Weekly drinking thread- 5/1/14

[Michael R]

First time I've typed 2014 (as current date) and seems we're due a weekly thread.

2011 Dog Point Pinot Noir
Wish it was better as I have wonderful memories of visiting here about 5 years ago.
Decent, just not noteworthy and had spirity nuances once it had been opened for an hour. The 14% alc is all too apparent.
Red fruits, a little herbaceous, ok finish.
Not recommended.

[Phil H]

2011 Charles Melton Rose of Virginia Flat, Boring, not sweet, not dry. I have had this sitting around for the last 18 months waiting for an opportunity to drink this. I may have left it 6 months too long. I think there was a thread recently about drinking Rose. This is one reason why I don't drink it much. One more Rose left in the cellar to go. Hopefully everyone has better luck than myself & Michael.

[Sean]

deleted

[sjw_11]

Grosset "Springvale" Riesling 2013... Pure, crystalline fruit on the nose, some grapefruit, lime pith. In the mouth this has an expressive, floral character, finishing with a racy line of lingering acidity. Absolutely delicious now, I am sure will age well.

Grosset "Gaia" Cabernet (75%), Cab Franc (25%) 2009... Popped and poured due to my decanter falling foul of a little accident ... Mid-red coloured, relatively light hue. Attractive but slightly reticent nose of crushed red berries, a slightly herbal/green note but not overwhelming. The palate is much juicier than the nose suggests, slightly less than medium bodied with goood acidity, very approachable now despite a good level of firm tannin in the background. Very drinkable and I think will develop nicely over at least 3-5yrs.

[Milan]

Grosset "Springvale" Riesling 2013... Pure, crystalline fruit on the nose, some grapefruit, lime pith. In the mouth this has an expressive, floral character, finishing with a racy line of lingering acidity. Absolutely delicious now, I am sure will age well.

Ah yes the Springvale...very much a wine to have with Oysters!

For me this week...

2009 Howard Park Chardonnay

Well balanced, subtle nose with gratifying fruit of nectarine and peaches upfront with mid-palate buttery weight to support a reasonably lengthy finish from the oak.

Had it with Thai. Namely Crispy Pork with Chilli and Basil and Red Duck Curry at Atom Thai in Newtown. Recommended match from me.

[Mike Hawkins]

Some bottles while on holidays in Australia and London....

1998 Yalumba The Reserve. After my dummy spit a couple of weeks ago, I decided to open another one. This bottle was superb - if anything, a bit too youthful for my liking.

2002 Kalleske Greenock Shiraz - still the best vintage from this label IMO. Plenty of life in front of it. Lots of chocolate and plummy characters, and good length.

2004 Camille Saves Millesime - opened this with a 'nothing beats Veuve Cliquot' mate. He's subsequently changd his mind. Reeks of granny smith apples and is just a fabulous in expensive Champagne to drink on a hot day.

1990 Yalumba The Signature - pretty good, though this bottle seemed to be near the end of the road.

1986 Penfolds Bin 389 - one bottle was rich, complex and vibrant. The other (from the same case) seemed to be drying out a bit.

2004 Schubert Estate Goose Yard Block - this was singing. In a really good spot right now, but has a decade plus in front of it. Good people to do business with too....

2004 Veuve Cliquot La Grande Dame - I've had this a few times now, and it is better than the 96 and 98 IMO. Will be excellent down the track.

2004 Dom Perignon - while there is bottle variation from this label, this one (UK sourced) was fantastic. A bit shy for the first hour, it eventuallty came to life. Perhaps future bottles could do with a decant.

1988 Leoville Barton - too much tannin for me. Pass.

2009 Doisy Daene - I bought quite a few dozen of these, and while they are still too young, they are really enjoyable.

2002 Saltram No 1 Shiraz. I've had 20 plus bottles of this, and feel there is variation with this wine too. This bottle was a bit simple and short.

1982 Henschke Mt Edelstone - as good as the one a few weeks ago. Absolutely superb, and a chance for back to back WOTY.

1988 Henschke Mt Edelestone -corked

1990 Penfolds St Henri - corked.

1996 Penfolds Bin 707 - this is right up there as one of the best Aussie cabs I've had. And to think they made a Block 42 that year....

1993 Dom Perignon Oenotheque - probably the weakest Oeno I've had so far. Nothing wrong wth it, but for the price, one expects more.

2002 Billiot Fils Millesime - presumably a pinot-dominant Champagne, and a really good one if you like a richer style.

1999 Rockford Flaxman - ok, but a tad one dimensional. Perhaps needs time.

1996 Dom Ruinart. I'm drinking these too quickly! Fantastic chardonnay fruit, good length, trademark vintage acidity makes this wine good now, and probably outstanding in 15 years time.

1988 Rockford Basket Press - this bottle had seen better days. Pleasant enough, but should have been consumed a couple of years ago.

1996 Dom Perignon Oenotheque - seems even younger than when I last had it. I used to think the 95 was better, but now I'm not so sure.

2005 Cedric Bouchard La Haute Lemble - I think this is right at its peak now. Excellent wine from an excellent producer.

1982 Penfolds Grange - right at its peak and a pleasure to drink.

2006 Marguet Pere et Fils (Champagne) - bit rich for me.

2002 Phillipponat Clos de Goisses - after reading Tyson's new book, I decided to take a look at this again. I have to disagree with him. I think this is a painfully young, but potentially great Champagne.

MV Krug x 4 - all were different releases and it was fancinating to drink them in a relatively shoprt period of time. It proved to me this label benefits from cellaring.

2002 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne - this is a legend in the making.

2004 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne - good balance between fruit, acidity and minerality. Excellent, but in the shadows of its older brother.

[Wayno]

Pertaringa Over the Top Shiraz 2003 - a surprise packet. Very elegant and assertive with plenty of life in it.

[cuttlefish]

2005 Knappstein Ackland vineyard Riesling.
This has open up since I last had one a couple of years back. Now a lightly golden yellow colour, and lifting nicely from the glass. Faint spritz, and lovely mouthfeel.

[The fish]

...trying to dry the liver and kidneys out by giving them a break and it's not working!

Vignerons D'estezargues 'Domaine Gres St Vincent 2012: Grenache dominant blend. I like this - it's great juice. Plums, mascharino cherries trending to red licorice. Some herbs and a line of medicinal intensity to it that I really, really like.

Cheers
Matt

[timmspe]

Castellare di Castellina Chianti Classico 2010. Clear, medium intensity red with a strawberry colour at the edges. Earthy aromas readily apparent, like dust and bricks, very nostalgic, with cherry cola and plums just beneath the surface. The palate is all about cherry cola and cherry ripe. Fine tannins. Shortish finish. Not bad. I'd drink another.

[Broughy]

2010 Mitchell Pepertree Shiraz now had two bottles of this and by far and away this was the better of the two. Medium bodied, fragrant good mouth feel. This bottle was nicely balanced previouse bottle seemed a bit angular. It may have helped that this was consumed with food.

St Hallett Eden Valley Riesling 2013 a touch of phenolics here. lacks a bit of palate weight for my liking. pleasant enough.

2012 Clemens Hill Aurelia This is mainly in the Fume Blanc style with a mixture of other components. Lovely refreshing wine with a touch of flint and complexity. Excellent warm weather drinking.

2008 Stephano Lubiana Estate Pinot Noir This is coming along nicely and has a lot more palate weight than 09 & 10, so it has grown in the bottle. Superb drinking.

2010 Glaetzer Dixon Uber Blanc Riesling This too has developed in bottle into a more substantial wine. Very good wine and has good length to it. crisp clear wine with a stong lime palate and nose.

[Michael R]

2011 Pierre Yves Colin Morey, La Maltroie (Chassagne) Premier Cru
Excellent wine, very smooth & approachable now, and without some of that bracing acidity that sometimes defends a young white. Bought and tried various 2011 Prem Cru's from this producer, and this is definitely the pick so far. Perhaps best in the medium term.

[griff]

2011 Pierre Yves Colin Morey, La Maltroie (Chassagne) Premier Cru
Excellent wine, very smooth & approachable now, and without some of that bracing acidity that sometimes defends a young white. Bought and tried various 2011 Prem Cru's from this producer, and this is definitely the pick so far. Perhaps best in the medium term.

Me likey this producer...would love to know where you source it and which others you have tried.

[Sean]

deleted

[Michael R]

A few wines over the second week of 2014.

I am finding that some rieslings from 2013 are more forward (and some of them even sugary) compared with the previous vintage.

+1

[Michael R]

2011 Pierre Yves Colin Morey, La Maltroie (Chassagne) Premier Cru
Excellent wine, very smooth & approachable now, and without some of that bracing acidity that sometimes defends a young white. Bought and tried various 2011 Prem Cru's from this producer, and this is definitely the pick so far. Perhaps best in the medium term.

Me likey this producer...would love to know where you source it and which others you have tried.

Bought in Chassagne i'm afraid Carl, the three i brought home were the Maltroie, Baudines and the Corton Charly, all 2011. Only the Corton still survies unopened. Plus drank the Chenevottes and one other (vineyard ecapes me for the moment) while on our travels. Granted i was drinking these wines way too young, but the Maltroie was easily the most enjoybale now.
Thought i'd bought the Genevieres which is getting rave reviews, but alas i didnt

I like the producer alot too, and love his Raveneau style wax seals!

[The fish]

by Michael R » Wed Jan 15, 2014 11:04 am

Sean wrote:
A few wines over the second week of 2014.

I am finding that some rieslings from 2013 are more forward (and some of them even sugary) compared with the previous vintage.


+1

Concur with the view that they have more residual sugar. Did back to back Pikes and Pewsey Vale 12's and 13's and what was noticeable was that they were also a touch more floral too.

My personal preference is for the 2012 vintage. There's something about them...an electrical dryness perhaps that's really attractive.

Cheers
the fish

[monghead]

Some bottles while on holidays in Australia and London....

1998 Yalumba The Reserve. After my dummy spit a couple of weeks ago, I decided to open another one. This bottle was superb - if anything, a bit too youthful for my liking.

2002 Kalleske Greenock Shiraz - still the best vintage from this label IMO. Plenty of life in front of it. Lots of chocolate and plummy characters, and good length.

2004 Camille Saves Millesime - opened this with a 'nothing beats Veuve Cliquot' mate. He's subsequently changd his mind. Reeks of granny smith apples and is just a fabulous in expensive Champagne to drink on a hot day.

1990 Yalumba The Signature - pretty good, though this bottle seemed to be near the end of the road.

1986 Penfolds Bin 389 - one bottle was rich, complex and vibrant. The other (from the same case) seemed to be drying out a bit.

2004 Schubert Estate Goose Yard Block - this was singing. In a really good spot right now, but has a decade plus in front of it. Good people to do business with too....

2004 Veuve Cliquot La Grande Dame - I've had this a few times now, and it is better than the 96 and 98 IMO. Will be excellent down the track.

2004 Dom Perignon - while there is bottle variation from this label, this one (UK sourced) was fantastic. A bit shy for the first hour, it eventuallty came to life. Perhaps future bottles could do with a decant.

1988 Leoville Barton - too much tannin for me. Pass.

2009 Doisy Daene - I bought quite a few dozen of these, and while they are still too young, they are really enjoyable.

2002 Saltram No 1 Shiraz. I've had 20 plus bottles of this, and feel there is variation with this wine too. This bottle was a bit simple and short.

1982 Henschke Mt Edelstone - as good as the one a few weeks ago. Absolutely superb, and a chance for back to back WOTY.

1988 Henschke Mt Edelestone -corked

1990 Penfolds St Henri - corked.

1996 Penfolds Bin 707 - this is right up there as one of the best Aussie cabs I've had. And to think they made a Block 42 that year....

1993 Dom Perignon Oenotheque - probably the weakest Oeno I've had so far. Nothing wrong wth it, but for the price, one expects more.

2002 Billiot Fils Millesime - presumably a pinot-dominant Champagne, and a really good one if you like a richer style.

1999 Rockford Flaxman - ok, but a tad one dimensional. Perhaps needs time.

1996 Dom Ruinart. I'm drinking these too quickly! Fantastic chardonnay fruit, good length, trademark vintage acidity makes this wine good now, and probably outstanding in 15 years time.

1988 Rockford Basket Press - this bottle had seen better days. Pleasant enough, but should have been consumed a couple of years ago.

1996 Dom Perignon Oenotheque - seems even younger than when I last had it. I used to think the 95 was better, but now I'm not so sure.

2005 Cedric Bouchard La Haute Lemble - I think this is right at its peak now. Excellent wine from an excellent producer.

1982 Penfolds Grange - right at its peak and a pleasure to drink.

2006 Marguet Pere et Fils (Champagne) - bit rich for me.

2002 Phillipponat Clos de Goisses - after reading Tyson's new book, I decided to take a look at this again. I have to disagree with him. I think this is a painfully young, but potentially great Champagne.

MV Krug x 4 - all were different releases and it was fancinating to drink them in a relatively shoprt period of time. It proved to me this label benefits from cellaring.

2002 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne - this is a legend in the making.

2004 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne - good balance between fruit, acidity and minerality. Excellent, but in the shadows of its older brother.

That's some nice solid drinking mate...
I've been itching to try the 96 Dom Oeno and 707 for ages. Everyday, the itch grows, but I'm resisting...

[monghead]

2010 Chateau de Fontenille Blanc

Boring, flabby and uninteresting. Not Good.

2010 Domaine Faiveley Domaine de la Framboisiere Mercury

Unripe strawberries, spicy, terribly short and simple on the palate, unbalanced... Not Good.

[Mike Hawkins]

Monghead - definitely hold off on the Oeno as long as you can. The 707 is good now and will be for the next 15 years, so no rush.

[Teisto]

2008 RK Shiraz- A vintage cellars shiraz made by Rick Kinzbrunner of Giaconda. 2nd out of 6 bottles I have tried and still has plenty of life left in it. Only a bit of heat on the finish I am concerned about. I don't think I will touch any more of it for another 5 years at this stage

[monghead]

Monghead - definitely hold off on the Oeno as long as you can. The 707 is good now and will be for the next 15 years, so no rush.

Thanks Mike...

I had earmarked an Oeno for the celebratory drink for wifey and myself post birth of number two, but might reconsider that now...

Alternatively, I need to get more...

[monghead]

2011 Chateau Sainte Marie Blanc
Simple but refreshingly fruity. Nice juicy acidity.
Good

[Mivvy]

Domaine Faiveley Domaine de la Framboisiere Mercury

Unripe strawberries, spicy, terribly short and simple on the palate, unbalanced... Not Good.

What vintage? I have a few Mercury stashed but haven;t touched any yet.

[Mike Hawkins]

Monghead - definitely hold off on the Oeno as long as you can. The 707 is good now and will be for the next 15 years, so no rush.

Thanks Mike...

I had earmarked an Oeno for the celebratory drink for wifey and myself post birth of number two, but might reconsider that now...

Alternatively, I need to get more...

Get more !

I was reasonably skeptical about its quality at release (vs the 'normal' 96), but it's really gone up a notch in the past year. I was fortunate enough to find a well priced parcel of the 95 and 96 recently...

[monghead]

Domaine Faiveley Domaine de la Framboisiere Mercury

Unripe strawberries, spicy, terribly short and simple on the palate, unbalanced... Not Good.

What vintage? I have a few Mercury stashed but haven;t touched any yet.

What a classic!!!

And to think, I'm almost always the first to ask "what vintage is that?"

2010, and posts updated...

[monghead]

Monghead - definitely hold off on the Oeno as long as you can. The 707 is good now and will be for the next 15 years, so no rush.

Thanks Mike...

I had earmarked an Oeno for the celebratory drink for wifey and myself post birth of number two, but might reconsider that now...

Alternatively, I need to get more...

Get more !

I was reasonably skeptical about its quality at release (vs the 'normal' 96), but it's really gone up a notch in the past year. I was fortunate enough to find a well priced parcel of the 95 and 96 recently...

get more?!!!

Easier said than done mate, from this neck of the woods.

I have 3 bottles here. I have another 6 bottles in NY, but it is with a whole lot of other stuff I have tied up in the Winecare fiasco... C'est la vie!

[odyssey]

by Michael R » Wed Jan 15, 2014 11:04 am

Sean wrote:
A few wines over the second week of 2014.

I am finding that some rieslings from 2013 are more forward (and some of them even sugary) compared with the previous vintage.


+1

Concur with the view that they have more residual sugar. Did back to back Pikes and Pewsey Vale 12's and 13's and what was noticeable was that they were also a touch more floral too.

My personal preference is for the 2012 vintage. There's something about them...an electrical dryness perhaps that's really attractive.

Cheers
the fish

I'm with you there. Tried both numerous times and still love the crisp acidity of the 2012 Pikes.

[Mivvy]

2010 Domaine Jean-Marc Bouley Volnay I have had a few village 2010's to see how these are drinking and they have been very good. This had bright red fruit, good concentration and a long finish, very good for a village wine.

[sjw_11]

Jaspers Hill Georgias Paddock Shiraz 2005... Surprisingly medium bodied, the nose slightly funky at first but clearing off to leave a core of pristine red fruits (fresh plums) and spicy oak character. The palate was quite soft, and elegant... a wine that whispers to you rather than yelling. Abv 13.5% as well. Nice wine. Perhaps not quite value for money.