Weekly Drinking Report Thread as at 1/10/2013

[dlo]

Time for a new thread .... please feel free to put a few words together underneath on your recent wine consumption.

The last few days saw a still impressive 1998 Mildara Jamieson's Run Coonawarra Alexander's Block Cabernet bite the dust. This bottle in peak drinking phase with a mass of tertiary development filling the olfactories, although the aged fruit continues to hold on. The aromatics combine leaf and earth with aged mature chocoberry fruit and a decent lick of leather and cigar box. The palate fully resolved with surprisingly good weight and rounded mouthfeel, excellent persistence and a relatively soft but pleasing finish. Drink soonish. 90

We also opened a 1981 Buller's Rutherglen Vintage Port which was in top condition with plenty of petrol in the tank. The fruit is still fresh featuring distinctly earthy blackberries with overtones of licorice and a whiff of lantana. The spirit is well judged and displays just the right amount of astringency to counter the delicious sweet fruit. Finishes long. This should hold and last for at least another decade. Strong silver medal. 91

[Panda 9D]

Penfold's St. Henri Shiraz 2004 - I was curious so I opened it. Not only did I open it too early, but decanted and started drinking right away. The quality of this wine is clear, even when popped and poured. Opaque black with a slight purple/ruby rim. The structure is reassuring but not harsh or unwelcome in any way. The fruit that came off this wine were strong, intense raspberry and tangy plum. The vibrancy of the fruit was wonderful. With time, some chinese mushroom sauce began to give the nose some umami character. The palate had some of the fruit, great long acid and tannins. With a long decant you could definitely enjoy this wine now.. but I imagine it will be best in at least 15 years.

Ettienne Sauzet La Garenne Puligny-Monrachet 1er Cru 2011 - Nice, bright and rich gold colour. Started off with an intense buttered toast nose with a hint of konbu stock giving it a little savouriness around the edges. Eventually hints of tropical fruits emerged (after over an hour in the glass) but were difficult to identify. The palate didn't quite live up to the nose, and was quite a diluted form of it. I would have liked a little more acidity and intensity. Still, a very nice Chardonnay but there are far better around.

[Teisto]

2006 Frogmore Creek Pinot Noir - Very good.

[sjw_11]

D'arenberg "The Eight Iron" SV Shiraz 2009... S/cap. 15% abv. Drank this over 3 days. Initially it was massively OTT, black/purple in the glass and featuring a very ripe but reticent nose of black fruit and alcohol, overall seemed impressive but unapproachable. By day 3, it had fallen apart, becoming porty, and yet still one dimensional, boring. ... I am not quite sure where they were going with this but for the RRP this was very disappointing juice, I would say perhaps over-extracted, fruit too ripe/too much alcohol, and not enough acid/balance.

D'arenberg Peppermint Paddock Sparkling Chambourcin NV... If the Eight Iron was purple-ish this was Ribena Bright Purple, natural to Chambourcin. Good mousse/bead. Really delicious blackcurrant jube flavours and bright, clean fruit. A really fun drink, not contemplative, but genuinely tasty.

[MarKofQuality]

Writing as I drink and contemplate is a good thing and far more trustworthy an undertaking than recall from my failing memory bank ;

Seven Hill St Ignatius Clare CS Blend - 52% CS / 28% Merlot / 10% Malbec / 10% Cab Franc - nose hits with a embracement of berry with a somewhat odd under-odour of liquid laundry detergent, mint and something herby that eludes me. On the tongue the berry is rich, luscious and concentrated on the front palate however by mid the tannins overwhelm and then fade to back palate leaving a dry, dusty earthen taste with a hint of spice. Definitely will benefit from age and to allow the tannins to integrate and soften. Nonetheless a very pleasant drop now and doing well to limit myself to the single glass at this time.

Awaiting my Paulett Andreas Shiraz 2007 delivery and will post when arrives and I QC one of them before stashing the others into the vaults.

[alexc92]

2010 Murray St Mataro Andrew Seppelt is a genius. All his wines are great value and very enjoyable. Strong deep nose of black fruits, could not stop sniffing it! Quite tannic and alcohol is definitely present. Concentrated with a longish finish. Loved it. Probably will improve with age but is splendid now!

[redstuff]

2013 Rockford Alicante Bouchet (dlo's favourite - he will deny it)
The usual "sunshine in a bottle" with the remarkable taste of Allen's strawberries and cream lollies.

[dlo]

2013 Rockford Alicante Bouchet (dlo's favourite - he will deny it)
The usual "sunshine in a bottle" with the remarkable taste of Allen's strawberries and cream lollies.

[dlo]

Today over lunch - Penfolds Grange Hermitage 1975. Excellent mature wine in fine condition - solid 90 pointer. Almost non-existent label. I have jotted down some notes from the lads' sojourn today and will construct a detailed TN sometime tomorrow. Two of my guests at the luncheon had never drunk Grange before. Quite a humbling experience hearing this. The whole experience quite moving actually.

Fill level at base of neck, cork in excellent condition, stained to 1 centimetre below top. Poured a dark mahagony with rusty edges and a solid impenetrable core. Ample sediment left in the base of the bottle with a careful single decant. Bouquet reticent at first, slowly building to reveal an ethereal, ever so volatile and savoury mix of shale, bitumen and damp earth over gently sweet fading red fruit, rum'n'raisan chocolate, old leather couch and burnt espresso notes. Alive and kicking but with nowhere to go. The palate generated more interest with generous, albeit uber mature chocolate and coffee tinged berried fruit, seamlessly aligned to smooth cedary oak, tinges of tar, beef stock, sauteed mushroom and old saddle leather. Voluptuous, rounded mouthfeel, melted tannins, the last acidity struggling to be noticed, soft rounded mouthfilling texture, luxurious, medium/long finish. Got it just in time I reckon. A lovely old wine most likely on the slippery slope but holding up reasonably well at this moment. 90 points. Drink yesterday.

[Luke W]

2009 Langi Ghiran Cliff Edge Shiraz - saw a 6 pack at DM for about $20 a bottle and remembered others on the forum waxing lyrically about them. So did I think the hype was worth it -absolutely! Great wine at double the price, decanted for 3 hours and it just kept getting better. Wonderful mouthfeel and balance, great dark berry fruit - wish I had more room in my cellar to put in the remaining 6 pack at Dans.
2004 Clarence Hill Shiraz - just at the peak of its development - pure McLaren Vale fruit in a great year. Doesn't get much better than this.

[Duncan Disorderly]

2000 Tardieu-Laurent Cotes du Rhone 'Guy Louis' Last bottle of three purchased at auction and while they have all been good, this one is superb. It's fresh as a daisy with blackberry, lavender, leather on the palate and loads of length. The only complaint is that it all the components are not quite as well integrated as the other bottles, but time would fix that.

[Rossco]

I also an 04 st henri, although this was a half bottle.
However this was much more advanced over pandas. This was all
Dark chocolate and roast coffee beans. Fruit took a backwards step to
The secondary characteristics. Aged wood and leather. A beautiful wine
But would not keep this much longer. I have a feeling this bottle may
Not have been cared for like it should .

[Rossco]

2009 Langi Ghiran Cliff Edge Shiraz - saw a 6 pack at DM for about $20 a bottle and remembered others on the forum waxing lyrically about them. So did I think the hype was worth it -absolutely! Great wine at double the price, decanted for 3 hours and it just kept getting better. Wonderful mouthfeel and balance, great dark berry fruit - wish I had more room in my cellar to put in the remaining 6 pack at Dans.

Amazing wine !! Do a back to back with a 2010 and let me know
What you think of the difference.

[Luke W]

2009 Langi Ghiran Cliff Edge Shiraz - saw a 6 pack at DM for about $20 a bottle and remembered others on the forum waxing lyrically about them. So did I think the hype was worth it -absolutely! Great wine at double the price, decanted for 3 hours and it just kept getting better. Wonderful mouthfeel and balance, great dark berry fruit - wish I had more room in my cellar to put in the remaining 6 pack at Dans.

Amazing wine !! Do a back to back with a 2010 and let me know
What you think of the difference.

Hi Rossco

Having read the previous thread about the 2009 vs 2010 I'm not sure that I'll but any of the latter but if an opportunity arises I'll take it and post......

cheers

luke

[daver6]

How does the '09 compare to some of the previous vintages? Namely '05 through to '08?

[Panda 9D]

Lapierre Morgon 2011 Sans Sulfites - As you might imagine, there is quite a bit of bottle variation with this wine but last night's was a goodn'. Bright strawberries, raspberries, violets and beef stock pegged onto a clothesline of earth rock and steel. A little breezy spice passes through it. Not overly complex but just so goooooooooood. It has so much energy that you feel like drinking a bottle is good for you. While more expensive wines from more prestigious grapes tick more boxes this has 'x-factor' up the yin-yang.

[Phil H]

2007 Clover Hill Sparkiling Excellent showing some aged characteristics.
2002 Elderton Command Shiraz Excellent, well balanced, Classic Barossa Shiraz, full bodied but elegant.
2009 Innskillin Winemakers Series Merlot(Canadian) I have never had a Canadian wine, Good, however after consuming the previous wines, perhaps a bit unfair. Med bodied, slightly tannic, finishing a bit short.
2002 Ibis Cab Sav (Orange) from a little known winery, technically suffering from many faults, however one of my favourites, very quirky, having known the owner/winemaker and paying very little - never disappoints.
2006 Riebke Ebenezer Shiraz A mid week quaffer, enjoyable, drinks well over 2 nights, not going to get any better
2007 Castello Di Brolio Chianti Classico Good, med bodied, a bit simple.
2010 Derwent Estate Reisling Very good, sitting halfway between the sweet/dry scale. For my money I prefer the Pewsey Vale.
2007 Centennial Reserve Shiraz Viognier Very Good, fruit from Orange Region, med bodied, fairly tight, needing decanting, slowly developing.
N/V Dynasty Merlot If you enjoy Raspberry Cordial, you will enjoy this. However when shared amongst 3 guests, most of the bottle got poured down the sink. The best attribute about this wine is the weight of the bottle, wrapped in tissue paper giving the false perception of quality. I decided to try this wine as I have never had a Chinese wine, at$8.90 what did I have to loose - answer $8.90.
At my displeasure of a major wine retailer selling such rubbish, I posted such a response, however it appears only favourable responses make it to customer reviews on their website, despite leaving my contact details if they wished to query the validity of the posting.

[dlo]

Seeing there's so few posts this week (thanks to those who have), I'll run this thread for another week so prospective poster's can have the pleasure of running through some of the existing top quality tasting notes/vibes etc. I very much enjoy reading about some of these wines. I note them and, if time and money allow, I well may try some of them down the track. Such is the beauty of the generous interchange of factual information between likeminded members of forum's such as Auswine.

My only addition to the thread is an unbelievably good bottle of Chateau Canon 1982. Bought at auction, with all the caveats you can muster for a 31 year old wine, this is close to as good as it gets. Silken from start to finish with that almost incomprehensible Bordeaux barnyard/herb/cedar/earthen foil for gently sweet black fruit. Little more to add really, it is just something to try and behold. I've been drinking great Bordeaux for almost 30 years now and this up there with the best of them from start to finish.

[ross67]

1999 Penfolds St Henri.
This was (at first )singing tonight. Manly also was but then wasn't unfortunately.
Cork sound although half bleeding. Colour was impressive for a 14 yo wine.
It looked alive. Nose was typical Aging Penfolds.....lighter coloured fruit and aromatic.
Palate is sound featuring obvious quality fruit with tannin in second place.
First few hrs I would rate this 93.
Second few hrs dipping to 90.
It lost something over a few hours unfortunately but still pleasant enough.

Ross

[Polymer]

Lapierre Morgon 2011 Sans Sulfites - As you might imagine, there is quite a bit of bottle variation with this wine but last night's was a goodn'. Bright strawberries, raspberries, violets and beef stock pegged onto a clothesline of earth rock and steel. A little breezy spice passes through it. Not overly complex but just so goooooooooood. It has so much energy that you feel like drinking a bottle is good for you. While more expensive wines from more prestigious grapes tick more boxes this has 'x-factor' up the yin-yang.

Panda

How would you compare the 2011 to the 10 and 09 of the "N" Lapierre Morgon? Or the normal Sulfite versions for that matter...

[Mike Hawkins]

1999 Penfolds St Henri.
This was (at first )singing tonight. Manly also was but then wasn't unfortunately.
Cork sound although half bleeding. Colour was impressive for a 14 yo wine.
It looked alive. Nose was typical Aging Penfolds.....lighter coloured fruit and aromatic.
Palate is sound featuring obvious quality fruit with tannin in second place.
First few hrs I would rate this 93.
Second few hrs dipping to 90.
It lost something over a few hours unfortunately but still pleasant enough.

Ross

Doesnt surprise me. I made the comment at release that it wont be one of the better St Henri's down the track only to be told I had no idea what I'm talking about (ok, so maybe that comment has some merit......)

[sjw_11]

Torres Gran Corornas Cabernet Tempranillo 2011 (Penedès)... Pleasant claret-style red, very much Cabernet dominant though their website does claim Tempranillo in the blend (not on the label). Medium bodied, with dusty red berries on the nose and a structured, cedar-tinged palate with dry, dusty tannins.

I also had a glass of Illuminati Riparosso Montpulciano, probably 2011, I remember these been flogged by the Coles backed chains a few years ago and thought they were pretty smart for about $8/bottle, well this was woeful. I sent the first glass back to being corked, the second was better but still there was a bit of dank, murky "bilge water" behind a pretty thin layer of slightly green fruit. Ordinary.

And on Friday I had surely the worlds most expensive "standard" wine by the glass... an ordinary Chablis (or Cape Mentelle SSB say), $23 SGD + 10% service + 7% GST... thankfully it was on someone else's expense account!

[Panda 9D]

Lapierre Morgon 2011 Sans Sulfites - As you might imagine, there is quite a bit of bottle variation with this wine but last night's was a goodn'. Bright strawberries, raspberries, violets and beef stock pegged onto a clothesline of earth rock and steel. A little breezy spice passes through it. Not overly complex but just so goooooooooood. It has so much energy that you feel like drinking a bottle is good for you. While more expensive wines from more prestigious grapes tick more boxes this has 'x-factor' up the yin-yang.

Panda

How would you compare the 2011 to the 10 and 09 of the "N" Lapierre Morgon? Or the normal Sulfite versions for that matter...

The 09s were quite a lot richer, deeper, sweeter and darker. I can't remember the 10s.. I may have never tried them? The 11s are fantastic and some people will like the 11s better and others the 09s.

[damonpeyo]

2004 Tahbilk 1927 Vines Marsanne impressive, awesome minerality notes, tight acidity background. Screwcapped (thank God!)

Actually left me and parents very impressed, wanting more refills, very more-ish, we preferred this '04 vintage to the every vintage of '98-'03.

Happy to pay their sub-$40 price range for once...thanks to screwcapped vintage.

[Jay60A]

Fox Hollow Single Vineyard Hunter Valley Semillon 2006 (produced and bottled by Tyrrells, M&S label)
Picked up 3 at a discount, normally an exy £25 which is Vat 1 level but down to £15. Made by Tyrrells and winemaker is Andrew Spinaze.
11.0% and screwcap.

Light / pale straw, painfully young and unevolved. Locked up tight on the nose not giving much away, lime, lemon rind and a palate that almost fizzes with intensity.
Lots of energy. Love HV semillon, such an unworked style. This bottle reminds me of the Tyrrells Belford 2006 in vintage and style (I have not tried Vat 1 2006). Very good+ just too yound, likely excellent in 5-10. Interesting find ... UK only I think - does anyone know who owns the vineyard?

[Michael R]

Lunch with friends yesterday.

NV Piper Heidsick – serviceable but joyless
09 Felton Road Block 2 Chardonnay – very nice, certainly better for the few years bottle age. If I’m honest it surprised me as I wasn’t expecting to like it as much as I did.
03 Moreau Vaudsir GC Chablis – tca
08 Felton Road Block 5 Pinot – Excellent, nice bit of spice on a typical otago medium body. No rush, but no certainly crime in enjoying now.
08 Lethbridge Mietta Pinot – Much bigger personality than the Felton, massive nose with a slight nostril singe suggesting higher alcohol than the Felton (incorrect however, both were 14%). medium bodied but had a touch of harshness following the Felton, perhaps opened too young to be fair.

[qwertt]

Fox Hollow Single Vineyard Hunter Valley Semillon 2006 (produced and bottled by Tyrrells, M&S label)
Lots of energy. Love HV semillon, such an unworked style. This bottle reminds me of the Tyrrells Belford 2006 in vintage and style (I have not tried Vat 1 2006). Very good+ just too yound, likely excellent in 5-10. Interesting find ... UK only I think - does anyone know who owns the vineyard?

Reminds me of a 2005 Belford I opened the other day. Very spritzy and zippy. After three nights in the fridge, having the last glass now. Finally settled, revealing classic fresh semillon aromas and a juicy style but still with a lot of acidity.

[PaulV]

Nice sunday lunch prior to the RL grand final

2002 Pol Roger blanc de blanc brioche, pastry, white peach, fresh crystalline palate, great length though needs more time

2005 Tyrrells Vat 1 Semillon Not austere. great fruit, quite approachable for a Vat 1

2007 Bouchard Meursault 1er Perrieres Powerful, midweight. lots of hazlenuts, still a bit oaky, lots of drive thru the palate and great acidity and cut. Lovely

2002 Francois Ravenau Chablis 1er Montee de Tonnerre Still pale buttercup - very fresh, oystershell, ripe apple, smooth fairly rich texture though still chablis rather than white burg, long and haunting finish of flinty lemon & lime juice. Excellent and a long future.

2001 Frederic Mugnier Chambolle Musigny 1er Les Fuees Pure. Crunchy red fruited nose, ethereal, so light on the palate but so much intensity. Lovely

2001 Clos Des Lambrays Best balanced of all the burgs and the longest palate. Just a sexy mid weight burg drinking a point.

1993 Robert Chevillon Nuits St George 1er Les Cailles Corked Seems to be a problem with Chevillon 1993s.

1993 Robert Chevillon Nuits St George 1er Les St Georges Rich powerful, burly bugundy - still deep color with masses of earth and spices. full bodied but missing some complexity

1982 La Mission Haut Brion Still quite dark with powerful black fruited and earthy graves nose and palate. The tannins are now very fine and resolved which gives lovely depth and finish to the wine. ready to drink at long last.

2001 Pierre Bise Coteaux de Layon Beaulieu looked more like a liqueur muscat - deep gold. midweight , lots of tangerine , marmalade but the lightness of chenin - though may have seen some heat as the finish fell off quite a bit.

cheers

Paul

[dlo]

Slummin it again, Paul, I see. Nice list, good notes .... I had a 1982 Ch. Canon last week that was like liquid silk, beautiful wine. Amazing how classy Bordeaux reds keep keeping on. Good to see you post here again.

[Jay60A]

Fox Hollow Single Vineyard Hunter Valley Semillon 2006 (produced and bottled by Tyrrells, M&S label)
Lots of energy. Love HV semillon, such an unworked style. This bottle reminds me of the Tyrrells Belford 2006 in vintage and style (I have not tried Vat 1 2006). Very good+ just too yound, likely excellent in 5-10. Interesting find ... UK only I think - does anyone know who owns the vineyard?

Reminds me of a 2005 Belford I opened the other day. Very spritzy and zippy. After three nights in the fridge, having the last glass now. Finally settled, revealing classic fresh semillon aromas and a juicy style but still with a lot of acidity.

Very very similar to Belford - a straight up style, maybe not as textured as say Lovedale. I nearly used spritzy last night as an adjective, so you got it exactly.
I will contact Chris Tyrrell to try and get some info ...