Lots in the February Sterling Catalogue with 96- 100 Robert Parker Wine Advocate Points

1998 Clarendon Hills Astralis (Shiraz) 98pts
Just beginning to emerge from a relatively dormant state, this prodigious wine was showing the best it has yet performed., suggesting again that Clarendon Hills wines behave more like European wines in terms of needing time in the bottle. The saturated blue/purple color offers up notes of ripe black fruits intermixed with graphite, vanilla, mineral, and spice. Extremely thick, with a viscous texture, good underlying tannin and acidity, and fabulous length (nearly 50 seconds), this is certainly a prodigious effort that is now living up to the fame and extraordinary quality of this vintage. Nevertheless, I thought the wine needed about five years of cellaring two years ago, but now I tend to think it needs at least another 5-7 years of cellaring before it will begin to become an adolescent. It is a majestic, multi-dimensional, individualistic wine that certainly is world-class and undoubtedly profound. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2030.
Current Release Cost   www.erobertparker.com November 2007 $US250-375
Robert Parkers Wine Advocate #122 April 1999                       

1998 D'Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz 96pts
The 1998 The Dead Arm Shiraz (from a vineyard planted prior to 1890) is outrageously rich, spectacular stuff, the likes of which only Australia seems capable of making. Whiners may complain that it is too big, too rich, too flavorful, and too damn good, but this opaque purple-colored offering is loaded with blackberry liqueur, smoke, charcoal, pepper, cassis, and licorice. Unctuously-textured and full-bodied, but neither heavy nor overbearing, the wine's sweet tannin and low acidity are hidden in the cascade of fruit and glycerin that melt on the palate. This riveting, compelling effort can be drunk now, but promises to age well for two decades or more.
Current Release Cost   www.erobertparker.com August 2007 $U59-87
Robert Parkers Wine Advocate #135 June 2001

1999 D'Arenberg The Dead Arm Shiraz 96pts
This estate's most renowned offering is their old vine Shiraz (90+ year old vines) called The Dead Arm. The unfined/unfiltered 1999 The Dead Arm Shiraz (2,000 cases) was aged in 100% new oak, of which 70% was American and 30% French. It is about as natural and unmanipulated a product of the vineyard as one can find. Full-bodied and awesomely rich, notes of black pepper, licorice, and blackberry as well as cherry liqueur cascade over the palate with enormous concentration and intensity, high tannin, and a structured, muscular style. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring, and consume it over the following 2-3 decades. It is a timeless museum piece made in a style that can only be produced in Barossa or McLaren Vale.
Current Release Cost   www.erobertparker.com June 2007 $US75
Wine Advocate #143 October 2002

2003 Glaetzer Amon Ra 96-100pts
Tasted just before bottling, this fabulous Shiraz, made from a 98- to110-year-old dry-farmed vineyard in the northern Ebenezer sector of Barossa, was cropped at .12-1 ton of fruit per acre. Aged 15 months in a combination of American oak hogsheads and French barriques, it is a brilliant effort from young winemaker Ben Glaetzer. Killer stuff, with notes of crushed rocks, acacia flowers, graphite, blackberries, cassis, and smoke, it possesses extraordinary concentration, tremendous purity, a seamless personality, and a magnificent finish that lasts over 60 seconds. Since this cuvee is never filtered, this tasting note should be accurate, if somewhat conservative for the bottled wine. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2016+.
Current Release Cost   www.erobertparker.com Novermber 2010 (68)
Wine Advocate # 155 Oct 2004

2004 Glaetzer Godolphin Shiraz / Cabernet Sauvignon 96-98pts
This nearly perfect wine, made from 70% Shiraz (105- to 115-year-old vines) and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon (60- to 90-year-old vines), was cropped at a minuscule .5 to 1 ton of fruit per acre, and spent 15 months in French oak prior to bottling. Its gorgeously sweet, pure nose of crushed rocks, blueberries, cassis, and minerals soars from the glass. Floral-like black and blue fruits, an inky/purple color, and nearly endless depth and persistence on the palate are the stuff of legends. With extraordinary equilibrium, precision, and purity, it represents the apogee of Ben Glaetzer?s winemaking talents.
Current Release Cost   www.erobertparker.com August 2007 $70-90
Wine Advocate #161 October 2005

2003 Kilikanoon Shiraz Oracle 97pts
The blockbuster 2003 Shiraz Oracle, aged in 300 liter French hogsheads (50% new and 50% 1-year-old), possesses classic blackberry, graphite, and cassis notes, a full-bodied, powerful style, great definition and purity, and surprising elegance and lightness for a wine of this size and richness. Approachable now, it should age nicely for 15 or more years
Current Release Cost   www.erobertparker.com June 2007 $US55
Wine Advocate #167 October 2006

2006 Noon Eclipse Proprietary Red Mclaren Vale/Langhorn Creek 97pts
The 2006 Eclipse is a blend of 65% Grenache and 35% Shiraz, sourced from 60- to 80-year-old vines in McLaren Vale and Langhorne Creek. The wine spent 18 months in small and large French and American oak. Dark ruby colored, it offers a fragrant, already complex bouquet of violets, mineral, Asian spices, leather, black cherry, and blueberry. Remarkably elegant and impeccably balanced, on the palate notes of garrigue, licorice, and kirsch emerge leading into a 60+-second finish. It can be enjoyed now but for optimum pleasure, give it another five years of cellaring and drink it through 2026. Noon, under the leadership of Drew Noon MW, remains one of Australia-s iconic wineries. As usual, Drew Noon sets the bar for South Australia.
Current Release Cost   www.erobertparker.com April 2009 $51-80
Wine Advocate #181 February 2009

2002 Noon Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 96pts
The 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (400 cases) is a 100% Cabernet from 30-year-old vines that spent 18 months in both small and large oak barrels. It exhibits a striking bouquet of graphite, creme de cassis, new saddle leather, Chinese black tea, and vanilla. The complex aromatics are followed by a full-bodied wine of compelling purity and nobleness with layers of concentration as well as intensity. One of the most prodigious Australian Cabernet Sauvignons ever made, it should hit its prime in 3-5 years, and last for two decades or more.
Current Release Cost   www.erobertparker.com August 2007 $US104(55)
Wine Advocate #155 October 2004

2004 Noon Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 96pts
One of the greatest Cabernet Sauvignons made in Australia comes from Noon, and their 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (100% Cabernet from 34-year-old vines) was aged in a combination of French and American hogsheads and barriques for 18 months prior to bottling. This remarkable Cabernet tastes like a Pauillac on steroids. Aromas and flavors of cedar, wood smoke, creme de cassis, licorice, incense, and graphite are accompanied by an exceptionally full-bodied, precise, fresh, and long wine with a finish that lasts nearly a minute. A truly profound Cabernet Sauvignon, it admirably demonstrates what this varietal can achieve in the hands of a conscientious winemaker. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020+. This estate?s brilliant owners/winemakers, Drew and Rae Noon, are meticulous about everything, including what happens at the vineyards where they contract for fruit. The results are some of the most precise, full-bodied yet remarkably vibrant wines produced in Australia
Current Release Cost   www.erobertparker.com June 2007 $US225
Wine Advocate #167 October 2006

2007 Noon Shiraz Reserve 96pts
The 2007 Reserve Shiraz was sourced from a 45 year old vineyard and aged for 18 months in French and American oak, 50% new. A saturated purple color, it reveals a brooding bouquet of pain grille, lavender, incense, smoked meat, blueberry, and licorice. Back-strapping yet light on its feet, it is impeccably balanced, exceptionally long, and very cellar worthy. Give it 6-8 years and drink this intellectually and sensually pleasing effort between 2015 and 2027.
Current Release Cost   www.erobertparker.com April 2009 $US80 (80)
Wine Advocate # 186 Dec 2009

2004 Penfolds Bin 60A 98pts
The 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz Bin 60A Kalimna is a blend of Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon (56%) and Barossa Shiraz (44%). Its blackberry, blueberry, tar, lead pencil shavings, licorice, and spice box-scented bouquet is followed by a wine boasting an unctuous texture buttressed by decent acidity as well as fabulous extract and richness. This stunning blend should have a minimum of three decades of aging potential and be a true collector?s item for many years to come.
Current Release Cost   www.erobertparker.com June 2007 $US101-103
Wine Advocate #167 October 2006

2001 Penfolds Grange 98pts
It is always a treat to taste Australia?s most famous wine, Penfolds? Grange cuvee (the word Hermitage has been dropped because of legal issues). The 2001 Grange is one of the few vintages of this cuvee to be composed of 100% Shiraz (the others being 1951, 1952, 1963, 1999, and 2000). Aged 17 months in 100% American oak, and tipping the scales at 14.5% alcohol, the 2001 is undeniably one of the top examples of this wine. At this stage, it appears to eclipse the 1998 and 1996. Inky/blue/purple to the rim, with a stunning perfume of blueberries, blackberries, chocolate, graphite, and earth, it boasts good acidity, huge tannins, magnificent concentration, and a multilayered, textured mouthfeel. It is a big, but impeccably well-balanced Shiraz that should shed some of its structure and tannin over the next 4-5 years, and be at its best between 2010-2030+.
Current Release Cost   www.erobertparker.com June 2007 $US215-375
Wine Advocate #167 October 2006

2002 Penfolds Grange 98pts
Last but not least is Australia’s most famous wine, the 2002 Shiraz “Grange”. The 2002 version was sourced from 77.5% Barossa Valley and 22.5% from McLaren Vale. Included in the blend is 1.5% Cabernet Sauvignon. It spent 17 months in 100% new American oak. Opaque purple, it gives off an ethereal bouquet of violets, saddle leather, blueberry, blackberry, pencil lead, and chocolate. This is followed by a full-bodied wine with tremendous concentration, multiple layers of flavor, ripe tannins, and great balance. Thick and rich, with a 60-second finish, it will slowly blossom over the next 15-20 years and provide pleasure through 2050. It is a legend in the making! Penfolds, arguably Australia’s most famous winery, continues to perform at a high level under the leadership of Head Winemaker, Peter Gago.    
Current Release Cost   www.erobertparker.com August 2009 $US285-477
Wine Advocate #173 October 2007

2005 Penfolds Grange 97pts
Containing just a dollop of 4.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2005 Grange is about 85%+ Barossa fruit with the remaining proportions coming from McLaren vale and Coonawarra. It was aged for 18 months in 100% new American oak hogsheads. The nose begins a bit animal with some smoked game, mincemeat and bacon notes emerging over the freshly crushed, sun-warmed blackberries, black currant cordial, earth, black truffles, anise and allspice. Rich and full with very firm very fine tannins and very crisp acid, it gives a long finish layered with coffee, mincemeat and toast. Drink it 2013 to 2025+.
Current Release Cost   www.erobertparker.com August 2007 $US322-600
Wine Advocate 192 Dec 2010

1976 Penfolds Grange 100pts
Consistently one of the most awesome wines ever made at Grange, this blend of 89% Shiraz and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon (13.9% alcohol) was the first Australian wine to cost $20 upon release. I have had this wine six separate times, every time rating it between 96 and 100. It had a phenomenal showing at Penfolds' Magill estate. The color is an opaque purple, the wine massive, full-bodied, and to me, the quintessential Grange. Notes of blackberry liqueur intermixed with cassis, charcoal, new saddle leather, and underbrush resonate from the glass. Huge, thick, unctuously textured, with extraordinary concentration but perfect harmony among all of its elements, this is a prodigious Grange that is still not fully mature. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2020. A legend for sure!
Current Release Cost   www.erobertparker.com June 2007 $US1,100-1,400
Robert Parkers Wine Advocate #e2002 Feb 2002

1981 Penfolds Grange 97pts
The 1981 stood out as slightly superior. Winemaker John Duval always felt this was a tannic style of Grange, but the wine has shed its tannins, and this is one of the few vintages where the percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon was above 10%. Sweet notes of creme de cassis, cedarwood, charcoal, and barbecue spices are followed by a full-bodied, opulent wine displaying heady amounts of alcohol, glycerin, and density in its full-bodied, skyscraper-like texture. I was drinking this wine with great pleasure in the mid-nineties, yet here it is nearly 15 years later, and the wine does not appear to have budged much from its evolutionary state. This is a testament to how remarkably well these wines hold up, and age at such a glacial pace.

Grange, Penfolds? flagship wine, is, by many accounts, the most renowned and world-famous wine produced in Australia, and these six vintages from my cellar all acquitted themselves well. These wines are almost always Shiraz, but many vintages include less than 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and there are cross-appellations blends from vineyards in the Barossa and McLaren Vale.
Current Release Cost   www.erobertparker.com
Wine Advocate # 183 Jun 2009

1995 Chris Ringland (formerly Three Rivers) Shiraz 99pts
Since there are just under 50 cases of this wine for the world, the tasting notes are short as they are primarily of academic interest. One-hundred-year old vines, cropped at one ton of fruit per acre produced a virtually perfect wine of splendid concentration, symmetry, and length (nearly a minute). An opaque black/purple color is followed by staggering aromas of black fruits, truffles, sweet earth, and wood. With amazing viscosity, density, and concentration that transcend any Shiraz I have ever tasted, this monumental wine represents an extraordinary achievement. Its low acidity and phenomenal richness should offer early accessibility, but it promises to evolve for two decades or more. This may be the greatest Shiraz produced in Australia.
P.S. A bottle left open for four days had no traces of fruit loss or oxidation.
Current Release Cost   www.erobertparker.com May 2008 $US799
Robert Parkers Wine Advocate #127 February 2000

2002 Torbreck Run Rig 99pts
The 2002 Run Rig (97% Shiraz and 3% Viognier aged in 100% new French oak) represents the essence of old vine Barossa fruit. Extraordinarily opulent and rich, but playing it closer to the vest than the 2001, it gets my nod as one of the most remarkable wines made in either the Southern or Northern Hemisphere. An inky/purple color is accompanied by a sumptuous bouquet of apricots, honeysuckle, black raspberries, blackberries, licorice, and a hint of roasted meats. The wood has been soaked up by the wine?s extraordinary concentration. Fashioned from four sectors of Barossa (Maranaga, Koonunga Hill, Moppa, and Greenock), it spent 30 months in primarily new oak, and was bottled without fining or filtration. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020+. David Powell, unquestionably one of the world?s finest wine producers, has an uncanny ability to discover old vine Barossa vineyards, and then secure long term contracts for their fruit. It is amazing that such high quality sources have not already been plucked by Australia?s giant wine corporations. Torbreck?s wines continue to get better and better, combining the old vine ripe fruit of Barossa with a European sensitivity to elegance and balance. The finest wines in this portfolio are pricy, but David Powell delivers some remarkable reds and whites at prices that are more than fair for the quality in the bottle
Current Release Cost   www.erobertparker.com June 2007 $US160-350
Robert Parkers Wine Advocate #161 Oct 2005

2003 Yalumba The Octavius (Shiraz Old Vine) 97pts
A renowned Barossa icon is Yalumba?s Shiraz The Octavius. The 2003 is a 100% Shiraz aged 22 months in a combination of American barrels (coopered at Yalumba) and French 300 liter hogsheads. This beauty offers up aromas of sweet blueberries, black truffles, blackberries, melted road tar, pepper, and espresso roast. Full-bodied, powerful, and rich, with sweet tannin, decent acidity, and a superb finish, this is a wine to drink over the next 15 or more years.
Current Release Cost   www.erobertparker.com November 2007 $US100
Wine Advocate #167 October 2006

1986 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 96pts
Tasted 7 Times Since Bottling With Consistent Notes
The 1986 is the most tannic, as well as the largest-framed Pichon-Lalande in over three decades. Whether it will ultimately eclipse the 1982 is doubtful, but it will be longer-lived. Dark ruby/purple, with a tight yet profound bouquet of cedar, blackcurrants, spicy oak, and minerals, this full-bodied, deeply concentrated, exceptionally well-balanced wine is, atypically, too brawny and big to drink young. Anticipated maturity: 1994-2015.
Current Release Cost   www.erobertparker.com  April 2010 $US $175-309
Wine Advocate #95 October 1994