I dragged this out of the cellar for Mothers’ Day lunch. The food was a magificent home cooked steak and kidney pie (with the kidney’s removed) with vegies and fresh bread. Before lunch we prepared with a glass of Cremente de Bourgogne and for the main course I decided upon the 1999 Basedow Johannes Shiraz. I recall buying this from the cellar door on a trip there many years ago and since then Basedow’s reputation as a top Barossa Valley red wine maker has only incresed.

The wine is a great Barossa Valley Shiraz experience making the most of what was a fairly average vintage generally in the Barossa. Following the magnificent 1998 and 1996 vintages, many of my 1999s were bought trying to get wines of a vintage before the millenium ticked over. I paid $90 for it which was probably above the odds, but when I drink wines I bought at the cellar door they always remind me of the holiday. And you can’t put a price on that.

1999 Basedow Johannes Shiraz

1999 Basedow Johannes Shiraz

The colour of this wine was still youthful and the flavours vibrant. It’s a long lived Shiraz that easily has another 5 years and possibly 10 with vareful cellaring. I’d describe it was opulent with quality fruit, quality oak and fine tannins to finish. Decant, air and enjoy this masterpiece.

In 2005 WineTalk said “This premium top shelf wine is released to honour Johannes Basedow who founded Basedow Wines in the Barossa Valley of South Australia in 1896. It is composed of especially selected parcels of top notch Barossa Shiraz and is matured in a mixture of French and American oak to produce a concentrated full bodied and full flavoured style of wine. Deep dark brooding brick red with crimson hues, it exudes lovely smooth rich aromas of blackberry and blackcurrants with hints of white pepper, vanillan oak and rich ripe dark plum. On the palate it delivers lingering soft smooth black fruit flavours with very fine tannins. Very mellow yet with a sense of unrestrained power in it. Years ahead of it, 7/10 years but drinkable now. Have with lamb shanks.”

James Halliday ranks it at 90 points, drink before 2014 and says “Traditional Barossa Valley style; gentle black fruits and dark chocolate with lots of vanilla oak; soft tannins, and ready now.”