Hi all,
Kicking it off:
2001 Jasper Hill Emily's Paddock Shiraz Cabernet Franc
With the recent success of the '01 Georgias Paddock, we thought we'd try this one.
Completely different wine!!! Much more elegant and perfumed.
Cherries, plums, violets, eucalypt, cardamon on the nose. Lighter bodied (but still medium to full), tighter flavour spectrum with more acid, and on the whole more elegant than the Georgias. Must be that cab franc.
On the whole though, thought the Georgias from a couple of nights ago is the better drink at present.
Cheers,
Monghead.
School Day Delights...
, horror...)
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bacchaebabe
- Posts: 1222
- Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2003 5:04 pm
- Location: Sydney
Craig(NZ) wrote:what ever happenned to jasper hill??
i think i have a georgias paddock somewhere in the cellar, will have to try find it!
Yeah, I've got a couple of 98s and I occasionally get their very sexy (all gold embossed) mailer but the wines are quite expensive direct and you don't hear too much about them. I haven't bought for a long while. I should think about trying those 98s though.
Cheers,
Kris
There's a fine wine between pleasure and pain
(Stolen from the graffiti in the ladies loos at Pegasus Bay winery)
Kris
There's a fine wine between pleasure and pain
(Stolen from the graffiti in the ladies loos at Pegasus Bay winery)
Vague recollections of recent drinks (not all this week).
1998 Rockford Vine Vale Riesling - leaking cork, watery, very little fruit, difficult to tell if it was cork trouble or just on a downhill slide.
2001 Balnaves Cabernet Sauvignon - very reserved nose, slightly bitter finish, not great.
2006 Noon Reserve Shiraz - another leaking cork, but this time no problems, beautiful lifted nose, no mistaking the alcohol but doesn't detract for mine. Simple and bold at this stage but extremely enjoyable.
1991 Petaluma Coonawarra - spectacular, probably RWOTY so far.
1994 Petaluma Coonawarra - if anything more developed than the 1991, still a wonderful old wine but clearly shaded by its older brother.
1990 Petaluma Riesling - spectacular, probably WWOTY so far.
2005 Marius Shiraz Mataro - deep, dark, mouthfilling, probably better on the 2nd night. Really enjoyable.
2006 Isole e Olena Chianti - lovely, delicate, savoury. Probably my go-to food wine at present.
1991 Orlando St Hugo - hanging in there but only just. Not much fruit until the back palate, plenty of leather and earth and then a lovely burst of fruit on the finish. Falling over by the end of the bottle, but still really good.
I'm sure there are plenty more, but that'll do for now.
Cheers
Nick
1998 Rockford Vine Vale Riesling - leaking cork, watery, very little fruit, difficult to tell if it was cork trouble or just on a downhill slide.
2001 Balnaves Cabernet Sauvignon - very reserved nose, slightly bitter finish, not great.
2006 Noon Reserve Shiraz - another leaking cork, but this time no problems, beautiful lifted nose, no mistaking the alcohol but doesn't detract for mine. Simple and bold at this stage but extremely enjoyable.
1991 Petaluma Coonawarra - spectacular, probably RWOTY so far.
1994 Petaluma Coonawarra - if anything more developed than the 1991, still a wonderful old wine but clearly shaded by its older brother.
1990 Petaluma Riesling - spectacular, probably WWOTY so far.
2005 Marius Shiraz Mataro - deep, dark, mouthfilling, probably better on the 2nd night. Really enjoyable.
2006 Isole e Olena Chianti - lovely, delicate, savoury. Probably my go-to food wine at present.
1991 Orlando St Hugo - hanging in there but only just. Not much fruit until the back palate, plenty of leather and earth and then a lovely burst of fruit on the finish. Falling over by the end of the bottle, but still really good.
I'm sure there are plenty more, but that'll do for now.
Cheers
Nick
Nick wrote:Vague recollections of recent drinks (not all this week).
1998 Rockford Vine Vale Riesling - leaking cork, watery, very little fruit, difficult to tell if it was cork trouble or just on a downhill slide.
2001 Balnaves Cabernet Sauvignon - very reserved nose, slightly bitter finish, not great.
2006 Noon Reserve Shiraz - another leaking cork, but this time no problems, beautiful lifted nose, no mistaking the alcohol but doesn't detract for mine. Simple and bold at this stage but extremely enjoyable.
1991 Petaluma Coonawarra - spectacular, probably RWOTY so far.
1994 Petaluma Coonawarra - if anything more developed than the 1991, still a wonderful old wine but clearly shaded by its older brother.
1990 Petaluma Riesling - spectacular, probably WWOTY so far.
2005 Marius Shiraz Mataro - deep, dark, mouthfilling, probably better on the 2nd night. Really enjoyable.
2006 Isole e Olena Chianti - lovely, delicate, savoury. Probably my go-to food wine at present.
1991 Orlando St Hugo - hanging in there but only just. Not much fruit until the back palate, plenty of leather and earth and then a lovely burst of fruit on the finish. Falling over by the end of the bottle, but still really good.
I'm sure there are plenty more, but that'll do for now.
Cheers
Nick
Some impressive btls there Nick
Tell me do you think the Noon Reserve is worth the price and hype? I always baulk at the price but would really like to give it a try but my $'s always seem to go on other McLaren Vale magic!!
ross
G'day Ross
It's a tricky question with the Noon's gear. Living in Adelaide, I just wander down the Vale on a sunny November Saturday, pay $25/bottle for as much as I can get and don't ask any questions! I think at $25 they're generally speaking a steal.
Would I pay the asking price on the auction market? Probably for the Eclipse in a good year and maybe not for the Shiraz (given its inflated auction price)? So difficult to say - there's so much interesting gear out there at that price. I'd be inclined to try an Eclipse from 2004-2006, see if you get into the style, which is obviously fairly divisive, and if it pushes your buttons, try the Shiraz out.
Or you could just plan to travel to SA in mid-November!
Cheers
Nick
PS I'm fairly sure that most of the Reserve Cabernet and Shiraz fruit comes from Langhorne Creek (I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong), so I always find it pushes slightly different buttons to other McLaren Vale Shiraz.
It's a tricky question with the Noon's gear. Living in Adelaide, I just wander down the Vale on a sunny November Saturday, pay $25/bottle for as much as I can get and don't ask any questions! I think at $25 they're generally speaking a steal.
Would I pay the asking price on the auction market? Probably for the Eclipse in a good year and maybe not for the Shiraz (given its inflated auction price)? So difficult to say - there's so much interesting gear out there at that price. I'd be inclined to try an Eclipse from 2004-2006, see if you get into the style, which is obviously fairly divisive, and if it pushes your buttons, try the Shiraz out.
Or you could just plan to travel to SA in mid-November!
Cheers
Nick
PS I'm fairly sure that most of the Reserve Cabernet and Shiraz fruit comes from Langhorne Creek (I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong), so I always find it pushes slightly different buttons to other McLaren Vale Shiraz.
2006 Penfolds Kalimna Bin 28 Shiraz
This bottle under cork seal
Short penfolds cork, in pretty good condition, doubt it will last the so-called 30 years though
Served at 16c. Very expressive nose. Wafts of plum, musk, cherries (dark), very distant wood, licorice and ocean spray.
The palate was fruit driven initially (not a bad thing though), plums, dark berries, licorice, musky and woody, white pepper came to the fore, then faded a little, savoury, almost elegant notes came and went, and a subdued spicy presence(Asian) settled in for the long haul. At 16c the tannins, and balance seemed very elegant, the acidity was noticeable, but good, and the finish was satisfyingly long. I would imagine at 18-20c this would be a <special> (mostly)Barossan shiraz in the archetypal mould.
Great drinking now...
This is an exceptional Bin 28, perhaps the best ever made, it needs a long sleep (buy the screwcap version if you can), up to 10 years, and then will blossom. Great balance, great longevity (closure allowing). 94/100, may reach 96/100 in 10 years.
This bottle under cork seal
Short penfolds cork, in pretty good condition, doubt it will last the so-called 30 years though
Served at 16c. Very expressive nose. Wafts of plum, musk, cherries (dark), very distant wood, licorice and ocean spray.
The palate was fruit driven initially (not a bad thing though), plums, dark berries, licorice, musky and woody, white pepper came to the fore, then faded a little, savoury, almost elegant notes came and went, and a subdued spicy presence(Asian) settled in for the long haul. At 16c the tannins, and balance seemed very elegant, the acidity was noticeable, but good, and the finish was satisfyingly long. I would imagine at 18-20c this would be a <special> (mostly)Barossan shiraz in the archetypal mould.
Great drinking now...
This is an exceptional Bin 28, perhaps the best ever made, it needs a long sleep (buy the screwcap version if you can), up to 10 years, and then will blossom. Great balance, great longevity (closure allowing). 94/100, may reach 96/100 in 10 years.
Thanks for your reply Nick.
I certainly am jealous of your location status. We are down in the Vales in 2 weeks but no visit planned in November. I have heard about the one day in the year buying circus!
Tell me..... 2 yrs ago we travelled down the road to where Noon is situated and to be honest i was somewhat surprised at the state of the front vines and surrounds. It reminded me of a forgotten neglected tangled vinous wasteland.
Surely this is not normal play in between vintages at Noon in McLaren Vale?
ross
I certainly am jealous of your location status. We are down in the Vales in 2 weeks but no visit planned in November. I have heard about the one day in the year buying circus!
Tell me..... 2 yrs ago we travelled down the road to where Noon is situated and to be honest i was somewhat surprised at the state of the front vines and surrounds. It reminded me of a forgotten neglected tangled vinous wasteland.
Surely this is not normal play in between vintages at Noon in McLaren Vale?
ross
John #11 wrote:2006 Penfolds Kalimna Bin 28 Shiraz
Great drinking now...
This is an exceptional Bin 28, perhaps the best ever made, it needs a long sleep (buy the screwcap version if you can), up to 10 years, and then will blossom. Great balance, great longevity (closure allowing). 94/100, may reach 96/100 in 10 years.
Oh ho! Big Call
Hope we both still posting to check that out in a decade. I'll have a bottle ready
cheers
Carl
Bartenders are supposed to have people skills. Or was it people are supposed to have bartending skills?
griff wrote:John #11 wrote:2006 Penfolds Kalimna Bin 28 Shiraz
Great drinking now...
This is an exceptional Bin 28, perhaps the best ever made, it needs a long sleep (buy the screwcap version if you can), up to 10 years, and then will blossom. Great balance, great longevity (closure allowing). 94/100, may reach 96/100 in 10 years.
Oh ho! Big Call
cheers
Carl
I agree , I tried it and found it very well put together so only time will tell 
Regards Dazza
Some people slurp it,others swill it,a few sip on it,some gaze at it for hours ,enough now wheres the RED
1998 Mitchelton print shiraz (cork)
still a deep dark colour, nice and mature central vic style, ready to go
2004 Bannockburn Estate shiraz (cork)
My WOTW, lots of complex layers already, and no hurry on this. Superb australian shiraz, WOW!
2004 Woodstocks 'the stocks' shiraz (cork)
Had this after the Bannockburn, and while good, just lacking some intensity, just dipping alittle after release
2004 Geoff Merrill reserve shiraz (cork)
Last nights wine, and again another excellent Merrill wine, but as with the the stocks, it seemed to have softened a little sooner than expected, both had good fruit thou, just a case of Mclaren Vale 04?
2005 Tyrrell"s Vat9 shiraz (cork)
This is starting to show the promise. Just entering a great early drinking window, lovely Hunter shiraz, but with heaps of time left in the tank, if you can hold off!
2006 Lake Breeze Bernoota shiraz cabernet (screwcap)
very easy drinking this, and good value drinking.
Cheers all
still a deep dark colour, nice and mature central vic style, ready to go
2004 Bannockburn Estate shiraz (cork)
My WOTW, lots of complex layers already, and no hurry on this. Superb australian shiraz, WOW!
2004 Woodstocks 'the stocks' shiraz (cork)
Had this after the Bannockburn, and while good, just lacking some intensity, just dipping alittle after release
2004 Geoff Merrill reserve shiraz (cork)
Last nights wine, and again another excellent Merrill wine, but as with the the stocks, it seemed to have softened a little sooner than expected, both had good fruit thou, just a case of Mclaren Vale 04?
2005 Tyrrell"s Vat9 shiraz (cork)
This is starting to show the promise. Just entering a great early drinking window, lovely Hunter shiraz, but with heaps of time left in the tank, if you can hold off!
2006 Lake Breeze Bernoota shiraz cabernet (screwcap)
very easy drinking this, and good value drinking.
Cheers all
2006 The Story Shiraz
An unintegrated pup of a wine still. Inky magenta with purple bubbles upon pouring. Quite a closed nose - some copha and later some vegemite. Interesting. Dense chewy palate of milk chocolate and boysenberries. Ice-cream as well which is for me a sign of youth. A lot of grip on the finish with bright acidity. Good at the moment but I also think a fair bit of potential.
cheers
Carl
An unintegrated pup of a wine still. Inky magenta with purple bubbles upon pouring. Quite a closed nose - some copha and later some vegemite. Interesting. Dense chewy palate of milk chocolate and boysenberries. Ice-cream as well which is for me a sign of youth. A lot of grip on the finish with bright acidity. Good at the moment but I also think a fair bit of potential.
cheers
Carl
Bartenders are supposed to have people skills. Or was it people are supposed to have bartending skills?
THE CHÂTEAU '100 YEAR OLD VINE' SHIRAZ 2005 – wow….. First time I’ve tried this brand but what a gem. Complete package with luscious floral nose and black cherry. Palette more savoury had a wet leather meaty barroasian Shiraz flavour with a very fine finish. Tannins seemed almost too dissolved, silky soft and in the background where it belongs. Would really like to see how this goes with age. Could drink this every night.
Houghton’s Margaret river cab sav 1999 – other great drop from this make and vintage. The last 99 Shiraz I had was very good but was at its peak. This Cab was drinking superbly, rich long finish but still has life left. Great bargain.
Devils Lair Cabernet 2004 – very good varietal nose typical Margaret River. The palette was nice but a little closed at this stage. Will be a great drop but needs a lot more time. Tasted like a baby after drinking the Tanunda.
Houghton’s Margaret river cab sav 1999 – other great drop from this make and vintage. The last 99 Shiraz I had was very good but was at its peak. This Cab was drinking superbly, rich long finish but still has life left. Great bargain.
Devils Lair Cabernet 2004 – very good varietal nose typical Margaret River. The palette was nice but a little closed at this stage. Will be a great drop but needs a lot more time. Tasted like a baby after drinking the Tanunda.
ross67 wrote:Kilikanoon Parable Shiraz 2002: McLaren Vale:
Very aromatic wine with a rich plush chocolatey /dark berried palate.....very typical MV shiraz and very typical '02 vintage
Nice wine for the price around $30 i think
ross
I picked some up from Gray's a while back at a hefty $8 or $9 per bottle, and to be honest found them pretty tough going. Pretty earthy, even by McV standards, and a rural pong, bordering on bretty. Anyhow, to each their own...
I had a look at a couple of cheapish shiraz options last night -
2008 Tar and Roses
Bony and unintegrated, with an off-putting raw peaty character. Medium weight spicy fruit, and very fine tannins, a touch of regional black pepper, a bit of menthol, with little oak to speak of. Underwhelming.
2008 Meerea Park Shiraz
Much better. Rounded, medium weight shiraz fruit, in the redfruit plum and raspberry spectrum. A little bit chewy and finishes quite savoury. Will drink nicely over 2-3 years I would think, and a steal at $12-$13.
monghead wrote:Partagas wrote:Houghton’s Margaret river cab sav 1999 – other great drop from this make and vintage. The last 99 Shiraz I had was very good but was at its peak. This Cab was drinking superbly, rich long finish but still has life left. Great bargain.
Was this the Gladstones Partagas?
No just the regional range (which is now Wisdom I think?). Have a single bottle left of the 99 Gladstone’s in the cellar and that is a great drop but needs a bit more sleep time I think.
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bacchaebabe
- Posts: 1222
- Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2003 5:04 pm
- Location: Sydney
Shared an 01 Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet Savignon last night with friends. Didn't really take notes as was socialising but my girlfriend was raving about it. Still quite dark, primary and quite big. Surprisingly so actually. Subdued blackberry and a little bit of menthol on the finish which doesn't always float my boat. Nice body and texture though and feels quite young still. 91
Cheers,
Kris
There's a fine wine between pleasure and pain
(Stolen from the graffiti in the ladies loos at Pegasus Bay winery)
Kris
There's a fine wine between pleasure and pain
(Stolen from the graffiti in the ladies loos at Pegasus Bay winery)
Kris this particular cabernet was sold out in record time !!!!!!!!!! Very Popular to say the leastbacchaebabe wrote:Shared an 01 Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet Savignon last night with friends. Didn't really take notes as was socialising but my girlfriend was raving about it. Still quite dark, primary and quite big. Surprisingly so actually. Subdued blackberry and a little bit of menthol on the finish which doesn't always float my boat. Nice body and texture though and feels quite young still. 91
Some people slurp it,others swill it,a few sip on it,some gaze at it for hours ,enough now wheres the RED
The drought finally broken, tonight we had a:
1999 Lupe-Cholet Savigny les Beaune
Don't know anything about this Burgundy. A negociant bottling? Anyways, Dark cherries with a little mocha, hints of wet compost. A little bland though, and unidimensional. Soft but fine tannins with a slightly spirity finish. Not the best example of A '99 Burg me thinks...
Now, where was the Clonakilla SV...
Cheers,
Monghead.
1999 Lupe-Cholet Savigny les Beaune
Don't know anything about this Burgundy. A negociant bottling? Anyways, Dark cherries with a little mocha, hints of wet compost. A little bland though, and unidimensional. Soft but fine tannins with a slightly spirity finish. Not the best example of A '99 Burg me thinks...
Now, where was the Clonakilla SV...
Cheers,
Monghead.
mesh riesling 2005
My first bottle and what a wine!
I'd rate this up there with the very best young Australian Riesling's I've encountered over the past 25 years. The colour is nigh-on perfect - luminescent, almost glowing straw green with an amazing flash of white gold. Likewise, the nose is nigh-on perfect - tight, jam-packed with juicy freshly-squeezed limes, crushed river pebbles and minerals wrapped in a floral shroud suggesting orange blossoms. The palate is perfect - literally bursting with pristine lime and mineral flavours, a wealth of natural, refreshing acidity, terrific line, superb balance, impeccable manners and a sublime finish of enormous presence and quite amazing calibre. Drink now - the cows come home. Developing magnificently, this classic dry riesling will rival the 1990 Leo Buring Eden Valley Leonay as one of the truly great aromatic white wine's this country has produced. 97 points, I kid you not! 13.0% A/V and sealed with a screw cap.
My first bottle and what a wine!
I'd rate this up there with the very best young Australian Riesling's I've encountered over the past 25 years. The colour is nigh-on perfect - luminescent, almost glowing straw green with an amazing flash of white gold. Likewise, the nose is nigh-on perfect - tight, jam-packed with juicy freshly-squeezed limes, crushed river pebbles and minerals wrapped in a floral shroud suggesting orange blossoms. The palate is perfect - literally bursting with pristine lime and mineral flavours, a wealth of natural, refreshing acidity, terrific line, superb balance, impeccable manners and a sublime finish of enormous presence and quite amazing calibre. Drink now - the cows come home. Developing magnificently, this classic dry riesling will rival the 1990 Leo Buring Eden Valley Leonay as one of the truly great aromatic white wine's this country has produced. 97 points, I kid you not! 13.0% A/V and sealed with a screw cap.
Cheers,
David
David
Yes its time ,you have wanted to have one for agesmonghead wrote:The drought finally broken, tonight we had a:
Now, where was the Clonakilla SV...
Cheers,
Monghead.
If i had one i would open it and share it with you 
Regards DazzaSome people slurp it,others swill it,a few sip on it,some gaze at it for hours ,enough now wheres the RED
dlo wrote:mesh riesling 2005
My first bottle and what a wine!
I'd rate this up there with the very best young Australian Riesling's I've encountered over the past 25 years. The colour is nigh-on perfect - luminescent, almost glowing straw green with an amazing flash of white gold. Likewise, the nose is nigh-on perfect - tight, jam-packed with juicy freshly-squeezed limes, crushed river pebbles and minerals wrapped in a floral shroud suggesting orange blossoms. The palate is perfect - literally bursting with pristine lime and mineral flavours, a wealth of natural, refreshing acidity, terrific line, superb balance, impeccable manners and a sublime finish of enormous presence and quite amazing calibre. Drink now - the cows come home. Developing magnificently, this classic dry riesling will rival the 1990 Leo Buring Eden Valley Leonay as one of the truly great aromatic white wine's this country has produced. 97 points, I kid you not! 13.0% A/V and sealed with a screw cap.
Sounds magnificent David. Thanks for the TN. Now, to find this elusive wine though...
That Mesh riesling sounds well worth trying. Yet another wine to try and source... though I don't think that will be easy. Two mid-week whites for me, both pretty good:
Martinborough Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 08
Coopers Creek Select Vineyard Arneis 07
The Arneis is a lovely fresh aromatic wine, and reminded me rather of the Villa verdelho I had at the weekend. These less well known varieties (in NZ) offer a nice alternative to pinot gris or sauv blanc, I think.
Martinborough Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 08
Coopers Creek Select Vineyard Arneis 07
The Arneis is a lovely fresh aromatic wine, and reminded me rather of the Villa verdelho I had at the weekend. These less well known varieties (in NZ) offer a nice alternative to pinot gris or sauv blanc, I think.
Cheers,
Mike
Mike
dlo wrote:mesh riesling 2005
My first bottle and what a wine!
I'd rate this up there with the very best young Australian Riesling's I've encountered over the past 25 years. The colour is nigh-on perfect - luminescent, almost glowing straw green with an amazing flash of white gold. Likewise, the nose is nigh-on perfect - tight, jam-packed with juicy freshly-squeezed limes, crushed river pebbles and minerals wrapped in a floral shroud suggesting orange blossoms. The palate is perfect - literally bursting with pristine lime and mineral flavours, a wealth of natural, refreshing acidity, terrific line, superb balance, impeccable manners and a sublime finish of enormous presence and quite amazing calibre. Drink now - the cows come home. Developing magnificently, this classic dry riesling will rival the 1990 Leo Buring Eden Valley Leonay as one of the truly great aromatic white wine's this country has produced. 97 points, I kid you not! 13.0% A/V and sealed with a screw cap.
David
Nice write up. This is an Eden Valley riesling isn't it?
Mark
Only the third bad boys lunch of the year, this year with some Dads in attendance. Back the Le Pelican. Again very good food but grumpy waitresses are one way for struggling restaurants in this climate to go out of business. With some many new people at the table, it was hard to make extensive note but did jot down the follow.
First up to refresh the senses. Veuve Clicquot Vintage 2002. Sadly I don't drink enough champagne to be able to make well informed comments but I do like the vevue house style, a bit more fulsome and yeasty in style than the leaner styles such as Bollinger. A young vintage wine, there was a subtle nutty after taste
Marchand & Burch 2007 A new joint venture operation from WA. Citrus tones on the nose, pale yellow, this is a well made chardonnay. Excellent length and structure with a light touch of lemon and a hint of pineapple. Finished just a little short but should fill out with time. At $65 a bottle not bad value and one I would buy again.
Grange 1989. May that the Dad's attend regulary. Brick red medium bodied colour, this is a super silky wine drinking beautifully at present. Mocca gamey taste with a touch of spicy hoy sin. No difficulty give this WOTL.
Grant Burge Meshach 1991. Not dissimilar in style to the Grange but without the added finesse. A soft and spicy fruit nose. Dark colour, again soft tannins with a slight stewed fruit dry finish, lovely wine
Brokenwood Graveyard 1994, lighter in colour than the two preceding wines. The more Graveyard I drink, the more I regret not having any in the cellar. The nose is more floral and less stewed. The tannins, super sexy and soft, with a more savoury finish.
Moss Wood Cab Sav 1994, I found this lacked the complexity of some earlier vintages I have tried recently. The palate has started to integrate but there is no real sense of depth and I kept thinking eucalyptus. A touch of caramel on the nose.
Howard Park 1998 Cab Sav Blend, 75% C/S, 15%CF and 10% Merlot. Medium bodied, red berries, the wine is still far too young.
Rockford Basket Press 1998. A monster of a wine. Stewed fruits and not something that should be opened for another 10 years based on the more refined style of the older wines above.
Ch Lafaurie Peyraguey 2003. Rich botrytis nose, huge and very generous sauterne style with wonderful acidity to avoid it being overly cloying. A superb wine. 2nd place for WOTL
First up to refresh the senses. Veuve Clicquot Vintage 2002. Sadly I don't drink enough champagne to be able to make well informed comments but I do like the vevue house style, a bit more fulsome and yeasty in style than the leaner styles such as Bollinger. A young vintage wine, there was a subtle nutty after taste
Marchand & Burch 2007 A new joint venture operation from WA. Citrus tones on the nose, pale yellow, this is a well made chardonnay. Excellent length and structure with a light touch of lemon and a hint of pineapple. Finished just a little short but should fill out with time. At $65 a bottle not bad value and one I would buy again.
Grange 1989. May that the Dad's attend regulary. Brick red medium bodied colour, this is a super silky wine drinking beautifully at present. Mocca gamey taste with a touch of spicy hoy sin. No difficulty give this WOTL.
Grant Burge Meshach 1991. Not dissimilar in style to the Grange but without the added finesse. A soft and spicy fruit nose. Dark colour, again soft tannins with a slight stewed fruit dry finish, lovely wine
Brokenwood Graveyard 1994, lighter in colour than the two preceding wines. The more Graveyard I drink, the more I regret not having any in the cellar. The nose is more floral and less stewed. The tannins, super sexy and soft, with a more savoury finish.
Moss Wood Cab Sav 1994, I found this lacked the complexity of some earlier vintages I have tried recently. The palate has started to integrate but there is no real sense of depth and I kept thinking eucalyptus. A touch of caramel on the nose.
Howard Park 1998 Cab Sav Blend, 75% C/S, 15%CF and 10% Merlot. Medium bodied, red berries, the wine is still far too young.
Rockford Basket Press 1998. A monster of a wine. Stewed fruits and not something that should be opened for another 10 years based on the more refined style of the older wines above.
Ch Lafaurie Peyraguey 2003. Rich botrytis nose, huge and very generous sauterne style with wonderful acidity to avoid it being overly cloying. A superb wine. 2nd place for WOTL