2002 The Colonial Estate Emigré

Community Tasting Notes (43) Avg Score: 91.6 points

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  10/12/2022 - TWSA Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Colonial Estate Emigre 2002 & 2003
  
  Tasted both in the form of magnums. I've always found this to be quite an interesting wine. To be honest I was never a fan of Australian Shiraz, always thought that it's a little too heavy and on the sweet side for my palate. The Emigre I would say is also quite heavy and sweet, nevertheless I do believe that their advertised French influence in wine making made a difference. This Barossa Valley winery started off as a venture of the English wine maker Jonathan Maltus who made his name with Le Dome from St. Emilion. I believe he's no longer in charge of the estate now but certainly 2002 and 2003 I believe were his first 2 vintages. Despite only 1 year apart, the 02 had very strong notes of cinnamon, coffee and some spices, the 03 in comparison was much more fruit forward and more ripe (I believe this has something to do with the exceptionally hot weather in 03). Both wines are at 15.5% ABV (this high alcohol content seems to be a typical Shiraz thing) but I would consider this to be quite elegant for Barossa Valley. I liked both wines and they would make a good casual drink. Should work nicely with bbq meat or some of the heavier food. 
  
  Colonial Estate Emigre 2002 - 90 pts Drink now-2026.  
  
  Colonial Estate Emigre 2003 - 88 pts Drink now - 2030.

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  12/27/2021 - Mark Dignam Does not like this wine: 80 Points

  Folks, I actually liked this wine when it was young. This Magnum had been properly stored, and was in perfect condition - full level, cork was clean, no faults, and great dark red colour. Nose was full of red and black fruit, an in the decanter, the black fruit started to show thru more with air.
  
  The palate was too alcoholic and with a rather dry, tannic and slightly bitter aftertaste. Fruit showed aged Syrah characters typical of the Barossa - dark berries, a touch of licorice and pepper. Yet the wine lacks any sense of balance, freshness or complexity and I think I should have drunk it 10 years ago. The red fruit and spice I recalled from prior bottles had gone, with the wine being simply too high in alcohol (15.5%). Whilst a crust had been thrown, it was still quite tannic and slightly bitter at the end.
  
  This was quite an expensive wine and I was very disappointed it had developed badly. Yet in 2021, I am finding high alcohol wines to be virtually always be underwhelming.

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  12/30/2018 - BradE wrote:

  Opened by the kids. Riper and jammier than I like.

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  12/15/2016 - firstgrowth Likes this wine: 89 Points

  Started off as Robitussin & became very nice after an hour or so

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  11/23/2014 - buckeye76 wrote: 94 Points

  VERY RICH DEEP BERRY FRUIT IN THE NOSE AND FLAVOR WITH HINTS OF LICORICE, CHOCOLATE AND SPICE. NICE COMPLEXITY AND A LONG FINISH. IMPRESSIVE

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