Hi Good Peoples,
Its that day of the week; time to let us know what you have been drinking over the last week. After an AFW, last night I opened a Charles Cimicky 1998 Reserve Shiraz. What a terrific wine! Loads of blackberry liqueur, liquorice and leather flavours; full-bodied with load of everything, the dusty tannins stell need more time to integrate but it's a scrumptious drop. Rated as Excellent.
Now what have you guys been drinking? Lists, vibes or tasting notes welcome, and a special invitation to all our new posters, please a have go even if you are not 100% confident. We will be gentle on you and the only way to get proficient is with practice, and we would love to know what you drink and think about it.
Humm, now what day is it? Sunday! Time for you know what...
John's Blend No21 Cab Sav 1994
The much prized RB cork count wine was consumed on Sunday evening after the kids had been subdued from their chocolate induced frenzy and put to bed. Decanted for a couple of hours with a small quantity being consumed during pizza preparation. This wine is heavily dominated by the oak all 30 months worth in new French and American but that is OK as both Yvette and I like a bit of wine with our oak on occasions. I told Yvette she will have to ask RB if she can join his band of oak sluts next time she sees him
. The nose is dominated but coconut, vanilla and coffee with the Cab providing some lovely menthol and just a hint of crushed leaves every now and then. The palate is rich and would be hard to pick as a straight cab sav, more vanilla and coconut with the fruit being more prominent than on the nose. The wine was terrific with the pizza and DVD and both Yvette and I spent quite a while with the last glass full savouring the marvelous nose before it was all gone. Only real complaint was that the bottle was too small. Thanks again Brian, when is the next competition 
.
The next 2 were tasted together over a couple of nights together and both are now on the buying list.
Grant Burge Filsell 2004
Deep red to black with red rim. Sweet vanilla oak plums and choc dominate the nose which is lovely and rich, even better on the second night. Rich dark fruit and choc on the palate with just a hint of green leafiness that doesn't detract. Tanins are very fine on this full bodied wine with nice mouth feel and a long finish. Much better than the last bottle I tried 6 months ago.
Seppelts Chalambar 2004
Red with purple hues and red edge. Spices and pepper on the nose with red berry and a hint of vanilla on the nose. Medium to full bodied with more spice and sour cherries on the palate with a hint of fruit cake and olives. Very well stuctured with chalky tanins and medium length finish. Should be good for the medium to long term as the tanins calm down a bit.
Glen
The much prized RB cork count wine was consumed on Sunday evening after the kids had been subdued from their chocolate induced frenzy and put to bed. Decanted for a couple of hours with a small quantity being consumed during pizza preparation. This wine is heavily dominated by the oak all 30 months worth in new French and American but that is OK as both Yvette and I like a bit of wine with our oak on occasions. I told Yvette she will have to ask RB if she can join his band of oak sluts next time she sees him
. The nose is dominated but coconut, vanilla and coffee with the Cab providing some lovely menthol and just a hint of crushed leaves every now and then. The palate is rich and would be hard to pick as a straight cab sav, more vanilla and coconut with the fruit being more prominent than on the nose. The wine was terrific with the pizza and DVD and both Yvette and I spent quite a while with the last glass full savouring the marvelous nose before it was all gone. Only real complaint was that the bottle was too small. Thanks again Brian, when is the next competition .
The next 2 were tasted together over a couple of nights together and both are now on the buying list.
Grant Burge Filsell 2004
Deep red to black with red rim. Sweet vanilla oak plums and choc dominate the nose which is lovely and rich, even better on the second night. Rich dark fruit and choc on the palate with just a hint of green leafiness that doesn't detract. Tanins are very fine on this full bodied wine with nice mouth feel and a long finish. Much better than the last bottle I tried 6 months ago.
Seppelts Chalambar 2004
Red with purple hues and red edge. Spices and pepper on the nose with red berry and a hint of vanilla on the nose. Medium to full bodied with more spice and sour cherries on the palate with a hint of fruit cake and olives. Very well stuctured with chalky tanins and medium length finish. Should be good for the medium to long term as the tanins calm down a bit.
Glen
Winner of the inaugural RB cork-count competition
Runner up RB-NTDIR competition
Runner up TORB TN competition
Leave of absence second RB c-c competition
Runner up RB-NTDIR competition
Runner up TORB TN competition
Leave of absence second RB c-c competition
From TORB's advice i have 2 impressions.
Annies Lane Chardonnay 2005 I couldnt get my taste around the massive oak bomb i thought this was. Really didnt like it, the oak seemed to hit me in the upper back part of my mouth, 2 glasses was more than enough for me.
Peter Lehmann Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 I was a bit fluey when i had this but i still thoroughly enjoyed it. Th impression i had at the time was that the tannins were just right, fine and fitting into their place very nicely. Sorry i cant provide any specifics but generally everything seemed quite right, I'd drink some of these now - a few more years in the cellar would probably see those nice fine tannins fading out their support to the wines structure.
BOOYAH! First TN 
Annies Lane Chardonnay 2005 I couldnt get my taste around the massive oak bomb i thought this was. Really didnt like it, the oak seemed to hit me in the upper back part of my mouth, 2 glasses was more than enough for me.
Peter Lehmann Cabernet Sauvignon 2002 I was a bit fluey when i had this but i still thoroughly enjoyed it. Th impression i had at the time was that the tannins were just right, fine and fitting into their place very nicely. Sorry i cant provide any specifics but generally everything seemed quite right, I'd drink some of these now - a few more years in the cellar would probably see those nice fine tannins fading out their support to the wines structure.
BOOYAH!
First TN 
Had a bad cold this week, so thought it would be a good opportunity to drink some failed cellar puchases. Thought I would share with you my experience of:
De Bortoli Sacred Hill Cab Merlot 2004
Saw this wine on special the week it won a trophy at Sydney last year, and bought two cases for $96 all up, without trying it. Silly me. Pale red in colour, it has a very sweet rasberry candy/confectionary nose which is reflected in the palate. No real depth of flavour, lacks weight, richness and length. Could be drunk chilled as a luncheon wine and would be quite a reasonable cooking wine, if you use plenty. I've still got about 14 bottles left. A good lesson learnt and luckily not too expensive. I cannot believe this is the same wine the judges tasted. Anyone got some info on this? I guess one has to be careful what one says.
De Bortoli Sacred Hill Cab Merlot 2004
Saw this wine on special the week it won a trophy at Sydney last year, and bought two cases for $96 all up, without trying it. Silly me. Pale red in colour, it has a very sweet rasberry candy/confectionary nose which is reflected in the palate. No real depth of flavour, lacks weight, richness and length. Could be drunk chilled as a luncheon wine and would be quite a reasonable cooking wine, if you use plenty. I've still got about 14 bottles left. A good lesson learnt and luckily not too expensive. I cannot believe this is the same wine the judges tasted. Anyone got some info on this? I guess one has to be careful what one says.
Last edited by Roscoe on Sun Apr 23, 2006 12:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"It is very hard to make predictions, especially about the future." Samuel Goldwyn
The most interesting thing I had this week was a Balnaves Cab Sav 1998 This wine is nearing it's peak, still a very dark crimson lighter slighty on the rim. an evolved nose of earthy, leathery, baked fruit and touch of menthol. similar notes on the palate, silky smooth tannins with a moderate finish. Drank great over 4 hours in the decanter, Didn't fall apart after a few hours like the last one. so I have hope. Only 1 left, I'll try and keep my mits off for a few more years.
- Ian Selph
Grinners wrote:From TORB's advice i have 2 impressions.
Annies Lane Chardonnay 2005 I couldnt get my taste around the massive oak bomb i thought this was. Really didnt like it, the oak seemed to hit me in the upper back part of my mouth, 2 glasses was more than enough for me.
Very interesting. Maybe some bottling variation or we have different oak sensitivities. I don't mind oaky chardonnays. This didn't strike me as an oak bomb. Mind you, I found the Annies Lane Shiraz 2003 to be a massive oak bomb so they have plenty of it at their disposal.
"It is very hard to make predictions, especially about the future." Samuel Goldwyn
Roscoe what was the trophy it won?
Was at a tasting at DMs... had McWilliams on show...
Mount Pleasant Elizabeth 2001:
I like this even less than the 2002. Its got some really pronounced acidity, strawlike flavours almost bordering on bitterness. Like the 2000 a lot more.
Mount Pleasant Chardonnay Classic Release 2004:
Fruit is a lot tighter than the Hanwood, oak treatment ain't too bad on nose, quite creamy, nice smoky overtones, unfortunately a bit short and a bit bitter on the palate.
Mount Pleasant Late Harvest Desert Wine Bin 98:
A lot more syrupy than I remember (Compared to the 95, have to try the 96 before it goes out of fashion). Not a bad thing, creates quite a nice texture. Some nice sultana flavours, but I think the bottle was slightly corked, otherwise the oak was a bit too dominant (I think it spends quite a long time in oak barrels? 24 months maybe?). Not cloying. Have to try again.
From the Hanwood range:
Chardonnay 2004
Creamy peach. For my tastes not a bad easy drinking chardonnay. Certainly a good balance of oak and fruit.
Sparkling (forgot what year)
In any event wasn't very good. Some honey on nose, palate was just tart acidity, some green apples. Bubbles felt coarse in the mouth. Didn't like.
Was at a tasting at DMs... had McWilliams on show...
Mount Pleasant Elizabeth 2001:
I like this even less than the 2002. Its got some really pronounced acidity, strawlike flavours almost bordering on bitterness. Like the 2000 a lot more.
Mount Pleasant Chardonnay Classic Release 2004:
Fruit is a lot tighter than the Hanwood, oak treatment ain't too bad on nose, quite creamy, nice smoky overtones, unfortunately a bit short and a bit bitter on the palate.
Mount Pleasant Late Harvest Desert Wine Bin 98:
A lot more syrupy than I remember (Compared to the 95, have to try the 96 before it goes out of fashion). Not a bad thing, creates quite a nice texture. Some nice sultana flavours, but I think the bottle was slightly corked, otherwise the oak was a bit too dominant (I think it spends quite a long time in oak barrels? 24 months maybe?). Not cloying. Have to try again.
From the Hanwood range:
Chardonnay 2004
Creamy peach. For my tastes not a bad easy drinking chardonnay. Certainly a good balance of oak and fruit.
Sparkling (forgot what year)
In any event wasn't very good. Some honey on nose, palate was just tart acidity, some green apples. Bubbles felt coarse in the mouth. Didn't like.
THE AUSTRALIAN WINE AND BRANDY CORPORATION PERPETUAL TROPHY. Presented by the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation, to the Exhibitor of the Best Red Wine, not exceeding $20 per bottle (retail)
Alex
This is the trophy it won- 2005.
Its main competition (I think) was the Seppelts Vic Collection Shiraz 2003 and the Wolf Blass Gold Label Shiraz and its equivalent Cabernet, both 2002. Not 100% sure the latter two are considered under $20, although it is easy to source them under this.
Alex
This is the trophy it won- 2005.
Its main competition (I think) was the Seppelts Vic Collection Shiraz 2003 and the Wolf Blass Gold Label Shiraz and its equivalent Cabernet, both 2002. Not 100% sure the latter two are considered under $20, although it is easy to source them under this.
"It is very hard to make predictions, especially about the future." Samuel Goldwyn
Roscoe wrote:De Bortoli Sacred Hill Cab Merlot 2004
Saw this wine on special the week it won a trophy at Sydney last year, and bought two cases for $96 all up, without trying it. Silly me. Pale red in colour, it has a very sweet rasberry candy/confectionary nose which is reflected in the palate. No real depth of flavour, lacks weight, richness and length. Could be drunk chilled as a luncheon wine and would be quite a reasonable cooking wine, if you use plenty. I've still got about 14 bottles left. A good lesson learnt and luckily not too expensive. I cannot believe this is the same wine the judges tasted. Anyone got some info on this? I guess one has to be careful what one says.
Roscoe,
I remember this when it came out many of the big chains were plugging it. I was luckier than you and bought a single bottle to try first. I think we cooked with a fair preportion of it
good example as to why a lot of folks don't have much faith in the show system.
Glen
Winner of the inaugural RB cork-count competition
Runner up RB-NTDIR competition
Runner up TORB TN competition
Leave of absence second RB c-c competition
Runner up RB-NTDIR competition
Runner up TORB TN competition
Leave of absence second RB c-c competition
GRB wrote:John's Blend No21 Cab Sav 1994
I told Yvette she will have to ask RB if she can join his band of oak sluts next time she sees him
GRB wrote:The wine was terrific with the pizza and DVD and both Yvette and I spent quite a while with the last glass full savouring the marvelous nose before it was all gone. Only real complaint was that the bottle was too small.
Thanks again Brian, when is the next competition
Glen
Sorry about the small bottle. I don't know when the next cork-count competition will be, it took me a few years to fill the fish tank. I'm thinking of making it a bit harder and using this next time:
I'll have to think of something else in the interim.
Cheers
Brian
Life's too short to drink white wine and red wine is better for you too! :-)
Brian
Life's too short to drink white wine and red wine is better for you too! :-)
Four wines of interest this week -
Working backwards from Friday night:
Wolf Blass Gold Label Shiraz Viognier 2002
Adelaide Hills, 13% A/V, screwcap.
I bought a case of this on the strength of the bevy of golds, trophies and at least one major championship (best red at the national!) awarded in 2003.
Just a few (enjoyable) sips of this last night and this brief note is taken from what is left in my glass!
Deep ruby with some purple flashes. Medium nose of various dark berries, violets, an attractive floral lift from the viognier, very little apricot (a good thing) and subtle spicy French oak in the background. Svelte palate, nice concentration/mix/balance of velvety blackberry/boysenberry fruit, subtle savoury oak, low acidity, soft, fine-grained tannins and very good length. An Excellent, smooth, midweighted wine with quite a few years of life left in it, although drinking (to my taste) beautifully now. Don't normally do/post tasting notes at 7 am in the morning, but the little that was left in the glass got the better of me while I was cleaning up a few bits and pieces left out from last night.
Raveneau Chablis Valmur 2000 - AJ, NK and many others will shoot me for opening this, but I just had to do it. What a brilliant, albeit too young, example of pristine minerally Chablis. Given enough breathing time this gets better and better and better ........
Ch. Leoville Las Cases (Saint Julien) 1985 - a follow-on from the '85 Ch. Canon (http://forum.auswine.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=4843) out of a mixed case of aged Bordeaux purchased recently. Both great wines, albeit from completely different ends of the scale -
Still a very deep ruby with virtually no bricking. Powerful, masculine, minerally (almost ferrous) bouquet housing a brooding, classy mix of graphite, deep-set curranty fruit, briar, black olives, herbs and plenty of newish savoury oak. "Lots going on here", was Tony's first remark as he nosed the Riedel. Jamie's "Ahhh .... Bordeaux!", was also a good start (the wine had been decantered sometime before and masked at Jamie's request). From the outset, we were all surprised and most impressed by this wines' enormity and youthfulness, particularly for the vintage. If anything, the palate has quite a way to go to reach maturity. Again, fantastic quality of savoury fruit and oak, more of the brooding mineral/briar/olive character, of full body, excellent delineation, robust, firm tannins and great length. Over the next hour or two we sniffed, swirled and sipped our way through this Outstanding bottle of St. Julien until there was no more. My best sip was the last. Drink 2011-2025.
Working backwards from Friday night:
Wolf Blass Gold Label Shiraz Viognier 2002
Adelaide Hills, 13% A/V, screwcap.
I bought a case of this on the strength of the bevy of golds, trophies and at least one major championship (best red at the national!) awarded in 2003.
Just a few (enjoyable) sips of this last night and this brief note is taken from what is left in my glass!
Deep ruby with some purple flashes. Medium nose of various dark berries, violets, an attractive floral lift from the viognier, very little apricot (a good thing) and subtle spicy French oak in the background. Svelte palate, nice concentration/mix/balance of velvety blackberry/boysenberry fruit, subtle savoury oak, low acidity, soft, fine-grained tannins and very good length. An Excellent, smooth, midweighted wine with quite a few years of life left in it, although drinking (to my taste) beautifully now. Don't normally do/post tasting notes at 7 am in the morning, but the little that was left in the glass got the better of me while I was cleaning up a few bits and pieces left out from last night.
Raveneau Chablis Valmur 2000 - AJ, NK and many others will shoot me for opening this, but I just had to do it. What a brilliant, albeit too young, example of pristine minerally Chablis. Given enough breathing time this gets better and better and better ........
Ch. Leoville Las Cases (Saint Julien) 1985 - a follow-on from the '85 Ch. Canon (http://forum.auswine.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=4843) out of a mixed case of aged Bordeaux purchased recently. Both great wines, albeit from completely different ends of the scale -
Still a very deep ruby with virtually no bricking. Powerful, masculine, minerally (almost ferrous) bouquet housing a brooding, classy mix of graphite, deep-set curranty fruit, briar, black olives, herbs and plenty of newish savoury oak. "Lots going on here", was Tony's first remark as he nosed the Riedel. Jamie's "Ahhh .... Bordeaux!", was also a good start (the wine had been decantered sometime before and masked at Jamie's request). From the outset, we were all surprised and most impressed by this wines' enormity and youthfulness, particularly for the vintage. If anything, the palate has quite a way to go to reach maturity. Again, fantastic quality of savoury fruit and oak, more of the brooding mineral/briar/olive character, of full body, excellent delineation, robust, firm tannins and great length. Over the next hour or two we sniffed, swirled and sipped our way through this Outstanding bottle of St. Julien until there was no more. My best sip was the last. Drink 2011-2025.
Cheers,
David
David
I tried the Schild Estate range this week at an instore, and had these brief impressions:
2005 Schild Estate Riesling: I wasn’t expecting much but this was extremely good, one of the best Rieslings I’ve tried this year; a huge surprise.
2005 Schild Estate Unoaked Semillon: A bit of let down after the Riesling, good fruit definition and structure but just plain boring.
2004 Schild Estate Reserve Chardonnay: Big oak and malo influences, over-ripe tropical/banana fruit. This had its fans but I wasn’t one of them.
2004 Schild Estate Merlot: Very ripe fruit which just manages to tame the oak on the nose; the palate is just that bit better again – very good.
2003 Schild Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: Minty, hot fruit – the oak’s been wound back compared to the 2002 to give it a chance, but it’s still too much.
2004 Schild Estate Shiraz: Pure red fruit concentrate, ripe but not jammy, devoid of oak, excellent balance – a bargain in this lot.
2004 Schild Estate Ben Schild Reserve Shiraz: I loved the nose on this, the Hungarian oak seemed to draw dark Chocolate from the fruit. The palate in contrast seemed a little forced, slightly hot and porty – a bit of a disappointment after the Shiraz.
2002 Schild Estate Moorooroo Reserve Shiraz: 150+ year old vines – Like the Ben Schild slightly porty, with a leathery note to the bouquet already. The palate was long and complex, but already surprisingly developed – for the resources and price tag I just don’t see this lasting another 5 years, when even the humble Mamre Brook will be hitting its straps.
Cheers,
Ian
2005 Schild Estate Riesling: I wasn’t expecting much but this was extremely good, one of the best Rieslings I’ve tried this year; a huge surprise.
2005 Schild Estate Unoaked Semillon: A bit of let down after the Riesling, good fruit definition and structure but just plain boring.
2004 Schild Estate Reserve Chardonnay: Big oak and malo influences, over-ripe tropical/banana fruit. This had its fans but I wasn’t one of them.
2004 Schild Estate Merlot: Very ripe fruit which just manages to tame the oak on the nose; the palate is just that bit better again – very good.
2003 Schild Estate Cabernet Sauvignon: Minty, hot fruit – the oak’s been wound back compared to the 2002 to give it a chance, but it’s still too much.
2004 Schild Estate Shiraz: Pure red fruit concentrate, ripe but not jammy, devoid of oak, excellent balance – a bargain in this lot.
2004 Schild Estate Ben Schild Reserve Shiraz: I loved the nose on this, the Hungarian oak seemed to draw dark Chocolate from the fruit. The palate in contrast seemed a little forced, slightly hot and porty – a bit of a disappointment after the Shiraz.
2002 Schild Estate Moorooroo Reserve Shiraz: 150+ year old vines – Like the Ben Schild slightly porty, with a leathery note to the bouquet already. The palate was long and complex, but already surprisingly developed – for the resources and price tag I just don’t see this lasting another 5 years, when even the humble Mamre Brook will be hitting its straps.
Cheers,
Ian
Forget about goodness and mercy, they're gone.
sometimes you buy a few good cheap reds from a good vintage and feel smug about the bargain when you drink them
Not this one though!! 2000 Montana Reserve Barrique Fermented Merlot. I bought a handful of these for friday quaffing and I shouldnt have bothered. Shocking wine, searing acids, basically no fruit. one glass and it was saved for Beef Strog the next night. One of the worst wines I have ever given money away to drink. My score?? something like 10/110.
I still maintain I was first but we all better start scoring out of 110, even Parker is weakening - only a matter of time until he sees the world my way
Not this one though!! 2000 Montana Reserve Barrique Fermented Merlot. I bought a handful of these for friday quaffing and I shouldnt have bothered. Shocking wine, searing acids, basically no fruit. one glass and it was saved for Beef Strog the next night. One of the worst wines I have ever given money away to drink. My score?? something like 10/110.
I still maintain I was first but we all better start scoring out of 110, even Parker is weakening - only a matter of time until he sees the world my way
An interesting week this week: a weekend away turned into a week - the weather was too poor to fly home, so I was stuck in a small town for a while. The best thing available was a gold label Wolf Blass shiraz, and it was terrible.
I eventually arrived home to find four bottles of 2002 Buller's Calliope shiraz waiting for me. I'm impressed. The 16% ABV is hidden very well, and the fruit quality seems very impressive. The oak isn't offensive, and is hardly noticable. I like it - I'll take proper notes later, I promise.
I eventually arrived home to find four bottles of 2002 Buller's Calliope shiraz waiting for me. I'm impressed. The 16% ABV is hidden very well, and the fruit quality seems very impressive. The oak isn't offensive, and is hardly noticable. I like it - I'll take proper notes later, I promise.
1999 Dom du Marcoux CNdP
Had this at a local BYO who has no decanter or other large vessel to decant. This tasted very savoury and not particularly good until we got down to the last third which was all you could ask for from a southern Rhone. A decanter would of done wonders!
1998 Hillstowe Mary's Hundred Shiraz
A nice McLaren Vale shiraz that is not over oaked although don't wait too long to drink. Is this still going? I know Lion Nathan bought but I haven't seen it lately.
2004 Nederburg Noble Late Harvest
This is the entry level sweet wine from this famous South African maker and is a blend of Chenin, Riesling, Muscat and whatever is available and suitable. From this, my first bottle I want more as this had bracing acidity, elegant fruit and could be at A$10 one of the lowest priced sweet wines worth cellaring in the world??
1993 Stanton & Killeen Vintage Port
This was as good as ever and fine value. It is drinking well now and will continue to for a long while now. This isn't real vintage port is none the worse for it, we just need to come up with a name that will stick to sell this abroad.
Had this at a local BYO who has no decanter or other large vessel to decant. This tasted very savoury and not particularly good until we got down to the last third which was all you could ask for from a southern Rhone. A decanter would of done wonders!
1998 Hillstowe Mary's Hundred Shiraz
A nice McLaren Vale shiraz that is not over oaked although don't wait too long to drink. Is this still going? I know Lion Nathan bought but I haven't seen it lately.
2004 Nederburg Noble Late Harvest
This is the entry level sweet wine from this famous South African maker and is a blend of Chenin, Riesling, Muscat and whatever is available and suitable. From this, my first bottle I want more as this had bracing acidity, elegant fruit and could be at A$10 one of the lowest priced sweet wines worth cellaring in the world??
1993 Stanton & Killeen Vintage Port
This was as good as ever and fine value. It is drinking well now and will continue to for a long while now. This isn't real vintage port is none the worse for it, we just need to come up with a name that will stick to sell this abroad.
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Andrew Jordan
- Posts: 775
- Joined: Wed May 05, 2004 11:53 am
- Location: Sydney
Red Bigot wrote:Sorry about the small bottle. I don't know when the next cork-count competition will be, it took me a few years to fill the fish tank. I'm thinking of making it a bit harder and using this next time:
I'll have to think of something else in the interim.
RB,
What about something like this??
http://img162.imageshack.us/img162/2875/other0020pe.jpg
Cheers
AJ
Cabernet is ... and will always be ... KING!
AJ
Cabernet is ... and will always be ... KING!
-
Andrew Jordan
- Posts: 775
- Joined: Wed May 05, 2004 11:53 am
- Location: Sydney
Not much for us this week as I managed to come back from the Barossa with the Flu! 
However we did managed to squeeze in the following:
2004 Saltram Mamre Brook Cabernet
2nd bottle of this and confirms what I wrote 2 weeks ago ... magnificent wine! Definitely buying up big on this!
2004 Smidge Adamo Shiraz
Screwcap. Dark purple in colour, this medium-bodied wine exhibited a very ripe nose of black fruit, predominately blackcurrant, and initially a bit of band-aid in the background but this blew off after some time in the glass. The palate is very ripe, fruit driven with little oak presence, finishing with a touch of spice. Very elegant and one of those wines you definitely want to have with food. Finishes dry and with plenty of suppporting grippy tannins. Although a well made wine this didn't rock my boat. A bit simple(?) for my tastes and just lacks a bit of punch. Maybe to elegant for it's own good - especially in this household.
However we did managed to squeeze in the following:
2004 Saltram Mamre Brook Cabernet
2nd bottle of this and confirms what I wrote 2 weeks ago ... magnificent wine! Definitely buying up big on this!
2004 Smidge Adamo Shiraz
Screwcap. Dark purple in colour, this medium-bodied wine exhibited a very ripe nose of black fruit, predominately blackcurrant, and initially a bit of band-aid in the background but this blew off after some time in the glass. The palate is very ripe, fruit driven with little oak presence, finishing with a touch of spice. Very elegant and one of those wines you definitely want to have with food. Finishes dry and with plenty of suppporting grippy tannins. Although a well made wine this didn't rock my boat. A bit simple(?) for my tastes and just lacks a bit of punch. Maybe to elegant for it's own good - especially in this household.
Cheers
AJ
Cabernet is ... and will always be ... KING!
AJ
Cabernet is ... and will always be ... KING!
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action2096
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2005 9:00 am
- Location: Sydney - Australia
Seppelt Chalambar 2004
Already plenty been said about this wine. Deep red colour. Plenty of spice and pepper. To my relatively inexperienced palate seems to be a very well balanced wine with the oak & tannins knitting together nicely. At $18 a bottle bloody good value expecially considering that i'm hearing rumours that the St Peters might be $60+
Turkey Flat Shiraz 1998
Polished a bottle of this off earlier this year and couldn't resist cracking open another last night. Aromas of liquorice, plums & blackberry. A sweet slight confected taste to me ?? Overall very nice wine. Drinking well now but not much in the way of secondary characteristics. As for whether or not it will improve further i have no idea. Got a few left so will plan to try one in another year or so to check on progress
Already plenty been said about this wine. Deep red colour. Plenty of spice and pepper. To my relatively inexperienced palate seems to be a very well balanced wine with the oak & tannins knitting together nicely. At $18 a bottle bloody good value expecially considering that i'm hearing rumours that the St Peters might be $60+
Turkey Flat Shiraz 1998
Polished a bottle of this off earlier this year and couldn't resist cracking open another last night. Aromas of liquorice, plums & blackberry. A sweet slight confected taste to me ?? Overall very nice wine. Drinking well now but not much in the way of secondary characteristics. As for whether or not it will improve further i have no idea. Got a few left so will plan to try one in another year or so to check on progress
Andrew Jordan wrote:Red Bigot wrote:Sorry about the small bottle. I don't know when the next cork-count competition will be, it took me a few years to fill the fish tank. I'm thinking of making it a bit harder and using this next time:
I'll have to think of something else in the interim.
RB,
What about something like this??
Ok AJ, it's your turn to run the competition.
What's the prize?Cheers
Brian
Life's too short to drink white wine and red wine is better for you too! :-)
Brian
Life's too short to drink white wine and red wine is better for you too! :-)
Craig(NZ) wrote:I still maintain I was first but we all better start scoring out of 110, even Parker is weakening - only a matter of time until he sees the world my way
Don't tell me you've given up on your 20 pt system with 2 or 3 decimal places!
Cheers
Brian
Life's too short to drink white wine and red wine is better for you too! :-)
Brian
Life's too short to drink white wine and red wine is better for you too! :-)
action2096 wrote:Turkey Flat Shiraz 1998
Polished a bottle of this off earlier this year and couldn't resist cracking open another last night. Aromas of liquorice, plums & blackberry. A sweet slight confected taste to me ?? Overall very nice wine. Drinking well now but not much in the way of secondary characteristics. As for whether or not it will improve further i have no idea. Got a few left so will plan to try one in another year or so to check on progress
I much preferred their 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon to the Shiraz. Bought a few Cabernet for circa $20 and have enjoyed every one of them over the last few years. Which reminds me, I must get some more.
Cheers,
David
David
Garry Crittenden i series King Valley Nebbiolo 2000
Typical nebbiolo colour pale red with significant bricking aroung the rim. Beautiful nose very varietal, delicate aromas of rose petal followed by dried fuits most noteably prunes and raisons with some meaty undertones adding some extra complexity.
On the palate savoury characters of smoked meat and leather dominated. While the nose was quite pleasent the palate seems quite dull and faded with the fruit lacking in weight and length. The firm tannins offer good structure and genuine varietal character.
86 points.
This was my first venture into Australian nebbiolo whilst the nose promised alot i was a little bit dissapointed with the fruit weight but i will certainly try a few more Australian examples.
Saltrams Mamre Brook Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
deep red almost ink in colour and bordering on black in the decanter. A rich concentrated nose offering an abundence of sweet cassis, mulberry and blackberry aromas but also some style with some earthy aromas. The nose is supported by dusty vanillian oak.
A slight sweaty saddle aroma caused by brett did detract from the nose slightly.
The theme continues through the palate. I found the palate quite layered and long lasting, it was well structured with assertive grainy tannins, should last another 10 years. 92 points
a few wines over Easter but no notes were taken
96 St Hallett Old Block- quite suprised by its elegance. closed initially but eventually opened up to reveal a classy shiraz of structure and elegance. fruit was somewhat compromised by a cork which failed to seal properly.
2001 Yering Station Shiraz Viognier- beautiful elegant victorian shiraz lovely peppery friut, viognier not overstated
2004 Peter Lehmann Eden Valley Riesling-nice enough fruit, typical zesty lime fruit but a somewhat oily finish
Typical nebbiolo colour pale red with significant bricking aroung the rim. Beautiful nose very varietal, delicate aromas of rose petal followed by dried fuits most noteably prunes and raisons with some meaty undertones adding some extra complexity.
On the palate savoury characters of smoked meat and leather dominated. While the nose was quite pleasent the palate seems quite dull and faded with the fruit lacking in weight and length. The firm tannins offer good structure and genuine varietal character.
86 points.
This was my first venture into Australian nebbiolo whilst the nose promised alot i was a little bit dissapointed with the fruit weight but i will certainly try a few more Australian examples.
Saltrams Mamre Brook Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
deep red almost ink in colour and bordering on black in the decanter. A rich concentrated nose offering an abundence of sweet cassis, mulberry and blackberry aromas but also some style with some earthy aromas. The nose is supported by dusty vanillian oak.
A slight sweaty saddle aroma caused by brett did detract from the nose slightly.
The theme continues through the palate. I found the palate quite layered and long lasting, it was well structured with assertive grainy tannins, should last another 10 years. 92 points
a few wines over Easter but no notes were taken
96 St Hallett Old Block- quite suprised by its elegance. closed initially but eventually opened up to reveal a classy shiraz of structure and elegance. fruit was somewhat compromised by a cork which failed to seal properly.
2001 Yering Station Shiraz Viognier- beautiful elegant victorian shiraz lovely peppery friut, viognier not overstated
2004 Peter Lehmann Eden Valley Riesling-nice enough fruit, typical zesty lime fruit but a somewhat oily finish
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Dave Dewhurst
- Posts: 283
- Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:03 pm
- Location: Perth, WA
Plantagenet Shiraz, 1993, Mount Barker, Great Southern, Western Australia
Decanted. Crimson centre to slightly red-brown rim with a touch or wateriness. Initial nose is blueberries and possibly even bilberries. Became a bit smoky and bacony on the nose with time. Very soft and velvety mouthfeel, fully resolved tannins, with a lovely savoury blackberry flavour and a touch of black pepper on the finish. Really delicate and gentle, medium bodied with a moderately long finish. The fruit, the weight and the length of this wine just kept increasing throughout the night, as did ever so slight drying tannins on the front, over about four hours of drinking. Simply gorgeous!
Just some quick impressions too on Tyrells Lost Block Semillon 2002, under cork. Beautifully clean and crisp, Granny Smiths and lemons on the palate with great acidity. Yum!
Cheers
Dave
Decanted. Crimson centre to slightly red-brown rim with a touch or wateriness. Initial nose is blueberries and possibly even bilberries. Became a bit smoky and bacony on the nose with time. Very soft and velvety mouthfeel, fully resolved tannins, with a lovely savoury blackberry flavour and a touch of black pepper on the finish. Really delicate and gentle, medium bodied with a moderately long finish. The fruit, the weight and the length of this wine just kept increasing throughout the night, as did ever so slight drying tannins on the front, over about four hours of drinking. Simply gorgeous!
Just some quick impressions too on Tyrells Lost Block Semillon 2002, under cork. Beautifully clean and crisp, Granny Smiths and lemons on the palate with great acidity. Yum!
Cheers
Dave
Balnaves Cabernet Sauvignon 1998 (13.5% alc, cork closure)
My bottle seemed a little disjointed the first night that I had it with it being a little too oaky and some heat for my palate despite coming in at under 13.5%. However, leaving the reminding wine in a half-bottle overnight made the wine a lot more approachable, and more of the dark fruit came out on the second night.
Schloss Gobelsburg Grunet Veltline Steinsetz 2003 (12.5% alc, cork closure)
Yellowy light gold. This is the first time for me to have this varietal from Austria, and I quite like what I had. In some ways, this is like a restrainted Sauvignon Blanc without the intense passionfruit / gooseberry / tropical grassy nose that one associates with a NZ SB. Instead, I thought this wine had some hints of apple, some tropical fruits, and pear on the nose. The wine tasted a little of almond and white pepper with a decent finish. It also has a denser and rounder mouthfeel than a NZ SB, almost like as if some of this wine has seen a little bit of time in an oak barrel. I quite like this wine, and at 2,100yen (A$23.50) in Japan, I think I will go and buy another bottle or two of this wine as well as try another bottle of Gruner Veltliner from another winemaker. It is priced about the same as some Kiwi and Aussie SBs here.
My bottle seemed a little disjointed the first night that I had it with it being a little too oaky and some heat for my palate despite coming in at under 13.5%. However, leaving the reminding wine in a half-bottle overnight made the wine a lot more approachable, and more of the dark fruit came out on the second night.
Schloss Gobelsburg Grunet Veltline Steinsetz 2003 (12.5% alc, cork closure)
Yellowy light gold. This is the first time for me to have this varietal from Austria, and I quite like what I had. In some ways, this is like a restrainted Sauvignon Blanc without the intense passionfruit / gooseberry / tropical grassy nose that one associates with a NZ SB. Instead, I thought this wine had some hints of apple, some tropical fruits, and pear on the nose. The wine tasted a little of almond and white pepper with a decent finish. It also has a denser and rounder mouthfeel than a NZ SB, almost like as if some of this wine has seen a little bit of time in an oak barrel. I quite like this wine, and at 2,100yen (A$23.50) in Japan, I think I will go and buy another bottle or two of this wine as well as try another bottle of Gruner Veltliner from another winemaker. It is priced about the same as some Kiwi and Aussie SBs here.
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JamieBahrain
- Posts: 3754
- Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2003 7:40 am
- Location: Fragrant Harbour.
dlo wrote:action2096 wrote:Turkey Flat Shiraz 1998
Polished a bottle of this off earlier this year and couldn't resist cracking open another last night. Aromas of liquorice, plums & blackberry. A sweet slight confected taste to me ?? Overall very nice wine. Drinking well now but not much in the way of secondary characteristics. As for whether or not it will improve further i have no idea. Got a few left so will plan to try one in another year or so to check on progress
I much preferred their 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon to the Shiraz. Bought a few Cabernet for circa $20 and have enjoyed every one of them over the last few years. Which reminds me, I must get some more.
I pitted the TF 98 shiraz vesus the 99 TF shiraz recently. The 98 shiraz looked structually unsound against the 99.
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JamieBahrain
- Posts: 3754
- Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2003 7:40 am
- Location: Fragrant Harbour.
Only two wines for me this week- a 375ml 01 Katnook Cabernet Sauvignon at the moment. Taking the edge of long week. Going nicely- blackfruits with sweet oak undertoneses, black olives, savoury, fleshy palate with firm tannins.
Delas Les Challeys St Joseph 2003- Lazy & disgraceful effort from Delas. Spend a bit of time in this area of the Rhone, it's easy to understand the wines and find absolute bargains. Along come Delas ( Guigal too ) and produce confected, commercial garbage like this. St Joseph is underrrated no thanks to Delas, Guigal etc.
Delas Les Challeys St Joseph 2003- Lazy & disgraceful effort from Delas. Spend a bit of time in this area of the Rhone, it's easy to understand the wines and find absolute bargains. Along come Delas ( Guigal too ) and produce confected, commercial garbage like this. St Joseph is underrrated no thanks to Delas, Guigal etc.
Don't tell me you've given up on your 20 pt system with 2 or 3 decimal places!
When you prod someone with a sharp stick for long enough they get used to it. Have to move on to some other torture device now.
I decided the cheapest way to drink more 95-100 point wines is to rate everything out of 110. GRB wrote:Roscoe wrote:De Bortoli Sacred Hill Cab Merlot 2004
Saw this wine on special the week it won a trophy at Sydney last year, and bought two cases for $96 all up, without trying it
Roscoe,
I remember this when it came out many of the big chains were plugging it. I was luckier than you and bought a single bottle to try first. I think we cooked with a fair preportion of it
Glen
Thanks Glen for using the word "luckier". You're being too generous. "Smarter" is more appropriate.
"It is very hard to make predictions, especially about the future." Samuel Goldwyn
Craig(NZ) wrote:Don't tell me you've given up on your 20 pt system with 2 or 3 decimal places!
When you prod someone with a sharp stick for long enough they get used to it. Have to move on to some other torture device now.
Ah well, that's just as logical as the last one I guess.
Cheers
Brian
Life's too short to drink white wine and red wine is better for you too! :-)
Brian
Life's too short to drink white wine and red wine is better for you too! :-)
Dave Dewhurst wrote:Plantagenet Shiraz, 1993, Mount Barker, Great Southern, Western Australia
Decanted. Crimson centre to slightly red-brown rim with a touch or wateriness. Initial nose is blueberries and possibly even bilberries. Became a bit smoky and bacony on the nose with time. Very soft and velvety mouthfeel, fully resolved tannins, with a lovely savoury blackberry flavour and a touch of black pepper on the finish. Really delicate and gentle, medium bodied with a moderately long finish. The fruit, the weight and the length of this wine just kept increasing throughout the night, as did ever so slight drying tannins on the front, over about four hours of drinking. Simply gorgeous!
Just some quick impressions too on Tyrells Lost Block Semillon 2002, under cork. Beautifully clean and crisp, Granny Smiths and lemons on the palate with great acidity. Yum!
Cheers
Dave
I prefer this (now) to the 1994. I have one bottle left and just plucked it from the cellar for imminent consumption. I'll post a note when I crack it and see how it compares to yours.
Cheers,
David
David