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

[swirler]

2012 Lindemans Pyrus Cabernet blend - surprisingly smooth.

2012 Giaconda Cabernet - gorgeous!

Giaconda make stunning wines right across the range. Along with Cullen, at the very pinnacle of Aussie wines IMHO.

[Phil H]

A quick review of wines consumed over the last week: Tasting notes not all that comprehensive due to sharing with a group of friends
2010 Tappanappa Foggy Hill Pinot Noir Everything you want in a Pinot - spice, balance and elegance, very good
2008 Penfolds Bin08A Chardonnay I was eager to try this wine on reviews - however I was Disappointed. It was elegant and reserved, however not showing a great deal of complexity. At around $80, there are far better choices. I am not certain whether there are better vintages of this wine, but at this stage I will not be seeking them out.
1998 Orlando Jacaranda Ridge Cab Sav I have been sitting on this for over 10 years, expecting a lot from a stellar year, and being listed on this forum in 2013 as being a WOTY, however it was very good, but not exceptional. Typical cab Sav, I am not certain or experienced enough in aged cab Savs, to say whether it was on the way out. It was decanted for 2 hours - perhaps it should have been decanted more ?
2008 Cumulus Shiraz I love my Orange Region Wines, but not so much Shiraz. This is an exception - Black Cherry, olive & Spice. This is the premium wine from Cumulus and it shows, a few more years would help this wine.

[mse]

Thanks for the wish's
From a friends cellar.. felt astho was in perfect condition, still had lots of fruit.. although I still prefer the 96 edelstone. More layered and complex..

Great stuff Hunter! I wish I could have friends with common interests and peculiar tastes like your friend does! I have two types of friends which are quite polarized:

Type 1 - Only Penfold's >> $100 bottles (Magill Estate onwards) or nothing
Type 2 - No idea of what they are drinking, only drink once every 2 months.

I find it hard to fit into either group.

[mse]

Rolf Binder Heysen Shiraz 2006 -

First 30 minutes of decanting, strong nose of Blackberry and Blueberry along with coffee and dark chocolate, cinnamon and nutmeg spices, typical liquorice as well as a hint of charcoal-like minerality, decadently rich and abundance of fruit. One hour into oxidation, the wine exhibits Maraschino Cherry and baked fruit mince pie like character, big whack of smokey oak (very Robert Parker type). The nose was quite deceiving when I compared it with the palate, which was quite balance with a bit of savoriness and supple acid (not as fruit-bomb like as it seemed), fair grip from the tannin, the finish was quite long and pleasant, albeit one-dimensional. I got those for $20/bottle when the winery had a clearance specials back in 2012, I certainly won't pay full price of $50/bottle.

[deejay81]

Some edited notes from WSET last night(wont post appearance etc cause you can see yourself from the pic):

2010 Reyneke Chenin Blanc (Stellenbosch) - Banana, lots of Tropical fruit, Fruit Salad, some smoky/flinty minerality. Medium plus acid, medium body, long finish.
2014 Dom Pichot le Peu Doirette (Loire Valley) - Some citrus, a little bit of tropical fruit, again, some flinty minerals. Medium Sweetness, melon and more citrus after tasting, medium acid, medium finish. More balanced than the previous Chenin Blanc.
2014 Roubine Rose (Provence) - Light nose, strawberries and cream, some pastry spice (breadiness?). Dry, medium acid, some oak/lees spice? low tannin, medium length. Not bad, but lacks some fruit and not very complex.
(NV??) Barefoot White Zinfandel (California) - Some bubbles, very slightly frizzante, medium intensity, Strong nose of strawberries, raspberries, red confectionary/candy. Medium sweetness, medium acid, light body, Watermelon jolly rancher candies, more strawberries, medium minus finish. Tasted a bit too sweet/cheap
2011 Duboeuf Beujolais Villages (Beujolais) - Medium intensity ,Cinnamon spice, slight earthy minerality, red fruits, raspberries, red cherries. Dry, Medium acid, Medium tannins, grape skins, medium body, medium plus finish. Not bad, but not very good/ acceptable wine.
2010 Seghesio Zinfandel (Sonoma) - Medium plus intensity, Tobacco leaf, cedar, dried leaves, black fruits, blackberries, black cherry. Dry, medium plus acid, medium, drying tannins, warm alcohol, similar on the palate to the nose, and some dried herbs, creamy oak (american oak), long length. Pretty good.

[Hunter]

Thanks for the wish's
From a friends cellar.. felt astho was in perfect condition, still had lots of fruit.. although I still prefer the 96 edelstone. More layered and complex..

Great stuff Hunter! I wish I could have friends with common interests and peculiar tastes like your friend does! I have two types of friends which are quite polarized:

Type 1 - Only Penfold's >> $100 bottles (Magill Estate onwards) or nothing
Type 2 - No idea of what they are drinking, only drink once every 2 months.

Gday mse

its not like that at all. I wish it was. Being in the hospitality industrie Im sure one day I will meet someone whos enthuised as much as iam and can share the experiance ov these blockbusters im laying down.. So far its just my old man who I can share these with. Friends my age have no intrest at all...
in years too come im sure I wont regret all these premium purchases..

[Hunter]

1996 bin 28
Intense nose of Cherry sandle wood. Earthy balsamic
Defently on its last legs tabaco , choc and plum. Medium acitic finish

[Rory]

Wynns Coonawarra Black Label 1991 and Fox Creek Reserve Shiraz 1999.

Just opened both and decanted for tonight dinner with the extended "Outlaws".
Both corks were in mint condition, both are looking as good as they should, having had them in my cellar since original purchase.
The Wynns is looking elegant (as against the power of the same label 1990), and very typical Coonawarra. Is still holding it's age very well, and hasn't seemed to have budged since the last time I opened one 5 years ago. Briiliant.
The Fox Creek is typical of it's vintage, and also travelling nicely. It still looks young. Lovely McLaren Shiraz.

[Wayno]

BK Wines Skin n Bones Pinot 2013 - pretty much sums it up: sappy, angular and a bit chewy but it all comes together well. Not quite as good a day later (more skin n bones) but still pretty nice.

Teusner Albert Shiraz 2006 - drinking very well: close to a peak period, I'd suggest with the tannins just hanging in there and a wave of secondary characters taking hold: a delicious wine that will go awhile longer.

[Hunter]

2013 Mt difficuty Roaring meg pinot

my entry point pinot, have kept to the shiraz and cab over the years
silky plums and a little spice. Not too complex but very enjoyable

[Phil H]

2006 Teusner The Riebke Shiraz Drink Up, initially a bit flabby, losing its vibrancy and freshness. Enjoyable, coconut oak, dark red berry fruits. After about 2hours, settling down - coming back to life, don't wait any longer.

2013 Casillero Del Diablo Carmenere Purchased this wine to get the mixed 6 price on the first bottle of my 2012 Mt Edlestone - spend an extra $30 on 4 bottles of average wine to save $15. Despite my expectations of Chilean Carmenere (nice wine with not a lot of complexity) - it was slightly green, more like a cold climate Merlot. For around $8, what more can you expect.
P.S Dave Vinno - love you recent notes. Some amazing wines & experiences, love your posting on the 1949 JJ Prun Auslese!

[felixp]

1996 Ducru Beaucaillou
lovely wine, typical St Julien, loads of red fruits, graphite and CASSIS. Very typical of the producer, 96 just getting better and better. 95+, drinking beautifully now, but certainly decades in front of it.

[mse]

Houghton Jack Mann 99'

Very aromatic - Cassis, Blackberry, Eucalyptus, Violet, hint of Tobacco and Cedar,could hardly pick up any Menthol. Very ripe, fair amount of tannin and weight, quite acidic like sour plum. Blueberry compote like on the finish. Just not a classic WA Cabernet that I expect, more like some typical Mclaren Vale (SA) style Cabernets.

[Polymer]

BK Wines Skin n Bones Pinot 2013 - pretty much sums it up: sappy, angular and a bit chewy but it all comes together well. Not quite as good a day later (more skin n bones) but still pretty nice.

Had this the other day...I actually thought it was a lot better on day 2...it sounds like it got leaner for you on day 2 as well...but I guess for me that was a big plus... Less ripe, acidity showing better (it was already pretty good) and the tannins providing the right amount of grip....It also lost some of the "Australian Pinot" characters which was more of a plus to me...

But good stuff from BK wines..interesting stuff...

[deejay81]

2011 Mount Pleasand Rosehill Shiraz Had this over 2 nights. Clear ruby colour, very little bit of purple. Initially had a bit of VA which blew off i guess. Red fruits, earthy, dirt, some plum. Could taste a decent amount of acid and fairly mellow tannin, fruits were similar to the nose, with some more plum skins. VA blew off over the next couple of days. Had it on night 2 with some popcorn whilst watching Master Chef and it did not go too well together (red wine + popcorn).

[Brucer]

Houghton Jack Mann 99'

Very aromatic - Cassis, Blackberry, Eucalyptus, Violet, hint of Tobacco and Cedar,could hardly pick up any Menthol. Very ripe, fair amount of tannin and weight, quite acidic like sour plum. Blueberry compote like on the finish. Just not a classic WA Cabernet that I expect, more like some typical Mclaren Vale (SA) style Cabernets.

Hey mse,
I have a few of these in the cellar. Sounds like it has a few more years in the tank?
cheers
Bruce

[mse]

Houghton Jack Mann 99'

Very aromatic - Cassis, Blackberry, Eucalyptus, Violet, hint of Tobacco and Cedar,could hardly pick up any Menthol. Very ripe, fair amount of tannin and weight, quite acidic like sour plum. Blueberry compote like on the finish. Just not a classic WA Cabernet that I expect, more like some typical Mclaren Vale (SA) style Cabernets.

Hey mse,
I have a few of these in the cellar. Sounds like it has a few more years in the tank?
cheers
Bruce

Hi Bruce,
It's good to hear from you (probably several months already). How have you been?
I believe the Jack Mann 99' still has few years for peak drinking window (provided if they are stored well).
Sadly that was the only bottle I had in my cupboard, no chance for me to see if it would evolve any further.
That Jack Mann just did not have that mojo to wow me like the Moss Wood and Cullen did.

[Brucer]

Hi mse, I have been well, thanks.
I drank a 94 Jack Mann a while ago, and it was sweet and beautiful. A 1995 was not as wonderful.
A 99 Moss Wood recently was good, but a 2001 Moss Wood was just sensational.
cheers

[WAwineguy]

Domaine de la Pousse d'Or, 2009 Clos de la Bousse d'Or (Volnay)

This was a Premier Cru and claimed as a Monopole. As usual with nice Burgundies, opened up after about 40 minutes and was smooth as silk. Delightful!

[Andrew Jordan]

A relaxing two weeks in Hawaii saw us drink a bit of the local product and some other imports. Overall the 2012 vintage in the US is looking pretty good for those who are interested.

2009 Marc Hébrart Champagne Spécial Club 1er Cru - First 2009 vintage small grower Champagne for me and this was a very nice surprise. Plentiful small bead, citrus, lemon aromas which follow through on the palate. Once it loses it's initial fridge chill, the wine becomes fuller and brioche, bread and yeast notes become dominate on the nose and palate. However, this actually makes the wine more interesting and complex. Refreshing acidic finish which finishes a little short but this is just splitting hairs. A very good release and worth sacrificing some space in your cellar to see how this ages over the next 4-6 years. It won't be a long-lived release but it should get better.

NV Perrier-Jouët Champagne Grand Brut - For US$38 I suppose you don't expect too much for a bottle of NV Champagne. Pretty simple from start to finish. No excitement factor whatsoever. A good BBQ champagne to be splashed around without a care, but for me I think I would prefer to spend double and get a decent French Champagne that at least gives you something to remember. Pass

2014 Château Miraval Côtes de Provence Rosé - Was introduced to this wine when we lived in London and drank a truck load of it through the English summers! However, have not had it since until discovering it at Costco in Hawaii. Love the shape of the new bottle but it you wanted to cellar some forget about it! However, who cellar's Rose anyway!! The 2014 is just how we remember it. Lovely palate of strawberry, melon and a twist of peach. Not much fruit sweetness to speak of but finishes dry. Good acidity to keep you interested. Not simple but not complex either ... nicely in the middle. Good example of the style. I know real men don't drink Rose, but maybe a few should give this a try. It might surprise!

2012 Beringer Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Valley - This is a pretty good effort and bodes well for the 2012 vintage for cabernet in California. Medium to full bodied. Lovely up-front black fruit but not over the top. Good oak use with a nice savoury tannin backbone which suggests it could benefit with a bit of bottle age. Only negative is that the finish is a little short but has enough in it to keep you interested. For under US$20 this is good value for money. Drink one now and lay a couple down to enjoy the journey this wine has to offer. Matched with Eye Fillet.

2011 Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley - One of my favourite year on year mid-priced Napa cabernets. Although 2011 in Napa wasn't one of the strongest vintages, this delivers above expectations. Soft, smooth, well balanced cabernet. If you had a friend who was just starting to appreciate wine, especially red wine, then this would be a good start. Not overly complex but thoroughly enjoyable. No harsh tannins to speak of. Finishes quite short but who cares! For the price, put away your notebook, grab a pizza and knock back a bottle of this. It will keep for a few years but cannot see this getting any better so why bother. Enjoy now and look forward to the 2012!

2012 Mount Veeder Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley - Although the 2011 is a good drink now proposition, this vintage, unlike the previous, has the stuffing to actually get better with some bottle age. A very seductive nose of dark fruit and vanilla. Glides over the palate like satin with more of the same dark fruit, supported by oak and spice. Has an extended finish of soft, grainy, fruit ladened tannins. This is well made, balanced - acidity, fruit, oak all in harmony. Although 14.5% in alcohol, you wouldn't know it. Don't get me wrong this is a heavy wine and although it is elegant in nature, describing it is an elegant wine is doing it a disservice. This is restrained power in a bottle. Remember this is a US$30 wine but for it's price point it competes well above it's weight division. Drinks well now with a good decant, but if you have the patience, 3-5 years or more in the cellar will reward. Beautiful.

2004 Chateau Musar Bekaa Valley - Found this in a wine shop in Hawaii and being 11 years old thought I might try a bottle to see how this vintage is travelling. Medium garnet in colour, this has the usual old world aromas upon opening, wet earth and leather. The palate was light-medium weight, more medium bodied than light. Soft, smooth sweet black fruit dominate the palate with spice and raisin playing a supporting role. Quite complex in design there is enough going on here to suggest it has a few more years to show its best. Although it is drinking well currently. Good acidity with a medium finish of soft, fine grained tannins. A good but not great Musar.

[Mike Hawkins]

1996 Dom Perignon..... Drank this prior to a superb U2 gig at Madison Square Garden. The wine (and the band for that matter) doesn't seem to have aged much in the past few years. Lovely creamy, nutty palate, with amazing length and the telltale 1996 acidity. Good bottles Will continue to improve for at least a decade.

[felixp]

2005 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc just entering it's window, very very good. Went incredibly well with several excellent yakitori dishes. 92pts.

2007 Pontet Canet from a poor vintage, I was tipped off that this wine is excellent. It isn't. But it is drinking well now. 89pts.

2010 Trapet Latricieres Chambertin incredible wine, this will be monumental in two decades, if you can keep your hands off it. 96pts.

2000 La Croix St Georges just so rich and beautiful, full of musk, violets and incredibly lifted. 2000's are starting to blossom. 94pts.

[phillisc]

1996 Dom Perignon..... Drank this prior to a superb U2 gig at Madison Square Garden. The wine (and the band for that matter) doesn't seem to have aged much in the past few years. Lovely creamy, nutty palate, with amazing length and the telltale 1996 acidity. Good bottles Will continue to improve for at least a decade.

Typical night out Mike?
Stayed for a week across the road from the Garden...unfortunately Bono wasn't in town.

Cheers
Craig

[WAwineguy]

1996 Dom Perignon..... Drank this prior to a superb U2 gig at Madison Square Garden. The wine (and the band for that matter) doesn't seem to have aged much in the past few years. Lovely creamy, nutty palate, with amazing length and the telltale 1996 acidity. Good bottles Will continue to improve for at least a decade.

Was that the Oenotheque?

[Mike Hawkins]

1996 Dom Perignon..... Drank this prior to a superb U2 gig at Madison Square Garden. The wine (and the band for that matter) doesn't seem to have aged much in the past few years. Lovely creamy, nutty palate, with amazing length and the telltale 1996 acidity. Good bottles Will continue to improve for at least a decade.

Typical night out Mike?
Stayed for a week across the road from the Garden...unfortunately Bono wasn't in town.

Cheers
Craig

I wish it was Craig. The last time I saw U2 I was underwhelmed, but they're back ! And as for the Champers, I need to stop opening the 96s... They're great, but young.

[Mike Hawkins]

1996 Dom Perignon..... Drank this prior to a superb U2 gig at Madison Square Garden. The wine (and the band for that matter) doesn't seem to have aged much in the past few years. Lovely creamy, nutty palate, with amazing length and the telltale 1996 acidity. Good bottles Will continue to improve for at least a decade.

Was that the Oenotheque?

Just the regular one. The Oeno is hard going at the moment. On the other hand, the 95 Oeno is great right now

[phillisc]

1996 Dom Perignon..... Drank this prior to a superb U2 gig at Madison Square Garden. The wine (and the band for that matter) doesn't seem to have aged much in the past few years. Lovely creamy, nutty palate, with amazing length and the telltale 1996 acidity. Good bottles Will continue to improve for at least a decade.

Typical night out Mike?
Stayed for a week across the road from the Garden...unfortunately Bono wasn't in town.

Cheers
Craig

I wish it was Craig. The last time I saw U2 I was underwhelmed, but they're back ! And as for the Champers, I need to stop opening the 96s... They're great, but young.

Cheers Mike, after all this masterchef rubbish and saturation of reality TV here in Australia, I think a few of us here on the forum would love to spend an afternoon in the real world doing a master class with you looking at the differences between Riems (sic?) and Epernay.

As for U2 seen them half a dozen times, the love comes to town tour with BB King in the 80s here at Adelaide was magnificent...but the concert to smash all concerts was the recent Stones tour.
They suprised a lot of people including most of the 55 000 here at Adelaide oval.

Craig.

[deejay81]

Chardonnay & Pinot Noir from WSET last night:



2013 Mi Terruno Chardonnay Mendoza
Clear, Pale, Lemon. Light/Medium intensity, Some apricots, and some tropicl fruits, pineapple, hint of banana on the nose. Dry, Light body, medium acid, a bit more pineapple, melon skin bitterness, some creamy textures. Opened up quite quickly. Synthetic cork, and an OK wine, but not very good.

2013 Moreau Chablis 1er Vaillons Chablis
Clear, Pale, Lemon. Medium intensity, Citrus, grapefruit notes, steely minerality and also some creaminess. Dry, medium body, high acid. Grapefruits, peaches with some air, a little leafiness, creamy textures. The finish is long and a very good wine.

2013 Chavy Puligny-Montrachet Burgundy
Clear, Pale, Lemon. Medium intensity. Slight tropical fruits with melon, hints of vanilla. Dry, high bitey acid, a little oak, citrus and unripe pineapples. Great balance on this wine with a long finish. A very good wine.

2010 Voyager Estate Chardonnay Margaret River
Clear, Pale, Lemon. Medium intensity. Citrus, lemon, toasty oak spices, vanilla. Dry, high acid, initial quick hit of alcohol but not overwhelming, Lemon citrus fruits and buttery long, complex finish. Another very good wine. Tasted and showed very young and not like one with 5 years on it.

2011 Collotte Chambolle-Musigny Burgundy
Clear, medium, ruby. Medium intensity. Red cherries, vegetal and green notes, like some asparagus, leafy couldn't quite pinpint what kind of vegetal but it was def there. Medium acid, medium body, medium tannin, some fresh mushrooms, toasty oak, long finish. Pretty good wine, but not great.

2013 Burn Cottage Pinot Noir Central Otago
Clear, medium, ruby-purple. Medium intensity, red fruits, strawberries, raspberries, violet floral notes, creme brulee, caramel. Dry, Medium acid, medium tannin, similar flavours as the nose, smokey char. I thought finish was medium but teacher said it was a long finish. I rated good, teacher rated very good.

[michel]

but a 2001 Moss Wood was just sensational.
cheers

these comments prevent me from selling a stash of them
one day I will retry
m

[rens]

2008 Marius Symphony-My back up for last weeks off line. Been sitting in the cellar since release and my first every Symphony. It sits dark in the glass and the perfume wafting upwards is reminiscent of Belgium chocolate, dark cherrys and roasting pork with a hint of volatiles. The palate is filled with the same however it is accompanied by concentrated blackberry, smokey bacon and the faintest truffle like highlights. It's mouth filling and voluptuous yet silky with great tannins and length to burn. No hurry with this one, but so good now, however my second and last bottle will wait another 5-7 years before this symphony delivers its encore.

2013 Marques de Tezona Espana Tempranillo- Pop and pour. Deep brick red in colour and this started out a little awkward so I left it for 30 minutes. When I returned it had got itself together giving red berries and dill on the nose with a fruit driven palate that is ripe with cola and spice. The length is there and at under $10 a bottle you get one almighty bang for your buck. An additional 2 dozen ordered after the first glass-the new house wine at my place for the the next 6 months.