Weekly drinking w/c 8th December 2013

[sjw_11]

What are you all drinking this week, I expect some nice wines coming into the silly season?

For me, the Grosset Alea 2013 I posted in the other thread, a wonderfully pure, youthful Riesling...

And Kilikanoon Covenant Clare Valley Shiraz 2004... which opened a mid/blood red and gave out an expressive and delicious aroma of plums, choco-vanilla, crushed red berries and some spicy elements. It is still drinking very well, about perfect right now I would say though will likely hold for a while yet (good bottles at least). Tasty stuff.

[Mike Hawkins]

1998 Yalumba The Reserve. I absolutely loved the 90 and 96 releases of this, and was bewildered when I opened this. It was a hot stewy mess - close to the worst wine I've had in 2013. Having bought a couple of cases, I'm hoping this bottle was an aberration.

1996 Orlando Centenary Hill Shiraz - nice wine, just finishes shorter than I remember.

2006 Marguet Pere et Fils Brut - ok, but a bit too ripe for my liking.

2012 (disg) Rockford Black Shiraz - a little one dimensional due to its youth. My fault though, as I thought I'd opened the 2005 disgorgement.

1996 Rockford Basket Press - really good wine, but overshadowed by...

1991 Rockford Basket Press - this is fantastic juice, with the most velvety, lovely, long finish. This is in a great place now, but well cellared bottles will hold. This is what Barossa shiraz should aspire to...

1990 Dom Perignon - a rockstar. My favourite current drinking DP.

Cheers

Mike

[sjw_11]

Schild Estate Barossa Shiraz 2010... A follow up to the controversial 2008 (the wine that did so well they ran out and then made some more)... On opening this smells ripe and juicy, hints of fresh bread dough, blood plums, vanillan oak also evident with some breathing. The palate is ripe and fleshy, juicy on the front palate, with pronounced lifted acid & a bit of alcohol heat on the finish. Not overly complex, but good early drinking. I think 1-2yrs cellaring may benefit. Pretty decent for the RRP.

[TravisW]

Thanks for the notes on the BP '91s Mike. We have a few tucked away and might leave them there.

Cheers, Travis.

[The fish]

Mildara Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 1998: Could have been a contender. Peppermint and vanilla on the nose. Pleasant enough, fully resolved tannins on entry...wet bandages on the exit
Mitchelton Print Label Shiraz 2002: Pretty Good - would have been better a couple of years ago. Christmas cake and coffee. Reminded me of a Rolf Binder Shiraz in some ways. Drying out on the finish. Drink up if you have any left.
Kaesler Cabernet Sauvignon 2010: Not my cup of tea - out of balance with an acid spike on entry. Pretty hard to get past that.
Eden Road The Long Road Shiraz 2011: Sensational. Lighter medium bodied shiraz. Different from the Barossa and to a degree the Hunter. Dark fruits and a lick of leather. Is there viognier in this? Perfumed nose but without the concetration of a french cousin. Get more if you can.
Vignerons D'estezargues La Cuvee Des Copains 2012: Cotes du Rhone - 100% Grenache. A yearly staple in my house for the last four years. Raspberries, some herbs and a touch of dirt. Less than a lobster. Some nice art on the bottle in the form of a jolly pig... What's not to like?
Hunting on Sundays Cab Shiraz 2011: interesting first up effort for a couple of guys without their own vineyard I believe. Label says Canberra fruit. Dark fruit, pepper, a touch of heat at the back of the palate. Like I said...interesting. Do it again? Maybe.

Cheers - the fish

[timmspe]

2009 Peter Lehmann Black Queen Sparkling Shiraz. No notes, however, it was divine.

2010 Murray Street Vineyard Black Label Shiraz. Dark purple-red. The nose is tight. Mainly oak and vanilla, then brooding dark fruit and mocha. The palate is more fruit-forward. Soft tannins. Super smooth. However, thin-to-medium bodied, short finish and lacking in complexity.

[Broughy]

2003 Seppelt Chalambar whooh this is a big surprise, seems to be getting better by the month! Beautifully resolved shiraz, smooth silky palate, lovely nose of blue berries. Mid weight palate. excellent QPR. as fate would have now running out of this vintage.

[sjw_11]

Charles Cimicky Reserve Shiraz 2002... 14.5% abv. Cork. Mid-red with brown hints. This leaps out of the glass with a nose that is still intense, a swirl of aromas that together call to mind Vanilla Coke. Its got some plums and dark cherry hints, but as well there is confectionary, vanilla, and port-like notes. The palate is less sweet, with fine, wood driven tannins and the structure is still in passable shape. I bet this was delicious 2-yrs out from vintage, not sure this style of wine is proving to age that well.

[phillisc]

Lindermans 1999 Nursery Vineyard Coonawarra Riesling.
Lovely lemon, lime and a bit of pith. Really easy to drink with a hint of acid and sweetness...Yum.

Cheers
Craig.

[tpang]

Had a couple of Bordeaux with some nice aged on them over dinner.

Pichon Longueville Baron 1998, Pauillac
Intense black ruby colour, with a garnet shade. A fresh robust nose after 3 hours of decanting, notes of earthy herb with slithers of blackberry. Smoky notes of dark berry fruit and mellow cigar tobacco are kept fresh by a thin sheath of acidity, the medium-bodied wine still feels fresh on the palate.

Destieux 2003, St Emilion
Deep dark ruby purple colour, developed nose of sweet blackberry, mild espresso grains and smoked pine. A full-bodied wine, but it’s counterbalanced by a medium level acidity which allows the weighted dark berry fruit, mocha and soft resolved tannins to come through. Great with a soft, warm, rare eye fillet steak.

[via collins]

2010 Feudi del Pisciotto frapatto "Carolina Marengo"

I love being bowled over by a grape/wine that I knew nothing of. Went to Bar Idda last night to celebrate good news, asked for the waitress' choice of best wine and landed this one. Wonderful nose, elegant body, freshness, eminently gluggable. Middle weight body, blueberries and dried plums, somewhere in the nero d'avola orbit, hints of earthy pinot noir too.

Yowza.

[Sipper]

2001 Penfolds Thomas Hyland Shiraz - Opened 2 of the 6 I bought at auction and got my first lesson in Bret. Elastoplast, band aid and mousy smell. Very strong and pungent on tasting. Am I on the right track with the diagnosis? Cork and capsule excellent.

2006 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Seventy Six Shiraz Cab - Under stelvin, a bit smelly on opening but this blew off. A very enjoyable smooth, full of fruit red. Again, purchased at auction and enjoyed for the price.

[sjw_11]

Grosset Semillon Sav Blanc 2013... Green/yellow. The nose is very fresh, very clean. Quite reticent. There are elements of passion fruit and cats pee, and also some Semillon-like cut grass and juicy citrus. The palate is very lean, with crisp citrus and a touch of minerality. I think this would be very interesting to give about 2yrs in the cellar.

Also my Domaine A arrived in original wooden case... Mix of 03 and 04, too good for about 40 aussie a bottle.... Very tempted to crack one tonight... Hmmm

[sjw_11]

Ok so no surprises I opened the 2003... Wow. This is aristocratic Australian Cabernet royalty.

Domaine A Cabernets 2003... Cork. Blend, about 80-something percent cab. Mid red. Lighter hue but perfect clarity. The nose is fresh but austere, powerful and very authoritative. This is a wine you call sir, a wine that's on top, a wine you salute. Cedar, some red berries, pencil shavings, unmistakable Cabernet. The palate is very precise, the tannins still very firm and grippy. The finish can easily last a minute. Constantly changing in the glass.

This is less friendly than the Cullen 2005's I had a while back and needs more time... Will update how it opens up tomorrow. Bizarrely it reminds me of the 2003 Tahbilk 1860 vines Shiraz... Similar cedar element which had me comparing the latter to Cabernet. I think it's the structure. My one question mark is whether the carefully built structure outlives everyone else, but gee this is good.

JH 95pts and drink to 23 fwiw

Now time to go watch the gunners smash man city (please, please, please)

[rens]

Now time to go watch the gunners smash man city (please, please, please)

You left off an additional 3 pleases.

2009 Paringa estate pinot noir. Great sappy pinot with cherrys, forest floor and mushroom funk. Fills the mouth and has a great long finish. It was very good on a warn Brisbane afternoon with Chicken sovlaki and greek salad. Would have been outstanding in a burgendy glass but we had to have it in the little restaurant ones you get at the chinese ( and apparently greek restaurant). But still real good.

2008 Mc Forbes Woori Yallock.The last of 6 bottles and still not impressed. It was nice enough, but not my thing. nice nose and entry to a cherry filled palate and then the acid back bone makes this a little bit thin and underwhelming.

[tpang]

No luck with the Gooners Sam =( offspring on half those City goals. & no penalty!?!

Couple of rosés today.

Dominique Portet Fontaine Rosé 2013, Yarra Valley/Pyreness
Merlot/Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon. Pale crimson-orange colour, bright youthful aromas of redcurrants, blackberries, hint of baby herbs. Dry, full-bodied wine with high acidity. A medium mouthful, but it is balanced. Suits oily dish like BBQ snags. Clean strawberry, red berry fruit flavours, moderate lengthed, simple crisp finish.

Spinifex Rosé 2013, Barossa Valley
Grenache, Mataro, Cinsault, Ugni Blanc, Vermentino. Pale salmon orange-pink colour, lovely youthful aromas of rose petals, lemon rind, spiced musk, fine herbs and hint of rockmelon. Rich, full-bodied wine with smashing acidity. What’s impressive is the initial hit of spice and fruit, the broad mouthfeel, then it steadily fades away.

[sjw_11]

No luck with the Gooners Sam =( offspring on half those City goals. & no penalty!?!

It wasn't as bad a game as the score line said but still disappointing. You knew it was all over when Wenger put in bendtner. To be fair city have only been behind for one MINUTE at home this whole season let alone losing but puts a lot of pressure on the Chelsea game next week!

Sorry, keeping to wine the domaine a has barely budged today, but the nose is showing a little less cedar and more blackberry / kirsch notes. This will easily keep another 5+ years.

[Teisto]

2003 Peppertree Hunter Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Comes in at a nice 13.4%. Gentle bricking on the rim, typical darker fruits. A bit of tar and cigar on the nose. Dark berries and a little vegetal / capsicum in the mouth. All nicely in balance. Don't think it will improve from here and would probably hold for another year or two.

[bdellabosca]

And how about the repeated incorrect offside calls, including a clear goal ruled offside!! Don't get me wrong, City played well and are a good team but the scoreline reflected rubbish referring and that we were exposed chasing... Need something to drink...

[bdellabosca]

And before anyone says this is not wine related I think anything with this level of sour grapes must be wine related...
Oh well, still 3 points ahead of City and 2 points clear at the top... could be worse... could have lost 6-0 to City and 5-0 to liverpool...