Garagiste - Classic Wines of Australia

Blackbird - Chicago IL
Tasted Friday, October 8, 2004 by Burgundy Al with 928 views

Introduction

Jon Rimmerman from Garagiste was visiting Chicago and hosting a dinner focusing on the classic, older great wines from Australia. Educational and enjoyable evening with some great wine.

Flight 1 - Leeuwin Chardonnay (2 Notes)

  • 1981 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay Art Series 93 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    Summer flowers still coming through to start, with good orchard fruit aromas along with earthy undertones and some mushroom hints. I would easily have mistaken this for Grand Cru Burgundy from 1985 or 1989.

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  • 1985 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay Art Series 88 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    Apple and pear with some nut hints. Simpler overall than its 1981 counterpart int he next glass, but still showing good fruit and good acidity.

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Flight 2 - Older Penfolds (2 Notes)

  • 1971 Penfolds Bin 389 92 Points

    Australia, South Australia

    Old Bordeaux aromas with cassis, tobacco, dark chocolate along with plum and black cherry. A trace of Shiraz-esque sweetness. Excellent length and finesse and balanced and well spiced finish.

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  • 1976 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 87 Points

    Australia, South Australia

    Mature fruit with cedar and some sweet spice aromas. Similarly mature fruit on palate, but this remains rather highly structured and tannic.

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Flight 3 - 1984 (2 Notes)

  • 1984 Cullen Wines Cabernet Sauvignon - Merlot (Diana Madeline) 88 Points

    Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

    Ripe, big-scaled aromas, definitely showed all New World character. Fruit was less fresh on palate, still showing lots of tannin and acidity, giiving a slightly harsh finish.

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  • 1984 Yarra Yarra Cabernets 92 Points

    Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

    Interesting aromas of mature black fruit, tobacco, olive tapenade, and fresh oregano. Rounded, sweet fruit on palate, also showing age-appropriate maturity. Soft and very elegant.

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Flight 4 - Mid 80s Shiraz (3 Notes)

  • 1986 Yarra Yering Dry Red N°2 82 Points

    Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

    Hard to tell if this bottles was just well past its prime or if this is where the wine has evolved. Moderate fruit and minimal spice at best, but highly acidic and firm at the same time. Never would have thought this a Shiraz with a Viognier kicker.

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  • 1986 Craiglee Shiraz Flawed

    Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Sunbury

    Corked.

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  • 1987 Tyrrell's Shiraz Vat 9 89 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

    Sweet black fruit aromas with pepper and clove hints. Great first taste, slightly simpler and sweet in middle and finish, with some intriguing spice re-emerging at the very end.

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Flight 5 - Henschke (2 Notes)

  • 1984 Henschke Shiraz Hill of Grace 92 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

    Slightly cloudy with sediment, this bottle could have more "standing up" time before serving. Simple black fruit aromas with good oak spice support. Plum, black cerry on palate with warm, earthy character followed by mint and pepper. Moderate length with good finesse and balance.

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  • 1990 Henschke Shiraz Mount Edelstone 93 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley

    Vibrant aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, cocoa and spice. Palate is powerful and meaty with a similar flavor profile. Very elegant finish.

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Flight 6 - Penfolds 1966 Grange (1 Note)

  • 1966 Penfolds Grange 97 Points

    Australia, South Australia

    Fresh aromas of black cherry, black raspberry, mint, vanilla and chocolate. Sweet, extravagant fruit to start, transitions to perfect black cherry in middle. Great harmony from start-to-finish with a superbly elegant finish. 88% Syrah, 12% Cabernet. No sign of being past its peak, but I couldn't see this getting better from here.

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Flight 7 - Pinot Noir (1 Note)

  • 1997 Stonier Pinot Noir Reserve 88 Points

    Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Mornington Peninsula

    Fresh cherry aromas to start with mostly oak spice. Similar profile on palate with good acidity, moderate length and nuance.

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Flight 8 - Mid 80s Shiraz (2 Notes)

  • 1986 Seppelt Hermitage 95 Points

    Australia, Victoria

    Gorgeous nose of black cherry, dark chocolate, underbrush hints. Dense, concentrated fruit-driven palate with some earthy hints but mostly berry and chocolate. Still most likely getting better from here.

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  • 1985 Jasper Hill Shiraz Georgia's Paddock 96 Points

    Australia, Victoria, Central Victoria, Heathcote

    Intense fresh dark berry aromas with some liqueur hints. Dark berry again on palate with licorice, pepper and dried herbs. Elegant, accessible today. Very long and pristine. Amazing in general, and for 11.7% in particular.

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Flight 9 - Early 90s Shiraz (2 Notes)

  • 1992 Wendouree Shiraz Malbec 93 Points

    Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley

    Young, bright black fruit aromas with meaty spice. Black berry on palate, some emerging earthy complexity and real power on finish. Still room to improve.

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  • 1990 Yarra Yering Dry Red N°1 95 Points

    Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley

    Classically Bordeaux aromas with black currant, cigar box, cassis, plum and cocoa. Elegant and rich on palate with flavors much like the bouquet. Great length. Mostly (80-85% Cabernet), then approx 10% Malbec, plus some Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.

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Flight 10 - Sweet (1 Note)

  • 1990 De Bortoli Noble One Botrytis Sémillon 89 Points

    Australia, New South Wales, Big Rivers, Riverina

    Great aromatics start with ultra ripe peach and nectarine. Lots of caramel and botrytis to start, but they dominate the center, giving this a simpler middle and finish than I'd want.

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