Tyrrell's, 4 Acres Shiraz, Hunter Valley

perfect mid-neck level and good elastic cork, 2+ hours decanting, colour relatively light red cherry with no discernible brown, “Cardinal Richelieu red” my daughter noted, lovely fine restrained complex and nuanced olive tapenade Shiraz nose, classy and complex, perfect age, still quite fresh, palate also excellent, only of medium weight but great intensity and concentration, lovely flavour, long and persistent, bought at the winery after being impressed in a tasting with the Tyrell’s family winemaker, he presented it as something …

Vibrant red colour. Cork looked perfect. Opened a little flat with leather nose. With time in glass, the acidity rose. Austere, tart red fruit (bitter raspberry and cherry). I think it’s quite concentrated. 92 Plus 1 day. Rich red fruit and a lot of mud. Nice but not outstanding. 92.

And earlier concerns proved founded when I opened this with chums to have with steak...it's basically fallen off a cliff; well on the way to fully oxidised; plummy and slight blackberry fruit on the palate is compromised by oxidised caramel, and bruised orchard fruits backed by a little tar, spice. In the mouth the fruit is slightly sour and more red hued, those oxidised notes and lacks any tannic burr whatsoever lending a tart softness that is quite off-putting. Flawed, …

Coravin fun - Rioja and lunch selection (My place, Kent Street) : From Coravin. oof quite stinky - I think the cork is compromised here; there is a little bleeding and that slight oxidised caramel note I sometimes get in these situations as well as a little bruised apple, with agitation, earth, leather, blackberries, peppery spice. Juicy acid, tannins and flavours are beautifully balanced, savoury, with tight chalky tannins, fresh, flavours of red currant and wild brambles. I like the …

Slow oxed for two hours. Decent nose of blackberry, tar and earth. The wine is medium to full bodied, with a little roasted quality to the fruit. This doesn’t deliver the concentration and length of a big Australian shiraz from this period or the balance of a cool climate cuvee. Mediocre.

45 minutes of decanting. The nose is modest and cloying red fruit and herbs. The palate is a bit restrained but in a good way. Red fruit, earth, roasted meat and touch of spice. The finish is a bit short and there isn’t much complexity but there a sense of good purity of fruit and terroir. Decent balance - this is not an Australian ooze monster - dare I say this reminds me of a very well made st joseph …

Coravin fun - Randoms (Kennards, Waterloo) : From Coravin. Oof, a bit funky and gamey initially, plums, leather, freshly tilled earth, a little black olive and almost liquorice over slight sweet oak and prune. More of the same on the palate though the prune is more evident. Tannins are slightly gritty and the fruit doesn't carry. Okay. It's kind of sitting in a middle ground between maturity and primary. A little awkward.

Light:Medium body