No, not missing out - but having great expectations dashed when a highly-praised wine disappoints.

This past weekend - drove out to a Grange 2002 tasting.
I was expecting a huge, heavy wine, not ready for drinking for 20+yrs, but still with something special today.

While efined in some ways, there was nothing in the feel or taste to suggest it is any good now. I understand it is not a wine to drink today, but was still disappointed.

This wine has been given great reviews, so it is just an education - to not expect anything from such a wine, before time.

Lesson learned.

Classic great Bordeaux behaviour (shut down between years 4 to 10), but unusual in shiraz, even of Grange quality. But the more likely cause is improper transport and excessive vibration (or rather, opening the bottle too soon after such transport -- it needs 6 months to settle down). Was there a pronounced metallic aftertaste (almost like touching your tongue to a battery)? If so, the lack of rest after too much vibration is the problem. Surprising as you sig says Sydney. But then, great Grange is mostly found in MEL (and the bluestone cellars in that city). FT relevance: transporting this wine by air, such as QF SYD-LAX, does indeed make it undrinkable for months. Best to let it rest for a year. Don't ask how I know this -- an expensive experiment.

Wow, BiziBB- those are the Penfold's Grange Hermitages, yes? The ones with just the wording on the labels, right? They're Australia's most prestigious wines! I eyed them enviously at the Australian Wine Centre, 1 Alfred St., Sydney, as I was purchasing my Seppelt GR 113 Rare Muscat to bring home to Maui. They had vintages going back to the '60s! I guess the '90s were selling in the AUD $800+ range! Or maybe those were the 2000s!

kaukau, if you EVER have the chance, do get to a Penfolds Grange tasting.

The 2002 is the first to be released above AUD$500, though outside Oz is cheaper - apparently Tesco supermarkets in the UK have stock, so that Aussie expats can live it up on their City salaries and bonuses. Perhaps someone can confirm if that was just made up.

Great as the experience was at this tasting, despite the aroma and the drama, I was very disappointed.

Fortunately there were fifty other wines to try, and it made for a great Sunday arvo - includig meeting some neighbours with Grange stashed in their cellars (or even in the pantry!). You would have enjoyed it.

The 2004 Charles Shaw Merlot was so disappointing. And at $1.99 I had so much hope too.

For the Cabernet - try cellaring at 90 degrees fahrenheit for 6 months, then decant before utilizing with some fine olive oil for a truly great salad dressing.

to the OP's question, here's a brief list:
any Opus One past 1999 vintage
any Joseph Phelps past 2001 vintage
any Silver Oak past 1995 vintage

And that's just California stuff!

any Beaux Freres ever.
any Graeser ever
any Marquis Philips. ever. at all. in history.
any Rombauer..any flavor..ever.

I have had a run of great luck lately though, haven't had a disappointing bottle in a while. Most recently had a 2003 Lynch-Bages, 2000 Chateau Giscours, 2004 Clio, and 2001 Montsalvat that were positively amazing.

oh and I guess to make this relevant to the site: I'll be transporting a bottle of Casanova di Neri 2001 to Finland in July via UA/AY

Big agree here. SO is so overrated.

I'm a Paul Hobbs fan, and when I had the '04 Hyde Vineyard Pinot Noir, I found it extremely effervescent and not enjoyable. The disappointment was due to the fact that I love his cheapie pinot, so at 2x the price, the HV didn't beat the bargain bin, IMHO.

Lynch-Bages 70 (tasted in '05 - when had in '04 I thought it the
perfect wine); Lynch-Bages 64 (tasted in '04).

Montelena 98 Estate Cab (tasted in '04)

I hear ya, the 05 PH Pinots should be awesome though. They are scheduled for Fall 2007 release. I personally can't wait to try his Hyde Vineyard because I was up there in Carneros during the summer of 05 and got to assist in pruning back the vines.
By cheapie pinot do you mean the Russian River Valley or the even less expensive one who's name escapes me right now but isn't called Paul Hobbs?

Good, if '05 is bad I'll blame you since you did the pruning...

Cheapie = RRV. I think it's like $40 compared to the $85-$90 for HV?

Anyone know what the going price is for 1st year ('95) Yattarnas and ('92) Block 42s?

I've got unopened 6-bottle cases of those things in storage.

Crossbarn! That's the one I was trying to think of! It's less than the RRV I think. I'll check pricing at work tomorrow.

BTW, tried Morgan - Gary's VYD 2005 today @ an industry event...Excellent stuff! Grab if if you see it. ^

winebid.com might have some answers, I've used it to get real-life prices for the contents of my collection.

HTH