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

[Hacker]

Couldn’t get on to County Down, closed for renovations for the month of October. Played Lahinch and loved it. My wife’s caddy Martin told us not to hit into the cemetery as his father is in it. Both the Ballybunion Cashen and Old were great. Didn’t play Waterville but it looked beautiful. Next time. Then on to Scotland for some more treasures.

[Michael R]

Enjoy mate. I’d also put Tralee high on your list if/when you revisit.
Portrush is class, and if you have time Portstewart is certainly worth a look. Even 9 holes. Lastly, Bushmills restaurant will hit the spot after a long days golf.

[felixp21]

Couldn’t get on to County Down, closed for renovations for the month of October. Played Lahinch and loved it. My wife’s caddy Martin told us not to hit into the cemetery as his father is in it. Both the Ballybunion Cashen and Old were great. Didn’t play Waterville but it looked beautiful. Next time. Then on to Scotland for some more treasures.

oh no!!! that is a real pity, as it is by far the best track in Ireland. I'm very lucky, we have reciprocals with County Down, so I get over there a fair bit hehe. Enjoy Scotland, the hospitality is not as good, but the courses far better

[Mike Hawkins]

Couldn’t get on to County Down, closed for renovations for the month of October. Played Lahinch and loved it. My wife’s caddy Martin told us not to hit into the cemetery as his father is in it. Both the Ballybunion Cashen and Old were great. Didn’t play Waterville but it looked beautiful. Next time. Then on to Scotland for some more treasures.

Hopefully one of those treasures is Royal Dornoch, my 2nd favourite course. And the Glenmorangie distillery is 10 minutes away...

[Hacker]

Couldn’t get on to County Down, closed for renovations for the month of October. Played Lahinch and loved it. My wife’s caddy Martin told us not to hit into the cemetery as his father is in it. Both the Ballybunion Cashen and Old were great. Didn’t play Waterville but it looked beautiful. Next time. Then on to Scotland for some more treasures.

Hopefully one of those treasures is Royal Dornoch, my 2nd favourite course. And the Glenmorangie distillery is 10 minutes away...

Yes it is! We have reciprocal rights with them. Also playing Royal Aberdeen, Turnberry, Western Gailes and Muirfield.
Thanks for the Glenmorangie tip.

[Mike Hawkins]

Haven’t played the ‘new’ Turnberry. I hear it’s even better than the old one, which was superb. Aberdeen is really nice. If you have a caddy, get him to show you where Rory launched his 420 yd drive.. unbelievable

[ticklenow1]

Couldn’t get on to County Down, closed for renovations for the month of October. Played Lahinch and loved it. My wife’s caddy Martin told us not to hit into the cemetery as his father is in it. Both the Ballybunion Cashen and Old were great. Didn’t play Waterville but it looked beautiful. Next time. Then on to Scotland for some more treasures.

Tough gig. Enjoy Dave

Cheers
Ian

[ticklenow1]

2006 Glen Eldon Dry Bore Shiraz. Barossa Valley Nice wine but that's all. Nothing too exciting about it. Not over the hill in any way, just well, a little boring. Still has some nice dark fruits, tannins are still poking through and the oak is largely well integrated. Maybe my tastes are slowly changing as my wife enjoyed it more than I did. 3/5

2007 Tintara Reserve Grenache. McLaren Vale I bought about 3 dozen of these several years ago and I'm done to my last couple. Still a cracking wine and when you consider the asking price ('eh Luke W!), it makes it even better. Still battling on and a little life left in it. The cork had literally no staining at all and was absolutely perfect. It looked like it had gone in a week ago. Excellent aged McLaren Vale Grenache. A lot more savoury than your typical Barossa example. 4/5

2009 Head Old Vine Grenache. Barossa Valley I recently did a proper cellar audit and found my first ever box of Head Wines I bought. We have had a couple of the 08 Blonde and after some air they were fabulous. But this took it up a level for my tastes. According to the Wine Front, it was an early drinker, but this bottle showed really well. Yes it was showing some age but it was still quite spritely. A excellent example of savoury Barossa Grenache. 4/5. Until.....

2010 Head Old Vine Grenache. Barossa Valley Wow!. After trying the 09 I thought I'd give the 10 a go. What a step up this was. I thought the 09 was good, but this was brilliant. Very Pinot like on the nose with lavender, red fruit and some 5 spice. The palate was just as good. It's just starting to show some aged characteristics and let's face it, few Barossa Grenache's go beyond 10-12 years. Tannins were just perfect, oak is hardly there and the remaining fruit is the star. Perfectly balanced wine with plenty of length for a Barossa Grenache. Best wine I've had so far this year. If you have some, try one, you shouldn't be disappointed. Both the 09 and 10 are not your typical Barossa Grenache in any way, shape or form. I still have a 6 pack left and I can't see it lasting too long on this form. 4.5/5

Cheers
Ian

[wiggum]

2016 Craiglee Chardonnay- pretty blood good. Very rich and tending to be a bit on thse buttery rich style, but not too much. Butterscotch, apple, spice. Really good for mine

[felixp21]

1973 Wolf-Blass Yellow Label Shiraz/15% Cabernet
wow!!!!! seriously... wow!!!
genuinely, this is ridiculously good for a wine that probably cost me $2.50 in about 1975-76.
mellow, sweet, might I say it? quite Burgundian. Would be very hard pressed to call this an Aussie shiraz. Incredible.
no good wines at this age, only good bottles, but this guy is a freak. I'm speechless. 95pts drink now

[Mike Hawkins]

1973 Wolf-Blass Yellow Label Shiraz/15% Cabernet
wow!!!!! seriously... wow!!!
genuinely, this is ridiculously good for a wine that probably cost me $2.50 in about 1975-76.
mellow, sweet, might I say it? quite Burgundian. Would be very hard pressed to call this an Aussie shiraz. Incredible.
no good wines at this age, only good bottles, but this guy is a freak. I'm speechless. 95pts drink now

I had the 73 Black Label recently. Great nick, though lots of oak. Really enjoyable

[Michael McNally]

2010 Head Old Vine Grenache. Barossa Valley Wow!. After trying the 09 I thought I'd give the 10 a go. What a step up this was. I thought the 09 was good, but this was brilliant. Very Pinot like on the nose with lavender, red fruit and some 5 spice. The palate was just as good. It's just starting to show some aged characteristics and let's face it, few Barossa Grenache's go beyond 10-12 years. Tannins were just perfect, oak is hardly there and the remaining fruit is the star. Perfectly balanced wine with plenty of length for a Barossa Grenache. Best wine I've had so far this year. If you have some, try one, you shouldn't be disappointed. Both the 09 and 10 are not your typical Barossa Grenache in any way, shape or form. I still have a 6 pack left and I can't see it lasting too long on this form. 4.5/5

Cheers
Ian

Save one for a Grenache offline!

Cheers

Michael

[felixp21]

1973 Wolf-Blass Yellow Label Shiraz/15% Cabernet
wow!!!!! seriously... wow!!!
genuinely, this is ridiculously good for a wine that probably cost me $2.50 in about 1975-76.
mellow, sweet, might I say it? quite Burgundian. Would be very hard pressed to call this an Aussie shiraz. Incredible.
no good wines at this age, only good bottles, but this guy is a freak. I'm speechless. 95pts drink now

I had the 73 Black Label recently. Great nick, though lots of oak. Really enjoyable

interesting, the Yellow label, being the cheapie, likely saw little or no new oak. Blind I would have guessed this an old Barolo, second guess would have been an old Burgundy. Good lesson for todays winemakers... leave the oak alone!!!!

[Ian S]

• 1958 Fratelli Berteletti Gattinara Castello di Lozzolo - Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Gattinara (20/10/2018)
  Cork survived well, though very crumbly to extract.
  
  Promising colour, with red highlights against a mahogany core.
  
  Faint/delicate fruit, as much orange as cherry, vying with more savoury leather dirt and even a faint whiff of camphor on the nose.
  
  Brighter fruit on the palate, thought still somewhat delicate and fragile, and it mingles nicely with mushroom with that latter element working because it's in tandem with the fruit, not dominating as it can in over-mature wines. Beyond that, there is a fleeting hint of fennel. Acidity is nicely refreshing yet remarkably soft/rounded. No tannins at this very advanced age. Overall good but not exceptional complexity, excellent balance and a reasonably long finish.
  
  Overall a joy, though one that I suspect would be shared by a minority of wine drinkers. It's over mature, but holding up remarkably well.
  [img]https://cdn.ct-static.com/labels/965082.jpg[/img]

p.s. that's someone else's photo

[Luke W]

2007 Tintara Reserve Grenache. McLaren Vale I bought about 3 dozen of these several years ago and I'm done to my last couple. Still a cracking wine and when you consider the asking price ('eh Luke W!), it makes it even better. Still battling on and a little life left in it. The cork had literally no staining at all and was absolutely perfect. It looked like it had gone in a week ago. Excellent aged McLaren Vale Grenache. A lot more savoury than your typical Barossa example. 4/5

Cheers
Ian

I've still got a couple of these, always a beautiful wine given enough air time, must open one tonite.

Cheers
Luke

[Matt@5453]

6 2016 Pepperjack Certified Barossa Shiraz Cabernet

Both very impressive wines from the Great Australian Red tasting on Tuesday, here in Adelaide

Cheers
Craig

My local bottl-o had a special on this. Remembering your endorsement I grabbed a couple.
I drank one over 2 nights - totally agree - an impressive wine with very good structure particularly at the price point. I am going to have to buy a couple more...

2017 Vickery Watervale Riesling - drinking so well, plush limes, medium acid.

2018 Jim Barry Watervale Riesling - remarkably light in colour, but full of flavour. I keep thinking lemon sherbet.

[Matt@5453]

1973 Wolf-Blass Yellow Label Shiraz/15% Cabernet
wow!!!!! seriously... wow!!!
genuinely, this is ridiculously good for a wine that probably cost me $2.50 in about 1975-76.
mellow, sweet, might I say it? quite Burgundian. Would be very hard pressed to call this an Aussie shiraz. Incredible.
no good wines at this age, only good bottles, but this guy is a freak. I'm speechless. 95pts drink now

I had the 73 Black Label recently. Great nick, though lots of oak. Really enjoyable

interesting, the Yellow label, being the cheapie, likely saw little or no new oak. Blind I would have guessed this an old Barolo, second guess would have been an old Burgundy. Good lesson for todays winemakers... leave the oak alone!!!!

Your comments are interesting, I literally had a discussion with a number of people earlier this week about early-mid 1970's wines. There was a period where there was a bit of a trend of using free run juice to make the wine. Pressings were treating separately and a bit blended back to the wine, the balance of the pressings was either made into a Bin or Lot wine, or thrown out.... The wines made using this method were less concentrated and did not require the oak treatment to balance them out. Speaking with one winemaker, if the cork does it job, the wine would be a surprise to what you are expecting. When he goes to try one of these wines, he is opening one in twelve bottles of his own wines to get a drinkable wine (cork failures). You sound like you definitely had a good one.

[Michael McNally]

2018 Jim Barry Watervale Riesling - remarkably light in colour, but full of flavour. I keep thinking lemon sherbet.

Had one of these last weekend. Beautiful fruit, very lemon sherbet. Went back and bought 6 more! At $15 p/b this is great juice. Do you think it has the acid to age?

Cheers

Michael

[JamieBahrain]

I had a bottle of Wild Duck Springlat Shiraz 2004 which is in the rich and tarry Heathcote-drought style. I enjoyed it in its expression but half a bottle disturbed my sleep more than a whole bottle + of classic Italian.

I'm starting to think oak and ripe wine is not agreeing with my system.

[Matt@5453]

2018 Jim Barry Watervale Riesling - remarkably light in colour, but full of flavour. I keep thinking lemon sherbet.

Had one of these last weekend. Beautiful fruit, very lemon sherbet. Went back and bought 6 more! At $15 p/b this is great juice. Do you think it has the acid to age?

Cheers

Michael

Its certainly got some potential - I have never tried an aged one. I had a 10 year old O'Leary Walker Watervale Riesling last year and it was drinking very well - I think the Barry's make better wines..

[Mahmoud Ali]

1973 Wolf-Blass Yellow Label Shiraz/15% Cabernet
wow!!!!! seriously... wow!!!
genuinely, this is ridiculously good for a wine that probably cost me $2.50 in about 1975-76.
mellow, sweet, might I say it? quite Burgundian. Would be very hard pressed to call this an Aussie shiraz. Incredible.
no good wines at this age, only good bottles, but this guy is a freak. I'm speechless. 95pts drink now

Seriously good result. It often happens that modest, less fancied wines make great bottles and this is another example. Gives me hope for an often overlooked, solitary bottle of 1983 Yellow Label Shiraz/Cabernet in that iconic, wrap-around label. Is a ten year wait in order?

[Chuck]

Last night with friends over a spag bol we enjoyed a Grant Burge 2009 Corryton Park Barossa Cabernet Sauvignon (cork). From one of the highest vineyards in the Eden Valley this has the goods of a warmer climate cabernet. Generous fruit with plenty of blackcurrant and other black fruits. Good oak (US I think) and everything in place. I do like an occasional cabernet from McLaren Vale or Barossa. Not a lot a thinking required to enjoy and great with spag bol. Wirra Warra 2016 McLaren Vale Church Block wasn't too shabby either. Prees were some nice aussie bubbles from Tasmania. Can't remember the name. Later a few generous glasses of Glenfarclas 15 Year Old single malt whisky. A bit shabby today and a beach walk with the dog helped a bit.

Carl

[Matt@5453]

Attended the Clare Valley wine show lunch on Friday. Always a very good event. Trophy and Gold Medal winning wines being served throughout the day, I did not get to all of them, a few ramblings below:

2018 Riesling Freak No.5 Off-Dry – eloquently balanced. Delicious.
2018 Jim Barry Lodge Hill Riesling (Trophy Winning Wine – current vintage Riesling) – fine example of Riesling – persistent length. Put a couple away.
2018 Mr Micks Rose (Chairman’s Wine of Show) – made from Tempranillo – beautiful colour, touch of sweetness – must admit really good drinking – a hit over summer.
2017 Clos Clare Riesling – delicious – well-made wine.
2017 O’Leary Walker “Dr’s Cut” Polish Hill Riesling – bone dry – acid – good length – one for the cellar 10-20 years in my mind.
2018 Jim Barry Wines Watervale Riesling – another Gold for this wine, has a few gongs now. Tasting against the other dry Rieslings you can get a hint of residual sugar on the finish. None the less, very good Riesling and very much a crowd pleaser
2017 Jim Barry Wines Assyrtiko – I just don’t get this wine, to me it’s all acid and water. Polarising.
2017 Naked Run Place in Time – I’ve had this a few times now, picked up a Trophy for best small producer. One of the better 2017 Rieslings I’ve tasted. Can’t put my finger on it – it’s just plain amazing
2017 Hill River Estate Riesling – good length and balance.

With the weather sitting mid-20s it was not a real good day for drinking reds so stuck to a handful:
2017 Kilikanoon Wines Mr Hyde “The Full Monte” Montepulciano (Trophy winning wine) – straight off the bat – delicious. Medium+ body, fruit driving the palate, length plus some. Loved it.
2016 Annie's Lane Quelltaler Shiraz Cabernet – great fruit and subtle oak treatment, well balanced with length. I’d buy some of this.
2017 Taylors Wines Reserve Parcel Shiraz (Trophy winning wine) – dark fruits, well-judged oak – depth of flavour and length

A pretty full on day washed down with a couple of Clare Valley Brewing Company Summer Ales.

A wine that I did not get to try on the day but cleaned up 2 x Trophies was the 2011 Woodvale Vintners Skilly Riesling (Best Riesling of Show and Best Wine of Show).

[JamieBahrain]

I drank some Hutton Vale Grenache Mataros 2003 and 2004 I think. Lovely style and typically softened at this age. Had a prem-oxed Yattarna

[phillisc]

Attended the Clare Valley wine show lunch on Friday. Always a very good event. Trophy and Gold Medal winning wines being served throughout the day, I did not get to all of them, a few ramblings below:

2018 Riesling Freak No.5 Off-Dry – eloquently balanced. Delicious.
2018 Jim Barry Lodge Hill Riesling (Trophy Winning Wine – current vintage Riesling) – fine example of Riesling – persistent length. Put a couple away.
2018 Mr Micks Rose (Chairman’s Wine of Show) – made from Tempranillo – beautiful colour, touch of sweetness – must admit really good drinking – a hit over summer.
2017 Clos Clare Riesling – delicious – well-made wine.
2017 O’Leary Walker “Dr’s Cut” Polish Hill Riesling – bone dry – acid – good length – one for the cellar 10-20 years in my mind.
2018 Jim Barry Wines Watervale Riesling – another Gold for this wine, has a few gongs now. Tasting against the other dry Rieslings you can get a hint of residual sugar on the finish. None the less, very good Riesling and very much a crowd pleaser
2017 Jim Barry Wines Assyrtiko – I just don’t get this wine, to me it’s all acid and water. Polarising.
2017 Naked Run Place in Time – I’ve had this a few times now, picked up a Trophy for best small producer. One of the better 2017 Rieslings I’ve tasted. Can’t put my finger on it – it’s just plain amazing
2017 Hill River Estate Riesling – good length and balance.

With the weather sitting mid-20s it was not a real good day for drinking reds so stuck to a handful:
2017 Kilikanoon Wines Mr Hyde “The Full Monte” Montepulciano (Trophy winning wine) – straight off the bat – delicious. Medium+ body, fruit driving the palate, length plus some. Loved it.
2016 Annie's Lane Quelltaler Shiraz Cabernet – great fruit and subtle oak treatment, well balanced with length. I’d buy some of this.
2017 Taylors Wines Reserve Parcel Shiraz (Trophy winning wine) – dark fruits, well-judged oak – depth of flavour and length

A pretty full on day washed down with a couple of Clare Valley Brewing Company Summer Ales.

A wine that I did not get to try on the day but cleaned up 2 x Trophies was the 2011 Woodvale Vintners Skilly Riesling (Best Riesling of Show and Best Wine of Show).

Thanks Matt, brought half a dozen of the Clos Clare '17 earlier this month...thought it a beautiful reisling.
What is it that MV, Coonawarra and Clare all had their shows and public tastings on the same bloody day

Cheers
Craig

[felixp21]

2009 Two Hands "Barney's Block" SV Shiraz
wow, as good a McLaren Vale Shiraz as I have seen. A big wine, but it carries it's 15.2% well, with absolutely no trace of heat. Indeed, this is a beautifully balanced wine in the best of Aussie shiraz traditions. long and complex. A level above anything I have seen come from this area, and certainly highly recommended. Drinking well now, but with a decade in front of it. 96pts

[felixp21]

Couldn’t get on to County Down, closed for renovations for the month of October. Played Lahinch and loved it. My wife’s caddy Martin told us not to hit into the cemetery as his father is in it. Both the Ballybunion Cashen and Old were great. Didn’t play Waterville but it looked beautiful. Next time. Then on to Scotland for some more treasures.

Hopefully one of those treasures is Royal Dornoch, my 2nd favourite course. And the Glenmorangie distillery is 10 minutes away...

Yes it is! We have reciprocal rights with them. Also playing Royal Aberdeen, Turnberry, Western Gailes and Muirfield.
Thanks for the Glenmorangie tip.

what did you think of Aberdeen? I reckon the front nine is the best front nine in golf, sadly the back side let's the course down. Western Gailes a beauty, Muirfield too bloody tough hehe (like Carnoustie, although Muirfield is miles better)

[Rossco]

Late post, but my September tasting notes. These were served blind

2001 Arras EJ Carr Late Disgorged
58% Chardonnay – 8.8 Dosage. Ultrafine mousse, nose of high quality oak and grilled nuts. White flowers and white peach. Beautiful dryness about this wine. Acid still hanging in there, but fading. Slight chalkiness and salty minerality. Is there any Champagne at this price that is better? Lovely wine and great start to the evening.


2014 Oakridge 864 Funder & Diamond Drive Block Chardonnay
Crack & Pour. Fuller and richer style than expected. Was this a warm year? Now listed as ‘Excellent’ in Langtons classifications. Flint, Flint and flint on the nose. Blows off after some air. Again very forward/rich of honey and cashews not really supported by the acid. Lower yarra/floor fruit? Definitely not enough acid spine to go long term though still a good wine. Drink now and within 5 years.


2005 Domaine Arlaud Morey St. Denis Premier Cru Les Ruchots
Nose of Tar & Bitumen. Slight Cola/Leather, Black Cherries and Blue fruits. Strong backbone of tannins and the acid still prominent. Needs more sleeping time but the spice and violets are really appealing.


1988 Wendouree Shiraz
Stunning colour with no sign of bricking. Exemplary bottle and still quite primary. Menthol/Mint, coffee grounds, Glace` cherries and some chlorine characters. Acid & Tannins are still so supportive, this will live forever. More medium than full bodied, but just mind blowing. Aniseed/Liquorice and beautiful earthy flavours.


2005 Altos de Lanzaga Tempranillo
This was a very powerful wine. So primary still and felt so young. Tar, cola and bitumen with coffee grounds and spice. Still needs time for the very powerful Tannins & acid to integrate, but wow what a wine this will be in 15+ years. Modern Producer, needs food right now as fruit was dominated by the structure.


2009 Artardi Rioja La Poza de Ballesteros
Another huge and powerful wine here. Violets and wet earth. Searing tannins are distracting at the moment…too young? Very dry and I originally thought this was a Right Bank. Very surprised to find it was indeed Spanish… Long length with some liquorice, vanilla and all spice. Lots going on here and quite complex. 20+ year wine.


2001 La Rioja Alta Rioja Gran Reserva 904 – Oxidised, such a shame


2001 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial Cosecha
Beautiful, felt like a much older wine, surprised to find it as a 2001. Grilled nuts, red/blue fruits, exotic spices, black tea and old wood/leather polish. Silky texture.


2013 Mayford Tempranillo
Alpine Valley. Clearly new world and clearly young (young vines too?). Bright and vibrant fruits probably too young to properly enjoy. Youngish vines? Acid still quite prominent, just needs time. Spicy blue fruits but again just needs to fill out.


1991 Wynns Centenary Shiraz Cabernet
Coffee, Coffee and more coffee. Both Ground and Bean version. Old leather and again the shoe polish. Old wine, all secondary characters now, but probably the best example yet. Wont improve, but still has a time left and will hold. Tobacco, earthy, lead pencil and slight mint/eucalypt. Sensational wine…. Stunning in fact.


2006 Torbrek Les Amis Grenache
Bit simple and one dimensional. Is this still too young? Very prominent acid and quite a hit of alcohol heat. Not really varietal or regional. Slight red fruits, but overall disappointing.


1970 All Saints VP
Stunning example of how good aged fortified can really be. Coffee, Chocolate and shoe Polish….. but it’s the over powering taste of that Butterscotch Cream that hits you. Like a Werthers original but in liquid form. Creamy, buttery and caramel all swishes around your mouth. More please.

[phillisc]

Rossco, thanks for the note on the Centenary...a few of these left and probably 10 years since I have had one...although MJS brought one down to Coonawarra a year or two back, for Sue Hodder's 25th anniversary as winemaker at Wynns and the glass I had was magnificent.

88 Wendouree...good to see.

Cheers craig

[Luke W]

[quote="Rossco"]Late post, but my September tasting notes. These were served blind

2001 Arras EJ Carr Late Disgorged
58% Chardonnay – 8.8 Dosage. Ultrafine mousse, nose of high quality oak and grilled nuts. White flowers and white peach. Beautiful dryness about this wine. Acid still hanging in there, but fading. Slight chalkiness and salty minerality. Is there any Champagne at this price that is better? Lovely wine and great start to the evening.

1991 Wynns Centenary Shiraz Cabernet
Coffee, Coffee and more coffee. Both Ground and Bean version. Old leather and again the shoe polish. Old wine, all secondary characters now, but probably the best example yet. Wont improve, but still has a time left and will hold. Tobacco, earthy, lead pencil and slight mint/eucalypt. Sensational wine…. Stunning in fact.

Great notes Rossco, the last 2 bottles of 2000 EJ Carr that I've had have started off brilliantly but faded fairly quickly - within an hour or so. A bit concerning really, maybe this is the style that Ed makes the wine in but I can't see why.

Good to see the 91 is still surviving, although I've had some bottle variation with these possibly due to provenance. It's such a stunner when it's on song.