I thought I would kick off another weekly thread, post your notes here for any bottles you might happen to crack, even a few short notes is fine - its always interesting to see what everyone has been getting into!
Majella Cabernet 2010... Tremendous wine. Vibrant purple/red hue, the aroma leaps out of the decanter with a dominant intense and very pure blackberry essence. The palate has wonderful purity and length, with firm but velvetty tannins and a very plush, hedonistic fruit driven profile. Interestingly, this didn't look as good on night 2, though my view is it would age well given the balance.
Torres Tempranillo 2010... Very drinkable medium bodied red with a dusty red berry fruit profile and a savoury, balanced palate. These guys really churn out some of the best "mass volume" wines around, great value for money as a mid-week quaffer or BBQ wine.
Italian white (I will check the DOC and update) 2012... Trebbiano blend. Cork. Not a wine I was familiar with, and not overly expensive, but this turned out to be a major surprise packet. On day 1 it showed as a very crisp, refreshing white. Crisp cirtus and a certain saline element. I accidentally forgot half the bottle for 4 or 5 days. I expected it to be dead, but it wasn't, in fact it was delicious. The flavours had taken on a more honied/honeysuckle character and the palate had become rounder. Most interesting, and clearly a style suited to mid-term ageing.
Weekly drinking thread w/c 20th October
Weekly drinking thread w/c 20th October
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Sam
Sam
Re: Weekly drinking thread w/c 20th October
Marc Bredif 1986 Vouvray Grand Annee Oh Man, was this good! No. 6 from a dozen I bought at least 15 years ago for about $25ea. Quite sweet but certainly not offputting, with apple and citrus notes and an extra long finish. Yum! Can't see these improving, but should hold for quite a while.
Imugene, cure for cancer.
Re: Weekly drinking thread w/c 20th October
2005 Ravensworth Shiraz Viognier- My last bottle and lamenting the fact I don't have any more. Plush, voluminous fill the glass nose and the balance was excellent. Smooth but offering enough complexity and fruit to keep me totally absorbed and trying to wring the bottle out when it was empty. Fantastic drop and in no rush of fading anytime soon.
Re: Weekly drinking thread w/c 20th October
2003 Mamre Brook Cab Sav Big, Bold and full bodied. Lots of oak, showing its age, but it all went together nicely. Back of the label said cellar 5 to 8 years, however it still has a few years left. I thought I had gone off this type of wine going for more cooler climate elegance, however thoroughly enjoyed it.
Re: Weekly drinking thread w/c 20th October
2010 Xanadu Cabernet Sauvignon (screw cap). Containing Pertit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Malbec in undeclared quantities. Dark red and clear. Rich blackcurrants and dark fruit on the nose, with black pepper, tobacco and pencil shavings; the 'steminess' is kept in check. The palate is more green. Medium bodied, smooth tannins, well balanced with a moderate finish. Brilliant.
Re: Weekly drinking thread w/c 20th October
Sanctus 2010, St Emilion (Actually this was from the previous week.. but who keeps track of time when drinking?!)
A 70/30 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, which completes malolactic fermentation in new French oak barrels then aged for 18 to 22 months without any racking. Given its youth, I popped the cork and stood the bottle on my table for 3 hours. Intense black ruby colour with a purple rim. A fragrant aromatic lift, the oak is still detectable, behind which is raspberry cordial, blackcurrant, tanned leather, overnight espresso grains and Morocco spice. A rough silky texture, this is a med+ – full-bodied wine, ripe acids kick life into the wine which is honestly backward and tightly coiled now. The tannins are currently residing as a block of rawness. But I sense potential in the depth of dark berry and dark chocolate flavours behind that. Store these bottles under the stairs (not to be taken literally!).
La Vieille Cure 2010, Fronsac
Intense purple ruby colour, the youthful aromas possessed by this wine now is strikingly attractive. Fresh, sweet dark berry fruit, blackcurrants, almost pastille sweet-like, raspberry coulis, crushed leaves on a warm sunny day (no seriously, you have to know what that is!) and a slight hint of truffle. The density of this is amazing! Slightly broody, youthful masculine. Smooth velvet mouthfeel, a full-bodied wine with a bounty of acidity, the alcohol sits at 14.5% and you will undoubtedly notice it at this age. Dusty bitter chocolate-like flavours, plum skins, definitely a majority-Merlot wine (M/CF/CS = 75/22/3). Accessible now, but will benefit from long term cellaring.
Haut Bergey 2010, Pessac-Leognan
A 70/30 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, slightly different from other wineries in Pessac-Leognan which tend to use a little cabernet franc, petit verdot or malbec too. Intense ruby colour with a purple rim. Such a beautiful aromatic profile, pork ribs marinated in tangy Asian plum sauce, drying tobacco leaf, mulberries and savoury blackcurrants. Rough silk mouthfeel, a medium+ bodied wine with high acidity which provides the initial hit, then gives way to the firm angled young tannins. 14% alc. I have the impression its really coiled right now, and will need some time to reveal itself. A delicious drink, it makes me want to light up a cigar right now and draw out my whiskey.. no it’s not that late in the evening! And I don’t smoke, and I’m abstaining from single malts.
A 70/30 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, which completes malolactic fermentation in new French oak barrels then aged for 18 to 22 months without any racking. Given its youth, I popped the cork and stood the bottle on my table for 3 hours. Intense black ruby colour with a purple rim. A fragrant aromatic lift, the oak is still detectable, behind which is raspberry cordial, blackcurrant, tanned leather, overnight espresso grains and Morocco spice. A rough silky texture, this is a med+ – full-bodied wine, ripe acids kick life into the wine which is honestly backward and tightly coiled now. The tannins are currently residing as a block of rawness. But I sense potential in the depth of dark berry and dark chocolate flavours behind that. Store these bottles under the stairs (not to be taken literally!).
La Vieille Cure 2010, Fronsac
Intense purple ruby colour, the youthful aromas possessed by this wine now is strikingly attractive. Fresh, sweet dark berry fruit, blackcurrants, almost pastille sweet-like, raspberry coulis, crushed leaves on a warm sunny day (no seriously, you have to know what that is!) and a slight hint of truffle. The density of this is amazing! Slightly broody, youthful masculine. Smooth velvet mouthfeel, a full-bodied wine with a bounty of acidity, the alcohol sits at 14.5% and you will undoubtedly notice it at this age. Dusty bitter chocolate-like flavours, plum skins, definitely a majority-Merlot wine (M/CF/CS = 75/22/3). Accessible now, but will benefit from long term cellaring.
Haut Bergey 2010, Pessac-Leognan
A 70/30 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, slightly different from other wineries in Pessac-Leognan which tend to use a little cabernet franc, petit verdot or malbec too. Intense ruby colour with a purple rim. Such a beautiful aromatic profile, pork ribs marinated in tangy Asian plum sauce, drying tobacco leaf, mulberries and savoury blackcurrants. Rough silk mouthfeel, a medium+ bodied wine with high acidity which provides the initial hit, then gives way to the firm angled young tannins. 14% alc. I have the impression its really coiled right now, and will need some time to reveal itself. A delicious drink, it makes me want to light up a cigar right now and draw out my whiskey.. no it’s not that late in the evening! And I don’t smoke, and I’m abstaining from single malts.
Re: Weekly drinking thread w/c 20th October
Sat beside Mivvy at one of Hackers offlines, and a conversation about wine led to a chat about horse racing, which led to an agreement to meet up again soon 
Ended up at Bistrode (byo Mon-Fri) place was strangely quiet for a Friday, but food and service was good.
02 Bouchard Pere & Fils Corton Charlemagne – DOA, what a shame, but not unexpected given known issues
05 William Fevre Valmur Chablis GC – Young, tight, delicious, was particularly good with the Sydney Rock oysters. Relief all round after the Bouchard.
07 Dom Faiveley Clos de Cortons GC – Decanted for a couple of hours. I’m less inclined to decant these days, but this probably could have used a couple more hours. Still a v nice wine.
Ended up at Bistrode (byo Mon-Fri) place was strangely quiet for a Friday, but food and service was good.
02 Bouchard Pere & Fils Corton Charlemagne – DOA, what a shame, but not unexpected given known issues
05 William Fevre Valmur Chablis GC – Young, tight, delicious, was particularly good with the Sydney Rock oysters. Relief all round after the Bouchard.
07 Dom Faiveley Clos de Cortons GC – Decanted for a couple of hours. I’m less inclined to decant these days, but this probably could have used a couple more hours. Still a v nice wine.
Re: Weekly drinking thread w/c 20th October
A few wines at a recent committee meeting, all presented blind:
2010 Miceli Lolanoa Pinot Grigio, Mornington Peninsula (screwcap): 13.5% alc. Bright straw. Smells a bit like an aged chardonnay with lots of spicy oak at times, pithy with pear, hazelnut and marzipan; the palate’s slightly peaty and grassy with melon and peach finishing dry, phenolic and slightly sherried. Pretty ordinary stuff – has anyone in this country really got to grips with this varietal?
2012 Artwine Fiano, Clare Valley (screwcap): 13% alc. Very pale, bright green, almost colourless. Grassy and flinty, fairly closed with touches of lime blossom and fennel that give away its Clare origins; the palate’s very pithy and slatey, with lots of grip mid-palate and a slightly grassy, long finish. I’m not the greatest fan of Fiano as a whole – this isn’t a bad one, but is still a touch on the green side for my liking.
2003 Chard Farm River Run Pinot Noir, Central Otago (screwcap): 13.5% alc. Light red/brick. Smells of all the right Pinot things, cherries and stalks, mushroom, black tea, meaty pan juices, coffee, jubes, bath salts and a little barnyard in the distance. The palate’s a little more reserved but just as impressive, cherries and strawberries leading to a grippy mid-palate, finishing very long with mushroom and sous bois. This rather humble offering is probably the most impressive wine I’ve tried to date from the Central Otago region – coincidentally it also probably has the lowest alcohol too.
2008 Penfolds Cellar Reserve Sangiovese, Barossa Valley (cork): 15% alc. Medium to dark red with legs on the glass. Opens with cedar/gluey oak, cherries, raspberries and noticeable lift, more coffee and vanilla with breathing. The palate’s more smoky and savoury, medium to full-weight with hints of smoked meats, dark chocolate, mint and black olives, finishing with grippy, powdery tannins. Yes it’s obviously Penfolds, obviously oaky, but it’s also rather good – it hides its 15% alcohol remarkably well.
NV Seppeltsfield DP 30 Solero Grand Tawny, Barossa Valley (screwcap): 20% alc. Light tawny/orange with a light olive rim. Lifted nose with raisins and toffee, hints of fresh paint and turpentine with breathing; the palate’s lighter weight that I was expecting, with hazelnut, milk chocolate and wafer/smoked vanilla, a bit aldehydic and one dimensional at times. This wine is supposed to be a level above the basic Para Liqueur Tawny, yet I found it rather disappointing.
Cheers,
Ian
2010 Miceli Lolanoa Pinot Grigio, Mornington Peninsula (screwcap): 13.5% alc. Bright straw. Smells a bit like an aged chardonnay with lots of spicy oak at times, pithy with pear, hazelnut and marzipan; the palate’s slightly peaty and grassy with melon and peach finishing dry, phenolic and slightly sherried. Pretty ordinary stuff – has anyone in this country really got to grips with this varietal?
2012 Artwine Fiano, Clare Valley (screwcap): 13% alc. Very pale, bright green, almost colourless. Grassy and flinty, fairly closed with touches of lime blossom and fennel that give away its Clare origins; the palate’s very pithy and slatey, with lots of grip mid-palate and a slightly grassy, long finish. I’m not the greatest fan of Fiano as a whole – this isn’t a bad one, but is still a touch on the green side for my liking.
2003 Chard Farm River Run Pinot Noir, Central Otago (screwcap): 13.5% alc. Light red/brick. Smells of all the right Pinot things, cherries and stalks, mushroom, black tea, meaty pan juices, coffee, jubes, bath salts and a little barnyard in the distance. The palate’s a little more reserved but just as impressive, cherries and strawberries leading to a grippy mid-palate, finishing very long with mushroom and sous bois. This rather humble offering is probably the most impressive wine I’ve tried to date from the Central Otago region – coincidentally it also probably has the lowest alcohol too.
2008 Penfolds Cellar Reserve Sangiovese, Barossa Valley (cork): 15% alc. Medium to dark red with legs on the glass. Opens with cedar/gluey oak, cherries, raspberries and noticeable lift, more coffee and vanilla with breathing. The palate’s more smoky and savoury, medium to full-weight with hints of smoked meats, dark chocolate, mint and black olives, finishing with grippy, powdery tannins. Yes it’s obviously Penfolds, obviously oaky, but it’s also rather good – it hides its 15% alcohol remarkably well.
NV Seppeltsfield DP 30 Solero Grand Tawny, Barossa Valley (screwcap): 20% alc. Light tawny/orange with a light olive rim. Lifted nose with raisins and toffee, hints of fresh paint and turpentine with breathing; the palate’s lighter weight that I was expecting, with hazelnut, milk chocolate and wafer/smoked vanilla, a bit aldehydic and one dimensional at times. This wine is supposed to be a level above the basic Para Liqueur Tawny, yet I found it rather disappointing.
Cheers,
Ian
Forget about goodness and mercy, they're gone.
Re: Weekly drinking thread w/c 20th October
d'Arenberg Coppermine Rd 2002 Cab Sauv.
Initial hit of eucalypt and sandalwood on the nose.
Very upfront fine tannins on the palate which are drying in the mouth.
Ripe mulberry and grandma's closet or a canvas army bag and leather dimension with that minty-eucalypt coming through with carob.
M Chapoutier Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon Villages 2011
All I can say is strawberry jam on almost burnt toast. I have had a few bottles now and all the same. Great wine for the price ($13 iirc).
Initial hit of eucalypt and sandalwood on the nose.
Very upfront fine tannins on the palate which are drying in the mouth.
Ripe mulberry and grandma's closet or a canvas army bag and leather dimension with that minty-eucalypt coming through with carob.
M Chapoutier Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon Villages 2011
All I can say is strawberry jam on almost burnt toast. I have had a few bottles now and all the same. Great wine for the price ($13 iirc).
Re: Weekly drinking thread w/c 20th October
sjw_11 wrote:I thought I would kick off another weekly thread, post your notes here for any bottles you might happen to crack, even a few short notes is fine - its always interesting to see what everyone has been getting into!
Majella Cabernet 2010... Tremendous wine. Vibrant purple/red hue, the aroma leaps out of the decanter with a dominant intense and very pure blackberry essence. The palate has wonderful purity and length, with firm but velvetty tannins and a very plush, hedonistic fruit driven profile. Interestingly, this didn't look as good on night 2, though my view is it would age well given the balance.
Sam, definitely agree with this. A very good wine for the price. The only detractor was a slight whiff of heat (alcohol) on the finish from memory...
Re: Weekly drinking thread w/c 20th October
Michael R wrote:Sat beside Mivvy at one of Hackers offlines, and a conversation about wine led to a chat about horse racing, which led to an agreement to meet up again soon
Ended up at Bistrode (byo Mon-Fri) place was strangely quiet for a Friday, but food and service was good.
02 Bouchard Pere & Fils Corton Charlemagne – DOA, what a shame, but not unexpected given known issues
05 William Fevre Valmur Chablis GC – Young, tight, delicious, was particularly good with the Sydney Rock oysters. Relief all round after the Bouchard.
07 Dom Faiveley Clos de Cortons GC – Decanted for a couple of hours. I’m less inclined to decant these days, but this probably could have used a couple more hours. Still a v nice wine.
Nice one Mick.
Hmmm,
Beef and Burgundy....
Next time, give me a bell...
Cheers,
monghead.
Re: Weekly drinking thread w/c 20th October
monghead wrote:sjw_11 wrote:
Majella Cabernet 2010... Tremendous wine. Vibrant purple/red hue, the aroma leaps out of the decanter with a dominant intense and very pure blackberry essence. The palate has wonderful purity and length, with firm but velvetty tannins and a very plush, hedonistic fruit driven profile. Interestingly, this didn't look as good on night 2, though my view is it would age well given the balance.
Sam, definitely agree with this. A very good wine for the price. The only detractor was a slight whiff of heat (alcohol) on the finish from memory...
I wouldn't disagree with that... Im tending to get a little over excited about plush, ripe, Aussie reds as an alternative to the oceans of tasteless Tiger at the moment, and its definitely on the riper end of the spectrum (versus say the 2010 Petaluma Coonawarra I had the other day, which was much "cooler" with red berries rather than ripe blackcurrant) ... hmmm I think I will open another bottle and double check
For the cellar I would prefer the Petaluma (and will likely buy some) as I think the structure is better... but I guess it is $50ish a bottle versus $30ish for the Majella (on equivalent reasonable offers)
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Sam
Sam
Re: Weekly drinking thread w/c 20th October
Michael R wrote:Sat beside Mivvy at one of Hackers offlines, and a conversation about wine led to a chat about horse racing, which led to an agreement to meet up again soon
Ended up at Bistrode (byo Mon-Fri) place was strangely quiet for a Friday, but food and service was good.
02 Bouchard Pere & Fils Corton Charlemagne – DOA, what a shame, but not unexpected given known issues
05 William Fevre Valmur Chablis GC – Young, tight, delicious, was particularly good with the Sydney Rock oysters. Relief all round after the Bouchard.
07 Dom Faiveley Clos de Cortons GC – Decanted for a couple of hours. I’m less inclined to decant these days, but this probably could have used a couple more hours. Still a v nice wine.
Haha - what are the chances of sitting next to someone at an offline who you can talk to about One Man, Tony McCoy and Giants Causeway all night. Proof that racing and wine do mix!
I was gutted about the Bouchard (inside it really hurt!!), and it looked so good in the glass. The other 2 wines more than made up for it though. Was really surprised how drinkable the Corton was - great drop.
Re: Weekly drinking thread w/c 20th October
2011 Domaine Zind Humbrect Gewurztraminer (cork). Pale and straw-coloured. The nose with honey, stone fruit - white peach, nectarine, apricot - and elegant floral notes. The palate providing more honey, wheat, cinnamon and spice. Sweet, but clean and refreshing. Adequate complexity and a smooth finish. To be honest, it reminded me of Mildura Brewery Honey Wheat. Enjoyed with Coulommiers, followed by BBQ Vietnamese style prawns with Nước chấm, and followed by a humble tuna mornay. An excellent pairing.