Australian Shiraz wine tasting. A serious one.

Australian Shiraz wine tasting. A serious one. – Episode #81

August 29, 2006

Little Penguin Shiraz

Amaroo Shiraz

Teal Lake Shiraz

2003 Jacobs Creek Reserve Shiraz

2003 Peter Lehmann Shiraz

2004 Two Hands Bad Impersonator Shiraz

2004 Massena 11th Hour Shiraz

2003 Langmeil Freedom Shiraz

Today Gary tackles it hard, he tastes 8 different Australian Shiraz wines and talks about the wine world and many other fun topics. Watch as Gary tackles wine cellars, wine storage, heat affects on wine, wine racks, wine gift baskets, wine clubs, wine making, wine glasses, wine bars, wine refrigerators, strawberry wine, and other wine topics….oh wait no he’s just doing Shiraz.

121 Responses

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August 29, 2006

garyv
Tony so many more people are watching WLTV I am so sorry I will get this fixed as soon as I can!
August 29, 2006

Tony
Gary, your server is really doggin’ it today. Very slow. I’m watching like 30 seconds at a time because it can’t keep up!
August 29, 2006

gregkeller
Gary,
I love the shows, how about a tasting of wines perfect for a labor day picnic. I imagine a lot of us will be going out to a few BBQ’s and the such, so taste through some wines to give us an idea of what to serve or what to bring along. Another question of topic, when are the super tasting tickets going to go on sale, and any ideas on the dates of the super tasting? I loved this event last year, it was awesome. Also will you be doing a tasting class one of the nights of the ST like you did last year? Thanks and keep up the good work, we all really appreciate it.
August 29, 2006

TimF
I can’t stand the Bears but now I’m going to have to root for them against the Jets since I’m in Chicago. Ugh.

I’d like to see you taste the 2004 Etude Pinot Noir. An entire episode on Carneros Pinots would be pretty cool…

Oh yeah, almost forgot, another great episode…
August 29, 2006

Rich S
I actually am a huge fan of Australian shiraz so to me, this episode rocked! I usually go with The Lucky Country by Two Hands for an everyday drinker but haven’t really tried any “premium” shiraz thus far. I do actually have a bottle of Elderton Reserve Shiraz that was supposedly rated very highly but since it is a 2002, I am planning on holding onto it for a little longer since the cellaring will probably do it some good.

Gary, have you ever tried any shiraz from Elderton? If so, how do you think it would stack up against the ones you tasted? I would love to know…………..Thanks!
August 29, 2006

Matty Van
GV… from watching this episode it looked line the little penguin and the armaroo you would score higher than the mid-range $15-$30 priced bottles, is this true??? or do you adjust your ratings against the price of the bottle.

GV – how about throwing a NY ice wine in with your canadian wines when you the the ice wine EP

GV – I live in rochester,ny right next to buffalo and I am a bills fan, is rochester close enough to buffalo (50 miles away) to qualify for the free shipping???? if yes I will be ordering a case after each game if the bills were to win.

QOD – GV use my vote to pick what you would want to taste, the sheeps should not lead the shepard, if I were to pick a wine and you were to pick a wine…I trust your judgment over mine.
August 29, 2006

cgf
Gary-
great episode. Don’t forget about an update on the bad impersonator. DO you think tasting the corked wine put you off to the subsequent wines?

QOD: 2003 Almaviva.
August 29, 2006

StanVH
Wow! You had a run of bad wines today.

Are all these available at WL? I often wonder how some wines actually get into a store. Do you (or some other staff person) try all the wines before stocking? Or jsut some of them? Or are some just pushed on you by the distributor? Can you give us a little insight as to how wines get selectd for your (anybody’s) store?

If you don’t want to reveal any trade secrets, I’ll understand.

Thanks for your forthright reviews.
August 29, 2006

Adam
Hey Gary,
I would love to see you taste a bottle of Bogle “phantom”.
What about those of us who live in city’s that don’t have football teams? How about some free shipping for us everytime the Jets loose? Oh wait, that would probably put you out of business with the next 16 weeks coming up. Just think of it as a rebuilding decade.
Here is my QOD: Any big plans for the 100th episode? Anything special for those of us who have been watching since the beginning?
Adam
August 29, 2006

Susan
Gary-
To be fair…
You have not tasted any of the wines I ask specifically for you to taste.
Please taste the Mas De Daumas Gassac Red 2003.
Thanks:)
August 29, 2006

ChrisR
Great ep. I’ve never been a big fan of Aussie Shiraz. I find most of them to be medicinal. Clarendon Hills is the only Aussie red that’s ever blown me away but at $70 a bottle, it should.

I didn’t like that Barossa Shiraz either at first but after some significant time open the heat settled down and nice plum, cherry and cocoa emerge. Not a fantasic wine, but above average.

I’m voting again for the Katherine Kennedy Lateral for you to taste tomorrow.
August 29, 2006

Rick E
Gary, loved the 8-bottle format. I half-expected you to walk away when I saw all those bottles (a’la “the prank” episode), but luckily you stayed put. Also liked the longer running time.

And more importantly, I just marked 9/17 and 11/12 on my calendar, when the Pats play the Jets. Expect coupon code “punk-ass” on a several case order right around then.

As always, great job.
August 29, 2006

Mitch
Gary, do you think if I lined up that $75 bottle of Langmeil Freedom with a bottle of the new Sparky Marquis Mollydooker at $20 and served ‘em blind you could pick ‘em apart? What if I threw in a third bottle of blueberry pancake syrup with grain spirits and a splash of rosewater mixed in? OK, but seriously, who really wants to spend that kind of money ($75) on a bottle of wine where with each successive glass your interest goes down, your palate becomes fatigued, and you’re drunk? My understanding is that most of these monster shirazes are specifically tailored for the American export market and that most Aussies want nothing to do with them.
August 29, 2006

Dan
All Right!

The Texans play the Jets on November 26th! The weather will be perfect for shipping to Houston then.

Tell you what, I will buy a case even if the Texans lose! (Texans lose??? No Way!)

Great, long episode, by the way.

Cheers,

Dan (In Houston)
August 29, 2006

Mike S.
Thanks, lizv!! Pure, blind, dumb luck.
August 29, 2006

Mike S.
Interesting episode today, Gary. I was glad to see something devoted entirely Australian shiraz (my second favorite wine after Burgundy). Next time, how about comparing wines made by Ben Glaetzer and Ben Riggs, arguably the two finest winemakers in Australia right now? You’ve already done the Amon-Ra by Glaetzer (which is now a favorite of mine thanks to your previous episode), but the two of them are making some really good stuff and there are a number of world class wines coming from Oz.
August 29, 2006

Susan
Gary,
Great Episode!
Serious episode? why? I think your energetic approach is GREAT:)
Keep up the good work!
August 29, 2006

AJV
Top 5
August 29, 2006

lizv
of course even w/’inside info’ i still couldn’t make it to the #1 spot, way to go mike s!
August 29, 2006

lizv
2nd?!!!
August 29, 2006

Mike S.
First??