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

[catchnrelease]

2015 Clonakilla Riesling - Citrus, clean and dry with good length. Losing a bit of zing. I like young riesling but this is the oldest I'd drink it before putting it away for a decade to develop secondary features. Still good though. 91

2013 Mt. Difficulty Roaring Meg Pinot Noir - Masculine. More concentrated than expected, dark colour, cherry, stems, spice. Fine tannins on a lengthy finish. Very Central Otago-ish, a good example of it at a great price. Just wish it was a bit more complex. Everyone at the table was a fan, though. 92

2014 Brash Higgins FRNC Cabernet Franc - Savoury, intense nose, tomato stems, Mediterranean style tapenade, some said salsa?, herbs, game, funky but fresh. Very fine, almost non-existent tannins, just enough for structure. Fell apart in the glass after 15 minutes or so, but very good leading up to that. Drink now. 91

[phillisc]

Lindemans 1999 Nursery Riesling Coonawarra
The last bottle from a 2 case purchase in the Hunter a few years back...at $15 ea....all great corks, and not one dud!
Really beautiful colour, almost like a light gold leaf, honeyed notes with a lovely touch of lingering acid. Plenty of fruit...an absolute joy
Great wine and they don't make them like this anymore...best representation of Coonawarra Riesling, old Wynns's , Katnook's are not in the same class.

Is anyone able to shed any light on the Nursery's...aware that the vines were grafted over 20 years ago, and there was a 94 and 95 which I have never seen. I tasted an 85 years ago as part of the classic release program and there one or two releases in the mid 70s...and perhaps an 89? probably all gone the same way as the Hunter Burgs.

Cheers
Craig

[JamieBahrain]

Hewitson Old Garden Mourvedre 2008- Beautiful mid-week drinking. A varietal that take's you straight to the Barossa as well a shiraz would. Plums, fresh leather, brandied X-Mas cake in a lush and round framework, texturally new wave and fresh with a finish fastened with acidity, fine powdered tannins and warmth.

93pts

[catchnrelease]

2006 Crawford River Cabernet Sauvignon - I was the only fan of this, others thought it was past it. Some faint bricking in the colour, no tannins and a bit of acid left. Nice nose. Blackcurrant, ribena, leather, VA, cigar box. Medium length, quite subtle palate. Enjoyable, but if you have any of these - drink up.

[Red Smurf]

2014 Brash Higgins FRNC Cabernet Franc - Savoury, intense nose, tomato stems, Mediterranean style tapenade, some said salsa?, herbs, game, funky but fresh.

This sounds right up my alley Alex.

Very fine, almost non-existent tannins

Until this.....such a shame.

[catchnrelease]

2014 Brash Higgins FRNC Cabernet Franc - Savoury, intense nose, tomato stems, Mediterranean style tapenade, some said salsa?, herbs, game, funky but fresh.

This sounds right up my alley Alex.

Very fine, almost non-existent tannins

Until this.....such a shame.

There was just enough there for structure, but if you bought some I'd say drink it this year. Still very nice mind you, a great mid-week drink.

[wiggum]

Couple of crackers last night.

2004 Seppelts St Peters - Not exact tasting notes but I remember this wine to be singing. Beautiful aromatics and smooth in the mouth. Suitably complex for a med bodied wine rich and complex.

2001 Voyager Cab/Merl - Impressive and savoury profile compared with the sweeter St Peters. In transition with secondary flavours developing. I cant recall obvious cigar box but beautiful cassis and olive dominated.

Two very good wines on the night.

[dave vino]

1986 Domaine Les Goubert Gigondas
A glorious wine, a real hole in one while playing golf by yourself wine. A fairly low level producer at 30 years of age. Great colour, plums, dark fruits, tannins on the back palate, and great secondary development. Really soft and supple in the mouth, and a decent length. Really pleased with this, was half expecting to pour it down the sink. Went really well with my Wagyu Teppanyaki steak and gourmet snags.

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[Andrew Jordan]

Couple of crackers last night.

2004 Seppelts St Peters - Not exact tasting notes but I remember this wine to be singing. Beautiful aromatics and smooth in the mouth. Suitably complex for a med bodied wine rich and complex.

2001 Voyager Cab/Merl - Impressive and savoury profile compared with the sweeter St Peters. In transition with secondary flavours developing. I cant recall obvious cigar box but beautiful cassis and olive dominated.

Two very good wines on the night.

Thanks for the tasting notes/impressions. Have both of these in the cellar so quite happy to hear they are both showing well. Any rush to drink them?

[rens]

1986 Domaine Les Goubert Gigondas
A glorious wine, a real hole in one while playing golf by yourself wine. A fairly low level producer at 30 years of age. Great colour, plums, dark fruits, tannins on the back palate, and great secondary development. Really soft and supple in the mouth, and a decent length. Really pleased with this, was half expecting to pour it down the sink. Went really well with my Wagyu Teppanyaki steak and gourmet snags.

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Hi David
thanks for the note. Is that an Erlenmeyer flask your using as a decanter?

[dave vino]

Yep. I get them for about $10 each, quite rugged for taking to offlines and banged about in bags and stuff. Easy to wash out and have a nice wide opening on them.

[rens]

Yep. I get them for about $10 each, quite rugged for taking to offlines and banged about in bags and stuff. Easy to wash out and have a nice wide opening on them.

Brilliant. I want one!

[swirler]

Cool. What's the use of fancy, fragile, expensive decanters anyway other than the obvious aesthetic appeal?

[wiggum]

Andrew

No rush on either one. Both fresh and in transition to sec and tertiary development. I have finished my Voyagers (dohhh) but still have 6 St Peters and would say 10 -15 years no problems (of course that is a personal preference).

[Michael McNally]

2013 Hoddles Creek 1er Yarra Valley Chardonnay

Welcome to modern Australian Chardonnay!

Bouquet of white nectarine, cashew and wet slate. Smells powerful! Nothing tropical about the palate (apart from some guava at the finish). Balanced white stonefruit and grapefruit (for me balance means stonefruit edges grapefruit in the fruit profile = not too acidic). Light nutty oak. Textured and full, but not heavy. Aspects of all the flavour profiles mingle and linger on the medium to long finish. Bravo! I expect this will get better with time!

Will leave the remaining two for at least a couple of years.

Cheers

Michael

[Hunter]

Principia Chardonnay 2013 - lemon and honey suckle aromas. Some macadamia even. Elegant and balanced. Great length, very approachable ..

[dave vino]

2012 Pegau Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Maclura

I like it, nothing too serious, good aromatics, bit of grip, bit short, nice rustic characteristics. At $20 a bottle I'm not complaining.

Go the Doggies!!

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[felixp]

a truck load over the past few weeks, up in the air, on the ski slopes and for CNY.
highlights:

Dom Perignon Rose 2003 not a huge Rose fan, but at 40,000ft this was spectacular!!! 96pts
Chateau Montrose 2003 ditto, amazing wine at 40,000ft, much more forward than at sea level 94+pts
Hermitage la Chapelle 2001 looks like this marque is finally returning to form, about time!!! 94pts
Clos des Menuts 2009 wow, at 22euro in a ski resort supermarket, this St Emilion GC is incredible value. Loved it. 91pts
Mount Pleasant 1965 Vines Rosehill Shiraz 2014 best young Aussie wine I have ever seen. Jaw dropping. 99pts
Chateau Pavie 2000 still too young, but looking a treat. Leave another decade. 94pts
Rousseau Gevrey Clos St Jacques 2009 beautiful, pure, noble Burg of premier pedigree. Phantastic, with a capital "P". 95pts
Faiveley NSG Les St Georges 2010 rich, opulent, open and unexpected for the vintage. Amazing wine. 95pts

lots of other wines varying from very good to ordinary. Must have seen a couple of dozen 2013 red Burgs, none of which really impressed. If I had my time again, I would have stayed clear.... to me at this stage, it looks like young 1996 without the quality of fruit.

[PaulV]

Thanks for the update felixp on the 2013 burgs. Think I'll wait for the 2014s which seem to have more red fruit and depth.The Faiveley sounds good too.

[Hacker]

Rockford BP 2002: I was worried that many of the Barossan 2002's are too confected and over the top, but this Rockford whilst rich, also dealt out lovely pure plummy fruit and length that went on and on. Perfect with roast beef and all my family around. I am truly blessed tonight.

[catchnrelease]

Rockford BP 2002: I was worried that many of the Barossan 2002's are too confected and over the top, but this Rockford whilst rich, also dealt out lovely pure plummy fruit and length that went on and on. Perfect with roast beef and all my family around. I am truly blessed tonight.

Must be some bottle variation, this is my note from November:

2002 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz - Dad liked this, I did not. I found it hot and unbalanced. Nice ribena like notes on the nose, some herbal aspect and a bit of VA. Palate was the let down, length unimpressive, and not much of a mid palate (although not non-existent). Tannins not making an appearance, possibly past its best? Although I think this was unbalanced from the start. Next day showed significant development but no improvement. Not my favourite style of wine.

[Mike Hawkins]

Rockford BP 2002: I was worried that many of the Barossan 2002's are too confected and over the top, but this Rockford whilst rich, also dealt out lovely pure plummy fruit and length that went on and on. Perfect with roast beef and all my family around. I am truly blessed tonight.

Must be some bottle variation, this is my note from November:

2002 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz - Dad liked this, I did not. I found it hot and unbalanced. Nice ribena like notes on the nose, some herbal aspect and a bit of VA. Palate was the let down, length unimpressive, and not much of a mid palate (although not non-existent). Tannins not making an appearance, possibly past its best? Although I think this was unbalanced from the start. Next day showed significant development but no improvement. Not my favourite style of wine.

I recall this wine being a tad porty a few years ago

[Phil H]

2012 Rusden Driftsand GSM Light in color and body, red sweet fruits on opening (not in a jammy way), however after a short time showing some sour cherry and Chinese five spice on the finish. Served chilled, could be mistaken for a Pinot. Very enjoyable and good VFM.

2011 McWilliams Mount Pleasant Mothervine Pinot. Full bodied, dark fruits, I have had some hunter Shiraz's with more elegance and finesse than this. Disappointing

2009 Highland Heritage Pinot (Orange Region). Full bodied and slightly porty despite having an alc. at 12.5%, and having an oily texture. Despite this consumed over 2 nights and loved every drop. This wine is their current release with 2013 due to be released shortly. (No 2010/11/12 due to not up to standard). For a $22 bottle of wine great VFM.

2001 Arras Late Disgorged This was the first time I had tried this wine, and was not disappointed. Lovely golden color, fine bubbles, elegant sparkling. I had this wine for over a year and was uncertain how long it would keep, however there is no hurry to consume. Certainly gives Champagne some serious competition . It was a favourite amongst my friends.

2011 Auxey Duresses 1er Cru, Jean Louis Moissenet Bonnard (Pinot) Not certain of the correct title, as there was a lot of words on the label. My 5th bottle of the Burgundy Discovery Dozen. Med bodied,with once again some sour cherry notes, but not overly complex and a short finish. Not a lot of life left in the wine, enjoyable , however the 2009 Highland Heritage showed much more complexity and freshness.

[Phil H]

One more- 2007 Shaw & Smith Shiraz dark fruits, liquorice, drinking well now, will not get any better. I thought it was okay but not great, friends enjoyed it.

[JamieBahrain]

Caught up with a friend this afternoon for coffee which ended up in a quiet drink and pizza-

The South African impressive with it's classic cabernet development with sweet secondary notes. Musar 88 was great if you like Musar with it's unique VA lift and tertiary sometimes bretty notes.

[Matt@5453]

A few impressions from over the course of the weekend:

2010 d’Arenberg The Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon
The overall balance/structure of the wine was very good. Classic cabernet cassis, blackcurrant, dark chocolate, with pronounced chalky tannins. The fruit was not as forthcoming as I thought it would be. The finish was very good without being great. Perhaps it is in an in between phase, would be worth looking at in another 5 years. I preferred this over the Dead Arm (below).

2010 d’Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz
There was a nice mocha/chocolate nose. The palate was well balanced with dark fruits, chocolate/mocha, heavier chalky/powdery tannins compared to the Coppermine with a good lingering savoury type finish. Whilst very enjoyable there was no really wow factor for me. I reckon this needs more time for the tannins to better integrate into the wine.

2011 Fox Creek Reserve Shiraz
We had this after the Dead Arm. A very good effort for the 2011 vintage. There was a lot more up front riper fruit characteristics (fruit cake, spice, milk chocolate) and good tannin structure (far less tannic compared the d’Arenberg Dead Arm), excellent palate weight and silky long finish. Really enjoyed this one.

2013 O’Leary Walker Clare Valley Shiraz
Had this over lunch at a bistro – a very enjoyable and shows how good the 2013 vintage was for shiraz in Clare given this is a $20-$25 wine. Dark fruits, full bodied inky goodness, very generous mouth feel. Very good balance and length of finish for a $20-$25 wine, on the strength of this I’m going to grab a six pack to cellar for 7-10 years to see how it evolves.

[mjs]

"Buck's Party" last night for a mate with fiancée/wives. Amongst the numerous bottles, and I do mean numerous, were these few



'93, '88, '86, '65 Wynns Black Label the '86 was supberb, beautiful aged cabernet, the others were all very good as well, incl the '65
'79 Penfolds St Henri
'94 Elderton Shiraz, both v good
No detailed notes due to too much laughter and the alcoholic haze

[rogue bottle of San Pellegrino in the background!]

[phillisc]

And a rouge Henschke by the look of it too Malcolm.
Still those wonderful Coonawarra's would have blown it into the weeds

Cheers
Craig

[mjs]

I think we were pretty much blown to the weeds at the end of it as well haha

BPP ratio was pretty high

[Chuck]

Found buried in the cellar were a few Leabrook Estate 2010 Adelaide Hills Pinot Gris. Expected to be well past their best they were in fact in great shape. Lovely juice.

Carl