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

[Mike Hawkins]

1999 Dom Perignon (Magnum) - if ever I had a doubt Champagne was better out of large format, these thoughts were dissipated after this excellent bottle. I'm not a huge fan of the 99 DP, but this was lovely... so ultra creamy in typical DP style.

2004 Bollinger Grande Anne (Magnum) - a bit simple and opened way too young (due to a cellar reduction).

2000 Taittinger Comtes BdB - they must have opened at least 6 bottles of this on the Qantas flight from Sydney to London and five of them were superb, with one seeming a little more advanced. Definitely my favourite champagne from this vintage... Taittinger nailed it. Lots of life left.

1971 Penfolds Bin 389 - I've had this quite a few times and every bottle has been fabulous. This was no different.

1990 Penfolds Bin 389 - excellent wine approaching its peak.

1994 Penfolds Bin 389 - seemed a bit clumsy.

2012 Penfolds RWT - the best that I've had from this label.

1996 Billecart Nicolas Francois - not my cup of tea.. seemed oily and too many overt brandy notes.

2002 Camille Saves - this wasn't a good bottle.

2004 Paul Bara Special Club - really good, just a tad young.

1996 Orlando Centenary Hill Shiraz - drinking nicely right now.

2004 Balnaves Tally - superb cabernet in the making.

2010 Balnaves tally - ditto.

1990 Chateau Montrose - Uncle Bob nailed this rating. Magnificent wine.

2002 (x3) Grosset Polish Hill Riesling - fantastic wine, also in a nice place right now. No kero notes.

2003 Chateau d'Yquem - super ripe and just enough acidity to counter it. Hedonistic stuff.

2004 Delamotte BdB - bit simple.

1989 Pichon Baron - absolutely lovely and I can't imagine it will get better.

Plenty of others that I can't recall right now as well.

[sjw_11]

Wynns "Black Label" Cabernet 2002... Cork. From my cellar. Purchased in Sydney's far west (Wentworth) at Dan Murphy in a 6-pack for about $16.70/bottle in about 2008. Fantastic value. The nose is gorgeous. Concentrated liquer blackcurrant, pencil shavings, graphite, some choc mint. Still very expressive and somewhat primary. The palate is quite plush with silky red fruits and just a hint of green in the mid palate. Finishes long and juicy, with perhaps just a hint of alcohol.

I was a bit worried about these perhaps falling over sooner than later, but this seems better than any I have had for a few years. This bottle would drink well for at least 10-yrs.

[Phil H]

2013 Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz Consumed over three nights, with the wine starting to open up on the third night.
First impressions was the colour - dark dense and inky with a fluorescent purple tinge. On tasting, sour cherry with a touch of greenness, fine chalky tannins, with oak in the background, dense and very tight.
Upon the third night, fruit starting to show some black current, with the greenness disappearing.
I have been a fan of the Chalambar for quiet a while and this one does not disappoint. Once again this wine needs time. Of interest on the label the fruit is sourced from Grampians & Heathcote area. Previous vintages that I am aware of is that the fruit is sourced from Grampians, Bendigo.

[Mike Hawkins]

First use of my Coravin..... In the past Ive always needed the whole bottle.

1986 Yalumba The Signature.... A bit shy and austere at first, but in time fattened up and revealed some tobacco and earthy notes. Will revisit another glass or two in a few weeks

[Broughy]

2003 Seppelt Chalambar
Opened 3 nights ago , initially very tannic and a little bitter. Settled down and quite smooth. Beautiful blueberry nose throughout

[maybs]

Last night had a 1995 Maray-Joly Clos de Veugeot GC. Light garnet colour with some fading around the edges. Initially smelled a bit burnt but settled down after ten minutes to deep strawberries with some mushrooms and forest floor type aromas. Same on the palate initially, huge strawberry hit with long earthy after tones. After being open about an hour the wine lost some of its fruit and became more earth/mushroom/mellow spice, and the finish shortened somewhat.

It was a very interesting wine and quite pleasant to drink, but I think it was a little past its best and in any event was lacking wow factor.

[Bytown Rick]

1998 Mount Ida Shiraz (Central Victoria). Drinking very nicely now, with black fruit and a hint of pepper. I do like how well a good Shiraz can age.

Rick

[Hacker]

Currently down south on a golfing trip. Today at Barwon Heads GC where wife and I had a delicious Freycinet 2012 Chardonney, and yesterday a 2012 Hoddles Creek Cab Sav at the National GC in the Mornington Peninsular. The Hoddles more than held its own at tastings of 2012 Yarra Valley Cabs over the last few few days. Also tried Yarra Yering #1 and St Hubert Cab Sav, both very good with regional nuances showing and easy to pick over Margaret River competitors.

[Michael R]

Currently down south on a golfing trip. Today at Barwon Heads GC where wife and I had a delicious Freycinet 2012 Chardonney, and yesterday a 2012 Hoddles Creek Cab Sav at the National GC

Nice courses mate! never been to either but one day will remedy.

[Rossco]

2013 cape mentelle chardonnay -needs a lot of time. Searing acid and really disjointed at the moment. after
Being opened for 3 days and it was better, but geeze the 5 more I have are going to bed for a long time.

2008 peter lehmann Wigan Riesling - quite sherbety with lots of lemon and talc. still has easily 5 years before
It Starts to develop i think.

2008 tahbilk Riesling - drinking really well now and hitting it's strides. Quite floral with orange blossom and
A touch of jasmine. acid still there but playing a supporting role (not dominating). Almost a yeasty or oaky hint that I can't put my finger on. really nice everydayer. Glad I have 3 more.

[Diddy]

2006 McWilliam's Mount Pleasant Elizabeth over the last few nights. Nice zesty acid, but a bit thin overall.

[JamieBahrain]

Some nice Italians ; big fan of di gresy though 95 modest countered by a sublime 01. 05Brunelo modest but I enjoy this vintage as cheap and Lisini is excellent. Look at Alsace, all the attention is on dry Germans and these are giveaways under $20 for amazing QPR & interest.

[Luke W]

2012 Penfolds Bin 2 shiraz mataro or mourvedre. First real red wine in over a month bought duty free in New Delhi before flying to Kathmandu. Thought I'd lost all sense of smell and taste after curries for 35 days and virtually no alcohol. Glad to say that I enjoyed this and will be looking forward to better reds on my return on Tuesday. Also picked up a Dr Loosen dry and a Chandon sparkling to reinvigorate the old taste buds...

[Chuck]

Houghtons 2001 Margaret River Cabernet. Back in its day this was a good quality wine however like many good labels the big companies now use cheap wine in it and drop the price. This bottle was just perfect without being stunning. Lovely aged Cabernet flavour that i do love. Still has plenty of legs left so don't be in a rush to open any. The cork had virtually no staining apart from the base. MR Cabernet is a fine drop.

Carl

[ticklenow1]

2010 Wynns Black Label Shiraz. Coonawarra. had this on a Qantas flight to the States and actually really enjoyed it. The flight attendant literally popped the screw cap and poured. A bit closed early on but as we drank the bottle it opened up nicely. Identical result with and second and third bottles. I have so e of this in the cellar and think I'll leave it at least 5 years.

Cheers
Ian

[Michael McNally]

Identical result with and second and third bottles.

Cheers
Ian

Long flight Ian?

[Diddy]

Had a 2006 Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz (screwcap). Really surprised how quickly this fell over - literally 5 hours after being cracked, it was just a bitter, fruitless, acidic shell of a wine. Shame as it was reasonably pleasant on opening. If you had any of these lying around I'd suggest thinking about having a look at them sooner rather than later.

[Hacker]

2010 Wynns Black Label Shiraz. Coonawarra. had this on a Qantas flight to the States and actually really enjoyed it. The flight attendant literally popped the screw cap and poured. A bit closed early on but as we drank the bottle it opened up nicely. Identical result with and second and third bottles. I have so e of this in the cellar and think I'll leave it at least 5 years.

Cheers
Ian

Ian, or others, is the Black label a step up from the 'value' priced white label that is always floats around? Has that always been around, or is it quite a new addition to the stable? Thanks.

[phillisc]

2010 Wynns Black Label Shiraz. Coonawarra. had this on a Qantas flight to the States and actually really enjoyed it. The flight attendant literally popped the screw cap and poured. A bit closed early on but as we drank the bottle it opened up nicely. Identical result with and second and third bottles. I have so e of this in the cellar and think I'll leave it at least 5 years.

Cheers
Ian

Ian, or others, is the Black label a step up from the 'value' priced white label that is always floats around? Has that always been around, or is it quite a new addition to the stable? Thanks.

Hacker,
2010 was the first release and actually had a bottle last week. In a spot where it is just starting to open up but needs another 5 years or so.
2012 second release and thought this was an excellent wine when tasted last August. Believe there is a 2013 and 2014 release.

Having said that not worth the RRP of $40, and you will occasionally see it at sub thirty. I tried a host of MV shirazes over the weekend at $20-25 which are as good or better. This should be where it sits.
Interestingly I was very impressed with the plush fruit profile of the 2012 white label and don't feel that the black label is worth +2x the money...will have to wait and see.
The wine is sourced from a variety of shiraz blocks in the vast 800 ha of vineyards. It is more of a fruit driven wine with less complex tannin and or oak structure than the V&A or Michael shiraz.

Cheers
Craig

[bigtinnie]

Had a good old fashioned Metala White Label 2012 Shiraz Cab on Saturday night.
I can't get over how pleasant this is for a sub $15 wine. Punches way above it's weight.

[Hacker]

2010 Wynns Black Label Shiraz. Coonawarra. had this on a Qantas flight to the States and actually really enjoyed it. The flight attendant literally popped the screw cap and poured. A bit closed early on but as we drank the bottle it opened up nicely. Identical result with and second and third bottles. I have so e of this in the cellar and think I'll leave it at least 5 years.

Cheers
Ian

Ian, or others, is the Black label a step up from the 'value' priced white label that is always floats around? Has that always been around, or is it quite a new addition to the stable? Thanks.

Hacker,
2010 was the first release and actually had a bottle last week. In a spot where it is just starting to open up but needs another 5 years or so.
2012 second release and thought this was an excellent wine when tasted last August. Believe there is a 2013 and 2014 release.

Having said that not worth the RRP of $40, and you will occasionally see it at sub thirty. I tried a host of MV shirazes over the weekend at $20-25 which are as good or better. This should be where it sits.
Interestingly I was very impressed with the plush fruit profile of the 2012 white label and don't feel that the black label is worth +2x the money...will have to wait and see.
The wine is sourced from a variety of shiraz blocks in the vast 800 ha of vineyards. It is more of a fruit driven wine with less complex tannin and or oak structure than the V&A or Michael shiraz.

Cheers
Craig

Thanks Craig, I agree with you about the white label 2012 and have a couple of doz. Amazingly it was briefly on sale for around $8 or so.
Cheers,
David.

[kryst1]

Hacker/Craig

Thoughts on 2013 white label? I was a big fan on 2012, and have not as yet compared the two

[Diddy]

2010 Wynns Black Label Shiraz. Coonawarra. had this on a Qantas flight to the States and actually really enjoyed it. The flight attendant literally popped the screw cap and poured. A bit closed early on but as we drank the bottle it opened up nicely. Identical result with and second and third bottles. I have so e of this in the cellar and think I'll leave it at least 5 years.

Cheers
Ian

Ian, or others, is the Black label a step up from the 'value' priced white label that is always floats around? Has that always been around, or is it quite a new addition to the stable? Thanks.

There's a white label Shiraz that is an entry level wine by Wynns. If you're talking cabernet though, the entry level is called The Siding (grey label). Sitting above black label the V&A Lane which is cab/shiraz blend with white/grey or the Alex 88 grey label.

[felixp]

2005 Chateau Troplong Mondot
geez, it is only January and I probably have had my WOTY!!! Guess there is no point drinking reds until 2016
believe the hype, this is an unbelievable wine. Never had a young wine quite like it, the room was absolutely filled with scents of violets and raspberry jam the minute this was opened. Layer upon layer of floral, bright fruits... quite remarkable. Incredibly lush, without being cloying or jammy, and a finish that sits on your tongue for minutes. Those of us that search for right bank nirvana, which can be as elusive as it's cousin in Burgundy, you will find it here.
shockingly good, as they say, wine doesn't get any better than this, just different. I will try to keep my hands off the remainder of the case for another 5 years, but that might prove to be an impossible task!! I could never imagine paying $600 for Grange when you can buy a wine like this for 30% of the price!!!
Drink: 2020-2050+ 99++ points (you can drink it now, though, the wait will gain you a wine only 1% better in my book)

[VINH NGUYEN]

2005 Chateau Troplong Mondot
geez, it is only January and I probably have had my WOTY!!! Guess there is no point drinking reds until 2016
believe the hype, this is an unbelievable wine. Never had a young wine quite like it, the room was absolutely filled with scents of violets and raspberry jam the minute this was opened. Layer upon layer of floral, bright fruits... quite remarkable. Incredibly lush, without being cloying or jammy, and a finish that sits on your tongue for minutes. Those of us that search for right bank nirvana, which can be as elusive as it's cousin in Burgundy, you will find it here.
shockingly good, as they say, wine doesn't get any better than this, just different. I will try to keep my hands off the remainder of the case for another 5 years, but that might prove to be an impossible task!! I could never imagine paying $600 for Grange when you can buy a wine like this for 30% of the price!!!
Drink: 2020-2050+ 99++ points (you can drink it now, though, the wait will gain you a wine only 1% better in my book)

Ive seen this for 329 a bottle in Syd, is that a good buy?

[Diddy]

2005 Chateau Troplong Mondot
geez, it is only January and I probably have had my WOTY!!! Guess there is no point drinking reds until 2016
believe the hype, this is an unbelievable wine. Never had a young wine quite like it, the room was absolutely filled with scents of violets and raspberry jam the minute this was opened. Layer upon layer of floral, bright fruits... quite remarkable. Incredibly lush, without being cloying or jammy, and a finish that sits on your tongue for minutes. Those of us that search for right bank nirvana, which can be as elusive as it's cousin in Burgundy, you will find it here.
shockingly good, as they say, wine doesn't get any better than this, just different. I will try to keep my hands off the remainder of the case for another 5 years, but that might prove to be an impossible task!! I could never imagine paying $600 for Grange when you can buy a wine like this for 30% of the price!!!
Drink: 2020-2050+ 99++ points (you can drink it now, though, the wait will gain you a wine only 1% better in my book)

Ive seen this for 329 a bottle in Syd, is that a good buy?

It's almost double what felix is saying he got his for.

[sjw_11]

2005 Chateau Troplong Mondot
geez, it is only January and I probably have had my WOTY!!! Guess there is no point drinking reds until 2016
believe the hype, this is an unbelievable wine. Never had a young wine quite like it, the room was absolutely filled with scents of violets and raspberry jam the minute this was opened. Layer upon layer of floral, bright fruits... quite remarkable. Incredibly lush, without being cloying or jammy, and a finish that sits on your tongue for minutes. Those of us that search for right bank nirvana, which can be as elusive as it's cousin in Burgundy, you will find it here.
shockingly good, as they say, wine doesn't get any better than this, just different. I will try to keep my hands off the remainder of the case for another 5 years, but that might prove to be an impossible task!! I could never imagine paying $600 for Grange when you can buy a wine like this for 30% of the price!!!
Drink: 2020-2050+ 99++ points (you can drink it now, though, the wait will gain you a wine only 1% better in my book)

Ive seen this for 329 a bottle in Syd, is that a good buy?

It's almost double what felix is saying he got his for.

Felix must have got a good deal... I just had a look on wine-searcher and can't see it anywhere for under £125/bttl + sales tax... which all in is going to be a shade under A$300 at the going rate

[maybs]

I was going to be drinking 2000 Tyrrell's Vat 1, alas, corked

[ads_11]

2002 Grossett Polish Hill.. For a non white drinker I am enjoying this..

[felixp]

2005 Chateau Troplong Mondot
geez, it is only January and I probably have had my WOTY!!! Guess there is no point drinking reds until 2016
believe the hype, this is an unbelievable wine. Never had a young wine quite like it, the room was absolutely filled with scents of violets and raspberry jam the minute this was opened. Layer upon layer of floral, bright fruits... quite remarkable. Incredibly lush, without being cloying or jammy, and a finish that sits on your tongue for minutes. Those of us that search for right bank nirvana, which can be as elusive as it's cousin in Burgundy, you will find it here.
shockingly good, as they say, wine doesn't get any better than this, just different. I will try to keep my hands off the remainder of the case for another 5 years, but that might prove to be an impossible task!! I could never imagine paying $600 for Grange when you can buy a wine like this for 30% of the price!!!
Drink: 2020-2050+ 99++ points (you can drink it now, though, the wait will gain you a wine only 1% better in my book)

Ive seen this for 329 a bottle in Syd, is that a good buy?

not bad, I just checked and the cheapest in HK is $225 AUD.
if you are interested, just buy the one bottle and see what you think. For me, light years above the excellent 2010 Bin 707 from Penfolds, and from memory, that is around the same price.
if I was offered a glass of this or a glass of, say, 2008 Grange, I would much prefer to drink this.