Just for GrahamB the Sunday post....

[TORB]

what have I been drinking is back to being early. I do have an interesting TN to post on a wine I drank last night but I need to check it again later today to see how a certain characteristic has progressed or receded.

Now what have you guys and gals been guzzling over the past week. TN's, vibes or lists welcome, especially from all our recent, new members.

(GrahamB - get your bum out of bed and post at least six TN's or you will have to stand in the corner with your dunce hat on for being late to class. )

[Ian S]

Nuffin (had a heavy cold since the Easter weekend)

Had just a taste of an Aldo Vajra Langhe Nebbiolo 2003 tonight, and about all I could make out was that it was atypically fruity with low acidity.

Plenty of tea, water & soft drinks, with the latter two laced with Echinacea and a couple of days ago a weak 'hot toddy'.

Understandably I'm looking forward to shaking it off and opening something decent!

[Wizz]

I am also in the midst of a heavy cold, but still managed a half of Pol Roger NV, which was pretty advanced and honeyed. Disappointing batch, this lot.

I also tried a bottle of 04 Castagna Ingenue Viognier, which is pears, ginger. In fact glace pears and glace ginger in flavour intensity, this is one big, exotic wood spicy wine. Intense and very long, with a heady whack of alcoholic warmth on the finish. A classic example of a wine I don’t like stylistically but clearly excellent quality.

Oh and Graham B will have heaps of Tasting notes I know he wants to post, he tasted some excellent shiraz at an instore last weekend and hes probably bursting at the keyboard to get the notes up.

AB

[Jay60A]

Picked up some Tim Adams Aberfeldy as a bargain at auction and drank them during last week on holiday.

1994 Tim Adams Aberfeldy Shiraz needed about four hours to open up and come into balance. Very long but initially all arms and legs ... tannic, American oak, a bit acidic. Came together very well over time but I don't care for the oak treatment in this wine. Otherwise excellent and I'd give it another 4-5 years, but I don't think the oak will ever fully integrate.

1998 Tim Adams Aberfeldy Shiraz drank beautifully almost upon opening. Either less oak or it has already been fully absorbed. Elegant yet opulent. All class and a step up from the 1994 at this stage. Thankfully I have one more of these and one 1999 to try in 5-10 years. This was lovely now but still improving.

On reflection I wouldn't buy the 94 again (though happy to drink it) but loved the 98 and will certainly look out for the 02 as Clare seems to have had a great vintage.

Found a SB on a quick Marlborough holiday that knocked my socks off, up there with Te Mata Cape Crest 05 and Seppelt Drumborg Riesling 05 for me. Forrest Estate make some of NZ's best dry riesling so maybe a wine like this is a next step.

Forrest Estate "James Randall" Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Pale straw in colour. Muted nose of passion fruit, lime and gooseberry hints. Absolute line and length on the palate, silky texture, mouthfilling depth with great length and purity. Perfectly ripe fruit mirrors the nose: lime with a gooseberry twist, surprising minerality, balanced by mouthwatering acidity. A riesling drinker's sauvignon blanc. So precisely executed, it reminds me of the Seppelt Drumborg Riesling 2005. Top class. 14% alcohol, screwcap. CD-only (I think) but pricey at $37nzd.

Jay

[Sean]

deleted

[Jordan]

2005 John Duval Plexus SGM: a excellent example of a Barossa Shiraz/Grenache/Mourvedre blend. Warm, spicy palate with plush blackberry and raspberry fruit. The ripe fruit is balanced by exotic spices and and a savoury meaty element. Smooth, warm and luscious without being over ripe or showing any signs of heat.

2001 Bannockburn Shiraz:Plastic bandaids and Detol on the nose. Palate wasn't any better - medicinal and metallic, no signs of fruit. Cellared at 14 degrees since purchase. Definition of a brett bomb.

2005 Glaetzer Goldophin Shiraz Cabernet: full bodied, ripe, modern Barossa wine making. Great nose leaping out of the glass of blackberry jam, vanilla, cedar and some dried herbs. A full bodied palate with big, ripe fruit showing plums and blackberry. Some spicy oak in the background with a savoury finish. Great lick of tannins that hold the wine together with enough structure to support the overtly ripe fruit. Delicious drinking if your in the mood for a sweet-fruited but balanced Barossan.

[GrahamB]

Ric

Up early this morning to pick up the "Sister in Law". No M I L but this one will do.

At last weeks instore tasting, these are my feelings only:

2004 CRAIGLEE Shiraz, I would not buy this one. Not my style.

2005 LARRY CHERUBINO 'The Yard' Shiraz, Interesting but not for my pocket

2005 JOHN DUVAL 'Entity' Shiraz, This was my pick of the wines. Really lovely and I wanted to have more but not possible at an instore.

2005 TORBRECK 'Gask' Shiraz, Enjoyed this one and bought the Woodcutter that was to be available to try. Very good for both.

2004 HENSCHKE 'Mount Edelstone' Shiraz OK but I thought this was a little bit feral for my likings

This week

2001 Houghtons Margaret River Cabernet
Very good. Lots of time left in this bottle. An excellent VFM 2001 MR cab.

2001 Devil's Lair Cabernet
Great nose really knocked me out. In the mouth was lots of fresh fruit and it seems to me to have lots of time left. At least another 5 - 8 years left in this. Not as refined as the Houghtons

2002 Kabminye Shiraz Hubert
I have had a couple of these recently and must stop and let it sit in the cellar before I have none left. I wanted to leave some for tomorrow but it is all gone now!!!! So sad.

Graham

[parb]

1999 Balnaves Coonawarra Cab Sav - very nice, classic 'warra' nose and great balance taste. Vgood

1999 Alkoomi Frankland Riesling - too far gone. It's definetely lost that lovin' feelin. Vpoor

1998 Mount Pleasant HV Semillon - just hanging in there, starting to get a bit too' developed for me. Like a man in dress on Sunday, I prefer them younger. Good

1996 Penfolds Bin 389 shiraz/Cab Sav - a slow starter, but after 2 hours was beautiful. Excellent

2003 Orlando Steingarten Riesling - loved it. Excellent

2005 Voyager Estate MR Shiraz - very nice. Vgood

1999 Marsh Estate HV Vat S Shiraz - had its usual spicy thread running through it. Was much better on day 2. Good

[John #11]

Had some 2006 Mesh Riesling with nice Thai food. Lemon and lime, and smooth creamy finish, very subdued minerality. Just beginning to get some petrol on the nose. Rounded up the food like a good sheep-dog hurding sheep.

[seddo]

Charles Melton Barossa Shiraz 02 - bland insipid wine which was not enjoyable

Coldstream Hills Pinot Noir 06 - lovely easy drinking wine with flavour to burn excellant

Pheasant Farm Home Block Shiraz 02 - big structured wine with lashings of dark chocolate and ? olives(black) absolute pearler of a wine


cheers
Seddo

[DJ]

2006 Tahbilk Marsanne
Seemed better than previous bottle - six months in bottle to round it out a bit. A wine I'm starting to cellar for a while - it will be good to see in a couple of years.

2001 Ingoldby Shiraz
My last bottle of of this vintage. Good every day drinking

2001 Canobolas Smith Alchemy
Took a while to open up. Not as rich as some previous vintages but in the house still and still good.

1997 Tyrrells Vat 47 Pinot (sic) Chardonnay
Drinking this my better half is convinced that she is not a true ABC but an ABBC or ABCC (Anthing but boring/bad chardonnay, Anything but cr*p chardonnay). Initally probably a little cold with a bit too much acid showing but as it warmed had good length and balance, rich fruit in the peach area with balance in wood etc. I don't think will get any better, drink soon.

2001 Ashton Hills Pinot
This was brought round half full having been opened the night before. It was meant to have been fresher the night before but was very good. A very good Aussie pinot, rich long, fruit and earth. yum. Must check what this is worth and if I can afford some.

1994 Henschke Cyril
Bloody corks. Not it wasn't corked but the cork disintegrated leaving fine powered through the wine. This is yet another reminder I need to try and get more balance ie less Shiraz in the cellar. Great length, fully mature Cabernet blend. A least this bottle saying now is the time to drink.

[Sorbtastic]

DJ - interested in your Alchemy notes as I have a few of the 2001 and haven't tasted for a while.

As a stunning coincidence, I was up in Orange (my lovely girlfriend's folks live up there) on the weekend to experience some of the Orange FOOD week festivities and dropped into Canobolas Smith.

2004 Alchemy and Chardonnay where new releases since I last visited. The Alchemy is a style that continues to growing on me the more I taste - refined, smooth tannins with a good balance of fruit and oak. Like to see it in few years.

The Chardonnary didn't quite hit the spot as previous vintages - buttery and oaky, which I seem to be less tolerant of. May settle in the bottle. The GF loved it however!

Also had Strawhouse Semillon/sav blanc, which has spent some time in oak - it rounds wine out nicely, not a stunning wine but at the price ($18) reasonable value.

[Baby Chickpea]

Had some top wines this weekend but none better than the table lifting Chambers Rare Tokay. Liquid viagra. TNS to follow....

[roughred]

2002 Hazyblur Adelaide Plains Shiraz
Reasonably rich on opening, although distractingly hollow through the mid palate with some alcohol heat poking through. Over a couple of hours in decanter it softened and some interesting secondary flavours of cooked meats and bonox filled out the middle with some chunky chewy tannins kept everything in check. This was my only bottle, but on this showing I would think it needs another 4-5 years.

2004 Morris Shiraz
This has kicked on nicely since release. On first showing six or so months back it was very clean and straighforward, rich fruit and sweet oak. But no matter how they might try and hide them those Morris character traits of earth, tar and leather are beginning to poke through, and the wine is a whole lot better for it. I would think this is one of the better cheap cellaring options going around at present.

Cheers,

LL

[roughred]

Had some top wines this weekend but none better than the table lifting Chambers Rare Tokay. Liquid viagra. TNS to follow....

Careful with that thing Danny...someone could get hurt...

I am sure I speak for most here when I say we ponder your tasting notes with a little envy...actually that might understate things somewhat...I think Caligula himself would think some of your 'sessions' a little over the top

Anyhow I notice you often wind up with a Rare Rutherglen Muscat or Tokay at nights end. As someone who drinks a bit from the top shelf, how do you rate their value? I work in Rutherglen, so call it an interest if you like, but I tend to think even the Chambers at $250-$300 is reasonably good value by world standards. Interested to read your thoughts.

LL

[Chrisp]

1990 Chateau de Beaucastel

Wide spectrum of flavours with black fruit, spice, pepper, wild herbs and a faint but pleasant earthiness. Lovely texture, everything in perfect balance. Probably just past its peak but still stunning!
(Grape varieties on the label were: grenache, mouverde, syrah, cinsault, vaccarese, counoise, terret noir, muscardin, clairette, picpoul, picardin, bourboulenc and rousanne.)

[Baby Chickpea]

Had some top wines this weekend but none better than the table lifting Chambers Rare Tokay. Liquid viagra. TNS to follow....

Careful with that thing Danny...someone could get hurt...

I am sure I speak for most here when I say we ponder your tasting notes with a little envy...actually that might understate things somewhat...I think Caligula himself would think some of your 'sessions' a little over the top

Anyhow I notice you often wind up with a Rare Rutherglen Muscat or Tokay at nights end. As someone who drinks a bit from the top shelf, how do you rate their value? I work in Rutherglen, so call it an interest if you like, but I tend to think even the Chambers at $250-$300 is reasonably good value by world standards. Interested to read your thoughts.

LL

LL, relative to world standards I think these fortifieds from Rutherglen are dead set bargains! These wines deserve to be spoken about in the same lofty and prodigious reputations of d'Yquem, German TBAs, Hungarian Eszencias, Alsacian SGNs, etc. And they are so much cheaper but no less the wines. Why these magical wines are not better known globally remains a mystery to me.

Relative to other Rare Muscats and Tokays in Australia, I would say the Chambers premium is justified but from a QPR persepctive i would give the nod to the $75 Calliope from Bullers and Merchant Prince/Isabella from Campbells at about $100 pb. It's slightly better than those wines, but not much better to warrant a 2-3x premium! Law of diminishing returns and all that.

[Santa]

Vasse Felix Classic Dry Red 2004

Quaffed from the bottle. A blend of Shiraz and Cabernet. Lovely fruit driven aroma and taste. Delightful berry and cherry liqueur flavours, with subtle oak. Could be cellared a little longer, but I am enjoying it right now. Great with my Queensland BBQ'd red meat dinner.

I am a carnivore in every way....red meat.....red wine

[Grinners]

Had a dinner with folks, gf and her folks.

Brief impressions.

Three Hills Cab Franc 01 - corked

Woodlands 05 Reserve CM WOTN - wasted, all the marks of a good wine in years to come, personified the meaning of potential to build complexity. Take it from me, dont open them now show some patience.

Saltram 04 CS - big brooding massive wine, after the woodlands suffered without a fist sized steak in the mouth, nonetheless enjoyable and looking forward to it when it settles down in years to come.

Brown Brother Patricia 02 S - another big wine, not as heavy as the saltram, showed some interesting characteristics but QPR was a little disappointing.

Order of enjoyment, price ignored: Woodlands > Brown Brothers > Saltram

Cheers

[Julio]

Seddo

All reds I have had under the Pheasant Farm and Beer Bros label have been excellent.

Grinners
Interesting to hear your thoughts on the 2005 Woodlands Reserve Cab Merlot. I am keen to get a line on how MR 05 will shape up for reds.

Can't agree with you re the 2002 Patricia shiraz - a stunning wine in my book... definitely worth the ~$40.

[Jordan]

Charles Melton Barossa Shiraz 02 - bland insipid wine which was not enjoyable

Seddo,

Do you think this might have been slightly scalped by cork taint. I bought a 6-pack of this wine and had one bottle of it so far and thought it was very good last October.

This was my impression at the time:

Charles Melton Shiraz 2002: This is a wine that more Barossa Shiraz should aspire to. No overt vanilla oak, not reeking of coffee and no a sickly sweet syrup of Shiraz. This appeared to be very tight on opening and benefits from a bit of time in the decanter and glass. Nose exhibits a little cedar, some dusty earth, crushed dark berries, mint, a little lavender and aniseed. The palate has a sweet/savoury complexity showing liquorice, a hint of pepper and spice but with deep plum and dark berries. The tannins are quite fine and the wine exhibits a splash of acid which makes it seem very fresh. An excellent wine that is fantastic with food and should gain more savoury/earthy complexity with age. 92/100

[oakboy]

Hi All, have a few weeks to catch up on, but easy to do while I'm watching the oz v SL "b"
Mostly Vibes...

The JWT winners:
Eileen Hardy 1995 Shiraz
Fruit going, nice velvet tannins, aniseed, very avg, B+
Peppertree Grand Reserve Cab Sav 2000
Had this after a big day out at the hunter, but it was still magnificent, great layers of flavours easy 5+ years left in the tank...A+

The Hunters:
Brokenwood Hunter Valley Shiraz 2003
great wine this, earthy, choc/berry hunter shiraz. Should have left it 5 years… oops!! A+
Meerea Park 2004 Alexander Munro Shiraz
Dark Purple tight nose, herbal with some blueberry, silky smooth tannins, not a long termer, drink in 2years.. A
Mount Pleasant Philip Shiraz 2003
Medium Black/purple, Earthy,strawberry, mid weight, nice smooth little tannins finish, leave it for 3 years, my standard quaffer.. A

The Western Force:
Vasse Felix Shiraz 2001
Sweet strawberry, little spice hinting oak in the background, soft mid palate, dry tannins with a medium finish, B+
Houghton Gladstone Shiraz 2000
Great nose of dark berries, sweet oak and spicey pepper, mid weight, lovely spicey long Finish, needs to be left in the cellar.... A++

Others:
Kirrahill Clare Valley Reserve Shiraz 2002
Deep Black colour, sweet coffee, blackberry palate, soften tannins, beautiful mouthfeel. couple of years, 15.5% Alc.. A
Brementon Langhorne Creek Young Vine 1995
Very Nice wine, bought cheap in a city retailer, Choc/aniseed nose, med dry finish, nice quaffing.. A

Cheers all
Simon

[KMP]

Saturday tasting was Cabernet Sauv - 6 wines from all over that were quite a mixed bag.

Then sampled the "Killer" Wine Bar. Of the 13 wines on show I tried -

1995 Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Ch. de Beaucastel - Very developed bouquet, but the palate started out quite astringent and unappealing. By the end of the glass was a changed wine. Very nice.
1995 Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou, St. Julien - Nice, but didn't ring my chimes, and once I tasted the next wine I was even less impressed.
1997 Ridge "Monte Bello" - Hmmm, very, very nice. Described by Parker as Not a blockbuster, this offering is more elegant and finesse-styled than usual. And he's correct. This is complexity! Interesting side note, Tanzer said of the '97 Monte Bello in 2000 - I might have picked this blind as ripe year St. Julien.
1991 Ravenswood Zinfandel, Belloni Vineyard - who says Zin does not age. Not in the same class as the Ridge, but its educational to see these wines at this age.
1994 St. Hallet Shiraz, Old Block, Barossa - Has survived very well. Excellent palate appeal, very soft, no hardness and still vibrant.

And last but not least the 1992 Schlossgut Diel Riesling GK Auslese. I'd have drunk this all day long if I could. Forget the reds!

Mike

[GRB]

Penley Estate 2001 Phoenix Shiraz
All nicely in balance at the moment and excellent qpr drink up though I don't think it will last forever.

Jaja Shiraz 2004
Grabbed a bottle to try of Bert's first effort. This has Kalleske class stamped all over it. Lovely deep rich fruit and spice lace the nose and palate supportive oak not overly done. On the buy list.

Glen