Weekday Drinks- Oct 19th to 23rd

[monghead]

What's keeping us sane this week guys?

Cheers,

Monghead.

[griff]

2007 Claymore Joshua Tree Riesling
Toast developing on the nose. Lime and some spice. Medium weight and has a fair few years yet. Very Good wine.

2008 Delatite Gewurztraminer
Spicy nose. Broad and viscous palate. Good wine. Tonight it has tightened up remarkably. Rose petals and a lithe, crisp yet textured palate. Very Good/Excellent! Needed time to open but open it did!

2007 Poderi Aldo Conterno Masante Dolcetto
Purplish colour. Meaty cherries that are slightly funky; truffles in the mix. Quite lifted and the VA is also present on the palate. Sweet cherry fruit yet sour notes makes this wine refreshing and forward in the mouth. Finishes with some leather and tannin gently builds with a subsequent glass. Certainly a food wine and in its only enigmatic way it reminds me of a Chateau Musar. So wrong yet somehow so right Hard to rate this. A little weird to be a pleasurable easy sipper but on the the interest scale this is right up there!

cheers

Carl

[monghead]

2007 Wynns Cabernet Sauvignon- After all the talk of this wine, and especially the polarising views, I had to try this again. Tried twice previously, and both times way off the mark. Got a bottle from the same batch L9160, and was keen to change my mind. Screw-capped, so no cork problems. No issues with the colour- a deep purple hue. The nose was gently inviting with cassis, blackcurrants, olives, and eucalypt. The palate however, was a huge let down. Disjointed, almost metallic and grating, hot alcoholic/varnishy finish. Three strikes, you're out say wifey, and insisted on another bottle. Her words- "come on, let's not drink bad Aussie wine prior to our trip to France". Far From Good.

The second bottle is:

2005 Voyager Estate Shiraz- Hits the mark. Solid Good.

Cheers,

Monghead.

[Stavros]

Hi Monghead,

The 2005 Voyager Shiraz you tried....i have a few and was wondering about the drinking window?, to early ?
or shall i get stuck into 'em?

Cheers S

[Luke W]

1991 E & E Black Pepper Shiraz - drinking beautifully in the twilight of its career - one of the best of 2009 - elegant, still enough fruit, an aroma to dine on, and a lingering beautifully balanced finish.

1999 Haselgrove H Cabernet Sauvignon - another ripper and probably now at its peak

2006 Wolf Blass President's Selection Shiraz - got better every minute and left us wanting more

2007 Lowburn Ferry Pinot - nice on day 1 but quite special on day 2 after airing and refrigeration

cheers

Luke

[Attila]

2007 Wynns Cabernet Sauvignon- After all the talk of this wine, and especially the polarising views, I had to try this again. Tried twice previously, and both times way off the mark. Got a bottle from the same batch L9160, and was keen to change my mind. Screw-capped, so no cork problems. No issues with the colour- a deep purple hue. The nose was gently inviting with cassis, blackcurrants, olives, and eucalypt. The palate however, was a huge let down. Disjointed, almost metallic and grating, hot alcoholic/varnishy finish. Three strikes, you're out say wifey, and insisted on another bottle. Her words- "come on, let's not drink bad Aussie wine prior to our trip to France". Far From Good.
Monghead.

Agreed, I had it again since. Overpriced ordinary vino. Period.

[odyssey]

2007 Wynns Cabernet Sauvignon- After all the talk of this wine, and especially the polarising views, I had to try this again. Tried twice previously, and both times way off the mark. Got a bottle from the same batch L9160, and was keen to change my mind. Screw-capped, so no cork problems. No issues with the colour- a deep purple hue. The nose was gently inviting with cassis, blackcurrants, olives, and eucalypt. The palate however, was a huge let down. Disjointed, almost metallic and grating, hot alcoholic/varnishy finish. Three strikes, you're out say wifey, and insisted on another bottle. Her words- "come on, let's not drink bad Aussie wine prior to our trip to France". Far From Good.

Totally agree with your take on it Mong, tried it at an instore tasting and WHAMMO, it had all the subtlety of a sledgehammer.

[jeremy]

2007 Wynns Cabernet Sauvignon- After all the talk of this wine, and especially the polarising views, I had to try this again. Tried twice previously, and both times way off the mark. Got a bottle from the same batch L9160, and was keen to change my mind. Screw-capped, so no cork problems. No issues with the colour- a deep purple hue. The nose was gently inviting with cassis, blackcurrants, olives, and eucalypt. The palate however, was a huge let down. Disjointed, almost metallic and grating, hot alcoholic/varnishy finish. Three strikes, you're out say wifey, and insisted on another bottle. Her words- "come on, let's not drink bad Aussie wine prior to our trip to France". Far From Good.

Totally agree with your take on it Mong, tried it at an instore tasting and WHAMMO, it had all the subtlety of a sledgehammer.

Nah, don't agree. Among a bunch of 2007 Coonawarras it was notable for its subtlety. Oh well, beauty is in the eye of the beholder I guess.

[Attila]

I know what you mean Jeremy, I had a friend commenting that "among some dreadful Coonawarra's it was the relief wine" at a tasting. Fair enough.

[Softie]

All,

Isn't it delightful when you open a wine you can't recall acquiring (from visitors, perhaps?) and it's a goodun.

Somerled Steeplechase Shiraz 2002 last night with Lebanese food was a case in point. Just lovely McLaren Vale wine: spicy blackberry fruit 14.5% but very well integrated alcohol and well balanced wine overall. Checked JH afterwards and saw he gave it a 94 at an 06 tasting. Wish I had more.

Finishing tonight and it's deteriorated despite the usual effectiveness of my method of decanting half immediately on Day 1 into a screw capped bottle. I wonder if this is a sign that it's at it's peak and best consumed soon - and on one night?

Rgds,

John

(If our benefactor reads this note, please do own up and take the credit.)

[Wayno]

Church Road Reserve Chardonnay 2006
Kiwi juice but none the worse for it, it's a big style with loads of stuffing and perhaps teetering a bit into over-developed territory, curiously for it's age in the relative scheme of things. Such an assessment is only reinforced with the colour, quite a bronzed yellowy gold. All that said, it's tasty as all get go, with tons of flavour - classic stone fruit notes, grilling nuts and melon, bundled in with a squeeze of lemon and furnished with an oak character that reminds me of some of the old Cellarmaster Oz Chardies that I was negotiating my way through back in the dim-dark days. I can even hear the tortured mews of Lindemans Bin 65 from afar...And to top all this off, there's an unappealling hint of bitterness on the end finish that feels alcoholic and hot. This could all be construed as vaguely damning but it really is not - I still like this wine a lot - I just don't think it wins too many points for grace and subtlety. But then maybe this is a dodgy bottle - it was from auction and I have three more but clearly none will disappoint based on this evening's reception.

Paired woefully with Shepherd's Pie to boot.

[John #11]

Hardy's 2008 Oomoo Sauvignon Blanc
At around $10 per bottle this is just fine and satisfying.
Adelaide Hills fruit, limes, some gooseberries, and just a bare hint of passionfruit. Dry and minerally finish to make it just right. 92/100

2009 Claymore's Joshua Tree Riesling (Clare region)
Just superb, dry, lemon lime and bath salts, slate-like minerally finish, enough bitey crispy citrussy acid for several decades.
For those who find Riesling can be boring, this is worth the swim. 94/100

TGINS
Cheers John

[monghead]

I know what you mean Jeremy, I had a friend commenting that "among some dreadful Coonawarra's it was the relief wine" at a tasting. Fair enough.

Holy God, if the Wynns Black Label was the relief, the other must have been real shockers!!!

BTW- Had saved the 3/4 bottle from last night, had a little glass, and have not changed my mind...

Monghead.

[monghead]

Hi Monghead,

The 2005 Voyager Shiraz you tried....i have a few and was wondering about the drinking window?, to early ?
or shall i get stuck into 'em?

Cheers S

Too early mate. Would improve in another 5 years in a decent cellar, and probably hold for 5-7 thereafter.

monghead.

[monghead]

2006 Escarpment Pinot Noir- Stupendously Good.

Can't wait to try the Kupe...

[griff]

2005 Shaw and Smith Shiraz
This is a wow wine pure and simple. Slightly floral with black fruits galore. Juicy palate; blueberries prominent with classy oak support. In a tasting it would have been Excellent but for some reason it was difficult to finish the bottle. Perhaps because it didn't evolve. Very Good wine.

cheers

Carl

[daz]

Wine Trust Estates' Picarus Wrattonbully Cabernet Sauvignon 2006. Had a couple of glasses on Saturday, finished it last night. Saturday it was a bit disjointed, sweet-fruited with blackberry/mulberry, oak obvious with some camphor character. Last night the oak was better integrated with the touch of camphor seeming more like regional eucalyptus, the fruit still sweet, some varietal blackberry with litle cassis. Interesting wine, agreeable, I'll leave the second bottle for another couple of years or so based on its evolution over a couple of days in the fridge.

daz

[bacchaebabe]

Just a couple of cheap and cheeries at the Noodle Markets in Hyde Park, Sydney last night.
08 Grant Burge Moscato In the funky bottle that everyone comments on. Sweet and fresh with a lick of acid to keep it all in control. Good on a warm night like last night.
08 Brown Borthers Dolcetto & Syrah I quite like this wine. It reminds me of a grown up Lambrusco. Certainly a crowd pleaser with the "I don't like red wine" folks. Yep, it's sweet but it has enough complexity to make it a bit more interesting than lambrusco, probably coming from the shiraz component. A bit of pepper and black and red fruits. Again, a great match with a bit of spice from a thai dish and served cold, is a great match for the warm weather.

[Jay60A]

Second bottle from a six pack, Fred, and both times, not my wine. Last bottle opened some months back (from the same source) seemed riper upon opening and I can't recall how it fared in the glass, sorry, but I do remember it being very bloody good. The bottle yesterday was spectacularly classy at first ..... 95 points. Only after a couple of hours did I downgrade my rating. Please note - even then, very little to complain about. I don't think you have much to worry about. The wine will last for many year yet, I'm sure. Maybe, the trick is just to drink it quicker, once poured?

David,

Opened a 98 Magill on the weekend from my stash: decanted into glass jug for 2 hours prior to drinking (nose on opening was good precursor as very good). Opned superbly - and I think has about another 5 years of improvement (and would expect it to hold for 7 plus thereafter). It fully meets my expectations from release: it will be the best magill to date (and is already close for this underachieving marque given the price and standards expected).

Penfolds Magill Estate Shiraz 1998
... continued from last week. I'm not sure how many tables this will last 2 hours on but it's a really pretty sensational and exudes real class. Very multi-dimensional shiraz, a shifting kaleidoscope of fresh plummy fruit, lovely balance and surprisingly elegant. It will sit well on the dinner table with very good old world wines without looking gauche. It was quite oaky a couple of years back - while it's much more resolved now, there is still quite a lot of oak tannin, and I'd concur with Fred's drinking windows above for improvement. If 2006 is better than this, it's a must buy, and as a single-vineyard wine, at least you know where the fruit is from. Above all, it's not simply a technically correct wine a la JO, but it's both very interesting and a joy to drink ... full of character. Fine wine. Drink in 2015.

[Bick]

Church Road Reserve Chardonnay 2006
Kiwi juice but none the worse for it, it's a big style with loads of stuffing and perhaps teetering a bit into over-developed territory, curiously for it's age in the relative scheme of things. Such an assessment is only reinforced with the colour, quite a bronzed yellowy gold. All that said, it's tasty as all get go, with tons of flavour - classic stone fruit notes, grilling nuts and melon, bundled in with a squeeze of lemon and furnished with an oak character...

Funnily enough I had the same wine a few days back. I also noted the colour had deepened considerably in a couple of short years, but also very much enjoyed it. "loads of stuffing" indeed! Very nutty.

...there's an unappealling hint of bitterness on the end finish that feels alcoholic and hot. This could all be construed as vaguely damning but it really is not - I still like this wine a lot - I just don't think it wins too many points for grace and subtlety.

I didn't get this though - a nice clean chardy finish for me.

I had my 12th and last Gravitas Pinot 07 last night - and it drank the best of the lot, going surprisingly well with chinese.

[TiggerK]

Lanson Gold Label 1998 Champagne - Racy, lean, mean minerally acidity, but with a nice (albeit subtle) whack of toast/bread/lemons and summer berry. Not really my cup of champers, but may well develop some over time. My first glass (then half full) seemed to take on some strange reductive/cork taint notes after a while in the glass, but a fresh pour saw it crisp and acidic again... thought this was a bit odd, but could have been me as I was cooking at the time. I've had a run of bad Lanson Gold corks (mainly the 96), so this was a bit of a worry, didn't know what to think.

This wine may have enjoyed a bit of Pinot Meunier in the mix... but it's in the Lanson style which I normally enjoy so it's just 98 showing it's character I suppose.

Going to try a bottle of Bollinger tomorrow.. haven't had this for years so will be interesting. Normally stick with Pol, Mumm, Veuve (or Chandon 05 if a little budget limited) : .

Cheers
TiggerK

[Michael McNally]

2007 Wynns Cabernet Sauvignon- Got a bottle from the same batch L9160

Must be very big batches for you to have the same batch number in Sydney as I got in Brisbane. I am not suggesting you didn't get the number right or anything, but it doesn't make a lot of sense. Curioser and curiouser. And nice to have such a polarising wine!

Cheers

Michael

[jester]

Kreglinger Sparkling 2003 - much better than last bottle tasted six months ago, lots of bready lemon aromas with a quite developed palate and decent length. Worth a try but nothing special and at the RRP definitely better options around.

[monghead]

2007 Wynns Cabernet Sauvignon- Got a bottle from the same batch L9160

Must be very big batches for you to have the same batch number in Sydney as I got in Brisbane. I am not suggesting you didn't get the number right or anything, but it doesn't make a lot of sense. Curioser and curiouser. And nice to have such a polarising wine!

Cheers

Michael

Yeah, mine definitely said L9160, but etched next to it was N4 if that makes any sense to you...

Also, got mine from VC...

Cheers,

Monghead.

[monghead]

2008 Sandalford Cabernet Sauvignon- A little green. Sub Good.

[Wayno]

Mountadam Chardonnay 2006 - after the heady excesses of the Church Road Reserve earlier in the week, this as a pleasant change - lemony, quite subtle and fragrant - developing very well and losing some of it's earlier angularity.

Balnaves Sparkling Cabernet 2004 - very chewy and dense, full of mint, marzipan and berries - quite a lot denser than the recent vintage I tried at cellar door not so long ago.

[via collins]

Monredon Cotes Du Rhone 2006 - Upfront all kinds of berries, and a beautifully balanced palate to follow. A pretty darned good year for this solid performer

Tahbilk Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 - How the heck do they consistently over-deliver like this?? Ever so slight menthol notes, chocolate, christmas pudding, and a lovely leathery back palate. It tastes venerable in the nicest possible way. And priced so that anyone can enjoy it. Time for a love letter to the Purbricks I reckon.

[Maximus]

2005 Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Kabinett - drier and more developed than expected
2001 Sa Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese - delicious
2000 Bonny Doon La Cigare Volant - served blind and confused everyone; a tasty wine, lovely ripe tannins
2007 Cristom Mt Jefferson Cuvee - very good considering the year
2007 Kumeu River Estate Chard - tight as the proverbial; too much acid right now
2005 Marcel Deiss Riesling - juicy, juicy, juicy
1988 Marc Bredif Vouvray - complex and the best of his from that decade IMO

Plus the latest releases from Johanneshof cellar door ('08 Gwz trocken great, '09 Gwz sensational, '09 Hillside Pinot barrel sample amazing).

Cheers,

[bacchaebabe]

1995 Rosemount Estate Hunter Valley Semillion In the good old days, rosemount made quite nice wine. This is certainly one of them and would have held its own at the recent semillon tasting. A golden morning pee colour. Bright lemon nose following through on the palate. Very surprised this wasn't showing older. No honey or toast as yet but luscious lemon butter flavours. We had some hommus and a lemon and asparagus risotto last night so it matched the lemon in both foods very well indeed. I got these from auction so was expecting them to be a bit more developed but won't be rushing to drink the rest of the purchase.

[monghead]

2008 Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc- Cheerily Good.

Cheers,

Monghead.