My first Wendouree. No ullage, good bottle. Cork crumbled out in pieces. Deep garnet centre and light orange-red rim. On the nose it was light, spearmint, rose, tar, reserved, deep. Thick chewy wine with definite spearmint/choc mint flavour, good acid kick and fine gravelly tannins. Definately didn't taste 20 years old Aussie red, more like 8 years. A bit like an old strong red from Cahors. Really long finish with mineral, mint, cherry elements. I can see why people say this Winery can produce wines of indefinite lifespan. Does it scale the heights? No, but a good mix with a medium rare brooding steak and masculine company (sorry girls). I'll leave some out and see what overnight brings. Interesting that Graemeg's note of 15 years ago closely matches mine now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Some older Aussies, and some others with friends (Chris and Renee's): Chris brought this on release and carried it with him as he moved around the world. This was great. Decanted for a few hours prior to serving. Purple in color. The nose is really interesting. Black cherries, plums, slight funk/earth and a bit of roasted meats. On the palate, this is really more elegant than expected. Not light or feminine, but has a silkiness to it that is very nice. Black raspberries, black cherries intertwined with earth. Deep and complex. Still showing young at twenty years, this seems to be at peak but no hurry at all. Long finish. A real treat. Thanks Chris.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
More advanced than the 01 (ShzMat), some increased complexity is really welcomed here after the youthful simplicity present in the previous flight (99 ShzMalb & 01 ShzMalb) . The tannins are softer, wine feels more together and composed overall. Perhaps fruit lacks the purity of the 2001. My contribution, so might be slightly biased! Drink now or over the next 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bottle of Pain dinner (Ibiza, New Haven, CT): Singular and compelling as Wendouree always is. A fragrance combining exotic minty, eucalyptus and herbal notes, dark chocolate, coal smoke and dark berried fruit, and a remarkably polished palate presence with much less tannin than I'd expect from a Wendouree of this age. The balance is impeccable with great purity and bright acids, and this is a fantastic wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rather shy on the nose aside from some indistinct ripe dark fruit. Grilled meat, mint, chocolate and iron. Already quite soft. A spritz of acidity brightens this wine considerably. Dry finish. Good balance of everything here. Perhaps not quite at peak yet but certainly close to it. Excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Professional reviews have copyrights and you can view them here for your personal use only as private content. To view pro reviews you must either subscribe to a pre-integrated publication or manually enter reviews below. Learn more.
8/29/2017 - crazywineguy Likes this wine: 91 Points
My first Wendouree. No ullage, good bottle. Cork crumbled out in pieces. Deep garnet centre and light orange-red rim. On the nose it was light, spearmint, rose, tar, reserved, deep. Thick chewy wine with definite spearmint/choc mint flavour, good acid kick and fine gravelly tannins. Definately didn't taste 20 years old Aussie red, more like 8 years. A bit like an old strong red from Cahors. Really long finish with mineral, mint, cherry elements. I can see why people say this Winery can produce wines of indefinite lifespan. Does it scale the heights? No, but a good mix with a medium rare brooding steak and masculine company (sorry girls). I'll leave some out and see what overnight brings. Interesting that Graemeg's note of 15 years ago closely matches mine now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2017 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 94 Points
Some older Aussies, and some others with friends (Chris and Renee's): Chris brought this on release and carried it with him as he moved around the world. This was great. Decanted for a few hours prior to serving. Purple in color. The nose is really interesting. Black cherries, plums, slight funk/earth and a bit of roasted meats. On the palate, this is really more elegant than expected. Not light or feminine, but has a silkiness to it that is very nice. Black raspberries, black cherries intertwined with earth. Deep and complex. Still showing young at twenty years, this seems to be at peak but no hurry at all. Long finish. A real treat. Thanks Chris.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2014 - TiggerK wrote: 92 Points
More advanced than the 01 (ShzMat), some increased complexity is really welcomed here after the youthful simplicity present in the previous flight (99 ShzMalb & 01 ShzMalb) . The tannins are softer, wine feels more together and composed overall. Perhaps fruit lacks the purity of the 2001. My contribution, so might be slightly biased! Drink now or over the next 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2013 - salil wrote: 93 Points
Bottle of Pain dinner (Ibiza, New Haven, CT): Singular and compelling as Wendouree always is. A fragrance combining exotic minty, eucalyptus and herbal notes, dark chocolate, coal smoke and dark berried fruit, and a remarkably polished palate presence with much less tannin than I'd expect from a Wendouree of this age. The balance is impeccable with great purity and bright acids, and this is a fantastic wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2013 - winesteward Likes this wine: 91 Points
Rather shy on the nose aside from some indistinct ripe dark fruit. Grilled meat, mint, chocolate and iron. Already quite soft. A spritz of acidity brightens this wine considerably. Dry finish. Good balance of everything here. Perhaps not quite at peak yet but certainly close to it. Excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment