1997 Chris Ringland Shiraz Randall's Hill

Community Tasting Notes (9) Avg Score: 94.9 points

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  9/24/2020 - peternelson Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Wow, I don't drink much Aussie Shiraz but this was killer. I was afraid I would get beaten up by oak and flattened by the fruit. OK, there's certainly is oak on this, but so nicely integrated by now and the fruit as well. Rich but tangy, starting tertiaries, with mocha and almost bitter cacao notes, smoky nuance, slight eucalyptus thing, lightly stewed black fruits, old raspberry puree, not gooey or sweet, but complex and long with killer balance for a big boy. In perfect shape. No signs of over-aging, will hold for another 5-10 easily IMHO. But then came the La Turque....
  Langham Hotel Terrace w/Yarom and gang

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  3/23/2018 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 95 Points

  My first Ringland. Plenty of youthful red fruit with a quirky finish of cherry cola. It put on some weight after a short decant. Not much complexity but delicious and unusual.

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  1/19/2011 - djw Likes this wine: 94 Points

  Decanted 1 hour. Smooth and silky. Blue berry and black berries. Licorice notes. Long smooth finish.

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  2/13/2010 - TMacpherson wrote: 96 Points

  This wine was aged in 100% new oak for 36 months before being bottled unfined and unfiltered. Tonite there wasn't a hint of wood. The nose was a beautiful -- yet powerful -- mix of ripe plums, blueberries, and black raspberries. Some said they had a hint of nori, but I didn't get that. On the mouth the wine was silky smooth with the acidity in perfect balance. The deep dark fruit was also in perfect harmony with the relatively sweet tannins. The finish was an elegant yet well defined 45+ seconds. This was very different than the '99 and '00 Chris Ringland's we've had previously. Much better balance at a quarter of the cost.

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  9/11/2009 - rthun wrote: 96 Points

  Near black color with slight brick around the rim. Nose of eucalyptus and candied, dark fruits. Excellent mouth feel. Flavors of dark cherries, currants, eucalyptus, licorice, tar, mint, anise and beef blood. Finish goes on and on in the mouth. Well balanced - not your typical, clumsy, overly alcoholed Aussie fruit bomb. For my palate, Chris Ringland makes the best Aussie wines hands down. Randall’s Hill is supposedly made in off years. Chris may have been too hard on this vintage – this should have been a Three Rivers/Chris Ringland designation from my vantage point. If you want to get a try of Three Rivers/Chris Ringland quality for half the price, get a bottle of the 1997 Randall’s Hill if you can find one. Wine will probably be at its peak in 2 years. Drink now. 96+

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