2006 Pikes “The Merle” Reserve riesling, 2002 Penny’s Hill Footprint shiraz

An annual family function, 17th April 2009, at Imperial Treasure Crowne Plaza, Changi Airport. The customised menu was superb, as to be expected, since it was crafted by the boss Jimmy Leung himself.

The 2006 Pikes “The Merle” Reserve riesling tasted fresh and crisp, with the right mix of fruit, minerality and acidity. Less dry than the 2002 I had previously at Dr Jaya’s housewarming a few years back, which is a welcome change. Went well with the roast duck & Alaskan crab with truffle egg white. I had initially thought of cellaring this for several years, but what’s the point? Drinking well.

The 2002 Penny’s Hill Footprint was the pioneering vintage of this flagship shiraz. I had carried it back personally from the cellar door in 2004. Ruby red core with some lightening at the rim. Characteristic bouquet of sweet plums and strawberries, which carried over to the palate – full-bodied yet soft, almost seductive, rich fruit but without the kind of glycerin overcoat or alcoholic heat that mar most Aussie shiraz. Silky tannins. No trace of wood. Quite lengthy. 2002, of course, was an outstanding cool vintage for South Australia. It’s good to know that McLaren Vale is capable of producing such sophisticated shiraz that’s quite different, and in some ways, preferable to so many other Barossian shiraz wines. Unfortunately that was my one and only bottle.