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

[GrahamB]

St Hallett Old Block Shiraz 2001 last night. After 5 weeks of Europeans, this was delightful with an old friend.

[Rossco]

1991 Redman Cabernet Sauvignon - Magnum

Very light. Surprisingly so to be honest. I always had thought that Redman Cab Savs were massive reds with large tannins, oak and big fruit.
This was (at best) medium body. Perfect cork. Perfect fill levels, and not cooked (always one of my worries when buying older wines)

Fruit was gone though, which was disappointing. Some earthy and old leather tones, but not much really going on.
12% alcohol was surprising too especially considering the 10/10 vintage the 91 was heralded to be.
May have been a dud bottle, I have one left, so see how we go and if anything changes. But based on this bottle, drink up if you have any left.

[Michael McNally]

St Hallett Old Block Shiraz 2001 last night. After 5 weeks of Europeans, this was delightful with an old friend.

How was the old friend done? Medium rare?

Welcome back Graham!

Cheers

Michael

[JamieBahrain]

St Hallett Old Block Shiraz 2001 last night. After 5 weeks of Europeans, this was delightful with an old friend.

Yes, nothing better to come back to a classic Australian wine and it makes you warm in appreciation of our great stuff!

[Polymer]

As I've said before, as good as it is, it's not even Pennies best cabernet from the vintage....

We did the Block 42 in this lineup:

1996 Chateau Latour
1995 Harlan Estate
1996 Penfolds Block 42
1997 Sassicaia

I think it was nearly the consensus bottom for most (single blind)...it was still very good though..and obviously just the opinions of a few people...but just too much oak I think...

[Bobthebuilder]

2014 head red shiraz
the entry level head wine
great VFM imo
but best after a good decant and a day of air
thinking this will be great in 10 years but I'm going to struggle to leave it and forget it for that long

[Mike Hawkins]

As I've said before, as good as it is, it's not even Pennies best cabernet from the vintage....

We did the Block 42 in this lineup:

1996 Chateau Latour
1995 Harlan Estate
1996 Penfolds Block 42
1997 Sassicaia

I think it was nearly the consensus bottom for most (single blind)...it was still very good though..and obviously just the opinions of a few people...but just too much oak I think...

I haven't tried the 95 Harlan, but I'd definitely take it in front of the Sass and possibly before the 96 Latour.

Each to their own !

[rens]

1998 Bin 389- First time for this vintage of bin 389 for me and it is a classic bin 389 however I would not have picked this as being 17 years old. The tannins are their in all their chalkiness and a big lick of Penfolds oak supporting and balancing the fruit. Very nice wine for a slightly cool Spring evening. Well cellared bottles such as this one will go on for many more years

[Bytown Rick]

1998 Bin 389- First time for this vintage of bin 389 for me and it is a classic bin 389 however I would not have picked this as being 17 years old. The tannins are their in all their chalkiness and a big lick of Penfolds oak supporting and balancing the fruit. Very nice wine for a slightly cool Spring evening. Well cellared bottles such as this one will go on for many more years

Good to know. Thank you.

[Phil H]

2006 Teusner The Riebke Shiraz Showing its age, bricking in color, drinking at its peak, classic Barossa, Full bodied, oak with dark berried fruits. Very Good

2013 Highland Heritage Shiraz(Orange Region. Following up the Orange promotion in Martin Place, decided to open up my favourites of the day. Light bodied, almost like a full bodied Pinot. Plenty of spice, being more sublime with plenty of elegance compared to the Riebke. Not a long term wine, will be interesting to see how it develops over the next 5 years. Very good - something different.

2004 Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz not showing its age, only the slightest bricking. Acid & tannins still prominent, slightly green under-ripe fruit. Good but not great. No hurry to drink.

Looking back over the last week, all three wines are in the same price bracket in the same variety, however all displaying completely different characteristics
Now to try something other than Shiraz.....

[mse]

Some budget (2 hilarious ones highlighted in red) tipples at the evening (proudly sponsored by our price sensitive manager, served in foam cups):

- 33 Degrees South Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2013 (around $16/pop)
Colour - Straw
Nose - Gooseberry and Passionfruit
Palate - Peach, West Coast Cooler like flavour, short palate stuff dropped like a brick within 5 seconds after swallow

- Rothbury Estate Vintage Bell Chardonnay 2015 (around $7/pop)
Colour - Yellow hue like someone's concentrated urine (when he/she had too little water intake during the day)
Nose - Very weak hint of Mineral and Nectarine, Oak and Butter-like character
Palate - Almost as dry as a young Semillon, out of balance oak seasoning, lackluster of fruit.

- Lindeman's Bin 50 Shiraz 2011 (around $5-6/pop)
Colour - Ruby like hue, medium bodied
Nose - Hint of Plum and Balsamic vinegar
Palate - Plum and red fruits, palate dropped very fast (within 10 seconds after swallow)

Verdict: Interestingly, my colleagues who are not really into wine appreciation have unanimously picked the 33 Degrees South as WOTN (Wine Of The Night)
The Lindeman's Bin 50 is nevertheless an excellent value drop for the asking price in terms of quality, which even outshine some quaffs twice its price (Penfold's entry-level junks come to mind at impulse). The Rothbury Estate Vintage Bell is however the wine with such poor quality that justify its price.

[Michael R]

2013 Crawford River Riesling... Plenty of limes, acid etc...but couldn't help feeling a touch underwhelmed. Have had this vintage a few times now with similar result. Of course it's young, but still nowhere near the heights Ive come to expect.

2010 Penfolds Bin10A Chardonnay. In a great spot, eyecatching on release, it's resolved into something very delicious.
Have one more which I'd like to hold for a couple of years, but odds are it wil get drunk a lot sooner.

2010 Domaine Bouley Les Fremiers PC, Pommard. Enjoyable balanced wine, definitely modern style with lovely dark fruit immediately noticeable. Still the pommard stamp of earthy structure and some grainy tannin, but in a supporting role even in its youth.

[Phil H]

2013 Pirraminna Eight Acres Shiraz A wine a friend gave me who picked it up for around $10, when nornally around $20 and wanted my opinion- Dark brooding in color, full bodied and a bit porty/spirity, ripe intense sweet fuit. Despite the label putting the alc. at 14.6, I think it could be around 15.5. Not my type of wine, however others may love it.
Now to get away from shiraz.....

[maybs]

2007 De Iulius Semillon. Good, drinking really well but wouldn't be holding these a lot longer as the acid seems to have disappeared and it may start to get flat or flabby. Good though.

2009 Jaboulet Domaine de Thalabert Crozes Hermitage 2 hour decant and still getting better as we are almost out. Really nice. Only had 2 bottles and thinking about getting some more. Restrained, elegant, but good structure and really packed with interest.

[Mike Hawkins]

1996 Hardy's Thomas Hardy Cabernet... Too ripe and sweet for my tastes

2003 Leoville Poyferre... A claret for new world palates. Excellent wine from such a hot year. I really enjoyed it, but not sure it warrants the Hedonist's Gazette's 100 points

[JamieBahrain]

2009 Jaboulet Domaine de Thalabert Crozes Hermitage 2 hour decant and still getting better as we are almost out. Really nice. Only had 2 bottles and thinking about getting some more. Restrained, elegant, but good structure and really packed with interest.

Yes. A bargain wine I end up with every vintage. I like the more classic and unreliable style of old; not detracting from the cleaner and modern style now just that there was some freakily good old Thalaberts.

[JamieBahrain]

Had a disappointing YY Dry Red Number 1 2005. Just didn't work out, oak donated the edges and a gaping cabernet hole was like a hitting a speed hump. Got better with air but overall, a considerable let down.

[felixp]

Bruno Desaunay-Bissey Vosne Romanee 2009
a wine that once again proves that when Bordeaux and Burgundy have a great vintage, the lesser wines made are usually amongst the greatest bargains on the planet. A wine to fall in love with, nothing extraordinary, not a Chambertin or La Tache, but an incredible moreish, tasty and honest red.... the classic French farmer's wine. High-toned cherry, Vosne spice, incredible length. A lick of anise at the end adds the perfect counterpoint to the spice. Not a lot of complexity, yet full of interest.....a wine to glug with a big hunk of cheese and a stick of bread. Drinking beautifully now, but no hurry. For sub-$30, this was a ridiculous bargain.
Drink: now-2025, 89 points.

[felixp]

Damn, where was my invite??

Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 incredible wine, would kill most 96 Bordeaux, though it is a different beast. Bravo!!! 96

Glad to hear the 96 707 is travelling well
How long do you think this can be held?

if you have any, don't panic..... this wine will power thru the next two decades, absolutely no problem. I suspect it will be legendary around 2030

[Hacker]

Had a disappointing YY Dry Red Number 1. Just didn't work out, oak donated the edges and a gaping cabernet hole was like a hitting a speed hump. Got better with air but overall, a considerable let down.

Which year Jaime? I have a few vintages, so reports are great to read about. I think I have 05, 06, 08 and 12.

[Michael McNally]

2012 Burge Family Winemakers 'Clochemerle' Barossa GSM. This wine smells like an old wood basket of berries and plums. Balanced age dwood, fruit and....wood. I am saying wood a lot but it's not very oaky, just the secondary characters coming to the fore. Nicely integrated. Not a long termer (like the 2008).

Cheers

Michael

[qwertt]

Mitchell Watervale Riesling 2005 under screwcap. My word, what a lovely wine.

[deejay81]

Chateau Tongariro NV BdB - no notes but remember it to be inteersting and fresh.
Mt Difficulty Roaring Meg Pinot Noir 2013? - lots of red fruit, red cherries, strawberrys. Smooth tannins, good acidity. A nice young fresh fruit driven pinot.

I had a bottle of Mt Difficulty Bannockburn Pinot 2013 confiscated as I accidentally left it in my backpack and forgot to check it in

[deejay81]

2008 Champagne Duperrey
Woolies/DM/BWS release.
Small consistent bead, citrus peel, bready/brioche, yeasty. Maybe should/could've been a little more acidic.
Wasn't too bad considering was bought for $45 NZD. I'd give it another look for that price.

[tonym]

Last night a Tullochs 2010 private bin Pokolbin Dry Red shiraz with a lovely slow cooked beef cheeks, not a big hunter shiraz but balanced and medium bodied with fine tanins and tonight a 2013 Evoi reserve chardonnay with pan fried salmon

[JamieBahrain]

Had a disappointing YY Dry Red Number 1. Just didn't work out, oak donated the edges and a gaping cabernet hole was like a hitting a speed hump. Got better with air but overall, a considerable let down.

Which year Jaime? I have a few vintages, so reports are great to read about. I think I have 05, 06, 08 and 12.

2005 YY Number 1.

I think there's a few mediocre notes now- in a hole because it wasn't bad a few years ago.

[Rory]

Amongst many wines last night, one of the highlights was a1997 Tahbilk Marsanne.
'97 was a pretty warm to hot vintage, so considering, it was superb. Colour was apricot/gold, the aromas a heady mix of honeysuckle and honey, as was the palate, yet still a very good lifting spine of acid to carry the fruit. Excellent length. Joy to drink.
Marsanne, Semillon & Riesling, proven age worthy varieties in OZ, yet still we chase Chardonnay?

[Andrew Jordan]

Amongst many wines last night, one of the highlights was a1997 Tahbilk Marsanne.
'97 was a pretty warm to hot vintage, so considering, it was superb. Colour was apricot/gold, the aromas a heady mix of honeysuckle and honey, as was the palate, yet still a very good lifting spine of acid to carry the fruit. Excellent length. Joy to drink.
Marsanne, Semillon & Riesling, proven age worthy varieties in OZ, yet still we chase Chardonnay?

Rory,

Thanks for the tasting note. Glad to hear this is drinking well. I have a single bottle of this left so sounds like I need to crack it over this coming summer!

[Phil H]

2006 Grant Burge Filsell Shiraz I have been impressed with this label over various vintages and this one did not disappoint. Despite being at 15% Alc, it did not show it. Powerfully, full bodied but everything in balance, getting better as the bottle emptied. Dark berry fruits, oak present but in the background. Plenty of life left in it, fantastic Barossa Shiraz, great VFM.

[cuttlefish]

Amongst many wines last night, one of the highlights was a1997 Tahbilk Marsanne.
'97 was a pretty warm to hot vintage, so considering, it was superb. Colour was apricot/gold, the aromas a heady mix of honeysuckle and honey, as was the palate, yet still a very good lifting spine of acid to carry the fruit. Excellent length. Joy to drink.
Marsanne, Semillon & Riesling, proven age worthy varieties in OZ, yet still we chase Chardonnay?

Don't be dissin' chardonnay.