Melbourne Offline / 19 August / Coonawarra vs. Margaret River

[Ozzie W]

We've been having so much fun at our Cabernet themed offlines we've decided to do it once again. The next battle will be between Coonawarra and Margaret River. Not since the Judgement of Paris 40 years ago has there been so much at stake.

Date: 19 August 2016
Time: 6:30pm
Venue: Scopri (upstairs)
Theme: Coonawarra vs. Margaret River (Cabernet or Cabernet Dominant), 1980 vintage onwards

Confirmed attending:
1. Benchmark
2. Benchmark+1
3. ChrisH
4. Con J
5. conformistepete
6. mjs
7. Ozzie
8. Ozzie+1
9. Diddy

Capping the numbers at 9 as per usual. Diddy was on our last reserves list and didn't get a chance to come, so he gets first dibs. If anyone else is interested please let me know.

Reserves
10. Rory
11. ?

I'll act as the gatekeeper once again to ensure we get a good representation from each side.

[mjs]

Yes, they have been fun, but even I am happy to go to a non-cabernet theme after this next shoot-out

[Chris H]

Can see it now - Coonawara Chardonnay vs The World......

[Benchmark]

Probably need to narrow it if anything.

Perhaps Coonawarra chardonnay, high altitude v low altitude?

[Chris H]

[Diddy]

I'm in!

[Ozzie W]

Thanks for the PM, Rory. You're down as a reserve.

[mjs]

There was a good email from Wynns during the week with EOFY deals as well as suggesting they could help with other vintages that were lacking from your cellar. I emailed back saying that I just didn't have enough of the '54 Cabernet, but haven't got a positive response yet ... haha

[Chris H]

Does that mean you have plenty of 66 ?

[JarrodB]

There was a good email from Wynns during the week with EOFY deals as well as suggesting they could help with other vintages that were lacking from your cellar. I emailed back saying that I just didn't have enough of the '54 Cabernet, but haven't got a positive response yet ... haha

Put me down for some '86 cab

[mjs]

Got some at auction last week!

[phillisc]

There was a good email from Wynns during the week with EOFY deals as well as suggesting they could help with other vintages that were lacking from your cellar. I emailed back saying that I just didn't have enough of the '54 Cabernet, but haven't got a positive response yet ... haha

Yes Malcolm, I know what you mean!
I was after some 55 Michael myself

Cheers
Craig

[Ozzie W]

Unfortunately Benchmark and his +1 can no longer make it. Rory, are you still available? We've also got another spot free so if you're interested, please let me know.

[Ozzie W]

Updated list of attendees:
1. ChrisH
2. Con J
3. conformistepete
4. mjs
5. Ozzie
6. Ozzie+1
7. Diddy
8. Rory
9. grapeobserver

Reserves:
10. ?
11. ?

[grapeobserver]

If there's space, very happy to be your 9th!

[Ozzie W]

You're in, grapeobserver.

If anyone would like go on the reserves list, please let me know.

[Chris H]

Just over a week to go. Presume everyone still raring and ready. Reserves welcome to be on standby too......

[Con J]

Still good to go, got the bottles I'm bringing standing up.

Looking forward to it see you All next week.

Cheers Con.

[Ozzie W]

Recruited my soldiers from Kennards last night. Looking very forward to this final battle between terra rossa and the wild west. Will be bringing along a curio as well to supplement the opposing battalions.

[Rory]

Yep, ready to go.

[mjs]

Recruited my soldiers from Kennards last night. Looking very forward to this final battle between terra rossa and the wild west. Will be bringing along a curio as well to supplement the opposing battalions.

Will have to have a hard think about what to bring to this shoot-out, it's not as if it's life or death ... it's far more serious than that

[Chris H]

Something that drinks beautifully now would be the aim if you aspire to victory King. Con had to help you out with his 76 last outing

[phillisc]

Something that drinks beautifully now would be the aim if you aspire to victory King. Con had to help you out with his 76 last outing

Gee Malcolm, the're feisty pups over Victoria way ...lets us knows what Chris brings won't you.

Cheers
Craig

[mjs]

Something that drinks beautifully now would be the aim if you aspire to victory King. Con had to help you out with his 76 last outing

Got a couple of things in mind, just have to find them!

Had a '78 BL (one of mine) last Fri in another group, was very good, but not quite as exceptional as Con's '76. Of course, both the '76 and '78 would be out of spec for this Friday haha (as of course would be dave vino's Redman's '69 claret, my current avatar! Now that, surprisingly, was an absolutely excellent bottle of red, drunk early last year at a Sydney off-line!)

[Chris H]

If it tastes as good as that last 76 I don't think anyone will mind you being out of spec King. No-one minded when you put on a Grand Cru on at a Premier Cru Burg night either

[pc79]

Will be very interested to hear the results of this tasting. There was a similar themed tasting conducted in Sydney a few months back. All tasted blind, all scored out of 10 before being revealed. Margaret River, across the board won hands down. Coonawarra demonstrating consistent high levels of acid across most of the wines. FWIW here's my notes - my score first (/100), group cumulative score added together in brackets.

W1 2003 Petaluma Cabernet - milk choc, blackberry, tobacco leaf, stemmy, slightly confected, a bit worked 89 (65.5)
W2 2008 Moondah brook - Acid, spicy oak, dark choc, blackcurrant, raspberry, nice 91 (66)
W3 2007 Cape Mentelle - beautiful! Choc, eucalyptus, cigar box cassis, everything I want in a wa cab. dry and savoury finish, nice long lingering tannin 94 (83.5)
W4 2005 Cullen Diana Madeleine - vanilla, choc, thick but dry, leaf, blackcurrant, dusty chalky tannin. Good 90 (61.5)
W5 2013 Coleraine - beautiful nose of crushed red flowers, cherry and blackberry, charcoal and cola, violets, alluring, light on the palate, ethereal 95 (87.5)
W6 1999 Jack Mann - yeah! Dark cherry And cassis, gentle tobacco, a lick of meatiness, and beautiful balance Aniseed great nice line of tannin finishes long! 94 (90)
W7 2007 Rockford Rifle Range - Beef stock, vanilla, cedarbox, fruit blackberry, some funkiness and slight burnt sweetness which is alluring. 92 (85)
W8 1994 Lakes Folly - funky chook shit, earth, bit of bandaid funk, elegant, leather, sweet soft blackberry, aniseed and camphor box, tannin, lovely 90 (65)
W9 1994 Orlando St Hugo - browning, bay leaf, and saltiness, beef, savoury spent hog familiar, but can't put my finger on it. 91 (78)
W10 2007 Voyager Estate - delicious, cigar box, sweet dark blackberry, capsicum tomato leaf, mushrooms funk, lovely tannin, tastes younger than it is, good 92 (69.5)
W11 2009 Katnook Estate - Cigar, a little green, tomato leaf, tobacco, nice nose, olive tapenade, balance, tannic monster, 90 (70.5)
W12 2007 Noon Reserve - Wowee big clunky thing on the nose. Menthol, minty, hospital, tobacco, leaf bay leaf, heavy out of balance alcohol and then smack you in the face with tannin 85 (40.5)
W13 2005 Wendouree Cab Malbec - soapy laundry detergent, horse poop, gentle tannin taking over in the mouth. No 87 (47)
W14 2004 Katnook Estate - soft, slight camel, cassis, tomato leaf, eucalypt, tannin still strong. Quintessential Cabernet. Solid 90 (50.5)
W15 2006 brands Laira patron - good, nice strong blackberry, tomato stems, acid pokey, nice tannin but clunky, still a bit strong outta whack 90 (64.5)
W16 2002 Jim BARRY Ben borne -plummy, dark vanilla oak, big thing, Choco, ,smooth tannin teriyaki, sugar light tannin, pretty good 91 (78.5)
W17 2001 voyager - flows across the tongue, nice fruit, great balance, eucalypt, great blackberry, nice tannin 92 (78.5)
W18 2005 Voyager Estate Tea leaf, cassis, lavender fresh, nice 91 (70)
W19 2009 Sandalford reserve - excellent, nice tannin structure, some meatiness, gum leaf, tobacco excellent 91 (73.5)

as far as SA vs WA goes the averages were
The SA wines scored a total of 580 over 9 wines average 64.4
WA 592 from 8 wines average 74

Even if you adjust for the 2 shite wines (wendouree and noon) SA average was 70.3

[mjs]

When you look at that selection of wine, its such a mixed bag, I honestly feel that it would be hard to draw any meaningful conclusions in the context of MR vs C

As for the comment about acid in Coonawarra wines, well I don't buy it. Maybe as a general comment you could say that Coonawarra wines have a level of natural acidity which wines from other regions don't. You need it for longevity. Have a look at some data in the attached spreadsheet, the TA data doesn't really support a conclusion one way or the other. Of course figures are one thing, one's perception of a wine's qualities are another.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/00u79e2zu3bgsve/Wine%20Data_160514.xlsx?dl=0

Nevertheless, Friday's tasting will be very interesting and I have an open mind!

[grapeobserver]

Good to go

[conformistpete]

Perfect weather for a bit of Cabernet.

[cuttlefish]

Have fun guys. I hope to catch you all again at one of these soon !