Aussie, Aussie, Aussie Tasting!!!

Lori hosted this amazing event in the Twin Cities and with 10 guests the wine, food and friends made it a major success including being outside on this Twin Cities October night.

The main event was 4 wines blind with the following points awarded. 1. Two Hands Aphrodite 24 points, 2. Two Hands Ares 15 points 3. Fox Creek Reserve 12 points and in last place the 2004 Clarendon HIlls Astralis which was the most expensive wine. What does that tell you?

My notes on the event: CellarTracker! Aussie, Aussie Aussie Part 2 at Lori’s

• 2018 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay Art Series – Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
  Day 1: Electric Chardonnay with lemon, spice, wood, grapefruit, tropical fruit, stone and white flowers. Outstanding effort. 94+
  Day 1:25: So had this at the end of the tasting and off the charts. Warmer serving temperature and much better. Needed some air and it delivered. Stone, tropical fruit, wood, spice, white flowers, dust, orange peel, lemon, minerals and vibrant acidity. Just changed and improved and really hard to describe how great this evolution was. One of the best Chardonnay’s I have tasted all year and had a lot of great ones. This will cellar for 15 plus years. 97 points (97 pts.)

• 2018 Leeuwin Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Art Series – Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
  Well Leeuwin is all about the Chardonnay. Nothing wrong with this wine but not even close to the level of the Chardonnay from 18. Roasted chestnuts, dark fruits, forest floor, tiny berries and floral notes. Medium finish. (91 pts.)

• 2003 Branson Coach House Shiraz Single Vineyard Greenock Block – Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
  Ok this turn out to be a real surprise among the guests. Really impressive with black pepper, blackberries, floral, dried herbs, raspberries and floral notes. Big and bold and still very young for over 20 years of age. Drink now to 2032. (94 pts.)

• 2006 d’Arenberg Shiraz The Dead Arm – Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
  Well this was the worst wine at the tasting by far. I officially am done with Dead Arm. Should have brought a Shirvington in this spot. Anyway very rustic and fruit not at the level of the other wines. Spice, dried flowers, black pepper and floral notes. A gritty texture. Just not very enjoyable for the money. (87 pts.)

• 2004 Greenock Creek Shiraz Roennfeldt Road – Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
  My third favorite wine of this tasting. Mind blowing fruit with blackcurrants, cherry and plum. High octane still at 20 plus with black pepper, coffee beans, spice and floral notes. Long finish. Should drink well for another 15 years. 96+ (96 pts.)

• 2013 Greenock Creek Shiraz Roennfeldt Road – Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
  Wine improves and evolves over time hence the whole 3 day wine review thing. Well at this tasting notice about a 3 point difference over 3 hours. would have rated this 92 points earlier but over time and towards the end 95 points. Coffee beans, black pepper, blueberries, boysenberries, rose petals, menthol, smoked meats and spice. Concentrated and delicious. (95 pts.)

• 2005 Two Hands Shiraz Ares – Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
  Five hour decant. Excellent with spices, pepper, Eucalyptus, raspberries, coffee beans, dust, earth and minerals. Very concentrated effort and should improve with more age. 94+ (94 pts.)

• 2004 Clarendon Hills Astralis – Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Clarendon
  Disappointed in this showing even though a decant score. Paid way too much via auction on this one. Gritty overall with raspberries, floral, underbrush, earth, blue currants, graphite and spices. Medium finish. Decanted 3 hours. (93 pts.)

• 2004 Two Hands Cabernet Sauvignon Aphrodite – Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
  So had the 05 recently and not very good. This was rocking tonight and a top wine of the year for sure. Bright and exciting wine. Dark currants, pepper, spice, floral, dark chocolate, dust, wood, charcoal and minerals. Complex and medium plus finish. Would have never guessed Cab blind but that is what it is and showing great. (97 pts.)

• 1998 Fox Creek Shiraz Reserve – Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale
  This wine still amazes me and how well it is holding up. Black pepper, perfume, spice, blueberries, floral, menthol, dust and stone. Medium plus finish. One of my top wines at a stack tasting. 95+ which still means it could get even better. (95 pts.)