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

[dave vino]

Sorry if this sounds daft, but I keep seeing this 'moorish' and I can't work out the meaning. The Moors were the Muslims in Spain. Moors are also bleak English countryside made famous by the Bronte sisters. Neither makes sense in this context. I can only guess that you mean moreish, as in something you want more of. Is that correct?

Yes. I will try harder in future.

[mjs]

Minor reprieve of last year's celebrations on Sat night with a few friends

98 Wynns Black label
98 Penfolds Bin 389
96 Wynns Michael (magnum)
96 Wynns Black Label (magnum)
96 Wynns JR
96 Bowen Estate Shiraz
94 Penfolds 389
91 Petaluma Cooonawarra
89 Redman Cabernet (magnum)
87 Wynns JR

Was very pleasantly surprised there wasn't a dud bottle among them, even including the Redman. All were very enjoyable, the 96 Michael was a standout for me, JRs and 389s also v good as were BLs.

Hope your coming back to Sydney soon!
What was the petaluma? Cab merlot?

Unfortunately no long stints back in Sydney on the horizon, although there for short visits regularly

The blend in the Petaluma label has changed a bit over the years. This particular year was cabernet merlot, probably with some other smaller components. I have a few of this year left, this particular bottle was probably the best example so far as was still on song. Others have been a little harsh and well on the decline slope.

Here's an article by JO that provides a it of info

http://www.winegenius.com/petalumas-coonawarra-blend/

cheers, Malcolm

[Mike Hawkins]

2002 Turkey Flat Shiraz - really good wine... Much better than i expected. Still somewhat primary

1991 Peter Lehman Stonewell Shiraz - good fruit, but an oakfest

2002 Dom Ruinart - fantastic, but still very young.

1998 Haut Brion - definitely an under rated vintage. Excellent wine that will improve

1990 Petaluma Coonawarra - a bit tired

1996 Krug - still very young

1996 Salon - ditto

1996 Cristal - starting to strut its stuff. Lives up to the hype

1996 Pichon Lalande - perhaps could have done better this vintage given what some of its peers did

1999 LEAS Chardonnay - drinking wonderfully

2002 Harlan Estate - sensational wine that will improve

Vintage forgotten Leonetti Cabernet - really good example of how good the top Washington state wines are

1990 Trimach CSH - possibly the best of all these wines. Magnificent

[Rory]

2006 Kooyong Faultline Chardonnay
2006 was a stunning vintage for both Pinot & Chardonnay on the Mornington Peninsula. This wine was no exception. Minerality, richness in aroma and flavour, length, backed up by lingering acid. In great form, one of the best.
2008 Kay Brothers Motaro.
Looking for a quaffer last night, stumbled across this is the cellar. Bright, juicy, yet substantial fruit with lovely chewy tannins. A great midweek steak wine. And no doubt would be interesting to see it with another 5 or so years on it. Finished the bottle I liked it so much!

[JamieBahrain]

Neyen 2007-Apalta, Santa Cruz, Colchagua Valley, Chile. Carmenere 70%, Cabernet Sauvignon 30%.

Last bottle of a quaffing case and truly magnificent making me wish for a sizable cellar in HKG to mature the bargain offerings in this part of the world.

Still potential for signifiant development. Now it shows a dusty cherry fruit with the carmenere in obvious play. Great intensity in a layer of generous ,yet calm fruit on the palate, completing in a good length with pippy fruit tannins. Delightful that would rank higher if Chile could stamp some recognizable or advertised regionality.

91pts+

[mse]

Grant Burge Meshach 2002

Nose - Blatantly sweet Vanilla and Strawberry milkshake like at first, overt character of smokey oak (like Bourbon), then Blackberry and finally weak hint of Liquorice and spices.

Palate - toned-down Cranberry juice like sharpness, Hawthorn and sour Plum like mid palate, and Blueberry like aftertaste (palate dropped quite fast). The palate of this medium bodied Shiraz was relatively short (mid-late palate) for a wine of this price bracket (paid roughly $95/bottle around 5 years ago).

Still have 4 bottles in the cupboard....

[felixp]

have had the 94 and 91 Meshach recently, and my advice would be to hang on to your 2002's for another 10 years, both the 94 and 91 wines are drinking superbly, and have settled down from the fruit bombs they once were.

[mse]

have had the 94 and 91 Meshach recently, and my advice would be to hang on to your 2002's for another 10 years, both the 94 and 91 wines are drinking superbly, and have settled down from the fruit bombs they once were.

Hi Felix,
Thanks for the advice, it's very rare for you to visit the old Aussie Shirazes given that you have a huge collection of quality French reds. I only decanted the bottle for 3 hours, perhaps further breathing would let the wine evolve a bit more? I am not sure what to expect with another decade of aging.

[felixp]

I love aged Barossa shiraz, but it is true I drink it rarely these days.
I purchased a lot of Meshach back in the early 90's, and in their youth they were very much the same as you describe. However, after 20 years, the wines have entirely shed their puppy fat, developed a degree of lean-ness and retain excellent length. Whilst not as complex as, say, a Chave Hermitage of similar age, they still are immensely satisfying wines and represent great value. And, for me a real added bonus, they unmistakably display classic Barossa terroir, a great thing in this sea of homogeneity.

[rooman]

Mitchelton Print Shiraz 1998 I found a few remaining bottles when I redid the cellar recently. The heavy overoaked porty fruitcake flavours that made teh wine initially most too sweet to drink have now settled down and whilst the wine still has fruitcake palate, it is now far more settled and enjoyable than when it was first a pub. In addition the wine is starting to develop a savoury finish which lingers nicely at the end. I am pleased I saved a few to see how they would develop.

Mark

[RobK]

Modest wine, Cat Amongst the Pigeons Shiraz 2012.

[Hunter]

2009 chateau senejac
This wine blows me away everytime I try it.
sweet cabnet nose, some red fruits and mineral. So suttle
Medium finish.

[Waiters Friend]

Would you believe a Moondyne Joe Trois Cat GSM 2014? No, I'd not heard of it either. Avon Valley WA. Confectioned, jubey Grenache, but some supporting dark berries and minimal oak. Earthy, almost dirty in a way that reminds me of rustic French wines. Interesting, but too much Grenache for me.

This led to some thinking. Why don't they reverse the equation and make Mourvedre dominant blends (although I admit trying to market an MSG might be difficult ) I'd like to see the Grenache just offering some fruit lift in a less confectioned wine.

Any thoughts?

[daz]

Tar & Roses Heathcote Shiraz 2013: still losing some funk after just opening and pouring, cool climate shiraz with deep-seated, savoury, blackberry fruit that persists through the linear palate to a lengthy finish, supported by noticeable cedar oak, chalky tannins and lively acidity.

[Hunter]

Hi all!

I'm new to the forum, live in SA.

I have recently been enjoying some Zonte's Footsteps, I only started stockpiling my cellar of amazing things recently so have been trying to rip into some $15-$50 bottles of late and the 2013 Zonte's Shiraz range (Choc Factory from McLaren Vale, Lake doctor from Langhorne Creek and Baron von Nemesis from Barossa Valley) Very good drinking.

Also managed to score some Lost Buoy Cliff Block Grenache from Wine Direct for $90 a dozen. It's a $30 Grenache from the winery. Rang and asked them for more info, they said the winery had excess stock and wanted to move it for new vintage. They offered free freight as well, but I understand that's just something they do. There is a link below if you want to check it out. That's also where I saw the Zonte's stuff. Also caught a glimpse of Vinomofo's special on 2013 Black Market Malbec that went out today, good value at around $14 a bottle down from $45

http://www.winedirect.com.au/2012-lost-buoy-cliff-block-grenache-dozen?group=danswineden

Hi wineNot, welcome too the forum. I havn't used vinomofo yet as i find its a bit of a gamble. Have you made any orders from them yet ?

[ticklenow1]

Probably not a good idea to talk about other retailers in this forum. It is run by a retailer in direct competition to those you mentioned. There are other forums for those discussions.

Cheers
Ian

[Hunter]

Take it easy Tickle

[RogerPike]

Hunter,

Ian is correct. To post offers from other retailers and links to other retailers on this forum is extremely bad form.

To add the fatuous comment to take it easy just compounds your lack of respect for the man hosting this forum and other members.

Roger

[Hunter]

No retail offers where mentioned, just a discussion about purchasing wine.

[RogerPike]

d

[Hunter]

Which link ?
Narrunga !

[strippett]

Hi wineNot, welcome too the forum. I havn't used vinomofo yet as i find its a bit of a gamble. Have you made any orders from them yet ?

[Michael R]

Hey Hunter, Winenot

Ians advice is sound.
It’s a free forum here, and the only golden rule is to respect the host by not discussing/promoting other retailers.
The lines sometimes blur a little regarding auctions, and wines that the host does not offer (e.g. some old world labels) but if in doubt, best to check with Gavin or the forum before posting details.
Sometimes even a few cheeky references to major discounters sneak through, but directly referencing another online retailer is seen a disrespectful.

People who’ve been posting here a while, are typically protective of the forum and the golden rule. I think you’ll probably feel just as protective the longer you participate here.

Chalk it up to experience, and hopefully dont blow your chances of getting any Marius wines in future

[winetastic]

Last Saturday, my partner very generously purchased a bottle of Dom Pérignon 2004:
Wow, incredible nose of green apple and honeysuckle, opening up later to fresh apricot and brioche. The palate has impeccable length and walks an amazing fine line between refreshing crisp acidity from its lemon fruit flavour, brioche backbone and delicious sherbert and honey sweetness on the finish. Textured and mouthfilling, this is by far and away my benchmark for champagne, 96 points.

To follow, Borgogno Barolo 2004:
Decanted for 6 hours (and it needs at least 4), intoxicating and constantly shifting aromas of new leather, aniseed, cherry, pine needles and briar patch. Its full bodied and rich on fruit by old world standards, has length for days and is still showing a gloriously fine tannic backbone. Will certainly improve over the next 5-10 years. All red wine wishes it was Barolo, 96+ points.

[Scotty vino]

Hey Hunter, Winenot

Ians advice is sound.
It’s a free forum here, and the only golden rule is to respect the host by not discussing/promoting other retailers.
The lines sometimes blur a little regarding auctions, and wines that the host does not offer (e.g. some old world labels) but if in doubt, best to check with Gavin or the forum before posting details.
Sometimes even a few cheeky references to major discounters sneak through, but directly referencing another online retailer is seen a disrespectful.

People who’ve been posting here a while, are typically protective of the forum and the golden rule. I think you’ll probably feel just as protective the longer you participate here.

Chalk it up to experience, and hopefully dont blow your chances of getting any Marius wines in future

+1. end of discussion. as you were gentlemen.

[Michael R]

2012 Main Ridge Estate Chardonnay

[markc]

A few mates getting together for a dinner and 'bring a wine over 10 years old' night. We ended up with the following:
Penfolds Bin 128 1985, Ladbroke Grove Cab Sav 2002, Diesen Landscape Shiraz/Cabernet 2004 and a Marius Shiraz 2002 under cork. The Bin 128 was way past its prime, The Ladbroke a very nice example of a Coonawarra cab/sav, The Diesen was a very good drink, with still good fruit and nice tannins in the back ground. The surprise of the night was the Marius we had another recently in a screw cap v cork comparison which went to the screwcap based on its fruit but tonights under cork was a different beast again. We had mushroom, dirt and leather but still nice fruit. It was like a good Hunter shiraz on steroids and WOTN but an amazing contrast too the other bottle a month ago.
Cheers
markc

[swirler]

To follow, Borgogno Barolo 2004:
.....intoxicating.......

Sorry, but had to smile at that

[winetastic]

To follow, Borgogno Barolo 2004:
.....intoxicating.......

Sorry, but had to smile at that

If you cant have some fun with the verbiage, then what is the point?

[WAwineguy]

Just a couple of little bottles of Bouchard burgundy, with a friend (or two)....

Opened up nicely after an hour of decanting - drinking deliciously even though still young. Honestly, once you start drinking these burgundies, it becomes pretty hard to stomach Aussie pinot!!