swirler wrote:Bit like Port/Produttori/etc. Are the LBV best in non-declared/single vineyard/etc years where they get the best stuff. Or do the best vintages produce the best stuff from top to bottom?
As in life generally, things are probably more complex than simple generalisations.
Ugh..looks like my original reply didn't make it thanks to the cookie problem..but anyways..
Yeah I agree, things can be more complicated than that...but in this specific instance...a barrel selection of 2 barrels out of many...blending it into the rest won't do anything...keeping it out hasn't made the existing stuff worse...I think it is a good idea..and the fact that some really great wine was made out of the exact same stuff and same process..just a different barrel..I think that generally means good things for the normal wine...If it doesn't *shrug*, those two barrels not being part of the blend wasn't the problem..
swirler wrote:Bit like Port/Produttori/etc. Are the LBV best in non-declared/single vineyard/etc years where they get the best stuff. Or do the best vintages produce the best stuff from top to bottom?
Yeah I agree, things can be more complicated than that...but in this specific instance...a barrel selection of 2 barrels out of many...blending it into the rest won't do anything...keeping it out hasn't made the existing stuff worse...I think it is a good idea..and the fact that some really great wine was made out of the exact same stuff and same process..just a different barrel..I think that generally means good things for the normal wine...If it doesn't *shrug*, those two barrels not being part of the blend wasn't the problem..
dropped into chapel hill for the first time last Saturday, beautiful spot. Tried there range ovcourse A new red on trial The vine groomer 2014 first ever vintage.. really enjoyed, alot of barnyard which I havnt experianced w mclaren vle.. ordered a dozen for around the twenty mark.. look out for this guy in a few years.. Very impressed
2 weekends ago I chased Liverpool FC around the country, seeing both their Brisbane and Adelaide games. Was the perfect excuse to check out the Barossa. I thank all the forum members for their advice which was searched and consulted.
Day 1 Drive - my wife leased for my birthday a Porsche Boxter convertible to get up there in style. We headed east north east through the Adelaide Hills up to the Barossa. I have to say, what a drive! Basically felt like I was in a 2hr car ad. Even had the top down despite the cold.
St Hallett - tried their 2013 Blackwell & 2012 Old Block Shiraz which has just been released. Liked both, think the Old Block will be a great wine in a few years but hard to beat the Blackwell for value. They also still had the 2010 Blackwell for tasting and deal so picked up them. Rockford - First time - I didnt realise how small the general tasting area is. We pushed, squeezed into a place and tasted the range. The 2012 Rifle Range was sold out, thankfully had already bought that - fantastic drop. There was a small amount of 2007 around so purchased 3 of those and more of the Rod & Spur which I also really enjoy. First time trying the Sparkling Shiraz, enjoyed it but I think I need to have it on a hot day really so will crack my first one at Christmas. Charles Melton - It was here it started to become apparent that my wife doesnt like Grenache. Oh No! I love it as a change up from shiraz, cab and pinot's I drink. I liked the Nine Popes & but we both thought the Grains of Paradise Shiraz was the pick of the wines. We had lunch here too. Was $39 for a hearty meal with a 4-wine flight. Thought it was pretty good value for money. Peter Lehman - perhaps it was getting late in the day and I had tasted so many already, but by this time I was bewildered by the extremely long list they had. There were so many particular single block Shiraz that I was just confused. Might be better to tackle this winery first so you can take some time with it.
On recommendation went to Hentley Farm for our fancy dinner. They sit you down for a tasting panel of their wines pre dinner then matching food an wine. The oysters with the fog was cool, as was the mostly Asian fusion themed dishes. All very nice.
Day 2 Saltram - I have 6 each of the 2009 & 2010 No 1 Shiraz and so was keen to try the 2012. I thought like the Old Block at St Halletts it would make very good old bones, but obviously too early for drinking now. The Mamre Brook Cab Sav 2012 was the highlight for me. Easy drinking, smooth & good value. I didn’t realise that Metala fell under this brand as well as Pepperjack. Thought both were value for money. Interestingly Pepperjack now has I guess a few more premium versions named after meat cuts, supposedly to pair with? I can get a bit confused with all these different brands and styles all under the same roof. Seppeltsfield - We did the Centenary Tasting. Its a bit ritzy ($100pp) but I think worth it for what it is. Theres a short history rundown on family which was a good place to start. Then a sitdown in warm comfy chairs with 3 aged ports, starting with the Para 10, perhaps an 18 from memory and there was a 30 year Muscat. So interesting to see the colours darken and the flavours change and become different in complexity. Then into the long room and the barrel tasting. We tried 1983 and because I and my wife share that birth year, they were kind enough to let me do my Dad's birth year of 1960 instead of 1983. We finally tried the 1915 vintage port as well. Its hard to describe the taste. Complex, obviously sweetness but also a mollasses or balsamic? Packs quite a dense flavour punch. Your not going to taste anything else like it. Greenock Creek - Another tasting room I was surprised at how small it was. Watch your head on the way down. Anyway, there was 5-6 wines open including the 2008 RR Shiraz from memory. I found this really surprising. Massive flavour of toasted coconut for me. Tscharke - a lot of interesting Spanish, Portugese and Italian varieties which I had not had before. I think a lot of them would make good food wine, bbq quaffers. Bought some of their high end shiraz called Distinction 2012 as well as an aged wine called Fortune from 2007. Artisans of the Barossa - here is a really good food and wine venue. Have a nice bite to eat, tapas style and match with some wine and taste a lot of smaller producers under one roof. Thought the John Duval Plexus SGM was the pick of those available. Even the wife liked that one.
Dinner on night 2 was a slow cooked lamb on the BBQ at rented accommodation. Ran out of gas but managed to swap over the gas bottle under the cover of darkness with the neighbouring cabin.
Day 3 Drove around the Adelaide Hills – again what driving country! I just got lost driving around. Shaw & Smith – Tsting involves a generous pour of their 4 wines (Sav Blanc, M3 Chardonnay, Pinot, Shiraz) + a cheese plate. Around 70% of their wine is the Sav Blanc which I think is the wine that put them on the map. It was very pleasant and would recommend. Sav Blanc was nice, but don’t really drink much of the stuff – not my thing. I was surprised and impressed by the quality of the Pinot and the Shiraz. I didn’t really have anything to compare to but from memory I enjoyed a bit more of a cool climate elegant shiraz after a lot of Barossa fruit.
