Midweek Vinosity 25th to 29th Jan

[Bick]

Nice bottle last night:
2001 Benfield & Delamare {Merlot, Cab Sauv, Cab franc; Martinborough, NZ; 13.5 %; good cork}
This was drinking very nicely; garnet hue, slightly musty on opening, but developed over a few hours; showing smoke and cigar box characters; palate was lovely and fresh, with quite a red-fruit spectrum in addition to the expected blackberry. Given the silky mouthfeel from the nicely resolved tannins, the medium body and the bright fruit, this could probably be mistaken for a pinot, if tasted blind, if it wasn't for the pencil boxey nose. Very good, and plenty of life left.

[monghead]

Thanks for kicking this off Bick.

2008 Brokenwood Semillon- Light and refreshing. Tantalizing lemongrass lift. Good.

Cheers,

Monghead.

[Eurocentric]

2008 Hoddles Creek 1er Chardonnay: Freaked me out at first -- very rich nose, possibly some botrytis? Really benefited from air and then I enjoyed it over two nights. Seemed to shed a bit of the fatness, somehow. Anyway, I think I'll leave my others for a year to see how they go.

2007 Zilliken Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Kabinett: At just 8% alc, it's just like having a couple of beers. Fairly simple, delicate palate. Lime, mandarin, soft acid. Doesn't taste very sweet, and I think this will be better balanced in another couple of years. But right now it's pretty and gluggable.

[Michael R]

2008 Tscharke Montepulciano
Quite a big wine on the nose and palate, plenty of red fruits, soft tannins, handled a pizza comfortably but could certainly be enjoyed on its own.

2008 Felton Road Calvert Pinot
A fruit bomb on entry, soft mid-palate with a little tannic grit on the long finish, which I liked. Different to the 07, perhaps not as refined but more serious. Will enjoy watching this mature.

Cheers
Michael

[via collins]

Domaine Pontifical 2000 CdP - opened only an hour before dinner, this was a beauty by the end - dark, dark cherry, hint of tar, and blackberry - fine, supple tannins, and a body that developed by the glass. A delcious excursion to the Sth Rhone that tasted close to Bandol in character.

[Gavin Trott]

Well, tonight, now, it will be

2009 Tuesner Salsa Rose

and

2008 Teusner Dog Strangler Mourvedre

Since Dave from Teusner (thanks Dave) dropped them off earlier this afternoon.

Guess I'll just have to try them

sigh !!

.

[daz]

Looking forward to your TNs of both Gavin.

Cheers

daz

[Gavin Trott]

Well, no real tasting note

but

the Salsa is very good, in the modern 'Australian' style. Almost sweet, but finishing dry, touches of raspberries, spices and dark berries, reasonable length and quite stylish. Pretty good really

but,

I'm personally in the 'Southern France, Italian bone dry school myself, so this was a touch sweetish for me!

Nice wine, well made, tasty and a crowd pleaser I am sure.

Now, where is that Mataro!!!

.

[Loztralia]

Thanks for kicking this off Bick.

2008 Brokenwood Semillon- Light and refreshing. Tantalizing lemongrass lift. Good.

Cheers,

Monghead.

Had one of these with my dear mother over oysters and sashimi at Sydney Fish Market last weekend. Ideal.

[griff]

Felt inspired by the RBJ Mataro we had a couple of days ago so I decided to open another one.

2007 Telmo Rodgriguez A1 Muvedre
A tinto joven. Dusty chinese shredded beef and cola on the nose. Bright and fresh savoury mid-weight palate of pepper and dark fruits. It has some minerality and finishes firm. Don't age as it is all about the vibrancy with this one. Good wine and Very Good with a nice chickpea, jamon and spinach number

[daz]

Well, no real tasting note

but

the Salsa is very good, in the modern 'Australian' style. Almost sweet, but finishing dry, touches of raspberries, spices and dark berries, reasonable length and quite stylish. Pretty good really

but,

I'm personally in the 'Southern France, Italian bone dry school myself, so this was a touch sweetish for me!

Nice wine, well made, tasty and a crowd pleaser I am sure.

Now, where is that Mataro!!!

.

I guess you wouldn't have thought much of the Salsa 08 then Gavin. I found it noticeably sweeter than the cleanskin Salsa 09, having tasted both recently. Hope you gave that Strangler a good decant . Hope you enjoy it; I found it interesting as it developed over 4-5 hours of tasting after an hour or so of decanting. (Or should that be decantering? )

If you want bone-dry, forget Aussie rose, have any latest vintage, as in this or last years, releases of Hunter semillon. BTW I didn't know Southern France is in Italy

Regards

daz

[Wayno]

Ad-Hoc Wallflower Riesling 2009 (Mount Barker) - good enough although lacking a little liveliness and x-factor.

Claymore Wines Dark Side of the Moon Shiraz 2006 - I haven't had a young Clare Valley shiraz for a little while and this really hit-the-spot, quite alcoholic-hot but velvety and rich all the same. Quite delicious.

[monghead]

Have been fairly slack recently, so I will try to redeem myself.

2009 Skillogalee Riesling- Quite a pleasant riesling. Tangy Granny Smith apples, and juicy lemons. Finishes nice and light. Good.
1996 Domaine Leroy Vosne Romanee 1er Les Beaumonts- Extremely Good. Will post TN in my monthly 1996 thread in time.

Cheers,

Monghead.

[jeremy]

2005 Cooper Burns Shiraz- lovely, smooth and long. Blackberries, coffee, dark chocolate, spice with red fruits wafting over the top. Sounds a bit simple but its seamless quality just works.

2009 Clonakilla Riesling- suprisingly tropical (I'm new to Canberra riesling). Acidity was more integrated on day 2. Eventually won me over.