back in a hot, humid and very muggy Shenzhen now.
well, as they say, "oh what a night". When your beloved Hawks go into the game a (strangely) massive underdog, and the TAB is offering you $11.90 at +39.5, you empty your Tab account on it. When we eventually get back to my place after the game, I am clutching two bottles of 2008 Grange to add to the stash, as well as a pocket full of on-line cash hehehe
What was meant to be 20 ardent friends and Hawks supporters catered for at my place turned out to be 40, the additions allowed access only upon plonking two bottles of premiership wines on the dedicated wine bench. As expected, there were the cheapies who brought the 2013 and 2014 wines, I saw things like 2013 Dog Point sav blanc there, but I must admit to not trying them.
I also must admit to seeing the 08 Greenock Creek RR shiraz (yes, although the email said he was bringing a creek block) but I did nopt get a chance to try it
I can report, however, that it was immensely popular.
The two bottles of
61 Cos d'Estournel were both holding up well given their age, but each had a strange metallic finish that I did not particularly like, but again, they seemed to be very popular. A bottle of Ducru Beaucaillou present was corked and undrinkable.
There was also a bottle of
61 Brown Brothers Shiraz which was at least three decades past it.
The 71's provided some real highlights. A bottle of
71 Grange was in magnificent condition, but severely rationed as you might expect. 97 points for me.
A
71 Seppelts Great Western Shiraz was past it, but certainly not without interest.
Then there was an absolutely super bottle of
71 Mildara Cab Sav, a wine I have seen many times, but never even remotely approaching the quality of this bottle. Extraordinary, huge wine retaining structure and a little of the mint of it's famous older brother. Probably showing better than the Grange that night. 98 points.
A couple of 76 wines were enjoyable, very enjoyable, but not memorable. The
76 Wendouree Shiraz was a complete wine, tannins fully resolved, and a cuddly old bear. Kind of reminded me of those Baileys shiraz from the same era. Maybe 92points. The
76 Wynns Cab Sav was a more interesting proposition, clearly with time ahead of it. Too bad they invented the John Riddoch,. those old black labels are fantastic wines. 94points
The
78 Seaview Cab Sav was absolutely dead and buried. But a
78 Mt Edelstone Shiraz was indeed a memorable wine, even with half the cork floating in the bottle! Stunning in every way, actually made me wish I had not sold my considerable stash of 90's Mt Ed all those years ago. 97 points.
There were other 78's there, including a Grange, but i never got to taste them.
The
83 Tahbilk Special Bin Cab was alive and well, fully mature, but really not much more than an interesting look into old central victorian cabernet. Rather monolithic, certainly not complex. As they say, location location location! Maybe 89 points.
A magnum of
83 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay appeared and was superb, holding up perfectly. Absolute treat. 95points
The
86 Hill of Grace was, incredibly, still too young, well in this magnum format, at least. Still displaying primary fruits and firm tannins, this might well be a wine for the ages, but i would hold on to any I have 95+
I saw other 86's, including a John Riddoch and a Pichon Lalande, but i didn't get to taste them.
The
88 St Henri suffered from poor storage, and was simply weird. A magnum of
88 Bannockburn Shiraz was pleasant, if nothing special.88points.
There was an absolute host of 89 Bordeaux there, being on the bloody BBQ I missed a taste of the
89 Haut Brion, but it seemed to be wine of the night to all those that actually did get to see it. The
89 Pichon Lalande was good, npot great, maybe 92points. Actually, I preferred the
89 Grand Puy Lacoste, which was a spectacular wine for a cheap old Bordeaux, 95 points.
A magnum of
91 Hill of Grace was amazing, easy 98 points for me, and maybe my favourite wine of the night. Incredible.
A
91 de Montille Volnay Taillepieds was rather drying and a bit coarse. Nup, 85points.
A bevy of 08's, as expected, the pick of the crop being the
08 Grange, which, whilst waaaay too young, was just superb, and as expected, very very popular. 98 points for me.
The only other 08 I tried was the
08 Penfolds RWT a wine I really liked, and will go and get some … 97 points. I also heard the Wolf Blass Platinum Shiraz was amazing, but I didn't try.
What a huge night, finished at 4am and only lost three Zalto's!!!!!!!!!!!
And Hawthorn?? well, let's face it, class and culture will always win out in the end
