Hot Sunday

[Wayno]

It's too hot here to enjoy reds so beers and rizzas have been wheeled out.

Steingarten 2002 Riesling - bitter lemon, honey notes and gingery spice. This bottle showing signs of unpleasant development and it might be time to get through the rest of these on the basis of this one. Not as good as the brilliant 05.

Everyone else?

[dlo]

Last night with a friend over for dinner ....

Briar Ridge Stockhausen Semillon 1999 ..... oxidised. Blech! Nofreakin'goodatall. Sinkfodder.
Leo Buring Eden Valley Leonay Riesling 2004 ..... (screw cap) extremely youthful, a little reductive on the nose at first but blossomed in no time to reveal vibrant lime/honeysuckle/herb-tinged characters housed within a steely/tightly-coiled framework. Terrific reserves of minerally acidity. Veryfreakin'goodindeed. 91 points. Needs another 5 years before being set upon again.
Cheval Blanc 1999 .... bought quite a few of these (based on Parker's TN) some time back and decided to open my first one last night. Parker recommends to drink this forward and smooth CB between 2006 and 2022. I thought it marginally too soon to be consumed today, but I can see where he was coming from. Not a blockbuster, but possesses a most beautiful, seductive nose and, with a good breathe, a palate that fleshes out very nicely indeed. The tannins are noticeable but controlled and in balance with a lithe and sexy medium-bodied palate. The acidity is simply awesome and the finish is awfully long and flavoursome. I think the wine will improve marginally over the next 10 - 15 years. Extremelyfreakin'good. 92 points from me. Thoroughly enjoyed it. I've earmarked the next three bottles to drunk in 2014, 2019 and 2024. Will keep you posted.

[Stavros]

It's too hot here to enjoy reds so beers and rizzas have been wheeled out.

Steingarten 2002 Riesling - bitter lemon, honey notes and gingery spice. This bottle showing signs of unpleasant development and it might be time to get through the rest of these on the basis of this one. Not as good as the brilliant 05.

Everyone else?

Gee Wayno, not sounding to good for my 3 bottles i recently purchased, will crack one today and follow up on it...

S

[Wizz]

It's too hot here to enjoy reds so beers and rizzas have been wheeled out.
Steingarten 2002 Riesling - bitter lemon, honey notes and gingery spice. This bottle showing signs of unpleasant development and it might be time to get through the rest of these on the basis of this one. Not as good as the brilliant 05.
Everyone else?

Gee Wayno, not sounding to good for my 3 bottles i recently purchased, will crack one today and follow up on it...
S

I have some tucked away too. time to take a look by the sounds of that.

cheers
Andrew

[dlo]

It's too hot here to enjoy reds so beers and rizzas have been wheeled out.
Steingarten 2002 Riesling - bitter lemon, honey notes and gingery spice. This bottle showing signs of unpleasant development and it might be time to get through the rest of these on the basis of this one. Not as good as the brilliant 05.
Everyone else?

Gee Wayno, not sounding to good for my 3 bottles i recently purchased, will crack one today and follow up on it...
S

I have some tucked away too. time to take a look by the sounds of that.

cheers
Andrew

My last bottle was simply not up to the standard of what I expected and opened as a youngster. Perhaps it's still suffering from being in Tyson's hole.

[Muscat Mike]

Perhaps it's still suffering from being in Tyson's hole.

Might serve you right for putting it in there.
Mike.

[jeremy]

Flaxman NV Sparkling Barossa Shiraz- joint effort from Colin Sheppard, James Linke and Nathan Schultze. Disgorged 2009. Fair bit of refinement and complexity. Some older base material from Nathan and liquored with Flaxman's 2008 Vintage Port (Shiraz). Smells of blackberries, cherry cola, leather, plums and chocolate with a little hint of mint and coffee grounds. The texture is spot on, the bubbles very fine and luxuriant (traditional methode). Highlighted by the lighter red fruits- cherries, raspberries, cranberries - with the darker plums and blackberries in the wings adding depth of flavour. Some liquorice and nuttiness from the back of the mid palate onwards & a lovely sprinkle of cinnamon. Not too sweet, which may be one the reasons I really enjoyed it. I can find Sparkling Shiraz too sweet & lacking focus. No problems here.

[dlo]

Perhaps it's still suffering from being in Tyson's hole.

Might serve you right for putting it in there.
Mike.

Something the wine can only do by itself, I'm led to believe.

[DaveB]

Big Weekend in McLaren Vale & Langhorne Creek

Went to and tasted the ranges of:

Olivers Taranga
d"Arenberg
Chapel Hill
Samuels Gorge
Rudderless
Wirra Wirra
Gemtree
Dowie Doole
Pertaringa
Noon
The Nebb
Alpha Box & Dice
Primo/Joseph
Marius
Lake Breeze
Bremerton
Old Mill Estate
Ben Potts
Kimbolton Wines

Lunches at d'Arrys Verandah, Star of Greece and Aquacaf, dinners at Russells, Fino & T-Chow tonight

Phew!

[Stavros]

It's too hot here to enjoy reds so beers and rizzas have been wheeled out.
Steingarten 2002 Riesling - bitter lemon, honey notes and gingery spice. This bottle showing signs of unpleasant development and it might be time to get through the rest of these on the basis of this one. Not as good as the brilliant 05.
Everyone else?

Gee Wayno, not sounding to good for my 3 bottles i recently purchased, will crack one today and follow up on it...
S

I have some tucked away too. time to take a look by the sounds of that.

cheers
Andrew

As said, i cracked one this arvo....Golden Yellow in colour, certainly a lot more forward that i thought this would be, (i had a 98 a month back and it was "fresher' than this.) It's all lemon/ honey. creme Brulee, very little acid, but i still liked it. Not sure it will go the distance and as you said Wayno, time to drink up....my remaining two will be "done" by Xmas....

Cheers S

[daz]

Ben Potts, would that have been Bleasdale? I've had a number or their lower level wines and enjoyed them, think the Mulberry cab a bit under-rated, the Bremerview Shiraz I had was rewarding.

Cheers

daz

[DaveB]

Ben Potts, would that have been Bleasdale? I've had a number or their lower level wines and enjoyed them, think the Mulberry cab a bit under-rated, the Bremerview Shiraz I had was rewarding.

Cheers

daz

G'day Daz

Yup...spot on....he's got his own label...Ben Potts wines also

There is some great stuff coming out of Langhorne....Ben's stuff, Bremerton, Lake Breeze, Bleasdale....had a look at a couple of little guys yesterday...Kimbolton Wines which were very good and Old Mill who do some cracking stuff with Touriga Nacional.

Not to mention all the other wineries pulling fruit from the area...Penfolds (Icon and A-grade fruit going into Grange , St Henri et)....the stuff that Drew Noon grabs...the list goes on....Tom the viti dude for Bremerton took me for a spin around the region yesterday in the 4x4....a lot bigger than I expected.

[griff]

Ben Potts, would that have been Bleasdale? I've had a number or their lower level wines and enjoyed them, think the Mulberry cab a bit under-rated, the Bremerview Shiraz I had was rewarding.

Cheers

daz

G'day Daz

Yup...spot on....he's got his own label...Ben Potts wines also

There is some great stuff coming out of Langhorne....Ben's stuff, Bremerton, Lake Breeze, Bleasdale....had a look at a couple of little guys yesterday...Kimbolton Wines which were very good and Old Mill who do some cracking stuff with Touriga Nacional.

Not to mention all the other wineries pulling fruit from the area...Penfolds (Icon and A-grade fruit going into Grange , St Henri et)....the stuff that Drew Noon grabs...the list goes on....Tom the viti dude for Bremerton took me for a spin around the region yesterday in the 4x4....a lot bigger than I expected.

Wolf Blass and Glaetzer Snr have long been fans of Langhorne as well. Must look out for the Old Mill stuff as I love Touriga!

cheers

Carl

EDIT: some tasting notes to pay the toll

2009 Noon Rose
Quite fresh and a little estery still. Alcohol poking out a touch when cold. Savoury rose style. Very Good for a Rose. Needs a little more time in bottle to settle methinks.

2007 Dog Point Chardonnay
Lovely grapefruit and mealy nose. A lean yet textured palate that is vibrant with bell-like grapefruit. Finished a little acidic but came good with flambeed chicken in port mushroom sauce. Excellent but not sure about further improvement.

2003 Quinta do Pego Vintage Port
An early drinking VP that I doubt will close down. Rich fruit with some raisins but still the savoury chocolate and licorice that one gets in portugeuse VPs. Tannins and acid present but this is a wine that shall drink well for years but I suspect it wont improve. Excellent.

2008 St Cosme Cotes du Rhone
A little barnyardy on the inky nose. A somewhat stern palate with ink and and cool black fruit. A food wine. Good and very good value but store below 20 degrees!

cheers

Carl

[Wayno]

As said, i cracked one this arvo....Golden Yellow in colour, certainly a lot more forward that i thought this would be, (i had a 98 a month back and it was "fresher' than this.) It's all lemon/ honey. creme Brulee, very little acid, but i still liked it. Not sure it will go the distance and as you said Wayno, time to drink up....my remaining two will be "done" by Xmas....

Cheers S

Yes, Stavros. You've nailed it with the lack of acid which I really picked up on last night when finishing the bottle. I reckon this one's peaked, at least based on my cellaring conditions. I'll be looking to finish them over the next little while. The 02 has been an exceptional wine over the last few years and I've monitored it with interest - I have pretty high hopes for the 05 as that is nowhere near as developed now as the 02 was 2-3 years back. Vale!

[Stavros]

As said, i cracked one this arvo....Golden Yellow in colour, certainly a lot more forward that i thought this would be, (i had a 98 a month back and it was "fresher' than this.) It's all lemon/ honey. creme Brulee, very little acid, but i still liked it. Not sure it will go the distance and as you said Wayno, time to drink up....my remaining two will be "done" by Xmas....

Cheers S

Yes, Stavros. You've nailed it with the lack of acid which I really picked up on last night when finishing the bottle. I reckon this one's peaked, at least based on my cellaring conditions. I'll be looking to finish them over the next little while. The 02 has been an exceptional wine over the last few years and I've monitored it with interest - I have pretty high hopes for the 05 as that is nowhere near as developed now as the 02 was 2-3 years back. Vale!

Here is JH's note on the wine...i think he nailed it....

Jacob's Creek Steingarten Barossa Riesling 2002
Generous wine; lots of tropical lime and citrus fruit; will come into full flower circa 2007.
Rating 93 Drink 2012 Date Tasted Oct 04

[Brucer]

Big Weekend in McLaren Vale & Langhorne Creek

Went to and tasted the ranges of:

Olivers Taranga
d"Arenberg
Chapel Hill
Samuels Gorge
Rudderless
Wirra Wirra
Gemtree
Dowie Doole
Pertaringa
Noon
The Nebb
Alpha Box & Dice
Primo/Joseph
Marius
Lake Breeze
Bremerton
Old Mill Estate
Ben Potts
Kimbolton Wines

Lunches at d'Arrys Verandah, Star of Greece and Aquacaf, dinners at Russells, Fino & T-Chow tonight

Phew!

Dave
Did you find any really good shiraz from all those? Looking at the recent McLaren Vale show results, there has been a couple of really average vintages recently.
B

[Aaron Lovett]

2008 Hoddles Creek Chardonnay- Smells like a million bucks. Opened up with a bit of vanilla and stonefruit, before becoming tighter and more focused with more grapefruit coming to the fore. Lookiung forward to seeing how this develops. Excellent

1997 Penfolds BIn 28 Shiraz- I liked this. It's a bit porty and heavy, but still has that Penfolds charm. A surprising result from a forgotten vintage. Good.

[daz]

Ben Potts, would that have been Bleasdale? I've had a number or their lower level wines and enjoyed them, think the Mulberry cab a bit under-rated, the Bremerview Shiraz I had was rewarding.

Cheers

daz

G'day Daz

Yup...spot on....he's got his own label...Ben Potts wines also

There is some great stuff coming out of Langhorne....Ben's stuff, Bremerton, Lake Breeze, Bleasdale....had a look at a couple of little guys yesterday...Kimbolton Wines which were very good and Old Mill who do some cracking stuff with Touriga Nacional.

Not to mention all the other wineries pulling fruit from the area...Penfolds (Icon and A-grade fruit going into Grange , St Henri et)....the stuff that Drew Noon grabs...the list goes on....Tom the viti dude for Bremerton took me for a spin around the region yesterday in the 4x4....a lot bigger than I expected.

Thanks Dave

I've had a few Bleasdale Mulberry Tree Cabernet and some Bremerview Shiraz in the past, think they're very good VFM.

Carl, I seem to remember the Grey Label in the eary eighties had Langhorne Creek prominently printed on it.

Cheers

daz

[Mike Hawkins]

Rockford Black Shiraz (2004 disg) - lovely secondary characteristics, good length and not the offputting sweetness that are often present in other sparkling reds. No rush to drink up.

1997 Peter Lehman Stonewell Shiraz - also getting some secondary, earthy notes. Pretty good for an ordinary vintage

1996 Lanson Champagne - I really like this wine, but its still hard going with all the acid. Will continue to improve.

1991 Penfolds Grange - drank half the bottle (the other half tonight). Still a pup and not giving up much. Nice savoury wine with incredible length. The best is still 5+ years away.

[Daniel Jess]

I too tried riesling this week! Great minds...

Just slightly chilled to around 15 degrees, I sampled Paradigm Hill's 2008 Riesling. I don't have time to upload full tasting notes, but I wanted to say that it's not too bad. Not sure the price range, but if around $15-20... I'd say go for it.

I'm about to sample his 2008 Finir (riesling with a slight frizzante).

Daniel.

[TiggerK]

1996 Lanson Champagne - I really like this wine, but its still hard going with all the acid. Will continue to improve.

1991 Penfolds Grange - drank half the bottle (the other half tonight). Still a pup and not giving up much. Nice savoury wine with incredible length. The best is still 5+ years away.

Cheers for those notes Mike, will hang on to the ones I've got for quite a bit longer then. I find the Lanson's are good with food, the acidity can cut though nicely.

Myself not much, sticking to some current favourites, other than the big tasting group the other night (champagne and sparkling red)

Sunday we tried a Tyrrells Chardonnay 2002 - It's had too much temperature variation this one, guilty as I've had it for so long (pre wine fridge days) and kept putting off drinking it. Wife drank it without complaint (but not much and slowly), but I thought it was bad. Hanging in there barely to it's credit, but had to let it go.

Last night.. Bannockburn Chardonnay 2006 - not a regular white wine drinker, but I love this one. Really good balance of powerful stonefruit, with a soft freshness and nice integrated oak. 2 of these over Art series anyday, although Art Series is still a touch better again. My wife loved it a lot, and a second bottle ensued...

Tonight it was a return to Champagne and a Pol Roger 1998 - It's just superb.

Cheers
TiggerK

[Chuck]

BIIIG time in Sydney and Taree from Friday returning Adelaide today.

Friday night. 35th class reunion. Copious quantities of fine ales and double scotches.

Saturday and Sunday. Visited good friend and best man in Taree. Prawn sandwiches washed down with Jack Daniels and single malts.

Monday night back in Sydney. Dinner with business friends. First ever Devils Lair Chardonnay washed down with oysters and lobster. Dl was too cold at first but quite nice later. Wouldn't rave though.

Hire car was Audi A4 1.4T (turbo?). Very slick machine and miserly on fuel 6.3l/100km over 875 km tour. Interestingly the 7 speed auto drops down the gears when cruise control is on going downhill. A little disconcerting at first but a great idea to beat the cops who wait at bottom of hills.

Note to self. Give the liver a break.

Chuck

[Matt]

visited http://www.flametreewines.com
really impressed. only been around a few years. they source their grapes from MR and Frankland River region in WA.
they now have former voyager estate winemaker on board. i see big things for this company.

i tried all their selection on offer including their reserve shiraz and cab sav...highlights were the 2005 chardonnay and 2008 shiraz and of course the 2007 reserve shiraz.
2007 chardonnay $25 - buttery, creamy with white peach. great length. butters not my ideal taste i want when drinking a chadonnay, or any wine for that point however it was very obvious and remarkably different - trying is beliveing with this wine.

2008 shiraz $25 -Wonderful colour with a generous bouquet of plum and spicy cherry, grainy tannins gave it a nice finish. a quick double decant and it was stunning, jumping out of the glass. the cellar door girls said this wine has beaten wines 3 times the price and i could see why.

will be ordering up.

PS the 2008 cab merlot was excellent as well however im am a little over this varietal for the time being.

glad i popped in!

[mf]

Sunday we tried a Tyrrells Chardonnay 2002 - It's had too much temperature variation this one, guilty as I've had it for so long (pre wine fridge days) and kept putting off drinking it. Wife drank it without complaint (but not much and slowly), but I thought it was bad. Hanging in there barely to it's credit, but had to let it go.

Last night.. Bannockburn Chardonnay 2006 - not a regular white wine drinker, but I love this one. Really good balance of powerful stonefruit, with a soft freshness and nice integrated oak. 2 of these over Art series anyday, although Art Series is still a touch better again. My wife loved it a lot, and a second bottle ensued...

uh oh - I have a couple of bottles of Tyrrells 2002 and have treated them similarly so better open one and hope for the best. That Bannockburn Chardonnay is very good - visited Bannockburn one day (great appointment to make if you can) and tasted the wine and Michael Glover (the winemaker) let me take the remainder home as it was the end of the day (after spending 3 hours or so there), I think I noted that I found it powerful but elegant which is maybe a rare combo (also got to taste the Bannockburn SRH 06 that day - good times!).

For me:

Tuck's Ridge Chardonnay 2008 Very lightly oaked but still has plenty of Mornington chardonnay flavours - think more melon/grapefruit than citrus or other stone fruits (maybe a little bit of white peach) and a nice bit of creaminess (more than being spicy - although chalkiness may be better description).

Grosset Watervale Riesling 2006 Very crisp as would be expected with a bit of steely acid and finish. Has plenty of citrus flavour but also something that reminds me of Viognier but don't think it is apricot but something more like peach ("blossom" or something floral may be appropriate).

Lan gwerth Von Simmern Hattenheimer Riesling Kabinett Trocken 2007 Have taken a bit of liking to German Riesling and this is one of the wines responsible. Almost spritzy and makes a spritzy sound as the bottle opens. Something about it reminds me of mineral or tonic water in this way - kind of a dry style (maybe off dry) but has a bit of sweet citrus flavour (like lemon/lime sherbert). Nice softish texture despite the notable acid/minerality and pretty good length.

Grosset Polish Hill Riesling 2009 - A bit of a surprise - not really that citric or acidic or slatey/steelly (eg. no kero) for me (despite every review I have seen noting considerable lime flavour). While it did have some citrus think it was more tropical fruit flavours and maybe even banana (but definitely some pineapple and even passionfruit) and probably some apple and pear ("Orange rind" possibly). The flavours though were quite complex and the wine ample on mouthfilling flavour and definitely it was very long.

Tapanappa Tiers Chardonnay 2006 - This is a wine that I think I just happen to like (so may make extra positive). Complex long and deep wine. I like this a lot as it is a style I like and find it very interesting. Seems to plenty of malo (or oak influence) which seems beautifully integrated but gives plenty of butteriness (and to a lesser extent honey) and I think some oak imparts some very nice vanilla and spice characters.

[jeremy]

mf wrote

Tapanappa Tiers Chardonnay 2006 - This is a wine that I think I just happen to like (so may make extra positive). Complex long and deep wine. I like this a lot as it is a style I like and find it very interesting. Seems to plenty of malo (or oak influence) which seems beautifully integrated but gives plenty of butteriness (and to a lesser extent honey) and I think some oak imparts some very nice vanilla and spice characters.

Love this wine, don't think you're too extra positive