Sunday Drinking Reports - 10/11 Dec

[Michael McNally]

Hello Good People

Drinking reports due

For me Friday night was a Shiraz fest. Had a friend who enjoys wine over for dinner and had three very different wines.

Started with a 2007 Turket Flat Barossa Shiraz. Great deep colour. Fabulous nose, though I thought the palate a touch shy of fruit and the acid a little prominent, particularly compared to the 2008 I had a short while back. Not a bad effort for a "lesser vintage", and I don't think one for long term cellaring. Very, Very Good.

Friend asked for something "with a little more chocolate". So I went for McLaren Vale. The 2006 Marius 'Simpatico' Shiraz was just the trick. Straight from opening this was remarkably youthful with muscly blackberry and mulberry fruit, with lovely milk chocolate and spice notes. The fruit and chocolate flavours both darkened with breathing, but the length was impeccable. Still improving after 2 hours in the decanter (as the last disappeared), this is yet to reach its peak. Excellent.

Final wine I went for something with a little bottle age and was not disappointed. The 1999 Paxton McvLaren Vale Shiraz had some lovely secondary characteristics with leather and seasoned wood. The fruit was in the background with subtle spice and oak. Very, Very Good for the first hour in the decanter, but then fell over quickly. Drink up.

Tonight having the second half of a 2009 Hewitson 'Miss Harry' Grenache etc. Better tonight than last night as the palate has filled out a little to balance the slightly sharp acid apparent last night. Note from last night reads: "bright clear red; earthy, meaty nose with some rosepetal; savoury palate of black forest fruits; medium-bodied; candy flavours without the sweetness." Tonight the nose is like dark fruit compote. Palate of blackberry pastille with a savoury lilt. Last night I would have said VVG. Tonight it is Excellent.

Now, what about you. Anything of note to report?

Cheers

Michael

[griff]

2008 Henri Boillot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos de la Mouchère
Opened so tight and lean it was almost painful. Left for the next day. Sunday lunch and time to give it another whirl. White gold with a bouquet of intense lemon oil and jasmine flowers with oak present. Powerful palate of citrus with the faintest suggestion caramel and honey emerging as it warms. Oily rich feel with a firm acid spine and lengthy finish. Still elemental and needs time to integrate. But keeping white burgs over 5 years and you start gambling...Very Good with potential?

2009 Descendientes de Jose Palacios "Petalos del Bierzo" Bierzo
The replacement last night. Fresh bouquet of smoky peppery black cherries. Savoury, chewy palate finishing short and cool with more tannin than a billy tea. More serious than the 2008 and Excellent.

cheers

Carl

[Chuck]

Aloha from Hawaii.

Have been reduced to drinking US stuff and it's pretty ordinary. Resorted to a Penfolds 2009 Koonunga Hill which was not too shabby in comparison and half the price (USD 6.80). Tried a few local brews and the Hot Rock Pale Ale (cool Hawaiian label with volcano) was very nice, similar to Little Creatures and James Squires Golden Ale. Last time we were in the US the AUD was .5000 so at parity everything is great value. Johny Walker Black Label at USD 24.99 is about half usual aussie price. I reckon this will be cheaper than buying duty free when returning to OZ.

Carl

[sjw_11]

A few nice wines on Saturday xmas dinner at a friends:

Vinden Estate Semillon 2005... Clean, grassy, some lemon peel, a hint of lanolin, and finishing clean and crisp. Needs more time to develop richness, still very youthful looking at this stage.

Leconfield Cabernet 2006... Dense brooding red, a rich ripe nose of blackcurrant, liquer, and warmth from the alcohol. Dense fruit on the palate, tannins not overwhelming. Drinking well now, will develop 5+ yrs.

Wolf Blass "Black Label" 1984... Bottle was in pristine condition from auction, cork pulled out ok despite being soaked 3/4 through. Astounding from the get go and in tremendous condition for the age. Lifted nose of juicy red fruits and spice, not at all pongy. The palate opened up with air and was mouth filling with a long finish, acid giving it fresnhess belying its years. Delicious wine.

Mountadam Cabernet 1995... Eden Valley cab at its best, blackcurrant/blackberry essence, powdery tannins, and a juicy palate. Medium long-finish, well balanced. Presented as younger than it was, the colour still strong too.

Orlando Vintage Tawny Port 1955... Cork completely crumbled. Faded to typical brown/olive green. Complex and classic tawny nose with lots of rancio character and tremendous intensity. The palate is sweet and full, maybe lacking a little in the structure to be genuinely profound. Good, but not astounding.

Also, Briar Ridge Early Harvest Semillon 2011... Clean as a whistle, grassy with lots of citrus. Lovely balance, will age nicely 3-4yrs.
Hugh Hamilton "The Floozie" Cabernet Rose 2010... Salmon pink, quite austere not at all a lolly wine. Nice jubey fruits, restrained and clean in the mouth. Pleasant enough.

[orpheus]

A few nice wines on Saturday xmas dinner at a friends:

Vinden Estate Semillon 2005... Clean, grassy, some lemon peel, a hint of lanolin, and finishing clean and crisp. Needs more time to develop richness, still very youthful looking at this stage.

Leconfield Cabernet 2006... Dense brooding red, a rich ripe nose of blackcurrant, liquer, and warmth from the alcohol. Dense fruit on the palate, tannins not overwhelming. Drinking well now, will develop 5+ yrs.

Wolf Blass "Black Label" 1984... Bottle was in pristine condition from auction, cork pulled out ok despite being soaked 3/4 through. Astounding from the get go and in tremendous condition for the age. Lifted nose of juicy red fruits and spice, not at all pongy. The palate opened up with air and was mouth filling with a long finish, acid giving it fresnhess belying its years. Delicious wine.

Mountadam Cabernet 1995... Eden Valley cab at its best, blackcurrant/blackberry essence, powdery tannins, and a juicy palate. Medium long-finish, well balanced. Presented as younger than it was, the colour still strong too.

Orlando Vintage Tawny Port 1955... Cork completely crumbled. Faded to typical brown/olive green. Complex and classic tawny nose with lots of rancio character and tremendous intensity. The palate is sweet and full, maybe lacking a little in the structure to be genuinely profound. Good, but not astounding.

Also, Briar Ridge Early Harvest Semillon 2011... Clean as a whistle, grassy with lots of citrus. Lovely balance, will age nicely 3-4yrs.
Hugh Hamilton "The Floozie" Cabernet Rose 2010... Salmon pink, quite austere not at all a lolly wine. Nice jubey fruits, restrained and clean in the mouth. Pleasant enough.

I too have enjoyed the bottles of 2006 Leconfield Cabernet that I have had.

I was looking around for them the other day, and, after a fruitless search, concluded that I must have drunk them all, thus putting paid to my plans to cellar it, and find out for myself whether it will improve over the next five years.

[AndrewCowley]

Love these threads. I have 2 wines mentioned here in my cellar, the Turkey Flat Shiraz 2007 and Leconfield Cabernet 2006, and its great to see feedback on how they might be travelling. Thanks to all who contribute.

[Mike Hawkins]

Thanks Sam,

I've been pleasantly surprised at the age-worthiness of the WBBL. I had opened a bottle of the 1973 a few years back (not a great vintage) and it was fantastic save for the oak....

Good news on the Mountadam. I stumbled upon a 6 pack of the 1996 The Red in my cellar - I was guessing they may have seen better days. If the 95 cab is in good condition, then I have reasonable hopes for my wines.

Cheers

Mike

[Thommo]

Good news on the Mountadam. I stumbled upon a 6 pack of the 1996 The Red in my cellar - I was guessing they may have seen better days. If the 95 cab is in good condition, then I have reasonable hopes for my wines.

I have some 99 The Red that has definitely seen better days. You get about a 15 minute window about 30 minutes after decanting where some blackcurrant emerges, and then promptly disappears again. Otherwise it is thin, short and slightly brown. 96 is said to be a much better year than 99 in the Eden though, so you may have some luck. I'm quite interested to hearhow it goes

cheers,
Tom

[WineRick]

A few nice wines on Saturday xmas dinner at a friends:

Vinden Estate Semillon 2005... Clean, grassy, some lemon peel, a hint of lanolin, and finishing clean and crisp. Needs more time to develop richness, still very youthful looking at this stage.

Leconfield Cabernet 2006... Dense brooding red, a rich ripe nose of blackcurrant, liquer, and warmth from the alcohol. Dense fruit on the palate, tannins not overwhelming. Drinking well now, will develop 5+ yrs.

Wolf Blass "Black Label" 1984... Bottle was in pristine condition from auction, cork pulled out ok despite being soaked 3/4 through. Astounding from the get go and in tremendous condition for the age. Lifted nose of juicy red fruits and spice, not at all pongy. The palate opened up with air and was mouth filling with a long finish, acid giving it fresnhess belying its years. Delicious wine.

Mountadam Cabernet 1995... Eden Valley cab at its best, blackcurrant/blackberry essence, powdery tannins, and a juicy palate. Medium long-finish, well balanced. Presented as younger than it was, the colour still strong too.

Orlando Vintage Tawny Port 1955... Cork completely crumbled. Faded to typical brown/olive green. Complex and classic tawny nose with lots of rancio character and tremendous intensity. The palate is sweet and full, maybe lacking a little in the structure to be genuinely profound. Good, but not astounding.

Also, Briar Ridge Early Harvest Semillon 2011... Clean as a whistle, grassy with lots of citrus. Lovely balance, will age nicely 3-4yrs.
Hugh Hamilton "The Floozie" Cabernet Rose 2010... Salmon pink, quite austere not at all a lolly wine. Nice jubey fruits, restrained and clean in the mouth. Pleasant enough.

Regarding the '55 Orlando Vintage Tawny, given that it would have been bottled mid '60's, and should have been drunk within 5 years of bottling (in those days, after 10 years in wood ) - say 1970-odd - it's obviously held up magnificently!
40 years after 'Best By' date, no wonder the cork is knackered! The wine would be showing pronounced
'bottle-stale' characters, and possibly best use for wines like this is to add some rancio and age (albeit tired)
to a young, quality keg port.
Regarding vintage/dated / age-quoted tawnies, beware. They should state youngest wine in the blend, time in oak, and when bottled.
Also, I've lost count of the number of times the 1954 Hardy Show Tawny has been passed off as the great
Hardy V P of the same vintage.

[Teisto]

Tis the season

2005 Meerea Park Aunts Shiraz Drinking very well
2006 Tulloch Pokolbin Dry Red Shiraz Disjointed not balanced at all
2008 Lake Breeze Bernoota Shiraz Cabernet Good
2001 Peppertree Reserve Coonawarra Cab Sauv Youthful still. A deep colour with oodles of fruit and tannin. Shame to open so soon as it has heaps left in it - It hasn't come into peak drinking.
2003 Peterson's Russells Vat 18 Shiraz Back block fruit that was picked two weeks later. This was magnificent leaving all the other Hunter reds tried that day in its dust. Vibrant, beautifully balanced wine. Contender for my wine of the year - I have another few tucked away and given this would not touch for another 5 years at least.

Lunch a couple of days ago

2009 Torbreck Struie Hot and settled down after a good breath. Nice but expected more.
2009 Henschke Keyneton Euphonium Great wine now. Imagine it will also improve with age.