Sunday 20th June

[monghead]

Hi all,

You know the drill... Tasting notes, vibes, and lists welcome. Let us know what's been opened this last week.

[Chuck]

hi all. Just back from our annual duties at a friend's small olive grove at Watervale picking over after the shakers have done there job. Saturday' night is always a tradition of fine food and wines, this year was no exception.

Sevenhills 1994 Riesling. A beautiful example of an aged Clare riesling. For somw WOTN.

Another current vintage riesling the name escapes me.

Griffiin Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir. I don't know much about Pinots but this was quite pleasant drinking.

Ravenswood Lane 1996 Reunion Shiraz. From auction I was not expecting much but it was excellent with sweet fruit and good oak treatment. Good cool climate stuff.

A cleanskin 2007 McLaren Vale shiraz made by Andrew Braithwaite, ex winemaker from Classic McLaren. Very pleasant stuff made from one shiraz clone Andrew said was more cool climate in style. Couldn't agree more. Just yummy.

Wynns 1997 John Riddoch Cabernet. Quite approachable despite its youth this was my WOTN. It had been open since friday night so maybe this had something to do with it. Pure cassis and Coonawarra as only few can deliver. Not too hard in style

All were enjoyed with a beef and vege pie with a crust to die for, a home made chocolate pudding with rasberries and a cheese platter after. Some very interesting cheeses from someone who knew what they were doing. No-one left the table before heading off to bed around midnight which is a reliable sign of good food and wine and stimulating conversation.

And if anyone wants some very nice Watervale olive oil from a soon to be certified organic producer let me know. Some awards have been won with previous vintages. Comes in a 4l cask (nifty concept) and a 20 litre (could be bigger) plasic drum with tap. Last year's oil is still available. Whilst they produce great oil their marketing needs some improvement. Can deliver in Adelaide and maybe use my aussie post wine delivery facility for interstate punters. pm me.

Friday night was a nice riesling and a Punters Corner 2003 Coonawarra Cabernet. Not their best effort. And a few others mid week. Might need a few AFD's before the Thursday night gig.

Chuck

[Sean O'Sullivan]

deleted

[Wayno]

Seppelt Dorrien Cabernet 1994 - very fresh; reminiscent of a six year old wine, not a sixteen year old one. That said, this was actually a little uninspired and unyielding. Whilst technically good, with still vibrant tannins, varietal character (whiffs of capsicum, dried herbs, blackcurrant and subtle oak) and plenty of structure, I couldn't get particularly excited by it. Maybe, curiously, not quite ready?

Hahndorf Hill Shiraz 2005 - in comparison, all spicy and tight, plummy overtones and meaty mouthfeel. Honest and the more enjoyable of the two.

[n4sir]

Seppelt Dorrien Cabernet 1994 - very fresh; reminiscent of a six year old wine, not a sixteen year old one. That said, this was actually a little uninspired and unyielding. Whilst technically good, with still vibrant tannins, varietal character (whiffs of capsicum, dried herbs, blackcurrant and subtle oak) and plenty of structure, I couldn't get particularly excited by it. Maybe, curiously, not quite ready?

1994 is one of the few Dorrien's of the '90s I haven't tried over the years.

Somehow your TN doesn't surprise me though. If there's something about the 1994 vintage that stands out to me it's the consistent descriptions of "powerful but not fleshy", like it has to go out of its way to impress you, or there's always some kind of austere elegance. I'm not sure if these wines will ever attain the heights of the other stars of the '90s, yet in some other decades they would possibly stand out as something special.

Cheers,
Ian

[griff]

Tonight,

2007 Tyrrell's Old Patch 1867 Shiraz
Vivid magenta. A nose of berries and icing sugar with a lick of tar with dominant white peach top notes. Overall very fresh. A tart palate with lovely ebullient fresh fruit. Forward in the mouth. Enjoyable (moreso than the 4 acres at present) but still very much pure raw potential.

On Friday we had:

2006 Te Mata Cape Crest Sauvignon Blanc
Very much tropical fruit but more in the guava and paw paw spectrum. Nice mouthfeel. Very good.

1983 Gruard Larose
Moderate red with paling rim. Barnyard nose. Leathery palate with developed flavours with a lingering grippy finish. Nice wine under the brett.

There was a 1999 Vietti Barolo but not knowing which vineyard it was from I wont say anything more than yum.

2003 Noon Reserve Cabernet
It was expected to be hot and harsh but it really wasn't. Intense dark fruits that was strong and intense like billy tea. Good wine.

1970 Dow's Vintage Port
Red-brown colour with pale rim. Medium weight palate of chocolate and cacao and starting to gently tawny. Long finish. Excellent wine.

[monghead]

2007 Wooing Tree Pinot Noir- Vibrant, juicy darker fruits. Good Good.
2007 Domaine Jean-Claude Bessin Chablis 1er Fourchaume La Piece au Comte- Yes I know, what a mouthful of a name! Delightful elegant minerality with linear vibrant fruit. A real joy. Very Very Good.

[Craig(NZ)]

1994 Peninsula Estate Waiheke Cabernet Merlot. Great Waiheke vintage and very long lived. This would have gone at least another 5 years. Very resolved, warm complex and structured red wine. Very bordeaux like. Even better the next day. The best wine this now defunct winery ever made.

[Wayno]

Seppelt Dorrien Cabernet 1994 - very fresh; reminiscent of a six year old wine, not a sixteen year old one. That said, this was actually a little uninspired and unyielding. Whilst technically good, with still vibrant tannins, varietal character (whiffs of capsicum, dried herbs, blackcurrant and subtle oak) and plenty of structure, I couldn't get particularly excited by it. Maybe, curiously, not quite ready?

1994 is one of the few Dorrien's of the '90s I haven't tried over the years.

Somehow your TN doesn't surprise me though. If there's something about the 1994 vintage that stands out to me it's the consistent descriptions of "powerful but not fleshy", like it has to go out of its way to impress you, or there's always some kind of austere elegance. I'm not sure if these wines will ever attain the heights of the other stars of the '90s, yet in some other decades they would possibly stand out as something special.

Cheers,
Ian

Agreed, Ian. I recall a 94 Bin 389 awhile back that evoked similar thoughts - a technically impressive wine but lacking 'X factor'. I am finding more and more these days that this elusive quality trumps technical excellence any time. Then of course there are those wines that have both - no complaints there!

[DaveB]

David Leclapart L'Artiste - very good aperitif style...very, very dry...third time I've had this and there has been a bit of variation between the bottles but this one was very nice.

Weingut Loimer Riesling Reserve Terrassen 2008 - lovely stuff from Kamptal, Austria...rich, complex..probably around 6-8 g/L R.S. I would think...just really nice drinking.

Meyer-Fonne Reserve Riesling 2008 - Lovely stuff from Alsace....wild ferment in large wooden foudres...minerally, pure and bloody noice.

Denis Race Chablis 1er Mont de Mileu 2008 - very good, sapid Chablis....nice line, piercing acidity.

Jean Foillard Morgon Cote de Py 2007 - love this gear!!

Jean Foillard Morgon Corcelette 2008 - excellent....telltale calvados/apple cider characters on the nose....slightly turbid, rich and complex...lovely stuff.

Domaine Gramenon Poignee de Raisin 2009 - uber-juicy Rhoney pony.

[Bick]

1994 Peninsula Estate Waiheke Cabernet Merlot. Great Waiheke vintage and very long lived. This would have gone at least another 5 years. Very resolved, warm complex and structured red wine. Very bordeaux like. Even better the next day. The best wine this now defunct winery ever made.

Sounds like a cracker. What a vintage '94 was.

For me: nada, rien, niente, nichts, niets, 沒什麼, nothing... I must be slipping.

[Craig(NZ)]

Sounds like a cracker. What a vintage '94 was.

Yes, i had planned to keep this longer but started seeping so needed knocking off. I bought a half doz of these for $25 a pop a decade ago.

The 94 goldwater I rate as the longest lived nz wine i have ever tried. I think it would go another 20 years. Alas ive drunk my final bottle. It is on the wine list at Te Whau for $130 and would encourage anyone dining there to give it a go. Seems cheap in context. Of course 94 SRL is stunning and looks to easily have another 10 years in it, maybe even 15. Only have one of these remaining though so wont be pushing the envelope too much. Will drink mine in about 5-10 years I think.

[Mike Hawkins]

1998 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz - opened one given the doom and gloom surrounding this particular wine. Suffice to say, reports of its' impending demise are 10+ years premature. For mine, this hasn't even peaked yet. It was an absolutely outstanding example of what Barossa shiraz should be - lots of fruit, great length, complexity and perfect balance. Probably the best of the 10+ bottles I've tried since release.

2004 (disg) Rockford Black Shiraz - while the BP was excellent, this was not a good example. Tasted like liquified Darrell Lea licorice. Other bottles from the 6 pack have been much better - though I'm leaning towards drinking the last 2 sooner rather than later.


Cheers

Mike

[Loztralia]

2004 Houghton Jack Mann Heard a lot of good things about this vintage and wasn't disappointed. It was a little less full-bodied than I expected but we have been drinking a lot of Barossa shiraz/GSM types given the onset of winter so it might just have been the comparison. A wonderful combination of subtlety, length and power. Glad I got six of these - won't touch another one for four or five years I reckon.

[Teisto]

Brookland Valley Cab Merlot 2008 - Very nice drop. Black Olives and some currants in there with a good hit of tannin. Will settle down nicely given a few more years.


Peppertree Reserve Zinfandel 2005 Plenty of spice and black cherry although quite a lean / thin mouthfeel. Opened up a little more on the nose on the second day.

[Peter NZ]

'83 La Tour de Mons (Margaux) -- $11 at auction a few years ago, & no expectations for it whatsoever, but turned out to be actually pretty good -- browning around the edges, & drying out a little, but plenty of life & body lstill left.

'00 Unison Selection

'02 Saltram Pepperjack Cab Sauv

[via collins]

Saltram Pepperjack Stylus 2008 GSMerlot dark violet edges on dark cherry colour, enormously juicy palate - raspberry, blackberry but with a nice licorice slash on the back palate. Not big in body, but a great mid-week pasta quaffer.

Wickham's Rd YV chardonnay 2009 Really sharp passionfruit/apple tastes to the fore, medium-bodied palate, but a real cracker of a clean finish. Nicely balanced, and super value at $15

Tomero malbec 2008 Moody purple colour, blueberries and stewed plum palate and a lush, generous body that satisfies at first kiss, but doesn't hold up all the way to the finish. Enjoyable yes, but really unfocussed, and a bit too hot and boozy as well. Argentina still not doing it for me in the way I'd always hoped it would!

Oh, and lunched at Mandala in Yarra Valley on Sunday. Too weird to sit there on a cold, wet day and imagine the perimeter of the winery being licked with fires on Black Saturday. But fast forward to winter 2010: Food and service was spot on, the standard pinot noir was good enough, but their 2008 chardonnay was really special. No notes, but I've bought a bunch for later on.

[monghead]

2004 Houghton Jack Mann Heard a lot of good things about this vintage and wasn't disappointed. It was a little less full-bodied than I expected but we have been drinking a lot of Barossa shiraz/GSM types given the onset of winter so it might just have been the comparison. A wonderful combination of subtlety, length and power. Glad I got six of these - won't touch another one for four or five years I reckon.

Hmmm, looking forward to tasting my first of these.

[Partagas]

2004 Houghton Jack Mann Heard a lot of good things about this vintage and wasn't disappointed. It was a little less full-bodied than I expected but we have been drinking a lot of Barossa shiraz/GSM types given the onset of winter so it might just have been the comparison. A wonderful combination of subtlety, length and power. Glad I got six of these - won't touch another one for four or five years I reckon.

Hmmm, looking forward to tasting my first of these.

Classiest recent-ish release I’ve tasted in quite a while. By class I mean strength with finesse.