I had the 2002 last month, and absolutely loved it (4.2 / 95):
.............
http://www.vivino.com/users/8818052/activities/81276214
2002 Grant Burge Shiraz Meshach, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley - CellarTracker
Now Wozza, the Ironscraper got a 4.2 from you.....when push comes to shove, which is the better wine, this or the 02 Meshach ? Tough call I know, but.......4.25 anybody?
Good question, mate.
Meshach 2002 every time.
I score in a similar way to Halliday - in context and not necessarily in the European style of a strict pecking order. But in my 4.2 and 4.3 range (a Cellar Tracker 95), there will be some new and not so new wines getting the same scores from me. There's less new (8) than old (18) in the 95 and above range from me*, but they do appear. The
Ironscraper 2013 got a 4.2 (but see below) from me because it was so well integrated and together and drinking so well at such an early age, because the price was good between $25 (price paid) and $35 (cellar door), because it really stands out against its young Barossa Shiraz peers, and also because it has the potential to hold or better that kind of score with some careful bottle age.
It's interesting looking back on my recent top young wines I've had in the last 5 months. Not something I would have done without your question,
Beefarmer. In order, they are:
1.
Penfolds Grange 2011 4.6 / 97 (not the best Grange, but still that blend gives a multitude of sublime flavours that few wines in the world can match. Not sure it will hold out past 15 years, but still absolutely stunning)
2.
KUPE Escarpment Pinot Noir 2013 4.6 / 97 (best Pinot in a long time. So many layers. So smooth. And so much more to come over the next 8 years)
3.
Flametree SRS Wallcliffe Chardonnay 2014 4.5 / 96 (best young White for me. That distinctive diesel undertone was sensational, and its parent vines are the Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay - great pedigree. And great age worthiness)
4.
Penfolds RWT Shiraz 2013 4.4 / 96 (even just after release this was old leather and peatiness. Amazing potential)
5.
Paxton Jones Block Shiraz 2012 4.4 / 96 (best $30 you'll spend on a Shiraz. So sophisticated already. Absolute giant killer, with a great future in the next 10 years)
6.
Penfolds St. Henri Shiraz 2012 4.3 / 95 (again, not the best St Henri. But it's gamey, smooth and showing real promise over the next 10 years)
7.
Home Hill Kelly's Reserve Pinot Noir 2014 4.3 / 95 (cherries, undergrowth, pistachio, seamlessly integrated. Jimmy Watson 2015 winner. What more can I say)
8.
Hoddles Creek Pinot Noir 1er 2014 4.2 / 95 (velvety and very drinkable with great potential over the next 6 years)
You'll spot the obvious - no Ironscraper. It just missed out as I re-graded it to a 4.1. Why? When jumping on the
Cellar Tracker bandwagon the 100 point scoring system had me questioning how I was using the 5 point system on
Vivino. It meant a slight re-grading for some of my Vivino scores to bring some consistency to my scoring across the two platforms.
Thanks for the question, my dear friend. It's good to look back on some absolutely amazing wines I have had the privilege of trying and some of which I'll get to try again in the coming years.
*The 8 and 18 are taken from my more recent 80 tasting notes that I have put on Cellar Tracker where I can sift and sort. There's no such sort function on Vivino that I'm aware of.
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