Jancis Robinson's Wine Course [BBC2 video].

I have seen this Mat. Has the Barossa produced some decent Shiraz since

1995? I haven't drunk many that I like; I much prefer Clare. Ron Lel

Hahaha, yes Ron, so I gathered. ;)

Apparently the Barossa produces a fair bit of the stuff, or so I'm told by ppl who are on the cutting edge of what's going on in the wine industry. :)

Seems the French make wine too, but that could just be a rumour.

Mat.

A couple I would point you towards would be - "Budget Conscious", Eldertons

02 Barossa Valley Shiraz and "What the hell you can't take it with you", Gibsons Old Vine Collection Barossa shiraz 01. Both these are outstanding wines and very Barossa in style. Andrew

Mat wrote in news:41e2079f snipped-for-privacy@news.iprimus.com.au:

Yes, I got it for Christmas in 2003. I think my wife bought it on Amazon for $19.00.

I loved the segment about Lilian Ladouys--a farm tying to become a chateau. The segment followed the elaborate and expensive preparations for a flowering of the vines celebration in Bordeaux. Someone (maybe the owner of LaTour) estimated $500,000 for the garden party. So, it poured rain the day of the party and it was pretty much a bust.

I tracked down 4 bottles of the Lilian Ladouys 2000 and smile when I think of the episode.

I recommend the series as great fun and some educuation--for me at least.

Bill Hogsett

I am afraid you missed my sarcasm, Andrew. I am very familiar with Barossa shiraz, I just dislike them. I find them over extractive, fruit bombs full of American oak - and in general very overpriced - for the same price as the top of the line Torbreck for example I can buy some pretty decent Rhones, and I know what I would much rather be drinking. If I want to drink Australian Shiraz, I will try something from West Australia, Clare or perhaps the Yarra Valley.

Cheers Ron

Hello,

I picked it up for $6AU.

I saw the bit about them trying to crack the Bordeaux social set etc. It was a little amusing when moving a bit of tent they poured rainwater all over the desert.

Apparently spending all that cash is de rigeur in Bordeaux. Probably less so as big bucks are spent by big companies to buy them out. Or maybe more so.

Yeah I pick up one or two tidbits every episode, and its interesting to be exposed to a lot of the stuff that goes on in places we tend not to hear about here.

Mat.

Hi Ron, yes I did indeed miss your sarcasm :) But don't you (or others in the group) think it's silly to dismiss an entire region? (might be a new thread here.) Yes plenty of over extracted fruit & vanilla bombs are produced in the Barossa just as there are plenty of over priced under powered Rhones. This doesn't lead to me dismissing the entire region. From the Australian regions you have indicated it seems to me that you may have a preference for cooler climate shiraz, which of course is fine, it would be a sad world if everybody agreed with me. I quote below a tasting note off

for the Gibson's I love so much, just reading it makes my mouth water. This is about $70 Oz (The 98 Torbreck Run Rig is $500) and could do with another 5 or 10 years yet and is just an extraordinary wine and one of many such produced in the Barossa. Believe me here Ron, I'm certain you would like it. I keep reading in this news group people who say they only drink Italian wines or don't like this region etc. etc. and I'm just amazed at the broad brush strokes that people make. I don't like bad wine & it doesn't matter what region or vineyard it comes from that's pretty much my only criteria.

1999 Gibson`s Barossa Vale Australian Old Vine Collection Shiraz Opaque black crimson colour with mauve hue. Superb, refined nose of violets, liquorice allsorts, plum, spice and a chocolate end note. Totally mouthfilling palate - flavours of blackpepper, cedar, violets, plum and liquorice. The back palate shows extraordinary length. Perfect balance, velvet smooth tannins, followed by an exceptionally long blackpepper, spice and plum aftertaste.