Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

[Mike Hawkins]

1986 Wynns John Riddoch. This is about the 6th bottle or so that I have had and perhaps I am expecting too much.
The first 1-2 were very good, the next 3-4 a bit meh
Quite brown on the rim, perhaps indicating some sort of bottle variation, as the last few still had reddish purple hues.
Low neck, 1 mm stained cork, nose dominated by cinnamon and mixed spice, palate was what I considered tertiary, varietal characters nearly all gone, No real evidence of berry, sweetness or the like, and a rather dry finish.
4 mates and The Missus looked at this and consensus was past its best, but definitely no taint...question whether some supposed marque vintages are going to last forever.

Have about 8 left and will try another.
Will be interested Ozzie how the one planned for your offline shows itself.

Cheers
Craig

I've experienced more bottle variation with Wynns JR than any other high-end Australian red, even with late 90's vintages. I reckon Wynns didn't use very good quality corks. I'm so glad they switched to screwcap. Hopefully the cork gods will be on our side at the next offline.

I tend to agree with Ozzie - lots of variation in JR, and in particular, the 1986. I've probably had it a dozen times and 4 have been pretty ordinary and the rest absolutely sensational.

[Chuck]

Tonight at The Wedge in California (youtube it for epic surf) a couple of nice Sierra Nevada Torpedo IPAs and to come a The Glenlivet 12 YO SMW. Tomorrow night a Layer Cake 2013 Argentinian Malbec with a hunk of dead cow. Good stuff and great QPR.

A bit off topic today we visited Pismo Beach and all the clams that we could eat... . And yes the place really does exist!

Carl

[Red Smurf]

After posting in the screw cap thread, the next wine I open is corked. 90' Cantemerle.
Ha, Karma.

[Rory]

Two that didn't meet expectations:

2010 Yabby Lake Block 6 Chardonnay and 1998 St Henri.

Both were excellent vintages in their respective regions, both from highly reputable producers. Both should be looking in their prime Both were well enough made, nothing out of place, but both lacked fruit weight or length on the palate to be anything other than ok.

Disappointing.

[Mike Hawkins]

I had an extraordinary bottle of 1966 Mildara Coonawarra Cabernet last night. At 50 years of age and with a soggy cork, I feared it would be doa. Instead, it had a glorious nose of varnish, mahogany/ teak and earth. The palate still had plenty of fruit sweetness with a fair whack of coffee and baked beans (weird, I know) thrown in for good measure. It had a really long finish and all up was a fascinating old wine. Who says Aussie wines dont age?!

[JamieBahrain]

Amazing Mike!

I often wonder if there will be a generation of lucky wine Aussie drinkers in the future with good storage now available and a plethora of wines being stored well. As many of these contemporary, great old Aussies endured many cricket seasons in less than ideal storage yet can be freaks.

[Chuck]

I had an extraordinary bottle of 1966 Mildara Coonawarra Cabernet last night. At 50 years of age and with a soggy cork, I feared it would be doa. Instead, it had a glorious nose of varnish, mahogany/ teak and earth. The palate still had plenty of fruit sweetness with a fair whack of coffee and baked beans (weird, I know) thrown in for good measure. It had a really long finish and all up was a fascinating old wine. Who says Aussie wines dont age?!

So envious. Good to see this much unloved label produce the goods. I have some relatively recent stuff tucked away for the long haul. I'll probably be on the wrong side of the grass when time to taste at 50 years old. Perhaps 30 at best.

Carl

[Luke W]

Couple of GWD bargains - 2008 Te Muna Pinot and 2012 Back of a Truck McLaren Vale Shiraz cleanskin.
Te Muna is variable - some of these are cherry and confectionary and some more muted and funky - like both although same (cork may explain variability).
Back of a truck surprised me - high quality wine from a great vintage - would have been happy paying three times the price.

[phillisc]

Chalkers Crossing C2 NSW Hilltops Shiraz...this bottle better than the one of a couple of weeks ago, slightly spritzy and certainly the screw cap came off with a bit of a pop. Very cool climate, earthy...still not convinced that its worth 5 trophies at the Sydney show...but improving.

Cheers
Craig

[Chuck]

More US craft IPAs, Argentinian Malbec and SMW. It's been my drinking diet for the last 5 weeks in the US. Heading to Fiji and some Cava. They have a cava ceremony where we are staying. Can't wait to get back to Adelaide and drink some nice aged reds from the cellar.

Have immersed myself in the local diet. Some may call it wallowing. Cheeseburgers, hot dogs and eating at some great places in New York - Katz, Les Halles, Mighty Quinns etc and the best pasta dishes ever in Chelsea Markets. Oyster, crab cakes, lobster, yellow cheese, macaroni and cheese, local fish, great beef also experienced. I can see how easy it is to indulge. Taking home a few extra kgs of excess baggage around the waist. Cholesterol levels will need some work but hey when in Rome.

Carl

[Phil H]

2014 Rusden GSM. I was first introduced to this wine in from the 2010 Vintage. A simple but great VFM wine. Totally slurpable, and fitting into the mid week quaffer thread. Light bodied, red fruits with a touch of spice. A hybrid between an Aussie Pinot and a Beaujolais. (Maybe getting a bit creative) For around $20, great value from a family owned vineyard. Must try other wines from their range.

[WAwineguy]

You could say it was a big Saturday night.....

(pick the odd one out)

[Rocky]

You can't drop a DRC without some notes.

[AaronL]

You could say it was a big Saturday night.....

(pick the odd one out)

My guesses are:

1. Off vintage Salon
2. Corked Yqueum that everybody refused to drink

[TiggerK]

That's some seriously fine drinking right there WAWineGuy! Brief notes, favourites, food you had with them etc..????????

[WAwineguy]

You could say it was a big Saturday night.....

(pick the odd one out)

My guesses are:

1. Off vintage Salon
2. Corked Yqueum that everybody refused to drink

Nah, we (eventually) finished the d'Yquem - there were really only 3 of us drinking so it was hard work. Yes the La Tache was great, but my pick of the bunch was the Clos de Tart. And of course, the Salon for openers was superb. Actually, they were all superb

[WAwineguy]

That's some seriously fine drinking right there WAWineGuy! Brief notes, favourites, food you had with them etc..????????

I'm not good with notes

Sashimi and roast duck

[JamieBahrain]

What year was the Clos?

Smashing drinking !!!!!

Wendouree Shiraz approachable ?

[deejay81]

2009 McWilliam's Mount Pleasant Wines Elizabeth

So I ended up with a dozen of these as they ran out of 07. Not complaining, as I think it's even better than the 07.

Clear, bright straw yellow, the colour showing well for a 7 year old. Honey, lemons, red apples, and a little bit of Vegemite on toast. In the mouth it was similar but definitely a cleaner less "dirty socks" taste compared to the 07 Elizabeth. I'd noticed that the 07 Elizabeth and Lovedale had a slight CO2 spritz to it, whether it was added or just part of the wine making I'm not sure, but the 09 Elizabeth did not have that, nor do I think it needed it, as it was still very fresh and had good acid to go with it.
The finish was medium plus. I thoroughly enjoyed this and I think you could drink this confidently for 5-10years. 91pts

[Chuck]

In Fiji we are drinking Fiji Bitter. Not bad gear. The cava party to celebrate Fiji Day and winning its first Olympic gold medal in rugby 7s was cancelled when the resort was almost blown away in a tropical storm. Similar to what happened at home in Adelaide recently. It finally caught up with us.
Carl

[JamieBahrain]

A friend came around with an unexpected magnum and I'd also prepped a magnum for his arrival! So we had to work through the wines over a long night......

The Super Tuscan was silky an so easy to drink.

The Coriole Lloyd Reserve Shiraz 2002 was a beautifully haromonious wine that won't attract the big critic scores nor will it convince the hordes with some menthol-medicinal-euculyptus nunaces in the finish. I liked the wine, very different from what I'm used to from the McLaren Vale with its cooler peppery notes and a leaner flavor profile. I'm taking a punt the wine has an interesting upside.

92pts+

[michel]

You could say it was a big Saturday night.....

(pick the odd one out)

a most execellent lineup
tell us about the la tache...

[rooman]

I was walking around the local bottle shop on Bondi Rd last night killing a little time when I came across a bottle of Yangarra Estate Shiraz 2013. I had seen a decent review on the TWF site for the shiraz so nothwithstanding I drink very little SA shiraz nowadays, I decided to pick up a bottle to go with the very good rump from the new butcher down on Bondi Beach who is absolutely killing it at present. Anyhow, getting back to the Yangarra, its a smashing wine and completely grabbed me by surprise. Whole berries, whole bunch pressings with wild yeast and French oak , it's a savoury shiraz almost in a cool climate style as opposed to the more typical SA fruit bombs. At $24 pb, it is almost stunning value.

[JamieBahrain]

Committee meeting with the HKWS

All wines served blind bar the champagne.

2008 E. Guigal Condrieu La Doriane- I'm a big Condrieu drinker and this is pretty exciting for the crowed though it is very worked which presents a structural length not always suited to the varietal. 92

Jaboulet Domaine de Thalabert Crozes-Hermitage 1990- I brought this along as I'm a big fan of Thalabert in its old style when on song and its newer style. Tertiary coffee, ferrour, sour red fruits though richer secondary notes make an appearance. Terrific wine.

93

Veritas Shiraz Mouvedre Pressings 1998- This was a beautiful expression of the Barossa Valley. Fresh mint, classic Barossa shiraz notes and earth mourvedre.Really something!

93

2005 Comte Armand Pommard 1er Cru Clos des Epeneaux- I was the only person who felt this wine served way too warm with many feeling it a Californiat pinot! I put the bottle in the fridge for 15 min and wow! Beautiful, expressive 2005 Pommard ready for business and set to improve!

94+

2008 Domaine Drouhin-Laroze Grand Cru Chapelle-Chambertin- Prem-oxed NR.

Japan Pinot- Grrrrr.

Corton 1964- An old wine.

Vincent Girrden Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts 2005-There was so much talk of Burgundy last night and the expectation of this wine, that honestly, I can't recall it!

1985 Château d'Angludet- Wonderful, mature claret.

94

2004 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Fay- An honest and modest Californian.

90

[WAwineguy]

2010 Mike Press Merlot - $12. What a bargain!!!

[Mike Hawkins]

How was the Celebris Jamie? A few critics have panned it

[mychurch]

A friend opened this up at the end of a tasting last night. From a half, it was still vibrant and full of energy. Refreshing acidity, touch of glyceryne. Structured. Fruit was maybe a bit muted, but still plenty going on in the glass. Took home a bottle of 1969 as its a friends birthday next month and thats her vintage...Going to be hard not to open the bottle for myself beforehand...

[Mike Hawkins]

A friend opened this up at the end of a tasting last night. From a half, it was still vibrant and full of energy. Refreshing acidity, touch of glyceryne. Structured. Fruit was maybe a bit muted, but still plenty going on in the glass. Took home a bottle of 1969 as its a friends birthday next month and thats her vintage...Going to be hard not to open the bottle for myself beforehand...

Nice! I have some old ones too that i had forgotten until reading your post. Thanks for the reminder?

[Mahmoud Ali]

The photograph of the '66 Trimbach Gewurztraminer Reserve and the glass of wine is virtually wine pornography, so decadent and rich looking. I'm envious.

Cheers ............................ Mahmoud.

[Luke W]

Pennies 389, 128 and 407 all from 2014. Thought these were pretty solid but about 50% overpriced (and that's on the DM price list of $73, $35, $73).
The 389 is typical of its breed and will take some time to integrate but has good bones. The 407 is a lovely cabernet but VFM is questionable. It's as nice a 407 I've had for a few years. The standout is the 128 which is head and shoulders better than most of its predecessors. Wish they'd had the 28 as I hear it's a cracker. No Grange, Magill, or other premiums - like to hear if anyone tried these at the masterclasses.