Sterling Wine Auctions Australia

POST SCRIPT

The Three Hill 1999 Shiraz was the hottest property in the March Sterling auction.
The final sales price was a record at $75 a bottle.
As WA’s best wine, according to Mr Parker, that must be good value.

In the interests of fairness we must not forget that the Heyetsbury Cab 2003 shares the title of WA’s #1.
Next month Sterling will bring these two WA giants together for a head to head taste off.
We need your help in setting rules that will keep everyone happy. Email any suggestions. How does a dinner for six sound? This slow approach will allow both wines to perform in the glass, with food, as is should be. Who should judge?

According to Mr Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate and the erobertparker web site only two of the 323 WA wines reviewed have ever scored 95pts.

The Three Hills Shiraz 1999 (made by Happs) and the Vasse Felix Heyestbury Cabernet 2003 are the winners as the highest pointed WA wines in the Parker system.

It is interesting to note the next level, 94point wines, is another small and select group with just two qualifiers, the Leeuwin Art Series Cabernet 1999 and the Gralyn Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

The question is just how good is the Three Hills 1999 Shiraz?

Mr Parker’s opinion is very clear

“Sadly, there are only 300 cases of what may be the finest Shiraz I have ever tasted from Western Australia” (full review appears below)

Sterling Wine Auctions has followed with some interest the Parker pronouncements on Australian wines. We have tried the Three Hills 1999 Shiraz and we LOVE it.

If you must form your own opinion, wait for the Sterling March auction catalogue and buy one of the six bottles on offer.

Wine Advocate #143 October 2002

Three Hills Shiraz 1999
An opaque purple color is followed by sweet, complex aromas of white flowers, blackberry liqueur, smoke, camphor, and a hint of rosemary. The wine possesses an unctuous texture, terrific fruit purity, an extraordinary palate presence, and incredible balance despite its lofty 15.4% alcohol (all concealed behind the wealth of fruit, glycerin, and extract). This compelling Shiraz suggests magnificent wines from this varietal can be made in western Australia.

Sadly, there are only 300 cases of what may be the finest Shiraz I have ever tasted from Western Australia. The debut release from proprietor Erl Happ (who is worried Americans "may have to thin this wine with water"), this 1999 is from a young vineyard planted in a southern portion of Margaret River known as Karridale. Aging in large foudres rather than smaller barriques resulted in minimal oak characteristics. Anticipated maturity: now-2014.

It is only fair to give the Vasee Felix Heyestbury some attention.

I am sure you will enjoy Mr Parkers enthusiastic review!

Wine Advocate #168 December 2006

Vasee Felix Heyestbury 2003
I was blown away by the 2003 Heytesbury Red Blend, a combination of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Shiraz, and 9% Malbec aged 18 months in three-quarters French and one-quarter American oak. One of the finest reds I have tasted from Western Australia, it reveals a deep purple color in addition to a beautiful perfume of camphor, blueberry and blackberry liqueur, cedar, smoke, and background barbecue spices. Dense, rich, and full as well as elegant, pure, and sensationally well-balanced, it can be enjoyed over the next 10-12+ years.

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