APPRAISAL OF PREVIOUS VINTAGES

Year	Riesling	Cabernet Sauvignon	Shiraz*	Hippocrene	Chardonnay	Zinfandel
1980			3
1981			4
1982		4	*
1983		*	3
1984		6	7
1985	8	7	7
1986	7	8	8			8
1987	6	7	6		3	4
1988	8	9	8		6	8
1989	9	6	6		7	*
1990	8	8	*	8	7	7
1991	9	6	*	9	7	8
1992	10	8	*	6	7	*
1993	7	*	*	7	*	*
1994	8	9	8	8	6	10
1995	9	7	7	7	7	*
1996	8	7	*	9	7	*
1997	7	7	7		5	9
1998	7	8	7		7	*
1999	8	8	9		7	8
2000	8	8	7		8	*
2001	10	8	7
2002	10	9	9		7
2003	9					9

* includes Shiraz-Cabernet blends during the 1980s.

The grid rates the vintages of our wines according to how they are now. Italics indicate wines that in the winemaker's opinion, will not rise to a higher score with cellaring. In other words, it is suggested that you drink them soon.

Bold numerals indicate that wines have the potential to score higher if well cellared.

This is the scoring system:

1. Useful in the kitchen - for flushing drain-pipes.
2. Useful in the kitchen - in a stew.
3. If the alternative is a four-litre bag in the box, keep this on standby in case the cask runs dry.
4. If the alternative is a four-litre bag in the box, drink this.
5. An OK wine to drink with business associates who are trying to sell you something.
6. An OK wine to drink with business associates when you are doing the selling.
7. Too good to waste on business associates: keep it for yourself.
8. You lavish this on your (adult) kids in the desperate hope that they will develop an appreciation of fine wine, and will one day have impressive cellars and invite you for dinner.
9. You save this to have in the company of those rare friends who share with you the nine and ten ranking wines from their own cellars.
10. Speaks for itself.