Election weekend drinking reports

[tpang]

Sitting here watching the foregone election results being reported by the ABC. Surprised at how well Adam Bandt has polled in Melbourne.

So I'm having the Running with Bulls Vermentino 2011. The last vintage to be released for the Vermentino. End of the line. It's a fresh tasty drink which I had earlier today, before the grey clouds and drizzle came in. Great with grilled prawns and char-grilled veges. A good one for the next couple of years.

[ticklenow1]

A few from the last couple of weeks. The warmer weather is now approaching in QLD so I'm trying to get a few nice reds in before we have to sit in air conditioning to enjoy them. Also I need more cellar space for the upcoming mailers due.

2006 d'Arenberg Laughing Magpie Shiraz Viogner. McLaren Vale. Black fruits, some spice and totally consistent with my last bottle 6 or so months ago. In a nice spot and drinking really well. Should go for a while yet but I'm not sure if it will get any better. 3.5/5

2009 Domanie des Espiers. Cotes du Rhone. France. I'm enjoying this a lot. Easy drinking and not to complex, but a nice quaffer. Best of the cheaper Frenchies I've had. Very fruit driven with little or no influence from oak I'm guessing. 3/5

2009 Heirloom Eden Valley Shiraz. Stunning for such a young wine. I normally like Shiraz with a bit more age on them but this was exceptional. Well balanced, fruit forward with nice supporting oak and fine tannins. 4/5

2009 The Colonial Estate Alexander Laing Old Vine Grenache. Barossa Valley. One of the better TCE wines. Lovely drop with lots of red and darker fruits that has gobbled up the oak. Improved a lot with time in the glass. Not over confected and the alcohol was not really an issue at all. Should only get better with time in the cellar. 4/5

2007 Poverty Hill Merlot. Eden Valley. A nice wine but demonstrates why I am not a huge Merlot fan. Easy drinking and a decent quaffer, but lacked complexity and more of a BBQ wine than a serious one. Not really my thing and I suppose we got caught up in the cellar door experience. 2.5/5

2005 Viking Grand Shiraz. Barossa Valley. This was more like it. In a lovely spot right now with just enough aged characters but still showing a hint of youth. Quite typical for a Barossa Shiraz and that is probably why we both loved it. Only a couple left and it will be hard to keep the hands off them. 4/5

2007 d'Arenberg Cenosilicaphobic Cat. Sagrantino Cinsault. McLaren Vale. I bought this originally on the strength of a Gary Walsh review. While it isn't a bad wine, it didn't really float my boat this time around. A bit of earth and spice and red fruit but the chalk like tannins took away from the enjoyment. 2.5/5

2005 Roennfeldt Wines Genisis Shiraz. Barossa Valley. Once again, like the Viking, in a good spot right now. Went down a treat with Steak Diane and was enjoyed by all at the table. This is why I love medium term aged Barossa Shiraz. 4/5

2004 Normans Chais Clarendon Cabernet. Mclaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, Clare Valley. Oxidised or faulty in some way and it went down the sink. I've had this before and it was quite nice so this was a disappointment. NR

Cheers
Ian

[ross67]

S C Pannel Shiraz 2012
This is a very nice wine. Elegant with some complexity.
$27/ 93 pts

Teusner 'Riebke' 2012
Typical from this label. Great drinking from extra good vintage.
$24 / 92 pts

Ross

[Chuck]

Last night we were celebrating our son's 18th birthday at the highly respected Edinburgh Hotel. Great pub food that's a step up from normal pub food. The wine, D'Arenberg 2010 Footbolt Shiraz, was disappointing. I have watched as the retail price of this wine has fallen and it looks like the fruit quality has fallen as well. An ordinary wine from an exceptional vintage. i've had many cleanskin wines lately that were better than this. I have found labels don't add any flavour. The screwcap seal excluded a fault here.

Carl

[calm]

2008 Sons of Eden Kennedy - Wow, 18 months since my first bottle and this wine has blossomed into something great. Grenache traits clearly coming through and not obstructed by so much fruit, pomegranate, musk, raspberry, complemented by some body and balance from the Shiraz/Mataro , faintest whiff of secondary sweet tobacco coming through. Long and lingering. Huge difference from previous bottle. Reminded me very much of a Torbreck Steading, with some more oomph.

[sjw_11]

Coriole Lloyd's Reserve Shiraz 1997... Still a solid mid-brick red hue, the nose showed hints of plum liqueur, saddle leather, and some dried herbs. There was just a hint of TCA flowing over the top which detracted slightly, although the taint was mild. Quite ripe on the palate still, a little savoury with the bottle age.

Proprieta Sperino Lessona DOC Piemonte 2007... From an Italian restaraunt. This is at least 75% Nebbiolo, not sure the exact blend but the DOC rules allow up to 25% Vespolina or Bonarda (local grape varieties. It certainly was in the vein of easier consumption Nebbiolo, there was none of the rose petals and unmanageable tannins of the Barolo expression of the grape. This was almost more Cabernet like, with attractive aromas in the red fruit spectrum, lively acidity, and modest but well structured tannin. Very enjoyable.

[monghead]

Meerea Park XYZ Shiraz- Good
St Huberts The Stag Pinot Noir- Good
Craggy Range Te Kahu Merlot Cab Franc Cab Sav Malbec- Solid Good

[dlo]

Meerea Park XYZ Shiraz- Good
St Huberts The Stag Pinot Noir- Good
Craggy Range Te Kahu Merlot Cab Franc Cab Sav Malbec- Solid Good

Take the above are non-vintage, Mong ...... he he.

[dlo]

I opened a 1981 Chateau Reynella Vintage Port last night that was very darn good indeed. The back label festooned with trophies and gold medals. Can see why, this is up there with the better vintages from this once great fortified maker.

[damonpeyo]

'12 Dandelion Riesling - very good. Solid good.

[Cloth Ears]

Went to an election/Collingwood vs Port Adelaide night and the entry was a bottle of red.
I took along a bottle of Pikes' Red Mullet, which I reckon is a very interesting blend of Shiraz/Temperanillo/Grenache/Merlot. Lots of berry flavour and quite light in colour and tannin, but with a lot of backbone to it. Not sure what the aging prospects are, but it tastes good now.
Amongst some of the gems were a 1992 Georgia's Paddock, a 1993 Penfolds blend (I think it may have become the 138?), a 1993 John Riddock and quite a few others.
I really should learn to leave the car at home - but I did drive home safely, albeit unfulfilled!

[monghead]

Meerea Park XYZ Shiraz- Good
St Huberts The Stag Pinot Noir- Good
Craggy Range Te Kahu Merlot Cab Franc Cab Sav Malbec- Solid Good

Take the above are non-vintage, Mong ...... he he.

 busy times, in my haste, neglected these...
2010
2012
2010
Respectively.

[TiggerK]

'12 Dandelion Riesling - very good. Solid good.

Had one of these too, definitely solid good, possibly even Good Good!

[Teisto]

2005 Castagna Adam's Rib - Excellent drink, blend of Merlot and Shiraz

[Broughy]

2009 Richmond Grove Limited Release Watervale Riesling very steely/flinty with good acid. Nice Lime juice and Kafir lime on the nose. this should be long lived
2012 Richmond Grove Limited Release Watervale Riesling a much fruiter softer and rounder wine than the previous. Doesn't appear to have the same structure of acid to last the distance for mine. A bit Blousy really.
2011 Glaetzer Dixon Avance Pinot Noir still impressed by this wine seems to be getting better each time I try it. Supposedly a poor vintage but this has depth of character and a wonderful nose. Full fruit style, good juice

[phillisc]

Coriole Lloyd's Reserve Shiraz 1997... Still a solid mid-brick red hue, the nose showed hints of plum liqueur, saddle leather, and some dried herbs. There was just a hint of TCA flowing over the top which detracted slightly, although the taint was mild. Quite ripe on the palate still, a little savoury with the bottle age.

Proprieta Sperino Lessona DOC Piemonte 2007... From an Italian restaraunt. This is at least 75% Nebbiolo, not sure the exact blend but the DOC rules allow up to 25% Vespolina or Bonarda (local grape varieties. It certainly was in the vein of easier consumption Nebbiolo, there was none of the rose petals and unmanageable tannins of the Barolo expression of the grape. This was almost more Cabernet like, with attractive aromas in the red fruit spectrum, lively acidity, and modest but well structured tannin. Very enjoyable.

Sam, I have a 6 pack of the 97 and also 6 from 94 for the lads birth years, how do you see the Lloyds holding up?
Cheers Craig.

[Craig(NZ)]

1999 Stonyridge Larose. A lovely mature understated wine now having lost its puppy fat. Very satsifying and complex. Some bottles will have many years left in it but this one was drinking perfectly now. A late purchase and I dont think it was stored as well as ones I bought on release. Didnt affect its quality, just the stage of life it is in. Looking great. Larose really is a wine that demands a decade of cellaring to unveil the reason it is held in such high regard. Too many are drunk way too young

1999 Unison Selection. Seemed younger and more powerful than the Larose, savoury and complex. A good few years left in good bottles of this. A great vintage of Selection from a HB vintage that was not that flash, and contender for wine of the vintage in Hawkes Bay

2007 Church Road Reserve Syrah. Very exact and polished but maybe just a bit too much so. I could do with a bit more complexity at this stage in its life. Impressive trophy winner on release but it really hasn't moved on. It is a bit too clinical. Still a decent drink though and for the money it is excellent. Lovely deep purple, plush and polished with a vevety mouth feel. Lots of dark fruits

[sjw_11]

Coriole Lloyd's Reserve Shiraz 1997... Still a solid mid-brick red hue, the nose showed hints of plum liqueur, saddle leather, and some dried herbs. There was just a hint of TCA flowing over the top which detracted slightly, although the taint was mild. Quite ripe on the palate still, a little savoury with the bottle age.

Proprieta Sperino Lessona DOC Piemonte 2007... From an Italian restaraunt. This is at least 75% Nebbiolo, not sure the exact blend but the DOC rules allow up to 25% Vespolina or Bonarda (local grape varieties. It certainly was in the vein of easier consumption Nebbiolo, there was none of the rose petals and unmanageable tannins of the Barolo expression of the grape. This was almost more Cabernet like, with attractive aromas in the red fruit spectrum, lively acidity, and modest but well structured tannin. Very enjoyable.

Sam, I have a 6 pack of the 97 and also 6 from 94 for the lads birth years, how do you see the Lloyds holding up?
Cheers Craig.

Hey Craig
I erred against a definitive verdict owning to a couple of factors including the slight cork taint, the fact it was drunk as bottle #2 of the night and the challenging conditions of watching it warm up from completely fridge cold to too warm in the humidity here.

This was my third and last bottle from 3 I bought at Langtons in about 2004, cellared properly since but don't know before then, and my general impression is the wine has held up well but is perhaps at the beginning of the end of its peak for drinking, but is not likely to fall over soon... If I had 6 I would definitely broach one to see how it is drinking compared to my tastes.

As to the '94, we actually had that at a recent offline in mid-July and it was superb, probably my WOTN (subject to decanter confusion meaning I can't be entirely sure what half of the wines were!) ... To me the 94 is a bit fresher and more youthful with more plush fruit while the 97 is a hint more developed fruit (think slightly stewed and savoury fruit versus juicy liqueur fruit)... Did you crack any for your lad's 18th last year?

[phillisc]

Sam, had a little MV celebration for the lad who coincidentially has the same name as you.

1994s of Woodstock stocks, Lloyd, RSW, Block 6 and an Eileen Hardy...5 cracking bottles from my second favourite disctrict.

Cheers
Craig

[sjw_11]

Turkey Flat Rose 2013... Vibrant, luminous pink with purple tinges, this has an expressive nose of rose water, turkish delight, strawberry and red lollies. Crisp, refreshing and not over sweet on the palate. Far too drinkable in hot weather. Yum.

[phillisc]

Went to a Pikes club members tasting last night.
Interesting comments and thoughts re my riesling addiction when chatting to Neil Pike.
Off the 2013's he has tried in his opinion most lack that absolute laser like precision and purity of that zingy like taste and spritz...what I probably refer to as steely crunchy etc. when compared to 2012s.
Whilst he acknowledges that many of the 2013 will be very good, he puts the differences between the two vintages as reduced spring rains of 2013 vintage as opposed to the generous sping rains of the 2012 vintage, and if anything particularly with the influence of climate, 2014 may be more like 2012...if it keeps raining.
Similarly, the notion of many 2012s shutting down is not considered universal.

That said the 2013 Pikes traditionale riesling is nice, with a hint of residul sugar.
The 2013 Merle is a good wine, but not in the class of the 2012.

The 2 premium red wines both from 2010 are stunning, reserve shiraz and reserve cabernet, the cab is seriously good...the 2012 eastside shiraz looks the goods already.
The 2010 vs. 2012 debate will roll on for a while yet.

Anyway my 2 bobs worth

Cheers Craig.

[Michael McNally]

2008 Sons of Eden Kennedy - Wow, 18 months since my first bottle and this wine has blossomed into something great. Grenache traits clearly coming through and not obstructed by so much fruit, pomegranate, musk, raspberry, complemented by some body and balance from the Shiraz/Mataro , faintest whiff of secondary sweet tobacco coming through. Long and lingering. Huge difference from previous bottle. Reminded me very much of a Torbreck Steading, with some more oomph.

Yep these are great. Problem is keeping your hands off them!

Had my last 2009 some time ago. Fabulous

Cheers

Michael