The Auswine Forum

Ok....so we are one third of the way through the year already
What do you rate your best wine you have tasted so far??

I'm still thinking mine through.


ross

Reynell Basket Pressed Shiraz 1995:

This was sublime....big wine and yet silky smooth from memory.
Glad i still have 4-5 left.


ross

I have had a very quiet year so far for a variety of reason but the standout examples so far have been the 1998 St Hallet Blackwell and the 2002 Brokenwood Rayner. Both just excellent examples of what Australian shiraz can do with a bit of age.

1991 Cape Mentelle cabsav - Rich, dark, deep cabernet that had an unbelievable finish (very long, savoury and delicious). Might even still have time to further improve .

Latour Corton Charmalagne 2005

I'd always been slightly dismissive of white burgundy, purely because things I could afford didn't really impress me, and quality was widely variable

The Corton however was superb - a utterly delicious, complex Chardonnay with elegance, complexity and a paradoxical power. It's quality was undeniable and was undeniably 'worked' (lots of oak, 100% malo) but worth every cent of the bottle price. A wine, in my opinion that bitch slapped the Montrachet it was partnered with and a wine that all chardonnay (of that style) should aspire to

2002 Highbank Basket Pressed Cabernet 97 points.

It's still very early this year, but we had a fabulous:

1994 Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet

recently, that just bowled me over.

Ashton Hills 2004 Reserve Pinot Noir

2004 Rockford Basket Press

Yalumba Sinature 1994 at its peak.

ufo wrote:Yalumba Sinature 1994 at its peak.

A friend of mine scored a few of the '92 from auction recently ufo....have you tried this vintage??

Ross

I must have been blessed to try this wine more than most people on the planet (6 or 7 times) but my jaw still hit the floor last time I downed a glass of the 2005 Puriri Hills Pope. Would have to be the best wine i've had this year so far by quite a margin even given a very impressive trip to the Hawkes Bay bumping into many exciting 2007 reds

It's still very early this year, but we had a fabulous:

1994 Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet

recently, that just bowled me over.

Agree, fantastic wine. Sure to be almost immortal

So far a Shiraz of most amazing quality:

2007 GLAETZER Amon Ra-Barossa
Sublime stuff. 98 points.

I plan to taste the 2004 Grange soon...that may change things.
Cheers,
Attila

Wayno wrote:
2004 Rockford Basket Press

Stop kidding will you?
It's good but about 1000 miles from being great.

Attila wrote:

Wayno wrote:
2004 Rockford Basket Press

Stop kidding will you?
It's good but about 1000 miles from being great.

Year so far. I've unfortunately and obviously not tasted the great wines that must have passed your lips, Attila.

All things in context, mate. That said, I thought it was pretty damned good.

94 Xanadu Reserve CS Cab Franc

Earthy, dusty, hints of tabacco. Lovely softness. 96 pts.

Philipponnat Sublime Reserve 1996 - super delicious wine

Rawshack wrote:Latour Corton Charmalagne 2005

I'd always been slightly dismissive of white burgundy, purely because things I could afford didn't really impress me, and quality was widely variable

The Corton however was superb - a utterly delicious, complex Chardonnay with elegance, complexity and a paradoxical power. It's quality was undeniable and was undeniably 'worked' (lots of oak, 100% malo) but worth every cent of the bottle price. A wine, in my opinion that bitch slapped the Montrachet it was partnered with and a wine that all chardonnay (of that style) should aspire to

Whose Montrachet did it slap?

One of my top wines so far this years was the 04 Bouchard CC.

A few beauties but I'd have to say the 1991 Wynns Black Label Cabernet just blew me away - it had absolutely everything you look for in a wine.
Cheers
Luke

Turkey Flat Shiraz 1999 Probably has a few years to go yet before it peaks. 94+pts, it's drinking well now, displays some elegance with mostly red fruits integrated with cedary oak, soft but drying tannins on the finish. Better than the 1998 I had last year IMO.

Cheers

daz

So far,

1996 Rousseau Chambertin.

Luke W wrote:A few beauties but I'd have to say the 1991 Wynns Black Label Cabernet just blew me away - it had absolutely everything you look for in a wine.
Cheers
Luke

Yes I wish i had bought 5 Cartons back in 94 Mind you i was in my twenties then and it sure wasn't top of my priorities

Regards Dazza

2006 Leconfield Cabernet Sauvignon.

Partagas wrote:1991 Cape Mentelle cabsav - Rich, dark, deep cabernet that had an unbelievable finish (very long, savoury and delicious). Might even still have time to further improve .

Yep - 1991 Cape Mentelle Cab Sav. I had a magnum for my daughters 18th birthday in February and stated then that I know it's early days but this is a contender for my wine of the year and that I would consider myself fortunate to drink anything as good for the rest of the year. Well, I haven't had anything to match it yet. Still hopeful....

any retailers in wa selling the 1991 cape mentelle? if so how much per bottle roughly?
my pick so far this year is the brookland valley 2002 reserve cab sav. delish.

If they do it would no doubt be up around a 100 a bottle. Have not seen it either way. Auction bottle for me and very lucky to have a magnum sitting back also.

Funny story with the bottle, spoke with the Auction manager about taking it back due to description being out (was damaged label but wasn’t mentioned) and then sitting back with him and lifting the capsule found that the cork was ok. So glad I didn’t take the refund. Really wanted to try it after hearing Sharkey’s notes and knowing I had the mag sitting there. Have to thank ya for the indirect recommendation .

Jasmin cote rotie 1988

If fortifieds then the Gould Campbell 1977 for drinkability or the Seppeltsfield 1908 for the experience.

cheers

Carl

1990 Dom Perignon Oethotheque and 1990 Penfolds Bin 90a - a dead heat. Both were so good I'm not sure what's going to beat them for my WOTY come December.

1997 Moss Wood Cab was absolutely singing

1966 Gombaude Pomerol - only had one mouthful unfortunately but it was very special also

2005 Schloss Lieser Niederberg Helden Riesling Auslese Lang Goldkapsel: This was an excellent wine from the first pour to the last drop. We drank it with a 2001 Eiswein and it trounced it. It started out with a distinct and yummy grapefruit flavor to it that gradually became a perfectly ripe peach taste. Flavors were distinctive, even laser-like, and the wine exhibited a wonderful balance. This is one of those wines that can last for decades and show new facets throughout. I look forward to exploring it more in the coming years. This was one of the best Auslese wines I've had in a couple of years.

2003 Mitolo Shiraz G.A.M.: Rich wine, but not over the top like some Shiraz wines can be. Good balance and acidity, viscous and a beautiful taste. This is wine you could take anywhere and serve it without an apology.