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

[shauno]

Koltz Pagan 2012 vs Rockford BP 2011 at a blind tasting Italian lunch yesterday - the Koltz won 4-1.

Fontanabianca Bordini 2013 tonight at Bacco Osteria - nice drop, but not winning any QPR awards...

[Matt@5453]

2001 Taylors Wines St Andrews Cabernet Sauvignon

From excellent provenance. Cork was immaculate. Decanted 30mins prior to serving. Reddy/brown in colour. Mocha, Cassis and cedar on the nose. The palate was again cassis, earth, milk chocolate, a touch of mint, leather and nuance of dried rosemary. The oak and tannin structure is almost fully resolved. The palate is still quite ‘plump’ with a very long finish. A real treat to try and it does not look like fading, it should easily make its 20th Birthday.

[Matt@5453]

Finished off a bottle of Killikanoon's Killerman's Run Grenache Shiraz Mataro 2013 over Wed - Thurs nights this week.

After being open for about an hour the flavour profile didn't waver much for the next 48 hours. This was a great wine, already has a slight jammy character to it (which I don't mind at all), very solid body, dark berry predominantly with a touch of tobacco which I'm expecting will be more dominant over time.

Drank this with a pizza with plenty of spicy salami and italian sausage, went really well!

I have another 4 or 5 bottles I think so I might look in on one of these again in about 3 years and see how they're going. Kilikanoon included a bottle of their Baudinet Blend GSM with the Killerman's Run lot..looking forward to cracking that at an appropriate time too

Totally agree - tried this at the cellar door. A very smart wine.

[JamieBahrain]

Tough day at work and a real joy to have a bottle of Bindi Quartz 2008 Chardonnay as it's too hot for red and I want a white with cerebral interest which this has. Framed with its quartz minerality, its lean and elegant, restrained yet powerful, the fruit development is still primarily citrus dominated and I feel its a few years away from where I think its best drinking will be. Impressive!

[limkeith]

Noon reserve Shiraz 2010

[Phil H]

2011 Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz From a lesser vintage, not certain how this ended up in the cellar - possibly part of a promotion buy 6 & get a RWT free.... anyhow on opening quiet simple, but enjoyable (was not expecting much) - medium bodied, certainly not a typical Barossa fruit bomb. Consumed over two nights, getting better on the second night - showing a bit more complexity. Dark fruits with a touch of liquorice, oak in the background with fine tannins , will try again in a years time. Enjoyable...
Followed by ...
2010 De luliis Shiraz I hate trying to spell the name but love the wine. Priced around $10 less than the Bin 28 - but much more enjoyable. Lighter bodied, almost like switching to a Pinot. I don't see many reviews on Hunter Shiraz on the forum, which often we forget about. Spicey with a touch of earthiness (typical hunter). Getting better as the bottle evaporates. Very good
2002 Saltram Mamre Brook Cab Sav Big wine, plenty of oak, cedar and dark fruits. For a $20 wine, it has developed well, drink up now won't get any better

[Matt@5453]

2013 Jones Winery L.J Shiraz, Rutherglen

Fragrant and interesting nose. 95% Shiraz, 5% Grenache. Medium to full bodied with plum type fruit, blueberries, spice and earthiness. Excellent tannin structure, balance and length. Loved it.

[Ian S]

2002 Saltram Mamre Brook Cab Sav Big wine, plenty of oak, cedar and dark fruits. For a $20 wine, it has developed well, drink up now won't get any better

I remember this getting some very positive reviews on release. A shame that the oak is still so noticeable, but otherwise seems to vindicate those positive reviews?

[JamieBahrain]

A bottle of Tulloch Julia Semillon 2013 ended up watering the plants. Tepid wine and I tried to think it would muscle up in time. No idea what the problem is here. Auction purchase with provenance assurance. Hunter lovers any ideas?

I then served a Whistler Estate Shiraz 2009. Straight out of the wine fridge and served cooler as it seemed flabby. Extracted the best out of the wine this way, preserving its overall generous Barossa nature with some structural integrity.

[conformistpete]

2007 Vadio Barrida - Portugese table wine made from the Baga grape. Clear garnet with some bricking starting to come in at the edges.
Savoury nose with blackberry fruit. On the palate the tannins are fine but still very present. Enjoyable bottle that is in a good spot.

[Ian S]

2007 Vadio Barrida - Portugese table wine made from the Baga grape. Clear garnet with some bricking starting to come in at the edges.
Savoury nose with blackberry fruit. On the palate the tannins are fine but still very present. Enjoyable bottle that is in a good spot.

Baga
Is that a typo (Barrida = Bairrada) or a play on words brand? Bairrada very much the region where Baga is at home.

[michel]

93 96 Wendouree shiraz menthol and rusticity
2010 bass philip reserve young pure v good
Bindi 04 quartz chard block 5 pinot from magnums
Mt mary 90. Bretty
Greenock creek roendfeldt rd 98 porty
Tyrells vat 1 2004 sc first year ? In screwcap- too young
Giaconda chard 2015 mealy sweet new worldy
Leeuwin Estate 1988 good but over its peak
2001 cullen diane pure beautiful high tone too young
1991 moss wood reserve savoury balanced looked most excellent drink now
1971 peter lehman personal cellar release bin 88 shiraz autumnal earthy flavours
2012 standish single vineyard shiraz
2008 grange v penfolds oaky
2008 HOG balanced and delicate

Seppeltsfield port blend for a friend mainly 1940 (incredible)

[Hunter]

Sounds like a good session michael.

[michel]

Sounds like a good session michael.

it was an Australian theme
you could tell whom cellared the wine correctly .......
I am just saying - some people have great cellars with poor poor storage and seem oblivious to it
I have never seen such a poor fill on a Mt Mary AND it had brett which I have never seen before on Mt Mary .
I shake my head in despair

[Bytown Rick]

2001 cullen diane pure beautiful high tone too young

Michel,

I still have three of these in the cellar. When would you suggest drinking them?

[Ian S]

Hi Rick
Not Michel, but as another data point, here are 3 notes from me. I've enjoyed them much more than the 1998/9 vintages. The last note suggested there was still upside to further cellaring, though some might see it as 'early in the drinking window' if they like some tannic grip.

22/04/2017
An intense leafy blackcurrant and minty nose leads into a bright yet dark fruited palate with supportive acidity and deceptively grippy tannins. Certainly potential to improve, with room for the tannins to disperse further over maybe another decade, and the wine feels in good shape to hold it's form and offer further complexity over that period.

16/09/2015
Still dark and deep purple, barely a hint of age.
Slightly syrupy black fruits on the nose, but with a pleasing green streak. Fruit is fresher/brighter on the palate reminding me a little of Wynns black label (not damning with faint praise as that may seem). Decent complexity emerging and a noticeably long finish. Tannins hiding behind the fruit but there does seem to be a touch of grip from them in addition to the acidity which is moderately refreshing. Seems nicely poised, but should still have a few years improvement ahead of it.

20/12/2013
Still dark purple with no signs of age. Leafy/minty blackcurrant on the nose with violets coming through to add complexity and there is also a very faint low note (earthiness?).
Quite juicy, almost spiky acidity keeps this very fresh, but it might be a little assertive for some people. It's dominant enough that the wine feel somewhat one-dimensional on the palate. Some background tannins. Try another in 3-4 years time?

regards
Ian

[Con J]

Sounds like a good session michael.

it was an Australian theme
you could tell whom cellared the wine correctly .......
I am just saying - some people have great cellars with poor poor storage and seem oblivious to it
I have never seen such a poor fill on a Mt Mary AND it had brett which I have never seen before on Mt Mary .
I shake my head in despair

Had the 1990 Mount Mary about 18 months ago and it was clean and fantastic.
1994 was the vintage I've had a couple of times with brett issues.

Cheers Con.

[Rory]

A couple over the past few nights:

2012 Hoddles Creek 1er Chardonnay. In a fantastic place. Just a little reductive aroma over mealy/fruit notes. The palate is multi layered and long. Drunk over 2 nights, only got better with breathing, more fruit came to the for.
2014 Phaedrus Estate Single Vineyard Shiraz . Smooth, balanced medium bodied. Very well made, very gluggable.
2017 Phaedrus Estate Fiano. Is this the best Fiano I've had outside of Italy? Quite possibly so. Fruit from the Peninsula. Beautiful wine and dangerously drinkable. Great texture. flavour and length.

[michel]

2001 cullen diane pure beautiful high tone too young

Michel,

I still have three of these in the cellar. When would you suggest drinking them?

No rush if in screwcap & stored well
Try one now
And let it evolve in the glass with simple food
It is a feminine style wine
The others will keep

[michel]

Sounds like a good session michael.

it was an Australian theme
you could tell whom cellared the wine correctly .......
I am just saying - some people have great cellars with poor poor storage and seem oblivious to it
I have never seen such a poor fill on a Mt Mary AND it had brett which I have never seen before on Mt Mary .
I shake my head in despair

Had the 1990 Mount Mary about 18 months ago and it was clean and fantastic.
1994 was the vintage I've had a couple of times with brett issues.

Cheers Con.

Great to hear

[michel]

Hi Rick
Not Michel, but as another data point, here are 3 notes from me. I've enjoyed them much more than the 1998/9 vintages. The last note suggested there was still upside to further cellaring, though some might see it as 'early in the drinking window' if they like some tannic grip.

22/04/2017
An intense leafy blackcurrant and minty nose leads into a bright yet dark fruited palate with supportive acidity and deceptively grippy tannins. Certainly potential to improve, with room for the tannins to disperse further over maybe another decade, and the wine feels in good shape to hold it's form and offer further complexity over that period.

16/09/2015
Still dark and deep purple, barely a hint of age.
Slightly syrupy black fruits on the nose, but with a pleasing green streak. Fruit is fresher/brighter on the palate reminding me a little of Wynns black label (not damning with faint praise as that may seem). Decent complexity emerging and a noticeably long finish. Tannins hiding behind the fruit but there does seem to be a touch of grip from them in addition to the acidity which is moderately refreshing. Seems nicely poised, but should still have a few years improvement ahead of it.

20/12/2013
Still dark purple with no signs of age. Leafy/minty blackcurrant on the nose with violets coming through to add complexity and there is also a very faint low note (earthiness?).
Quite juicy, almost spiky acidity keeps this very fresh, but it might be a little assertive for some people. It's dominant enough that the wine feel somewhat one-dimensional on the palate. Some background tannins. Try another in 3-4 years time?

regards
Ian

Brilliant Ian
The wealthy dude whom opened it rarely comes to tastings but is famous for opening great cooked wines....

[Ian S]

p.s. my Cullen's were under cork. I would have preferred screwcap, but not available where I got them from.

[Bytown Rick]

Hi Rick
Not Michel, but as another data point, here are 3 notes from me. I've enjoyed them much more than the 1998/9 vintages. The last note suggested there was still upside to further cellaring, though some might see it as 'early in the drinking window' if they like some tannic grip.

22/04/2017
An intense leafy blackcurrant and minty nose leads into a bright yet dark fruited palate with supportive acidity and deceptively grippy tannins. Certainly potential to improve, with room for the tannins to disperse further over maybe another decade, and the wine feels in good shape to hold it's form and offer further complexity over that period.

16/09/2015
Still dark and deep purple, barely a hint of age.
Slightly syrupy black fruits on the nose, but with a pleasing green streak. Fruit is fresher/brighter on the palate reminding me a little of Wynns black label (not damning with faint praise as that may seem). Decent complexity emerging and a noticeably long finish. Tannins hiding behind the fruit but there does seem to be a touch of grip from them in addition to the acidity which is moderately refreshing. Seems nicely poised, but should still have a few years improvement ahead of it.

20/12/2013
Still dark purple with no signs of age. Leafy/minty blackcurrant on the nose with violets coming through to add complexity and there is also a very faint low note (earthiness?).
Quite juicy, almost spiky acidity keeps this very fresh, but it might be a little assertive for some people. It's dominant enough that the wine feel somewhat one-dimensional on the palate. Some background tannins. Try another in 3-4 years time?

regards
Ian

2001 cullen diane pure beautiful high tone too young

Michel,

I still have three of these in the cellar. When would you suggest drinking them?

No rush if in screwcap & stored well
Try one now
And let it evolve in the glass with simple food
It is a feminine style wine
The others will keep

Thanks Ian and Michel. Looks like it's time to open one.

[catchnrelease]

Some notes from memory from the past week or so:

2010 Ten Minutes by Tractor Estate Pinot Noir - Very good, holding together very nicely. Very very fine tannins and a bit of acid left, it might have a few years left but it's at its peak. Cherries, tangy, asian spices and a bit of darker fruits. Slightly primary and fruit forward but a nice older Aussie pinot.

2010 La Croix de Beaucaillou - Still quite primary although tannins and acid are nicely resolved, but I would wager this wine will go another 10 years. Excellent length and a nice example of medium-full bodied claret.

2014 Brash Higgins MRLO Merlot - Has 10% Nero d'Avola making up the mix and it gives the wine a nice lift. Bit short on the back palate and lacking length which was a shame, because it was a tasty wine! Don't feel like it's built for the long haul.

2015 Benevelli Piero Langhe Rosso Numero 3 - Surprisingly complex but definitely a drink now proposition. Bright red fruit, some tar and tobacco, stems and a nice mouthfeel. Would have liked a bit more length but pretty happy as an affordable Italian red.

[michel]

p.s. my Cullen's were under cork. I would have preferred screwcap, but not available where I got them from.

try one

when first opened it was very high toned racy vibrant right banky
some over the years have complained of funky wierdness in this year which I have never experienced.

[Phil H]

2014 Grant Burge Filsell ShirazAlong with most forumites my tastes have changed from typical Barossa Shiraz's to other varieties and regions. However I have always enjoyed previous vintages of Filsell and with the current discounted price point decided to re-visit. As expected big Barossa Shiraz, oak in the background - in a good way, great dark red berry fruits without being jammy at all. Fine dusty tannins - drinking well now but will cellar well for at least 5 to 10 years or even more. Worth a try and revisit Barossa.

[Bobthebuilder]

2013 Yarraloch Stephanie's Dream whole bunch Pinot Noir - beguiling nose of autumn leaves, cherry spice, dusty sandalwood, vanillan herbs and a long spicy stalky finish, cherries over leather. WOTY so far 94 Beautiful!!
1st of a 6 pack. Was going to get rid of a couple... not anymore!

Trying the 2012 Stephanies Dream tonight (for the second time in a couple of months) and its very good.
Powerful nose of roses and ripe stonefruit, and a touch of tar.
Sweet fruited, mainly strawberries and raspberries, but some earthiness and spice gives it some nice complexity on the palate, and its got a damn Good amount of length in the finish.
Medium bodied for an Aussie pinot.
Tannins are alive and kicking, not overpowering but very present and contribute nicely
thumbs up!

[Mike Hawkins]

1995 Heidseick Blanc Des Millenaires.... two bottles. Both incredibly young... colour and acidity of a 2004. Lots of nuttiness, vanilla, citrus and flowers. Great mouthfeel, fantastic length. Really good.

[shauno]

Pizzini Gundagai Barbera 2011 (last night) - lovely wine, has aged well, very impressive, savoury & earthy.

A few of these were purchased as part of a mixed case & not expected to be any good - who'd have thought Barbera from Gundagai would be decent???

[Mahmoud Ali]

Pizzini Gundagai Barbera 2011 (last night) - lovely wine, has aged well, very impressive, savoury & earthy.

A few of these were purchased as part of a mixed case & not expected to be any good - who'd have thought Barbera from Gundagai would be decent???

I wouldn't have thought there was anything from Gundagai never mind Barbera. But that was before I came across a shiraz from there. Can't recall the producer but I still have a bottle of their '04 vintage. On reflection I'd much rather have the Barbera keeping in mind that barbera in the Hunter Valley is very nice in the capable hands of Margan.

Mahmoud.