Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

[Mike Hawkins]

Glad you enjoyed the Fredie, Tigger. I think its a fabulous wine given the vintage

[toofastdriving]

Hot day here in Melbourne - decided to open a 1996 Grosset Polish Hill. Half expected it to be over the hill, but pleasantly surprised. Deep yellow in colour, still fruity and quite light!

[Hacker]

2012 Woodlands Cab Franc Merlot. Delicious and spicy, a little more adventurous than the normal blend. Also a Pewsey Vale 2012 Riesling. Tightly coiled and dry, giving nothing away at present. Needs 6-8 years in the cellar. Bargain price though.

[maybs]

Last night
2004 Gosset Grand Millesime Champagne. Very nice. Creamy. Refreshing. Moorish. Yum.

2011 Amisfield Pinot Noir. Lovely nose, lots of red fruit and a little earthiness. Nice flavours but a bit too acidic/edgy for me right now.

Tonight

2012 Wendouree Shiraz Mataro

Decided to open one and check it out. Decanted approximately 1.5 hours. Smells like the colour purple should smell, which I think is the mataro influence. Powerful nose I am guessing since I am just starting to come down with a cold but it is still shining through. Nice structure, nice flavour, nice length. So...nice all round.

[catchnrelease]

2003 B'darra Estate Reserve Shiraz - Had never heard of this producer in the Mornington Peninsula. Cork in good condition, this was given to me by my grandmother who found it in a cupboard (standing up), who knows how long it's been there and how long it's been standing up for. Developed, dark red/crimson in colour. Maybe on the verge of some bricking about to begin. Good nose, some fine tannins and acidity on opening, with the acidity backing off with a bit of breathing. Very fruity palate, blackcurrant, jubes, herbs. Not too much complexity or depth, and lacking a bit of oomph but nice enough to drink. Fell apart after an hour or so in the glass. Wasn't decanted and didn't need it.

[ads_11]

2013 SC Pannell Syrah - I bought 3 of these on the back of all the hype and finally got around to opening one. Well, I just can't see all the fuss at this point!
Amazing colour purple on on the rim fading to inky black. Has been open for 2 days now and still really closed on the nose, with just a hint of menthol coming through. Getting a really odd bitterness that I am just not enjoying.

This may be a result of the age of the wine but looking at the reviews it is suitable to drink young. Think I will leave the other 2 for quite some time.

[Mahmoud Ali]

Tonight, a bottle of 2003 Clearview Reserve Chardonnay, Hawk's Bay, 13.5%, with baked salmon, soy sauce steamed broccoli and rice. A recent purchase. I've posted a tasting note.

Mahmoud

[maybs]

Had a 2010 Kumeu River a Estate Chardonnay last night. Very nice but fully mature so if you have these I would recommend drinking up soon. Not surprising to me as I recently had a 2009 and it has dropped over the other side. Was still drinkable but not that good. The 2010 was quite enjoyable, very mouth filling, oaky (in a well integrated way), good acid, fairly long finish. I found it to have nice depth too.

[maybs]

Finished off the last glass and a half of the 2012 Wendouree Shiraz Mataro tonight, night 3. Now very expressive and open on the nose, very interesting and expressive. The palate is flavourome and mellow, perhaps a little too much. It had a nice round feel and decent finish but perhaps lacking a bit in punch/oomph. Nice though.

[sjw_11]

Finished off the last glass and a half of the 2012 Wendouree Shiraz Mataro tonight, night 3. Now very expressive and open on the nose, very interesting and expressive. The palate is flavourome and mellow, perhaps a little too much. It had a nice round feel and decent finish but perhaps lacking a bit in punch/oomph. Nice though.

Thanks for the notes... I have a couple of these stashed away for the future ... nice of you to take one for the team to see how it looks!

[maybs]

Finished off the last glass and a half of the 2012 Wendouree Shiraz Mataro tonight, night 3. Now very expressive and open on the nose, very interesting and expressive. The palate is flavourome and mellow, perhaps a little too much. It had a nice round feel and decent finish but perhaps lacking a bit in punch/oomph. Nice though.

Thanks for the notes... I have a couple of these stashed away for the future ... nice of you to take one for the team to see how it looks!

Definitely a team player mate I got 4 of these and couldn't resist. My first wendouree shiraz mataro. Enjoyed it. Going to be really nice in the medium term I think.

[Michael McNally]

2004 Kalleske Greenock Shiraz

Lovely! Gorgeous fruit and tannin. Voluptuous in the mouth but never over the top. Small sips only please! No hurry.

Cheers

Michael

[Bytown Rick]

Had a 2010 Kumeu River a Estate Chardonnay last night. Very nice but fully mature so if you have these I would recommend drinking up soon. Not surprising to me as I recently had a 2009 and it has dropped over the other side. Was still drinkable but not that good. The 2010 was quite enjoyable, very mouth filling, oaky (in a well integrated way), good acid, fairly long finish. I found it to have nice depth too.

Interesting that you should say that. I'm only 2 bottles into a case of 2008, and for my taste it still offers a fair amount of drinking pleasure time (drinking well into 2016 or so). But as always, YMMV.

Rick

[maybs]

Had a 2010 Kumeu River a Estate Chardonnay last night. Very nice but fully mature so if you have these I would recommend drinking up soon. Not surprising to me as I recently had a 2009 and it has dropped over the other side. Was still drinkable but not that good. The 2010 was quite enjoyable, very mouth filling, oaky (in a well integrated way), good acid, fairly long finish. I found it to have nice depth too.

Interesting that you should say that. I'm only 2 bottles into a case of 2008, and for my taste it still offers a fair amount of drinking pleasure time (drinking well into 2016 or so). But as always, YMMV.

Rick

That is interesting. I certainly won't be tossing the other couple '09s and the '08 I have out without giving them a whirl, but the '09 the other night was on the way down.

The single vineyard wines are a different story. '08 Hunting Hill and Mate's vineyard still going strong.

[Wayno]

Wickhams Road 2012 Mornington Pinot Noir - batting at about it's weight - good balance a plenty of varietal character. I love Hoddles Chardonnays but am not quite as keen on their Pinots and this is quite representative of that, I think.

[TiggerK]

Had a 2010 Kumeu River a Estate Chardonnay last night. Very nice but fully mature so if you have these I would recommend drinking up soon. Not surprising to me as I recently had a 2009 and it has dropped over the other side. Was still drinkable but not that good. The 2010 was quite enjoyable, very mouth filling, oaky (in a well integrated way), good acid, fairly long finish. I found it to have nice depth too.

Interesting that you should say that. I'm only 2 bottles into a case of 2008, and for my taste it still offers a fair amount of drinking pleasure time (drinking well into 2016 or so). But as always, YMMV.

Rick

Have to agree, depends how you like your Chardonnay. I prefer a bit of aged characteristics, so think the 2010's will go quite some way yet for my tastes, but the 2009's are certainly more than a year advanced in comparison. Great wines either way, the problem is trying to not drink them!

[maybs]

Could definitely have misjudged the time left in the 2010 based on the 2009. The 2010 was drinking well.

[maybs]

Opened a 2004 Standish Relic last night after work with a few colleagues. Popped and poured. Was just chilling out enjoying it so no real notes or anything. Amazing intense nose. Silky texture. Well rounded flavours with no obvious hole in the palate. Long finish. Very enjoyable and also a real crowd pleaser. All 5 of us commented how nice it was.

[VINH NGUYEN]

just a couple quaffers last night

[burges]

Wow, these wines were amazing. Having decided the theme, I wondered for a (brief) moment if 2 RP100 wines would be an overkill – if our palates would be completely shot to pieces after the first glass. Fortunately the moment passed very quickly. We ended up finishing both bottles (with a few sips grudgingly offered to the sommelier).

The RR was popped and poured. It had a mature brooding nose of coffee, mocca, leather, plums, blackberries, vanilla, pencil shavings. The palate had mostly secondary characters. The high acidity was noticeable only because of its mouth-watering effect. The tannins were mostly resolved. Full bodied, soft, silky and well balanced with a long lingering finish. The only detractor was a hint of saltiness on the palate. Overall, I thought it was a lovely wine – certainly nowhere near the brash brute I expected an RP100 wine to be.

The Colgin was in a class of its own. It made the RR want to tiptoe and slink away, and hide under the table. It was double decanted the night before. Thankfully. It certainly needed that time to open up and soften. It had a nose in a similar vein to the RR – chocolate, coffee, black fruits, cedar and tobacco. However, it showed its best on the palate - impeccably balanced, full flavoured, full bodied, soft, supple and velvety with layers of flavour. Enough acidity to support the warm, spirity alcohol. Super-fine tannins providing a hint of astringency. It was just so mellow and easy to drink. A fabulous wine. Thanks Vinh.

[rens]

2005 Voyager Estate Shiraz. Not rocket surgery. This has a little age on the palate nothing out of kilter, but nothing blowing my socks off either. The length is medium and that's about all that can be said. Could go another 2 years, but don't leave it too long. Nice enough.

[maybs]

2004 Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne. Very satisfactory indeed.

[Andrew Jordan]

A few bottles drunk over dinner with some friends ..

NV Seppelt Shiraz Silverband Sparkling - like the crown seal. Good effort. A step up from the "Original".
1997 Jordan Vineyard & Winery Cabernet Sauvignon - unfortunately past it. Although still drinking ok would have been much better 5 years ago.
2011 McWilliam's Mount Pleasant Wines Pinot Noir/Shiraz - most interesting wine of the night. Pinot/Shiraz blend ... actually does work!
2005 Glaetzer Godolphin - massive wine but aging gracefully. Very tasty!
2004 Noon Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve - Red, wet. Very Yum. In a good a place right now.

[toofastdriving]

2014 Pikes Riesling Traditionale - great fresh young riesling, can understand the accolades.

[felixp]

2005 d'Issan …. great wine, but still too young, even after a decant. If you have any, leave until 2020.

[Polymer]

2005 d'Issan …. great wine, but still too young, even after a decant. If you have any, leave until 2020.

How are you finding most of the 2005s? Even my 2005 QPR cheapies are not ready for the most part....Not that I expected most of the better ones to be in their drinking window but I did expect some of the cheaper ones to be...

[RobK]

Just a 2013 Pepper Jack Shiraz. Does me nicely.

[felixp]

2005 d'Issan …. great wine, but still too young, even after a decant. If you have any, leave until 2020.

How are you finding most of the 2005s? Even my 2005 QPR cheapies are not ready for the most part....Not that I expected most of the better ones to be in their drinking window but I did expect some of the cheaper ones to be...

yea, you are right, everything still pretty much tight as a drum. If I had one quibble, some, including classified growths, seem just a little hollow in the middle, but of course that may be because of their closed state. It is becoming a bit of a stubborn vintage for the lesser wines, which usually drink beautifully approaching their 10th birthday, and seems a little similar (but certainly better) to 2000.
I know many of the knowledgable scribes tout 05 as the greatest vintage of the modern era, but I prefer both 09 and 10. Still, it is a better vintage than even 90 and 82.

[Michael R]

Yesterday lunch

Roederer & Tattinger NV...both decent, preferred the Roederer
08 Lehmann Wigan Riesling..excellent, refreshing
05 Moss Wood Chardonnay...fatigued, drinkable
10 Downie Mornigton Pinot...seemed quite advanced, great acid..nice
13 Felton Rd Bannockburn Pinot...quick double decant, ready to go. Quality.
09 Clarendon Hills Higginbotham Grenache..Quite big but very drinkable
10 Rockford Moppa...love this wine, and this vintage is the real deal.
07 Penfolds St Henri...about an hour, maybe 2 in the decanter (getting hazy at this stage)...showed really nicely and served with cheeses.

Love a long lunch, except kitchen looked like a bomb site and i broke another Universal while loading the dishwasher

[Bobthebuilder]

I got 6 bottles of Margan Semillon 1999 at auction for 10bucks a pop a few months ago, 3 left, one in the fridge
Very tempted to pop it tonight as it goes great with the roasted chicken the missus is busy cooking up