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

[Mahmoud Ali]

[img]http://www.grapemates.org/files/Coche/2017- ... ium%29.jpg[/img]

Hmm, is the wallet in the picture a not so subtle reference to the cost of the tasting?

Mahmoud.

[michel]

[img]http://www.grapemates.org/files/Coche/2017- ... ium%29.jpg[/img]





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yes yes yes
Coche is stunning and unique
great photo

[grhm1961]

Pauletts Polish Hill River Shiraz 2009

Glorious deep, very dark cherry/crimson red, very beautiful to look at. Nose of plums, raspberry jam, damp earth and violets. On the palate the plums and jam continues, along with some grassy notes, all balanced nicely with smooth, cedary oak and fine tannins. A long, liquorice finish completes a lovely drink.

2009 was an excellent vintage in the Clare: low-yields and intense flavours. Jeremy Oliver really liked this, giving it 91 points and suggesting a drinking window of 2021-2029. James Halliday also gave it 91 points, but suggested it should be drunk by 2020, which I think is nearer the mark, and it will be very interesting to see how it develops over two more years.

This is a really lovely cool-climate Shiraz; well-made and satisfying. Extremely good value for money – I think we paid about $15 as a phone-in special from the winery. These are the kinds of wine I love to drink; inexpensive but loaded with flavour and regional character. Priceless.

(Day 2)
24 hours after opening, this wine was still fresh and interesting to begin with, but fairly quickly began to develop some sour notes. If you have any, I suggest it should be drunk now. It's lovely, but may not last.

[phillisc]

Wolff Blass 2010 Gold Label Coonawarra Cabernet...in a really good spot lovey berry smoky charry characteristics, so balanced on the palate with nice drying tannins...picked up 5 trophies at the Limecoast Wine show and managed to get a couple dozen very cheap the day before the announcement.

Interesting the 2015 equivalent picked up 4 trophies at the same show today.

Cheers
Craig

[conformistpete]

AF Gros Vosne Romanee Clos de la Fontaine 2009
Cherries and spice and all things nice. The tannins are silky and fully resolved. A bit of acid still there but you can tell the warmer year. Red cherries and raspberry with some mushroom characters coming through on the palate Not sure I would hold or what benefit you would get from doing so. Went well with the Lebanese spiced pork we bbqd last night.

[felixp21]

1989 Haut Brion
this was an amazing experience, mainly because I am absolutely, totally convinced this was a fake bottle. The other three were not as convinced, but I have seen this wine quite a few times, and this surely was an aged Cali blend, maybe with some Bdx thrown in. It did not even closely resemble the real thing. A wonderful conversation piece, got us talking about the JFK conspiracy theory where they switched bodies with the Kennedy look-alike police officer.
actually quite exciting, I probably enjoyed this as much as I would have the real thing, great fun trying to figure out how it was made. Def and original and authentic bottle, but the cork looked 7-8 years old.
aside from that, it tasted pretty good, would give it around 90 pts, but for HKD 6900, might have expected a little more

[grhm1961]

Gadzooks, that's still a lot of money for a fake! I do hope you're loaded!

[Dragzworthy]

1989 Haut Brion
this was an amazing experience, mainly because I am absolutely, totally convinced this was a fake bottle. The other three were not as convinced, but I have seen this wine quite a few times, and this surely was an aged Cali blend, maybe with some Bdx thrown in. It did not even closely resemble the real thing. A wonderful conversation piece, got us talking about the JFK conspiracy theory where they switched bodies with the Kennedy look-alike police officer.
actually quite exciting, I probably enjoyed this as much as I would have the real thing, great fun trying to figure out how it was made. Def and original and authentic bottle, but the cork looked 7-8 years old.
aside from that, it tasted pretty good, would give it around 90 pts, but for HKD 6900, might have expected a little more

I am not experienced with cali wine and have never had an Haut Brion which would mean I'd be easily fooled! Must happen a lot.

[Matt@5453]

2015 Marius Wines Shiraz Simpatico McLaren Vale

I consumed this over 2 x days. The first day it was a bit of a struggle (it could have been my palate though), it seemed heavy handed with the oak displaying excess vanilla. The second day I thoroughly enjoyed it. For me it is a rich and complex wine displaying dark fruits, plum, a touch of prune/raisin, fruit cake and chocolate. It is well structured and has very good length. The structure I look for, being acid, tannin, oak and fruit weight are all in relative balance, but I suspect in 6-8 years time this wine will enter a very good drinking window. Based on this experience, a long decant is required. A quality wine.

2010 Jim Barry Shiraz The Armagh

An intriguing wine. Blue type fruits, with a 'bright' acidity about it, to me suggesting long cellaring potential. My initial impressions were a cool climate shiraz like Clonakilla, I'm wondering whether a few bunches of riesling were thrown in? the structure, balance and tannin profile are to be admired with very good oak usage. The length of the finish is excellent. This will be long lived.

I attended the Clare Valley Wine Show this week, for the Riesling Lovers out there, believe the 'hype' regarding 2017, some very good examples to look out for are:

2017 RieslingFreak No.2 (Polish Hill River) - Nick Stock's Judges Trophy at the Clare Valley Wine Show - stunning!

2017 Gaelic Cemetery Vineyard Premium Riesling - love the fruit in this one, the length is amazing.

2017 Naked Run Wines "Place in Time" - tight as f*ck, this is a serious riesling, with a long life ahead of it. My personal standout wine of the Clare wine show

2017 Jim Barry Wines Block 18

2017 Jim Barry Wines Block 114

All washed down with some Pikes Lager and a few Clare valley brewing company Summer Ales...

I can still taste the Armagh now!

[Ian S]

2004 Luis Pato Bairrada vinhas velhas (opened last night, will finish tonight)
Still clear blackberry primary fruit, but some figgy tertiary aromas coming through. Relatively light in body, but still with some grainy tannins. Acidity supportive rather than assertive, but with the lightly grippy tannins this works fine. Overall a really enjoyable wine, maybe more approachable than expected (though a Portuguese wine shop owner alluded to this label being much more serious a decade before). Thankfully no attempt to slather it in oak to soften the wine, rather letting the grape speak freely.

[Chuck]

Kilikanoon 2016 Golden Hillside Watervale Riesling. Citrus, lime and all things Clare plus some welcomed orange or similar blossom which I love in riesling. Pretty wine. Great producer.

Carl

[conformistpete]

Craiglee Chardonnay 2014
Seppelt Drumborg Chardonnay 2014

The Craiglee was richer, fuller bodied and riper fruits. Wonderful nose with peach and tending to melon and tropical fruit if you let it warm too much in the glass, which I am won't to do sometimes. Beautiful texture in the mouth. Didn't budge on day 2 and I would say has many wonderful years ahead of it.

The Seppelt was obviously from a cooler vineyard with lemon and cashews on the nose. The acid on the palate was not disjointed or overpowering. Probably lost some palate weight on day 2 so will be interested so see where this goes.

[michel]

2014 Rousseau Chambertin
Feminine & gently powerful
The beginnings of a great wine
I could have smelt this for days

[Sean]

deleted

[michel]

2015 Castagna Genesis
Wicked perfume fine powdery tannins
Sure viognier is involved but I am kinda enamoured with it
Cellar it with respect and enjoy in another couple of years

[mychurch]

2 98s for me last night, after some bubbles.

Fully mature and fantastic examples of top Auz Cabernet. Slightly preferred the Parker Terra Rossa 1st Growth to the Wirra Wirra Penley Estate, but that just may have been a question of style. The Parker was bigger, with silky savoury fruit while the Penley was more mint and Eucyptus. Both drinking extremely well, but no need to drink either up.

Had a Dead Arm and an Armagh lined up for the cheese course, but miraculously we decided to have a restrained evening.

[Ian S]

Thanks for the update on the Wirra Wirra Penley - I've just got a single bottle and coming up to 20 years old I was starting to think about opening it. Encouraged by the comment about being a lighter style than Parker, as my preference may be in the opposite direction to you. Maybe one for next year!

[Bobthebuilder]

1989 Haut Brion
this was an amazing experience, mainly because I am absolutely, totally convinced this was a fake bottle. The other three were not as convinced, but I have seen this wine quite a few times, and this surely was an aged Cali blend, maybe with some Bdx thrown in. It did not even closely resemble the real thing. A wonderful conversation piece, got us talking about the JFK conspiracy theory where they switched bodies with the Kennedy look-alike police officer.
actually quite exciting, I probably enjoyed this as much as I would have the real thing, great fun trying to figure out how it was made. Def and original and authentic bottle, but the cork looked 7-8 years old.
aside from that, it tasted pretty good, would give it around 90 pts, but for HKD 6900, might have expected a little more

Felix, did you get any photos?

[phillisc]

Thanks for the update on the Wirra Wirra Penley - I've just got a single bottle and coming up to 20 years old I was starting to think about opening it. Encouraged by the comment about being a lighter style than Parker, as my preference may be in the opposite direction to you. Maybe one for next year!

The elusive Penley from Wirra...I have heard about it but have never seen a bottle...have a couple of vintages of chook block...not sure how thee stack up against the Penley.


Cheers
Craig

[mychurch]

Craig

I have one bottle left of the 98 Chook Block Shiraz. It's never been as good as the Penley for me, but it's a nice wine. .

Ian

If you only have 1 bottle of the Penley, then drink it now. There may be some more development, but I'd drink it within the next year while you know that there is still fruit.

Last year I drank 1 of my 98 389's and I thought it was slightly better than the Parker Estate. Different bottle and different dinner though, but it had just a touch more life in it. Rated both 4.5* on Vivino though.

[phillisc]

Sean, good to see the love for the '16 Metala...spotted it at sub $10 a week or so back...so just had too

Will getting some more
Cheers
Craig

[JamieBahrain]

I opened a 2012 Elderton Ode to Lorraine Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz Merlot with dinner and quickly moved on to young Barolo with more natural balance. The Elderton's acidity seemed artificial and spiky then whacky with food. I like Elderton. Who could forget the 94 and 96 Elderton shiraz? Wow! But too much happening here.

Last night I did enjoy a Taltarni cabernet 2005 for simple drinking. The wine is worth gambling in the cellar for another 5 years.

[Sean]

deleted

[Ozzie W]

2014 Thymiopoulos Young Vines

[url=https://postimg.org/image/5ilg4dqdjv/][img]https://s1.postimg.org/5ilg4dqdjv/IMG_20171102_211003.jpg[/img][/url]

100% Xinomavro from Naoussa. 13% ABV

A little simple but very satisfying. A fruit focused wine with juicy cherry, black olives & blueberry. Good finish with a thin coating of sweet spices. Nicely balanced acidity and silky tannins. So delicious.

[JamieBahrain]

Vinsanto Hatzidakis 2003 sweet red from Santorini in Greece. Lovely and intriguing over a small glass. First up was a Penfolds 389 1996 which was in a nice spot til the cheese came out.

[Chuck]

Last night a Gemtree 2009 McLaren Vale Phantom Red Blend. 35% cab, 30% merlot, 30% cab franc and some petit verdot. Was quite tannic on previous tasting but has finally hit its sweet spot. Lovely black fruits, some oak and tannins now in balance. Sum of the parts stuff. A real surprise packet. Right in its drinking window IMO and should hold for a few more years but I wouldn't wait if you still have some.

Enjoyed with flounder with burnt butter sauce, broccolini, and crusty bread and after a bit of Kilikanoon 17 Golden Hillside Watervale Riesling that was a solid Friday night drop.

Carl

[michel]

2014 Cape Naturaliste chardonnay very generous style kinda ripey and generous
I would’ve preferred a tad more acid and length

[Rossco]

2007 Tahbilk 1927 Vines Marsanne
This is either a bad bottle (screwcap), or in a massive hole at the moment. Its so flat and lifeless......possible TCA...but i dont think this has seen any oak?

Very limited nose of bees wax and lemon pith.

Smallish acic backbone, little lemon and slight chalk on the tongue. Other than that....nothing....just....nothing.

No length, and it drops off a cliff as soon as you swallow it.
This is the second day the bottle has been opened , and no change. Dont know if thats good or bad.

How this got 97 points is beyond me.

Lets hope my other 5 are better, but i wont be opening them soon thats for sure.

[michel]

2007 Tahbilk 1927 Vines Marsanne
This is either a bad bottle (screwcap), or in a massive hole at the moment. Its so flat and lifeless its almost not even wine......possible TCA...but i dont think this has seen any oak?

Very limited nose of bees wax and lemon pith.

Smallish acic backbone, little lemon and slight chalk on the tongue. Other than that....nothing....just....nothing.

No length, and it drops off a cliff as soon as you swallow it.
This is the second day the bottle has been opened , and no change. Dont know if thats good or bad.

How this got 97 points is beyond me.

Lets hope my other 5 are better, but i wont be opening them soon thats for sure.

Wow ...

[dave vino]

Chardonnay, lots of.

Someone might make a thread with notes, I didn't take any.

[img]http://www.grapemates.org/files/Misc/Chard-1.jpg[/img]