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

[Ian S]

Aglianico certainly one of Italy's most interesting and ageworthy grapes, and the advantage of it's comfort in warmer climate Italy won't be lost on Aussie winemakers. In Italy there is certainly variation in style, so no surprise the Aussie versions are coming out different. I suspect there will be a lengthy learning curve, but the end result may not be a Taurasi, Aglianico del Vulture (or indeed Paestum - an area to follow I reckon) lookalike, but should still be interesting.

[felixp21]

yea, Paestum has some fabulous QPR wines. Sadly, none of them are exported to Australia, mainly because the good producers sell out and have waiting lists. Ian, the stuff imported into Aus is laughable, and the local stuff not much better. Sad, because this region has a few producers who ae at the absolute fore-front of Italian wine-making, the above close to the top of the list.

[Chuck]

Found a random bottle of Stonehaven 2006 Rat and Bull Padthaway Shiraz Cabernet in the cellar. I thinkRat and Bull is a play on the Wrattonbully area name. I recall the tannins were just so aggressive back then. They have finally resolved and the wine was OK. An average quaffer. The crust was phenomenal. What ever happened to this label and the Padthaway area in general?

Carl

[phillisc]

Found a random bottle of Stonehaven 2006 Rat and Bull Padthaway Shiraz Cabernet in the cellar. I thinkRat and Bull is a play on the Wrattonbully area name. I recall the tannins were just so aggressive back then. They have finally resolved and the wine was OK. An average quaffer. The crust was phenomenal. What ever happened to this label and the Padthaway area in general?

Carl

Yes I'm hearing you!
Lindermans premier/regional/selection?? series
Orlando Lawson's...04 was the last vintage I spotted, although a more recent one was on offer at last years Coonawarra road show
Hardy's bird series, especially the sticky...magnificent wines.
Sepplets white label...Shiraz and a Cabernet

All gone with Stone Haven...the way of the dodo...Sue Bell was smart to get out and start her own winery when she did.

Even Browns, Ernest and Myra Shiraz were excellent

Padthaway is the Riverland of the South now...you drive through and there is the odd sign, mostly Pennies or TWE and there is simply nothing else.
I presume Padthaway Estate is still going, last time I visited, the house was closed, on the market.
Bloody shame really, but apart from the general store. what is there?
Cheers
Craig

[Rossco]

2001 Domain A Cabernet Sauvignon

This really is a lesson in cool climate cab sav. So powerful, so restrained and so young. Yes 17 years young yet doesnt look, feel or taste older than 7.
Perfect purple disk, cork gods were kind. Massive oak, but not dominating. Herbs, slight oregano and dried basil. Green capsicum, mint and earth.
Has decades left. Astonishing really. Moar please

Fantastic wine!

Absolutely loved it, but on reflection I wonder if the vineyard achieved the ripeness levels that they wanted?

I could have seen this as being a thin and pretty green wine on release. Ripeness decision more than justified 17 years later.... but gee that
is a long time to wait for it to fill out and come around.

[Rossco]

After seeing your note, I decided to open a 2003 to see how it’s tracking. Earlier bottles were closed even out around 12 years but the 2003 with 15 years in the bottle has now opened up and is a superb drink - an excellent Margaret River cab sav. If you picked up enough, try to let some get out past 15 year’s as they really benefit from the extra age..

This is really great to know. I have been hesitant to buy MR wines pre-2007, as my (limited) understanding of the region was some
of the vintages before this year were questionable.

I was also a bit worried about this 2011 Voyager wine, as from what I have read, since the release of their 'project' wines, the quality may
have been diminished a bit (hence the reason I only bought one), and now regret it.

Will keep an eye out for some 2003's!

Cheers

[rooman]

After seeing your note, I decided to open a 2003 to see how it’s tracking. Earlier bottles were closed even out around 12 years but the 2003 with 15 years in the bottle has now opened up and is a superb drink - an excellent Margaret River cab sav. If you picked up enough, try to let some get out past 15 year’s as they really benefit from the extra age..

This is really great to know. I have been hesitant to buy MR wines pre-2007, as my (limited) understanding of the region was some
of the vintages before this year were questionable.

I was also a bit worried about this 2011 Voyager wine, as from what I have read, since the release of their 'project' wines, the quality may
have been diminished a bit (hence the reason I only bought one), and now regret it.

Will keep an eye out for some 2003's!

Cheers

One of my favourite wines last year was a 1999 Voyager Cab Sav. Yes it was made before the flurry of single site wines but it was stunning. On a blind tasting I’d have probably guessed left bank Bordeaux but it definitely needed time to enter its optimal drinking window.

Mark

[Bobthebuilder]

I just bought 3 bottles of the 2011 voyager cab merlot based on that excaptional MR vintage
very glad to hear all this!
I also have a single bottle of the 2001 in the cellar, bound for an offline soon

[rooman]

I just bought 3 bottles of the 2011 voyager cab merlot based on that excaptional MR vintage
very glad to hear all this!
I also have a single bottle of the 2001 in the cellar, bound for an offline soon

I have found the Voyager wines do something of a caterpillar/butterfly thing. I was really disappointed with them at around the 10-12 year mark when they were like an awkward teenager, all tannic and dormant fruit but out past 15 years, they have really blossomed and proved incredible value. I also find them more interesting and enjoyable than any of the Coonawarra I have in the cellar.

[phillisc]

Chuck, RedRum and Scotty V, I am venturing up on Saturday to give Roger a hand...been 30 years since I picked grapes, (don't tell him that) but bit like riding a bike...I am very much looking forward to end of day proceedings. Having procured the last two vintages in a mixed 6 from our Host here, I have never had the pleasure of tasting any of Roger's wines...yet

I'll certainly ask any folk if they are on the forum...not shy in coming forward and might have a few post picking beers at the Victory...if I am in any shape to do so.
Cheers
Craig

Picking grapes is similar to picking olives. Very simple and not physically taxing. Just a lot of standing up. Dead easy. You talk to people on the other side of the vines but rarely see their faces until the breaks. We solved a lot of the world's problems on Wednesday. The specialty meat pies for morning tea were worth it alone. Roger certainly appreciates the help and is a great host. In a couple of years I can drink a wine I helped make in a small way. Not many of us can say that. That means a lot to me.

Carl

Great day at Marius, have been asked to come back next year. Roger is a top bloke, really refreshing no nonsense type of guy, who gave quite a few home truths on the state of the industry, wine in general and indeed a perspective on a lot of the bullshit that plenty work themselves over into a lather about
Picking was very straight forward, lovely day with a bit of a breeze. Catering and end of day activities were excellent.
Had never tasted any Marius before last weekend, and got to look at 7 of them over 14 vintages...all amazing wines, the oldest have years to go and the 16s will outlive most of us.
Reinforces my belief about McLaren Vale, I am struggling to think of any wine that for VFM from the Barossa and to a lesser extent Clare that matches what I tasted on Saturday.

Cheers
Craig

[George Krashos]

Except you can't buy the wines retail and he has a 2-year wait for a spot on the Mailing List. I'm a patient sort, but not that patient!

Glad you had a good day, Craig.

-- George Krashos

[George Krashos]

I also find them more interesting and enjoyable than any of the Coonawarra I have in the cellar.

You sound just like the person working at cellar door when I visited there years ago!

-- George Krashos

[RogerPike]

Except you can't buy the wines retail and he has a 2-year wait for a spot on the Mailing List. I'm a patient sort, but not that patient!

Glad you had a good day, Craig.

-- George Krashos

George,

Just a couple of points.

My reading of your post is that you consider it too difficult to purchase my wines, that you do not have the patience to spend a little time on a waiting list.
Perhaps I am being oversensitive but to me there is perhaps a hint of complaint that I make it too hard for you to buy my wines.

You joined this forum in 2003. My wines have always had a degree of exposure on this forum.

So you had from 2003 - 2013 to join my mailing list without any waiting time as the waiting list did not come in until 2013.
If you joined the waiting list in 2014 or 2015 or 2016 you would now be on the mailing list.
You have also had the opportunity to purchase every vintage of my wines since the 2002 vintage from our generous host, Gavin.
My wines are also available upon release from retailers in Sydney and Melbourne.

I don't really see where patience comes into it. I don't really think that you have ever had any desire to purchase my wines and yet you complain that I make it too hard.

Regards,

Roger

[George Krashos]

Hi Roger

I love wine of all sorts but I'm not always after the "next big thing" and don't necessarily scan the boards, articles, the internet for what is hot and what's not. Lately, a few of the posters - such as Craig - have commented very favourably on your wines. That's when your wines came on my personal radar and made me investigate to see whether I could access some. I can't.

I'm not sure where you make the leap of logic that I never intended to buy your wine as clearly I wouldn't have accessed your website if I didn't have some inclination in that regard. I didn't complain that you make it too hard either. I just said that I'm not necessarily that patient. I understand supply and demand. So it was all about me and not about you. Until you made it about you.

Wishing you and your business all the best.

-- George Krashos

[Sean]

deleted

[RogerPike]

Thank you George.

Roger

[rooman]

I also find them more interesting and enjoyable than any of the Coonawarra I have in the cellar.

You sound just like the person working at cellar door when I visited there years ago!

-- George Krashos

Any particular cellar door or just a random cellar door?

[rooman]

Hi Roger

I love wine of all sorts but I'm not always after the "next big thing" and don't necessarily scan the boards, articles, the internet for what is hot and what's not. Lately, a few of the posters - such as Craig - have commented very favourably on your wines. That's when your wines came on my personal radar and made me investigate to see whether I could access some. I can't.

I'm not sure where you make the leap of logic that I never intended to buy your wine as clearly I wouldn't have accessed your website if I didn't have some inclination in that regard. I didn't complain that you make it too hard either. I just said that I'm not necessarily that patient. I understand supply and demand. So it was all about me and not about you. Until you made it about you.

Wishing you and your business all the best.

-- George Krashos

George

I am a little like you in so far as I am not big on joining mailing lists. In fairness to Roger however, Gavin does appear to obtain a reasonable supply of Roger's wines and I have been able to purchase some for my cellar through Gavin. So if you are interested in buying some to try then it is a matter of emailing Gavin, expressing your interest and then waiting for the window of supply to open and then close.

Of course I have yet to actually try any yet. The wines I have purchased have been buried deep in the cellar as other forumites recommend cellaring the wines for a decade or so which suits me.

Mark

[George Krashos]

Any particular cellar door or just a random cellar door?

The actual Voyager Estate cellar door. They seemed very eager to disparage other wine regions in comparison to their own. Mind you that was many years ago. I do recall driving down the road from Leeuwin Estate though and seeing a sign outside a much smaller winery saying "No concerts here, just good wine!". Obviously they are fiercely competitive out west.

-- George Krashos

[Mike Hawkins]

Any particular cellar door or just a random cellar door?

The actual Voyager Estate cellar door. They seemed very eager to disparage other wine regions in comparison to their own. Mind you that was many years ago. I do recall driving down the road from Leeuwin Estate though and seeing a sign outside a much smaller winery saying "No concerts here, just good wine!". Obviously they are fiercely competitive out west.

-- George Krashos

I was there yesterday and the Canadian lady behind the counter was a delight!

[Gavin Trott]

Hi Roger

I love wine of all sorts but I'm not always after the "next big thing" and don't necessarily scan the boards, articles, the internet for what is hot and what's not. Lately, a few of the posters - such as Craig - have commented very favourably on your wines. That's when your wines came on my personal radar and made me investigate to see whether I could access some. I can't.

I'm not sure where you make the leap of logic that I never intended to buy your wine as clearly I wouldn't have accessed your website if I didn't have some inclination in that regard. I didn't complain that you make it too hard either. I just said that I'm not necessarily that patient. I understand supply and demand. So it was all about me and not about you. Until you made it about you.

Wishing you and your business all the best.

-- George Krashos

George

I am a little like you in so far as I am not big on joining mailing lists. In fairness to Roger however, Gavin does appear to obtain a reasonable supply of Roger's wines and I have been able to purchase some for my cellar through Gavin. So if you are interested in buying some to try then it is a matter of emailing Gavin, expressing your interest and then waiting for the window of supply to open and then close.

Of course I have yet to actually try any yet. The wines I have purchased have been buried deep in the cellar as other forumites recommend cellaring the wines for a decade or so which suits me.

Mark

Yes, I get them each and every year, eagerly await, and eagerly cellar myself.

George, just me know if you are interested ...

of course, if not, also just fine! :--)

.

[rooman]

So on a warm autumn evening with fresh tuna from the divine Sydney Fish Markets and a mango salsa, what else but a Riesling. Tonight a superb Jacobs Creek Steingarten Riesling 2005: yellow golden hue, crisp fresh bouquet with white nectarines and apples built around a refreshing and bone dry acid structure with a long, long finish. Absolutely in its optimal drinking window

[felixp21]

2000 Chateau Trotanoy
beautiful wine, needed an hour in the decanter to open up, but worth the wait. Lots of plums, chocolate and truffle, touch of mint, which is a little unusual but adds interest. Broad, long finish driven by a lovely mineral spine. Very much reminds me of the superb La Fleur Petrus from the same vintage. Close to peak drinking, although if I only had one bottle, I would wait another 5 years. 96pts 2020-2040.

[sjw_11]

So on a warm autumn evening with fresh tuna from the divine Sydney Fish Markets and a mango salsa, what else but a Riesling. Tonight a superb Jacobs Creek Steingarten Riesling 2005: yellow golden hue, crisp fresh bouquet with white nectarines and apples built around a refreshing and bone dry acid structure with a long, long finish. Absolutely in its optimal drinking window

Thanks for this... I have at least one of these maybe two somewhere in the cellar.

[Chuck]

Last night with 10 x KFC Wicked Wings (pure gluttony that you need to do occasionally to get the monkey off your back) we enjoyed the first of a case of Haselgrove 2016 Cul-Stor McLaren Vale Shiraz Cabernets. Cabs are cab sauvignon and cab franc. Don't know what the exact blend is but it seems to work with the Cab Franc adding a little perfume and spine along with the cab sauvignon. Some of MV chocolate and some modest oak. The shiraz adds plum etc. Ripe but noticeable tannin. All in all a good solid wine and pleasurable to drink. Surprisingly quite approachable now it will cellar to say 2025 although the screw cap could push it past this date. Not sure it will develop significantly but who cares the way it drinks now.

Not sure it matched the Wicked Wings but again who cares. Could have easily done another 5 WWs they were sooooo good. I worked for them in my student years and despite gorging on them for years I still love the stuff. Pathetic isn't it.

Carl

[michel]

2000 Chateau Trotanoy
beautiful wine, needed an hour in the decanter to open up, but worth the wait. Lots of plums, chocolate and truffle, touch of mint, which is a little unusual but adds interest. Broad, long finish driven by a lovely mineral spine. Very much reminds me of the superb La Fleur Petrus from the same vintage. Close to peak drinking, although if I only had one bottle, I would wait another 5 years. 96pts 2020-2040.

Love Trotanoy
2010 will be majestic in 20 years

[Sean]

deleted

[michel]

2015 Journey Wines Chardonnay Yarra Valley
Fine linear natural acidity with a stonefruit driven nose and subtle stoney pear palate
Get on board the Journey Train
He is making such brilliant wine (Damian North) like Mr Luke Lambert.

[Rossco]

2016 Dog Point Sav Blanc

Normally i stay well away from most Sav Blanc's........ with the exception being Dog Point's Section 94 Fume Blanc.
Given my love of their Fume, and the price I picked this up for at auction ($15+com)... I couldnt really say no.

Glad I didnt as this is so far away from your typical 'Marlborough SavB' that it is actually a really good drink.... i was as surprised as
anyone!

Has that flinty/struck match nose of the Fume, beautiful rounded mouthfeel with a texture that you just dont get in other sav blancs.
This is a serious wine, well above the majority of producers. The fragrance and aromatics that are leaping out of the glass, wild
herbs, wet slate. Acidity perfectly handled as the wine is so well balanced. Fruit seemed quite ripe and adds to the 'fullness' of the wine,
almost oily.

Not sure if this has any oak in it, but wouldnt surprise me given the creaminess & texture. Such a pleasure really.

[felixp21]

1990 La Mission Haut Brion
continuing on our Bordeaux-themed weekend. Another beautiful wine, very easy to pick as a high class wine from the Graves with that beautiful pebbly texture, exquisite balance and enormous length. Flinty, minerally yet rich and full-bodied, packed with red fruits, red fruit and anise. This also needed plenty of time in the decanter, indeed, it was at it's best well after lunch, sipping away admiring a glorious blue-sky, fresh-air spring day. This too might benefit from further bottle age, but it is quite the spectacular wine right now. 97pts drink: now-2035