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Oddbins IWC 2000 Medallists

Three medal-winning wines tasted in Oddbins in Autumn 2000. (18/9/00)

Tasting Notes

Tasted in September 2000. Click to locate stockists:

Seaview Pinot Noir Chardonnay Brut 1995: A pale lemon, with a citrus nose and little yeastiness. Quite a prominent, foaming mousse. Unimpressive fruit, slightly bitter yeasty finish. Not showing very well compared with my last tasting, from my own cellar. Perhaps this bottle has been sweating around in a hot shop for too long. 12.5/20

Peter Lehmann Riesling (Eden Valley, Australia) 1998: This wine was touted as a Bronze Medal Winner, which was true of the 1999 vintage, not of the 1998. At least the correct wine was identified, if not the correct vintage! A clean, lemon and lime nose, slightly floral, leading into a good, fruity palate with nice acidity. 15/20

Wolf Blass President's Selection Shiraz (South Australia) 1996: An IWC 2000 Gold Medal Winner. A deep, rich colour. The nose reeks of spicy, liquorice, vanillin American oak. There might be some fruit there as well, but it is difficult to tell. The palate is very aggressive, with huge planks of American oak, glossy black fruit, big tannins, sufficient acidity. The finish leaves the mouth puckered with all those tannins. Another problem with wine competitions is that huge, fruit-laden, over-oaked monsters like this have a tendency to win Gold Medals. If you have some, cellar it in the hope that the oak may settle down and integrate. 13/20