Aussie, Aussie, Aussie at Lori’s

Lori hosted 15 of us last night in St. Paul and the theme was Australia and New Zealand. Providing six of the wines helped for sure as the newer vintages did not show nearly as well. Here are the notes.

CellarTracker! Aussie, Aussie, Aussie at Lori’s House

• 2023 Two Hands Riesling The Boy – Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
  Nice slate, lemon, kiwi, orange peel and mild spice. Medium finish. (91 pts.)
• 2021 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc – New Zealand, South Island, Marlborough
  Maybe the most overrated New Zealand. Light with grass, mild fruit and floral. Tastes like flavored water. Plus did not help that the cheap guest brought to a $50 plus tasting. (75 pts.)
• 2021 Burn Cottage Pinot Noir Burn Cottage Vineyard – New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago
  This was a fun wine overall with cranberry, minerals, strawberries, floral and violets. Medium plus finish and nicely balanced. Fun to try. (91 pts.)
• 2020 Shaw and Smith Chardonnay Lenswood Vineyard – Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills
  Very good with mild oak, lemon, flint, kiwi, dust and orange peel. Love the style. Not cheap however. Medium finish and nice acidity. (93 pts.)

• 1998 Fox Creek Shiraz Reserve – Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
  Wine of the night by almost everyone. This is an amazing effort and one of the great Shiraz wines from Australia. Other vintages are not even close to this level. Natural cork and 14.5% alcohol. Black licorice, eucalyptus, black pepper, tar, red currants, dust and spice. Medium to long finish. 30 minute decant and had to removed sediment. Seek some out as it has another 5 plus years of enjoyment. (96 pts.)
• 2003 Shirvington Shiraz – Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
  Almost as good as the Fox Creek and by far the second best wine at the tasting. Spice, perfume, blueberries, pepper, earth, dried flowers and dark cherry. Medium finish and balance wine even at 16% alcohol. Should drink well for another decade. (95 pts.)
• 2006 Two Hands Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Coach House Block’ Single Vineyard Seppeltsfield Road, Greenock – Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
  Still has plenty of life left. Decanted 2 hours and later in the night even better on its showing. Cherry, dust, tar, raspberries, chalk and earth. While not in the league of the previous two bottles at this tasting better then almost everything later. (93 pts.)
• 2012 Shirvington Shiraz – Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
  Still young and hold. More acidity than most of the wines tonight and lighter in style which I don’t mind. Sour cherry, floral, menthol, floral and more on the elegance side of things. (90 pts.)
• 2013 Penfolds Shiraz St. Henri – Australia, South Australia
  Third best wine at the tasting. Black pepper, spice, dark fruits floral, dust, earth, tar and violets. Medium plus finish and still has another 15 plus years of enjoyment. (94 pts.)

• 2014 Barossa Valley Estate Shiraz E & E Black Pepper – Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
  This is going in the right direction and recommend 5 more years before opening again. Dark fruit, eucalyptus, blueberries, spices, stone and earth. Very nice concertation and medium plus finish. Would have been great on day 3 if it wasn’t a larger event. (93 pts.)
• 2018 Two Hands Shiraz Lily’s Garden – Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
  Well the newer vintages at this tasting did not score nearly as well. Strawberries, pepper, spice and cherry. A very simple wine that is meant more as a crowd pleaser than a serious wine drinkers cup of tea. (89 pts.)
• 2019 Two Hands Shiraz Lily’s Garden – Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
  Not much better than the 18 and again I find this very simple wines that are not what they once were. Thin overall with raspberries, blue currants, spice and floral notes. Just lacks concentration. (89 pts.)
• 2021 Mollydooker Shiraz Blue Eyed Boy – Australia, South Australia
  Another over extracted wine from Australia. Can’t imagine buying Mollydooker wines with so much better out there. Again Mike coming in at the discount. High alcohol, spice, dark fruits and pepper. Just too big to really enjoy. Maybe revisit in 15 years. (82 pts.)