Jeremy Oliver Rating 97!
"Astonishing Barossa shiraz of rare silkiness and style, especially from the 1998 vintage. Its penetrative and unusually floral fragrance of pure cassis, redcurrants and raspberries is complemented by spicy mocha and chocolate oak and a background of bitumen, leather and jam. Laced with exotic spices and musk, the palate is as long as it is velvet-smooth, presenting pure, pristine sour-edged plum and cassis flavour, tightly knit with superbly fine tannins. Wonderful balance, poise and fineness. Drink 2010-2018.
Jeremy Oliver
"In the two years or so I've been writing this column, I reckon this is just about the best red wine I've tasted. Not only is Burge an especially talented and dedicated winemaker, but here he got to work with some of the best Barossa Shiraz fruit from of the truly great vintages, 1998...This is the kind of wine that has our American cousins tasting in awe. I think it's a better wine than the 1998 Grange I mentioned last week, and it's a third of the price."
Robert Mayne, Canberra Times, 9th April 2002
"This has scarcely missed a beat since its inception in 1988. Both the 1996 and 1998 are in my top three wines of the vintage."
Tim White, Decanter Magazine, March 2003
"Some years ago I was involved in a tasting to compare three Shiraz wines from Australia and two from the Hermitage area of France. Among the Australian reds was a Penfold's Grange and a Grant Burge Meshach.
While the vintages of the wines we tasted now escapes me, the most satisfying for all those involved were the Grange and the Meshach, probably in that order, but there was note much between them.
Considering Meshach is about one-third the price of Grange, Grant Burge can take pride in what he is achieving from his Barossa vineyards...
Not only is the 1998 the best Meshach, Grant Burge admits it's probably the best wine he has ever made.
'I've been making wine in the Barossa for well over 30 years, and I've never experienced a better vintage than '98, especially for red wines.
'Given that Meshach is my flagship red and represents the best I can make, I guess I'd have to say that this is the best wine I've made so far,' he said.
It's a big wine, with big tannin, huge fruit and great complexity."
Miles Nolier, The Good Wine Guide, May 2002
"If you enjoy Grange you'll like this: Grant Burge 19998 Meshach Barossa shiraz. This is the best wine I've tasted this year- no contest. Meshach is made only in years when the fruit comes up to the winemaker's lofty standards. The great 1998 Barossa harvest has resulted in a rip-snorter: combining power and richness with astonishing balance and a silky texture."
Jeff Collerson, The Daily Telegraph, July 3, 2002
"Dense purple/ ruby colour with black highlights. Fully integrated and concentrated ripe black cherry fruit aromas, with solid and powerful oak influences. 'Strong raw flavour at present, but has all the ingredients for ageing,' said one judge. Great texture and length."
Winestate, September/October 2002
Country:
Australia
Region:
SA- Barossa Valley
Variety:
Wine Red - Shiraz
Size:
750mL
