Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

[Rossco]

2001 Crawford River Riesling

Deep, dark honey gold in colour. The secondary characteristics have well and truly encompassed this wine. Honey and freshly baked pound cake straight out of the oven on the nose. Preserved lemon and lime marmalade with biscuity traces are all held together with a whiff of kerosene. Long length needs time in the decanter to open up and show its true beauty. Acid still there, but this bottle seemed more advanced than I would have thought.
Yes I know its 16 years old, so maybe I was expecting too much. Based on this bottle, I will be drinking my 2 others sooner rather than later.

[Bobthebuilder]

2001 Crawford River Riesling

Deep, dark honey gold in colour. The secondary characteristics have well and truly encompassed this wine. Honey and freshly baked pound cake straight out of the oven on the nose. Preserved lemon and lime marmalade with biscuity traces are all held together with a whiff of kerosene. Long length needs time in the decanter to open up and show its true beauty. Acid still there, but this bottle seemed more advanced than I would have thought.
Yes I know its 16 years old, so maybe I was expecting too much. Based on this bottle, I will be drinking my 2 others sooner rather than later.

that sounds delicious and right up my alley with aged riesling

[rens]

2010 Marqués de Murrieta Reserva. A favourite producer of mine and great value at under $30. Plumbs, berries and a nice lick of oak. The tannins are almost resolved with a great acidity keeping it all together. Moving into secondary flavours with a nice hint of mocha. Drunk over 2 nights and the last glass was the best. Can not see it improving from here, but I think it will have a long plateau. Must have a look at the 2006's I have in the back of the cellar to see how they are going.

The 2010 Murrietta Reserva is supposed to be a great wine. If you were able to buy it in Australia for under $30 you are doing very well. And if after two days the last glass was the best then that surely suggests that it has a long future. It's a Rioja from a top producer, it will last for decades.

Cheers ...................... Mahmoud.

It is a very good wine from a top producer.
When you consider the Gran Reservea Especial is triple the price (and worth every cent) this delivers in spades for the small amount it costs in comparison.

[Redback]

Went to the Vinsosphere trade tasting yesterday with over 500 wines on show. Some highlights below:

2016 Pooley Coolinda Vale Pinot Noir - a more "feminine" wine compared to the Butcher's Hill and my preference of the Pooley range.

2014 Dawson James Pinot Noir - Never heard of this Tassie producer from the Derwent Valley but this wine showed plenty of complexity and balance with good cellaring potential.

2015 Clyde Park Block F College Pinot Noir My pick of the Single Block series.

2015 Bass Phillip Issam Pinot Noir - At less than half the price of Premium and a smidgen above over the Estate, this would be my preferred buying/

2016 Gembrook Hill Chardonnay - a lot going here. I am not a Chardy drinker but I would consider a few bottles of this.

2015 Gembrook Hill Pinot Noir - Great balance and savoury flavours.

2015 Clonakilla O'Riada - I am sure this has some viognier in this. Great drop and preferred this to the Hilltops. If you cannot get the SV, I think you won't be too disappointed with this drop.

2013 Picardy Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc preferred this to the 2012 Melimont Cabernet blend, which is a more long term proposition. Good drinking now and will cellar well

2012 Balnaves The Tally - dark, brooding. Will be great in 10+ years.

2014 Massena The Howling Dog - a blend of Saperavi, Petite Syrah and Tannat - Great flavour with plenty of tannins on show.

2011 Elio Grasso Barolo Gavarino Chiniera - very approachable now

[Hunter]

2004 Henschke tappa pass
Brown tinge starting to develop., sweet compost, cola, cardamon.
Medium body, very elegant. Kirsch and earth.. good length.
At its peak and am sure will hold up for some time. Very fun and safisticated. Great value for what i payed ..
Will go great with tonights coq au vin

[George Krashos]

2004 Henschke tappa pass
Brown tinge starting to develop., sweet compost, cola, cardamon.
Medium body, very elegant. Kirsch and earth.. good length.
At its peak and am sure will hold for up for some time. Very fun and safisticated. Great value for what i payed ..
Will go great with tonights coq au vin

Thanks for the TN. Have one of these (son's birth year). Any idea how long you think it'll go for?

-- George Krashos

[Hunter]

This is right in that sweet spot for me. Not too old and developed. But still youthful with character.
Id say 5- 10
Highly recommend it.

[deejay81]

From a 6 pack, just opened my first bottle of 2002 Grosset Watervale's.
Screwcap
Didn't take any notes except colour was still very primary with only a hint of yellowing and it was yum. Don't know if it ever was in a dumb phase, but it's definitely not in a dumb phase now. If you have any, crack one open.

[Bobthebuilder]

From a 6 pack, just opened my first bottle of 2002 Grosset Watervale's.
Screwcap
Didn't take any notes except colour was still very primary with only a hint of yellowing and it was yum. Don't know if it ever was in a dumb phase, but it's definitely not in a dumb phase now. If you have any, crack one open.

I had one a few months back and loved it.
Make sure you save one for the next offline you attend (where the theme suits) as I have a 2001, and a 2003 so we can do a bit of a mini vertical.

[Bobthebuilder]

2005 Irvine Grand Merlot - this has to be the biggest aussie merlot ive ever had. The colour is bizarre, bright red and brick brown, but glowing. The nose shows its age with some leather and forest floor, but the palate is full of fresh ripe strawberries, glazed cherries, and mulberry, cinnamon, chinese five spice, and cherry cigar. This is no donut of a wine, and it has a beautiful long finish. Would surely change the opinion of many Merlot haters, but funnily enough I wonder if its just too big for my Merlot lovin mum. I have got a couple of bottles for her to try so I guess I'll find out soon enough!

[Phil H]

2006 Patina Cab Sav (Orange Region) Full bodied - which is unusual for this region, dark brooding color, prominent oak - . Consumed over three nights - best on third night. For a $30 wine that has been cellared for about 3 years (Patina tend to release their wines late and when entering their drinking window), excellent value and thoroughly enjoyable.

2011 Ross Hill Pinnacle Pinot Noir (Orange Region) Alc. Very high at 14.5%, Pristine rose in color being the prominent feature, another interesting wiine. Strawberries and spice, forever changing in the glass, perhaps a little unstable due to it being high in alcohol. Enjoyable - will be interested to see how it develops over the next couple of years.

2011 Belgravia Roussanne (Orange Region - again) Getting towards the end of my supply of this wine which I picked up for under $10 due to unfortunate circumstances for the winery which no longer exists. Full bodied for a white wine, some spice, as stated previously a white wine for red wine drinkers. Trying to track down more Roussane from Aus wineries -

[deejay81]

From a 6 pack, just opened my first bottle of 2002 Grosset Watervale's.
Screwcap
Didn't take any notes except colour was still very primary with only a hint of yellowing and it was yum. Don't know if it ever was in a dumb phase, but it's definitely not in a dumb phase now. If you have any, crack one open.

I had one a few months back and loved it.
Make sure you save one for the next offline you attend (where the theme suits) as I have a 2001, and a 2003 so we can do a bit of a mini vertical.

Sounds good! Looking forward to that. I have a few 02 Polish Hills and 02 Petaluma's all under screwcap which i haven't tried yet too.

[Chuck]

Last night with slow cooked beef short ribs, mash and veges we enjoyed a Leconfield 2005 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. Decanted for 3 hours which showed how important this process is. Not too much mint to distract, this was in in great form with most components in balance with the tannins still a little prominent, but almost resolved. Lovely blackberry and a little mulberry. Still years to go. Gad, those stelvin slow things down but at least every bottle is true to form. A perfect match with the meal with everyone fighting for the last drops in the bottle. Always a good barometer.

Carl

[felixp21]

trade tasting of 2016 Bordeaux last week in HK.
third time I've seen these, that will do me I think!!! Still scraping the tannins off my tongue.....
what I think will be good value buys for the Australian market:
Grand Puy Lacoste
Beychevelle
Cantemerle
Lafon Rochet
I would imagine these will all be $130 or under down there.

[crusty2]

Grand Puy Lacoste AUD$147 en primeur (wholesale)
Beychevelle AUD$135 en primeur (wholesale)
Latest offers that i have

[Scotty vino]

2015 Samuel's Gorge Grenache.
Sadly corked. Usually one of my faves too.

To the Wineries Credit they are replacing.

[Hunter]

2015 Samuel's Gorge Grenache.
Sadly corked. Usually one of my faves too.

To the Wineries Credit they are replacing.

What an awesome view they have there at c.d
Not really a fan of those big blends they do tho.
Grenache was great.

[rooman]

trade tasting of 2016 Bordeaux last week in HK.
third time I've seen these, that will do me I think!!! Still scraping the tannins off my tongue.....
what I think will be good value buys for the Australian market:
Grand Puy Lacoste
Beychevelle
Cantemerle
Lafon Rochet
I would imagine these will all be $130 or under down there.

I really enjoy the GPL. I have some of the 2005 & 2009. Excellent interesting cab sav at a price that is affordable in the wider context of Bordeaux. For me, the price of the higher classified growths just seem too high now to enjoy on a Saturday evening with a decent lamb roast. They have truly become special event wines, anniversaries, birthday etc.

[Scotty vino]

2015 Samuel's Gorge Grenache.
Sadly corked. Usually one of my faves too.

To the Wineries Credit they are replacing.

What an awesome view they have there at c.d
Not really a fan of those big blends they do tho.
Grenache was great.

Ive got some straight Shiraz, temp and grenache from previous visit.
view is nice indeed. Great CD too IMO.

[Hunter]

Recently had a shiraz/temp. Was huge. Especially for mc laren. Chocolate overdrive.
Defently a cellar door to check out tho ..

[Scotty vino]

Im not aware of their Shiraz/temp.
I know they do a Gren/temp and a GMS.
I've only really got into the straight varietals.

[BrandonS]

2006 Patina Cab Sav (Orange Region) Full bodied - which is unusual for this region, dark brooding color, prominent oak - . Consumed over three nights - best on third night. For a $30 wine that has been cellared for about 3 years (Patina tend to release their wines late and when entering their drinking window), excellent value and thoroughly enjoyable.

2011 Ross Hill Pinnacle Pinot Noir (Orange Region) Alc. Very high at 14.5%, Pristine rose in color being the prominent feature, another interesting wiine. Strawberries and spice, forever changing in the glass, perhaps a little unstable due to it being high in alcohol. Enjoyable - will be interested to see how it develops over the next couple of years.

2011 Belgravia Roussanne (Orange Region - again) Getting towards the end of my supply of this wine which I picked up for under $10 due to unfortunate circumstances for the winery which no longer exists. Full bodied for a white wine, some spice, as stated previously a white wine for red wine drinkers. Trying to track down more Roussane from Aus wineries -

Not quite what you were after, but John Duval in the Barossa has a Marsanne, Rousanne and Viognier blend (The Plexus) that I highly recommend.

[Phil H]

Thanks...Tahbilk also make a roussane as well as a few blends that could be interesting. I didn't realise they had such as an extensive range until I visited their website. Unfortunately there is only a limited selection in retail shops around Sydney.

[felixp21]

trade tasting of 2016 Bordeaux last week in HK.
third time I've seen these, that will do me I think!!! Still scraping the tannins off my tongue.....
what I think will be good value buys for the Australian market:
Grand Puy Lacoste
Beychevelle
Cantemerle
Lafon Rochet
I would imagine these will all be $130 or under down there.

I really enjoy the GPL. I have some of the 2005 & 2009. Excellent interesting cab sav at a price that is affordable in the wider context of Bordeaux. For me, the price of the higher classified growths just seem too high now to enjoy on a Saturday evening with a decent lamb roast. They have truly become special event wines, anniversaries, birthday etc.

........ yes, so true!!! There are, however, literally dozens of really high quality non-classified Bordeaux wines that are super value for money. It appears, however, that relatively few of these get to Australia. Aussie importers seem obsessed with the Great Growths, which represent a miniscule percentage of wines from the region. I saw the prices quotes above... now, really, there is no excuse for such a level of gouging in the EP market. Those prices are ridiculous.

[swirler]

Felix, come on then, name these great unclassified Bordeaux!

[felixp21]

Felix, come on then, name these great unclassified Bordeaux!

Unlike Burgundy, i find assessing Bordeaux from barrel extremely difficult. Complicating the situation is the fact that the wines in HK were air-freighted the day before from paris, and I didn't think they showed as well as in Bordeaux. Having said that, 2015 is, IMO, strikingly like 2009, and 2016 a lesser version of 2010 (but still a fantastic vintage) and you will find a huge number of bargains when they arrive. For bottom end stuff (less than $50 AUD), I believe 2015 is a better bet than 2016. (in the same way 2009 proved a better bet than 2010)
As an example of what you might find, I purchased 2009 Fleur de Bouard for $45 IN AUSTRALIA when it arrived. It was a no-brainer, I went to a tasting, had one sip, and said "give me five dozen" I like this wine better than any Aussie cab, including the best from Marg River and bin 707 etc. Sure, now that Parker et al "discovered" the wine and gave it high-90's points it sells for 4-5 times that, but no doubt there will be in the future similar stories of hidden gems arriving down there from the 2015 and 2016 vintages.
I don't know what is arriving there, but check out all the 15's from Lalande de Pomerol, hardly a bad one amongst them.
From 2016, Chateau Puygeuraud and Cantemerle impressed me every time I saw them, but I would actually lash out and get GPL from that year. It is a wine light years ahead of any Aussie Cab I have seen (oh, except the obvious stuff, like 63 Mildara etc) and even at that absurd price quoted, it is a decent value.

[Ian S]

Fleur de Boyard is rather a special case - for many people too much in the Parker style, so a screaming bargain for those that like the style or at least reap the financial benefits of his enthusiasm.

For those Parker coined the Anti-Flavor wine elite (AFWE) in one of his tirades, there is still plenty of 'luncheon claret' around that is not overblown. There is also still plenty of stretched cr*p at the lower echelons, trading off the Bordeaux or Claret 'brand'.

For Lalande de Pomerol, we've enjoyed La Croix des Moines, for Fronsac Château de Carlmagnus is a little on the plump side but not OTT. For Margaux Château Deyrem Valentin is very much in the mould of a classy & classic luncheon claret.

[felixp21]

Fleur de Boyard is rather a special case - for many people too much in the Parker style, so a screaming bargain for those that like the style or at least reap the financial benefits of his enthusiasm.

For those Parker coined the Anti-Flavor wine elite (AFWE) in one of his tirades, there is still plenty of 'luncheon claret' around that is not overblown. There is also still plenty of stretched cr*p at the lower echelons, trading off the Bordeaux or Claret 'brand'.

For Lalande de Pomerol, we've enjoyed La Croix des Moines, for Fronsac Château de Carlmagnus is a little on the plump side but not OTT. For Margaux Château Deyrem Valentin is very much in the mould of a classy & classic luncheon claret.

What you say is entirely correct Ian, although the Fleur de Bouard 2009 is/was not an over-blown wine (unlike the subsequent vintages where most have traits of over-extraction). It has settled into a marvellous claret, albeit in the right bank style. Sadly, I have less than a dozen left, which is stupid, as the wine seems to be continuously improving and has not yet reached it's apogee. For $45, it might well be my greatest ever "value" purchase. Wish I had got more!!
Intersestingly, a lot of the 2010 cheapies have either really fallen apart, or are in a dumb stage, the tannins have turned to fierce and green in many examples, a worrying progression. Many do not seem to have developed in the same way as their 2009 siblings (Fleur de Bouard being one of many examples)

[phillisc]

1998 Bowen Ampelon Shiraz, a one off and again when I spoke to Doug Bowen in the Coonawarra on the weekend, that will always be the case.
Brooding purple colour with <1mm cork staining. Wonderful fruits, spice, leather, mouth coating without being overbearing, a lick of oak, tannin and a lovely textured after taste that gently lingered...no harshness at all. I would say that this is at its peak, but will comfortably hold for another 5-10. a very good bottle indeed.
Cheers
Craig

[Matt@5453]

Some impressions from a "mixed bag" of wines from the weekend:

2016 Unico Zelo Cherry Fields Dolcetto, Polish Hill River, Clare Valley

A light and ‘bright’ wine. Cherry driven, good acidity with some dusty tannins. I’d describe as savoury. Good wine, but I'd recommend to consume with food

2011 Hobbs of Barossa Ranges with Freckles Semillon, Barossa Valley

Getting a touch of age on it now, a touch of honey, grass, some tropical fruit. A touch of acidity lurking. Good wine.

2016 Sons of Eden Freya Riesling, Eden Valley

A very easy drinking Riesling; limes, touch of sherbet and minerals. Less acidity that the Clare wines I have been drinking, but that is a feature of the wine. Very good wine.

2016 Torbreck The Loon, Barossa Valley

92% Shiraz and 8% co fermented Rousanne. Lighter bodied shiraz, with plum fruit, spice, chocolate, the Rousanne adds some finesse to the wine. Enjoyable

2014 Whistler Wines Thank God its Friday Shiraz Cabernet, Barossa Valley

Very good blend. Good length. Great looking label if you like the Day of the Dead.

2013 Hart of the Barossa Ye Old Faithful Old Vine Shiraz, Barossa Valley

From vines planted in 1902. 100% organic wine. Dark, rich and concentrated wine (as you’d expect). Good length and finish.

Hart of the Barossa is a terrific little cellar door, rustic and full of charm. Run by a husband and wife, only open the first Saturday of each month.
I’d recommend popping in for a look.

A couple of imports:

2014 Altos Del Plata Malbec, Mendoza

I believe the cheaper of the two wines, but very enjoyable.

2013 Callia Magna “Terrior Selection” Malbec, San Juan

Needed a good decant, darker and inker and quite full bodied compared to other Malbecs I have had in the last couple of years. Excellent dark cherries and real black pepperiness about it. Loved it.