After a stint in the MidEast great to have accessibility to nice wines in HK-albeit at a price.
Zema Estate 01 Caberent - sweet plum and vanilla oak, mulberry nose. A full bodied Coonawarra with savoury finish and some grip. Needs time though approachable in raw youth.
Nepenthe 00 the Fugue - 2000 a tough year in the Hills. I enjoy The Fugue but not this year. New wood evident , which combined with some lean fruit to give an Xmas cake nose, some sweet plum and earth/leather palate flavours. No fruit depth at all.
2001 Battle of Bosworth Shiraz - Youthful, red-purple, fruit driven wine, fine berry fruit and noted, but unobtrusive oak, mid-weight palate with the fruit driven style evident. Nice change from some oak monsters out of the Southern Vales.
2002 Nepenthe Riesling- Floral & lime bouquet, rich pear and lime palate lavours, with good fruit density, roll into a grapefruit tang finish- Halliday described this as Alsace like- and agree totally. Not unlike the palate impressions from a Hugel. The bottle states a 5 year climb to maturity in stelvin; would seem about right as more tang than acid. Very enjoyable wine.
Katnook Estate 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon - 375ml. My Hong Kong quaffer-every supermarket I enter here, seems to stock this line. Good distribution effort but bad for the grocery budget. Black forest cake, raspberry nose. The oak/fruit harmonised. Sweet vanilla, plum & chocolate fruit flavours fill out a medium to full bodied coonawarra caberent, that lacks the plushness and intensity of the 99, but neverless a good cellarable expression of the style. Some geen capsicum noted as the wine finished with length dominated by long and fine tannin. Consistant wine.
Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier 01 - Outstanding and unique stuff. I tasted dozens of 01 Cote Roties at the March aux Vin in Ampuis recently. More blackfruit would bring this into the top echelons IMHO.
Soft cherry fruit is complemented by a fragrant and floral nose, spice & pepper too. Supple and harmonious, more cherry, earth, cinnamon fruit flavours on day 2. The finish is very long, with distinct, powerful tannin on a backbone of fresh acid. Keep returning to the wonderful mouthfeel, just through the wine around the mouth and enjoy an array of complexity.
It has a crafted feel to it. Maybe the terroir of Canberra will never permit an intensity of black fruits of the top echelon Cote Rotie, but it sits comfortably above most of the 01's I tried recently-and QPR still relatively good!
Will be trying to put a few bottles of Clonakilla away each year. Aswell as getting hold of their Viognier in the near term.
Noel
I think Australia GSM is an underachiever.
Their are also some monster ripe CNP around at the moment. Sure, never be the same but maybe not polls apart?
I hope Rick Burge persists. I think he will produce world class, Aussie GSM
styles with regularity-my bet is on him anyway.
Must start a thread on impressions/favourites/hopes for Australian GSM or CNP local styles.
Its that time of the week, come in .....
Voyager Shiraz 2001
Smoky cherry nose. Savoury/meaty with good tannic texture (a bit on the heavy side). 2nd night: starting to open up, more smoky, cedary, and even rose petal. Layers of texture, waiting to be integrated.
Saltram No.1 1999
Got stuck into my 2nd bottle of saltram no. 1 after the less than satisfactory experience with 1998 three weeks ago. Dark inpenatrable purple, smoky oak with hint of vanilla and berry fruit. The texture is silky with fine tannin. Full of sweet berry fruits, chocholate, with great balance of acidity. 2nd night: more fragrant, with menthol and black berries. Mouthful has become more coating and more savoury and less chocolaty. IMHO the 99 is far more balanced than the 98 at this juncture.
p.s. welcome back to FH jamie. looks like you have been picking up the mandatory on sale items from watson's as well. were you the one who cleaned up the 93 E and E at pacific place last saturday
cheers eddie
Smoky cherry nose. Savoury/meaty with good tannic texture (a bit on the heavy side). 2nd night: starting to open up, more smoky, cedary, and even rose petal. Layers of texture, waiting to be integrated.
Saltram No.1 1999
Got stuck into my 2nd bottle of saltram no. 1 after the less than satisfactory experience with 1998 three weeks ago. Dark inpenatrable purple, smoky oak with hint of vanilla and berry fruit. The texture is silky with fine tannin. Full of sweet berry fruits, chocholate, with great balance of acidity. 2nd night: more fragrant, with menthol and black berries. Mouthful has become more coating and more savoury and less chocolaty. IMHO the 99 is far more balanced than the 98 at this juncture.
p.s. welcome back to FH jamie. looks like you have been picking up the mandatory on sale items from watson's as well. were you the one who cleaned up the 93 E and E at pacific place last saturday
cheers eddie
Popov wrote:Hi All,
Sat night has a 2001 Vasse Felix Cab Sav which was a great drop and has me thinking that I need to pick up some more of the 2001 Cabs from Margaret River.
Cheers
Popov
Hi Popov,
I had a very similar thought this weekend re: Margaret River. I was going to try a btl of Vasse Felix Cab 99 but went for the Wynns Cab 98, and a couple of others and my tatste buds seem to be moving in the direction of Margaret River Cab/Merlot blends. Don't have any time for notes at this stage but will get onto it. It's probably something similar to being attacted to cold climate Shiraz.
Oh ok here's one just because I saw Jamie had done the same!
Battle of Bosworth Shiraz 2001 (double decanted)
Colour: Gloosy raspberry and quite thin/transparent.
Nose: Cappucino with mulberry and burnt pencil shavings. My god!! Apricots!!
Palate: Mulberry, red cherry, coffee and chocolate, some bitter skins, acid strength and slight tannin dryness.
After an hour the fruit comes up and the whole wine balances a bit better with the coffee characteristics. I think this is the opposite of what you thought isn't it Jamie?
Just went out and bought a Green Curry with Chicken and it knocked the top off the flavours and left an amazing Pinot Noir profile of strawberries, herbs, becoming a lovely gentle wine.
As a Shiraz, not really my style 84/100 but as a Pinot 89/100. And especially after my last rant about Aus Pinot masquerading as Shiraz
Not going for another at $24/btl.
cheers,
simm.
"I ain't drunk! I' still drinkin' !!"
"I ain't drunk! I' still drinkin' !!"
-
Gavin Trott
- Posts: 1860
- Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2003 5:01 pm
- Location: Adelaide
- Contact:
Mother in laws over for dinner at home on Saturday night;
A cleanskin sparkling burgundy as a starter showing lovely complex berry flavours and a crisp, clean finish (apparently a Hardys and it is a cracker for $10).
Ballast Stone 2003 Reisling
Very nice with Crunchy Pumpkin soup for starters and Prawns with Chilli-Lime butter for entree . A nose of sharp citrus with a quite austere but flavoursome palate and medium length.
2002 Noon Eclipse
Went down a treat with the Silverside and white sauce. A real favourite with my Dad and the in-laws.
A cleanskin sparkling burgundy as a starter showing lovely complex berry flavours and a crisp, clean finish (apparently a Hardys and it is a cracker for $10).
Ballast Stone 2003 Reisling
Very nice with Crunchy Pumpkin soup for starters and Prawns with Chilli-Lime butter for entree . A nose of sharp citrus with a quite austere but flavoursome palate and medium length.
2002 Noon Eclipse
Went down a treat with the Silverside and white sauce. A real favourite with my Dad and the in-laws.
Cheers
-Mark Wickman
WICKMAN'S FINE WINE AUCTIONS
FREE membership, LOWEST auction commissions in Australia.
Now accepting wine for our next auction.
http://www.wickman.net.au
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-Mark Wickman
WICKMAN'S FINE WINE AUCTIONS
FREE membership, LOWEST auction commissions in Australia.
Now accepting wine for our next auction.
http://www.wickman.net.au
Twitter: @WickWine
YouTube: WickWineAuction
and have a good flight.
-
JamieBahrain
- Posts: 3754
- Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2003 7:40 am
- Location: Fragrant Harbour.
Gavin
Do HK deliveries? Do sneek a six pack though for your own leisure though. Ed may be able to back me up but I have never had problems doing such!
Ed
Wasn't me re E&E. Got me a few bottles and noted a Spanish sale this month-any ideas?
What happend to our HK Offline gentleman? Havent pushed yet as pretty gruelling circumstances at present-new job & new country etc.
Do HK deliveries? Do sneek a six pack though for your own leisure though. Ed may be able to back me up but I have never had problems doing such!
Ed
Wasn't me re E&E. Got me a few bottles and noted a Spanish sale this month-any ideas?
What happend to our HK Offline gentleman? Havent pushed yet as pretty gruelling circumstances at present-new job & new country etc.
hi jamie
yeah the spanish sale....totally clueless.
did pick up the WB platinum cab 00 though...for HK$480. i know its a lousy vintage but there was nothing else good to buy except the 00 Te mata Awatea cab and Isabel 01 pinot which are still on sale.
used to stuff a six-pack of whatever in my handcarry bag when the xchange rate was 3.5:1 NZ-HK 3 years ago. but these days its not so worthwhile. true, never got checked.
havent pushed for the offline either...lets face it, gav is on a family holiday. its not a good look if he has to leave the kids and the missus in the hotel room and go out drinking with his mates but that's entirely up to gavin 
cheers
eddie
yeah the spanish sale....totally clueless.
did pick up the WB platinum cab 00 though...for HK$480. i know its a lousy vintage but there was nothing else good to buy except the 00 Te mata Awatea cab and Isabel 01 pinot which are still on sale.
used to stuff a six-pack of whatever in my handcarry bag when the xchange rate was 3.5:1 NZ-HK 3 years ago. but these days its not so worthwhile. true, never got checked.
havent pushed for the offline either...lets face it, gav is on a family holiday. its not a good look if he has to leave the kids and the missus in the hotel room and go out drinking with his mates
but that's entirely up to gavin
cheers
eddie
-
Gavin Trott
- Posts: 1860
- Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2003 5:01 pm
- Location: Adelaide
- Contact:
Ed W wrote:hi jamie
yeah the spanish sale....totally clueless.
did pick up the WB platinum cab 00 though...for HK$480. i know its a lousy vintage but there was nothing else good to buy except the 00 Te mata Awatea cab and Isabel 01 pinot which are still on sale.
used to stuff a six-pack of whatever in my handcarry bag when the xchange rate was 3.5:1 NZ-HK 3 years ago. but these days its not so worthwhile. true, never got checked.
havent pushed for the offline either...lets face it, gav is on a family holiday. its not a good look if he has to leave the kids and the missus in the hotel room and go out drinking with his mates
cheers
eddie
Agreed, too hard and too busy ... tourist and family holiday it is, thanks for your understanding gentlemen.
regards
Gavin Trott
Gavin Trott
Had a couple of the weekend, but have given up writing notes anymore....
Saturday Morning
'03 Mt Difficulty Pinot Gris: Excellent wine. Could drink anytime.
'0? Devils Bend Pinot Noir: Soft, elegant, lacking something though, not my style.
'01 Majella Shiraz: Another excellent wine, stacks of flavour and oak to boot, still needs time.
Saturday Night
'02 Oyster Bay Sauv Blanc: Luscious, usual suspects etc.
'00 Guigal Cote du Rhone: Always a favourite, not as pooey as usual.
'01 Majella Cab: Awesome wine. One of my favourites.
'95 Eileen Hardy Shriraz: What can I say. Absolutely mouth-watering. 2ndary flavours abound.... yum!
Cheers
Andrew
Saturday Morning
'03 Mt Difficulty Pinot Gris: Excellent wine. Could drink anytime.
'0? Devils Bend Pinot Noir: Soft, elegant, lacking something though, not my style.
'01 Majella Shiraz: Another excellent wine, stacks of flavour and oak to boot, still needs time.
Saturday Night
'02 Oyster Bay Sauv Blanc: Luscious, usual suspects etc.
'00 Guigal Cote du Rhone: Always a favourite, not as pooey as usual.
'01 Majella Cab: Awesome wine. One of my favourites.
'95 Eileen Hardy Shriraz: What can I say. Absolutely mouth-watering. 2ndary flavours abound.... yum!
Cheers
Andrew
-
Guest_Anders
Hi,
Tatsed over three days.
2001 Torbreck Descendant.
Dark purple red. The nose was filled with dark fruits and berries (blackberries, plum and some almost liquer like casis) together with spices, licorice, elegant oak andchocolate. There was also some faint violets and honeysuckle aromas. The palate had lots of dark fruits, again with the blackberries and liquer like casis showing the way together with elegant oak, chocolate and spices. Even though it was and is a BIG wine, it also had quite a bit of elegance over it.
On the second day not much had changed, but on the third day it had started to come together and the wine seemed more integrated.
An absolute lovely and excellent wine and totally worth the !UD 115.00 (roughly, depending on the exchange rate) I paid for it here in Sweden.
Regards,
Anders
Tatsed over three days.
2001 Torbreck Descendant.
Dark purple red. The nose was filled with dark fruits and berries (blackberries, plum and some almost liquer like casis) together with spices, licorice, elegant oak andchocolate. There was also some faint violets and honeysuckle aromas. The palate had lots of dark fruits, again with the blackberries and liquer like casis showing the way together with elegant oak, chocolate and spices. Even though it was and is a BIG wine, it also had quite a bit of elegance over it.
On the second day not much had changed, but on the third day it had started to come together and the wine seemed more integrated.
An absolute lovely and excellent wine and totally worth the !UD 115.00 (roughly, depending on the exchange rate) I paid for it here in Sweden.
Regards,
Anders
A couple...
Short notes..
'00 Dromana Estate Shiraz.
A very good Peninsula shiraz that has developed well, and will continue to do do for another 3-5 years yet. Very nice, well made wine with a little more dark fuit than is normal on the Peninsula. Liked it.
'03 Capel Vale Sauv/Sem.
Lovely nose, not over the top, full mouthfeel well rounded out by the Semillon. Good length and acidity.
'03 Scorpo Pinot Gris.
This is a seriously good Pinot Gris, bordering on the best I have tasted in Oz so far, and without a doubt, the best on the Peninsula. Awsome mouthfeel and depth of fruit, generous length, a great wine!
'98 Dromana Estate Reserve Chardonnay.
Seemed to be developing a tad quickly, hopefully a bit of bottle variation, as not as good as I was expecting. A little pong on the nose that took a while to blow off to begin to show some quality of fruit, but not up there with the likes of the '00 nor the '98 Main Ridge Chard.
'98 Redmans Cab/Sauv.
This has copped some flack from some forumites, but I really appreciate the variatally correct Coonawarra nose and palate. For the price, was a bargain. Developing well with many years of growth to go.
Rory
'00 Dromana Estate Shiraz.
A very good Peninsula shiraz that has developed well, and will continue to do do for another 3-5 years yet. Very nice, well made wine with a little more dark fuit than is normal on the Peninsula. Liked it.
'03 Capel Vale Sauv/Sem.
Lovely nose, not over the top, full mouthfeel well rounded out by the Semillon. Good length and acidity.
'03 Scorpo Pinot Gris.
This is a seriously good Pinot Gris, bordering on the best I have tasted in Oz so far, and without a doubt, the best on the Peninsula. Awsome mouthfeel and depth of fruit, generous length, a great wine!
'98 Dromana Estate Reserve Chardonnay.
Seemed to be developing a tad quickly, hopefully a bit of bottle variation, as not as good as I was expecting. A little pong on the nose that took a while to blow off to begin to show some quality of fruit, but not up there with the likes of the '00 nor the '98 Main Ridge Chard.
'98 Redmans Cab/Sauv.
This has copped some flack from some forumites, but I really appreciate the variatally correct Coonawarra nose and palate. For the price, was a bargain. Developing well with many years of growth to go.
Rory
Dear Mr Torb,
I'm sorry my homework is late. I really liked doing it though. I hope it's okay that I only did point form notes, there are big ones written about most of the wines by other winos
But maybe someone will find something useful or interesting in these ones anyway.
2002 Scarpantoni Block 3 Shiraz - $19 Worth every penny, this will last and want at least 6-8 years and is a wine that truly delivers. Mouthfilling. Coffee, chocolate and sweet powdery tannins, great dark and red fruits, a big palate and a long finish. A case is on the shopping list.
2002 O'Leary Walker Shiraz - $18 A cracker, worthy of all the praise it has received. Given the price, this is whreally biig. Wheely big Shoe...raz. Will no doubt live for a good while, and again it needs it, a must for the list.
1996 Clarendon Hills Shiraz - $Probably a fair bit more than it is worth. This was utterly disappointing. Showing strong signs of premature ageing, brett, cloudy red brown, yet no true indication of oxidation or heat exposure. I actually completed notes for this but there is nothing positive to say. I rex and hope to goodness that this was a dud bottle.
1994 Grant Burge Meshach - $Who cares? This wine epitomizes great old(ish)vine Barossa Shiraz. Explodes in the mouth after a good five seconds and stays around forever. Showing no signs of slowing down. Wow, again, is there anything better?
1996 Haselgrove Reserve Shiraz - $24 Hello! Opulent and unashamedly sexy, if any McLaren Vale wine deserves the name 'Vixen', this must be a contender. Still a good 4 or 5 years to go before it hits its stride. Great for those who appreciate the style.
1996 Leasingham Bin 61 Shiraz - $22 Excellent, I may have to duck for cover but I think this is perfectly ready. Great now.
1997 Penolfds Bin 28 Shiraz - $18 To me, not a bad Bin 28 at all, though certainly at an early peak. For a bad vintage this is really very good, with plenty of fruit weight. Yum.
1999 St Hallett Old Block Shiraz - $45 Though of course not entirely a Barossa wine, this could be mistaken for the Meshach's (much) littler brother. Still, very impressive and highly enjoyable.
1999 Glaetzer Shiraz - $45 Everything the three years older Wynns Michael wishes it could be. The similarities are undeniable despite the geopraphic separation. Big, but with great sophistication and wonderful depth of flavour.
2002 Taylors Shiraz - $17 Needs a few years, the 2001 showed much better depth of the same flavours, and is a great Clare Shiraz at the price. Liqourice, plums, not too much oak, good.
2001 Taylors Shiraz - $17 See above
2002 St Hallett Faith Shiraz - $17 Not all that far behind the 1999 Old Block, with similar palate flavours, more at the front now, and of course without the same depth. Give it 3 to 5 years and it will be a very good drop at the price.
2000 Rosemount Tarditional - $NA Served on the same night as the Scarpantoni and Glaetzer Shiraz, it only just held its own. Unfair company perhaps?
1996 Wynns Michael Shiraz - $Free won in a bet
Perhaps in hibernation, this is not a great Michael right now, but good in its own right. Might just wake up later, given the vintage.
2001 Paul Osicka Shiraz - $24 Cardamom is not an aroma and palate flavour I've experienced before, but with this wine it is at the fore and really rather pleasing. Not over the top, but full and complex palate with a medium length finish. Subtle yet supple. Not hot, pretty great, actually, though definitely not typical Heathcote. Would be impossible to place on a map. Will try once more in a while.
2001 Ferngrove King Malbec - $22 No real recollection or notes, but big and very deep in colour, not at all ready. Very similar to the Bin 56 in some respects, eg, Granny Smith on the palate.
2000 Wolf Blass Grey Label Cabernet - $35 Pure vanilla on the nose and all over the fruit in the mouth. If this is your style, you will love it, though even a regular fan of the Grey and especially Brown Label might find it too much. I did, and I don't think there's fruit to soak it up. Try again in a few years with a juicy steak, maybe.
1999 Veritas Shiraz Mourvedre Pressings - $30 This was just too much like a mediocre Grenache, which is strange as there's none there. Hmmm...Weighty enough, but just nothing exciting.
2001 Leasingham Bin 56 Cabernet Malbec - $18 This will need a little while to approach. No idea yet.
1999 Wynns CSM - $16 Tannins? Check. Fruit? Hmmm...Check? This just might come good in a few years, still completely austere. Given a few hours of breathing it opens up and shows there just might be fruit to carry it through.
2002 Lindemans Chardonnay - $5 By the glass, somebody must have put yeast and a lemon wedge in my Perrier
2000 De Bortoli Noble One - $20 Half bottle - This never disappoints. Honeysuckle, passionfruit, citrus, more honey. A favourite nectar as just about every restaurant seems to have it on hand.
1999 Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine #1 - $65 Next time I drag this one out, I had better be attending a new round birthday. Wondeful perfumed elegance, opens up a little with some breathing, this should be a very good but not great edition with time.
I'm sorry my homework is late. I really liked doing it though. I hope it's okay that I only did point form notes, there are big ones written about most of the wines by other winos
But maybe someone will find something useful or interesting in these ones anyway.
2002 Scarpantoni Block 3 Shiraz - $19 Worth every penny, this will last and want at least 6-8 years and is a wine that truly delivers. Mouthfilling. Coffee, chocolate and sweet powdery tannins, great dark and red fruits, a big palate and a long finish. A case is on the shopping list.
2002 O'Leary Walker Shiraz - $18 A cracker, worthy of all the praise it has received. Given the price, this is whreally biig. Wheely big Shoe...raz. Will no doubt live for a good while, and again it needs it, a must for the list.
1996 Clarendon Hills Shiraz - $Probably a fair bit more than it is worth. This was utterly disappointing. Showing strong signs of premature ageing, brett, cloudy red brown, yet no true indication of oxidation or heat exposure. I actually completed notes for this but there is nothing positive to say. I rex and hope to goodness that this was a dud bottle.
1994 Grant Burge Meshach - $Who cares? This wine epitomizes great old(ish)vine Barossa Shiraz. Explodes in the mouth after a good five seconds and stays around forever. Showing no signs of slowing down. Wow, again, is there anything better?
1996 Haselgrove Reserve Shiraz - $24 Hello!
Opulent and unashamedly sexy, if any McLaren Vale wine deserves the name 'Vixen', this must be a contender. Still a good 4 or 5 years to go before it hits its stride. Great for those who appreciate the style.
1996 Leasingham Bin 61 Shiraz - $22 Excellent, I may have to duck for cover but I think this is perfectly ready. Great now.
1997 Penolfds Bin 28 Shiraz - $18 To me, not a bad Bin 28 at all, though certainly at an early peak. For a bad vintage this is really very good, with plenty of fruit weight. Yum.
1999 St Hallett Old Block Shiraz - $45 Though of course not entirely a Barossa wine, this could be mistaken for the Meshach's (much) littler brother. Still, very impressive and highly enjoyable.
1999 Glaetzer Shiraz - $45 Everything the three years older Wynns Michael wishes it could be. The similarities are undeniable despite the geopraphic separation. Big, but with great sophistication and wonderful depth of flavour.
2002 Taylors Shiraz - $17 Needs a few years, the 2001 showed much better depth of the same flavours, and is a great Clare Shiraz at the price. Liqourice, plums, not too much oak, good.
2001 Taylors Shiraz - $17 See above
2002 St Hallett Faith Shiraz - $17 Not all that far behind the 1999 Old Block, with similar palate flavours, more at the front now, and of course without the same depth. Give it 3 to 5 years and it will be a very good drop at the price.
2000 Rosemount Tarditional - $NA Served on the same night as the Scarpantoni and Glaetzer Shiraz, it only just held its own. Unfair company perhaps?
1996 Wynns Michael Shiraz - $Free won in a bet
Perhaps in hibernation, this is not a great Michael right now, but good in its own right. Might just wake up later, given the vintage.
2001 Paul Osicka Shiraz - $24 Cardamom is not an aroma and palate flavour I've experienced before, but with this wine it is at the fore and really rather pleasing. Not over the top, but full and complex palate with a medium length finish. Subtle yet supple. Not hot, pretty great, actually, though definitely not typical Heathcote. Would be impossible to place on a map. Will try once more in a while.
2001 Ferngrove King Malbec - $22 No real recollection or notes, but big and very deep in colour, not at all ready. Very similar to the Bin 56 in some respects, eg, Granny Smith on the palate.
2000 Wolf Blass Grey Label Cabernet - $35 Pure vanilla on the nose and all over the fruit in the mouth. If this is your style, you will love it, though even a regular fan of the Grey and especially Brown Label might find it too much. I did, and I don't think there's fruit to soak it up. Try again in a few years with a juicy steak, maybe.
1999 Veritas Shiraz Mourvedre Pressings - $30 This was just too much like a mediocre Grenache, which is strange as there's none there. Hmmm...Weighty enough, but just nothing exciting.
2001 Leasingham Bin 56 Cabernet Malbec - $18 This will need a little while to approach. No idea yet.
1999 Wynns CSM - $16 Tannins? Check. Fruit? Hmmm...Check? This just might come good in a few years, still completely austere. Given a few hours of breathing it opens up and shows there just might be fruit to carry it through.
2002 Lindemans Chardonnay - $5 By the glass, somebody must have put yeast and a lemon wedge in my Perrier
2000 De Bortoli Noble One - $20 Half bottle - This never disappoints. Honeysuckle, passionfruit, citrus, more honey. A favourite nectar as just about every restaurant seems to have it on hand.
1999 Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine #1 - $65 Next time I drag this one out, I had better be attending a new round birthday. Wondeful perfumed elegance, opens up a little with some breathing, this should be a very good but not great edition with time.
Jakob wrote:Dear Mr Torb,
I'm sorry my homework is late. I really liked doing it though. I hope it's okay that I only did point form notes, there are big ones written about most of the wines by other winos
You still get an "A" for your assignment and an A+ for the dedication of your liver.2002 Scarpantoni Block 3 Shiraz - $19 Worth every penny, this will last and want at least 6-8 years and is a wine that truly delivers. Mouthfilling. Coffee, chocolate and sweet powdery tannins, great dark and red fruits, a big palate and a long finish. A case is on the shopping list.
Glad we have a return to form here, i look forward to trying it soon.1996 Clarendon Hills Shiraz - $Probably a fair bit more than it is worth. This was utterly disappointing. Showing strong signs of premature ageing, brett, cloudy red brown, yet no true indication of oxidation or heat exposure. I actually completed notes for this but there is nothing positive to say. I rex and hope to goodness that this was a dud bottle.
I would be interested to hear from others about this wine.1996 Leasingham Bin 61 Shiraz - $22 Excellent, I may have to duck for cover but I think this is perfectly ready. Great now.
Agreed!
Juniper Crossing Cabernet Merlot 2001 Margaret River
Colour: Rich, vibrant garnet with whisps of mauve around the edge.
Nose: Slightly resinous cedar, fruitcake, dry leaf, blackcurrants and rhubarb.
Palate: Medium + weight with blackcurrant, olives, herbaceous characters and a touch of mint. There is some bitter chocolate lurking in a dark corner of the cigar box. Very hot alcohol (14.5)and red berry acids clash a bit on the back palate and down into the lungs. Medium length.
Mellows after half an hour but doesnÂ’t lose its tartness. $18 all right but you could find better 87/100
Elderton Command Barossa Shiraz 1999
Colour: Brooding, dense darkness (opaque, but I think it should have been decanted before shaken up on the way home).
Nose: Plum pudding, blue ink, blueberry, coconut and cedar, and any spare trees you have lying around in the timberyard during a housing lull.
Palate: Almost viscous with its enormous weight. It has a smooth velour texture with all manner of black beasts wading through a Labrea (?sp.) pit of forest giants. The black fruits blend uncomfortably with the porty plums thanks to the oak, but sucking tannins give it enough backbone to stop it from being smug and lazy.
Forgive me if any offence given but it seems to me the grapes were cooked on the vine before being picked and then there was a desperate bid to balance it with oak. A cover-up, or too many commands spoiling the complexity? Someone in Gourmet Wine said that this was a less oaked vintage than previous. Could have fooled me with its 3 year treatment. Bletch!!!!
Preferred to the Juniper Crossing but not in terms of value, 89/100
Three Sisters Shiraz 2002
No real notes but I remember this to be quite a surprise with well ripened back and red berries as well as plums. Enough spiciness to add interest and reasonable of length. Guess its around $15/btl and would rate an 87/100
Hi Jakob,
Great to read the notes on the extensive list of wines you squeezed your liver through
cheers,
Colour: Rich, vibrant garnet with whisps of mauve around the edge.
Nose: Slightly resinous cedar, fruitcake, dry leaf, blackcurrants and rhubarb.
Palate: Medium + weight with blackcurrant, olives, herbaceous characters and a touch of mint. There is some bitter chocolate lurking in a dark corner of the cigar box. Very hot alcohol (14.5)and red berry acids clash a bit on the back palate and down into the lungs. Medium length.
Mellows after half an hour but doesnÂ’t lose its tartness. $18 all right but you could find better 87/100
Elderton Command Barossa Shiraz 1999
Colour: Brooding, dense darkness (opaque, but I think it should have been decanted before shaken up on the way home).
Nose: Plum pudding, blue ink, blueberry, coconut and cedar, and any spare trees you have lying around in the timberyard during a housing lull.
Palate: Almost viscous with its enormous weight. It has a smooth velour texture with all manner of black beasts wading through a Labrea (?sp.) pit of forest giants. The black fruits blend uncomfortably with the porty plums thanks to the oak, but sucking tannins give it enough backbone to stop it from being smug and lazy.
Forgive me if any offence given but it seems to me the grapes were cooked on the vine before being picked and then there was a desperate bid to balance it with oak. A cover-up, or too many commands spoiling the complexity? Someone in Gourmet Wine said that this was a less oaked vintage than previous. Could have fooled me with its 3 year treatment. Bletch!!!!
Preferred to the Juniper Crossing but not in terms of value, 89/100
Three Sisters Shiraz 2002
No real notes but I remember this to be quite a surprise with well ripened back and red berries as well as plums. Enough spiciness to add interest and reasonable of length. Guess its around $15/btl and would rate an 87/100
Hi Jakob,
Great to read the notes on the extensive list of wines you squeezed your liver through
cheers,
simm.
"I ain't drunk! I' still drinkin' !!"
"I ain't drunk! I' still drinkin' !!"
JamieBahrain wrote:Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier 01 - Outstanding and unique stuff. I tasted dozens of 01 Cote Roties at the March aux Vin in Ampuis recently. More blackfruit would bring this into the top echelons IMHO.
Soft cherry fruit is complemented by a fragrant and floral nose, spice & pepper too. Supple and harmonious, more cherry, earth, cinnamon fruit flavours on day 2. The finish is very long, with distinct, powerful tannin on a backbone of fresh acid. Keep returning to the wonderful mouthfeel, just through the wine around the mouth and enjoy an array of complexity.
It has a crafted feel to it. Maybe the terroir of Canberra will never permit an intensity of black fruits of the top echelon Cote Rotie, but it sits comfortably above most of the 01's I tried recently-and QPR still relatively good!
Will be trying to put a few bottles of Clonakilla away each year. Aswell as getting hold of their Viognier in the near term.
Hello JamieBahrain,
I enjoyed your notes of the 2001 Clonakilla SV. I agree. Just a thought though - have you had this wine previously. I suspect that the wine as of a few months ago started to go into its shell and started to lose some of its "black fruit". I thought it had much more 9-12 months ago than now and think you would have found it an even better wine then. I am not opening another for 4 years and I have a fair few left!
Thanks,
Adair
P.S. Do you want my allocation of the straight Viognier?!