Brought to drink at Oinoscent during night shift. Bottle tasted 40 minutes after it was opened. The wine shows bright ruby color. In the nose, the wine shows high intensity, heady, ripe to overripe berries, cherries, currants, more on the black rather than red side, spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, oak and earthy notes. In the palate, the wine shows the same flavor profile, alcohol warmth from the 15%, very spicy, elevated acidity (big surprise for everyone here), cherry liquer, fruit in alcohol, thin oak but also herbal/vegetal bitterness, silky tannins, medium to full body, medium finish with quite evident sweetness. Almost noone guessed the age rightly so, as it still feels an infant. Brilliant
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Syrah, Shiraz, Rhone Showdown (Charlotte, NC): 4 hour double decant; Color was rich blackberry with reddish hues. Old world on the nose with rustic red fruit. Delightful mineral mouthfeel, dark cherries flavor. Vibrant fruit. A wonderful combination of clearly New World fruit stylized with an Old World feel. Delicious wine. Surprise of the Night for three people and one Wine of the Night (WOTN).
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Slow ox for three hours. Still relatively youthful. Baked cherries, mocha, grilled meat, black pepper and spice. This is very concentrated, a little over ripe, very modern, but it sports decent acidity and remains reasonably balanced all things considered.
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Nose - Pepper and violet from beginning. More floral in later hours after some more decanting. Quite enjoying.
Palate - Smooth tanning, starting to integrate nicely w/acidity. Sweet for sure, but not super punchy fruitiness... I like it. Feel like it still got plenty of time to go.
Overall still a quite powerful btl while and probably should decant 3-5hrs ago prior to consumption for even better expression. Would love to try again in 5yrs time.
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Stupid wax capsule; crumbly cork; decanted. Impenetrably dark; Wow! silky smooth tannins easy entry into heady, youthful, red and dark fruit; hint of blueberry; long finish; well balanced with *many* years left
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Excellent - I always open any Old Bastard with some angst . Will it be too hot , sweet and heavy ? Not this time - perfesting drinking after 3 hours of decanting . Dark , well balanced with spice and berries .
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See my previous note, no development since. For my 59th anniversary I have chosen this wine, of course for its name. This time the alcohol was more obvious, and for the rest it is a giant bastard that knocks you down with one arm on the back. Wait 5, 10 or more years? I don't know what will happen with this wine in future.
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(Tasted in a flight with 2002 Rolf Binder Veritas Shiraz Heysen, 2002 Clos Mimi Syrah White Hawk and 2002 Ojai Thompson Syrah.) Tight, oaky and dark berries - the first impression is rather typical for the Old Bastard... This wine is absolutely massive, not all showing the elegance from Torbreck, but it is still a very nice effort. I guess it has many years to go in the cellar. Recommended. (Score is 94-95)
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A beast and super concentrated, with a terrific inky colour. You smell and taste a basket of ripe fruit with a pungent warm peppery core and enjoy a full bodied taste and a long final with perfectly packed tannins and alcohol. Still 'only' 93 points, because after this battle in my mouth I missed complexity (=terroir), although I am sure I will enjoy the bottles I still have!
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Penfolds Grange among Australias greatest (Heemstede - Rest. Southern Cross): 2002 Kaesler Shiraz Old Bastard (Australië, South Australië, Barossa, Barossa Valley) Kleur: Diep donkerrood, zelfs nog wat paars Aroma / bouquet: Niet super-expressief, super-rijp donker fruit met een hint van mint, eucaluptus, zoethout. Smaak / Afdronk: Krachtige turbo-nieuwe-wereld Shiraz, zacht zuur, royaal aanwezige maar nu al boterzachte tannines, veel lengte, super-geextraheerd. Bijna 'Port zonder restzoet'. Algemeen / potentieel: Mooi glas, in de toekomst een nog veel mooier glas. Maar goed… wie gaat dat geduld opbrengen? ;-) 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 11 + Smaak / Afdronk: 17 + Algemeen / potentieel: 7 = 90/100
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Unlike some other first-rate Shiraz that tend to fade after a few years in the bottle, this Kaesler has managed to remain unbelievably lush and vibrant. A very deep wine, that has everything one might seek from Auzzie land Shriaz. Huge, rich fruit and fine tannins with a long, long finish.
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90;87. Great looking but a bit more simple than other bottles we’ve had. Sweet nose of brown sugar, soft, merde and milk chocolate. Mouthfeel is very fresh but with great structure and a good tannic grip in the finish. Cherries and anis and smoke both on palate and aftertaste.
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Blind. 96;89. Much darker than other bottles we’ve had. Enormous concentration - looks like motor-oil - very opaque. Initially almost flat but then acid kicks in in the end and after another hour the tannins show up and the balance is actually excellent. Nose of intense cherries, some currants, smoke, anis, vanilla and flowers. After a couple of hours it takes on more sweetness. Palate is getting sweeter and sweeter but certainly not over the top. On aftertaste it has jelepanos and spice. This is a sleeping giant!
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Acker Merrall 2002 Aussie Blind Shiraz Showdown (Amuse): Reddish purple, dark. Alcohol and white pepper from a muted nose. Alcohol and raspberry, creamy blueberry, white pepper on the palate. Nice but doesn't blow me away.
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Huge and enormous wine. Great balance, T ’n A and massive fruit. Not as tannic as the 01 was at this stage. Fat, with lots of blackberries, oak and vanilla. Long great aftertaste. Can’t wait to taste the next bottle.
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This was a good wine; but, it was also my least favorite of the 5 blind Syrahs we tried. It was also the most expensive. Dark purple red color. Creamy nose. Notes of cocoa, red berry and tar. This was a very concentrated wine and bordered on being a little too much for my palate. A dense wine and very young. Give this some time. 88 points.
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Tasted double blind as part of a syrah/shiraz dinner. This wine finished 4th (out of 5) in group voting. This dark monster had a weedy green bouquet. Supremely concentrated and young, its syrupy fruit was accompanied by smoky tar-like notes. The chewy finish suggests that it needs cellar time to loosen up. Drink after 2008.
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9/2/2022 - kostaslonis Likes this wine:
Brought to drink at Oinoscent during night shift.
Bottle tasted 40 minutes after it was opened.
The wine shows bright ruby color.
In the nose, the wine shows high intensity, heady, ripe to overripe berries, cherries, currants, more on the black rather than red side, spices, cinnamon, nutmeg, oak and earthy notes.
In the palate, the wine shows the same flavor profile, alcohol warmth from the 15%, very spicy, elevated acidity (big surprise for everyone here), cherry liquer, fruit in alcohol, thin oak but also herbal/vegetal bitterness, silky tannins, medium to full body, medium finish with quite evident sweetness.
Almost noone guessed the age rightly so, as it still feels an infant. Brilliant
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2/23/2022 - kevinpatrick Likes this wine:
Syrah, Shiraz, Rhone Showdown (Charlotte, NC): 4 hour double decant; Color was rich blackberry with reddish hues. Old world on the nose with rustic red fruit. Delightful mineral mouthfeel, dark cherries flavor. Vibrant fruit. A wonderful combination of clearly New World fruit stylized with an Old World feel. Delicious wine. Surprise of the Night for three people and one Wine of the Night (WOTN).
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9/11/2021 - mclanew wrote: 93 Points
Slow ox for three hours. Still relatively youthful. Baked cherries, mocha, grilled meat, black pepper and spice. This is very concentrated, a little over ripe, very modern, but it sports decent acidity and remains reasonably balanced all things considered.
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4/16/2021 - DaBUBBLE Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drank w/steaks together w/a bunch of punchy reds.
Cork - very good condition.
Nose - Pepper and violet from beginning. More floral in later hours after some more decanting. Quite enjoying.
Palate - Smooth tanning, starting to integrate nicely w/acidity. Sweet for sure, but not super punchy fruitiness... I like it. Feel like it still got plenty of time to go.
Overall still a quite powerful btl while and probably should decant 3-5hrs ago prior to consumption for even better expression. Would love to try again in 5yrs time.
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9/27/2020 - jlgnml wrote: 92 Points
Dark fruit, tasty, earthy, good finish.
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9/12/2020 - SadEdjo Likes this wine: 94 Points
Stupid wax capsule; crumbly cork; decanted. Impenetrably dark; Wow! silky smooth tannins easy entry into heady, youthful, red and dark fruit; hint of blueberry; long finish; well balanced with *many* years left
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10/16/2017 - maaike2 wrote: 93 Points
Easy accessible, young, lots of prunes, smooth. Gorgeous. The lack of complexity and the limited length limit this wine to 93 points.
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8/7/2016 - tanglenet wrote:
Tasted blind at an offline. Quick notes: soft entry, well integrated; medium body; shows youth; ends with a somewhat short finish. Good to Very Good.
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8/31/2015 - sphBacchus wrote: 89 Points
15% and tasted like more . Hopefully , one day , this wine will achieve a greater balance as all the flavours of a great Oz shiraz are there .
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7/3/2013 - sphBacchus Likes this wine: 93 Points
Excellent - I always open any Old Bastard with some angst . Will it be too hot , sweet and heavy ? Not this time - perfesting drinking after 3 hours of decanting . Dark , well balanced with spice and berries .
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10/29/2011 - FransS wrote: 92 Points
See my previous note, no development since.
For my 59th anniversary I have chosen this wine, of course for its name.
This time the alcohol was more obvious, and for the rest it is a giant bastard that
knocks you down with one arm on the back.
Wait 5, 10 or more years? I don't know what will happen with this wine in future.
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3/17/2011 - Christoffer78 wrote: 94 Points
(Tasted in a flight with 2002 Rolf Binder Veritas Shiraz Heysen, 2002 Clos Mimi Syrah White Hawk and 2002 Ojai Thompson Syrah.) Tight, oaky and dark berries - the first impression is rather typical for the Old Bastard... This wine is absolutely massive, not all showing the elegance from Torbreck, but it is still a very nice effort. I guess it has many years to go in the cellar. Recommended. (Score is 94-95)
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7/31/2010 - BigJ wrote: 89 Points
Big and fun, but unfortunatly for the price, very simple. licorice, chocolate and vanilla oak was about the extent of my experience. Not worth the $$
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4/21/2010 - FransS wrote: 93 Points
A beast and super concentrated, with a terrific inky colour. You smell and taste a basket of
ripe fruit with a pungent warm peppery core and enjoy a full bodied taste and a long final with perfectly packed tannins and alcohol.
Still 'only' 93 points, because after this battle in my mouth I missed complexity (=terroir),
although I am sure I will enjoy the bottles I still have!
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4/10/2010 - WildeMeeuw wrote: 90 Points
Penfolds Grange among Australias greatest (Heemstede - Rest. Southern Cross): 2002 Kaesler Shiraz Old Bastard (Australië, South Australië, Barossa, Barossa Valley) Kleur: Diep donkerrood, zelfs nog wat paars Aroma / bouquet: Niet super-expressief, super-rijp donker fruit met een hint van mint, eucaluptus, zoethout. Smaak / Afdronk: Krachtige turbo-nieuwe-wereld Shiraz, zacht zuur, royaal aanwezige maar nu al boterzachte tannines, veel lengte, super-geextraheerd. Bijna 'Port zonder restzoet'. Algemeen / potentieel: Mooi glas, in de toekomst een nog veel mooier glas. Maar goed… wie gaat dat geduld opbrengen? ;-) 50 + Kleur: 5 + Aroma / bouquet: 11 + Smaak / Afdronk: 17 + Algemeen / potentieel: 7 = 90/100
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9/21/2008 - idrinkvino wrote: 97 Points
Unlike some other first-rate Shiraz that tend to fade after a few years in the bottle, this Kaesler has managed to remain unbelievably lush and vibrant. A very deep wine, that has everything one might seek from Auzzie land Shriaz. Huge, rich fruit and fine tannins with a long, long finish.
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2/22/2007 - phenricsson wrote: 94 Points
90;87. Great looking but a bit more simple than other bottles we’ve had. Sweet nose of brown sugar, soft, merde and milk chocolate. Mouthfeel is very fresh but with great structure and a good tannic grip in the finish. Cherries and anis and smoke both on palate and aftertaste.
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2/10/2007 - phenricsson wrote: 95 Points
Blind. 96;89. Much darker than other bottles we’ve had. Enormous concentration - looks like motor-oil - very opaque. Initially almost flat but then acid kicks in in the end and after another hour the tannins show up and the balance is actually excellent. Nose of intense cherries, some currants, smoke, anis, vanilla and flowers. After a couple of hours it takes on more sweetness. Palate is getting sweeter and sweeter but certainly not over the top. On aftertaste it has jelepanos and spice. This is a sleeping giant!
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12/10/2006 - phenricsson wrote: 97 Points
90;90. Great wine. Big, fat, rich and ripe but with a great balance. Succulent and with juge aftertaste.
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11/4/2005 - trankin wrote: 93 Points
Acker Merrall 2002 Aussie Blind Shiraz Showdown (Amuse): Reddish purple, dark. Alcohol and white pepper from a muted nose. Alcohol and raspberry, creamy blueberry, white pepper on the palate. Nice but doesn't blow me away.
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9/1/2005 - phenricsson wrote: 96 Points
Huge and enormous wine. Great balance, T ’n A and massive fruit. Not as tannic as the 01 was at this stage. Fat, with lots of blackberries, oak and vanilla. Long great aftertaste. Can’t wait to taste the next bottle.
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5/11/2005 - Vino Me wrote: 88 Points
This was a good wine; but, it was also my least favorite of the 5 blind Syrahs we tried. It was also the most expensive. Dark purple red color. Creamy nose. Notes of cocoa, red berry and tar. This was a very concentrated wine and bordered on being a little too much for my palate. A dense wine and very young. Give this some time. 88 points.
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5/7/2005 - otisabdul wrote: 91 Points
Tasted double blind as part of a syrah/shiraz dinner. This wine finished 4th (out of 5) in group voting. This dark monster had a weedy green bouquet. Supremely concentrated and young, its syrupy fruit was accompanied by smoky tar-like notes. The chewy finish suggests that it needs cellar time to loosen up. Drink after 2008.
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3/19/2005 - kristinn wrote:
Vínið var ágætt strax við opnun, en eftir um 2 tíma var kominn allt annar karakter. Kröftugt vín.
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