Shiraz

Dense dark Ruby - call it black. Ripe plum, dark chocolate and the trademark menthol/eucalypt notes. Rich and full bodied. If you were blind tasting this you would never say this was 21 years old. After a while in the decanter red fruits became apparent - the profound intensity remained. A freak of a wine from vineyards, some of which date back to the 1890s.

Initial impressions - Earthy, Herbal, Soy. Cherry complex and long. Much intestinal fortitude ie. guts. Thankfully not overly menthol/eucalyptus (just a trace) as you often get with all Wendouree Cuvées. Amazing the intensity provided by those old vines going back to the 1890’s. Could easily last another 5 to 10 years but pretty much at its peak right now. This is as good as Australian Shiraz gets - up there with Grange and Hill of Grace and recognised as such by Langtons. With time in the decanter, like all great wines, they develop and change. I was getting raspberry and mineral after a few hours. An exceptional wine and in the top 5 or so wines I have had this year. In good vintages I don’t think Wendouree Shiraz should be approached at under 20 years of age.

In the Wendouree hierarchy of Cuvées the straight Shiraz is generally considered the premium with some of the vines dating back to the 1880s in age. Aromas of blackberry and aniseed with touches of mint. Not too much of the trademark Menthol/Eucalyptus found in most Wendouree Reds. Palate is a mixture of black and red fruits with a savouriness - earthy iron notes. 2011 was not a good vintage in South Australia as vintage conditions were very wet. I would normally not approach Wendouree reds under 15 years of age but because of the vintage I decided to open this. It still has another 10 years of life in front of it. The old vine material proves its worth even in poor vintages. Wendouree Shiraz is in the top Langtons Classification of Exceptional along with Grange and Hill of Grace.

Far too young, but it sings already
Nice sour cherry with white pepper and pencil lead and a little balsamic too
European tannin of the best kind
I'd say silky here
Super long and intense
I'd say we should forget ii in the bottom of the cellar for easily 15 to 20 years, but if by mistake you popped it opened give me a shout

So easy drinking
Fruit that goes from blueberry to nectarines
Shades and details
Mushrooms and pencil lead,
And definitely lots more
Textural feeling is the epitome of the Oz fist in the velvet glove.
Extraordinarily persistent
Tannin that caresses your palate
Still a fair way to go
All in balance with power no decadent at all

Yes elegant, but quite simple altogether
On the light side of the spectrum
If you had it side by side with the 1991 you wouldn't bet a penny on the two being the same wine, just different years
It ends long, but goes through a moment of warmth in your after taste due to the alcohol that doesn't look integrated
Funny but after a while the lingering is pleasant
At peak I would say, but it would not fear a little longer time in the bottle

A little baby 👶🏼
Time will be kind.

Still a touch of menthol/eucalypt which seems to be a characteristic of this Vineyard not necessarily the grape type. Savoury full bodied not Fruit full bodied. Amazingly strong core for 17 years of age - the product of very old vines - some going back to the 1890’s. Most Wendouree Wines are built for extended cellaring and this is no exception. Some earthy tarriness. Still with a 5 to 10 year future.

What was I think drinking this beast. Thought I would try but the alcohol knocked my palate into submission. You can tell this will be a ripper in 15.

Cork v crumbly. But oxidised and tired, shame, bones of a great wine remain