TN: 2001 Ringland Dry Grown Barossa Ranges Shiraz

WINE TALK
1

So I finally got around to opening the bottle that Posner was so gracious to offer up as one of the donation prizes from earlier this year. It’s been sitting in the decanter for about an hour. Initial thoughts are mixed. It smelled great pouring it into the decanter. Bright fruit led me to believe I was in for a treat. Hmmm, not so much… at least not yet. There seems to be a battle going on between fruit and alcohol. At 16.6% abv… no shit. Oddly enough, not a lot of heat on the finish, but the alcohol is overpowering the fruit in the glass, leaving an artificial flavor of sugary fruit. Stay tuned for updates.

2

I won’t ask what the score was on this, as I can guess it was within 2 points of 99

16.6% is CLAIMED ABV?? WOW!

3

I have no clue what the score was on this, but this bottle might be flawed. At this stage is tastes and smells like Robitussin.

I checked the bottle again… 16.6%. Does Australia have the same 1+% allowance between what’s on the label and what the actual alcohol level is?

4

I just looked it up.

It’s 100 points, baby.

http://www.vinfolio.com/do/winestore/wineoffer/20091128-VINFOLIO-11_28_2009_Australia_Age_Worthy_Values?offerId=2816" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Apparently it also costs a billion dollars. All that alcohol doesn’t come cheap.

I’m sure could think of NO better way to spend $550 than on that wine, right? I know this was generously donated by Dan, but you probably plan on picking up a case, right?

5

I dont know if Australia has this but I think it does have to adhere to US laws when being imported.

Here is a partial note of what our dear fried Jay Miller had to say.

“An inky/blue/purple color is accompanied by extraordinary scents of flowers, blackberries, blueberries, and cassis as well as hints of espresso roast, truffles, roasted meats, and incense. This sexy, beautifully balanced, loaded Shiraz should keep for three decades…”

100 Points [suicide.gif]

Something must be wrong with Jeb, you dont get the flowers under all that alcohol? neener

6

If it’s 100 points, then I clearly have a 50 point palate. I’m hoping that the bottle is flawed and that this wine doesn’t actually taste like this. If I paid $550 and this is what I got, I’d be severely pissed.

Todd, how did you know I was in for a case? At $550, it’s definitely one of the better Aussie qpr’s out there!

7

I’m in complete agreement with this statement Tyler.

I’ve only really been into wine for maybe 2 years and I’m sure I’ve consumed flawed bottles and not really realized it. But this one must be the worst bottle I’ve had. If any of you clowns live in Fairfax, stop on over just to tell me I’m not out of my mind and that this is flawed.

Holy shit, Todd! I just looked at the Vinfolio site. The Rigland label shown on the page says 17.5%. Is this Australian moonshine?

8

Ringland has made some wines that I’ve really liked. And, although some of them are pretty hard to come by, I’ve been really, really enjoying a few '96 and '98 (and other) Australian wines lately, which surprised me…but, hey, live and learn.

This one sounds terrible though (from the tasting note posted). It makes me wonder if some critics even know what the term “balanced” means…

Cheers!

9

Frank,

I’m jealous that you’re having good experiences. I’ll be the first to admit that I still have years ahead of me before I think my palate will really know what it’s tasting, but I’d like to think I drink enough good wine to know that I’m not going crazy. So my tasting notes are far from eloquent and expansive. hahaha. But this must be flawed.

I think I’m going to demand Posner actually gives me $550 worth of drinkable wine. [thankyou.gif]

10

Jeb, I’ve never had this wine, so I have no idea if it’s flawed. There are many, many Aussie wines, and particularly many rated very highly by Jay (and even RP, especially 1998s and after) that I think are just undrinkable.

A really fantastic wine I had recently was Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Cabernet…found some for $125/btl on winebid, which I thought was a steal. Also really liked Burge Family Draycott Reserve ('96 and '98)…found the '96 for around $60/btl, which I also thought was a steal.

Sorry to hear about your bottle. At $550, I’d be sorely disappointed…

Cheers!

11

Well fortunately I didn’t buy this, so I can live with it. I had one glass plus two sips and I have a headache now. I think I’ll stick to the old adage of “Buy American” [truce.gif]

12

This literally made me LOL

[rofl.gif]

13

I’m glad you’re getting a good laugh out of it. I just poured myself a nice glass of '09 Fairfax Tap Water… plan on pairing it with a serving of Advil.

14

Jeb

I am sure Parker/Miller will pop one from his cellar, and tell you that you are out of your mind, like they did with Barry Pershkow and the Noon wines.

Take some free trips to Australia with Dan Phillips. Then go on a riverboat cruise with Chris Ringland. That is how you will understand how delicious these wines are.

It is all about the ambiance.

15

Sounds like a few good suggestions. I think I’ll take a trip over to Annapolis and visit Bob and see how he likes this.

Ahhh yes, ambiance. I forgot just how much that plays into wine. Perhaps I shouldn’t have paired this with Taco Bell while watching Golden Girls re-runs. neener

Anyway, you still have my mailing address so I’m looking forward to some Siduri to replace it. Thanks, Dan. Hahaha

16

Day 2:

Smells a little like egg nog, still tastes like ass. Actually MORE tannic today. Down the drain she goes.

17

Wines likes this, with drinking windows of three centuries, ought to be open on your kitchen counter for one week, before consumption

18

I can’t imagine any amount of air making the liquid in that bottle drinkable.

19

Every glass of Ringland I’ve had is evocative of bad Amarone. Absurdly fat, with the hotness and depth of Megan Fox. And the fact that JM finds this sort of thing “balanced” is an indicator of just how far off the map they’ve gotten over there. Those wines are fatiguing to attempt to drink.

20

Well put! It was not a pleasant experience. I’m sure Mr. Ringland is a swell fella, but I don’t think his wines are for me, at any price.