January 12, 2024 - This Shiraz is 100% grown in the Heathcote area, and the best grapes are selected from 6 different vineyards (Owned by David "Duck" Anderson's close friends) to make Springflat Shiraz.
The grapes are grown on 3 different types of soil and aged in French and American oak (14 months).
Twernty.. No make that 23 years has resulted in the tannins not only becoming softer, but fully resolved with such incredible flavours being revealed.
I find it so hard to believe that one of Duck's mid-range offerings at under USD 50 can age so well, for over two decades. Truly masterful!
I read this was initially broodingly backward (Says Robert Parker 20 years ago), but the tightness has given way to show such wonderful aromas of oak and blackfruit.
The bite and peppery spice of Shiraz has given way to make this feel like an aged Cab, how spectacular!
Plum notes and a classical aged smooth finish, with a finish of over 30 seconds. Only light sediments, we did not even decant this, and simply drank this slowly over two hours.
Enjoyed each and every drop!
Such a treat to try this, specially hand-carried back from his cellar in Melbourne, by brother VC, where he shared this with us (His missus, N, and daughter M, as well as mine, L) along with a spectacular Diana Madeline 2011, at Travelling Duck in Pavilion Damansara. Thank you!
12th Jan 2024
Travelling Duck - Pavilion Damansara, KL, Malaysia
March 20, 2021 - 2001 Wild Duck Creek Estate Springflat Shiraz, alc15.5% nice gentle sweetness with great structure and Great texture Nice plum and blueberry with a smooth finish. Remarkable
Drinking very well
July 14, 2020 - Decanted for sediment and was fantastic immediately. Yes its a fuller bodied wine but very nice balance and delicious. Drank one at 10 years, 15 years and now 19+ and enjoyed it every time. Quality wine and arguably the best Aussie shiraz I have drunk.
July 28, 2015 - Great wine and well worth the wait. In its drinking window but will hold for some time. Loved it.
July 24, 2015 - Very much enjoyed this. Decanted over 90 minutes. Has turned into a complex black and blue fruit wine with minimal alcohol or tannins. Long finish. Big but not over the top.
March 19, 2015 - Decanted briefly and returned to bottle for 24 hours, then decanted again. There wasn't much going on with this wine when I decanted it, so I gave it an extra day. Nothing changed. Typical Wild Duck Creek eucalyptus, menthol, and spearmint on the nose, but the straightforward red cherry/berry fruit isn't nearly as dark, rich, or textured as the awesome 1998 Springflat, which peaked in 2012. This 2001 bottling is a similar 14 years past vintage, and while it seems to be right at (or very slightly past) peak, it's just not that compelling of a wine. Hopefully my view will change with my next three bottles. Drink now-2015.
October 20, 2014 - This is in a very good place right now. Had with Sicilian sausage. Opaque. Thick and rich black fruit. Chewy and interesting. Long finish. Alcohol and tannins muted. Very nice
September 1, 2013 - Raspberry coulis, tea and subtle nutty oak nose. Bright vibrant fruit on the front palate. Some toasty oak secondary characters with a bit if smoke and tobacco on the (long) aftertaste. 92 on its ear. No hurry.
March 28, 2012 - Deep ruby red. Flinty earthy nose, iron shavings and wet stone (some really interesting metal shop characters), red currants, cherries, licorice, tar, some background toasty oak, and hints of menthol and spice box (very complex). Some juicy red spicy fruit on a mid weight palate, with good balanced acidity and some grippy tannins still there. Medium to long. Nice complex oldish Heathcote wine, that is probably at or nearing its peak.
February 1, 2012 - A little too much acidity and prominent secondary characteristics without enough fruit to really be memorable or very enjoyable for my palate. Tasted very old world and mature for a 2001 shiraz.