Christmas Day Drinking?

[Scotty vino]

on the radar;
Primo Joseph Spark.
Grosset pH 17 rizz.
Wendouree MOFA 09
Rockford of some kind (im on the rockies bandwagon for xmas ) like 08 RR or 09 BP.

[JamieBahrain]

on the radar;
Primo Joseph Spark.
Grosset pH 17 rizz.
Wendouree MOFA 09
Rockford of some kind (im on the rockies bandwagon for xmas ) like 08 RR or 09 BP.

A lot of Rockford's Black will be consumed over Xmas my way. I mean't to get a bottle of Joseph which I prefer to "young" Rockfords Black- older 10 + perhaps a different story. I hesitated at the $90 price tag.

Wendouree MOFA?

[Redav]

I'm a little stumped as to what to open for lunch. I had assumed that we'd have a hot lunch but apparently it's going to be cold meats and maybe some prawns (something that's not traditional for our Christmas lunch) so I could do with some suggestions. Or maybe hot vs cold doesn't affect for the wine choice, probably not really?

Options that we already have are an Austrian Riesling from the Wachau which might be fitting considering I grew up in a street named after the Danube There's a Rockford Vine Vale Riesling, or a young Basket Press (I still wanted to try the same vintage young and ten years later even after my 2011 stuff up haha) or a young Rifle Range. There's a Wolf Blass Grey Label I thought we'd try. Or maybe I crack an '08 Henschke Keyneton Euphonium early ( was aiming for 2018 so close enough is good enough?)

For desserts we have options of Rockford Tawny or Cane Cut Riesling or DeBortoli Nobel One as some decent options but I also picked up some cheap Buller Victoria Malmsey.

[Scotty vino]

on the radar;
Primo Joseph Spark.
Grosset pH 17 rizz.
Wendouree MOFA 09
Rockford of some kind (im on the rockies bandwagon for xmas ) like 08 RR or 09 BP.

A lot of Rockford's Black will be consumed over Xmas my way. I mean't to get a bottle of Joseph which I prefer to "young" Rockfords Black- older 10 + perhaps a different story. I hesitated at the $90 price tag.

Wendouree MOFA?

Muscat of Alex Jesaulenko you beauty!

[Mahmoud Ali]

Sparkling Shiraz very popular and so it should be! I'll be opening a 2002 Peter Rumball Sparkling and a 2008 Castagna Genesis Sparkling.

Met Peter Rumball once in Adelaide but unfortunately don't have a bottle. Thought his sparkling shiraz was non-vintage but clearly I was wrong. I will be opening an 2002 Seppelt's Sparkling Shiraz on Christmas day.

Mahmoud.

He makes both a NV and vintage Sparkling Shiraz. The 2002 was only released in 2013 after spending 10 years on lees.

Sounds like it would be in a dry, earthier, style, something I would like very much. Do you know where in Sydney the vintage Rumball might be available?

[phillisc]

on the radar;
Primo Joseph Spark.
Grosset pH 17 rizz.
Wendouree MOFA 09
Rockford of some kind (im on the rockies bandwagon for xmas ) like 08 RR or 09 BP.

A lot of Rockford's Black will be consumed over Xmas my way. I mean't to get a bottle of Joseph which I prefer to "young" Rockfords Black- older 10 + perhaps a different story. I hesitated at the $90 price tag.

Wendouree MOFA?

Muscat of Alex Jesaulenko you beauty!

Love it!!
Lets hope the long suffering Bluebagger supporters have something to cheers about in '18. Dogs and Tiges have finally shown something after nearly a collective century of nothing...so here's hoping turn-ups continue.
Cheers
Craig

[Ozzie W]

Met Peter Rumball once in Adelaide but unfortunately don't have a bottle. Thought his sparkling shiraz was non-vintage but clearly I was wrong. I will be opening an 2002 Seppelt's Sparkling Shiraz on Christmas day.

Mahmoud.

He makes both a NV and vintage Sparkling Shiraz. The 2002 was only released in 2013 after spending 10 years on lees.

Sounds like it would be in a dry, earthier, style, something I would like very much. Do you know where in Sydney the vintage Rumball might be available?

It is indeed made in a more savoury style, which is why I like it. I'm not a fan of the sweeter style sparkling shiraz.

I bought a few bottles in early 2016 from an online retailer who has a lot of direct relationships with various wineries, but they've since long run out of stock. I'd contact Rumball directly at info@rumball.com.au and see what he can suggest.

[Chuck]

The Rumball NV was amongst the first sparkling reds I tried. That and the vintage Great Western. Both stunners. Both were the learner style that I prefer. Otherwise it has to be very chilled to tone down the sweetness.

Carl

[Mike Hawkins]

Taittinger Comtes 2004 for breakfast
Rockford Black Sparkling for lunch
Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardy 2012 for dinner
and some food I'm told......

I recommend you give the Comtes some air Luke, and don’t drink it too cold. It’s infinitely better under that criteria

[TravisW]

In the Brisbane aircon, a bottle of 1998 Bin 389 (My last), some 2007 Kreglinger Sparkling, 2011 Cornerstone grenache and possibly something French and likely a splash of Tahbilk Marsanne.

We just happened to open our first bottle from a case and a half of '98 389 the other night. It was drinking nicely!

[catchnrelease]

Thoroughly enjoying my last bottle of ‘09 Leflaive et Associes Rully 1er, has developed nice butterscotch/caramel notes to compliment the fruit and plentiful acid. Lovely example of aged white Burgundy.

Also drinking a ‘14 Rockcliffe Chardonnay, very nice in its own right but nothing on the Leflaive.

[Bobthebuilder]

I finally decided, the whites just in time for the fridge the night before in amongst wrapping presents, the reds in the last 10 minutes before running out the door!

NV Moet & Chandon
NV bille-cart salmon
2003 LEAS Chardonnay
2009 Farrside by farr pinot
2009 Collemattoni brunello di montalcino
2002 Grant Burge Meshach
1998 Moet & Chandon Millesime Blanc

finished off with a 2010 DOMAINE FONTAINE-GAGNARD CLOS ST JEAN 1ER CRU, CHASSAGNE-MONTRACHET with my neighbours when I got home. Just had that burg bug, for some funny reason, so whacked it in the freezer for an hour as soon as I got in the door.

[Luke W]

Taittinger Comtes 2004 for breakfast
Rockford Black Sparkling for lunch
Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardy 2012 for dinner
and some food I'm told......

I recommend you give the Comtes some air Luke, and don’t drink it too cold. It’s infinitely better under that criteria

Ta Mike

Realised that after an offline where it just came alive about an hour after it was poured and had reached about 10 degrees.

Cheers

Luke

[Hacker]

More or less followed my plan although tried the Sorrenberg Chardonnay a few days earlier than planned. So good I ordered another six pack.
Christmas Eve saw a 2005 Galah sparkling red, followed by a 2012 Flametree Chardonnay, followed by a 1996 Bin 389. All lovely wines.
Chrissie day was a couple of bottles of Bouchard Ursules champagne followed by some 2012 Pierro Chardonnay. The Pierro was out of this world good. Then tackled putting together a flat pack bbq I was given by Santa. Amazingly achieved

[felixp21]

a veritable wine and food feast that started at noon and finished at 3am Lunch-Dinner for 30

2002 Pol Roger Winston Churchill lovely, first bottle corked 92
1998 Moet Chandon nice 90
2002 Selosse outstanding 94
2004 Guy Charlemagne briliant 95
2004 Tattinger Comtes lovely 93
2002 Krug beautiful, too young 92

2008 Coche-Dury Corton Charlemagne lovely 93
2010 Jean Claude Bachelet Puligny Sous les Puits beautiful 92 (3 BOTTLES, the one I tried 92)
2008 Leflaive Pucelles premoxed NR both bottles premoxed!!!
2005 Pape Clement Blanc monumental 96 (tried all three bottles, all the same)
2005 Haut Brion Blanc lovely, disappointing for what it was 93

2012 Thibault Liger Belair Chambolle Greunchers outstanding 94 (3 bottles)
2005 Pierre Damoy Chapelle Chambertin lovely 92 (3 bottles)
2001 Aldo Conterno Barolo Cicala outstanding!! 94 (3 bottles)
2006 Noon's Reserve Shiraz meh, sickly sweet, punters liked it!! 88

various beers X 1,000,000
so happy to find a Barolo I absolutely love!! haha, found 7 of these in the cellar, I never knew I had, and will enjoy the remaining four bottles over the next couple of years

Happy Christmas to all!!!

[bdellabosca]

1994 LEAS Chardonnay - great flavour / balance. Probably deserved a more respectful setting that early in a hot afternoon in Perth but lovely to share with family, and liked by all (including those that normally don't like chardonnay!).
NV Segura Viudas Cava Brut Reserva. Great sparkling for the price. Have some of the big brother version in my cellar (the Heredad 'full metal jacket' label) which I look forward to drinking given how good this one was.
2012 Seppelt Shiraz Original Sparkling. Fantastic drinking, good fruit intensity, some savoury interest, not too sweet - brilliant QPR. Also, from tasting the leftovers the next morning (less than a glass dregs in the bottles, left open over night in the heat) this was outstanding. I think this vintage could be cellared for a decade or more happily. I really should buy more of these.
2007 By Farr Shiraz. Was towards the end of the meal and seemed a bit subdued. May be it didn't go with the cranberry sauce or might have had a bit of a dodgy storage history as it was bought at auction. Not sure if this had any viognier in it (I think some later vintages do) but it may just be I don't like aged Shiraz Viognier (yet to have one I've enjoyed)...
Beachwood Tawny Port, old private bottling label had no other details. My estimate is that it was bottled over 40 years ago based on the bottle source. Overpowered a little by the alcohol and definitely past its optimal drinking window but a lovely experience nonetheless.

[Matt@5453]

a few notes on wines consumed on and around Christmas.

2005 Guy Charbaut Champagne Brut Millésimé Premier Cru Champagne Blend
Ex Magnum. Slight golden colour with good bead. Nuances of bread, toast, wood and preserved lemon. Soft acidity with a good lingering finish. Enjoyable.

2013 Hart of the Barossa Shiraz The Faithful Old Vine, Barossa Valley
A dark, rich, brooding wine. Plum fruit, fruit cake spices, vanilla and dark chocolate. A 'savoury edge' to the wine, good acid/tannin structure and very good length. Consumed over 2 days, it looked very good over both. Very good wine.

2015 Henschke Henry's Seven Eden Valley Red Rhone Blend
Lovely perfumed nose with the Viognier quite noticeable. The palate was a little 'flat', perhaps lacking a depth of flavour I was expecting. A good blend displaying savoury dark fruits and spice. The viognier was poking out a bit too much for my liking. The wine seemed a bit unbalanced in terms of the varietal mix. A good tannin structure and good finish. It may come together over time.

2014 Yalumba Shiraz - Viognier Hand Picked, Eden Valley
Excellent nose with spices and fruit cake. The palate is nice and rich; plum fruit, baking spices with a touch of florals. Very good palate weight and finish. An enjoyable and well balanced wine.

Due to the heat a number of Rieslings:

2017 Gaelic Cemetery Vineyard Premium Riesling, Clare Valley - stunning, great length.
2017 Knappstein Riesling, Clare Valley - soft acidity, easy drinking. great with food.
2017 Grosset Springvale Riesling, Clare Valley - drinking nicely, complex, length.
2016 Pertaringa Riesling Regional Series, Clare Valley, 'fuller' bodied, excellent fruit, very good drinking.
2016 Alkoomi Melaleuca Riesling, Great Southern - Lots of acidity, but little fruit flavour, fairly average.
2016 Kilikanoon Riesling Mort's Block Watervale, Clare Valley - first time I've tried the new vintage, lemon, talc, very good acidity. Excellent.

[Mahmoud Ali]

Christmas day lunch with the in-law family, thirty plus people, mostly adults, and only one other couple really into wine. Lunch was the usual cold dishes, ham bone, cold cuts, bowls of prawns, salads, etc., and one warm dish of chicken drumettes to go with the potato bake.

For starters I took the N/V Seguras Viudas in the fancy metal-based bottle. It was very nice, good mousse, dry and refreshing, perfect start to the afternoon while mingling amongst three generations. The other couple started with a 2005 Penna Lane Riesling from the Clare Valley and it was very good, still young and fresh but with lime blossom and talc notes. Good intensity and depth, with moderate acidity. Next up was my 2001 Mount Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon (the cellar release version) that looked dangerously dark, a golden yellow. However the wine was fine, gloriously mature, a waxy, lanolin texture with honeyed, melon notes. I would have to say this is at it's peak. This is where, before I could start on my second plate, I ended up in the pool with some of the children.

When I got back to adults they were onto the last of a 2005 pinot noir (cannot recall the name), that was well along, with hints of barnyard and ripe fruit.and a 2005 Grant Burge 'Ethel Nancy' Shiraz, something I had never seen or heard of before. It was an elegant wine, drinking very nicely with brambly fruit and softened tannins. By contrast my 2008 Hungerford Hill Pinot Noir, Tumbarumba, was clumsy and a bit sweet. It probably needed more time. The 2002 Baileys of Glenrowan Shiraz was a bit of a disappointment, with a slightly stewed element. By now, the palate was fatigued, and a collective decision was made not to open my 2002 Seppelts Original Shiraz.

The perfect tonic after an afternoon and evening of food and drink was a Lagavulin 16 Year Old. Perfect.

Cheers ........... Mahmoud.

[sjw_11]

Across Xmas day and the surrounding days, was up in York with some good friends of mine... Just a few not scientific observations in case.

Kooyong Haven 2009- cracking Pinot, wonderful depth of fruit. Drink now to next couple of years, holding well. Validates my former strong opinion of the maker, even though I remain very much not a pinot fanatic.

Domaine Alain Michel Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru 2008 "Les Cherrieres". Half bottle. OK, pleasant drinking.

Joseph Drouhin Mersault 2016. The best Morrisons had to re top up wine once we ran out. Austere. Not particularly exciting. Better on day 2. 30 quid? Not great QPR.

Coombe Farm Chardonnay 2010- my friends had bought this in the Yarra on their honey man (as with the Yarra Pinot). Modern style- restrained fruit, good acid. Holding nicely but I would drink up.

Chateau Croix de Grezard Saint Emillion 2010. Pleasant, unobjectionable Claret. Modest value.

Joh Jos Prum 2009 Spatlese. Exceptionally youthful colour. This was early in the week and I still had a bit of a cold but I couldn't quite get this to come together for me despite solid reviews. Crunchy sweet apple but an odd off-putting note as well.

Denis Berthaut Fixin "Les Arvelets" 2011... picked as a counter point to the Aussie pinot this was entirely dense and unapproachable at first, a real counterpoint to the Chemin below. Over two days this opened up nicely.

Punt Road Chemin Pinot Noir 2010 Yarra Valley... Light coloured, fully developed. Appealing on day 1 but I don't see any further future for this. It is all red lollies and musk.

Laurent Perrier Vintage 2007... Fine. Not memorable, but my friend claimed to like it despite not really liking bubbles.

De Bortoli Noble 1 2014... Luscious. Love this stuff and really reminds me of home, as did...

Peter Lehman Black Queen Sparkling Shiraz 2012... cracking juice. Rich, ripe, entirely OTT but not out of balance just hedonistic pleasure. Love it.

Skilogalee Cabernets 2005... Gentle red fruits. Holds well but falls apart over a day or two. Time to drink up.

Highland Park 12 YO Viking Tribute... avoid like the plague unless you like a whiskey which smells exclusively of honey.

Taylors 1985 Vintage Port... Ill be honest I was definitely not taking sensible thoughts when this was being served. I have had it before (birth year vintage) and it is fine, drinkable, pleasant but reminds me more of a sweeter tawny port than a really characterful VP.

[quietdesperation]

we just had one bottle of wine but it was a good one:

IMG_2012.JPG

[Mahmoud Ali]

A good one indeed!

[phillisc]

A few over the last few days
96 Mount Ida Shiraz, just fantastic, great bottle, lovely plush fruits
98 Wynns BL Cab...another very good bottle, no signs of fading, 10 years easily
90 Wynns Ovens Valley Shiraz, found a few loose bottles and a sealed dozen is somewhere in the mess...had ullaged a little and for a price of $3:60 on release, assumed the worst. Could not be more wrong, still bright in the glass, lovely tertiary flavours, reminded me a little of a mid 80s Kalimna...texture like water, tannins so fine...absolute magic and so smashable to drink.
97 YY Underhill Shiraz, the richness and depth of this was amazing, no one picked it as a Victorian Shiraz. Beautiful warmth on the palate, will keep the 4 or 5 bottles left for a good while longer.
2010 Wolf Blass Gold Label Coonawarra Cab...in a great spot, really great drinking for $15!!
2011 Penfolds Bin 8...meh, pretty thin and not a great wine TBH

cheers
Craig

[Mahmoud Ali]

Thanks for the notes Craig, nice to get an idea of how the '98 BL and '90 Oven's Valley are progressing. The BL was bought in Canada and the OV from a bottle shop in the Barossa for about ten times what you paid.

Cheers .............. Mahmoud.

[Dragzworthy]

I opened a 1988 Calon Segur. Once the capsule was off I could see the cork was crumbly and brittle but seemingly intact. I may not be the best with the Ah So but somehow I managed to push the remaining cork into the bottle (maybe half) and ended up straining the wine through a sieve. As the cork made way I heard a slight hiss (?) Quick taste suggested it had gone bad (slightly bitter, devoid of fruit, strange after taste - I don’t have much experience in describing this sorry) and it didn’t get any better half an hour later so down the drain if went.

Different story with a 2004 Elderton Command which was a luscious black fruit beast full of leather, chocolate, earth and a touch of herbal note.

Finished off the session with a Chateau Yquem 1997 (375mln as I’m reducing sugar!) which, although delicious (saffron, apricots but enough acid to balance), didn’t really suggest value relative to it’s cheaper competitors in say Rieussec, Climens, Coutet and Suduiraut. But maybe I still have the poor discerning palate...?