Sunday drinking reports 2/9/12

[Sean]

deleted

[Chuck]

Thorn Clarke 2006 Shotfire Quartage. A blend of many Bordeaux grapes (predominantly cabernet sauvignon) and a good example of how this family owned winery boxes well above its weight. Built to age for another 5+ years it was showing its potential last night. The Sandpiper series, ranked below the Shotfire, retailing around $15 is a good performer, the straight cabernet a good well made wine from the cooler Eden Valley that I'd put up against any $25 bracket wine.

Carl

[WoZ]

.. been sitting at the keyboard sipping on 2006 Tyrrell's Single Vineyard Hahn Barossa Shiraz Mourvedre .. had some nice cheddar with it and that went down well .. they suggest medium term cellaring but I have 4 bottles left and I'll wait at least another 12 months before opening my next bottle .. still a nice fresh acid tannin balance to carry it through .. but for now ?? .. very nice drop ..

WoZ

[dan_smee]

Piano Piano Oliver's Blend Merlot Cabernet 2009 - Made by Marc Scalzo - winemaker with Rutherglen Estates - under his own label. Very talented winemaker, also makes an incredible Tempranillo and a top drawer Chardonnay.

[rens]

After a 3 week hiatus from the wine-thanks to the flu followed closely by a chest infection-I dipped into the cellar and pulled out a 2008 Sons of Eden Kennedy: This is starting to fall apart a little. The grenache has softened out and the Mataro is dominant with some spice from the shiraz. It is a little disjointed now and I'll drink my last bottle asap.

[dlo]

I have been drinking the last of my stash of 2009 Deen De Bortoli Vat 1 Durif and really like the sweet berry fruit and aniseed in this as well as soft tannins and slightly rustic feel to it.

I agree with your approval on this wine. For something coming out of the MIA, I regard this as a very high quality quaffer. Everyone I've shown this to over the last few months has enjoyed it. Good job by the DeBortoli group. For 10 bucks a bottle you will not find much better!

[Michael McNally]

Currently working my way through the 2010 Wynns Cabernet Sauvignon. Previously tasted at the Roadshow, but wanted the 'full bottle' experience before commiting myself to 6 or 12.

Initial impressions are very favourable. Strong blackberry nip nose with a pleasant hint of menthol and some gravel. Blackcurrant and cassis fruit with lively bright acidity. Tannin is good (supportive but not OTT). Think this will be a buy when the discount wars bring it down to $20.

Will update again later as the wine breathes

Michael

[dlo]

My drinking this week has been limited as I gear up to another Jazz festival next weekend with six gigs scheduled.

The wine's that have taken my fancy this week have been a spectacular limy, relatively undeveloped 2002 Mesh Riesling, a wonderfully restrained, flinty, potentially longlived and high class Chablis - Domaine Fevre's 1er Cru Fourchaume (Vignoble de Vaulorent) from vintage 2007 and a stunning, pristine bottle of Tyrrell's 1999 Vat 1 Semillon. Be warned about the Fevre, though. This house, in a probable attempt to fight off the premox demons, have dosed it up with plenty of sulphur (and also used a diam conglomerate cork seal - a good move). The wine only came into its own 48 hours after being opened and has been drinking superbly for days since - it just won't die!. All three deserve gold medal status (93 points) and have the necessary qualities to live for a decade or more on their ear.

The only red I've opened was another bottle of 1999 Domaine Earl Pierre Gailliard Cote Rotie - identical to the last bottle opened - Excellent about 89 points.

[mf]

Think this will be a buy when the discount wars bring it down to $20.

Michael

In Sydney that has already happened!

[Michael McNally]

Same this weekend in Brisbane. Hence the taster.

[Mike Hawkins]

If you enjoy the 06 CDP, you'll go crazy over the 03, 05 and 07 vintages

[Craig(NZ)]

05 Te Mata Coleraine. A classy, elegant, refined and beautiful vintage. One of my favourites and showed better than last year when I tasted it at showcase. Florals, plum and graphite. Lovely fine long structure. poised and complex. Drinking now but has a good 5 years+ left in it and a vintage to get into while you wait for the bigger 07/ 09s to mature

[via collins]

2012 Gundog "Hunters Semillon" (sic) - highly recommended by the man at the bottle-oh, not my style at all - a little unripe I thought, slightly bitter sour lemon and wheatgrass notes. Nice acid though. I guess ultimately I was silly expecting much at its age.

2007 Blue Poles Reserve merlot - I've put off jumping into these a few years, dug one out on Friday and from the first sniff it was love. A much earthier nose than I've had on a merlot in a while, and the palate backs it up with the expected plum and blueberry fruits, but also a wonderful range of spices, and even a slightly smoky oak element playing in the background. Complex and sharp, but also gentle and possessed of a serious body to boot. Lovely.

2005 Hoddles Creek chardonnay - pale lemon colouring, yeasty fore-palate, lively white nectarine and grapefruit on the palate, mid-weight body, slightly oily and lovely toasty notes in the mix as well. Generous length.

[dan_smee]

2012 Gundog "Hunters Semillon" (sic) - highly recommended by the man at the bottle-oh, not my style at all - a little unripe I thought, slightly bitter sour lemon and wheatgrass notes. Nice acid though. I guess ultimately I was silly expecting much at its age.

2007 Blue Poles Reserve merlot - I've put off jumping into these a few years, dug one out on Friday and from the first sniff it was love. A much earthier nose than I've had on a merlot in a while, and the palate backs it up with the expected plum and blueberry fruits, but also a wonderful range of spices, and even a slightly smoky oak element playing in the background. Complex and sharp, but also gentle and possessed of a serious body to boot. Lovely.

2005 Hoddles Creek chardonnay - pale lemon colouring, yeasty fore-palate, lively white nectarine and grapefruit on the palate, mid-weight body, slightly oily and lovely toasty notes in the mix as well. Generous length.

Re the Gundog:

2012 was slightly disappointing when compared with the quality of 2011. Difficult vintage in the Hunter, and as good as Gundog were last year, I didn't think any of their 3 sems lived up to the expectations I had after tasting their 11's.

Still pretty decent from a decent producer, and maybe suffers a bit from my expectations after last year.

[Luke W]

2009 Colonial Estate Exile Shiraz - decanted at around midday, drunk at around 8.30pm - blew us all away with its full bodied brilliance. Thought the seamless 2003 Moss Wood Cabernet we had previously was about as good as it could get until we opened the Exile - another dimension in enjoyment. Where the Moss Wood was pure elegance and class, the Exile was more mouth filling and lingered much longer and the fruit more intense.
Finished off with a Yalumba Strawberry Road VP - wish I hadn't forgotten the cigars - still drinking beautifully.

Cheers

Luke

[jafa]

Two from the weekend.
Purchased a couple of bottles of 2010 Te Mata Elsdon Chardonnay 14%Alc pre last Xmas, the intension
being to drink over Xmas/New Year.. Well the weather over Xmas was overcast cool, so out came the
bottles of red wine. Tasted at the TM showcase ( March) I was unimpressed with this. This bottle didn't
change my mind. Drunk over 3 days, I thought this was soft and flabby with an excess of clumsy oak.
Not that good, good.

The chardonnay had a cork, now for a red with a screw cap.
2004 Esk Valley Reserve. Merlot 52%/Cab Sav 26%/Malbec 22% 14.5Alc. On opening bright red,
little by way of nose and the taste was a real disappointment. Was thinking about heading back to
the cellar, then remembered an open chardonnay in fridge. So, after the un-impressive start, half
the bottle was decanted and left for about 1½ hours before service. Wow, this had blossomed into
a very decent wine. Rich licquorish/tarry malbec dominant flavours with some tannic grip. The other
half bottle on day two, still firing on all cylinders, not so tannic, soft creamy texture, still with a
distinct malbec flavour profile. No rush; very good, good.

[sjw_11]

A couple from Saturday night...

Leo Buring DW33 Watervale Riesling 1994... Developed, golden colour. An intriguing nose of candied lime, apricots, and just a whiff of sherry-like character. The palate was still quite linear, holding together, but definitely on the way out. A good curiosity.

Majella Sparkling Shiraz 2006... Crown seal. Very rich, very sweet but with nice balance and a genuine depth of fruit flavour, and a pleasing level of complexity. I enjoyed this. Some wouldn't.

Lindemans Pyrus 1990... Impressive. Mid-garent red, light hue, this has ehteral, lifted red berry notes, spice and a balanced, lingering finish in the mouth. Probable wine of the night (despite some stiff competition). Drinking very well now, would hold if well cellared.

Henschke Mt Edelstone 1997... Suprisingly similar colour/hue to the Pyrus - a bit lighter than I might have expected. This was classic Eden Valley Shiraz, brambly red, dark fruits, blackcurrant notes, and again lovely balance and poise on the palate, perhaps just a hint short. I would drink these now, doubtful there will be significant improvement from here.

Wendouree Cabernet Malbec 1993... Still quite dense magenta. Six hours of decanting vaguely helped this unwind, but the structure and tannins were still significant. A fuller bodied, and less giving wine than the other reds of tonight. Very typical Wendouree style, with the malbec making itself known in the lingering violet/sweet fruit character. Feel free to leave this in the dark another 5-10 yrs.

Woodstock "The Stocks" McV Shiraz 1998... Altogether darker/red purple and more youthful looking. Smells quite pongy - ripe fruit, dark plums, compote aromas, just a hint of portiness. A riper, richer palate than the other wines, but a little angular, and disjointed. Nice wine but not a masterpiece.

[Mahmoud Ali]

I have been drinking the last of my stash of 2009 Deen De Bortoli Vat 1 Durif and really like the sweet berry fruit and aniseed in this as well as soft tannins and slightly rustic feel to it.

I agree with your approval on this wine. For something coming out of the MIA, I regard this as a very high quality quaffer. Everyone I've shown this to over the last few months has enjoyed it. Good job by the DeBortoli group. For 10 bucks a bottle you will not find much better!

I've also enjoyed many a bottle of the Vat 1 Durif, it was my go to wine a decade ago whenever I got tired of the Shiraz, Cabernet, and GSM merry-go-round. Today of course there are many more alternatives both domestic and foreign. I guess it's time I tried a more recent vintage.

Mahmoud.

[Mahmoud Ali]

Thorn Clarke 2006 Shotfire Quartage. A blend of many Bordeaux grapes (predominantly cabernet sauvignon) and a good example of how this family owned winery boxes well above its weight. Built to age for another 5+ years it was showing its potential last night.

Chuck, the 2001 Quartage caused quite a stir in the Edmonton market. I first heard about it from two casual wine drinking friends before I discovered it was flying off the shelves at the recommendation of retailers and word of mouth. I managed to score a couple of bottles and have cellared them. Judging by your notes it was a good decision.

Cheers.......................Mahmoud.

[AndrewCowley]

2008 Clonakilla O'Riada Shiraz: If I didn't know it, I'd have a hard time believing that this isn't their flagship wine. Seriously good. Incredibly delicate and sweet berry fruit, but not at all overdone. Give it a few years and there is surely some puppy fat to be shed, but its so drinkable now. Great length. And it was a joy just to smell it let alone taste it too. Can't imagine how good the flagship SV must be.

[dan_smee]

Just opened a 2007 Chateau Haut-Madrac. Anyone have any experiences? This bottle still had the acid and tannin structure to live a while, but the fruit is seriously waning and is thus dominated by the heavily toasty oak.

I'll give it a few hours in the decanter to see what happens, but not holding out much hope.

[cuttlefish]

For me it was:
Fathers Day lunch:
Anderson Method Traditional Shiraz 1992
13.5% alc. This had lost a fair bit of it's fizz (perhaps unsurprisingly), but was very nice, nonetheless

Bellarmine "Select" Riesling 2011
This is what used to be called their Auslese riesling. 9.5% alc. Lovely sweetish wine. A faint touch of spritz makes this tending to tropical-fruit tasting wine nice and refreshing.

Later on that evening...

Shaw Vineyard Cab.Merlot 2006
Screwcap. 14% alc. A Canberra Winery just off the Barton Highway. It's a mid-dark plum colour. There's quite leafy cedary notes to this. Maybe a hint of machine oil, and gravel, and an interesting earthy, meadowy greenness to it all, around some "minty side of red berry" fruit. A faint liquoricey alcoholic tint to it does detract a little. It's medium to full in weight with still firm tannins, and enough flavour to see it through 3-5 more years.

[Craig(NZ)]

2010 Te Mata Elsdon Chardonnay 14%Alc pre last Xmas, the intension
being to drink over Xmas/New Year.. Well the weather over Xmas was overcast cool, so out came the
bottles of red wine. Tasted at the TM showcase ( March) I was unimpressed with this. This bottle didn't
change my mind. Drunk over 3 days, I thought this was soft and flabby with an excess of clumsy oak.
Not that good, good.

I reckon the 10 is a great vintage. What $30 chardonnay would you rather drink? I wasn't so impressed with the 11, thought the 11 Clearview reserve was a way better option but the 2010 I have been really happy with

Now however waiting for those 2010 Kumeu River Single Vineyards. They should surely push for best ever NZ Chardonnays if they live up to the Auckland vintage of a lifetime tag?

2004 Esk Valley Reserve. Merlot 52%/Cab Sav 26%/Malbec 22% 14.5Alc. On opening bright red,
little by way of nose and the taste was a real disappointment. Was thinking about heading back to
the cellar, then remembered an open chardonnay in fridge. So, after the un-impressive start, half
the bottle was decanted and left for about 1½ hours before service. Wow, this had blossomed into
a very decent wine. Rich licquorish/tarry malbec dominant flavours with some tannic grip. The other
half bottle on day two, still firing on all cylinders, not so tannic, soft creamy texture, still with a
distinct malbec flavour profile. No rush; very good, good.

Hmm when was the last time I bought an Esk Valley wine? Its been years...I wonder why? Lost its gloss

[jafa]

I reckon the 10 is a great vintage. What $30 chardonnay would you rather drink? I wasn't so impressed with the 11, thought the 11 Clearview reserve was a way better option but the 2010 I have been really happy with
Now however waiting for those 2010 Kumeu River Single Vineyards. They should surely push for best ever NZ Chardonnays if they live up to the Auckland vintage of a lifetime tag?

Umm. Not really qualified on Chardonnay. I don't drink a lot of white wine, mostly SB. If I fancy a white I usually pick up something at the supermarket
and it's gone in a few days. Summer goto wine for me is rose these days. Mostly French. If you stay away from Provence/Bandol the prices are not prohibitive,
and it makes Kiwi examples look like the sickly sweet industrial swill it is. Not that the Frenchies aren't cheap industrial swill mind. Just better.
So, some supermarket chardonnay pickups that have had repeats are CR Kidnappers, and Church Rd Res. Been awhile however, refusing to touch 2010 and 2011 examples.
I expected better from the 2010 Elsdon. Just not doing it for me. After tasting the 2011 at Showcase, it's not on my shopping list.

Hmm when was the last time I bought an Esk Valley wine? Its been years...I wonder why? Lost its gloss

Totally agree. Apart from some 2009 Terraces, 2004 is the last EV vintage I've purchased. The Black Label budget Merlot once was my case buy quaffer.
Haven't seen it on shelf for a while. I think the merlot vines used for this were top grafted to pinot gris, and I'm certainly not going near that!

jafa

[dan_smee]

Just opened a 2007 Chateau Haut-Madrac. Anyone have any experiences? This bottle still had the acid and tannin structure to live a while, but the fruit is seriously waning and is thus dominated by the heavily toasty oak.

I'll give it a few hours in the decanter to see what happens, but not holding out much hope.

Good news, the oak has mellowed today, and there is a surprising aroma of strawberries underneath the typical dustiness. The palate is much more rounded with the smokiness and tobacco flavours much more integrated.

[porschemad911]

2008 Clonakilla O'Riada Shiraz: If I didn't know it, I'd have a hard time believing that this isn't their flagship wine. Seriously good. Incredibly delicate and sweet berry fruit, but not at all overdone. Give it a few years and there is surely some puppy fat to be shed, but its so drinkable now. Great length. And it was a joy just to smell it let alone taste it too. Can't imagine how good the flagship SV must be.

I agree, haven't tried the '08, but absolutely loved the '09 my sister gave me as a birthday gift. Beautifully delicate and fragrant. Remembering has me tempted to open the Hilltops shiraz in the wine fridge!

[damonpeyo]

2009 Colonial Estate Exile Shiraz - decanted at around midday, drunk at around 8.30pm - blew us all away with its full bodied brilliance.

Did you get that from getwinesdirect? I brought 4 bottles mid-last year, and would have to agree it does have it certain full bodied brilliance, got 3 left, reckon will taste the next one in 1-2 years, needs time, and not surprised that you decanted it for almost half a day, does needs a lot of time to breath, wise choice, not much fan of young-ish Shiraz's for some reason, like them "middle aged" or decanted/breathed for a fair bit of time.

by Chuck »
Thorn Clarke 2006 Shotfire Quartage. A blend of many Bordeaux grapes (predominantly cabernet sauvignon) and a good example of how this family owned winery boxes well above its weight. Built to age for another 5+ years it was showing its potential last night. The Sandpiper series, ranked below the Shotfire, retailing around $15 is a good performer, the straight cabernet a good well made wine from the cooler Eden Valley that I'd put up against any $25 bracket wine.

I often pick that wine when I head to mates, who are not into fancy wines, but want something decent enough for me to drink and share, rather drinking their cheap $2-$5 clearskins wines.

[Mahmoud Ali]

2010 Te Mata Elsdon Chardonnay 14%Alc pre last Xmas, the intension
being to drink over Xmas/New Year.. Well the weather over Xmas was overcast cool, so out came the
bottles of red wine. Tasted at the TM showcase ( March) I was unimpressed with this. This bottle didn't
change my mind. Drunk over 3 days, I thought this was soft and flabby with an excess of clumsy oak.
Not that good, good.

I reckon the 10 is a great vintage. What $30 chardonnay would you rather drink?

Sacred Hill 'Rifleman' Chardonnay? The '07 was excellent.

Mahmoud.

[Scotty vino]

A couple from Saturday night...

Leo Buring DW33 Watervale Riesling 1994... Developed, golden colour. An intriguing nose of candied lime, apricots, and just a whiff of sherry-like character. The palate was still quite linear, holding together, but definitely on the way out. A good curiosity.

Majella Sparkling Shiraz 2006... Crown seal. Very rich, very sweet but with nice balance and a genuine depth of fruit flavour, and a pleasing level of complexity. I enjoyed this. Some wouldn't.

Lindemans Pyrus 1990... Impressive. Mid-garent red, light hue, this has ehteral, lifted red berry notes, spice and a balanced, lingering finish in the mouth. Probable wine of the night (despite some stiff competition). Drinking very well now, would hold if well cellared.

Henschke Mt Edelstone 1997... Suprisingly similar colour/hue to the Pyrus - a bit lighter than I might have expected. This was classic Eden Valley Shiraz, brambly red, dark fruits, blackcurrant notes, and again lovely balance and poise on the palate, perhaps just a hint short. I would drink these now, doubtful there will be significant improvement from here.

Wendouree Cabernet Malbec 1993... Still quite dense magenta. Six hours of decanting vaguely helped this unwind, but the structure and tannins were still significant. A fuller bodied, and less giving wine than the other reds of tonight. Very typical Wendouree style, with the malbec making itself known in the lingering violet/sweet fruit character. Feel free to leave this in the dark another 5-10 yrs.

Woodstock "The Stocks" McV Shiraz 1998... Altogether darker/red purple and more youthful looking. Smells quite pongy - ripe fruit, dark plums, compote aromas, just a hint of portiness. A riper, richer palate than the other wines, but a little angular, and disjointed. Nice wine but not a masterpiece.

Not the shabbiest tasting list.
The 94 buring would've been interesting.

[Craig(NZ)]

2010 Te Mata Elsdon Chardonnay 14%Alc pre last Xmas, the intension
being to drink over Xmas/New Year.. Well the weather over Xmas was overcast cool, so out came the
bottles of red wine. Tasted at the TM showcase ( March) I was unimpressed with this. This bottle didn't
change my mind. Drunk over 3 days, I thought this was soft and flabby with an excess of clumsy oak.
Not that good, good.

I reckon the 10 is a great vintage. What $30 chardonnay would you rather drink?

Sacred Hill 'Rifleman' Chardonnay? The '07 was excellent.

Mahmoud.

Love to know where you can buy riflemans for $30. Twice that is "cheap" over here.

I like riflemans but its overpriced