Gibson, Barossa Vale Shiraz, Barossa Valley

Shiraz is not my type but this wine turns out to be a lovely pillow hugger. What I mean is that the wine is everything in the middle.. tannis is softer than cab sau , dryness and sweetness are in the middle.. plus it is bold with medium acidicity. Chocolate and hint of berries. Very good bargain and quality with USD 22 I find out this wine is good to chill and snack with friends. One turnoff is the screw …

2003 vintage

Stelvin closure. Very fresh, still some red berries and a hint of cassis. This is a very good bottle and amazing value for £13.

2003 vintage

Comparison tasting of stelvin versus cork closure Cork; dusty mouthfeel with a lot of sediment. Getting to the rich, semi-sweet stage with oxidation imminent, lots of eucalyptus over the fruit. Stelvin; fresh, bright fruit, brighter colour in glass, fresher aromatics, acidity holding well On this sample, stelvin wins it easily, 90/91 to 89. Stelvin, good for a few years yet, cork needs to be drunk soon

2003 vintage

Still has some decent tannins, and depth of fruit, mild acidity. Pleasant sipping, fair hit from alcohol though. Good.

2003 vintage

Still quite deep with a smokiness to it. Fruit has mellowed but thankfully not stewed. Very enjoyable and perhaps not in need of drinking as badly as I had presumed although I’d recommend drinking in the near future.

2003 vintage

Cork closure. Just past it’s peak with a hint of portiness. This doesn’t detract from the enjoyment as there’s still some nice character there and felt like it improved with a little air. Have read the stelvin closures are still fresh as a daisy. Lots of fine sediment in this bottle as with previous so recommend standing for at least 24 hours before opening if you can. If like me you have a cork closure, drink up now and best …

2003 vintage

Stelvin closure. Some black fruit has survived the 15 year journey to here, but balanced by some savoury licquorice and herb notes, and a long finish rounded off by a hint of acidity.

2003 vintage

Double decanted through muslin cloth having been stood upright for 4 days. Drank over three nights. Each night the characteristics changed. First night the nose was plum, bramble and a whiff of cherry. Palate was soft, bramble fruit hint of tobacco and tar, and a pronounced mint leaf on the finish. Medium tannin and mild acidity. Second night nose developed more tobacco and tar. Palate was dark berry fruit and tobacco more pronounced and mint fading. Day 3 and nose …

2003 vintage

On opening last night the foil was sealed well tight - no chance of prem ox here I think. Nicely sunk long, unlabelled cork. There was a waft of vanilla ice cream and bramble and blueberries from the glass after pouring and a similar flavour profile, with a slight mintiness too. Inky dark colour still. Tannins were still a bit grippy and it felt very heavyweight in terms of flavour and alcohol (without the burn though) Day 2 and this …

2003 vintage

Drank this over three evenings. This is a pretty bold wine. 100% Shiraz has power and weight. Nose is dark fruits and some herbal notes. The fruit comes through on the palate. Blackberries, cherries and blueberries. Tannins are soft and there is acidity at the end leaving a long finish. It's slightly sweet and almost jammy, which I quite like. There is a lot of sediment in this. Stand upright for 24 hours and decant. I filtered through muslin too …

2003 vintage

Lost detailed notes, but I remember it is drinking strong.

2002 vintage

Went through the most change over the course of the night. Started showing tart power without any real depth; eventually revealing interesting rock and fruit flavors that paired well with inferno pepperoni pizza.

2002 vintage

Gentle? Or passive aggressive? Again ripe berry with plum, pepper, and eastern spice, this is well-made and commendable; but the jury's out on whether I can find a spot in my own heart for it. Did not sing with spaghetti, marinara, and pork meatballs.

2002 vintage

Gentle, with a quiet presence, and plenty appealing, with significant ripeness, plum and prune, and hints of eastern spices. Welcoming enough to work with both flank steak and miso-grilled cod. Drink one soon and check on these frequently.

2002 vintage

Good and I would drink now on this wine. Floral, pepper, raspberry, blueberries and cedar. Medium finish and a bit gritty.

2002 vintage

Mpls Wine Club: Worldwide Syrah/Shiraz (Tracy's) : Very dark red/purple color. Pop and pour. Drank 1 glass over 1.5 hours. Nose is very floral, cedar, oak, pepper, eucalyptus, cassis, mineral. This improves significantly in the glass over an hour, blackberry liqueur, black cherry, spice, eucalyptus, marked pepper on the finish. this showed a bit of heat and a little too much acid initially, but that resolved. This ended up being my and group #3 WOTN.

2002 vintage

A little flabby and almost prune flavored. Still enjoyable, but not worth holding onto. Drink up quickly.

2002 vintage

Beautiful gumdrop nose with spicy licorice and complexity of fruit; repeats on the palate. Good density but soft and fleshy.

2002 vintage

Aussie night with friends (Sarah & Randy's) : Popped & poured by our hosts. Deep garnet color. Opens with floral qualities, then red fruit, plum and pepper. Starts out with a hollowness on the midpalate, but it gains significant weight as it opens. Flavors of plum and red fruit, oaky spice and florals. Be sure to give this a bit of air before tasting.

2002 vintage

Mature, takes at least two hours to open up after decant. Soft tannins, nice blackberries, pepper, blueberries, slight tobacco and tar

2003 vintage

Tremendous fruit and mouthfeel - drinking great now.

2002 vintage

Big rich brawny without being overbearing or alcoholic. Harmonious in the mouth with good acidity, ripe fruit, and a medium finish of raspberries, plums, and dark chocolate. May mellow over the next few years, but probably won't get much better.

2002 vintage

Pleasant and surprisingly smooth and rich shiraz. Not complex, but easy to drink without being over the top.

2002 vintage

Fantastic. Rich and smooth. Second of the night to Bethany GR6 1998 Shiraz.

2002 vintage

Wow - powerful without being overwhelming. A great example of what a aussie shiraz should taste like. Not syrupy or portlike - not too much alcohol. If you don't like this then you just need to drink Cote du Rhone and forget about Aussies.

2002 vintage

Lots of menthol, blackberry, clove and a meaty note. The texture is crisp and a bit hot with fine tannins. Not a creamy wine, but does well with food.

2002 vintage

Not a big big shiraz....no problem with the oak(well integrated)....like that curry note.

2002 vintage

Interesting nose with bit of curry, faded black pepper...a bit uninteresting on the palate....

2002 vintage

Very nice. Not as much oak in this bottle. The wife liked it as well.

2002 vintage

Berry Cherry, blueberry, blackberry long 45 sec+ finish. 14.5%

2003 vintage

Nice Aussie Shiraz needs a little more time. Little heavy on the oak, lots of vanilla that goes well with the spicy fruit. Well balanced. Will wait a little longer before I drink it again. This was a great QPR at $25.

2002 vintage

Dark but not opaque maroon-red. Lots of oaky vanillin on the nose, but also some pleasing rose and tobacco. Sweet and fairly soft, with decent persistence and a very smooth texture. Moderate finish.

2003 vintage

Classic aussie, still needs a few more years. is remeniscent of the 1998 dead arm.

2002 vintage

I want very much to like this wine. I am not sure that I do. When I popped the bottle, I could smell overwhelming oak from the cork alone. An hour later, I returned to see if perhaps the intense fake vanilla notes had subsided. The nose screams cherries jubilee, confectioner's sugar, and sourmash whiskey. The vanilla beans note is as pervasive as in many single barrel bourbons. Underneath this somewhat oppresive nose is a nice mouthful of spicy fruit, …

2002 vintage

Solid Shiraz. Nice Price Would purchase again.

2002 vintage

Inky purple color...a glass stainer. Nose of blackberry, blueberry, bramble, and a hint of tar. On the palate, thick blackberry and spice framed by tannins and a significant amount of acidity. Should settle down nicely over the next few years. Very big, but not out of balance.

2002 vintage

Tasted February 26, 2005 at an offline at Quails Inn Dinner House in San Marcos, CA so brief comments only. Opened and served immediately without decanting in Lenox Tuscany Bordeaux glasses. Color not noted. Huge Aussie nose of blueberries. Over the top flavors of blueberries and as my buddy said “brown sugar”. If you like those Robert Parker turbo charged Aussie wines this one is your ticket. I’m passing for my palate. Drink at your leisure over the next several …

2002 vintage

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Gibson, Barossa Vale Shiraz, Barossa Valley

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