Dirk R. Notheis tastes thirteen wines from Chris Ringland from the vintages 1996 to 2012 1996 Chris Ringland Three Rivers Shiraz 100 P Fully body, purple color with reflections of violet. Irresistible, dense nose of sweet and thick soy sauce, fresh mushroom, oriental spices, dried fig, mulberry and star anise, underneath black cherry and black fruits. On the palate, strong prelude with a silky flow. Orange zest, orange marmalade and cranberry provide freshness, followed by creamy caramel aromas with ripe plums, Vieille Prûne, a hint of sweet mustard, dried fruit and fig jam. Nearly endless finish with iridescent sweetness of Hoisin sauce, lime honey and dried raisins. 1996 Flaxman Valley Shiraz Rockford 100 P Fully body, flashing purple. Dense nose, amarena cherries wrapped in caramel and dark toffee, thick soy sauce and Hoisin sauce as well as plum puree. On the palate, strong prelude with jam of black cherry, amarena cherry, fruit in rum and dark chocolate. A river of silk elevates the fruit elegantly and in a creamy manner onto a plateau from which it further develops it into an endlessly long finish with juicy fruit of sour cherry, Mon Chéri and thick soy sauce. Unbelievable! The Flaxman is the counterpart to the 1996 Three Rivers with grapes from the Northern part of Ringland’s proprietary vineyard. The two wines drunk in combination is an unforgettable experience. 2005 Chris Ringland Three Rivers Shiraz 99 P Full body, almost black purple. Very dense and sweet nose with layers of dark chocolate, caramel, cardamom, thick soy sauce and spices. On the palate, velvet push of caramel dark toffee, red fruit, cherry, plum and blueberry, followed by white chocolate and candied almonds. Incredibly smooth and balanced despite extreme concentration and 17.6% alcohol. Outstanding! On the finish with more than a minute of length Asian spices, cloves, cardamom, Pastis, cherry, Hoisin sauce and milk chocolate. Today, already incredibly good but with a lot of future potential. Second tasting (48 hours later): What an opulent nose! Plum paste, Hoisin sauce and sweet cherries flow out of the glass, orange zest and British orange marmalade provide freshness. On the palate, syrupy texture with ripe cherry, red fruit, chocolate mousse, Crème Brûlée. The fruit presents itself on a creamy carpet. Orange zest, Yogurette, wild cherry and herbal spice are added on a finish with phenomenal length! 2007 Chris Ringland Three Rivers Shiraz 98 P Medium to full body, flashing purple. Intense sweet nose of ripe cherry, dark chocolate, spices, laurels, licorice, black olive zest and balsamic vinegar. On the palate, as prelude a forceful river of caramel that mantels red and blue fruits. Followed by vanillin, cardamom and chestnut puree with a more than fifty second creamy finish of thick soy sauce, sour cherry and milk chocolate Second tasting (48 hours later): Dense, but slimmer nose than the 2005 with sweet soy sauce, plum puree, black cherry and dark fudge. On the palate, sweet cherry, caramel bar, red fruit. Port style almost liqueur alike sweetness on the finish. Not as thick as the 2005 but very long. Tastes like more! 2009 Dimchurch Shiraz 96 P Full body, purple with black reflections. In a dense nose, black fruits, vanilla bean, dark chocolate, notes of dark malt. On the palate, silky but noticeable tannins, Mon Chéri, amarena cherry, dark chocolate, cardamom, mousse au chocolat, dark fudge as well as Crème Brûlée and sweet cherry juice with a wonderful and extremely long finish. There is a lot of unlocked potential in this Shiraz. Second tasting (48 hours later): Beautiful, dense and fresh nose with currant pie and vanilla bean. On the palate thick juice of raspberry, chocolate fudge, toffees, caramel. Dense texture with layers of glycerin and a never-ending length. The wines drinks beautifully, now like 99 points! 2010 Dimchurch Shiraz 98 P Fully body with deep purple. Very dense and meaty- muscular nose with dark chocolate, cherry and a hint of licorice. On the palate silky tannins. Broader and stronger than the Hoffmann with forceful current of dark chocolate, amarena cherry, morello, cherry brandy, spices and fruitcake. Orange zest add a welcomed fresh note to the wine with a salty finish. Already beautiful to drink while still being very youthful. Second tasting (48 hours later): A spectacular nose of black cherry, dark chocolate and dark toffee, vanilla bean and vanillin. On the palate, the wine develops extremely forceful with layers of glycerin that carry sweet caramel, vanilla cream, raspberry and blueberry. In the further development the wine is getting even creamier with aromas of banana chips and dried mangos. Fabulous length, now even longer than the 2010 Hoffmann Shiraz. 2006 Hoffmann Shiraz 97 P Full body, purple with black reflections. Very dense and complex mineral nose with herbs of Provence, rosemary, lavender, cherry, sloe and black fruit. On the palate, sweet and spicy current of herbs, cherry and chocolate. In the further development, blackberry jam, smoked meat, roasted bacon, spices and cinnamon notes in a very long finish. Second tasting (48 hours): Dense, sweet nose of dried fruits, banana chips, dark fruit and hints of Sherry. On the palate, spicy, creamy caramel with red fruit, lovage and an extremely long finish. 2007 Hoffmann Shiraz 98 P Full body, dark purple. Nose of ripe plums, Hoisin sauce, beneath that morello, roast and espresso flavors. On the palate massive weight with a silky sweet flow of juicy dark cherry, dark chocolate, mint and dark caramel. Café crème and cherry brandy in a finish of more than a minute. Magnificent viscosity with simultaneous elegance and freshness. A lot of potential! Secondary tasting (48 hours later): A bit disturbing nose of cabbage intermixed with gooseberry. On the palate, however, forceful, creamy and complex prelude with cherry, sweet tobacco, red fruits and herbal schnapps. Further development with great length. A bit more edges, not as silky as the 2010. 2010 Hoffmann Shiraz 99 P Fully body with black-violet color. Extreme depth and precise nose of amarena cherry, light and dark chocolate. Smells like a great young Amarone from Romano Dal Forno. On the palate forceful prelude with sweet amarena cherry, bedded into creamy panna cotta, followed by more and more layers of cherry jam, Yogurette and juicy morello with a finish of more than 90 seconds. This is beautiful stuff at early stages of its maturity and a clear future candidate for 100 points. Second tasting (48 hours later): Beautiful, dense nose of dark malt, dark chocolate and licorice. On the palate ripe dark cherry, chocolate fudge, dark chocolate, dark toffee and café crème. Wonderful length. Very, very deep and elegant!

DE | EN

DE | EN