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HIGHLY REGARDED AUSSIE SHIRAZ
A Blind-Tasting
August 10, 2005

Notes by
Gerald Weisl,
wine merchant

Following last week's tasting of Aussie Shiraz wines selling in the California market for less than $60, we assembled a set of wines which either have a great reputation or which aspire to great heights.

The tasting on August 3rd was rather disappointing.  One taster commented "The wines are too sweet to serve with dinner and too dry to serve with dessert."  Some tipped the scales with alcohol levels of 16% as well.

Ellen, who tastes ahead of the group, mentioned "This is a far better set of wines than last week's!"  (Bob is under the weather and did not join us for the tasting.)

I found the set significantly better than last week's wines.  They should be, given that they cost a small fortune.  One wine costs a large fortune.  The prices garnered by these wines must feature a significant "scarcity tax."

One wine was well ahead of the pack, though one taster ranked it last.  (It should be noted that we had an unusually small group of tasters.  It seems the theme of Australian Shiraz is less attractive than "Over-Priced Napa Cabernets" or "Hollow and Costly Oregon Pinot Noirs."



Here's what we found:

The Wines Gerald's Rank Ellen's Rank GROUP RANK Total Points 1sts/2nds/
Lasts

CLARENDON HILLS
2003 Clarendon
Hickinbotham
$115

7 8 7 43 1/0/1
D'ARENBERG
2002 McLaren Vale
The Dead Arm
$59.99
6 4 2 26 1/3/0
DUTSCHKE
2002 Barossa Valley
Oscar Semmler
$60
3 3 3 32 0/1/0
HARDYS
2000 South Australia
Eileen Hardy
$98
4 1 8 46 1/0/3
JASPER HILL
2002 Heathcote  Victoria
Georgia's Paddock
$90
2 7 4 38 0/2/1
OLIVERS TARANGA VNYDS
2001 McLaren Vale
HJ Reserve
$67
8 5 6 42 0/0/1
PENFOLDS
1999 South Australia
Grange
$229.99
1 2 1 20 5/1/1
TWO HANDS
2003 McLaren Vale
Lilys Garden
$65
5 6 5 41 0/1/1

8th Place:  HARDY'S  2000 "Eileen Hardy" SHIRAZ
One critic found this to be displaying "aromas and flavors reminiscent of tar and burnt rubber."  Someone else detected a "bit of rhubarb and coffee, but over all it's pretty simple."  Another critic found "Brettanomyces."  A fourth person described this as "too peppery and too acidic.  It's light to medium-bodied with an expressive finish."  A final taster noted "Light cranberry fruit and it turned really sour on the finish."
I found a more mature style of wine her.  It's got some oak and woodsy notes, but lacks the exuberant fruit of some of the wines, while not having the complexity and power of its competitor from Penfolds.  The wine, though, is still rather nice.  It's an oak-driven bottling, with lots of wood tones on the nose and palate.  Though an older wine, this still has a fair bit of tannin and needs more time.  Whether or not it has sufficient fruit to got that distance, only time will tell.  I gave it one-and-a-half to two stars on my three star scale, no stars being an ordinary or standard quality wine.



7th Place:  CLARENDON HILLS 2003 "Hickinbotham" SHIRAZ
"The nose on this," said one critic, "is more subdued than the other wines.  It's a bit simple and rather grapey."  Another taster said "I liked the fresh pepper."  One fan said "I liked the nose.  It's plummy but it tasted volatile and a bit sweet.  It's over-extracted and didn't really taste like Syrah."  Someone else mentioned "Licorice and tobacco are prominent on the nose.  It's nice, with full, complex black cherry and bittersweet chocolate notes."
I found the fragrance to be quite attractive at first.  It was very expressively peppery to start with a hint of oak, too.  Full bodied.  But it seems to fall down on the palate...there's virtually nothing here at the start.  The wine finally "arrives" around the mid-palate and there's a pleasant berry flavor and a touch of spice on the end.  I gave it one star.  The $115 price tag must be some sort of joke.  This is a solid $20 bottle of wine.




6th Place:  OLIVER'S TARANGA VINEYARDS 2001 "HJ Reserve" SHIRAZ
One taster encountered familiar characteristics in this wine, noting "It's like sweetened condensed milk with a butterscotch quality."  Another critic found "White pepper spice and sour cherry fruit with a touch of vanilla.  The problem here is this is a very simple wine."  Agreeing to some degree was one taster who simply found this to be "boring."  Another panel member described it as "An oak driven red wine but it lacks persistency on the palate."
I detected notes of ripe fruit and jam to start.  The fragrance is not particularly complex and it's rather ordinary, in fact.  I felt there might be a hint of sweetness to this wine, as well.  The wine is more expressive on the palate than on the nose.  It shows a nice berry quality and is a solid red wine but much over-shadowed in this line-up.  I gave it a one star rating and view it as about a $15 to $20 wine.

 

5th Place:  TWO HANDS 2002 "Lily's Garden" SHIRAZ
"This is a simple, lightly spicy red wine which is acidic on the palate. There are flavors of plum and blackberry fruit with a black tea finish.  It is not particularly complex." said one critic.  Another felt this "has no structure or backbone.  I'd guess it's best to drink now."  Someone else found this to show "Nice, light fruit notes with a bit of black pepper and a touch of wood.  It's simple, but I liked it."  One panel member found it "Refreshing and certainly drinkable with food.  It's got bright, cherry fruit, a bit of chocolate and some wood, but it's not too oaky."
I encountered mildly berryish fruit with a hint of stalkiness to start.  As it sat in the glass, the vegetal tone seemed to diminish and I found more spicy elements.  It's moderately tannic and a nicely spicy red wine with a bit of heat on the palate.  I gave it one-and-a-half stars.




4th Place:  JASPER HILL 2002 "Georgia's Paddock" SHIRAZ
One taster found "Black pepper, spice and clove notes in this wine."  Another described it as having "red fruit, black pepper and a bit of tannin.  This really blossomed in the glass."  Someone else felt this was "Very Australian in style and character.  It's got a eucalyptus note."  Other tasters mentioned it as being "tannic and firmer...well structured."
I found the nose to be classically Australian and very Shiraz-like.   The fragrances are reminiscent of violets, eucalyptus and exotic, dark berries.  The same notes shine on the palate in a nicely-balanced, not-too-tannic wine.  I like the interplay of berry and spice notes.  This was a two star wine on my score sheet.  It's a good $35-$50 bottle of wine.




3rd Place:  DUTSCHKE 2002 "Oscar Semmler" SHIRAZ
"This is the quintessential Aussie Shiraz...it's big, huge, hot, syrupy and a big, viscous wine.  It's nearly black in the glass!" said one taster.  Another person found "Red, jammy fruit notes and a hint of oak.  There's candied cherry fruit on the palate.  It's very 'American' in style, reminding me of some Behrens & Hitchcock wines."  One panel member found a lot of different notes in this wine: "Molasses and black fruits, this is mouth-coating with black cherry fruit and sweeter tannins.  It's got espresso and mocha notes on the finish."
I described this wine as a Pinot Noir-styled red amongst a sea of big bruisers.  The wine had a more high-toned fruity element than any other wine in the tasting.  I thought there might be a touch of sweetness in this wine, too.  The flavors are very pretty, showing notes of plums and blackberries.  It's not too tannic, so the balance of fruit and astringency is appropriate.  I felt this is probably best in its youth, though.  Charming wine.  Two stars.




2nd Place:  D'ARENBERG 2002 "Dead Arm" SHIRAZ
One taster said "I really liked this.  It's classic Syrah, along the lines of a French wine with animal and bacony notes."  Someone else found "Great blackberry fruit on the nose and a touch of oak.  There's a bit of eucalyptus, too, with blackberry and blueberry notes and a very long finish.  It ought to age well, too."  Another taster found "Tobacco and anise notes.  It's nicely balanced with big, smoky notes.  It's a multi-layered wine with bittersweet chocolate."  Less enthusiastic was one panel member who encountered "Nail polish notes and off aromas to start, but these seemed to blow off.  It's low in acidity and soft, dense Shiraz with a mildly tannic finish."  Someone else was in agreement with this last assessment.
I found a more 'earthy' style of Shiraz in this wine.  It seemed a bit rustic and less polished than the others.  I have tasted this vintage previously and found it to be more berryish and impressive.  This bottle seemed a bit tight and showing some aggressive, coarse tannins.  There's a nice touch of violet fruit.  I finally gave it a one star rating.




1st Place:  PENFOLDS 1999 "Grange"
The clear winner in this tasting, this also has a big lead in terms of pricing, being more than three times as costly as some of the other contenders.  One taster found this "Closed at first.  It's got dark, earthy, plummy notes on the nose and a fair amount of oak.  It's fairly extracted.  Old vines?  Not a whole lot of fruit, but very long on the palate."  Someone noted this as being "drier than the other wines, but it's short on the palate."  Another taster found it "Forward and ripe, with concentrated oak.  It's thick, full-bodied and well-filled...very showy wine.  I liked it!"  One critic found it "too acidic and it's got a short finish.  It's too light.  I'm expecting an Australian Shiraz to be richer and bigger."
The theme here is oak, but it's a wonderfully woodsy wine, with cedar notes and some mint.  Very fine.  It's an older wine, to be sure, but well-structured and not the flat, sloppy, "gob o' fruit" sort of wine we found in last week's tasting.   It's as elegant in this tasting as a top flight Bordeaux.  Impressively styled.  Deep.  Rich.  Big.  Important.  I gave this a two-and-a-half star rating.  Very fine!   Don't get me started on the price of this!

 

Please note: The wines tasted are not always wines we have (or have had) in the shop.
Many bottles are merely for our enological exploration.
Price quoted are current at the time of the tasting, but may be different when you're reading this.


WE HAVE NOT ORGANIZED A TASTING IN A WHILE...
BUT WE DO POST THE RESULTS OF A PRIVATE TASTING GROUP THAT'S BEEN MEETING FOR MORE THAN 47 YEARS!

We are working on organizing some blind-tastings at the shop.
Send us a note to indicate your interest in participating.
These would be on Wednesday evenings and you'd need to bring 8 wine glasses.


THE VINO-FINO TASTERS
(A private tasting group that's been meeting for more than 44 years!)

CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS  April 2023

CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAYS  March 2023

CALIFORNIA SYRAHS of MODEST PRICING  February 2023

CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS  January 2023

2022 HOLIDAY WINE & FOOD MARATHON

GIGONDAS  November 2022

ITALIAN & CALIFORNIA BARBERA   October 2022

2021 FRENCH ROSÉS    September 2022

2019 BORDEAUX (Mostly Left Bank)  August 2022

June Tasting Postponed

WASHINGTON STATE CABERNETS  (of Modest Pricing)  JUNE 2022

MOSTLY NAPA CABERNETS  May 2022

ITALIAN PINOT NERO / PINOT NOIR / BLAUBURGUNDER   April 2022

MORE 2018 BORDEAUX  (Left Bank)  MARCH 2022

ETNA ROSSO WINES   February 2022

MOSTLY GEORGIAN SAPERAVI  January 2022

THE HOLIDAY WINE & FOOD MARATHON December 2021

DRY GERMAN RIESLINGS   November 2021

MODESTLY-PRICED CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS   October 2021

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE GRENACHE  September 2021

CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAYS   August 2021

CHIANTI CLASSICO 2017 & 2018  JULY 2021

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE PINOT NOIRS  June 2021

MORE CALIFORNIA CABERNETS TASTED IN PERSON!  May 2021

CALIFORNIA CABERNETS  Pandemic Mode  April 2021

2018 BORDEAUX in Pandemic Mode  March 2021

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE CHARDONNAYS in Pandemic Mode  February 2021

CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAYS  in Pandemic Mode  January 2021

CABERNETS FROM WINERIES OPERATING IN THE EARLY DAYS OF THE VINO FINO GROUP  December 2020

CALIFORNIA SAUVIGNON BLANCS  November 2020

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS   October 2020

2017 FRENCH WHITE BURGUNDY  September 2020

PANDEMIC PINOT NOIRS  August 2020

CABERNETS of 2016 & 2017  JULY 2020

NEBBIOLO FROM THE LANGHE   February 2020

AMERICAN RIESLINGS  January 2020

THE ANNUAL HOLIDAY WINE & FOOD MARATHON  December 2019

CURRENT VINTAGES OF GIGONDAS  November 2019

2016 RIGHT BANK BORDEAUX  October 2019

CHILEAN CABERNETS  September 2019

2015 + 2016 CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPES  August 2019

CHARDONNAYS (Mostly Californian)  JULY 2019

2016 BORDEAUX (Left Bank) TASTING  JUNE 2019

ITALIAN BARBERA TASTING  May 2019

NEW ZEALAND PINOT NOIRS  April 2019

2016 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS  March 2019

NORTHERN RHÔNE SYRAHS  February 2019

SAUVIGNON BLANC-SAUVIGNON GRIS-SAUVIGNON MUSQUÉ  January 2019

VINO FINO HOLIDAY WINE & FOOD MARATHON   December 2018

SPANISH ALBARIÑO  November 2018

WEST COAST SYRAHS   October 2018

CHIANTI CLASSICO MOSTLY  September 2018

SOUTH AMERICAN MALBECS  August 2018

CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS  July 2018

WEST COAST RHÔNE WANNABEES  June 2018

WASHINGTON CABERNETS  MAY 2018

GERALD IN EUROPE IN MARCH/APRIL

NAPA CABERNET$  February 2018

AUSSIE & KIWI RIESLINGS  January 2018

2017 HOLIDAY WINE & FOOD MARATHON  December 2017

FRENCH WHITE BURGUNDY  November 2017

SAUVIGNON BLANC/SEMILLON BLENDS  October 2017

SOUTHERN RHÔNE REDS  September 2017

SONOMA COAST & RUSSIAN RIVER PINOT NOIRS  August 2017

ETNA BIANCO--WINES FROM THE VOLCANO  July 2017

CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS  June 2017

TANNAT WINES FROM HITHER & YON  May 2017

NEW ZEALAND PINOT NOIRS  April 2017

RIOJA REDS February 2017

AMERICAN "RHONE WANNABEES"  January 2017

2016 HOLIDAY WINE MARATHON  December 2016

GERMAN AUSLESEN RIESLINGS  November 2016

GRÜNER VELTLINERS Austrian vs The US  October 2016

GRENACHE -- MOSTLY WEST COAST  September 2016

WASHINGTON STATE CABERNETS  August 2016

CANNONAU DI SARDEGNA  July 2016

NORTHERN HEMISPHERE RIESLINGS  June 2016

2013 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS  May 2016

CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS  April 2016

MOSTLY CHIANTI RISERVAS  February 2016

2012 BORDEAUX--LEFT BANK  JANUARY 2016

HOLIDAY WINE MARATHON  December 2015

CATALONIA:  PRIORAT WINES  November 2015

CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS  October 2015

WEST COAST SYRAHS   September 2015

SOUTH AFRICAN CABERNETS & CABERNET BLENDS   August 2015

PINOT BLANC July 2015

CROZES-HERMITAGE   June 2015

ECLECTIC SAUVIGNON BLANCS  May 2015

NEWLY-RELEASED CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS  April 2015

ALTO ADIGE LAGREINS  February 

WASHINGTON STATE CABERNETS  January 2015

2014 VINO FINO HOLIDAY WINE DINNER & TASTING  December 2014

MOSTLY GIGONDAS  October 2014

MOSTLY 2010 & 2011 CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE WINES  September 2014

2012 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS of MODEST PRICE August 2014

SANCERRES   July 2014

2012 VINTAGE CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS  June 2014

MOSTLY ITALIAN BARBERA, MOSTLY 2011 VINTAGE  May 2014

CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS  April 2014

VINO FINO 40th ANNIVERSARY DINNER   February 2014

FRENCH WHITE BORDEAUX   January 2014

The 2013 HOLIDAY WINE & FOOD MARATHON  December 2013

AUSTRALIAN SHIRAZ   November 2013

MALBECS OF ARGENTINA  October 2013

AFFORDABLE FRENCH RED BURGUNDIES  September 2013

MOURVEDRE AND MOURVEDRE BLENDS  August 2013

ITALIAN VERMENTINO  July 2013

MOSTLY SPANISH TEMPRANILLO  JUNE 2013

CALIFORNIA GRENACHE & GRENACHE BLENDS  MAY 2013

TEMPRANILLOS (Mostly Southern Oregon)  FEBRUARY 2013

PORTUGUESE REDS Featuring TOURIGA NACIONAL  January 2013

2012 HOLIDAY WINE MARATHON at the OLYMPIC CLUB  December 2012

FRENCH & CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAYS  November 2012

WASHINGTON STATE CABERNETS  October 2012

AUSSIE SHIRAZ  September 2012

CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS  August 2012

RIESLINGS FROM ALSACE  July 2012

2009 PIEMONTESE BARBERAS  June 2012

WEST COAST PINOT NOIRS  April 2012

MOSTLY 2009 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS  March 2012

WEST COAST SYRAHS  February 2012

PRIMITIVO FROM PUGLIA AND SONOMA  January 2012

VINO FINO HOLIDAY TASTING & DINNER  December 2011

MOSTLY CHAMPAGNE WITH TWO MYSTERY CONTESTANTS  November 2011

VINO NOBILE DI MONTEPULCIANO MEETS WASHINGTON STATE   October 2011

MOSTLY SONOMA ZINFANDELS  September 2011

LOIRE VALLEY CHENIN BLANCS  August 2011

2008 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS  July 2011

MOSTLY 2006 NAPA CABERNETS   June 2011

2008-2009 PIEMONTESE BARBERAS  May 2011

2008-2009 CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS  April 2011

MOSTLY 2008 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS  March 2011

GERMAN SPÄTLESE RIESLINGS (Mostly) February 2011

2009 CRU BEAUJOLAIS   January 2011

VINO FINO HOLIDAY DINNER & WINE MARATHON  December 2010

MODESTLY-PRICED OREGON PINOT NOIRS  November 2010

MOSTLY 2007 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS  October 2010

MODESTLY-PRICED CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS  September 2010

2007 LEFT BANK BORDEAUX August 2010

WASHINGTON STATE CABS & BORDEAUX BLENDS
July 2010

2007 BARBERA  June 2010

2007 NAPA & SONOMA ZINFANDELS  April 2010

2007 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS  March 2010

2007 RUSSIAN RIVER PINOT NOIRS  February 2010

A RANGE OF FRENCH CHABLIS WINES  January 2010

HOLIDAY DINNER & WINE MARATHON  December 2009

ROSÉ SPARKLING WINES  November 2009

ARGENTINEAN MALBECS  October 2009

WEST COAST CHARDONNAYS  September 2009

GREEK RED WINES  August 2009

2005 BUDGET BORDEAUX  July 2009

CAMPANIAN WHITE WINES  June 2009

MIXED BAG OF CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS  April 2009

RIOJA WINES, MOSTLY FROM THE 2004 VINTAGE  March 2009

NORTH COAST PETITE SIRAHS  February 2009


SYRAH & PETITE SIRAH COMPARISON  January 2009

A VINO FINO CHRISTMAS  December 2008

MOSTLY 2005s: NAPA CABERNETS  November 2008

SONOMA COUNTY PINOT NOIRS  October 2008

SANTA RITA HILLS -2006 VINTAGE- PINOT NOIRS  SEPTEMBER 2008

NEWLY RELEASED ZINFANDELS  August 2008

WHITE RHÔNE VALLEY WINES  JULY 2008

LOIRE VALLEY SAUVIGNONS  JUNE 2008

FRENCH CHABLIS 2005-2006  MAY 2008

NORTHERN RHÔNE SYRAHS  APRIL 2008

SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAINS PINOT NOIRS  January 2008

ANNUAL HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS DINNER  December 2007

WEST COAST CHARDONNAYS  November 2007

AUSTRALIAN SHIRAZ  October 2007

SPANISH TEMPRANILLO WINES  September 2007

SONOMA'S 2005 VINTAGE ZINFANDELS  August 2007

CURRENT RELEASE (2004-2005) ZINFANDELS  July 2007

ROS WINES FROM ALL OVER  June 2007

ITALIAN LAGREIN WINES  May 2007

ARGENTINEAN MALBECS  April 2007

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE PINOT NOIRS  March 2007

MOSTLY 2004 CABERNETS   February 2007

CRU BEAUJOLAIS  January 2007

A VINO FINO CHRISTMAS  December 2006

CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS  November 2006

PINOT NOIRS of VALUE-PRICING  October 2006

WORLD OF SYRAHS TASTING September 2006

AUSSIE CABERNET-SHIRAZ BLENDS  August 2006

ALEXANDER VALLEY (California)  and MARGARET RIVER (Australia) CABERNETS  July 2006 

CALIFORNIA PETITE SIRAHS  June 2006

2004 NORTH COAST PINOTS and a FRENCH INTRUDER  May 2006

AGLIANICO : BASILICATA & CAMPANIA'S MAJOR RED WINE  April 2006

NERO D'AVOLA - A TASTE OF SICILIA  March 2006

UNDER THE VINO FINO RADAR ZINFANDELS  January 2006

HOLIDAY WINE TASTING & DINNER  December 2005

BUBBLIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD  November 2005

NORTH COAST PINOT NOIRS  October 2005

STATE OF CONFUSION CABERNETS  September 2005

TIM ZAINER'S SIDEWAYS LOOK AT MERLOTS  August 2005

LOIRE VALLEY CABERNET FRANCS  June 2005 

CALIFORNIA SYRAHS  March 2005

2002 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS  February 2005

VINO FINO HOLIDAY WINE MARATHON  December 2004

CHARDONNAYS OF MODEST PRICE November 2004

SPANISH TEMPRANILLO  October 2004

2002 CENTRAL COAST PINOT NOIRS  September 2004

AUSSIE SHIRAZ-CABERNET BLENDS  August 2004

GEWÜRZTRAMINERS FROM ALSACE July 2004

2001 SOUTHERN RHNES (7 Chteauneufs & a Vacqueyras)  June 2004

AGLIANICO WINES FROM CAMPANIA & BASILICATA  May 2004

MONTEPULCIANO WINES FROM THE ABRUZZO & MARCHE REGIONS  April 2004

SONOMA ZINFANDELS  February 2004

1997 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO  January 2004

VINO FINO HOLIDAY BACCHANALIA 2003

2001 CÔTES du RHÔNES  September 17, 2003

2000 OREGON PINOT NOIRS  August 20, 2003

WEST COAST SYRAHS  July 16, 2003

2000 Bordeaux  June 18, 2003

2000 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS May 21, 2003

OFF THE BEATEN PATH SYRAHS APRIL 16, 2003

2002 NEW ZEALAND SAUVIGNON BLANCS  March 19, 2003

1999 California CABERNETS  February 19, 2003

VINO FINO HOLIDAY BACCHANALIA December 4, 2002

CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS 1999-2000  November 20, 2002

AUSTRIAN WHITE WINES  October 16, 2002

AUSTRALIAN SHIRAZ  August 21, 2002

CHAMPAGNES & SPARKLERS July 17, 2002

Interesting Paired CHARDONNAYS
May 15, 2002

2001 Southern Hemisphere SAUVIGNON BLANCS   Feb. 20, 2002

1999 ZINFANDELS January 16, 2002

HOLIDAY SEASON BACCHANALIA
December 5, 2001

1999-2000 New PINOT NOIRS November 14, 2001

1999 CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS October 17, 2001

1998 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS September 19, 2001

1999 LANGUEDOC REDS August 15, 2001

1997 SAUTERNES July 18, 2001

Mostly 1998 NEBBIOLO June 20, 2001

1999 PINOT NOIRS May 16, 2001

1996 SAINT-MILION Tasting April 18, 2001

CARNEROS CHARDONNAYS March 21, 2001

1984-1985 NAPA CABERNETS/John Vignau Memorial Tasting  October 20, 2000

1997 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS   September 20, 2000

1998 CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAYS   August 16, 2000

WINES FROM THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE: CLARETS  June 21, 2000

WINES FROM UNDER THE TUSCAN (and Umbrian) SUN   Aprile 19, 2000

1997 BORDEAUX: MEDOC May 17, 2000


 


WEIMAX TASTING ARCHIVE

NAPA CABERNETS 2004 Vintage  March 19, 2008

CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS-2005s  March 13, 2008

OREGON PINOT NOIRS  February 6, 2008

MOSTLY 2004 CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS  April 25, 2007

WASHINGTON STATE CLARETS  April, 11, 2007

2004 NORTHERN RHONE SYRAHS  April 4, 2007

2001 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO  March 28, 2007

2001 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS   November 8, 2006

2003 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS  October 18, 2006

2003 CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPES-Flight #2  October 4, 2006

OLDER TUSCAN REDS--MOSTLY SANGIOVESES   September 20, 2006

2003 NAPA CABERNETS  July 19, 2006

2003 SAINT EMILIONS  July 12, 2006

CALIFORNIA SYRAHS  2003-2004  July 5, 2006

2004 CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS  June 21, 2006

GRAND CRU BURGUNDIES 2003 VINTAGE  May 31, 2006

CELLAR DWELLERS:  1990 CABERNETS & 1990 BORDEAUX  May 17, 2006

SOUTH AMERICAN CLARETS  May 10, 2006

2003 CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE  May 3, 2006

2004 GOLDEN STATE PINOT NOIRS  April 19, 2006

2002 NAPA CABERNETS  March 15, 2006

2003 WEST COAST PINOT NOIRS  March 8, 2006

2003 NORTH COAST ZINFANDELS  March 1, 2006

1996 BURGUNDIES vs. 1997 SONOMA PINOT NOIRS  November 9, 2005

2002 CABERNETS, ETC.   November 2, 2005

2002 NAPA CABERNETS  October 19, 2005

2002 GRAND CRU BURGUNDIES  September 14, 2005

2002 RED BURGUNDIES   September 7, 2005

2002 MEURSAULTS  August 31, 2005

NORTHERN RHNE SYRAHS  August 17, 2005

HIGHLY-REGARDED AUSSIE SHIRAZ  August 10, 2005

AUSSIE SHIRAZ UNDER $60  August 3, 2005

STUPIDLY-PRICED SPANISH TEMPRANILLO WINES  June 8, 2005

RANDOM CALIFORNIA SYRAHS  June 1, 2005

2002 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS  May 18, 2005

2001 NAPA CABERNETS  May 11, 2005

OREGON PINOT NOIRS-2002 & 2003 VINTAGE WINES   April 27, 2005

CELLAR DWELLERS: 1990 BURGUNDIES and a COUPLE OF CALIFORNIA PINOTS  April 6, 2005

CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS (Mostly 2002s)  MARCH 16, 2002

1999 BRUNELLO di MONTALCINO  March 9, 2005

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE CLARETS  March 2, 2005

PETITE SIRAHS  February 16, 2005

ROS CHAMPAGNES AND CALIFORNIA PINK BUBBLIES   February 9, 2005

CELLAR DWELLERS: 1991 CABERNET SAUVIGNONS   January 19, 2005

2001 FAMOUS AND INFAMOUS CABERNETS  November 10, 2004

2001 Napa CABERNETS  November 3, 2004

WEST COAST SYRAHS  October 20, 2004

1990 RED BORDEAUX & CALIFORNIA CLARETS  October 13, 2004

SPANISH TEMPRANILLOS of 1999 & 2000  September 29, 2004

2002 PULIGNY-MONTRACHET  September 8, 2004

2002 CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHET  September 1, 2004

UNDER THE RADAR PINOT NOIRS  August 18, 2004

2001 SAINT-JULIEN & PAUILLACS  July 21, 2004

2001 MARGAUX  July 14, 2004

CELLAR DWELLERS: 1982 BORDEAUX  July 7, 2004

2001 POMEROLS  June 30, 2004

2001 SAINT MILIONS  June 16, 2004

2000 CLOS de VOUGEOT (and a ringer) MAY 12, 2004

2001 OREGON PINOT NOIRS  May 5, 2004

2001 CALIFORNIA MERLOTS  April 21, 2004

1994 WEST COAST CABERNETS  APRIL 14, 2004

1999-2000 BORDEAUX COMPARISON
March 10, 2004

1999 BAROLO March 3, 2004

2000 Deluxe Napa CABERNETS  February 18, 2004

2000 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS $50 & Under   February 11, 2004

1998 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO  February 4, 2004

TURLEY ZINFANDELS  1995 & 1999 Vintages   January 7, 2004

2000 PRESTIGIOUS WEST COAST CABERNETS  November 12, 2003

1999 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS  November 5, 2003

SANTA LUCIA HIGHLANDS PINOT NOIRS  October 29, 2003

MOSTLY 2001 VINTAGE GIGONDAS October 22, 2003

SPANISH TEMPRANILLO WINES October 9, 2003

SPARKLING WINES-METHODE CHAMPENOISE  October 1, 2003

1996 (Mostly) AUSTRALIAN (Mostly) SHIRAZ September 24, 2003

2000 NUITS-ST.-GEORGES  September 10, 2003

PRIORATO WINES FROM SPAIN  September 3, 2003

WEST COAST SANGIOVESES  August 27, 2003

2000 PULIGNY-MONTRACHET (Mostly Premier Cru Wines)  August 13, 2003

2000 CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY  August 6, 2003

2000 NAPA CABERNETS  July 30, 2003

1999 TUSCAN SANGIOVESE-BASED WINES  July 23, 2003

2000 VINTAGE MERLOTS  July 9, 2003

SYRAHS FROM HITHER & YON  July 2, 2003

2001 CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS  June 25, 2003

NEW PINOT NOIRS  June 4, 2003

1999 NAPA CABERNETS May 28, 2003

1994 PINOT NOIRS  May 14, 2003

CHILEAN CLARETS  May 7, 2003

PETITE SIRAHS of Current Release.
April 30, 2003


1999 CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHETS  Premier Cru Selections   April 9, 2003

1999 GRAND CRU'S of GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN  April 2, 2003

1999-2000 SOUTHERN FRENCH REDS (RHONE WANNABE'S)  MARCH 26, 2003

1995-1996 VINTAGE CHAMPAGNE TASTING MARCH 12, 2003

2000 CHATEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE TASTING  MARCH 5, 2003 

2000 NAPA VALLEY CABERNET TASTING  FEBRUARY 26th, 2003

1990 FRENCH RED BURGUNDY TASTING  February 12, 2003

1999 & 2000 CALIFORNIA PINOT NOIRS  November 13, 2002

1999 NAPA CABERNETS  November 6, 2002

1997 BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO  OCTOBER 30, 2002

AUSSIE SHIRAZ TASTING  OCTOBER 23, 2002

1999 CHATEAUNEUF-du-PAPE TASTING  October 9, 2002

1999 NAPA CABERNETS  September 25, 2002

1999 WASHINGTON STATE CABERNETS  September 11, 2002

1991 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS  September 4, 2002

1999 PULIGNY-MONTRACHET 1er Cru Tasting  August 28, 2002

AUSTRALIAN CABERNETS (Mostly 1999s) August 14, 2002

1999 FRENCH BURGUNDY July 24, 2002

1999 GRAVES BLANC July 10, 2002

2000 CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAY  July 3, 2002

1999/2000 CONDRIEU TASTING  June 26, 2002

1999 PAUILLAC & SAINT JULIEN TASTING  June 12, 2002

1999 MARGAUX TASTING  June 5, 2002

1985 CABERNETS & MEDOC TASTING May 29, 2002

1998 California CABERNETS   May 22, 2002

South American MALBEC May 8, 2002

1999 West Coast MERLOTS  May 1, 2002

Central Coast (California) PINOT NOIRS  April 24, 2002

2001 Southern Hemisphere SAUVIGNON BLANCS  April 10, 2002

1999 CALIFORNIA ZINFANDELS  April 3, 2002

1999 FRENCH RHÔNE SYRAHS February 13, 2002

(Mostly) 1999 CALIFORNIA SYRAHS January 30, 2002

MORE 1997 BAROLO  January 23, 2002

1997 Late-Released CABERNETS  January 9, 2002

1997 BAROLO  October 24, 2001

1985-1990 RED BURGUNDIES  October 10, 2001

1998 Grand Crus of Gevrey Chambertin  October 3, 2001

PRIORAT WINES  September 26, 2001

1998 CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE September 12, 2001

1999 "High Roller" CHARDONNAYS  September 5, 2001

1998 BORDEAUX  August 22, 2001

1999 WEST COAST PINOT NOIRS August 8, 2001

1997 VOSNE-ROMANÉE Tasting  August 1, 2001

1999 CALIFORNIA ZINS  July 25, 2001

1998 CABERNET SAUVIGNONS  July 11,  2001

OLD CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAYS June 6, 2001

1997 ECHEZEAUX May 30, 2001

1999 NORTH COAST ZINFANDELS May 23, 2001

1999 West Coast Merlots May 9, 2001

1999 WEST COAST PINOT NOIRS May 2, 2001

1997 BARBARESCO  April 25, 2001

Mostly RUSSIAN RIVER PINOT NOIRS  April 11, 2001

1997 NAPA CABERNETS April 4, 2001

1995 BRUNELLO di MONTALCINO March 28, 2001

1997 CHAMBOLLE-MUSIGNY & MOREY SAINT DENIS
with one 1996...March 14, 2001

1997 GEVREY-CHAMBERTIN  March 7, 2001

1996 BAROLO  February 28, 2001

1978-1979 California Cabernets January 10, 2001

1997 California Cabernets November 8, 2000

1997 TUSCAN SANGIOVESES  November 1, 2000

1997-1998 Châteauneuf-du-Pape & CALIFORNIA WANNABEEs  October 25, 2000

Mostly 1998 PINOT NOIRS  October 11, 2000

1996 CALIFORNIA CABERNETS  October 4, 2000

MATURE CLARETS  September 27, 2000

1997 RED BORDEAUX  September 13, 2000

1997 NAPA CABERNETS   September 6, 2000

1998 CALIFORNIA CHARDONNAYS   August 30, 2000

1997 CLOS DE VOUGEOTS August 23, 2000

PETITE SIRAH & SYRAH (West Coast)  August 9, 2000

FANCY CALIFORNIA MERLOTS   August 2, 2000

1996 FAMOUS CALIFORNIA CABERNETS  June 14, 2000

WEST COAST SYRAHS  June 7, 2000

1997 CABERNETS  May 31, 2000

VIOGNIERS of RECENT VINTAGE May 24, 2000

1997-1998 ZINFANDELS  May 10, 2000

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE CLARETS May 3, 2000

1996 California CABERNETS  April 12, 2000

1996 FRENCH RED BURGUNDIES   March 29, 2000

CALIFORNIA vs ITALIAN (Tuscan) SANGIOVESE  March 22, 2000

WEST COAST PINOT NOIRS  March 8, 2000

AUSSIE SHIRAZ TASTING  March 1, 2000

FRENCH CHAMPAGNES (NV BRUTS)  January 5, 2000

1996 BORDEAUX (MEDOC) TASTING  November 10, 1999

CABERNET-INFLUENCED VINI FROM ITALY November 3, 1999

CABERNETS OF THE WORLD TASTING October 27, 1999

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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