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

[felixp]

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

current prices as above.
I purchased a case EP in HK, finally found the statement after looking around for a day (after opening the case and discovering how good it is).... $715 HKD per, which at the time was about $90 AUD wish I had got another, and to be honest, I will probably bite when I get home to Shenzhen and purchase another for consumption over there.

[JamieBahrain]

Felix

You need some Barolo for Shenzen winters. Let me know when your're tired of BDX and next in HKG. I know a great source.

[JamieBahrain]

Olek Bondonio makes two Barbarescos. One a blend or regular which in 2011 is pretty in florals, with a lovely lump of multifariously shaded black fruits on the mid to front palate, which will slip back and broaden within the wines structure over time.

Roncagliette is nestled between Sori Tilden and Costa Russi at his family farmhouse La Berchialla. So the Cru of Roncagliette ( drive from Barbaresco to Treiso ) has two Gaja vineyards and Olek's! The 2011 is big, loaded with tar and attitude on day one on day two there is a beautiful perfume of nebbiolo fruit in a rose/floral whispy dark fruit nuances. The palate settles; terrific length and the ripeness of the vintage presents a chinato like and complex dark fruit profile. Excellent needing 5 years!

His dolcetto is amazing. 6 euros and Olek presents a ripe version that's fat on delcious fruit but regains enough acidity to stay fresh. The austerity in cherry pippiness and reductivity of the grape is avoided; great job!

Olek has an Oz connection having worked in McClaren Vale and the Riverina- interesting discussion about sulphur levels in Oz wines versus Piedmont. Expalins why you can drink nebbiolo all night with no effect yet a bottle of some Aussie wines knocks you flat.

[felixp]

Felix

You need some Barolo for Shenzen winters. Let me know when your're tired of BDX and next in HKG. I know a great source.

back Tuesday Jamie. Got to get resident permit then, so will be unable to travel for 3 weeks. Probably in HK late February, I will let you know

[felixp]

oh, and you still got any glasses left?

[phillisc]

Congrats Jamie on the 1000 posts
planning to be in Italy in the 3rd week of September, my first ever trip ( yes I am a traveling novice).
Will know who to turn to re some feisty little Italian numbers!

Cheers
Craig

[Andrew Jordan]

1994 Leasingham Shiraz Classic Clare Sparkling - 12th bottle of this and I must admit this is the best showing by far. No signs of mustiness or age on the nose for this 21 year old Clare Valley Sparkling Shiraz. Still has a plentiful small bead. Beautifully balanced on the palate, soft, creamy, rich black fruits supported with an underlying savouriness and a kiss of oak which adds to the complexity of the wine. Technically a very clean wine which finishes long and powerful. Based on this bottle we haven't seen the last of this wine, but probably has peaked but will hold for a few good years yet so no rush to drink. Absolutely BEAUTIFUL. Have to agree with every point given by Campbell and JO on this one! Purchased at Kirra Beach Hotel in 2002 for $30. Bargain!

[Luke W]

2010 Penfolds St Henri - Andrew Caillard you've got to be kidding me. Sorry I found this very average and kinda derivative of a middle of the road Penfolds red. If it was a Bin 389 from a better year I'd be sending it back and thinking that it was corked. It was nice but boring and one dimensional.
It was aerated and decanted for a couple of hours and then drunk slowly for 2 more hours. It didn't improve substantially. Have I been conned? Glad I only bought 3.

[sjw_11]

2010 Penfolds St Henri - Andrew Caillard you've got to be kidding me. Sorry I found this very average and kinda derivative of a middle of the road Penfolds red. If it was a Bin 389 from a better year I'd be sending it back and thinking that it was corked. It was nice but boring and one dimensional.
It was aerated and decanted for a couple of hours and then drunk slowly for 2 more hours. It didn't improve substantially. Have I been conned? Glad I only bought 3.

Interesting feedback Luke... this might put the cat among the pigeons given how many on here (including me!) bought some of this... Mine are 12,000 miles away in my cellar - anyone else tried one of these lately who agrees or disagrees?

[Chuck]

With a mad cylcing mate and his wife down from Sydney for the TDU with a red wine BBQ marinated scotch fillet we enjoyed a Penfolds 1998 Bin 389 and a Mildara 1998 Coonawarra Cabernet. Both very different but magnificent examples of their styles. The 389 was exceptional. Still have a magnum to go. Also for those worried about passive cellars both wines were bought on release and cellared in our underground passive cellar. After around 14 years levels and quality were perfect. Our guests brought a Moet NV which was just lovely.

Carl

[Andrew Jordan]

2009 Stags' Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon - Deep purple in colour and decanted for 1 hour, aromas of sweet black cherry are evident upon opening. Medium to full bodied Napa cabernet which is well balanced with plenty of dark fruit. Easy to drink but nothing too complex. A bit of a show pony, plenty up front but the finish is a bit of a disappointment. However, overall not a bad effort. A crowd pleaser/BBQ wine ... but nothing extra special. The fruit will make sure it holds for a few years but cannot see this one getting any better.

[dlo]

With a mad cylcing mate and his wife down from Sydney for the TDU with a red wine BBQ marinated scotch fillet we enjoyed a Penfolds 1998 Bin 389 and a Mildara 1998 Coonawarra Cabernet. Both very different but magnificent examples of their styles. The 389 was exceptional. Still have a magnum to go. Also for those worried about passive cellars both wines were bought on release and cellared in our underground passive cellar. After around 14 years levels and quality were perfect. Our guests brought a Moet NV which was just lovely.

Carl

Carl,

Also opened a 1998 Mildara Coonawarra Cabernet only a few weeks back .... just a lovely elegant example. Wonderful typicity of the region, grape and vintage.

[Chuck]

With a mad cylcing mate and his wife down from Sydney for the TDU with a red wine BBQ marinated scotch fillet we enjoyed a Penfolds 1998 Bin 389 and a Mildara 1998 Coonawarra Cabernet. Both very different but magnificent examples of their styles. The 389 was exceptional. Still have a magnum to go. Also for those worried about passive cellars both wines were bought on release and cellared in our underground passive cellar. After around 14 years levels and quality were perfect. Our guests brought a Moet NV which was just lovely.

Carl

Carl,

Also opened a 1998 Mildara Coonawarra Cabernet only a few weeks back .... just a lovely elegant example. Wonderful typicity of the region, grape and vintage.

The Mildara Cabernet has been an under rated wine for some time. From my experience it just needs plenty of time in the cellar before it hits it's straps

[felixp]

2010 Penfolds St Henri - Andrew Caillard you've got to be kidding me. Sorry I found this very average and kinda derivative of a middle of the road Penfolds red. If it was a Bin 389 from a better year I'd be sending it back and thinking that it was corked. It was nice but boring and one dimensional.
It was aerated and decanted for a couple of hours and then drunk slowly for 2 more hours. It didn't improve substantially. Have I been conned? Glad I only bought 3.

Interesting feedback Luke... this might put the cat among the pigeons given how many on here (including me!) bought some of this... Mine are 12,000 miles away in my cellar - anyone else tried one of these lately who agrees or disagrees?

I have seen it about half a dozen times now, last on Friday night with, to be fair, spaghetti marinara. Standard St Henri. FWIW, I thought a 91-92 point wine.
I get bored of repeating myself, but the ACCC should take a look into this whole con. I would be willing to bet a million or two the hype of this wine has pushed Penfolds wine sales across the board significantly up.
Perhaps the most amusing encounter was at the great wines of the world, in HK, where a prominent HK collector (and anyone who knows HK wine collectors knows they just love to speak their minds), dragged a very famous American wine critic over hot coals discussing this wine. In the end, the critic acknowledged it's inferiority side-by-side with several left bank from 2010, and agreed his 98 points might have been "a little generous". hmmm, sometimes I wonder if they are critics or lemmings, afraid of being outside the norm.
As for Andrew Caillard, well, enough said. I mean to be fair, there are bad footballers, and bad doctors too.

[Luke W]

2010 Penfolds St Henri - Andrew Caillard you've got to be kidding me. Sorry I found this very average and kinda derivative of a middle of the road Penfolds red. If it was a Bin 389 from a better year I'd be sending it back and thinking that it was corked. It was nice but boring and one dimensional.
It was aerated and decanted for a couple of hours and then drunk slowly for 2 more hours. It didn't improve substantially. Have I been conned? Glad I only bought 3.

Bit tough when u have to quote yourself but is there another possible scenario assuming anyone else who has tried this wine thinks it's wonderful. This wine was a screwcap and what about the possibility that there is some reductive influence of the screwcap. I know bugger all about the science - help me out here Brett is it possible that some screwcaps are dumber or muted?

[rens]

Hi Luke
I've tried it at an in store tasting and got hold of 3 for the cellar-two screwcap and one cork closure . No way is it a 100 point wine but it was very nice and probably the best St Henri of the last decade ahead of the 2004.

[Andrew Jordan]

2001 Majella Cabernet Sauvignon - Deep ruby in colour, nuances of black-currant and vanilla are dominant on the nose. Dark fruit, plums, spice run across the tongue, a hit of acidity, culminating with a soft, fine tannic finish that has wonderful length. A beautifully balanced wine that is drinking very well right now. Not overly complex but true to it's style and a pleasure to drink. Will not get any better but well cellared bottles will hold for a few more years yet. Sealed with Cork.

[JamieBahrain]

oh, and you still got any glasses left?

My wife got the shits with all the uncollected wine and glassware so I had to move it all on to first bidders- Barbaresco was a third the cost of oz and half the USA!

We are ordering more Zalto this week and with euro dropping will be cheaper. Suggest you go long!! And order some Cappelano!

[phillisc]

2009 Wynns Black label, in a fantastic place, but are starting to think like a few others here, will it be a wine that takes 25 years to fully develop under a screw cap?
Beautiful violets and berries that could be smelt from the decanter across the room, medium palate dominated by the fruit, with a lovely layer of tannins that went on for ages.

Great with Australia Day lamb casserole.

Cheers
Craig

[Teisto]

Finally cracked one of the 1998 Torbreck Steading's I acquired before Xmas last Friday. Cork was a crumbly mess although the cork had not been soaked. I should have had an ah-so which I will acquire - or even a Durand but I can't bring myself to buy one after their pomp and ceremony rubbish in their online videos

Opened very thin and secondary and thought it might have been stripped on tasting as their wasn't really any fruit. Gave it a nice decant and filter to get rid of the remaining bits of cork and in an hour the fruit had arisen and taken its place. Still secondary in tasting but with more upfront fruit and a much better nose. I wouldn't say it was massively long but just a really enjoyable aged wine. I have one left and will be interesting to see if there is any bottle variation.

[Andrew Jordan]

A few bottles over pasta last night to conclude Mum's visit and send her back to Queensland with a smile.

2006 Kalleske Shiraz Greenock - Deep, dark ruby in colour. Plenty of sediment crust on the inside of the bottle. Notes of spice, plum on the nose with a hint of mint in the background. This is rich and ripe, and rides that fine line of being another jammy Barossa shiraz, but manages to correct itself and comes across as well balanced. Restrained power. Has an elegance about it that just draws you in. Long finish of dusty, dry tannins. Based on this bottle, still has a few years before it peaks. Not as good as the 2003 we had a few weeks back but might make the top 5 releases of this label. A very good effort in a tough vintage.

1999 Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon - Deep ruby in colour, still looks quite young. Very earthy nose, barnyard. Blackcurrant, spice, vegetal undertones and quite savoury on the palate with an acidic backbone. Finishes long and savoury with silky smooth tannins. Not as good as a bottle we had at Scone last year which was absolutely singing.

1999 Turnbull Cabernet Sauvignon Oakville - Beautiful sweet nose of dark fruit and spice, this deep, dark garnet/ruby coloured Napa cabernet has aged gracefully. Soft, succulent, rich and full of flavour, this is probably one of the best mid-priced aged California cabernet's I have had for a while. A nice surprise. Plenty of integrated black fruits, plum, cherry and olive coat the palate. Wonderfully balanced and mature cabernet with no noticeable middle palate hole. Has a WOW factor about it without being pretentious. Long, fine grainy finish which brings a smile to your face. Don't see this one getting any better but it will hold for a few years yet. Sublime.

[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

A few weeks later and I decided to drink the rest of the bottle. It is exactly the same..... I'm definitely sold on Coravin.

[phillisc]

2010 Wolf Blass Gold Label Coonawarra Cabernet.

OK, know I was a trophy slut here as it picked up 5 gongs at the 2013 Limestone Coast show...but not hard to see why.
Palate full of fruits berries and such gentle oak, yes perhaps a little medium bodied, but such as beautiful tannin structure...will hold for another 10+

Interesting that there was a small window of opportunity on the website the day after the show, mine where $12 pb...then suddenly sold out and then put back at a higher price.
Reminded me of 1994 707, $40 one day ( 5 trophies at the Sydney show) $110 the next!

Cheers Craig

[JamieBahrain]

Jaboulet Thalabert Crozes Hermitage 2010- I bought a case of this, 6 for the cellar in Australia and 6 for drinking over the next few years. Sometimes, it can be a freaky wine and I've taken a bit of a punt on the 2010.

Very modern, New World -like first impressions. Settles with it's rich blackberry/cassis notes that are almost jammy- black pepper and menthol and more traditional Crozes nuances emerge. Texturally, very smooth and modern, superb length and flavor complexity in these early days, very fine rise of tannin ( been drinking nebbiolo all week ). Will it be a 1990? Don't think so as it's just me perhaps but there seems to be a stylistic change away from wines of the past which could, albeit rarely, deliver magic wine.

For under $30 quite amazing value perhaps reflecting the out of favor Rhone.



And a big glass of Cappelano Barolo Chinato to keep the winter blues at bay.

[Brucer]

2006 Kalleske Shiraz Greenock - A very good effort in a tough vintage.

I thought 2006 was an excellent vintage. 10/10 from James Halliday.

[Michael R]

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

A few weeks later and I decided to drink the rest of the bottle. It is exactly the same..... I'm definitely sold on Coravin.

Thanks. Seems to be the consensus.
Think they're finally shipping to Oz now.
Definitely on my radar.

[maybs]

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

A few weeks later and I decided to drink the rest of the bottle. It is exactly the same..... I'm definitely sold on Coravin.

Thanks. Seems to be the consensus.
Think they're finally shipping to Oz now.
Definitely on my radar.

Mmmm yeah me too, I really want one but not sure if I have enough wines under cork to make it worthwhile (showing the age and variety (or lack thereof) of my cellar there!)

[Polymer]

I wasn't planning to get one in Australia just because my buying here doesn't consist of too many wines with cork....but really, for me it is a bit of a game changer since I'm not likely to drink more than a glass or even half a glass on a normal day....instead of getting a wine that I have to think about finishing, I can spend more per bottle knowing it'll last me 10 or so different days....

Although I am surprised at the number of people I have asked that have said they have no plans to get one....and their drinking seems to consist of almost entirely wines under cork...

[Krusty]

Vinteloper 2014 Watervale Riesling

After a bit of a vino layoff cracked this open an hour ago. Almost clear in the glass. Quite literally spine tingling acidity, not sure if it is due to being crook for a few weeks and not having a drink for a while but the acidity hits bigtime. Not necessarily in a bad way, but the juicy lime, green apple, almost grapefruit flavours butt up against and are swamped by a big acid hit.

30 mins after opening the acid has settled down and this is showing as a quite lovely rizza. A bit of florals on the nose now, lime leaf and something vegetal hiding in the background, peas / snowpeas maybe ? Lime juice, crunchy green apple flavours but the grapefruit notes have disappeared.

Good to get back on the horse

[felixp]

2012 Marc Roy Gevrey Chambertin Clos Prieur
Beautiful wine, full of bright red fruits, candy without being too sweet, Gevrey Earth and plenty of sap. Cool, red fruit profile. Whilst this is not a 20 year wine, it is a mid-term beauty. Definite buy, great value at under $90AUD.
92 points, drink: 2017-2025.