Hangover Sunday.....

[TORB]

Well not quite, but a definite lack of sleep after a big night in Sydney with the Mad Hungarian and a few other blokes. The theme was Frog Bubbles so it was a good night. WOTN was a Gosset Celebris 1998 that was stunning. Great length and power and an absolute baby. The second wine of the night was a 95 Cullen Cabernet that is only just entering its drinking window.

The worst wines of the night were some crap that Attila brought (again) but at least his Frog Bubbles, a 2000 Moet was very respectable. As usual, the Hungarian wine (c-though) was crap, and the Shaw and Smith 2005 Merlot was WOFTAM at a dinner like this. One day he will stop playing silly buggers at these dinner and realise that quality is more important than quantity...... well I live in hope.

Now what have you good people been drinking?

[river]

Hi all just a couple

2005 Leo Buring Claire Valley Riesling - Fresh but restrained with some nice minerality, well balanced, very good wine. 05 seems to be a cracking good year for Claire and Eden riesling.

2006 Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Kabinett- All Schaefers 06's are winner's and this is no exception, there is no mistaking the incredible depth he seems to get from his wines.

Cheers

Jason.

[JamieBahrain]

Dinner party at a friends place last night. I don't remember getting home.



Henschke Hill of Grace 1992- Superb! Under the radar a bit. But rated exceptional by Henschke all the same. Long, malty, chocolatey like with Eden valley complexity.

Henschke Mt Edelstone 1994- A tough run with this wine. Totally unyielding so suspect mild taint. Can be exceptional.

Rockford Riesling 01- Hitting its straps. Nice

3xTurkey Flat Shiraz 04- Comfortable drinking.

[Craig(NZ)]

very quiet weekend. juyst a bottle of 05 foxes island chardonnay last night which was extremely stylish. great buying at $25 ex CD

[bigkid]

Hi all.

Noons 2005 Eclipse, Kays Amery Cabernet 2005 during the week.

1998 vintage Pol Roger, Campbells Trebbiano, 1996 Penfolds Bin 389, 1996 Henshke Mt Edelston and a Wild Duck Creek Fortified Shiraz last night with friends. The Pol didn't touch the sides - very drinkable. The 389 was as stunning as JO's 97 points would indicate. The Mt Edelston was suffering from a little cork taint. A real shame. Not a fan of the white - could have come from a cask.

A 2005 Wild Duck Creek Springflat Shiraz tonight.

Regards,

Allan

[Matthew Moate]

TORB do you drink white bubbles? I thought you only drank red wine? I'm trying to think what I had last year at a Champagne party. I'll have to fdrop into the retailer in Adelaide to see if they have it again this year. It was really fantastic stuff. A grower champagne but for the life of me can't remember what it was called. If I find out I will post it and let you guys know.

[TORB]

Hi Matthew,

Yep, Frog bubbles are allowed on a red bigot diet; they are the exception that proves the rule.

[Matthew Moate]

Love it!

[camw]

[Chuck]

Camw,

My eye sight is not as good as it used to be. What are the Penfolds in the middle? Look very old and VERY interesting.

Chuck

[camw]

Camw,

My eye sight is not as good as it used to be. What are the Penfolds in the middle? Look very old and VERY interesting.

Chuck

'62 Bin 60A and '67 Bin 7 - will try and get some proper notes up during the week, one liners don't really do them justice

[Nayan]

Just the usual quiet Saturday at Schloss Wheeler then?

[n4sir]

The worst wines of the night were some crap that Attila brought (again) but at least his Frog Bubbles, a 2000 Moet was very respectable. As usual, the Hungarian wine (c-though) was crap, and the Shaw and Smith 2005 Merlot was WOFTAM at a dinner like this. One day he will stop playing silly buggers at these dinner and realise that quality is more important than quantity...... well I live in hope.

Now what have you good people been drinking?

I was sure I heard from Martin Shaw (and someone else at S&S) that the Merlot vines were grafted over with Shiraz after the 2003 vintage.

Just got back from a Barossa binge and still on a bit of a red-induced high at the moment, so I'm not sure if I should bother attempting to finish the offline notes right now.

We ended up visiting Kies, Ross Estate, Kellermeister/Trevor Jones, Jenke, Murray St. Vineyards for lunch, then Langmeil and Peter Lehmann, plus I tried a bunch of St Hallett stuff yesterday too. It's interesting to see there's still a number of older wines still out there, going back to 1999.

So far I still have the same general impression of the 2006 vintage for the Barossa as I got at the Artisans tasting a few months ago - it's patchy. The best are very good indeed, but there's some rather thin wines out there too. In comparison the 2002 & 2004 wines are looking extremely strong, and 2005 not far behind.

Cheers,
Ian

[Craig(NZ)]

bloody hell cam, do you spend money on food, shelter, clothes, personal hygiene or any other unnecessary expenses??

what a line up!! i take it it was organised by yourselves and other forumites?? i doubt any commercial tasting would be so complete and generous!!

yum!!!

[Adair]

My heart suddenly beat double speed as soon as I saw this picture. I presume this was the lineup at Tets on Saturday night. Wow!
Just to satisfy my curiousity:
* What year was the DRC Richebourg?
* Was the 1962 Bin 60A the greatest ever Australian red you have tasted?

Dying to read notes,
Adair

[GrahamB]

Henschke Mt Edelstone 1994- A tough run with this wine. Totally unyielding so suspect mild taint. Can be exceptional.

Hey Maximus, here is another 94 Mt Ed that is suspect.

[camw]

bloody hell cam, do you spend money on food, shelter, clothes, personal hygiene or any other unnecessary expenses??

what a line up!! i take it it was organised by yourselves and other forumites?? i doubt any commercial tasting would be so complete and generous!!

yum!!!

I'll let you know my secret ... no kids/mortgage draining the finances (yet)

Yep, it was the end of year get together at Tetsuya's for a group from a forum.

[Jordan]

After Cam's excellent wine porn the wines I tried during the week seemed a little insignificant but here goes:

2007 Skillogalee Riesling: nice summer drinking. Juicy fruit with sweetness countered by lime, a little slate and some vibrant acid. Yum.

2006 Kalleske Greenock Shiraz: impenetrable black colour. Xmas cake, plummy nose. Full bodied, ripe fruit, well judged oak. Barossa Shiraz right in the slot. Good wine.

2005 By Farr Pinot Noir: perfumed, earthiness reminiscent of a wet leaves, cherry fruited finishing long and savoury. Varietal and excellent.

1996 Penfolds Bin 389: enough has been said about this wine. This was an excellent bottle and a superb Cab Shiraz.

[camw]

* What year was the DRC Richebourg?
* Was the 1962 Bin 60A the greatest ever Australian red you have tasted?

Adair,

2001 for the Richebourg.

It is very close between this and a magic bottle of the '63 Mildara Peppermint Pattie.

[Ian S]

will try and get some proper notes up during the week, one liners don't really do them justice

I understand - just pop a score up for each then

[Wayno]

A rather humble selection compared to some of the above

D'Arry's Original Grenache Shiraz 2002
Full of life, loads of fruit, furnished with some pleasant oak. Pretty fresh and a much better example than the tired looking 03 I had fairly recently.
Not very complicated but very drinkable.

[Shiraz_Freak]

No wine here partner is pregnant off the vino with her for the duration. May have a couple of glasses of nice wine with her for christmas.

[mkcoleman]

Tetsuya's on Saturday with matching wines

Cold Corn Soup with Saffron & vanila ice cream

Pacific oysters with ginger & rice vinegar
with 2001 Clover Hills blanc de blanc, Pipers river, Tas

Smoked Ocean Trout & Avurga caviar
with Otokoyama sake, junmai, Hokkaido, Japan

Leek & crab custard

Sashimi of big eye tuna with wasabi & ginger vinaigrette
with 2006 Lost valley savignon blanc, Cental high country, Vic

Confit of petuna Tasmanian ocean trout with konbu, daikon & fennel seasonal green salad
with 2006 Henschke Joseph hil gewurztraminer, Eden valley, SA

Ravioli fo Queensland spanner crab with tomato & basil vinaigrette
with 2005 Pierro chardonnay for Tetsuya's, Margaret river, WA

Steamed baby abaline with braised oxtail & orange
with 2006 Felton road, pinot noir for tetsuya's, central otago, NZ

Breast of duck with braised witlof with sansho & walnut jus
with 2004 Leabrook estate merlot, Adelaide hills, SA

Seared fillet of veal with wasabi butter
with 2005 Torbreck the steading, Barossa valley, SA

Comte gruyere with lentils

Beetroot & blood orange sorbet, Summer pudding
with 2005 Tamar ridge botrytis reisling, Tamar valley, Tas

Vanilla bean ice cream with white beans & dates

Chocolate terrine with mascarpone & cognac anglaise
with Romate pedro ximenez cardenal cisneros, Jerez, Spain

No notes on the wines, as enjoying the food and wine combo.

Maybe it was me but I think I had built Tet's into something amazing re. food, for me it was a very nice meal, but not something which I thought was exceptional, for me the Fat Duck at Bray does that, I found the combination of flavours there was like having fireworks going off in your mouth. I do think it is something people should experience but for me it won't be repeated.

I personally love Japanese food, especially raw fish, for which tet's does well, but I didn't get that wow factor, and nearer did the other diners I was with. However personal taste and all that. Still a very enjoyable day, maybe it is a case of trying not to set v high expectations and building it up into the meal of a lifetime.

[Ian S]

Just for fun, here's last night's wine but with notes from previous 2 tastings of it as well.

What can you read into this? Well probably that my note taking will be at least as inconsistent as 3 very old wines

There is one point to note though. The 1st tasting note (the bottom of the three) was taken at a wine tasting of mostly aged Nebbiolo. The other two at home with food and a single bottle of wine. (Last night's was with Pheasant breasts slow cooked with dried porcini, plus some truffle sauce & herbs).

1954 Antonio Vallana e Figlio Piemonte Nebbiolo Spanna Campi Raudii - Italy, Piedmont, Piemonte DOC (12/1/2007)
Another upper shoulder wine - with the cork coming out in instalments...

Colour-wise, this is showing significant age, with maroon/mahogony body and a broad orange at the rim. Not bad colour for the age.

The nose is very expressive, with strong mushroom aromas, volatile acidity, an orange/ medicinal element and the remaining fruit playing a game supporting role.

The wine itself is hanging on in very well. If I were being objective I'd say this would probably have peaked 10-20 years ago, but that would be denying the joy I get from some wines in their dotage.

There's still fruit on the palate and it's more prominent than on the nose, making it nicely in balance with the tertiary flavours. It's quite light bodied with an excellent long finish, albeit with a hint of straw towards the end.

Fantastic enjoyment from these wines and will always keep an eye out for more.

1954 Antonio Vallana e Figlio Piemonte Nebbiolo Spanna Campi Raudii - Italy, Piedmont, Piemonte DOC (6/30/2007)
Having experienced this wine before, expectations weren't too high and as I was opening it said "It will definitely be fading".

Fading perhaps, but stonking with it!

Cork was pretty soft & soaked and came out in two pieces. The level was a concerning, (albeit unsurprising with it's age) upper shoulder

The colour is edging from claret to mahogany with the red tones hanging in there - just. The browning at the rim has a touch of amber, but not as much as I've noticed in other older nebbiolos. This one definitely darker and heading towards brown.

The nose is certainly very mature, with a fair degree of sweet decaying fruit giving it an overall caramelly nose (in a good way, this descriptor cuts both ways for me). There's some earthy mushroom in there and a nice fresh lift (VA?) that fits well, perhaps a touch of sweet spice as well?

On the palate there's a degree of sweetness and balancing refreshing acidity that matches really well. Relatively light in body, with a finish that isn't powerful, but long and complex (it almost fades away, yet seems to come back again, and again). Works very well with food (in this case roast chicken with a porcini and Morel gravy). On it's own, perhaps the acidity dominates the finish and makes it a little drying. Still a minor quibble.

1954 Antonio Vallana e Figlio Piemonte Nebbiolo Spanna Campi Raudii - Italy, Piedmont, Piemonte DOC (1/28/2007)
Colour-wise, this was really showing it's age, with a mahogany colour and little hint of red left. However the colour was quite deep. Fill level was upper shoulder IIRC. The nose had a strong tertiary mushroom nose, with shades of licorice and medicinal sweetness. Certainly impressive and complex. On the palate the dominant mushroom aromas were replicated, together with the licorice. Initially it fell away quite quickly on the finish, though with a little air, it held up slightly better and some caramel notes appeared. Overall highly enjoyable, but definitely on the slide and you have to appreciate aged characters to get the same enjoyment I did.

regards

Ian

[Gavin Trott]

Now to put this post in context.

I am a retailer, as I'm sure you all know, and I will be stocking and selling this wine.

That out of the way, I post my tasting notes here rarely, and hopefully do not use too much hyperbole???

but I have to post this one about a stunning Rose.

Arrivo Rosato di Nebbiolo 2007

my first ever 100% Nebbiolo Rose, but won't be my last. Stunning, right from the colour which is incredibly inviting without the fluorescence of some roses, to the incredible nose, as complex as can be, perfumed with turkish delight, rose water, hints of cherry and strawberry, freshly crushed grapes, raspberry and a hint of herbs and fennel.

The palate is just a good or better, long, just full of flavour with really good weight for a rose and great texture, yet with a delicate touch!. It finishes dry, but does have just a touch of sweetness there, with an incredibly long finish, great balance of flavour and acidity and its as fresh as a daisy. It has real grape tannins and is a 'serious' wine that is perfect for drinking this summer season.

Its just become the Trott household 'Rose' and is the best Australian Rose I've ever had! (easily)

FWIW took it out to dinner with a wide group of wine lovers and experienced drinkers, in some good wine company, and it was just about universally the wine of the night!

If you like Rose......??

[griff]

Now to put this post in context.

I am a retailer, as I'm sure you all know, and I will be stocking and selling this wine.

That out of the way, I post my tasting notes here rarely, and hopefully do not use too much hyperbole???

but I have to post this one about a stunning Rose.

Arrivo Rosato di Nebbiolo 2007

my first ever 100% Nebbiolo Rose, but won't be my last. Stunning, right from the colour which is incredibly inviting without the fluorescence of some roses, to the incredible nose, as complex as can be, perfumed with turkish delight, rose water, hints of cherry and strawberry, freshly crushed grapes, raspberry and a hint of herbs and fennel.

The palate is just a good or better, long, just full of flavour with really good weight for a rose and great texture, yet with a delicate touch!. It finishes dry, but does have just a touch of sweetness there, with an incredibly long finish, great balance of flavour and acidity and its as fresh as a daisy. It has real grape tannins and is a 'serious' wine that is perfect for drinking this summer season.

Its just become the Trott household 'Rose' and is the best Australian Rose I've ever had! (easily)

FWIW took it out to dinner with a wide group of wine lovers and experienced drinkers, in some good wine company, and it was just about universally the wine of the night!

If you like Rose......??

We really liked the 06 (courtesy of a friend). Seems the 07 has stepped up a notch though!

cheers

Carl

[monghead]

camw,

WOW. Tantalised by the picture, and now like the other forumites, can't wait for the thousand words....

As for myself, a good week I thought...

- 1996 Seppelt Dorrien Cab Sav- A joy to drink, developing aged characteristics of leather adding to the complexity of the meaty fruit. Medium to full, good length, but still with a fair whack of tannins.

- 1994 Leasingham Classic Clare Sparkling Shiraz- Superb sparkling and drinking beautifully at present. Fruit cake, dark cherries, chocolate, and cigars abound with a delightful creamy finish. Would love to get more of this.

- 2006 Summerhouse Sauvignon Blanc- Delightful summer quaffer...

Cheers,

Monghead

[Dr - 307]

2005 Di Stassio Yarra Valley Pinot Noir.

If I were to phrase it the way I would like to my post wouldn't make it through the moderator so -

The above mentioned oinos was most unpalatable.

Get my drift,
Dr - 307.

[Red Bigot]

- 1994 Leasingham Classic Clare Sparkling Shiraz- Superb sparkling and drinking beautifully at present. Fruit cake, dark cherries, chocolate, and cigars abound with a delightful creamy finish. Would love to get more of this.

You and me both and/or the 95 and 96. The current release 97 is a different style and possibly has a brett level that some won't like.

I tried 91, 94, 95, 97 and 98 at the NWS, the 91 is finally starting to tire after a magnificent run, 94, 95 and 98 all scored golds, the 97 failed to get a medal at all. The panel was chaired by Ian Mackenzie, who apparently has been known to criticise overt oak in sparkling reds, but had no trouble giving Gold to Leasingham, in fact Leasingham won the only Golds in the sparkling red classes.

The 98 is looking good, but still needs a year or two in bottle to settle a little more, shouldn't be a problem, I can't see the 97 selling too quickly at $40-$50.

[n4sir]

- 1994 Leasingham Classic Clare Sparkling Shiraz- Superb sparkling and drinking beautifully at present. Fruit cake, dark cherries, chocolate, and cigars abound with a delightful creamy finish. Would love to get more of this.

You and me both and/or the 95 and 96. The current release 97 is a different style and possibly has a brett level that some won't like.

I tried 91, 94, 95, 97 and 98 at the NWS, the 91 is finally starting to tire after a magnificent run, 94, 95 and 98 all scored golds, the 97 failed to get a medal at all. The panel was chaired by Ian Mackenzie, who apparently has been known to criticise overt oak in sparkling reds, but had no trouble giving Gold to Leasingham, in fact Leasingham won the only Golds in the sparkling red classes.

The 98 is looking good, but still needs a year or two in bottle to settle a little more, shouldn't be a problem, I can't see the 97 selling too quickly at $40-$50.

Sounds like I should get cracking on my remaining bottle of 1991 then - next offline maybe?

FWIW I thought I could pick up some brett on a couple of bottles of the 1996 I tried last year too - nowhere near the 1997 though. Looking at the quality of the vintages surrounding it, I reckon the 1997 possibly shouldn't have been released.

Cheers,
Ian