into balance and the VA subsides then I can see this being a perfect wine given the great material, but if and when that will happen I have no clue.
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9/24/2005 - Burgundy Al wrote: 94 Points
Through the Decades in Burgundy - A Taste for Life 2005 (San Francisco CA): Floral, perfumed start. Bold black frit with good black pepper, good tannins and acids, everything in harmony today. Long finish.
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11/16/2004 - Joe Belmaati wrote:
1998 Chris Ringland Shiraz, South Australia, Australia
Black. Very oaky with sweet vanilla spice on the nose. Extremely powerful on palate impact with huge intensity and thickness. Oily and chewy in texture with high levels of alcohol. I did not check the bottle but 16.5% is probably not a bad guess. I was not too crazy about this wine, though it was not as overblown as other examples I have tried.
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