Invitation to taste aged wines - Southbank, Melbourne

[Softie]

Guys,

Help me out please to taste progressively a large collection of aged wines. I'm based in Southbank, Melbourne. Why not make suggestions here for get togethers at nearby places [we'd find a BYO] or at my apartment [bread and cheese occasions].

I've been travelling a lot in recent years. Now settled back in Melbourne, building a new home with a wine room and restocking my cellar. These are wines I have one bottle of for sampling over the next two months or so. (FYI, I've already tasted and purchased other wines before this set of samples - especially Pinots.)

So here's the list of samples I'd like help in tasting [without - on my own - throwing too much out or becoming alcoholic]:

2008 Claymore Joshua Tree Riesling
2008 Ferngrove Cossack Riesling
2008 Frogmore Creek Riesling
2002 Heggies Eden Valley Riesling
2002 Leasingham Bin 7 Riesling
2008 Mount Horrocks Riesling
2005 Mount Horrocks Riesling
2005 Petaluma Hanlin Hill Riesling
2003 Petaluma Hanlin Hill Riesling
2013 Seppelt Drumborg Riesling
2008 Seppelt Xavier's Labyrinth Henty Riesling

2015 A.Rodda Smiths Vineyard Beechworth Chardonnay
2015 Fighting Gully Road Chardonnay
2013 Helen's Hill Estate Breachley Block Single Vineyard Chardonnay
2014 Henty Estate Chardonnay
2009 McHenry Hohnen Calgardup Brook Chardonnay
2015 McWilliam's Appellation Tumbarumba Chardonnay
2010 Picardy Chardonnay
2011 Seppelt Drumborg Vineyard Chardonnay
2010 The Lake House Premium Reserve Single Vineyard Chardonnay

2012 Amelia Park Cabernet Merlot
2010 Dog Ridge 'The Pup' Cabernet Merlot
2001 Juniper Estate Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon
2006 Leconfield Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 Mills Reef Elspeth Hawkes Bay Cabernet Merlot
2000 Murdock Cabernet Sauvignon
2004 Orlando St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon
2004 Parker Estate Terra Rossa Cabernet Sauvignon
2007 Te Mata Awatea Cabernet Merlot
2005 Voyager Estate Cabernet Merlot

John (Softie)

[Michael McNally]

Hi John

This sounds fab. I have been considering doing the same thing here in Brisbane and just texting my friends who like wine "Hey, I am opening a 2013 Hoddles Creek Pinot and a 2011 Leeuwin Prelude Chardy if anyone wants to drop by for a glass or two to try". Still a bit hot at the moment.

I come to Melbourne for work at a Southbank location a fair bit. Happy to meet up and taste a wine (or two). For example, I have a bottle of that 2007 Awatea which I haven't opened as I only have one. However, I have 2 of the 2013s so could bring one of those for a taste and compare?

I often have work dinner appointments, but we can work something out.

Cheers

Michael

[Polymer]

I think the Melbourne crew has plenty of offlines....start a thread about an offline with an Aussie theme..Looks like you have a Riesling, Chardonnay and Cab blend theme already set .

[Softie]

Thanks you Michael and 'Poly'. I'm hoping this post attracts ad hoc opportunities to taste my current batch. I'm also taking the opportunity give away part bottles rather than be constantly inebriated for several months.

Michael, please do drop by anytime. I'm retired now and my time is very open. I'm suggesting selfishly that you not bring any wines - just maybe some cheese and whatnots as I have this abundance of vino to run the rule over.

[cuttlefish]

Well, it goes without saying that I’m in, days and times permitting. It’s been a while, mate, and I have some of your glasses here ! Any theme suits me just fine.

[mychurch]

I've just moved to Southbank and would love to come and taste...Had to leave my collection in Europe, so can only bring whatever is available locally, which actually is a lot better than i hoped for - like any collector I feel honor bound to bring something else along regardless of how many other bottles there are

[Softie]

Thanks Tom and MyChurch

Let's set a date the three of us can get together. And a focus [not a theme] will on my samples on hand - thus aged Cab Sav, Riesling and Chardonnays. Just informal - cheese, bread, nibbles and conversation.

You're right MyChurch, we enthusiasts love to contribute out of our respective treasures.

How about 7pm on either Wed 21 Feb or Sat 24 Feb? In my apartment in 1 Freshwater Place, Southbank.

Please suggest alternative dates/days of the week, if you can't make 21 or 24 Feb.

[cuttlefish]

Hey John !
Unfortunately neither of those nights suit me, due to work commitments. I have early starts during the week, and a late finish on the Saturday. Let’s see what pans out with responses here and if the days do happen to change, I might be able to make it.

[Softie]

Tom, what days and times suit you?

[mychurch]

Having just got here, my diary is basically free for the moment. That said, I'd prefer a sat to a wed as there is no problem for getting up the next day.

I don't know if it's possible, but back in Holland we tried to schedule our tasting for a Sunday afternoon. Yes there is work the next day, but an early start means an early finish and it never seemed to get in the way.

Looking forward to meeting up

Cameron

[Softie]

Tom,

A Sunday afternoon?

John

[mychurch]

John

If there are no more responses, then I'm happy to come around to share a bottle or 2 next Sat.

Cameron

[Softie]

OK Cameron. Next Sat afternoon it is, 24 March, 2:30-3pm ish? I'll PM you with my details - phone and address.

John

John

If there are no more responses, then I'm happy to come around to share a bottle or 2 next Sat.

Cameron

[Softie]

Oops I mean 24 Feb

[mychurch]

So I caught up with John on Sat and we tried 3 whites, as an accompaniment to oysters, bread and cheese.

2013 Brumborg Riesling, Sepplt
Lovely purity. Very pale - no sign of any aging. Talc and citrus fruit on the nose, without a hint of petrol. Structured with enough acidity to cope with the oysters. This has everything In place to age gracefully and my only warning would be that it might take a very long time to turn into something more interesting. 3*

2008 Frogmore Creek Riesling, Tasmania
Much darker. Complex nose of petrol, ginger and stone fruit. Mature colour and lots of fruit and complex flavours all backed up with great acidity. Drinking well, this opens up nicely over a few hours and adds a touch of creamy mid palate weight. Shows why we age our Rieslings. One of the best 3 wines since arriving in Melbourne. 3.5*

2004 Corinna Heritage Release Chardonnay, Drummonds
Oh man....this takes me back. Rich colour that speaks to the age. Touch of acetone on the nose, with coconut oil and some funk. Rich, like an old Meursault, with roasted nuts, caramel, orange rind and coconut. Enough acidity though to keep it going. Made at Bass Philip and came with a cork...oh the good old days. 3*

John likes wines on the mature side, and must say that I agree. Interestingly it was the old fashioned Chardonnay that was drunk up first, even though the Riesling was clearly the better wine. Sometimes it's just good to visit the past though.

[Softie]

Two day's after initial opening both Rieslings retained their characters as described by Cameron.

I agree that the Frogmore 2008 is elite white even among a peer group of 8-14 year old Rieslings I've been tasting in recent months.

Similarly, the Seppelt's piercing acidity after two days supports the hypothesis that tertiary development is a long haul process here. Equally though, its likely to retain its freshness as a delightfully vital and pure expression of lime and lemon juiciness, for a few years yet. No imminent mid-life hole in prospect for this wine

[Michael McNally]

I caught up with Softie yesterday afternoon. I am very pleased I did.

We had a very pleasant couple of hours chatting, mainly about wine, but also about life, the world and the universe.

And the wines were spectacular:
2000 Murdock Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
The cork was pristine. The nose was pure cassis, roses, tobacco and many other things including a hint of mint. Beautiful to sniff. Vibrant palate with good fruit and acid. Plenty of secondary characters, but on this showing not remotely in decline. Very resolved tannin and nice length and balance. Lovely drink.

2004 St Hugo Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon
Another pristine cork, and wine with solid colour. Darker fruit on the nose, more blackberry and a stronger spearmint. Slightly more palate weight, but impeccable balance again and good length. Another beautiful drink.

As John said, trying to determine which was the better wine was like choosing between Audrey Hepburn and Audrey Tatou. Each time I tried one, I preferred it. And they went superbly with the leftover aged Gouda, thanks Cameron.

I love this forum!

Cheers

Michael

[Softie]

Thank you Michael. How blessed I was - marvellous wine and company.

[Softie]

Oh, and the 2004 St Hugo was very good tonight after 24 hours in the fridge. That's my standard indicator of at least two years left at equivalent quality of drinking - and I do mean, at least two years.

[Michael McNally]

Oh, and the 2004 St Hugo was very good tonight after 24 hours in the fridge. That's my standard indicator of at least two years left at equivalent quality of drinking - and I do mean, at least two years.

Agreed. With proper storage, the St Hugo would do two years at a canter - more likely to 2024. I am afraid to confess the leftover Murdock didn't make it to tonight....... but still has at least a couple of years on it on yesterday's showing.

Cheers

Michael

[mychurch]

Hopefully I'll manage to source some other mature Dutch cheeses here - they are great with old red wine.

Hugo sounds lovely - I would have thought that it was just starting its drinking window.

Spent the week sipping Seppeltsfield Apera DP 117. Not everyone's cup of tea, but it's great and as complex as you can find.

[Ian S]

If you ever find yourself in Amsterdam, Kaaskamer on Runstraat is a very good cheese shop. The even had (wet) smoked Mozzarella, something that's been rather difficult to find in Italy.

If you have an airy garage (and can find a way of keeping the mice away) then DIY ageing is remarkably successful with Gouda. Even 4-5 months can really transform a modest sized cheese.