1996 Three Rivers Shiraz. Barossa Valley, South Australia, Australia. 15.3% alcohol. $900. 100 cases made.
You smell this wine and it announces unequivocally that “I am as good as Australian Shiraz gets”. Completely opaque with heavily pigmented legs. Insanely intense aromas of melted caramel, black licorice, earth, incredibly creamy and sweet blackberry, syrupy plum, mint, and stone. A behemoth but it is somehow perfectly balanced nonetheless. Plenty of acid and tannin frame the fireworks going on with the wine’s concentrated power. Flavors that echo the nose churn through on an aftertaste that must be measured in minutes not seconds. 15 seconds into the finish things begin to quiet only to suddenly explode into huge fruit laced with roasted peanut and chocolate flavors. Simply put this is the finest Shiraz from down under that I have ever tasted. A legend that due to the infinitesimal production is destined to be more of a myth than reality. Chris Ringland being the winemaker on a project provides a consumer with about as good a guarantee of quality as it gets. Ringland's efforts in Australia, Spain, and Italy are all of the finest quality. Ringland owns the 90 year old vines which were the source for this wine. Ringland aged his wine in 100% new French oak for 40 months prior to bottling it without filtration. Note that starting with the 1998 vintage the name Three Rivers has been discontinued (courtesy of a number of Intellectual Property attorneys) and now the name of the winery is simply “Chris Ringland”. Drink now to 2020. 100 points.

I hope to taste someday. I have the 98 and 99

I have a few 99s as well. I hope they are as good as the 96!

I am still waiting/hoping for Jones to take one for the team & open 1 of his 99s.

They keep calling my name but so far I have resisted their allure. Its only a matter of time however. I've considered having a taste off between the Ringland and the Sine Qua Non On Your Toes. I think that would be an interesting taste off. Actually throw in something from the Rhone like a Chave 03 and then you would really have a match up of the best of the best from France, Australia, and California.

Is this wine really $900? WOW!

kimber, up on release it is over $300 if you are lucky, lucky meaning it would be hard to find @ that price.

Jones, I eagerly await those TNs. Based on those TNs will decide if I drink or sell my 3 bottles.

I've seen the 2000 in Australia at over $700AUD.

The 00 has not made it over here yet, not that I've seen. Have you heard anything about it (reviews/TNs), Bressler?

Parker gave the 2000 Ringland 90 points. He said it was a very good but not up to par with this wine in good years. 2000 was a rather tough year downunder. My guess is that is is still very good but at release price of $300.00, sort of hard to swallow.

Lakersguy, did he rate the 99?

Yes, 98 points and felt it was just a tad under the perfect 1998.

When I ordered my 2000 I wondered about that review. According to Chris, given the properties of the vintage, he made a much more elegantly styled wine. I talked to a couple of folks who have tried the wine and they raved about it. It is possible that RMP was disappointed that it was not the same style as the other years - but that does not mean it is a bad wine - or even that it is not a great wine, just that it is less of a monster.

BTW - I don't think it is yet released. I'll request that they don't ship mine until the fall, anyway.

I'm cellaring three of the '98 Ringlands but wasn't planning on opening one any time soon. Given their rarity and cost, I wasn't planning to burn one until the beginning of their optimal drinking window. I was thinking perhaps around 2012...? Jones, Bressler and others, what would you suggest?

While I (obviously) have not tasted the 2000 yet, I really find Parker's score extremely hard to believe. His peer group must be limited to Three Rivers/Chris Ringland Shiraz (he says half jokingly...).

2012 it will likely still be a baby unless your palate matches Jeremy Oliver's - in that case the wine will already be dead. Personally I'd drink one early if I were you.

I agree with Jones, pizinah, drink one soon/now. Then, you can decide what to do with the other 2 based on those results. Heck, we tend to treat wine(s) like a Dali original. Well, it is not, you have 3 bottles, have fun with it, enjoy one now.

It's only wine, it's meant to be drank. Go for it on a special night, pizinah, enjoy, & let us know your thoughts. It's only wine.

There's nothing bold or unfair about the characterization. I discussed these kinds of wines (especially wines made by Chris Ringland) with him in depth and his position was that the mid nineties Shirazs that are made in this style are almost all dead or have one foot in the grave. I think his position is ludicrous and will comment accordingly.

So let me see if I understand this correctly. Your comments on Jeremy Olivers abilities to predict drinking windows are based on a conversation with Chris Ringland, despite the fact that Oliver said that the 96 has a drinking window of 2008-16+.

I have also checked Olivers site and can not see a TN or window on the 98, so how do we know what Oliver thinks about it?

Also, many top winemakers in OZ now happen to think that many of the lauded wines from 1998 will not last as long/as as well as the 96's.