Parker Jr.'s 100's
Australia
Chambers
NV Chambers Rosewood Vineyards Rare Muscadelle (Tokay), Rutherglen
At the top level, the Rare Muscadelle (Tokay) boasts a deep amber color along with a rich, sumptuous nose of molasses, brown sugar, and a smorgasbord of spices and flavors, a whopping, unctuous texture, amazing concentration, and a powerful, heady finish. 100/100
NV Chambers Rosewood Vineyards Rare Muscat, Rutherglen
The Rare Muscat reveals a dark amber color, a fabulous bouquet, great concentration, as well as remarkable sweetness and length, but manages to avoid being cloying or over the top. I have cellared half bottles of these fortifieds for over 15 years, and there has been no degradation of quality during that time. However, once opened, they should be consumed within 3-4 days. 100/100
Chris Ringland
2001 Chris Ringland (formerly Three Rivers) Shiraz, Barossa Valley
The monumental 2001 Shiraz, from a 91-year old vineyard, spent 43 months in new French 300-liter hogsheads. The result is a compelling wine of great richness, flavor breadth, and length. An inky/blue/purple color is accompanied by extraordinary scents of flowers, blackberries, blueberries, and cassis as well as hints of espresso roast, truffles, roasted meats, and incense. This sexy, beautifully balanced, loaded Shiraz should keep for three decades or more. 100/100
1998 Chris Ringland (formerly Three Rivers) Shiraz, Barossa Valley
The Chris Ringland (formerly known as Three Rivers Shiraz), which is aged 42 months in 100% new French oak, and is rarely racked until bottling, represents an extraordinary expression of Barossa Shiraz. The perfect 1998, made from a single, 88-year-old vineyard cropped at one ton of fruit per acre, soaked up its wood component as if it is not even present. It boasts a sumptuous texture, great delineation, and a huge fragrance of bacon fat, blackberry liqueur, creme de cassis, toast, espresso roast, and hints of chocolate as well as pepper. Full-bodied yet remarkably well-delineated and fresh, this stunning wine is still a baby, but it promises to evolve for two decades or more. 100/100
1996 Chris Ringland (formerly Three Rivers) Shiraz, Barossa Valley
A colossal effort and very much in keeping with the style produced by the owner/winemaker Chris Ringland, the 1996 Shiraz (only 100 cases produced) is made from 90-year old vines. Following malolactic fermentation in cask, it spent 40 months in new oak prior to being bottled unfiltered. This is arguably the greatest Shiraz made in Australia, but sadly, there is little of it. This viscous, black/purple-colored wine represents the essence of both wine and Shiraz. With impeccable balance, uncanny as well as unreal levels of concentration, yet perfectly integrated tannin, acidity, alcohol, and wood, it is akin to a dry vintage port. Once past the explosive bouquet of creme de cassis, espresso, melted fudge, and graphite, this massive yet seamless wine offers layers of unctuously-textured flavors crammed with blackberries, smoke, charcoal, and currants. The finish lasts for 70+ seconds. The wine should prove to be immortal, lasting for 30-50 years, but who is going to wait that long to unleash the magic? This is compelling stuff! I just wish there were ten times the quantity produced. Kudos to Chris Ringland for this ultimate Australian blockbuster Shiraz. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2040. 100/100
Greenock Creek
2003 Greenock Creek Creek Block Shiraz, Barossa Valley
Pure perfection, the 2003 Shiraz Creek Block was fashioned from a 65-year-old vineyard that yielded one ton of fruit per acre. This full-bodied, multifaceted effort reveals tremendous notes of bacon fat interwoven with black raspberries, blackberries, cassis, pen ink, graphite, incense, and acacia flowers. The finish lasts well past a minute. Although not the most powerful Shiraz (15.5% alcohol), to my mind it is the best of this portfolio, and is superior to the limited production, super-duper expensive Roennfeldt cuvees. 100/100
2001 Greenock Creek Creek Block Shiraz, Barossa Valley
A perfect wine, the magnificent 2001 Shiraz Creek Block (240 cases) exhibits notes of burning embers, melted road tar, truffles, blackberries, and creme de cassis. With huge glycerin and a full-bodied, sensational finish, it represents the essence of wine. 100/100
1998 Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Shiraz, Barossa Valley
The 1998 Shiraz Roennfeldt Road (235 cases) is made from yields of .75-1 ton of fruit per acre. The wine possesses the concentration of the greatest classics ever produced in such Bordeaux vintages as 1945, 1947, 1959, 1961, and 1982. This is a full-bodied red with a finish that lasts well over 60 seconds. For its size and concentration, it is, surprisingly, not heavy, just super-endowed. The Shiraz is accessible, but still primary. Unfortunately, quantities are extremely limited for this spectacular, world-class Australian red. 100/100
1998 Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley
Since availability is extremely restricted, I'll keep my notes brief for the limited production (approximately 60 cases), perfect 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon Roennfeldt Road. It is a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon made from a 60-year-old vineyard that spent three years in neutral French oak. The wine possesses the concentration of the greatest classics ever produced in such Bordeaux vintages as 1945, 1947, 1959, 1961, and 1982. This is a full-bodied red with a finish that lasts well over 60 seconds. For its size and concentration, it is, surprisingly, not heavy, just super-endowed. The Cabernet Sauvignon needs 2-3 more years of cellaring, and should drink well for two decades. Unfortunately, quantities are extremely limited for this spectacular, world-class Australian red. 100/100
1996 Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Shiraz, Barossa Valley
The perfect 1996 Shiraz Roennfeldt Road (15.2% alcohol) was aged three years in new American hogsheads (small foudres). This amazing achievement boasts an inky/black/purple color as well as a striking perfume of smoke, charcoal, blackberry liqueur, and a hint of toast. In the mouth, it is fabulously concentrated and tremendously pure, with layer upon layer of flavors that unfold incrementally. Mouth-staining, but not over the top, it would be hard to find a more concentrated wine anywhere in the world. Although the tannin is high, it is obscured by the wealth of fruit and glycerin. A tour de force in winemaking, it is probably worth the high cost of admission. Anticipated maturity: now-2018. 100/100
1995 Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Shiraz, Barossa Valley
The prodigious 1995 Shiraz Roennfeldt Road spent three years in barrel, but in this case, new American wood. Made from 50-year old vines, it is syrup of Shiraz, with compelling blackberry liqueur intermixed with minerals, smoke, and truffles. Huge in the mouth but not overbearing, this wine has a finish that goes on for nearly a minute. With great purity, massive extraction, and a blockbuster, multidimensional personality, this is one of the greatest Shiraz I have ever tasted. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2030. 100/100
Penfolds
1976 Penfolds Bin 95 Grange Shiraz, South Australia
Consistently one of the most awesome wines ever made at Grange, this blend of 89% Shiraz and 11% Cabernet Sauvignon (13.9% alcohol) was the first Australian wine to cost $20 upon release. I have had this wine six separate times, every time rating it between 96 and 100. It had a phenomenal showing at Penfolds' Magill estate. The color is an opaque purple, the wine massive, full-bodied, and to me, the quintessential Grange. Notes of blackberry liqueur intermixed with cassis, charcoal, new saddle leather, and underbrush resonate from the glass. Huge, thick, unctuously textured, with extraordinary concentration but perfect harmony among all of its elements, this is a prodigious Grange that is still not fully mature. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2020. 100/100
R L Buller
NV R L Buller Calliope Rare Tokay, Rutherglen
The prodigious, dark amber-colored Calliope Rare Tokay boasts colossal aromatics and flavors of melted caramels, coffee, toffee, candied fruits marinated in cognac, magnificent richness, and a huge finish that lasts over 70 seconds. My tasting notes for these wines were virtually identical to those from my report in issue #155 as the solera blends for these cuvees remain essentially the same. I did rate the Victoria Tawny slightly higher this year. Readers just need to be aware that these fortifieds must be tasted to be believed as they are among the world's most profound after-dinner fortified wines. This blend represents the newest bottled offerings from this Rutherglen producer, an area that produces spectacular fortifieds, especially the Muscats and Tokays (actually Muscadelle). Its freshness, good acidity, soaring aromatics, and unctuous flavors must be tasted to be believed. 100/100
Trevor Jones
NV Trevor Jones Liqueur Shiraz, Barossa Valley
This wine is off the charts. The only thing to compare it to is some of the rare Muscat or Tokay produced by another Australian, William Chambers. It is phenomenally concentrated, amazingly thick and unctuous, yet multi-dimensional and totally compelling. The base material is 50 or more years of age. Production is limited to 30 cases of 375 ml bottles. This is the kind of spectacular fortified that is almost worth killing for to get a hold of a half bottle or two. 100/100
NV Trevor Jones Liqueur Tokay, Barossa Valley
This wine is off the charts. The only thing to compare it to is some of the rare Muscat or Tokay produced by another Australian, William Chambers. It is phenomenally concentrated, amazingly thick and unctuous, yet multi-dimensional and totally compelling. The base material is 50 or more years of age. Production is limited to 30 cases of 375 ml bottles. This is the kind of spectacular fortified that is almost worth killing for to get a hold of a half bottle or two. 100/100
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Parker Jr Archive
ROYAL FLUSH 2010 BORDEAUX
Once Upon a time - Bordeaux
Robert Parker Jr.'s 100's - Complete List
Robert Parker Jr.'s 100's
Robert Parker Jr.'s 100's - France - Red Bordeaux
Robert Parker Jr.'s 100's - France - Sauternes-Barsac
Robert Parker Jr.'s 100's - France - Burgundy
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Robert Parker Jr.'s 100's - South West France
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Robert Parker Jr.'s 100's - Spain
Robert Parker Jr.'s 100's - Italy
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