Sarah Ahmed – The Wine Detective

A quick post so you’re not pipped at the post!  I’m part way though writing up my notes of the Australia Trade Tasting of which St Hallet Old Block Shiraz 2006 is a highlight – I’ve extracted my tasting note with alacrity below so you can make a pre-emptive strike.

Reason is I just had an email from Oz Wines.  They have a shipment en route for the UK and are taking orders for it now – apparently it’s sold out at over $80 Aussie dollars a bottle Down Under.

Here’s the word from Oz Wine:

“St Hallett Old Block Shiraz 2006 was named the number 1 wine in Australia (ahead of Penfolds Grange 2004 in second place) on the cover of the prestigious Aussie magazine, Wine 100….

Secure your stocks of Australia’s Number 1 Wine, St Hallett Old Block Shiraz 2006 at £323.88 per dozen NOW for delivery upon arrival in the third week of June 2010 www.ozwines.co.uk We will sell out. Offer limited to 3 cases per household. Just Call OZ WINES 0845 450 1261 to reserve yours or simply reply to this email!”

And my tasting note:

St Hallett Old Block Shiraz 2006 – winemaker Toby Barlow says the old vines that provide the goods for this wine are super fragile because the trunks are riddled with termites.  Old Block is always a blend of Barossa Valley and Eden valley fruit, this year from vines born in 1906, 1913, 1927 and 1950.  Great vines and a great vintage combine to make a cracking wine, which apparently has pipped Grange to the post in a Shiraz-off Down Under.  It’s a beautiful wine, very intense, tight-knit with gorgeous fruity purity and spice lift; not soft but strong and very long.

I ought to flag that I just checked importer Bibendum’s price – they’re retailing it online now for £122.55/6 bottles.  Quite a price difference, though I’ve not checked minimum order/delivery terms etc.  You’ll find fellow blogger Robert Giorgione’s notes of a recent Old Block vertical reported on Bibendum’s website here.

*And you’ll find my tasting note for Grange 2004 here – a report of a vertical tasting presented by Peter Gago last year.