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

[George Krashos]

Cracked my bottle of Wynns Centenary earlier this year and it was bloody nice. Have a magnum left, for later.

A few earlier bottles hadn't been as impressive and the belief was that it was maybe sliding off the plateau. I guess it comes down to the "great old bottles, not great old wines" adage now.

[Rossco]

Cracked my bottle of Wynns Centenary earlier this year and it was bloody nice. Have a magnum left, for later.

A few earlier bottles hadn't been as impressive and the belief was that it was maybe sliding off the plateau. I guess it comes down to the "great old bottles, not great old wines" adage now.

From what I have seen in the 3 bottles I have had, is that there is quite a bit of bottle variation. Not sure if that is due to storage though
which is quite possible. This last one was the best of the 3.

[Mike Hawkins]

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)

I think RCD’s front nine is way better

[Ozzie W]

2012 De Bortoli Riorret The Abbey Vineyard
13% ABV. Cellared since release. The palate has already gone very tertiary, which is much faster than I expected. Mushrooms in cherry sauce. A little simple but still enjoyable. Everything well balanced. Drink up if you have any. This isn't going to last too much longer.

Interesting name, BTW. Riorret is Terroir spelled backwards.

[Matt@5453]

A lovely bottle of 2017 ‘Premio’ Reserve Fiano Pinot Grigio (60%/40%) at Pikes Wines new restaurant "Slate" over lunch.
Lovely mouthfeel, texture, clean and fresh - excellent over lunch.

[phillisc]

A lovely bottle of 2017 ‘Premio’ Reserve Fiano Pinot Grigio (60%/40%) at Pikes Wines new restaurant "Slate" over lunch.
Lovely mouthfeel, texture, clean and fresh - excellent over lunch.

Hard day then!

Cheers craig

[Matt@5453]

A lovely bottle of 2017 ‘Premio’ Reserve Fiano Pinot Grigio (60%/40%) at Pikes Wines new restaurant "Slate" over lunch.
Lovely mouthfeel, texture, clean and fresh - excellent over lunch.

Hard day then!

Cheers craig

taking one for the team today

[felixp21]

Cracked my bottle of Wynns Centenary earlier this year and it was bloody nice. Have a magnum left, for later.

A few earlier bottles hadn't been as impressive and the belief was that it was maybe sliding off the plateau. I guess it comes down to the "great old bottles, not great old wines" adage now.

interesting George, I have seen this wine countless times and fully subscribe to the well-held view that this wine is significantly better in magnum than it is in bottle. Even had bottle and magnum side-by-side on two occasions, and the difference was stark.

[JamieBahrain]

Brokenwood Graveyard Chardonnay 2002 was very enjoyable. Under screw cap, the oak integration was a little retarded though not doubting, in this case, a firm argument for !

[Scotty vino]

2012 Greenock creek AP block.
Blackberry/dark chocolate/cassis/spice/vanillin oak all dialed up to ten.
A bit of heat and volatility working its way in. (16%alc )
some fortified characteristics running thru the finish.
tannins were quite focussed and firm.
opened and decanted for 1 hour then down the hatch with a mate.
Next time ill leave over night i reckon it could blow off a bit.
I described this wine as a Wildebeest wearing a tutu.
qutie big and brutish but there were some delicate elements particulaly the
tannin structure which I found quite balanced and pleasant.
first bottle in a sixer. will drink over the next couple of years i reckon.
IN the end i liked this. The only detracting element was the heat/alc poking it's head out a fraction.

[Redback]

Eperosa 2017 Magnolia Blanc
Semillon from the Magnolia Rd estate vineyard in the Vine Vale. Organically farmed on a small section of sandy loan with vine age ranging between 42 and 76 years. Barrel fermented and aged in French oak for 15 months. 12%alc.

Light gold in colour. Light lemon/apple. Most enjoyable and a great match with chilli prawn pizza.

[Willard]

Eperosa 2017 Magnolia Blanc
Semillon from the Magnolia Rd estate vineyard in the Vine Vale. Organically farmed on a small section of sandy loan with vine age ranging between 42 and 76 years. Barrel fermented and aged in French oak for 15 months. 12%alc.

Light gold in colour. Light lemon/apple. Most enjoyable and a great match with chilli prawn pizza.

Snap, opened a bottle on the weekend and finished it tonight. I said lemon curd, Granny Smith, wool, saline tang. I loved it.

[Rory]

Cupla lovely Rieslings out of the cellar over the weekend.

2002 Petaluma. this one under cork, and its a good one, if almost great. Settling in nicely, awesome fruit clarity and richness, fantastic length with good supporting acid. Id imagine well stored bottles under stelvin will go 20 years easily.
2003 Seppelt Drumborg . Under Stelvin. Lordy, this thing is another 10 years away from settling in! Bracing acidity still wrapped by quality fruit. The only negative is a noticeably shorter palate than the Petaluma.

[sjw_11]

Realised I haven't posted any tasting notes for awhile so here is a whole mixed bag from the last few months...

• 2012 Château Tour Prignac Grande Réserve - France, Bordeaux, Médoc (11/6/2018)
  Very nice medium bodied claret and excellent QPR. (87 pts.)
• 2002 Bodegas Valsacro Rioja Dioro - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (11/3/2018)
  Purchased in a small wine store in Haro in Rioja. Good colour for the age, blood red but not too much bricking. Soft, classic nose- plum, slight herbal tone, hint of undergrowth but not unappealing. Well balanced and fully mature. Delicious mid aged Rioja. (87 pts.)
• 2013 Domaine Matrot St. Romain Blanc - France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, St. Romain (11/2/2018)
  Clear yellow/green. Slightly oily nose of ripe peach and citrus. Balanced palate with good weight and decent acidity. Drink now prospect in my view. (86 pts.)
• 2016 Jean Rijckaert Savagnin Côtes du Jura Les Sarres - France, Jura, Côtes du Jura (10/26/2018)
  Mid yellow in the glass. Fresh but very complex and intriguing nose with bright citrus, beeswax, herbaceousness and round peach. Quite full bodied on the palate with rich fruit and a lingering after taste. Good acid suggests some potential to keep longer. (88 pts.)
• 2014 Bernard Burgaud Côte-Rôtie - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie (10/21/2018)
  Gentle, restrained nose- bright red berries, vanilla and warm spice. The palate opens with lifted berry notes and follows with plum... very soft and gentle, not much tannin profile, but very pure. I don’t know, I just don’t quite get this wine. It’s perfectly nice but is it a €45 wine? It’s soft gentle and just a bit anodyne. (87 pts.)
• 2015 Initial de Desmirail Margaux - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (10/20/2018)
  Slightly thin, green nose. Some dusty red berries. Underneath a hint of juicier fruit. The palate opens with a lick of bright red fruit, followed by quite firm, very dusty tannins. Not particularly loveable at this point if I am honest, it may become more in time. (86 pts.)
• 2017 Les Vaux Sereins Petit Chablis - France, Burgundy, Chablis, Petit Chablis (10/17/2018)
  Clean, tart citrus and grapefruit on the nose. A little “grippy” but quite fresh. Zingy citrus and crisp acid in the mouth, although finishing with a measure of rounded stone fruit. Perfectly acceptable mid week white. Good value. (87 pts.)
• 2017 Vignobles Arbeau Fronton On L'Appelle - France, Southwest France, Fronton (10/17/2018)
  Very intriguing and unusual. The wine store said it’s a bit natural and the flavours are certainly distinctive. The colour is light purple red. The nose is distinctly sweet and sour with a sort of sour cherry element. The palate has a strong line of acidity and it is altogether better on the cold side of chilled. A marmite wine I would guess (love it or hate it). (85 pts.)
• 2017 Pierre Gaillard St. Joseph Blanc - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, St. Joseph (10/13/2018)
  Mid yellow in the glass. Impeccable nose of unctuous stone fruit, apricot and honeysuckle with a distinct floral overtone. Superb balance, with a pleasant oiliness without being at all cloying or phenolic. Good length and drive to the pure fruit in the mouth. Really impressive juice and for just under €30 frais from Nicolas- still great value. (93 pts.)
• 2017 Jean-Luc Colombo Crozes-Hermitage Les Fées Brunes - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage (10/10/2018)
  Quite rich and ripe, with an expressive vibrant nose of purple fruit and a plush, sweet palate displaying bright fruit and merely gently tannin. Quite new world in style- but modest alcohol stops it being cloying or over the top. Enjoyable if fruit forward drinking. (87 pts.)
• 2016 Gomez Cruzado Rioja Pancrudo - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (10/8/2018)
  Single vineyard Grenache. Purchased from the cellar door in Rioja. Sweet, juicy red fruits. Quite jubey/confected. I really enjoyed this at the winery but somehow it had a complexity there that this bottle just hasn’t delivered. Unobjectionable but not worth the price on this showing. (86 pts.)
• 2012 Frank Phélan - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe (9/30/2018)
  Mid red in the glass. Gentle claret nose, red currant, slight herbal element. Very light, almost watery in the mouth. Some red berries, but a very short finish. Based on this bottle, drink up or don’t bother. Poor value. (85 pts.)
• 2017 Donkey and Goat Chardonnay Linda Vista Vineyard - USA, California, Napa Valley (9/29/2018)
  From the West Oak Knoll area of the Napa, grown on Alluvial soils, this sees natural yeast fermentation and goes into bottle unfined.
  Quite distinctly yellow, this has a definite hint of oxidative sharpness on the nose initially despite the young age. With more air, notes of white peach emerge. The palate feels a bit disjointed, the powerful acid structure jutting out and obscuring the fruit. There is an underlying citrus element, but it’s obscured by all that acid.
  The modern obsession with zippy and low intervention Chardonnay perhaps goes too far here. That said, it may improve with even more time/air. (86 pts.)
• 2017 Pence Ranch Winery Gamay Noir - USA, California, Central Coast, Santa Barbara County (9/10/2018)
  Purchased at the new Eataly in Century City and drunk with a burger. This is immediately appealing, with soft, sappy red fruits on the nose. Medium bodied in the palate with sweet (but not too sweet) juicy fruit and gentle spice. Wonderful balance- only 13pc abv and all the better for it. 285 dozen only made. (88 pts.)
• 2016 Rombauer Vineyards Zinfandel California - USA, California (9/8/2018)
  From a shop in San Diego. Pop and pour. Rich deep red colour. Ripe nose, which carries through to the palate. Jammy fruit, lots of apparent sweetness. Alcohol at 15.9% doesn’t surprise. Nice casual drinking but I can’t see this as a long term proposition and I question the value. (86 pts.)
• 2012 Château Les Ormes de Pez - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe (8/19/2018)
  Deep blood red. The nose remains quite fresh and fruit driven, with notes of cassis and blackberry liqueur, along with a slight hint of green/undergrowth. In the mouth this feels quite thin, opening with bright red fruit and closing with soft, furry tannins. Pleasant drinking but not a lot of complexity. May gather more weight in time? (87 pts.)
• 2008 Château Charmail - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc (8/16/2018)
  Bright nose of fresh red berry, black currant, and a slight confectionary note. In the mouth this opens with sweet, simple red fruit. The finish is juicy and fleshy but lacks complexity. The tannins are soft and approachable. Very drinkable now, I doubt it has a long term future but should be fine for several years. (87 pts.)
• 2014 Gomez Cruzado Rioja Gran Reserva Honorable - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (8/9/2018)
  Quite stately nose, very structured with dark red fruits, a fair bit of oak overlaid. Hints of black currant liquer, plums, vanilla and clove. Fairly youthful of course, quite tight even on the second day. The palate also has a fair wack of grippy tannins which kick in at the end.
  This cuvee is made as the house standard flagship only in better years, and this is an impressive wine for the money. Will drink better in 2-3 years and keep for at least a decade. (91 pts.)
• 2010 Bodegas Beronia Rioja Gran Reserva - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (8/8/2018)
  Rich, deep nose. Dark plums and black currant. Quite ripe and sweet. On the palate it opens with lush dark fruit and vanillin, followed by gentle tannins and a lingering finish. Medium bodied and fleshy.
  Very fresh and nicely fruited, plenty of life in it. Very pleasant drinking. (90 pts.)
• 2013 Grattamacco Bolgheri Rosso - Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri (8/3/2018)
  No formal notes but my comments from 2016 remain valid. A quite structured and well built wine, no rush to drink. Good now or for at least 3-5 years in my view. Exceptional QPR. (89 pts.)
• 2016 Terras Gauda Rías Baixas Etiqueta Negra - Spain, Galicia, Rías Baixas (7/25/2018)
  This is usually a mix of Albarino with Loureiro and Caíño Blanco but I cannot confirm the percentages for 2016. Fermentation is in French oak and the wine then sees a further five or so months on lees with regular bottonage.
  This is a mid yellow in the glass. The nose is quite vibrant and exotic, with a sharp citrus element, as well as a creamier, more apricot-like undercurrent. In the mouth this is rich and round, but with really good acidity keeping things together. Lovely mouthfeel, and good length. Really impressive. (92 pts.)
• 2017 Daniel Crochet Sancerre Filigrane - France, Loire Valley, Upper Loire, Sancerre (7/18/2018)
  Really fresh and clean. Delicious drinking on a balmy Paris night.
• 2016 Yann Chave Crozes-Hermitage - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage (7/8/2018)
  Fresh red berries, nicely balanced on the palate. Fruit forward, juicy, and plush. Nice everyday drinking.
• 2015 Mario Rovira Tosca Cerrada - Spain, Andalucía, Vino de la Tierra de Cádiz (6/12/2018)
  This is apparently an experimental wine from Mario Rovira in conjunction with Bodegas Delgado Zuleta in Jerez. It is an unfortified wine but still developed under a flor layer as is typical fino sherry.
  Hard to know what to make of this. It is not my usual preferred style. It smacks of modern "natural" wine making. Slightly hazy in the glass. A certain grapey/appley freshness on the nose. I don't see a lot of typical flor characters. The palate is fruity, a bit simple.
  Wine Advocate gave this 90pts apparently. (86 pts.)
• 2016 Pagos Del Rey Toro Pulpito - Spain, Castilla y León, Toro (6/12/2018)
  Simple but very pleasant bright, fresh red wine that offers great simple, food friendly fleshy red fruit and decent balance. (86 pts.)

Posted from [url=https://www.cellartracker.com/]CellarTracker[/url]

[sjw_11]

I notice my points scoring is going the opposite way to Halliday... I haven't given anything over 93 points and have given more 86's than I have 90-something...

[michel]

I notice my points scoring is going the opposite way to Halliday... I haven't given anything over 93 points and have given more 86's than I have 90-something...

I respect you bigtime
REAL points
Refreshing

[Con J]

2012 Woods Crampton Shiraz

Straight out of Crampton another crazy ass ?????? the more punks I smoke my rep gets bigger. I've had a few tonight, sorry.

Cheers Con.

[Ozzie W]

2012 Woods Crampton Shiraz

Straight out of Crampton another crazy ass ?????? the more punks I smoke my rep gets bigger. I've had a few tonight, sorry.

Cheers Con.

I haven't heard that song in ages. Sounds like you had a great night. Cheers!

[Chuck]

I notice my points scoring is going the opposite way to Halliday... I haven't given anything over 93 points and have given more 86's than I have 90-something...

I respect you bigtime
REAL points
Refreshing

+1. I note Campbell Mattinson is also doing reviews for the JH site and wonder if his point scores are being moderated to scale them up to JH's level.

[Ozzie W]

I notice my points scoring is going the opposite way to Halliday... I haven't given anything over 93 points and have given more 86's than I have 90-something...

I respect you bigtime
REAL points
Refreshing

+1. I note Campbell Mattinson is also doing reviews for the JH site and wonder if his point scores are being moderated to scale them up to JH's level.

It's my understanding from reading posts on TWF that scores are "adjusted" to the same scale as Halliday.

[TiggerK]

A nice dinner last night with a few friends and some decent burgs.. Wines mostly done in pairs.

Cristal 1996 - touch of brown apple on the yeasty nose, such great acid and length. Epic with the food, nice start!

Louis Michel Les Clos Chablis GC 2016 - disappointing - flabby and broad, bit tropical, lacks focus.
Moutard-Diligent Les Clos Chablis GC 2014 - very good, nice balance and the weight is just right.

Mount Mary Chardonnay 2002 - Good cork and storage, showed well. Oak & a bit of caramel noticeable after the previous duo.
Louis Jadot Meursault-Charmes 1er Cru 2011 - Oak also a feature, maybe like a touch more acid zing, but a very enjoyable wine.

William Fevre Montee de Tonnerre Chablis 1er Cru 2010 - Bit unfair as it paled next to the Rav, bit leaner and less complex, but in other context would be happy with it.
Raveneau Montee de Tonnerre Chablis 1er Cru 2010 - Powerful expression of Chablis as always from Raveneau. Excellent wine.

Bachelet-Monnot Batard-Montrachet GC 2014 - Woah, intense. Loved it. 2014's are so good.

Domaine Serene Evenstad Reserve Williamette Valley Pinot Noir 2014 - Had me right in the heart of good Burgundy, actually thought they were both the same producer! This was a nice surprise, easily one of the best New World Pinots I've had.
Armand Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin Clos du Chateau 2014 - What can you say, everyone's a winner baby, that's the truth. Delicious, pretty, perfumed.

Seppelt Dorrien Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 - Tannins have softened since last I tried this, or maybe just bottle variation. Nice and mature, great glass of wine, bit of a freak.
Te Mata Coleraine Cabernet / Merlot 1996 - Also in a good spot now, can't recall specifics (should have taken notes), but really enjoyed this too.

Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Reserve 2010 - Bit of the classic CNdP alc heat on the nose, but not distracting, smooth fine tannins with the ripeness well judged. Palates were tiring but this was a pleasant surprise as CNdP often doesn't do much for me.

Great food at Golden Century as always, long live GC!

Cheers
Tim

[img]http://www.grapemates.org/files/GC%20Nov%20 ... ium%29.jpg[/img]

[Rossco]

2001 Crawford River Riesling

Deep Amber gold in colour, mesmerising looking into the glass.
Then the nose hits you. Huge mandarin and mandarin peel that is just so intense. Beeswax, lanolin and
some grilled & pickled limes. The length is out of this world and this is why I love aged Riesling. Structure
to hold it for a little while longer, but I dont think its going to get better...... cork crumbled on extraction,
but no signs of seepage or weeping. Best bottle I have had so far (out of 4, and one was faulty)... I have one left.

[Michael McNally]

Some nice wines over the weekend. Compared side by side on Friday night:

2009 Magpie Estate 'The Election' Barossa Shiraz
Had an itch for a fruit-dominant Barossa red and this delivered in spades. Was best 2 nights after opening so still plenty of time to develop in the bottle. But beautiful to drink right now.

2007 Rolf Binder 'Heysen' Barossa Shiraz
Not as complete or complex as the Magpie Estate, but a pretty wine with some nice French oak going on. Good fruit and finally seems to be coming out of a dumb phase as previous bottles have been less inspiring.

With some guests on Saturday:
1998 Mt Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz
Was sure this would be stuffed when I pulled the capsule off to reveal signs of previous weeping. Cork was saturated, but came out in one piece. Three hours in the decanter and this was a beautiful wine. Not possibly the power I was expecting for the vintage, but beautiful balanced fruit. Plenty of primary and secondary flavours, with little sign of tertiary, suggesting that well cellared bottles might have a long way to go. Beautiful aged wine and a (auction) lottery win!

1998 Balnaves Cabernet Merlot
Wasn't expecting much from this to be honest as previous bottles have been pretty ordinary. Not this bottle. Pristine cork. After 3 hours in the decanter a beautiful Coonawarra wine. Not too heavy on the mint and a pleasant green capsicum complexity to the savoury fruit. More developed than the Langi, but a gorgeous wine nonetheless.

And a glass to wind down the weekend:
2013 Coldstream Hills Chardonnay
Full fruited varietal Chardonnay. Mature now and drinking really well. Depth and length to burn. Excellent wine for a mid-priced commercial drop.

Cheers

Michael

[michel]

2017 Pewsey Vale 1961 block Riesling
Talcy limey acid style with a persistent finish
And improves over 6 hours
Try it! It’s a winner

[Rossco]

2017 Pewsey Vale 1961 block Riesling
Talcy limey acid style with a persistent finish
And improves over 6 hours
Try it! It’s a winner

I have 6 stashed away. Going to crack one over the Xmas holidays and see what its like.
Great to hear it is living up to its (lofty) reviews.
Same as my 2017 Wines by KT Peglidis, thats another 6 pack im going to open and try.

[rooman]

2017 Pewsey Vale 1961 block Riesling
Talcy limey acid style with a persistent finish
And improves over 6 hours
Try it! It’s a winner

Damn I was trying to track down some of this over the weekend but without success. It seems it’s sold out everywhere.

Mark

[Gavin Trott]

2017 Pewsey Vale 1961 block Riesling
Talcy limey acid style with a persistent finish
And improves over 6 hours
Try it! It’s a winner

Damn I was trying to track down some of this over the weekend but without success. It seems it’s sold out everywhere.

Mark

Mark, the 2017 Pewsey Vale 1961 block Riesling ... email me

gtrott@auswine.com.au

if you want some, I can get it!

.

Gavin

[phillisc]

2017 Pewsey Vale 1961 block Riesling
Talcy limey acid style with a persistent finish
And improves over 6 hours
Try it! It’s a winner

Damn I was trying to track down some of this over the weekend but without success. It seems it’s sold out everywhere.

Mark

Mark, the 2017 Pewsey Vale 1961 block Riesling ... email me

gtrott@auswine.com.au

if you want some, I can get it!

.

Gavin

Mark, get some...brought two six packs of the 61 to put away...purchased the standard 17 and suspect will get 6 of the contours in 2022....will be a good comparison.

This bloody Riesling train is gaining speed...12 2018 Petaluma HH Andrew Hardy's last and he informs me its a treat!
As if I need anymore
Forgot 6 each of 2018 Vickery EV and Watervale...no more!!

Cheers craig

[rooman]

2017 Pewsey Vale 1961 block Riesling
Talcy limey acid style with a persistent finish
And improves over 6 hours
Try it! It’s a winner

Damn I was trying to track down some of this over the weekend but without success. It seems it’s sold out everywhere.

Mark

Mark, the 2017 Pewsey Vale 1961 block Riesling ... email me

gtrott@auswine.com.au

if you want some, I can get it!

.

Gavin

Gavin long day but yes i will email for a 6 pack.

thanks
mark

[rooman]

Mark, the 2017 Pewsey Vale 1961 block Riesling ... email me

gtrott@auswine.com.au

if you want some, I can get it!

.

Gavin

Mark, get some...brought two six packs of the 61 to put away...purchased the standard 17 and suspect will get 6 of the contours in 2022....will be a good comparison.

This bloody Riesling train is gaining speed...12 2018 Petaluma HH Andrew Hardy's last and he informs me its a treat!
As if I need anymore
Forgot 6 each of 2018 Vickery EV and Watervale...no more!!

Cheers craig

Thanks I will be adding this to the collection. Glad to see the riesling train is gaining speed. And as far as I am concerned you can never have too much riesling especially as this is one variety that really doesn't come up too extensively on the auction market. There was a period where I was picking up cases of the Petaluma Hanlin 2002 for around $22 then suddenly one day the price just gapped to mid 30s and that was the last i saw of it.

mark