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

[rens]

2004 penfolds bin 389: Typical of the Penfolds style-big with lots of oak. Good fruit that is slightly flabby for me with a hint of secondary flavours coming through. Decent length to the finish. A reflection of the good vintage. Nice enough for a Saturday night, but glad I'm not buying this anymore-its not really my thing now.

[Hunter]

Tyipcal, yes.. But. I still enjoy this style of wine. Although i do see the value elsewhere. That freshness of barolo. Or complexity too bordeaux blends. Sharing a bottle of 98' bin 389 with a young experienced french sommelier who started at my resturant recently. Man,
this wine absoulety blew her away.. And the wines she had been drinking back home. Way above my budget. Shes always bringing it up. "Ah that Animal" I think were lucky to have easy acsess to the baby grange. Although the crazy price rise. It can still be found at a reasonable price. Or im just too young and dont know any better.

[rooman]

Tyipcal, yes.. But. I still enjoy this style of wine. Although i do see the value elsewhere. That freshness of barolo. Or complexity too bordeaux blends. Sharing a bottle of 98' bin 389 with a young experienced french sommelier who started at my resturant recently. Man,
this wine absoulety blew her away.. And the wines she had been drinking back home. Way above my budget. Shes always bringing it up. "Ah that Animal" I think were lucky to have easy acsess to the baby grange. Although the crazy price rise. It can still be found at a reasonable price. Or im just to young and dont know any better.

Of all the Bin 389s I’ve tried (sadly that excludes the ‘96), the 98 is head and shoulders above the rest so I’m not surprised she was blown. I’ve still got a lot in the cellar based on the ‘98 but so far none have yet risen to those heights. It just has wonderful complexity and depth of flavour.

[Hunter]

I think the 10' will exceed those heights

[Ian S]

Sounds like we have some agreement rooman - the 1996 really didn't excite (dull and monolithic with no certainty it was going to emerge from grumpiness - not sure when drunk, but probably ~ a decade ago)

My 1998s were drunk in 2012 and 2013, the first one seemed to have the balance to do another decade with ease, whilst the latter did feel a little shy of acidity. As likely to have been the setting/food/mood as any great bottle variation. The notes were both positive, though the wines are in a style that I infrequently seek these days.

I'm now down to 13 bottles of Penfolds
1 x 1991 Grange
4 x 1999 RWT
7 x 2004 St Henri
1 x 2004 Bin 389

I doubt I'll replenish stocks, but at least the upside is they should all keep well in the cellar for the moment that I fancy such wines.

[Hunter]

04' henri's a special wine

[George Krashos]

I think I have to find a reason to crack my last bottles of Bin 389 90 and 91.

-- George Krashos

[Mahmoud Ali]

While we are at it, my Penfolds collection looks like this:

1 x 1983 Grange
3 x 1994 Bin 28
5 x 1996 Bin 389
5 x 1996 Koonunga Hill
1 x 1997 St Henri
1 x 2002 Bin 389
3 x 2004 Bin 389
2 x 2004 St Henri
3 x 2005 Bin 389
1 x 2006 St Henri
1 x 2006 Koonunga Hill (why?)

That makes it 26 bottles of Penfold's. I've brought home a bottle of the '96 Koonunga Hill and on Mark's recommendation the '97 St Henri should be next. It's likely there will be no replenishing.

Mahmoud.

[Luke W]

Sounds like we have some agreement rooman - the 1996 really didn't excite (dull and monolithic with no certainty it was going to emerge from grumpiness - not sure when drunk, but probably ~ a decade ago)

My 1998s were drunk in 2012 and 2013, the first one seemed to have the balance to do another decade with ease, whilst the latter did feel a little shy of acidity. As likely to have been the setting/food/mood as any great bottle variation. The notes were both positive, though the wines are in a style that I infrequently seek these days.

I'm now down to 13 bottles of Penfolds
1 x 1991 Grange
4 x 1999 RWT
7 x 2004 St Henri
1 x 2004 Bin 389

I doubt I'll replenish stocks, but at least the upside is they should all keep well in the cellar for the moment that I fancy such wines.

????? - sorry not my experience with 96 389's..
Had one on my daughters 21st a year ago - it was stunning, complex and beautifully balanced

[Willard]

I’m with Luke here, reckon the 96 389 is terrific, I’ve preferred the 96 to the 98. Strangely enough I would have applied the monolithic comment more readily to the 98. Different experiences, there you go. I’ve had my last 98, have one 96 left.

Think my Penfold’s holdings are now:
1x 1996 St Henri
2 x 2004 St Henri
2 x 2012 St Henri
1x 1996 Bin 389
2 x 2004 Bin 389
2 x 2005 Bin 389
2 x 2012 Bin 389

I sold a few bottles each of the 2006 and 2008 Bin 389 at auction last year, perfectly stored and nothing wrong, just wanted to cash out some cellar space of things I wasn’t that excited about having. Good prices too.

[Mike Hawkins]

I wouldn’t describe any 389s as monolithic until the noughties

[George Krashos]

This thread made me go check. I stopped buying Penfolds a long while ago, but was suprised at how many I still had:

Grange 94, 99, 03
Bin 707 93, 96, 98
RWT 05
St Henri 96 (x2), 04 (magnum), 12
Bin 389 90, 91, 96 (x7) + magnum, 98 (x8) + magnum, 07(x3) + magnum, 10
Bin 407 96
Bin 28 98 (x3), 04 (x5) + magnum, 06, 07 (x2) + magnum
Bin 128 98 (x3), 04 (x5)

The 04s and 07s are kid birth year wines.

Better get drinking.

-- George Krashos

[rooman]

I think the 10' will exceed those heights

I bloody hope so. I ended up putting away three cases. I figured one day I’d probably sell one and it would pay for the other 3

[Ian S]

????? - sorry not my experience with 96 389's..
Had one on my daughters 21st a year ago - it was stunning, complex and beautifully balanced

No need to apologise - different palates and different experiences. It could be that it has emerged from slumber, or being in a wine style I'm not often enthused about, if you had tasted the bottle I drank, you may have come up with a very different impression.

[Ian S]

While we are at it, my Penfolds collection looks like this:

1 x 1983 Grange
3 x 1994 Bin 28
5 x 1996 Bin 389
5 x 1996 Koonunga Hill
1 x 1997 St Henri
1 x 2002 Bin 389
3 x 2004 Bin 389
2 x 2004 St Henri
3 x 2005 Bin 389
1 x 2006 St Henri
1 x 2006 Koonunga Hill (why?)

That makes it 26 bottles of Penfold's. I've brought home a bottle of the '96 Koonunga Hill and on Mark's recommendation the '97 St Henri should be next. It's likely there will be no replenishing.

Mahmoud.

Why the 2006 Koonunga Hill? It wasn't the '76' bottling that emerged that year was it - effectively a Reserve bottling and one that felt like a tacit acknowledgement that they'd stuffed up the KH brand.

I still regret not buying the mixed lot of KH that came up at auction over here a decade ago - stupidly cheap like the rest of the Aussie lots in that auction.

[Ian S]

Interesting seeing the Pennies people still have, showing how much a part of our buying it used to be.

[Mahmoud Ali]

Ian,

The Koonunga Hill wasn't the special '76 bottling unfortunately. I suspect it may have been keenly priced at the time and hence the purchase, or maybe I was tempted by a good review.

I made an error and an omission in my list of Penfold's wines. The error is that my older St Henri is a 1995, not '97. Omitted was a 1988 Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon.

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

[Chuck]

Yesterday we celebrated our anniversary with lunch at Pilu overlooking Freshwater Beach. A Sardinian restaurant the food was good without being great however the service was excellent. Wine list was extensive but with eye-watering prices we enjoyed a local 2015 Tapanappa Adelaide Hills Chardonnay that was simply gorgeous. With my main I ventured for a glass of Mesa ’Brama’ – Valli di Porto Pino IGT. A syrah and a good intro into the regional wines of Italy. Later a couple of Grappa that were quite interesting. Afterwards with the tides, winds and warmth all in harmony we jump into the surf and had some great small waves on the boogie board.

[Mike Hawkins]

Yesterday we celebrated our anniversary with lunch at Pilu overlooking Freshwater Beach. A Sardinian restaurant the food was good without being great however the service was excellent. Wine list was extensive but with eye-watering prices we enjoyed a local 2015 Tapanappa Adelaide Hills Chardonnay that was simply gorgeous. With my main I ventured for a Mesa ’Brama’ – Valli di Porto Pino IGT. A syrah and a good intro into the regional wines of Italy. Later a couple of Grappa that were quite interesting. Afterwards with the tides, winds and warmth all in harmony we jump into the surf and had some great small waves on the boogie board.

Food is great, and wine list, while extensive, is as you say, accompanied by ridiculous pricing. For that reason, I won’t go there.

[Chuck]

Yesterday we celebrated our anniversary with lunch at Pilu overlooking Freshwater Beach. A Sardinian restaurant the food was good without being great however the service was excellent. Wine list was extensive but with eye-watering prices we enjoyed a local 2015 Tapanappa Adelaide Hills Chardonnay that was simply gorgeous. With my main I ventured for a Mesa ’Brama’ – Valli di Porto Pino IGT. A syrah and a good intro into the regional wines of Italy. Later a couple of Grappa that were quite interesting. Afterwards with the tides, winds and warmth all in harmony we jump into the surf and had some great small waves on the boogie board.

Food is great, and wine list, while extensive, is as you say, accompanied by ridiculous pricing. For that reason, I won’t go there.

Glad it wasn't me being from cheap old Adelaide. I am used to Sydney prices being somewhat higher but this was a little OTT. It's an old weatherboard Queenslander style house so I question how they store their wines. Some were back vintages which compounds the issue of an amazingly extensive wine list. I think it went for about 25 pages devoted heavily to Italian wines. Give me Chianti Classico in Adelaide any day. The food is a step up, about 30% less in $$ and its BYO. I could convert a $420 lunch for 2 into a $200 dinner for 2 with great old wines from our cellar and then some from the bar. No brainer if you ask me.

The restaurant owner rents the building and the owner has been offered $10m for it. I guess that's Sydney for you but it is Position A. You pay a lot for the view but can't eat or drink it.

BTW I only had a glass of the Italian red. Can't amend the quote above.

Carl

[felixp21]

1979 Mount Mary Cabernets
Beautiful wine. Elegant, long and complex. Middleton was an absolute star. 94pts

[Dragzworthy]

Green Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
I really enjoyed this wine... maybe I’ve been drinking too much old world so it was good to have something a bit jammy (I know that’s not a word many like) but this has good dark fruit, lead pencil and a fair amount of oak (French cedar). Super Long finish but very tannic (tongue scraping the mouth) so should clear well. Not a perfect wine but well priced and enjoyable.

[Luke W]

All the talk about Penfolds inspired me to grab a 2008 Bin 128. Never been a big fan of the 128's but this was on song and drinking at it's peak. If u have some there's no hurry. I think it will drink well for another 10 years.
Great Coonawarra fruit, elegant mix of black and red and those beautiful tannins reminiscent of quality timber that Pennies use.

[Ian S]

Conversely I thought I was the only person who would take a Bin128 in preference to a Bin28!

[Mahmoud Ali]

Friday night dinner and wine.

FridayDinner.jpg

The NV Joseph Salasar Cremant Sec, Limoux (12.5%) had a fine mouse and was a tasty aperitif while the 2000 Brokenwood Semillon (11%) was rather tired and missing that element I expect from aged semillon. The 1999 Tim Adams 'The Fergus' Clare Valley (14%) was delightfull, very much a point and richly earthy. We thought there was something not quite right with the 1981 Haut-Batailly, Pauillac (12.3%) and we abandonned it. However two days later it was quite palatable with only a slight corkiness. I suspect a combination of bottle stink coupled with the corkiness made for the perfect storm. The back-up 1998 Bleasdale 'Bremerview' Shiraz, Langhorn Creek (14%) was quite alright, plush fruit coupled with silky palate. The 2003 Marques de Grinon Syrah, Valdepusa (14.5%) was very nice, a still beefy wine with still firm but ripe tannins. I don't know why we need a Spanish Syrah but when it's as good as this should I care? The 1997 Ferreira was a bit of a blur that night but two days later it was drinking very well, elegant, lovely depth, and satifying.

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

[sjw_11]

The NV Joseph Salasar Cremant Sec, Limoux (12.5%) had a fine mouse .

... It is Donoghue and Stevenson all over again!

[qwertt]

The NV Joseph Salasar Cremant Sec, Limoux (12.5%) had a fine mouse .

... It is Donoghue and Stevenson all over again!

(s)nailed it!

[Mahmoud Ali]

Ha, ha, not being a lawyer I had to look that up. Well done on not one, but two, clever (though arcane) comments on the typo: case law and the precedent! In order to maintain the integrity of the two previous posts I will not correct the original typo.

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

[rooman]

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.

Michel

that's quite an impressive endorsement. I have been looking for chardonnay recently to get be away from my riesling obsession. Looking at the website, he has his wines in top restaurants in Sydney. Worth a try?

Mark

Finally drove to Paddington last night to buy a bottle of the Journey Chardonnay and they had just sold out. Seems they are onto the next vintage in a month or so. Any chance you have seen the 2016?

Mark

[felixp21]

2005 Chateau Clinet
I love 2005 Right Bank, absolutely top-of-the-tree stuff. But sadly, this wine was ruthlessly closed. Hugely tannic, monolithic, dark and brooding, nowhere near being ready. This is very unusual for an 05 Pomerol, most of which are sublime right now. What a waste!!! 91+++pts. Drink 2030+