2017 Christmas season drinking highlights

[Wizz]

I thought it was worth posting the highlights out of the many, many bottles consumed over the Christmas break:

Hoddles Creek 1er Chardonnay 2015: Holy Moley, Australian Chardonnay has come a long way. Pulignyesque. Not the intenisty of 1er or gc but close. Wheaty savouriness, spice, lemony acids over white peach and nectarine flavours some deftly used, lightly vanilal custard oak here to enhance and detail the package. Pulled taut and ready to relax with age. Length to burn

Tobin Wines Max Shiraz Block 2 2016: Granite Belt, Queensland. Yes – the Granite belt. Black berries, olive tapenade, a slick of coconut oil. Young and primary, and the tannins structure is pippy and seems to come from fruit not oak. A style I usually dislike but this is a really good wine.

Tobin Wines Jacob Tempranillo 2016: Granite Belt, Queensland. Oh my. A melange of plum, cherry and brown spices, already showing well without looking like a Christmas pudding. Young and dense finishes medium weight and also very fruit tannin like. Perfect foil for food, and will take some age too.

Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico 2009: A reminder of what good Chianti is all about. Cherry skins, tobacco leaf, some black berries. Medium weight and a perfect foil for pasta in a tomato sauce.

Andreas Schmitges Erdener Treppchen Beerenauslese 2006: Decadence and luxury from a botrytis rich vintage. Apricots ginger, orange marmalade, all gripped by a searing acid spine. Lovely.

Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Auslese Goldkapsel 1998: One of my last bottles out of the Paul DeBurgh Day cellar. Wow 17 years old and still fresh, delivering honeyed apricots over lime and the white flower notes that come from this vineyard. Just showing some “powderiness”, which is a drink now sign to me in sweet whites.

Roumier Chambolle Musigny les Cras, 2008 and 2013: Lovely to see these side by side. Both very chambolle in their coiled up power delivered with elegance, and I was struck by the spice and white pepper dusting particularly in the 2013. Reminds me why if you ever see Roumier and you have $, just buy them.

cheers
Andrew

[Wayno]

Your Granite Belt quip resonates for me - one of my wines of the Xmas break was a Petit Mort Shiraz Viognier which was really delicious- again from Granite Belt area.

[Craig(NZ)]

For me my highlights were

1999 Ch Angelus - Way way better than expected given the vintage, extremely sophisticated and classy. Everything I love about bordeaux. Drinking so well but no rush
2001 Ch Sudairaut - Probably immortal, though I will never know. This was my last. Insane length, fantastic balance and incredible richness without being cloying
2015 Trinity Hill Homage Syrah - Fantastic aromatics, perfect ripeness and freshness. Absolute benchmark NZ Syrah. World class
2010 Puriri Hills Pope - In a magical spot at the moment, hedonistic yet sophisticated. A smile maker
2013 Puriri Hills Harmonie Du Soir - (HDS is the new name for the Reserve post the 2010 vintage) Not quite officially released yet but about to be offered to their VIP Club. A future star from PH's best ever vintage. Fantastic precision, real quiet underlying depth and substance. Subtle richness and complexity
2014 Sacred Hill Riflemans Chardonnay - Love this. Light footed and agile. Lovely focus and precision. My favourite vintage from the famed 2013-2015 trio

[michel]

For me my highlights were

1999 Ch Angelus - Way way better than expected given the vintage, extremely sophisticated and classy. Everything I love about bordeaux. Drinking so well but no rush
2001 Ch Sudairaut - Probably immortal, though I will never know. This was my last. Insane length, fantastic balance and incredible richness without being cloying
2015 Trinity Hill Homage Syrah - Fantastic aromatics, perfect ripeness and freshness. Absolute benchmark NZ Syrah. World class
2010 Puriri Hills Pope - In a magical spot at the moment, hedonistic yet sophisticated. A smile maker
2013 Puriri Hills Harmonie Du Soir - (HDS is the new name for the Reserve post the 2010 vintage) Not quite officially released yet but about to be offered to their VIP Club. A future star from PH's best ever vintage. Fantastic precision, real quiet underlying depth and substance. Subtle richness and complexity
2014 Sacred Hill Riflemans Chardonnay - Love this. Light footed and agile. Lovely focus and precision. My favourite vintage from the famed 2013-2015 trio

Craig
I am new to PH but learnt of them via your reviews
But ordered the 2013 HDS last year from Cellar door
An awesome wine
I appreciate your recommendation

[JamieBahrain]

Too many to remember but I have to say, a magnum of 91 St Hugo and double magnum of TF shiraz 2000 were very nice. I recall these because I'm so frustrated with the Aussie wine industry that saw magnums as a vehicle to profit instead of an opportunity to present their wines so well in time.

Thx to Ian for sharing a Melton Richlieu Grenache 2006- a cuddly old Barossan style.

[sjw_11]

Thx to Ian for sharing a Melton Richlieu Grenache 2006- a cuddly old Barossan style.

Hey Jamie, I have one of these in the cellar (but only one) ... any view on drinking window?
A wine I have always enjoyed whenever I visit the cellar door but somehow based on the +$60 price and subsequent QPR I can only ever justify buying the odd bottle.

[Bobthebuilder]

2003 LEAS was just perfect with entrees at Xmas lunch
2003 mt Mary quintet a couple of days prior was equally as impressive

[WAwineguy]

The wife's Christmas cake. Brandy. Hic!