but as there is no rest for the wicked, its time for you guys to submit your weekly drinking reports.
Best of the week for me was a 1998 Maglieri Steven Shiraz. Now if anyone wants an example of a ripe 98 that is not falling apart this is it! A big wine with intense powerful blackberry aniseed, tar, plum and chocolate fruit with a super long finish. Copious reasonably smooth and fine tannins are resolving well but still needs a few more years. It should improve in the short term and there is no hurry to drink as it looks like this will be a long lived wine. Reasonable complexity, harmonious, its rated as Excellent.
A fairly big week, here are some of them, I'll try to get around to the rest later.
Monday tasting group 2002 reds:
Elderton Barossa Shiraz $20. Seems like they had a good vintage, some tar initially, attractive warm chocolate, liquorice, tobacco and plums with a touch of toasty oak and firmish tannins, nice wine and good value, should cellar well for 5 years or more.
Wolf Blass A/H Shiraz/Viognier $20. Top red NWS 2003. Medium-bodied, elegant (;-)), spicy, seductive wine, with the slight viognier lift. Remaining stocks apparently snaffled by VC and sold out @ $26.99.
Tait Ballbuster Barossa Shiraz/Cab/Merlot $18. Good honest, flavoursome barrossa red, slightly chewy tannins, but a good value package, under stelvin, will probably cellar for a few years.
Taylors Clare Shiraz $14. Good sweet fruit, lively palate, good length, just a little simple, but very good value, especially if you can get it on special.
Brindabella Hills Shiraz $20. Completely closed, nothing much showing on nose or palate, just starting to open up at the end of the hour, I took the remaining third home and it was much better the next night, with attractive spicy dark cherry fruit coming out.
Heritage Barossa Shiraz $18. The big disappointment after the expectations from the excellent 2001, estery/acetone confected nose carried through to the palate, simple and boring, borderline faulty, hope it was just a dud bottle.
During the week, a few 96 reds, including a fully mature but holding Fox Creek JSM, Cellarmasters Di Fabio Shiraz, good honest Mclarenvale Shiraz drinking nicely, won't get any better (in fact probably better a year or 2 ago), but an example of the good value that could be found occasionally from CM in years gone by and 96 Maglieri Shiraz just hitting it's straps, very smooth and rich. (This was the domestic version in the heavy bottle, the export version in lighter bottle that also found it's way onto the local market at one stage seemed to be a different and lesser blend).
Wednesday monthly tasting group - I'll write it up later when I have more time.
Last night, Primo Joseph sparkling red, 2001 blend, showing the effect of the older components in the blend, with leathery/earthy nuances over spicy/berry fruit, a great alternative to the big sweet/oaky Leasingham style and a bit cheaper than the Seppelt Show that is made along similar principles. Also a Yarra Yarra Shiraz/Viognier 2002, a sample on opening was closed and had some hard tannins showing, so vigorously decanted about an hour before drinking with a thick rare steak, by then it had opened up nicely, distinctive violets and spicy blackberry and cherry notes, tannins now showing less obtrusively and nicely balanced, with hints of french oak, good length. (It's only 12.9% a/v too) Very nice and distinctive wine, perhaps not quite up to the $42 price point though, time will tell, it's a baby yet.
Cheers Brian Life's too short to drink white wine and red wine is better for you too! :-)
Went down to Scotchmans Hill for the wind-blown (nearly rained out) concert but even with all this had a fantastic night and was actually entertained by Rhonda Burchmore on stage.
Whilst there had the Scotchmans Hill Pinot Noir 2002 which is a very good wine and their best vintage in close to a decade. Not too big in style, but with lovely cherries and raspberries and forest undergrowth (had to throw that one in!!) really shining through.
Highlight for the week was the 87 Faively 1cru Nuit St George which had the most incredible nose filled with perfumed rose petals and a palate that seemed to go on forever. Truly an amazing wine.
Also a 99 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cab and 96 Penfolds Kalimna Shiraz which were both drinking very well.
Chrismont King Valley Riesling 03 - best producer in the K.V for Riesling by a mile. The 03 seems to have a touch more botrytis than usual but still pretty good for $13.
cheers
anthony
Good wine ruins the purse; bad wine ruins the stomach
Spanish saying
This is a list more then a set of TN's as I didnt take notes at any of the events at which these were consumed. Heres the drinking from a fairly marathon weekend:
95 Brown Brothers Family Reserve Chardonnay: Whitlands fruit I think. Golden and a bit too old for my tastes, but still sound. Very Good.
96 Orlando Jacaranda Ridge Cabernet: Very rich and ripe, still varietal though. Excellent.
95 Alkoomi Cabernet: Chocolately. Really chocolately. One we worked out it wasnt shiraz it had to be a WA cabernet, theres a note inthis that I find hard to describe, thats like chocolate but more savoury, perhaps soy sauce or vegemite (there has to be a more flattering descriptor). Very Good.
00 Greenock Creek Apricot Block Shiraz: Yum, hard to believe 2000 Barossa can produce this. Berries, Plums Chocolate, burstiong from the glass. Wow. Excellent.
99 LEAS Chardonnay: Some thought it was slightly corked, but I didnt agree, just a bit cold and muted. TN'd many times before, this is tight white peach, cashew, etc etc and this is still Outstanding.
98 Grant Burge Meshach: Something slightly amiss here I think, this was quite disjointed. Chocolate vanilla coconut and a little bit of cherry, all quite muted, but the jaminess was overt and quite jarring. Good only and if this is representative, not worth the money.
95 Pol Roger Blanc de Blanc: Wow, what power for a blanc de blancs! many thought this had Pinot Noir in it. Lovely wine, excellent.
02 Toolangi Reserve Chardonnay: Holy crap! Blind, a number of people thought this to be a class White Burg, and it has Kinzbrunner all over it. Smoky, struck match nose, a tight peach citrus cashew wine that has been through partial malo and retains a bit of green apple acidity, great length, etc etc. outstanding, and apparently picked up for $29 which is a screaming bargain (supposed to be $55?)
94 Penfolds Bin 94A Chardonnay: Very golden, still holding together quite well. Worked with food
99 Bannockburn Serre Pinot Noir: OMG, a complete table lifter. The most amazing aroma of perfumed strawberries that just built and built, adding spices of all kinds and more and more intensity over time. Outstanding.
98 Tignanello: (A ful TN as I tried this later on and paid more attention) Dark red, but not purple. Oxidative, smoky, tarry nose, with some rosepetal.
The immediate sensation in the mouth is the strength of the tannins. They are fine, but they are there like the barbarian hordes - strong and everywhere! They grab you by the tongue and tighten your whole mouth like a cats backside. The flavours though are delicate and lovely. Sour cherry, turkish delight, some leather and subtle spice, cant really pick which one, and also some yeasty vegemite like character that has been present from the moment the bottle was opened 24 hours ago.
I didn think this showed well in the company of some quality Australian reds, but for me the 98 Tig is a nice wine, which needs a bit more of a sleep. Leave this alone until 2009 or so and you'll have some class on your hands. Very Good now, but could get better over time when the tannins relent and let the fruit out.
91 Petaluma Coonawarra: Yum, very good example. Some thought the fruit was "smeared", i thought the blend + the bottle age had taken away varietal definition. Excellent
91 Peter Lehmann Stonewell: A big surprise. Not the Barossa Bruiser you might expect, but more elegant and fruit driven, and a very nice wine. Very Good.
91 Mitchelton Print Label Shiraz: Hugley tannic for a 13 year old, and the fruit evolved into a strange tarry thing. Unusual. Good.
01 Chateau Haut Bechereau: A cheap and cheerful sticky from Sauternes which didnt realy cut it after the list of reds above. Late harvest in style, interesting flavous, and probably fair value below $30. Good.
98 Cullen Chardonnay: Golden colour. Nose of struck match and roasted nuts. Palate also opens with some of those reductive notes, some super ripe peach, and finishes strongly lime juice. Quite clean, some barrel ferment character perhaps. Excellent wine, but drink up.
and the Brisbane leg of the NZ roadshow is tonight.
Wizz wrote:98 Grant Burge Meshach: Something slightly amiss here I think, this was quite disjointed. Chocolate vanilla coconut and a little bit of cherry, all quite muted, but the jaminess was overt and quite jarring. Good only and if this is representative, not worth the money.
Andrew
Andrew, look like you and I are the only ones that think this way. Here are my notes. <B>Grant Burge 1998 Meshach</B> is undoubtedly a very good wine. It has a complex nose showing sweet plums, black cherry, liquorice savoury plums, spice coconut and vanilla. An excellent balance is provided by the dusty tannins, well judged acid and deep, distinct, concentrated fruit. The palate follows the nose and flows from sweet to savoury flavours. However there is an underlying sweetness that stays on the palate throughout. This is a rich full-bodied wine with a layered structure and harmonious complexity and will be long lived. Rated as Excellent with ** for value.
The two icon wines from Grant Burge, the Shadrach and Meshach seem like they are being aimed fairly and squarely at the <B>Parker market </B>and from my perspective I don't think the overly sweet flavour profile of these two wines does anything positive for them.
Wizz wrote:98 Grant Burge Meshach: Something slightly amiss here I think, this was quite disjointed. Chocolate vanilla coconut and a little bit of cherry, all quite muted, but the jaminess was overt and quite jarring. Good only and if this is representative, not worth the money.
Andrew
Andrew, look like you and I are the only ones that think this way. Here are my notes. <B>Grant Burge 1998 Meshach</B> is undoubtedly a very good wine. It has a complex nose showing sweet plums, black cherry, liquorice savoury plums, spice coconut and vanilla. An excellent balance is provided by the dusty tannins, well judged acid and deep, distinct, concentrated fruit. The palate follows the nose and flows from sweet to savoury flavours. However there is an underlying sweetness that stays on the palate throughout. This is a rich full-bodied wine with a layered structure and harmonious complexity and will be long lived. Rated as Excellent with ** for value.
The two icon wines from Grant Burge, the Shadrach and Meshach seem like they are being aimed fairly and squarely at the <B>Parker market </B>and from my perspective I don't think the overly sweet flavour profile of these two wines does anything positive for them.
Ric, the more I think about it the more I wonder if this bottle was very slightly corked. it was is if the oak, acid and the hot jaminess etc was turned up to 9/10 but the fruit was turned down to 5/10. This was not a patch on the 00 Apricot Block.
Even if the fruit was full volume I dont think I would have liked this wine, too much of everything, and a sniff of "dead fruit". Having said that I really enjoyed the 99, which was full on but not super ripe and jammy. Maybe those who are talking up 99 Barossa are right...
This week was an eclectic experience in many ways. Time to clear some flotsam from the 'cellar floor', so on the one night, the following wines were drunk in the following order:
- 2001 Leasingham Bin 61 - 2000 DeBortoli Durif - 1998 Calais Estate Shiraz - Some 1998 Shiraz from Mclaren Vale by some winery from Mudgee (?) - 2000 Lehmann Clancy's Red - 1999 Calais Estate Merlot - Repeat the Clancy and Durif
Now, the Bin 61 was opened as an entertainer whilst 'guests' arrived, and unfortunately it absolutely outsized all the following wines, making notes impossibly harsh and generally boring. The Durif mentioned is a very light style, with much honest character, dark fruits and tarry finish. Calais Estate is of course in the Hunter ( which is why they were 'cleared out' ) and whilst enjoyable, nothing worth mentioning can be remebered. The Clancy is drinking very well, though I strongly doubt there is more than another 2 years in it. All in all, very enjoyable but unfortunately bland, due to order of serving ( in part )
Served last night was the ( famous for being ) poor vintage of Grange, the 1992. It's really a very 'straight forward' wine, and though one which I would not have liked to pay for, absolutely wonderful in its own right!. It must be said that wines have and can be had for under $30 that come very close. A great vintage of Bowen Estate comes to mind, or perhaps even ( I might have to duck for cover here! ) a great Bin 28. Again, highly enjoyable with a fantastic steak at 'The Meat and Wine Co' on Darling Harbour, but does it really deserve the Grange label? I can't see it improving, but it will definitely last another 5 or 10 years.
...oh and the Grange was followed by a 2000 DeBortoli noble one, which in its usual nectar and honey way was beyond delicious. Try in 10 years if you don't like so much tart fruit acid
Worthy of mention is that this was the first trip to the restaurant, and I was generally well impressed with the staff and food. ...But there is something sinister happening there. The walls are lined with literally thousands of bottles of wine, none of which are lying down, and most of which have light globes behind them. It looks fantastic (!) but I would dread the tasting of any of those poor souls after such mistreatment!
Wizz wrote:98 Grant Burge Meshach: Something slightly amiss here I think, this was quite disjointed. Chocolate vanilla coconut and a little bit of cherry, all quite muted, but the jaminess was overt and quite jarring. Good only and if this is representative, not worth the money.
Andrew
Andrew, look like you and I are the only ones that think this way. Here are my notes. <B>Grant Burge 1998 Meshach</B> is undoubtedly a very good wine. It has a complex nose showing sweet plums, black cherry, liquorice savoury plums, spice coconut and vanilla. An excellent balance is provided by the dusty tannins, well judged acid and deep, distinct, concentrated fruit. The palate follows the nose and flows from sweet to savoury flavours. However there is an underlying sweetness that stays on the palate throughout. This is a rich full-bodied wine with a layered structure and harmonious complexity and will be long lived. Rated as Excellent with ** for value.
The two icon wines from Grant Burge, the Shadrach and Meshach seem like they are being aimed fairly and squarely at the <B>Parker market </B>and from my perspective I don't think the overly sweet flavour profile of these two wines does anything positive for them.
Ric, the more I think about it the more I wonder if this bottle was very slightly corked. it was is if the oak, acid and the hot jaminess etc was turned up to 9/10 but the fruit was turned down to 5/10. This was not a patch on the 00 Apricot Block.
Even if the fruit was full volume I dont think I would have liked this wine, too much of everything, and a sniff of "dead fruit". Having said that I really enjoyed the 99, which was full on but not super ripe and jammy. Maybe those who are talking up 99 Barossa are right...
AB
AB
From my Meshach experience, you probably need to let the 1998 sleep for another 3 to 5 years. I believe it will be a stunner once it comes together, though I suppose time will tell. Some of the mid-90s vintages are just starting to happen now - I've said it before, but the '94 is breathtaking now, and it certainly wasn't at the same level a few years ago.
Just one red of note 1996 Wynns Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra Black Label Dark- brown red still holding its colour well for an 8yr old wine,aromas of sweet vaillin oak and berry fruits. In the mouth strong red fruits of plum boysenberry green herbs, dry dusty tannins. Not in balance yet with the tannins just out in front but with its strong fruit will come into balance in a couple of years.Good length.I enjoyed this wine for its varietal flavours and dry finish This wine has a good 6+ years of life left yet. The 1996 was far Superior to the 1994 Black label i drank last week, it was the last of six i had cellared and they never came together with the fruit unlikely to over take the weighty tannins
1997 Hardys Arras : could pass for a decent Champagne. Nice nose of white chocolate , quite rich with good length. Of course found this on special as its normal price is too much.
2002 Laroche petit Chablis : I mention as in STELVIN !!!!! Nice contrast to local Chardonnays. Not as minerally as I'd like but still different enough to justify buying.
In the past every second bottle of Chablis I have bought has been corked !This restored my confidence in buying Chablis.
2002 Pizzini Sangiovese , King Valley : very nice local example of cherry/chocolatey/licoricey but drinkable dry red. Enjoyable. When the weather gets cooler I intend to check out some good Italian reds which I am yet to do.
1994 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz : For me a very enjoyable bottle. Nice aged nose. However was a bit short on the palate which would be due to the " cool and wet " 1994 vintage ( as stated in the 1999 Rockford Rag ). Needs to be treated with appropriate food ( we had this with a nice lamb stew with dried fruits ). Drink this over the next 5 years while you give your 96's and 98's more time.
2001 The Willows Semillon : At $15 or less this is one of my highest PQR wines. Quality old vine white wine that thumbs its nose at current fashion trends and that is a perfect match with roast chook.
Back in early January we tried the 98 release of this wine and now the 96.
This is another sensational wine. The same incredible minty aromas invaded the senses. You could almost believe that it was a Coonawarra cabernet you had your nose in. I spent a long time on smelling without even tasting it.
This wine showed the benefit of an extra two years in the bottle. Not the same level of alcohol evident and great length. A deep crimson, full bodied wine, with very good structure.
This is what I suppose they mean by consistent quality Excellent
Mitchelton 1998 Print Shiraz
A very dark dense purple and an aroma of ripe plums. The wine is dry and full-bodied with plum and fine vanilla oak flavours and a long chocolate finish with licorice in there somewhere. Still very young and needs to be put away for a few years yet. Excellent
Chardonnay: A drink you have when there is no RED wine, the beer hasn't arrived and the water may be polluted
2002 Carrick central otago pinot noir a big pinot noir. Quite deep purple, shiraz-like colour. Cured meat, cinnamon nose, savoury interlaced underlying cherry sweetness. excellent complexity with smooth tannin backbone. should have enough substance to develop more seconadary characteristics.
1996 Orlando Jacaranda ridge cab sauv violet hue, very fragrant even when decenting. Bit of mint, black currant, black berry and smoky spice. Mouthfeel is smooth with silky tannin, persistant palate. a cool climate cab with a hint of leafy character.
seems we are drinking lots of 96 wines these days!
Once it is open, a smooth sweet berry smell appear in the room. Pour it to the decenter for an hour. Altought the colour show slightly brownish but the smell and taste is still hold. A very enjoyable wine but need to drink up as soon as you can.
1990 Yalumba Signature
A wonderful wine but I think it still need some time to develop. Better wait for couple years to open another one.
1994 Orlando Centenary Shiza
A excellent wine with deep ruby colour, very enjoyable to drink it now but unlike the 95 vintage, which is in the peak now and don't think it will get any better in the future, the 94 vintage definitly can further develop in the next few years.
2000 Leewin Estate Prelude Chadonnay
Start to show some charater of an aged chardonnay, light gold colour with toasty nut and honey smell. A long toast honey aftertaste.
1997 Doisy Daenes - this is one of my fave sauternes. A lovely botrytis complexity to it, and not overly cloying.
1999 Rieussec - much sweeter and a touch heavier than the DD, but beautifully balanced with acidity.
1978 Ch Musar - drinking beautifully now, almost like an old Barossa shiraz - a touch of leather, a touch of mocha, some tobacco notes, and wonderful dark-fruited secondary complexity. Yum.
Colour: Garnet with slightly hazy tones and cherry shallows
Nose: Sweet, musty (not corked) cerise, redskins and toasty aromaÂ’s.
Palate: Oaky, mid to heavy weight texture, with red berries. Leafy, and astringent, almost tongue curling tannins. Very dry and a bit on the hot side. Not unpleasant but not particularly smooth either. Could do with some softening time but I donÂ’t think it will.
Tried this one cold from the fridge and it seemed to be quite strong on fruit and not seriously overt on the tannins as one would expect. But I was already a bit on the far side. Recommended with 88/100 but I donÂ’t know what the price was as it came to dinner.
Ferngrove Cabernet Merlot 2001, Frankland River (decanted for 1 hour)
Colour: Clean Red with a purple heart.
Nose: Slight meatiness which reminded me of that last bottle of Katnook Cab 97 I have sitting in the cellar. Dark berries and cedar.
Palate: Rich and dark berries straight from the nose. This wine has a lovely balance with dusty tannins sitting on the tip of the tongue. It has tobacco with subtle bitter chocolate. Has an initial medium length which comes back like a second wave onto the back of the tongue (this is not to say there is a whole in the middle, just a return of flavours).
This is pretty good value to my mind with 91/100 at around $15/ bottle price.
Grant Burge ‘Filsell’ 2000 (slightly corked, and made more noticeable by the temp. the wine was at).
Colour: was rich with deep blood tones.
Nose: Obviously tainted but not completely destroying the plums and a slight leaning toward portiness. The soggy cardboard lifted after a while making it possible to drink without being offended.
Palate: Once again although this was corked the fruit is still fighting to get through and made this actually palatable with not taint flavours coming through. It didnÂ’t get the sink treatment for this reason, and I must say that the flavour profile of this wine must be huge in a good bottle for it to make it through a bad one.
CanÂ’t really rate it but I am going to get more of this based on the strength of a bad bottle.
Amongst a veritable sea of wines, I helped consume one truly outstanding wine, several excellent drops, and others ranging from swill to very good.
Three that are worthy of mention:
1995 Condada di Haza, Alexandro Fernandez
This has received a torrent of critisism on other wine DB's, and I thought it was time to crack my first bottle of an un-opened case. Took over an hour to find and rescue the case in my cellar, so I wasn't in a great mood at the time of opening.
Colour a purple-red, no trace of age what-so-ever. Very floral boquet, opened up after 45 minutes or so to reveal violets and dark berries.
Palate very unusual- I am not all that experienced with tempranillo, but I found this wine very pleasant. No mid-palate hollowness, and a very seamless wine of great length. Closest to an Aussie Merlot, IMO. Plenty of dark berries and chocolate, good complexity. Still could do with a few years to allow still-present tannins to melt, and I would have picked this as a wine of about 3-4years of age.
Purchased from De Burgh-Day, who recommended at least a decade of cellaring, and I think he is dead right. Will be superb with grilled meats.
............................91pts, drink 2005-2015
1995 Howard Park Cabernet-merlot
Another contraversial wine, brought over by a friend, and consumed on the same night as the above wine. Does anyone know if there were two bottlings of this wine??
Yet again, a superb, seamless wine of terrific complexity and length, possessing all the strengths of WA cabs.
This had only the barest trace of volatility, which certainly did not detract from the palate. Whilst I fully believe all those who claim unbearable volatility with this wine, I personally have not experienced it, nor have any of my fellow "wine-bores".
Happy to drink this wine over the next decade, it is now entering its drinking plateau.(unlike the immortal 1994, which is still at least a decade from its peak, and may be in the greatest 5 wines this country has yet produced)
...............................91 pts..........drink now-2010+
1995 Chateau Rayas
Again, consumed the same night, and present as a result of the generosity of another visitor to Chateau AJ.
Dark purple-red, with lightening at the rim. Once opened, the room was filled with the most exsquisite boquet of roses, red fruits, liquor,tar and dark chocolate.
The palate is to die for- new heights in wine appreciation were reached by all present. So intense, rich complex and long that it honestly defies description. I have had many, many, CNDP's....but this is surely in a league of its own. Indeed, as a wine, it may be in a league of its own. The only similar experience I have had was with a perfect bottle of the 63 Mildara Peppermint Pattie back in about 1990.
I am told the estate has not reached these heights since the 95 vintage due to the death of the winemaker, but the 1995 is now said to have surpassed the 78 and the 90 as the greatest vintage to date.
I'll certainly keep an eye out for this wine at auction, but I'm guesing it will fetch Grange-like prices.
...............100 points, drink 2010-2030+
[quote="Aussie Johns"] Indeed, as a wine, it may be in a league of its own. The only similar experience I have had was with a perfect bottle of the 63 Mildara Peppermint Pattie back in about 1990.
quote]
Hello
Not tried the Rayas wine, but I have also had an almost perfect Peppermint Patty, probably at around the same time.
Simply glorious, held its own with 1970 latour and an 83 Montrachet, cannot remember producer.
Decent smooth albeit somewhat simple St Emilion Grand Cru. A good food wine and one can't complain about the price at under a tenner.
2000 Collioure, Clos de Paulilles (Roussillon)
90% Mourvedre 10% Syrah from the foot of the Pyrenees near the Spanish border. This wine was quite tight and didn't really show a great deal - some nice mocha/coffee, touch of earthiness and berry fruit, but there was a wall of fine grained tannins. Hold for 2-3 years to let it integrate and open up.
1991 Seppelt Show Reserve Sparkling Shiraz (Great Western)
Each bottle of these I open gets better and better. No need to write a note - just enjoy it - a perfect match for Chinese pig's trotters. Will easily last another decade.
Abbott's Prayer 1994 Dark red slightly translucent around the edge, very perfumed straight out of the bottle, which didn't seem to change much with 30 minutes in the decanter. The perfume followed through to the palate, with sweet fruit and nicely integrated oak - a very smooth production and I'll be happy to keep my other two a bit longer.
This has received a torrent of critisism on other wine DB's, and I thought it was time to crack my first bottle of an un-opened case. Took over an hour to find and rescue the case in my cellar, so I wasn't in a great mood at the time of opening. Colour a purple-red, no trace of age what-so-ever. Very floral boquet, opened up after 45 minutes or so to reveal violets and dark berries. Palate very unusual- I am not all that experienced with tempranillo, but I found this wine very pleasant. No mid-palate hollowness, and a very seamless wine of great length. Closest to an Aussie Merlot, IMO. Plenty of dark berries and chocolate, good complexity. Still could do with a few years to allow still-present tannins to melt, and I would have picked this as a wine of about 3-4years of age. Purchased from De Burgh-Day, who recommended at least a decade of cellaring, and I think he is dead right. Will be superb with grilled meats. ............................91pts, drink 2005-2015
Bit late to catch up with this, but better late than never I guess.....
The 95 Pesquera's mostly seemed to have poor corks that leaked. Certainly my experience has backed that up, although given my reasonably sound cellaring conditions the wines have still been good. The reserve wine is really good.
I did not get any 95 Condada's so maybe he got a decent batch of corks for these.
I have had a couple of the 96 Condada's and these have no cork problems and are also starting to drink well. I get a distinctive iron/earth character in these wines, which I find good in that it is a point of difference to our Shiraz and Cabernet styles.
Me and the missus polished off a 2000 last night (bottle remaining from a tasting) - it showed pretty well - nice and smooth, dark fruits, smoky oak with a noticeable mineral streak running through the wine - one for the medium term as it lacks the tannins and fruit intensity to go the long haul. I agree with your comments on the iron and earth character. I also get a bit of charcoal, which I assume is charry oak (works quite well with wines from the RdD).
I would some the Condada de Haza as a decent wine for the price (just over a tenner here in the UK), without being stunning. Perhaps Senor Fernandez is spreading himself a bit thin these days with his various interests?
I like the difference to our wines Phil, however having said that, I stopped buying both the Pesquera and Condada de Haza after about 97 from memory, as the price started going up but the quality didn't.
I still have some from the good years in the mid-nineties, which I will enjoy over the next few years. Although I have not kept up the lineage, there is always something else popping up to attract one's interest.
Heggies riesling 1993 - initially opened too cold and tasted thin. On warming, the wine fleshed out and the fruit on show was very good. Very enjoyable with good overall balance and length. Still with a couple of years left in the tank, but I dont think it will improve further.
