Tasting Notes - Week Commencing 18-May

[Jay60A]

Jacob Creek Limited Release Shiraz Cabernet 1996
All hail the Cab-Shiraz blend ... Gorgeous nose which is there as soon as you open it - this is Barossa and Coonawarra from the great 1996 vintage. Sublime combination of sweet shiraz with the cabernet adding structure. Delicious, more-ish, and very long - and that's on day 2 after opening. More structure, cabernet and drive on day 1 so maybe even better. My only bottle just brought back from the US, I have a six-pack of the 1998 in the cellar though.

Next time - if I can get another bottle! - it needs to go head-to-head against a 1996 Penfolds Bin 389 to see which rules. Will go 5 years more easily ... top flight Australian wine.

Edit: I will add one more descriptor ... elegant.

[Chuck]

The 60A in your name is a dead giveaway on your love of the blend. The 96 Limited Release was an absolute stunner of a wine and heads and heels above the 389 (IMO). The 98 LM wasn't too shabby either as were other vintages. Both can still be picked up at auction at silly prices.

Carl

[Michael R]

Hi Jay

I opened a bottle of 94 Howard Park Cabernets with a few friends (and forumites) last night.
I only bought it because of your glowing reports here over the last couple of years. Picked up at auction.
Thanks for the tip, enjoyed it, showed some class and was served beside a 94 Houghton Jack Mann (which is 5-10 years away from being ready).

Tonight I opened a 2011 By Farr Chardonnay.
Friday I had a disappointment with Timo Mayer, although I regret a bit of the sting in my tasting note for that wine (I'm getting very sick of this new wave sterile Chardy), this By Farr is a proper Chardonnay. Had an wonderful Meursault prem cru last night which got me back track. Granted I've had a lot of this label, its definitely new world, but tastes like a wonderful classic Chardonnay.

[Jay60A]

Hi Jay

I opened a bottle of 94 Howard Park Cabernets with a few friends (and forumites) last night.
I only bought it because of your glowing reports here over the last couple of years. Picked up at auction.
Thanks for the tip, enjoyed it, showed some class and was served beside a 94 Houghton Jack Mann (which is 5-10 years away from being ready).

Thanks - I love aged Australian wines which are not pretending to be something else but still show real class and balance ... when I post a review it's normally one of these, and hence a wine I wish I had more of!
The more I drink, the more I see that wines like this do 20 years easily and are often just starting to peak at this time with 10+ years left.

[sjw_11]

Domaine A Cabernet 2003... Mid red, excellent hue. Austere, demanding nose of red berries, earth, pencil shavings and a herbaceous edge. The palate is similarly inclined, finishing cool and even, with excellent structure. A food wine. Very good, and no rush to drink. Would be interested to see if it moves past this to a further phase of development in ~3-5yrs.

Stag's Leap Napa Valley Petite Syrah 2008... Youthful purple/red, very dense and dark in colour. Exceptionally youthful nose for a 6-yr old wine, featuring ripe plums, compote, and a chocolate/vanilla element. Ripe, juicy and sweet on the palate, not over extracted but certainly big and bold in style and structure. I haven't tried one of these before, but very interesting wine.

Tempus Two Adelaide Hills/HV Semillon Sav Blanc 2012... Multiple gold medals from Perth and Riverina (OK then). Cleanly made. Relatively crisp and linear. A little herbaceous and sappy for me, needs a bit more vim and vigour.

[catchnrelease]

2010 Lake Breeze Bernoota Shiraz Cabernet - Decent mid week quaffer. Strong on the nose, with good fruit and fine-ish tannins making for a nice palate. Finish was medium, maybe a tad short, but hey it's a <$20 bottle.

2012 Kooyong Clonale Chardonnay - Surprisingly good! Little bit of oak, smooth and bold flavours that fill the mouth. Great all round, maybe could've had a longer finish but better than the Bernoota for sure. Not too much acid, though, so probably more of a drink now wine than cellar.

[Mike Hawkins]

1980 Penfolds Grange 'Hermitage' - a much better bottle than the one last year. A touch of the tell tale Penfolds crushed ant nose blew off to reveal coffee, coconut and of all things, parma ham. The palate at first was tannin-dominant, so much so that it seemed some fruit had been stripped. But after a half hour or so, it fattened and sweetened up to reveal earth and chocolately tastes, with some malty oak thrown in as well. My guess is this wine will start it's downhill run in the next few years, so if you have a bottle, time to consider pulling the cork.

Thanks

Mike

[Hacker]

Two wines we shared over dinner last night with the family...
1997 Henschke Mt Edelstone fully mature, soft with a mix of complex fruit structure and tertiary development. The flavour profile just develops in the mouth and it is almost a shame to let go and swallow.
2010 Kalleske Clarry's Blend black impenetrable colour with muscle yet finesse. Not like any Grenache style I have tried at this pricepoint before - so much class, is that the shiraz and mataro influence? Anyway such a good wine! I think based on it's performance I wouldn't bother to cellar it any longer...too much enjoyment now.

Two great contrasting wines.

[fts70]

1997 Henschke Mt Edelstone fully mature, soft with a mix of complex fruit structure and tertiary development. The flavour profile just develops in the mouth and it is almost a shame to let go and swallow.

Really? Not bad for a 1997, the conditions were not great and the last Hill Of Grace I had was all about tomato leaf. Perhaps the dehydration hurt HoG more than ME.

Greetings from Europe / fts70

[phillisc]

My third bottle of Pikes 2012 Eastside (formerly just known as shiraz) shiraz this week.
This was a members pick up through the winery.
Really great nose of sweet fruits, great on the palate so well balanced with soft tannins that linger for ages.
Says on the label cellar for 6-8 years...way I am going the dozen won't last 6-8 days.

Good signs for 2012 Clares.

Cheers
Craig.

[Mike Hawkins]

1997 Henschke Mt Edelstone fully mature, soft with a mix of complex fruit structure and tertiary development. The flavour profile just develops in the mouth and it is almost a shame to let go and swallow.

Really? Not bad for a 1997, the conditions were not great and the last Hill Of Grace I had was all about tomato leaf. Perhaps the dehydration hurt HoG more than ME.

Greetings from Europe / fts70

Glad yours was a good bottle Hacker. The last time I had it, it was a brett monster....

[TravisW]

2012 Epis Chardonnay

Bright, pure, crisp and yet a touch luscious. Not lean and mean, but still a lovely balance of of weight and acid to go the distance. Beautiful young but should fatten up over the next 5-8 years.

Cheers, Travis.

[Hacker]

1997 Henschke Mt Edelstone fully mature, soft with a mix of complex fruit structure and tertiary development. The flavour profile just develops in the mouth and it is almost a shame to let go and swallow.

Really? Not bad for a 1997, the conditions were not great and the last Hill Of Grace I had was all about tomato leaf. Perhaps the dehydration hurt HoG more than ME.

Greetings from Europe / fts70

Glad yours was a good bottle Hacker. The last time I had it, it was a brett monster....

Maybe we were lucky, the Mt Edelstone was an auction purchase via Langtons, the first of a case of six. The family loved it, no brett that I could detect. Maybe I won't be so well off with the other five bottles...

[Mark Carrington]

2012 Epis Chardonnay

Bright, pure, crisp and yet a touch luscious. Not lean and mean, but still a lovely balance of of weight and acid to go the distance. Beautiful young but should fatten up over the next 5-8 years.

Cheers, Travis.

From where did you obtain this? I've hunted high & low for their wines on my last 3 trips. Unavailable in UK.

[Mark Carrington]

2010 Yannick Amirault Bourgueil La Petite Cave - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Bourgueil (5/12/2014)
Near opaque; fresh raspberries, vibrant nose; silky, youthful, plenty of stuffing, blackberries; polished, loads of potential. (94 pts.)
2009 Le Rocher des Violettes Montlouis-sur-Loire Cuvée la Negrette - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Montlouis-sur-Loire (5/12/2014)
Pale straw; nectarine skins, smokey, understated; taffeta-like texture, multi-layered, creamy; refreshing acidity provides backbone & drive; vigour on positive finish. Better than a recent bottle. (92 pts.)
2010 Vincent Pinard Sancerre Harmonie - France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Sancerre (5/12/2014)
Lovely as usual. Gentley oaked, fully integrated; sensuous, inviting; nearly perfect balance. Classy finish. For now & next couple of years. (92 pts.)
2011 Pierre-Bise Savennières Roche aux Moines - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Savennières Roche aux Moines (5/12/2014)
Pale; delineated, taut, hint of tropical fruit; vibrant , power-packed; extended finish. Will be great in 10 years time. (92 pts.)
2011 Vincent Pinard Sancerre Rouge - France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Sancerre Rouge (5/12/2014)
Pale ruby; raspberried. gamey undertow; dry. softening tannins, velvety, 'sweet' fruit'; crisp, fine finish. Give this another 12 months/ (90 pts.)
2009 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon La Croix Boissée - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon (5/12/2014)
Advanced colour; elegant, fragrant; a certain rusticity on palate, fulsome; grippy, assertive finish. In an awkward phase? Leave alone for 12 months. (89 pts.)
2005 Luneau-Papin / Domaine Pierre de la Grange Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie Le "L" d'Or - France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine (5/12/2014)
Shade deeper than '11; classic iodine & saltiness; showing signs of age with flatter profile; good depth & longer than '11. Not as good as recent bottle. Ultimately, my preference is for younger Muscadets. (88 pts.)
2011 Luneau-Papin / Domaine Pierre de la Grange Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie Le "L" d'Or - France, Loire Valley, Pays Nantais, Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine (5/12/2014)
Zippy, fresh as a daisy; panache & dash on palate. Crisp finish. Very long. Plenty of time in hand. (88 pts.)
2012 Alexandre Bain Pouilly-Fumé Pierre Précieuse - France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Pouilly-Fumé (5/12/2014)
Mid straw; pineapples, bags of character; a bit all over the place & lacks clarity or focus. Finishes assertively & has potential to age well. If 'natural' wines are your thing this will fit the bill. Doesn't lack interest but.... (86 pts.)
NV Domaine des Aubuisières Vouvray Brut Methode Traditionnelle - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray (5/12/2014)
V. fine mousse; bready, floral nose; bracing, severe even, clean as a whistle; good attack on long finish. (86 pts.)
2012 Domaine Bernard Baudry Chinon Les Granges - France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Chinon (5/12/2014)
Brightly coloured; initial brett & sulphur quickly blew of; reined in fruit, forceful acidity; threadbare finish. A bottle last year was better. (85 pts.)
Posted from CellarTracker

Ch Soucherie Coteaux du Layon '96
Mid gold; pineapple chunks & burnt toffee; med sweet, retains marked acidity. A qurky finish & smidgeon of wet dog. Fair length to finish. 89 points.
Dom Aubuisieres (Fouquet)Vouvray Cuvée Alexandre '09. Pale gold; not sure this was in pristine condition. Showed poise & lovely balance. Extended finish, though not absolutely clean. 90??

[Mark Perth]

2011 Cherubino Frankland River Shiraz

Until the last moment I was undecided whether it would be a 01 Woodlands Kevin Cabernet, a 99 Moss wood Cabernet or a 99 Voyager Estate Cab merlot to accompany this evening BBQ Tbone. Then for reasons I can't really explain my hand moved towards the Cherubino, more out of curiosity than anything else.

To be honest I was expecting a hulking tannic beast, far too young however I was pleasantly surprised.

Ripe mulberry color with a degree of translucency and typical black fruits on the nose. What surprised though was the soft tannins and gentle mouth feel. This is a very good wine with an interesting future ahead. I look forward to seeing how this beauty develops over the years.

[TravisW]

Mr Carrington,

Did you drink all of those this week?

Cheers, Sober Trav.