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

[Rossco]

1996 Dom, wow, in such a good place at present.
1996 Krug, I'm sorry, I just don't get this. Way too acidic to be enjoyed. But I must be missing the point as so many love it.

A few years ago i had the 95 dom & 95 krug back to back and reached the exact same conclusion. Glad its not just me!!

[Rossco]

Tonights menu to bring in the new year:


Veuve Fourny & Fils Cuvee R Extra Brut 1er Cru NV
NV III Asaociates squid ink sparkling shiraz
2001 Crawford River Riesling
2017 Vickery Eden Valley Riesling
2017 Jim Barry assyrtiko
2004 Fox Creek reserve shiraz
2002 Rockford BP
2005 dArenberg Coppermine Rd Cab Sav (magnum)
2007 le Tertre du lys d'or Sauternes (750ml)

[Sean]

deleted

[phillisc]

Daughters 21st, all 1996 vintage.
1996 Dom, wow, in such a good place at present.
1996 Krug, I'm sorry, I just don't get this. Way too acidic to be enjoyed. But I must be missing the point as so many love it.
1996 Rockford BP, amazing, the BEST bottle of Barossa shiraz I have tasted. Just gorgeous.
Also a 2014 Voyager chardonnay, great Margaret River juice.

Any chance you can adopt me.

It was just a family do luckily. Otherwise it would have been Grandin and 'The Big Bold Shiraz' that scored good points a year ago.
Mind you, the fam roll their eyes at my 'eccentricity', but I didn't see them refusing the wine.

Hacker...had a good laugh at the eye roll moment...when wifey/better half says why are we drinking that ...my stock response is 'who is better than you?' soon gets her focusing on what's in the glass and quality of good wine soon renders price as a distant memory
Cheers
Craig

[mychurch]

Albariño tonight, but not just any old Albariño...2015 Capas Vellas from Do Ferreira. Vines are 200+ years old and this gives a wine that is unlike any Albariño I have ever drunk. Needs another 5 years, but it's packed with line and elderflower, mouthwatering acidity, cream and minerality. Like a top dry Riesling, but also not...great stuff. There was an auction here 6 months ago where this went for peanuts and at the time I was proud onlf myself for not buying while the cellar was full....silly me.

[dave vino]

Really fun night.

My fav of the night was the Phelan Segur.

Krug MV
2004 Domaine Fontaine-Gagnard Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Vergers
2013 Woodlands Chloe
2015 Jean-Marc Roulot Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières
2006 Château Phélan Ségur
2013 Sylvain Cathiard Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Aux Thorey
2006 Clos Mogador Priorat Manyetes
2004 C.V.N.E. (Compañía Vinícola del Norte de España) Rioja Imperial Gran Reserva

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[JamieBahrain]

For Rens & Hunter -

Giaconda Chardonnay 2013 and 2014 was and aperitif and my host is a convert away from white burgundy to other great white wines of the world- of which Giaconda is one. Too young both. Showing class but needing oak integration.

Henschke Mt Ed 94- I wish I snapped the Wendouree cork versus the Mt Ed 94. Perfect cellaring versus best efforts at good cellaring. Hunter, yes, the wine was mellow and drinking beatifully. That said, I have many cases of 94 in my cellar and the wine is many notches above this expereince if from perfect cellaring. 94 Mt Ed took 15 years to hit its straps so should hold to 2030 easily. N/R

López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Gran Riserva 1994- Traditional Rioja in this class are 100 year wines. I've six in the cellar and this is the last of my other six I showcase to friends how good these wines are. The oak is melting away now, still resiny and sweet and I know it has had its critics in 94 but wow! The power of the fruit and how quickly the clunkiness of oak on release is integrating has me still confident this is a stunner! 95pts+

And the Wendouree, again, here we are, 20 years and the wine is singing. Will hold for 20. This bottle decanted one hour then repoured into the bottle so not fragile at all!



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[Con J]

Last night had a very enjoyable dinner with a couple friends.
All wines showed really well.

2000 Krug.
1998 De Vogue - Bonnes Mares.
1985 Leoville las Cases.
2001 Max Ferd Richter - Mulheimer Helenekloster Riesling Eiswein.

Cheers Con.

[felixp21]

big dinner last night.... Bistro Thierry in Hawkesburn, provides BYO on Sunday night, and is the best French Bistro in Melbourne (yes, much better than France Soir)

2004 Pol Roger Winston very nice, not a long keeper. 92

2010 Jean Claude Bachelet PM 1er Cru "Sous le Puits" awesome white Burgundy, drinking at it's peak. 93

2006 Pierre Amiot Clos de la Roche this guy is a hidden treasure, his CdlR always tremendous. 06 Burgundy is drinking beautifully now, and is a bit of an under-the-radar vintage. 95

[Ozzie W]

big dinner last night.... Bistro Thierry in Hawkesburn, provides BYO on Sunday night, and is the best French Bistro in Melbourne (yes, much better than France Soir)

2004 Pol Roger Winston very nice, not a long keeper. 92

2010 Jean Claude Bachelet PM 1er Cru "Sous le Puits" awesome white Burgundy, drinking at it's peak. 93

2006 Pierre Amiot Clos de la Roche this guy is a hidden treasure, his CdlR always tremendous. 06 Burgundy is drinking beautifully now, and is a bit of an under-the-radar vintage. 95

Nice drinking! Chez Olivier in Prahran is another top-notch French Bistro. They allow BYO on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday's.

[sjw_11]

Catching up on tasting notes from the last month or so....

• 2014 Houghton Cabernet Sauvignon Jack Mann - Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Frankland River (1/8/2018)
  This is phenomenal wine, lush but not at all unctuous, with glossy purple fruits, incredibly, elegant but structured tannins and endless layers of flavour. Opened up and unwound over more than four days. It is approachable now. I imagine it might yet close down for a bit and I would approach this again in 2025 and drink over the next 30 years. (96 pts.)
• 2008 G.D. Vajra Langhe Ruggeri - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Langhe DOC (1/8/2018)
  Opened and decanted. Reasonable amount of sediment, yet the colour remains incredibly dense and purple for the age. Looked at over the first night and again on the second, little change except for opening up a bit. The nose on this is quite primal, with hints of purple fruit and warm berries, with just a hint of purple florals underneath. Clearly reflects the influence of the Barbera, more than the Nebbiolo.
  
  In the mouth this is very youthful still, ripe and fleshy. There is a touch of tannins to the finish, but overall it is a juicy, fruit forward mouthful. You would tend to think it doesn't have the structure to age- except that it is already 9yrs old. So no prediction from me on cellaring but for the €13.90 I paid, this is a tremendous bargain. (88 pts.)
• 2012 Peter Lehmann Shiraz Black Queen - Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley (1/3/2018)
  No formal notes- Xmas period wines. Great intensity. Clearly benefits from the 2012 fruit. Amazing QPR at £118/6 pack or thereabouts. An Australian marvel, not everyone will like it, but I sure do!
• 2013 Marchesi de' Frescobaldi Chianti Rùfina Nipozzano Riserva Vecchie Viti - Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Rùfina (1/3/2018)
  Deep ruby red. Dense red cherry notes. Just a hint of damp sack, resolving to a more VA type character. Not a corked feature, perhaps a hint of brett? I am not overly sensitive so I rarely make that assertion. Opens with sweet fruit on entry. Good acid. A little simple? Might make lovely bones or fall apart. For EU17.90 I would pay to play and find out.
• 2008 Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Crau - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (12/13/2017)
  Two half bottles consumed from a local corner store. First bottle a bit ripe, cooked and porty- storage the likely culprit. Second bottle much more impressive. The nose opens with fresh raspberry, giving way to an earthy, barnyard character. With more air, it opens up, offering flashes of tar and dark fruit, before giving way to a hint of varnish, and becoming flabby quickly. Although in better condition than the first bottle, it remains a ripe, rich wine, at the end of its drinking range. I won't score or give a drinking range for other bottles, based on provenance and storage history.
• 1998 Guasti Clemente Barbera d'Asti Superiore Nizza Barcarato - Italy, Piedmont, Asti, Barbera d'Asti Superiore Nizza (12/10/2017)
  No formal notes but this was amazingly fresh still. Complex and interesting. A real surprise! (89 pts.)
• 2015 Domaine Theulot Juillot Mercurey 1er Cru Champs Martins - France, Burgundy, Côte Chalonnaise, Mercurey 1er Cru (11/29/2017)
  Very fresh, very primal. A "masculine, muscular" presentation, albeit not as much so as the ripest and darkest of the new world versions. The flavour spectrum is dominated by bright red fruits. A little perfume emerges as the bottle has been open a few days, but the palate dies away. Definitely youthful. Difficult to call but I think I would resist opening for at least 2 years and see how it is going at that point. (87 pts.)
• 2016 Coriole Nero d'Avola - Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale (11/29/2017)
  Simple nose. Tart red cherry. One dimensional. On opening a little closed, but even with air it doesn't open up a lot. The palate is simple, with sweet red fruits and a short finish. The nose suggests a food friendly wine with good acidity to freshen the palate, but in the mouth this finishes a bit fat and broad. I like Coriole and I am a fan of Mediterranean varieties in Oz but this isn't doing anything for me. (85 pts.)
• 2010 Peter Lehmann Sémillon Margaret - Australia, South Australia, Barossa (11/26/2017)
  Impeccably fresh, searing acid balance. Some hints of lemon peel and lanolin but extremely youthful. Give it ten more years under the screw cap and see what happens. (90 pts.)
• 2012 Domaine de l'Hortus Coteaux du Languedoc Pic St. Loup Grande Cuvée - France, Languedoc Roussillon, Languedoc, Coteaux du Languedoc Pic St. Loup (11/25/2017)
  This is 100% Syrah and according to the winery does 6 months in vats before 12 months in small to mid sized barrels, a mix of new and slightly older oak.
  
  This is very vibrant, even exuberant at first. Still a deep red colour. The nose shows quite ripe purple berries. Very fruit driven. A touch of yeasty warmth but the alcohol level as stated is only 13.5%. The palate is a bit warm and over ripe, veering towards slightly stewed fruits.
  
  Not objectionable, just seems a bit muddled right now. For me I would drink up but it may regain composure. (86 pts.)
• 2014 David Sterza Rosso Veronese IGT - Italy, Veneto, Veronese IGT (11/23/2017)
  A straight Corvina from this small amarone producer. Recommended by a local wine bar / store so a plug for Vinarius if you happen to be in east London.
  
  Limpid pale to mid red in the glass. The nose opens with bright red berry and fresh acidity. With air it turns a little savoury sweet and sour, and the berries turn darker. The palate shows good natural fruit ripeness but balanced against very clean acid and quite furry tannins.
  
  Overall a tad simple but good value for money. For my taste a great mid week wine to match with a pizza or a richer pasta like a nice ragu. (86 pts.)
• 2009 Giovanni Canonica Barolo Paiagallo - Italy, Piedmont, Langhe, Barolo (11/13/2017)
  Ripe, slightly porty now. Not much Nebbiolo typicity. Not unpleasant but not distinguished. As a caveat, this came from a corner store shelf and poor storage may explain the presentation. (84 pts.)
• 2009 Blason D'Issan - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (11/4/2017)
  Deep red, with very little browning or separation despite the 8 years of age and the fact I found this on the self of an east London corner store. The nose is immediately arresting- classically statuesque Cabernet aromas.
  
  Deep black currant liqeuer, cassis, graphite, cedar wood. With air, more loose and perfumed. Very impressive for a second wine. Rich but structured in the mouth. Solid but erudite tannin. Unchanged over two days, suggesting good longevity. (91 pts.)
• 2016 Vuurberg - South Africa, Coastal Region, Stellenbosch (10/21/2017)
  Complex blend of Chenin Blanc, Viognier, Semillon, Verdejo, Roussanne, and Grenache Blanc. Very ripe, rich nose. Shows hints of apricot, broad fruit salad and a dash of dried herbs. Good weight and length in the mouth. Intriguing ageing proposition.

[Sean]

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[felixp21]

2009 De Iuliis Shiraz Steven Vineyard
lovely, restrained HV shiraz. Nice length and focus, pretty much at peak (but will hold another 10 years) 91pts

2009 Alter Ego de Palmer
awesome second wine from Palmer in a superb vintage for the Margaux commune. Massive length, complex flavours of cassis, dark berries, anise, earth and plum. Easily recognised as a Margaux. Alter Ego has been stellar in good Margaux vintages, and this is no exception. 93pts

1996 Penfolds Grange Shiraz
massive wine, but full of coconut and dill, liquorice plums and earth. Wonderful length. Great if you like the style, this is in need of another decade in a cool cellar. 93pts

[JamieBahrain]

Mixed bag quaffing this week.

Tarrawarra Estae Reserve Pinot 2006 and 2012. The 2006 showed great New World pinot aromatics, creamy textured though the finish stalky/eucalyptus like astringency. 2012 needed more time.

Greenock Creek Cornerstone Grenache 2005 was like vodka and sunraysia prune juice. Rasp of grenache like flavor persistence though overall, a 75pt wine.

[michel]

Mixed bag quaffing this week.

Tarrawarra Estae Reserve Pinot 2006 and 2012. The 2006 showed great New World pinot aromatics, creamy textured though the finish stalky/eucalyptus like astringency. 2012 needed more time.

Greenock Creek Cornerstone Grenache 2005 was like vodka and sunraysia prune juice. Rasp of grenache like flavor persistence though overall, a 75pt wine.

Tarrawarra reserve wines are very genuine wines - the 2008 chardonnay is perfect now.
The pinots are a tad harder and savoury when young - the 2010 is not ready
Well worth tracking down

[phillisc]

2013 Riddoch Coonawarra Cabernet...no not Wynns John Riddoch but a brand essentially owned by cellar-masters/DMs/Woolworths.
Thin, lacking depth, almost cordial like in structure, virtually no after taste...a stray found in my mothers wine fridge...the bottle that is...in the words of Jamie HK...80pts.
Cheers
Craig

[JamieBahrain]

Tarrawarra reserve wines are very genuine wines - the 2008 chardonnay is perfect now.
The pinots are a tad harder and savoury when young - the 2010 is not ready
Well worth tracking down

My pinot palate is calibrated toward Burgundy so I admit I struggles a little with these wines. I have a few more bottles of Tarrawarra R. I will leave for a decade then.

I found the finish awkward on the 2006. An Aussie pinot thing?

[michel]

Tarrawarra reserve wines are very genuine wines - the 2008 chardonnay is perfect now.
The pinots are a tad harder and savoury when young - the 2010 is not ready
Well worth tracking down

My pinot palate is calibrated toward Burgundy so I admit I struggles a little with these wines. I have a few more bottles of Tarrawarra R. I will leave for a decade then.

I found the finish awkward on the 2006. An Aussie pinot thing?

More a Tarrawarra thing
Their better wine is Chardonnay Reserve
The pinot is less consistent & by Australian standards less juicy
Australian pinot is a weak point full stop.

[Matt@5453]

2016 Unico Zelo "Pipe Dream" Nero d'Avola, Adelaide Hills

Wonderful aromas in the glass. This wine has a real juiciness and fullness about it. For a Nero its quite rich in texture and has very good palate weight, very different to what I have had in the past (lighter, thinner wines). Dark fruits, plums and touch of aniseed. Good grippy type tannin structure. Drinking well now.

2014 Penfolds Bin 389

Medium to full bodied with dark fruits, cherries, a touch of cassis, dark chocolate and a fair kick of vanilla. 'Furry' type tannin structure in the mouth, with a reasonable finish. I felt it was a bit disjointed at this stage with the oak dominating a bit too much for my preferences.

2016 Clonakilla Ceoltoiri

Decanted for half an hour, wow, the nose was extremely fragrant with plenty of spice. The palate was pure joy. On the lighter side of medium bodied, but it packed a flavour punch. Raspberries, earthiness, spices with excellent length. The tannins were perfectly balanced. An excellent blend. Sadly my one and only bottle.

2017 S.C. Pannell "Amuse"

A curio a colleague served blind to a group of us. Fair to say no one picked it, its an unusual blend of Sauvignon Blanc, Gruner Veltliner & Chardonnay. You can pick a bit of the tropical notes from the Sauvignon Blanc, but overall the palate it fairly average. Its quite a viscous and heavy white wine. Half a glass was more than enough.

[Sean]

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[JamieBahrain]

La Jota Vineyard Howell Mountain vertical from 1982 last night. Great to see the influences of Turley in the early 90's with her wines being WOTN.

Fantastic way to be guided through the Napa by wine group members with passion and expertise.

[Chuck]

Peter Lehmann 2009 Barossa Mentor. Unusual blend of cabernet shiraz and malbec but it seems to work. Good blackcurrant and other black fruits. Oak a little clumsy but overall a nice wine. Developing nicely. Probably more suited to winter drinking. Drink now and for at least another 10 years.

Mike Press 2009 Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon. Has transformed since first tasted around 2011. Hard to believe it's the same wine it's so good. Astonishing value. Back up the truck.

Carl

[Rossco]

2016 Seppelt Drumborg Riesling
Quite thin, watery and weak at the moment. Some slight lemon pith, chalk and talc, but no length. Not sure how good the vintage was down in Henty 2016, but this lacked the power i am used to of cooler climate Rieslings. Acid was in the background, but i wonder how well this will cellar....hopefully some rest will see it blossom

[phillisc]

2012 Greenock Creek 7 acre...2 bottles of this... magnificent now and just starting a long long journey
1997 John's Blend Margarette Langhorne Creek ?? Shiraz... really interesting some nice fruit aromas and very well developed...faded reasonably quickly but a nice drink
Several bottles of Leasingham Bin 7 '16 Clare Riesling...yummingly smashable
Cheers
Craig

[felixp21]

1994 Reynella Basket Pressed Merlot. Beautiful wine, really quite Bordeaux like 91pts
2010 Chateau Larcis Ducasse Young but brilliant. 93pts
1994 Chateau Beuacastel from magnum, at a great spot right now 93pts
2005 Comte Armand Volnay 1er Cru Fremiets this is finally ready. Lots of dried cherries and extreme length. 92pts

[Con J]

Whites and Sparkling theme last Friday.


NV Veuve Clicquot – Extra Brute Extra Old. A blend of 6 vintages, 1988, 1996, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010. Not very complex but nice.

2002 Freycinet Vineyard Radenti. Nice easy drinking.

2009 Louis Roederer Brut Champagne. 70% Pinot, 30% Chardonnay. Excellent.

2010 Domaine Michelot – Meursault Les Perrieres. Very nice.

2016 Domaine Bois de Boursan – CNP Blanc. Some interest but not a style I like.

2006 Fevre - Les Clos. Corked.

2008 Bouchard – Corton Charlemagne. First bottle badly oxidised.
2008 Bouchard – Corton Charlemagne. Backup bottle young and fresh.
Both bottles purchased at the same time on release??

NV Krug – Grand Cuvee. Excellent fresh and complex.

2009 Domaine Maurice Protheau – Chateau d'Estroyes Rully Les Fromanges. This was OK, a bit stinky.

2014 Guy Amiot – St Aubin En Remilly. Nice.

2010 Louis Moreau – Les Clos. Very nice and under screw cap.

2002 Dr Loosen – Bernkasteler Lay Riesling Eiswein. Rich and ripe, very nice.

2009 Egon Muller – Scharzhofberger Riesling Spatlese. Lots of acid and minerals, lacked fruit and sweetness, most struggled with this.

Morris – 120th Anniversary Tawny Port. Lots of VA and Rancio, too much for some, I thought it was OK.

Cheers Con.

[brodie]

2009 Hudelot Noellat Vosne Romanee Les Suchots: youthful but beautiful. Balanced elegant refined, pure red fruits, lovely spice note, long finish, drinking wonderfully right now but lots in the tank for the future.

I really love HN wines. always deliver and excellent value (for burgundy that is).

Brodie

[michel]

2009 Hudelot Noellat Vosne Romanee Les Suchots: youthful but beautiful. Balanced elegant refined, pure red fruits, lovely spice note, long finish, drinking wonderfully right now but lots in the tank for the future.

I really love HN wines. always deliver and excellent value (for burgundy that is).

Brodie

Was it scary over ripe at all?

[Sean]

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[brodie]

2009 Hudelot Noellat Vosne Romanee Les Suchots: youthful but beautiful. Balanced elegant refined, pure red fruits, lovely spice note, long finish, drinking wonderfully right now but lots in the tank for the future.

I really love HN wines. always deliver and excellent value (for burgundy that is).

Brodie

Was it scary over ripe at all?

Not at all. It was very balanced. Nothing at all like some 2003s I have had.