The Auswine Forum

Thanks for the write-up Nick. Sounds like it was a good night. What did Michelle (?) think of the wines? I ran into Jeremy at the Barossa in Boardshorts tasting the night before and he said he was going too. Come on Jeremy, don't be shy! Cheers Michael Shy? Moi? I've got a few notes on the whites. ...

Did a mini-vertical of Cirillo 1850 Old Vine Grenache 03-06. All will do 10 years easily, 04-06 should do 15 minimum & could well go longer.

Fair enough. But what people cellar doesn't necesarily provide any support for the extremes of AJ's thoughts. Firstly, the Barossa has endured some very tough vintages of late and even then we have some fantastic Shiraz from Teusner, Karra Yerta, Kalleske etc. Then there is the movement away from fu...

Selections from Andrew Jefford article in July Decanter-

http://grapeobserver.blogspot.com/2010/ ... hiraz.html

I have not read the full piece.

Thoughts anyone?

Some interesting wines this week including: 2006 Paringa Estate Pinot Noir - lots of glorious red and black cherry fruit and flavours with spice, beautifully balanced and drying tannins 2002 Classic Mclaren La Testa shiraz - so good it could have been a grange - Watermark 2008 Cabernet - Not too ba...

By the way, Grenache got knocked about by the heat this vintage in the Barossa (which was otherwise, by all reports, a very good vintage), so if you're wanting to explore the grape in that region then perhaps have a look now. If you got a crop of Grenache in the Barossa this year, it's probably one...

2005 Castagna Un Segreto - Fresh Cherries & kirsch, dark fruit, loads of cool climate spice & some five spice, touch of smoke and cured meats/bacon fat, almonds, bitumen. Remarkable acid and tannin profile. Hints of sandalwood, cedar, orange peel and anise. Lithe and subtly muscled. Awesome...

By the way, Grenache got knocked about by the heat this vintage in the Barossa (which was otherwise, by all reports, a very good vintage), so if you're wanting to explore the grape in that region then perhaps have a look now.

I have to disagree with Tristam Shandy's comment about Grenache wines not being able to age. If he's referring to single varietal wines then he may have a point as I've yet to have an old one. But if "Grenache wines" includes blends, even those with a high component of Grenache then it's ...

05 and 06 Cirillo Grenache awesome. 08 Tscharke Grenache very good. 06 Burge Family Winemakers Grenache worth a look. 06 Glaymond El Abuelo Grenache too. Massenna do a good one GSM. Some high ABVs here, so stay away if you're scared of numbers. Some have alcohol warmth, some don't. Best GSM I've eve...

Lucky enough to attend a lunch with Dan Buckle of Mt Langi- 2006 Cliff Edge Shiraz - Regional, juicy and spicy. Great to hear that even more work will be put into this wine, which Dan sees as a baby Ghiran. Price is going to stay the same. Served with assiete of lamb with buttered cos and peas. Awe...

Lucky enough to attend a lunch with Dan Buckle of Mt Langi- 2007 Mt Langi Ghiran Shiraz - to be released on the 30th March. Massive potential, kept evolving in the glass. Was not able to spend enough time with it to describe it other than to say it looked excellent and had magnificent structure. On...

Lucky enough to attend a lunch with Dan Buckle of Mt Langi- 2008 Mt Langi Riesling- Excellent example of why I like the Grampians for riesling. Floral with intense lime and some apple. Touch of chalk dust/bath salt texture on finish. Served with kingfish sashimi, poached prawns, white asparagus, shi...

via collins wrote:Jeremy, I've no doubt the 150th vintage marsanne 1999 was old vines, I'll need to check notes on the others.

Thanks!

Thanks for the run down Via Collins, greatly appreciated.

Were all the Marsannes standard or were some Old Vines material?

Busy adjusting to new job, plus Birthday week, so highlights list from whole week, no notes: 2006 Mont Redon Chateaneuf du Pape Blanc 2001 Mont Redon Chateaneuf du Pape Rouge 1989 Mont Redon Chateaneuf du Pape Rouge Mont Redon Vieux Marc de Chateaneuf du Pape 2004 Kangarilla Road Cabernet Sauvignon ...

Curly Flat chardonnay 2007 - the colour! In the fading summer sunshine, this looked like a gold from the Wizard of Oz! Butterscotch on the nose, lovely oily mouthfeel, and lots stonefruits. The fruits showed further the next day, but balanced by a beautiful buttery base on the palate. Very, very go...

Oh dude, that 09 Clona Rizza has some serious tropical action. Clona Rizza? Have you been on the sherry Jeremy?? I wish No, tasted this blind at a panel and many guessed it was some sort of savy. I'm told by people with far more Canberran Riesling experience than me that the tropicals may have been...

Hi all, Been told to drink better wine... Coincidentally, last night, I did. 2009 Clonakilla Riesling- Lime zest with a hint of pomegranite. Pure, tight and long. Very Very Good. 2004 Craggy Range Sophia- Rich concentrated plums and currants. Hints of dried spices- herbs de provence. Fulfilling mus...

monghead wrote:
2009 Clonakilla Viognier Nouveau- Urggh, banana-rama. Although, a little spicier, and less heavy than the last bottle. Mental note- next year, buy less, and drink them faster. Not Good.

Shame to hear. Maybe what I picked as a hint of bubblegum has turned into the banana? Just a thought...

Jeremy The 2005 Symphony Hill Premium Shiraz was very nice. It had a wonderful nose of fruit and earth with a mild hint of mint (which I like, some people don't). In fact it could have passed for a Mike Press Adelaide Hills Shiraz at first. It had that element of cool climate shiraz that again, I l...

Will be drinking a 2005 Symphony Hill Reserve Shiraz tonight with a mate. Very much looking forward to it. Will let you know how it goes. During the week I had a 2008 Cono Sur Pinot Noir . What an unbelievably good imported wine for $9/bottle. I don't even want to think how little money the grape p...

Felt like bigs hits of flavour before I began my "healthy" living regime... 2008 Mountadam Chardonnay - lots of malo and grilled peaches and nuts. Fine by me. 2008 Lazy Ballerina Shiraz - considering what they had to deal with, this is quite good. Oak is a little raw & dominant. But F ...

2005 Cooper Burns Shiraz - lovely, smooth and long. Blackberries, coffee, dark chocolate, spice with red fruits wafting over the top. Sounds a bit simple but its seamless quality just works. 2009 Clonakilla Riesling - suprisingly tropical (I'm new to Canberra riesling). Acidity was more integrated ...

2005 Kabminye Trex Doux Muscadelle - treacle, nuts, a variety of candied fruity, pineapple and orange rind. Really good wine, rich but with some lifted highlights and plenty of length. 2004 Brown Brothers Patricia Sparkling - always love it, loved it again. Still very tight. Would like to get some ...

You all seem to be forgetting that the best climate for Tempranillo is one that is very similar to the Granite Belt region up here in Queensland! The cooler climate tempranillo will be very drinkable, indeed quaffable, but they sometimes lack a bit of the heavier spice I lust for in a good temprani...

Outstanding result from a tough vintage. Incredibly fresh fruit, not something I'm coming across very often with 2008 Barossan reds so far. Having said that it's an early drinker for me. One of the best things about it is the liveliness. Can't see the point in wasting that aspect.

monghead wrote:

AndrewCowley wrote:

odyssey wrote:I imagine this may result in the end of high alcohol (15% or greater) non-fortified Aussie wines?

That may not be a bad thing.

Definitely not a bad thing...

Well, it certainly may result in greater abuse of the + or - 1.5%

2003 Petaluma riesling (best of the three rizzas). I really found that wine disappointing this week. No life or texture, just a collection of sub standard aged flavours. Maybe it was my bottle but at $34 I'm not about to go back & grab another. 2004 Pewsey Vale The Contours Riesling - gorgeous ...

2009 Smallfry Tempranillo Garnacha Joven is a more than tidy little wine. I liked the 2008 Tar & Roses too, but the 2007 Blue Poles is my favourite Oz interpretation to date.