The Auswine Forum

dave vino wrote:Right you are, what is funny, I Googled how to spell Odyssey to make sure it wasn't something different, got sidetracked and then for some reason typed Prodigy. Doh.

I've googled Odyssey myself, more than once

2017 Paulett's Polish Hill River Riesling
Searing / racy acidity , citrus - Tahitian limes, touch of lemon pith. Florals, minerals, length - very good. A very good accompaniment to a fleshly piece of fish. Value plus + +

A half bottle of 2009 Ch Musar, really very approachable and quite recognisable as Musar (a few recent vintages have threatened to be more refined). A joy to drink now.

2007 Paringa Reserve Pinot Noir, Special barrel selection
What a wine, everything I love about Mornington and more
Intense red fruit, meaty, earthy, ink, tar, so complex, still so young but no regrets opening it now as it is so good.

The local shop doesn't have the Nebbiolo, which I'm keen to try, but I thought it would be interesting to try this Shiraz / Mourvedre, a blend that I've enjoyed in the past in the more traditionaI SA style. I see CamW had a CT note on this from 3 years ago.

• 2012 Adelina Shiraz Mataro - Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley (25/11/2017)
  Smoky liqueur cherry/raspberry fruit with creosote on the nose. Despite the youth, and a sweetness to the aromas, it's interesting and complex enough to dwell over.
  
  Light to medium bodied palate, in line with the low alc%, but not short of flavour. Not as complex as the nose, but the balance is good. Nothing aggressive and a level of acidity that would be swamped in a bigger shiraz is just about right to make it very drinkable. No tannins apparent, and so with the lighter acidity there's no grip to the finish, though there is a touch of sour fruit that does work well in inviting another sip.
  
  Interesting wine. Not sure it's for me (though a little cheaper and it would be a lovely option as an interesting & easy-going red), but I like that they're investigating a different style. Although I'd be worried about the modest acidity and lack of tannins for serious ageing, I reckon it would be worth a punt of 2-4 more years in the cellar to see if some of the complexity on the nose replicates to the palate (and losing a little fruit sweetness would be a positive for me).
  [img]https://cdn.ct-static.com/labels/519171.jpg[/img]

A reasonably rare magnum of 1992 Bowen Estate Shiraz. In great nick and drinking excellently. Signed by Doug as one of 91 bottles

Woodlands 2007 "Margaret" Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon. A more elegant style reflected in the alcohol at 13.5%. Light to medium bodied it still produced the goods. Great mouthfeel. Great aromas that delivered on the palate. Still plenty in the tank.

Hay Shed Hill 2011 Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon. More fuller bodied than the Woodlands and a nice wine. Again plenty of time available.

Carl

2014 DRC Grand Echezaux
Stems perfume
Accessible
But then it shut down
I quarantined it & it blossomed with ethereal earthy terroir
I love it

deleted

Sean wrote:Well, I guess someone has to go next after your DRC.

Marius Peyol Cotes de Provence 2016 - There are a handful of inexpensive French roses that I have been drinking and this is one of them. Pale colour and a dry, understated style that I prefer. Red fruits, sherbet, dried herbs and while it is clean and aromatic it has a dry finish.

Brand’s Laira Barrelman Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 - The cabernet is their best wine and they have a few different labels of it. A bit of red dirt character in this wine. Purple colour and an earthy, warm feel to it. Dark berries, cherry, mint, capsicum, cedar and dry, moreish tannins.

Grant Burge Filsell Shiraz 2014 - Lots of rich Barossa fruit, full of intensity and oak. The oak is smarter these days. Twenty months in French and American oak barrels, a third new oak and the rest is a mix of used barrels. The wine has soaked it up. Purple colour and a lush, deep flavoured character that you get with old vine fruit. Blackberry, plums, violets, spice, mocha and big, velvety tannins.

Leo Buring Clare Valley Riesling 2017 - Light straw colour with the usual floral aromas. Softer acidity on the palate, however, and it is very easy to drink a lot of this. Limes, green apple and feels fruity rather than steely, though it still has a slightly chalky dry finish.

Jim Barry Watervale Riesling 2017 - A regular buy each year. Really enjoy drinking these when they are released or with 5 or 6 years on them. Pale straw colour and musky aromatics. Lots of intensity, but in an effortless, no fuss way. Lime/lemon, talcum, garden flowers, ginger and refreshing, vervey acidity.

Nice one Sean
2016 Oakridge Hazeldine Pinot
Gentle funky earthy mouthfeel
Decant & enjoy the experience

mjs wrote:A reasonably rare magnum of 1992 Bowen Estate Shiraz. In great nick and drinking excellently. Signed by Doug as one of 91 bottles

Pics courtesy of grb2001

[img]https://s19.postimg.org/9u9wf7vf7/IMG_20171126_1739110.jpg[/img]

Limited number of magnums, my memory was slipping with the earlier note about 91 bottles

[img]https://s19.postimg.org/fig7652cj/IMG_20171125_1957269.jpg[/img]

2003 LEAS Chardonnay
Such a beautiful wine, in a perfect spot with much time left
Stonefruit, pears, pineapple, cashews, lemon tart, honey toast with lots of butter
Long and Moreish.

2014 Gaelic Cemetery Vineyard Celtic Farm, Clare Valley

A Shiraz / Cabernet Sauvignon Blend made from fruit sourced just north of Clare. The nose is fragrant and expressive. A medium to full bodied wine displaying notes of dark fruits, chocolate, mint, a touch of blackberry and even cassis on the finish. The wine is well supported with mocha type oak. The finish is medium to long with softer type tannins. A very good wine. Under screw cap this could age for up to 7 years perhaps longer. Very good value for the price range. 14.0% Alc.

This brand is part of joint venture involving the Pike Family. Their 2017 Rieslings are excellent, the 2017 "Premium" Riesling in particular is pretty spectacular. I also tried their 2013 Shiraz, whilst enjoyable during a tasting, I felt it was a touch over ripe and too 'big' of wine for my tastes if consuming as part of a full bottle.

Matt, agreed, have bits and pieces of both the Rieslings from 2013-16...at one stage an e-tailer was doing the cheapy Riesling for $9...could not resist.
The reds are good too.
Part of a collaboration between Pikes and the four Barletta boys who used to have Walkerville Cellars 25 years ago in Adelaide.
I remember buying 86 Wendouree from them for $9.

Cheers
Craig

2016 Commune of Buttons Basketolo Rosa

A blend of 80% Nebbiolo and 20% Pinot Noir from Adelaide Hills. 12% ABV

[url=https://postimg.org/image/4tdrnw05d/][img]https://s8.postimg.org/4tdrnw05d/MVIMG_20171127_173507.jpg[/img][/url]

I'm not sure how to classify this wine. It doesn't look like a red. It doesn't look like a Rosé. It doesn't taste like either of them. It's some sort of hybrid between the two. Cloudy in the glass. On the palate, it's dominated by pink grapefruit from a sweet start to a bitter finish. It's certainly an interesting expression of Nebbiolo and very refreshing to drink. I tried it at a few different serving temperatures. It was best slightly chilled (~10°C). The more I drink it, the more I like it, but ultimately it's not my thing. I dare say it's a hipster wine.

Ozzie W wrote:
I'm not sure how to classify this wine. It doesn't look like a red. It doesn't look like a Rosé. It doesn't taste like either of them. It's some sort of hybrid between the two.

Clairet / Chiaretto ?

It certainly sounds like a hipster natural wine. I'm open to try such wines, and when in the right mood, they can be a great shaker of our vinous foundations. It's often a big step from being interesting & thought provoking, to becoming a regular purchase. Wild and wacky doesn't always fit well into regularity.

2016 Metala, a quick Monday night quaffer before heading out to the flicks.
Four of us thought it was fantastic...only I knew what it was and love it when the wine snobs chins need to be picked up from the floor

Murder on the Orient Express was so so
Anyway off to Pooh corner next.

Cheers
Craig

Ian S wrote:

Ozzie W wrote:
I'm not sure how to classify this wine. It doesn't look like a red. It doesn't look like a Rosé. It doesn't taste like either of them. It's some sort of hybrid between the two.

Clairet / Chiaretto ?

It certainly sounds like a hipster natural wine. I'm open to try such wines, and when in the right mood, they can be a great shaker of our vinous foundations. It's often a big step from being interesting & thought provoking, to becoming a regular purchase. Wild and wacky doesn't always fit well into regularity.

I must admit I had to look up what Clairet and Chiaretto were. This didn't fit into either of those styles. I suppose that's what hipster wines are all about - changing the rules and redefining traditional winemaking.

4 day weekend away playing golf with 12 of us.
great nights of wine, the undoubted highlight was the 2005 Two Hands Bella's GardenShiraz in double magnum. Superb. 97pts, almost unanimous wine of the weekend.
On the Saturday night, we did a horizontal of 2002 SA Shiraz
IN order of the group's preference:
1. Coriole Lloyd's Reserve
2. Henschke Mount Edelstone
3. Branson Coach House Rare Block
4. Penfold's Grange
5. Clarendon Hills Astralis.
6. Henschke Hill of Grace
7. Barossa Old Vine Company
8. Grant Burge Meshach
9. Clarendon Hills Liandra
10. Penfold's RWT

For me, the Mount Ed was the best, but I was really stunned by the performance of the Lloyd's, didn't see that coming!!
The Grange, Meshach and Hill of Grace will probably show better in another decade, but they weren't disappointing, as I would have rated all the wines between 93-96 points. A testament as to how great SA shiraz is at the top level.

deleted

felixp21 wrote:4 day weekend away playing golf with 12 of us.
great nights of wine, the undoubted highlight was the 2005 Two Hands Bella's GardenShiraz in double magnum. Superb. 97pts, almost unanimous wine of the weekend.
On the Saturday night, we did a horizontal of 2002 SA Shiraz
IN order of the group's preference:
1. Coriole Lloyd's Reserve
2. Henschke Mount Edelstone
3. Branson Coach House Rare Block
4. Penfold's Grange
5. Clarendon Hills Astralis.
6. Henschke Hill of Grace
7. Barossa Old Vine Company
8. Grant Burge Meshach
9. Clarendon Hills Liandra
10. Penfold's RWT

For me, the Mount Ed was the best, but I was really stunned by the performance of the Lloyd's, didn't see that coming!!
The Grange, Meshach and Hill of Grace will probably show better in another decade, but they weren't disappointing, as I would have rated all the wines between 93-96 points. A testament as to how great SA shiraz is at the top level.

What! A wine that costs just over $50 was the wine of the weekend, beating out the Hill of Grace and the Grange? Even the Mount Edelston was apparently better on the night. I can't believe it. How is that possible?

Mahmoud.

PS: It seems that the 2005 Bella's Garden Shiraz is available for about A$130 in a magnum. Of course it doesn't have the cachet of HoG and Grange.

felixp21 wrote:4 day weekend away playing golf with 12 of us.
great nights of wine, the undoubted highlight was the 2005 Two Hands Bella's GardenShiraz in double magnum. Superb. 97pts, almost unanimous wine of the weekend.
On the Saturday night, we did a horizontal of 2002 SA Shiraz
IN order of the group's preference:
1. Coriole Lloyd's Reserve
2. Henschke Mount Edelstone
3. Branson Coach House Rare Block
4. Penfold's Grange
5. Clarendon Hills Astralis.
6. Henschke Hill of Grace
7. Barossa Old Vine Company
8. Grant Burge Meshach
9. Clarendon Hills Liandra
10. Penfold's RWT

For me, the Mount Ed was the best, but I was really stunned by the performance of the Lloyd's, didn't see that coming!!
The Grange, Meshach and Hill of Grace will probably show better in another decade, but they weren't disappointing, as I would have rated all the wines between 93-96 points. A testament as to how great SA shiraz is at the top level.

Nice to have mates that drink the good stuff Felix !

Anyways, I found Coriole Lloyd's Reserve, amongst all the Parker hoo-ha, an absolute cracker for my palate a decade + ago. A long-living, powerful Vales shiraz of considerable interest and harmony. I bought a bit happily til pricing escalated.

Now, 2002? I was never sure about this vintage and I'm fascinated by your result. It is a very elegant wine. Probably too elegant, minus the usual stuffing? IDK, perhaps a number of Old World drinkers? How did you find the Coriole?

I have 4 magnums of 2002. Let me know if any of your mates want swaps for Henschke.

Two Hands never been for me. It pops up in HKG in "grey" retail for excellent pricing but there's always something more pressing to buy. Perhaps I'll revisit.

2014 DRC GE
double blind stems white flowers with incredible heady perfume
I guessed Dujac Echezaux
this is a great wine and in 10 years will be special

michel wrote:2014 DRC Grand Echezaux
Stems perfume
Accessible
But then it shut down
I quarantined it & it blossomed with ethereal earthy terroir
I love it

michel wrote:2014 DRC GE
double blind stems white flowers with incredible heady perfume
I guessed Dujac Echezaux
this is a great wine and in 10 years will be special

Two DRCs in 4 days. You live the life Michel!

JamieBahrain wrote:

felixp21 wrote:4 day weekend away playing golf with 12 of us.
great nights of wine, the undoubted highlight was the 2005 Two Hands Bella's GardenShiraz in double magnum. Superb. 97pts, almost unanimous wine of the weekend.
On the Saturday night, we did a horizontal of 2002 SA Shiraz
IN order of the group's preference:
1. Coriole Lloyd's Reserve
2. Henschke Mount Edelstone
3. Branson Coach House Rare Block
4. Penfold's Grange
5. Clarendon Hills Astralis.
6. Henschke Hill of Grace
7. Barossa Old Vine Company
8. Grant Burge Meshach
9. Clarendon Hills Liandra
10. Penfold's RWT

For me, the Mount Ed was the best, but I was really stunned by the performance of the Lloyd's, didn't see that coming!!
The Grange, Meshach and Hill of Grace will probably show better in another decade, but they weren't disappointing, as I would have rated all the wines between 93-96 points. A testament as to how great SA shiraz is at the top level.

Nice to have mates that drink the good stuff Felix !

Anyways, I found Coriole Lloyd's Reserve, amongst all the Parker hoo-ha, an absolute cracker for my palate a decade + ago. A long-living, powerful Vales shiraz of considerable interest and harmony. I bought a bit happily til pricing escalated.

Now, 2002? I was never sure about this vintage and I'm fascinated by your result. It is a very elegant wine. Probably too elegant, minus the usual stuffing? IDK, perhaps a number of Old World drinkers? How did you find the Coriole?

I have 4 magnums of 2002. Let me know if any of your mates want swaps for Henschke.

Two Hands never been for me. It pops up in HKG in "grey" retail for excellent pricing but there's always something more pressing to buy. Perhaps I'll revisit.

haha, no, these are Aussie mates..... we spent five days playing RMGC (Royal Mansfield Golf Club )
all are big Shiraz drinkers.
The Lloyds was indeed elegant, but great complexity and length. Unbelievably good wine. Got 8/12 BOG's, the others going to Mt Ed (3) and Meshach (1)
In 2005, Two Hands hit it out of the park, the wines are all elegant and not block-busters. I'm also patchy on Two Hands, but when they are good, they are amazing!!
Wines tasted blind, funnily enough, everyone recognised the Grange. Pretty monolithic and predictable wine, should be better by 2030.

Interesting as well that you rated them all quite highly given 2002 seems to polarise people as a vintage...

I always liked some of the Two Hands special releases even if overall they made wine a bit too much in the Torbreck/RPJ100pt/over extracted/high alcohol style

Couple of big dinners now that the festive season has started.

First dinner at Scopri -

House of Arras Grand Vintage Sparkling Wine 2007 - beautifully bready lemony and goodness
Giaconda Chardonnay Chardonnay 2005 - Liquid gold! Not as good as the 2002 we had at the same dinner last year. So long luscious but not overbearing.
Joh Jos Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett Riesling Riesling 2007 - two different bottles showing slightly differently. Great just dry riesling.
Bernard Dugat-Py Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Red Burgundy 2003 - Bigger of the two burgs with grippy tannins holding it together. Still quite primary but starting to show some secondaries ont eh nose.
Domaine Comte Georges de Vogue Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Red Burgundy 2008 - pretty raspberries and acidity defined this wine. Divided the table with most preferring the Geverey.
Best's Thomson Family Shiraz Shiraz 1997 Magnum - Delight to drink. Based on other Bests i have drunk this is in a long plateau
Tyrrell's Rufus Stone Heathcote Shiraz Shiraz 2006 Magnum (Corked)
Bowen Estate Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 - still too young and very primary!
John Riddoch Coonawarra 2006 - even more young than the bowen. Quality shows.
Cape Naturaliste Margaret River Shiraz Reserve 2008 - a bit big and some said flabby.
All Saints Vintage Port 2003
Luigi Baudana Barolo 2010

Second dinner at casa del conformist for a mini thanksgiving celebration. We went a bit off piste and didn't have a roast bird. Instead had a melange of turkey based dishes such as sliders, sausage rolls etc.

Champagne Geoffroy Empreinte 2006 - Appretif wine to get the evening going. Floral and lemon zest at first but opening up to show apples.
Janz Vintage Rose 2011 - Didnt make any observations on this wine. Happens when hosting.
Thivin Cote de Brouilly 2015 Magnum - great pairing with various turkey dishes. One of my favourite Bojo producers.
Eastern Peak Intrinsic Pinot Noir 2011 - Lighter in colour as expected from the wet vintage. However it wasn't light in flavour. Cherries and mushrooms. Such a pretty wine. Could have drunk this all night.

Squid Ink Sparkling Shiraz: sexy, sweet black fruit, sensual - best at about 15 degrees. Glides over the palate. Not as complex as the Rockford but still wonderful value when reduced to $27 a bottle.

2016 Moorooduc Estate Pinot Gris on Skins

[url=https://postimg.org/image/vxnts1r3v/][img]https://s17.postimg.org/vxnts1r3v/MVIMG_20171129_174226.jpg[/img][/url]

100% Pinot Gris. 14% ABV

Another hot evening in Melbourne so the last thing I want to drink is a typical red wine. An opportunity for me to try something outside the box. A red wine made from white grapes. It's Rosé, but not as you know it! It's made like a Pinot Noir with maceration on skins. Before pressing, this had 2 weeks on skins. Then in the barrel it underwent MLF with 10 weeks on lees.

Best lightly chilled, it shows sweet red berries and orange peel on the palate with some spices. Long dry and bitter finish. Lovely fine tannins too with an unexpected grip. Who'd of thunk Pinot Gris could be so good.

Apparently this is Kate McIntyre's pet project. A hipster wine made by an MW who also makes some of the best Pinot Noir's in the Mornington Penninsula.

conformistpete wrote:House of Arras Grand Vintage Sparkling Wine 2007 - beautifully bready lemony and goodness

I bought a few of these on spec as it's a birth year wine for one of my kids. What impression of drinking window did you get?