Weekly Drinking Thread as at 28/04/13

[dlo]

Only three bottles opened this week - all really good for what they are -

Seppelt Moyston Cabernet Merlot 2003 - Murray Stiles served this masked (alongside a magnificent bottle of 1990 389) at a Melbourne offline in circa 2005 - this was a $10 wine on release, and at the time I thought it truly outstanding (scoring it about 92 points, IIRC). At ten years of age and from a notoriuously hot and difficult vintage, this wine still shines like a beacon, just entering its secondary fruit development stage with bucketloads of reserves, excellent balance and structure, good colour, impressive aromatics, full body, lovely oak complexity, resolute tannins, softening acidity and a long resilient finish. I'd score it about the same as ten years ago. It will last for at least another ten years.

Opened one of my last pristine bottles of 1988 Orlando St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet after buying multiple bottles of puss of the same from auction recently. My cellared wine was impeccably coloured for its considerable age, had that amazingly complex aged Coonawarra nose and palate of weedy blackcurrants, cigar box, herbs, sweet earth, spice box, saddle leather that justs sits so nicely in the mouth with its refined excellence and wonderful structure. 92 points but definitely a drink now/soon experience.

Lastly - a blast from the past - I bought a mixed case of 1989 and 1990 Zind-Humbrecht Alsace Vedange Tardive varietals - (Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer) - from John Osbeitson many years ago that provided truly memorable drinking experiences and just recently saw a bottle of 1990 Hengst Gewurztraminer from Z-H languishing at a local auction. I bought it for far less than I paid all those years ago. The wine is still in remarkably good condition, although the colour is now a slightly cloudy gold colour. Aromatically the wine reveals a wealth of spicy lychee and apricot fruit with telltale varietal musk and lavish tropical fruit character. The explosive palate is still both fresh and exceedingly complex with remarkably good lively acidity providing the perfect foil to the rich and unctious fruit (aka the nose). Although mature, this outstanding wine shows no signs of cracking up and should drink awfully well for at least to the end of this decade. 93 points

Apologies to Winerick for using points. Suggest you disregard them as mere reference points.

[Michael R]

08 Hubert Lignier Clos Baulet

Amazing nose but less impressive palate. The cork was stained just over half way, a worry, but fill looked good. Drank over 3 hours, definitely noticed stems, a slight drying impact which hindered the freshness. Perhaps this has shut down, but the cork doesn't fill me with confidence that it be in good shape when it wakes. Put on a bit of weight over time, and improved a touch. I'm certainly no burgundy expert but this didn't excite.

[Michael R]

Just read that Hubert lignier grapes are destemmed ...lol, classic!
Told you I'm no expert

Wonder what that characteristic inthewine was though...

[cuttlefish]

Murdock Cabernet Sauvignon 2001
13.5% alc, and natural cork sealed. Opened this on Thursday night and had a glass each then sealed it back up and forgot about it till tonight (Sunday)
It's drinking bloody well now ! Lovely smooth mouthfeel; medium to full weight.
I loove good cab and this is a cracker. Plenty of years left if you have any. There are dark earthy/gravel notes, and subliminal fruit.

edit: "subliminal fruit".....hmmmmm.....not sure what I was trying to say there...

FWIW, there's still ample fruit to see this wine through a few more years.

[monghead]

08 Hubert Lignier Clos Baulet

Amazing nose but less impressive palate. The cork was stained just over half way, a worry, but fill looked good. Drank over 3 hours, definitely noticed stems, a slight drying impact which hindered the freshness. Perhaps this has shut down, but the cork doesn't fill me with confidence that it be in good shape when it wakes. Put on a bit of weight over time, and improved a touch. I'm certainly no burgundy expert but this didn't excite.

Mick,

Had a Hubert Lignier last week too, and found the palate extremely lean:

2010 Hubert Lignier Bourgogne rouge
Fantastically fragrant nose promises so much, but relatively thin and unfulfilling on the palate.
Just Good

Wonder if this is their style???

For me, just a 1996 Coriole Lloyd which I will post notes on in my monthly 96 thread soon.

[Phil Wilkins]

A Chambers Rosewood Vineyards Grand Muscat. Certainly not as grand as the Grand used to be a decade ago. It seems somewhat 'diluted' these days.

[dlo]

A Chambers Rosewood Vineyards Grand Muscat. Certainly not as grand as the Grand used to be a decade ago. It seems somewhat 'diluted' these days.

Except for the price, Phil! Good to see you still around, been a while, mate.

[Matt]

Cape Mentelle ZInfandel 2007
I just love this wine. Spicey, plummy chistmas cake. Rich rasberry on the finish. Its a 'wow' wine for me. The 2010 is talked up - will have to try.

[sjw_11]

Clonakilla Riesling 2012... Lovely wine. Green apple, freshly squeezed lime and some lemon pith on the nose, the palate enters with abundant sweet, fresh citrus fruit, but closes with a lingering, zippy line of lemon/line acidity. Yummers.

Frogmore Creek Pinot Noir 2008... Lovely rich red berries, a touch of forest floor, and some warm winter spices. Nice.

Lake Breeze Cabernet 2002... Cork. From CD on release. Slightly hazy colour, but still full, deep red. The nose had lifted blackcurrant, pronounced minty-characters and some a whiff of VA. The palate was quite fresh, but with acid poking out and not the depth of flavour I expected. Didn't look too aged, just didn't quite come together. Low level cork issues? Hard to say.

[Rossco]

Had a wine night with a few mates. Everyone brought one bottle. My contribution was the Leeuwin Estate. (posts not in order of consumption)

2009 Leeuwin Estate - Art Series Chardonnay - Jebus this was fantastic. Not integrated properly yet. A Titanic battle between fruit, oak & acid happening right now, but give it a year or two and it will settle down. Amazing nose, really beautiful mouthfeel. Worth every cent, still not cheap, but for a special occasion....go buy!

2006 Penfolds RWT -This was too young. Had 3 hrs Decant and still needed more. Another 10 years and im sure will be great....wouldn't buy it though for the price. Little bit lean at the moment.

2004 St Hallett - Old Block Shiraz -This is a wine from a (possibly?) bygone era. Big fruit, big oak, big alcohol. Everything about this was big. Nothing subtle and just whacked you in the face. Having said that, I really enjoyed it. True ballsy barossa Shiraz. VERY Ripe fruit, little porty I thought.


2010 Martinborough Vineyard Pinot -Really Stinky, quite good. Bit too much acid at the moment, but beautiful/quality oak. Still not 100% sold on it yet, but was very pinotey....if that makes sence. Probably needs a little time. I just get this feeling it has great potential.


2008 Brown Brothers Patricia Nobel Riesling -Wow......just.....wow. beautiful balance, not sickly sweet. Apricots & wild honey. Very intense, very rich but good acid to keep it on the straight & narrow. Could live for a long time, but not at my house


2007 Louis Latour Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru -The Leeuwin killed this. For $100 don't bother. Very delicate, very light....bordering on bland...everyone was asking where the fruit was. White burgundy. Is nice but not much fruit, oak or acid. The forest hill estate @ $20 is better value.

[Craig(NZ)]

2010 Te Mata Elston Chardonnay. Developing well it has lost some of the driving acid it had on release and is a more relaxed wine now. White peach, bottled lemon, nougat, toasted almond. Really solid Chardonnay.

[dlo]

Just finished off a 1999 Majella Malleea Cabernet Shiraz over two nights. Excellent juice with a jubey, black pastille and dark plum nose with a fair underpinning input from savoury/spicy/mocha oak (22 months new French). The usual Coonawarra culprits lurk cagily underneath - red earth, green olives, some old leather and cigar box - the wine, night two, really came together and displayed much better integration, immaculate balance and was fully resolved on a long and prestigious finish. Not the greatest Coonawarra but certainly up there. Ready to drink now with a decent decant or cellar for a few years and drink relatively soon thereafter. 91 points. 13.5% A/V Cork closure.

[monghead]

Just finished off a 1999 Majella Malleea Cabernet Shiraz over two nights. Excellent juice with a jubey, black pastille and dark plum nose with a fair underpinning input from savoury/spicy/mocha oak (22 months new French). The usual Coonawarra culprits lurk cagily underneath - red earth, green olives, some old leather and cigar box - the wine, night two, really came together and displayed much better integration, immaculate balance and was fully resolved on a long and prestigious finish. Not the greatest Coonawarra but certainly up there. Ready to drink now with a decent decant or cellar for a few years and drink relatively soon thereafter. 91 points. 13.5% A/V Cork closure.

Though it is their flagship, I have often found their straight cab and shiraz better than their blend...

That 99 sounds like it was singing though!

Cheers,

Monghead.

[monghead]

2004 Curly Flat Pinot Noir
Deliciously sophisticated and layered, with strawberry coulis, fresh juicy ripe figs, forest floor complexity, a steely minerality, and soft supple tannins that kept us wanting more...
I love surprises like this! Very Good to Very Very Good.

[Michael R]

2012 Pikes Riesling
Good, liked it. But perhaps a level down, or at least a bit simple, compared to some of the 2012s out there.

FYI Len, never tried Hubert Lignier before, but have a few more prem crus to go, so hopefully things improve.
Also love Curly Flat, never had a 9 yr old though not surprised to see it show well at that age.

[monghead]

2008 Madfish Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Cabernet Franc
Meaty, forward plump blackcurrants and cedar. Simple though, and slightly short.
Just Good.

[monghead]

2011 Anthem Ascend Pinot Noir
Medicinal, drying, metallic, with a hot alcohol finish. Oh dear...
Sub Good.

[Phil Wilkins]

1983 Louis Michel Chablis 1er Cru Montmain.
Peat, slate, seashells with a hint of oxidation and a earthy lemon profile. Balanced acidity with a real saline caramel textured finish. A lovely old fashioned Chablis. Seemed more 2003 than 1983!

[Michael R]

Nice result Phil!

Last night had a 2011 Oakridge 864 Chardonnay. peach, smokey, struck match nose, Not much oak showing. Improved as it warmed, but felt a lot more age is required to show its best. Excellent length.