TN: 1979 Penfolds Grange & The Tea Party rock!

Baby Chickpea · Post by **Baby Chickpea** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 8:18 am

1979 Penfolds Grange
87% shiraz, 13% cabernet (only the 93 Grange has a higher percentage of cabernet with 14%). Colour is medium red with clear bricking at the rim. Good clarity and excellent overall. Very good nose of semi-sweet black fruits, basil and garden herbs, caramel and spicy dark chocolate. Palate is excellent. Good primary fruit, which contributes some residual sweetness. Very, very fine tannins that are beautifully integrated. Finishes bone dry. A tad woody but not overly or even a problem. Length is really the only real let down (especially when compared with recent bottles of the 76 and 78 Granges I had). Remains in top condition and it is at its peak. Drank at dinner before heading to The Tea Party gig at the Enmore Theatre. No prescience when lead singer Jeff Martin howls Ãƒâ€šÃ¢â‚¬Å“And you fade awaaayyyyyyyy!!!Ãƒâ€šÃ¢â‚¬Â in their classic Psychopomp. No hurry to drink up and will live for many years. Top drop. Top gig. Life is good.
92 / 100

707 · Post by **707** » Wed Dec 15, 2004 8:35 am

Good notes Danny. The only 79 Grange I had was at an options night a few years back and one of the questions was about price bracket.

One amongst us (not me!) said it was $5-10. He was suitably embarassed on the night and like elephants we have long memories so bring up his faux pas on suitable occasions.

The Tea Party - before my time......I wish.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 1:30 am

Sounds awesome, last time I saw the Tea Party boys live was in Perth a couple of month's after their Big Day Out tour. The most recent album didn't set me alight their earlier stuff - like Transmission *drool* - was it any better live?

I can't come close to a match like that, but over the February long weekend this year I took in A Perfect Circle on the Friday, and then Bowie on the Monday. Couldn't drink at the gigs them selves, but I had a Brown Brothers Family Reserve Cabernet Sauvignion 1978 (my birthyear) less than an hour after hearing Maynard's explosive crescendo to "Judith"; and followed the Bowie concert with a 1993 Mount Mary Quintet.
The right music, the right wine, and the right people. What more could you ask for?

Baby Chickpea · Post by **Baby Chickpea** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 8:27 am

Agree "Guest" Ãƒâ€šÃ¢â‚¬â€œ Cannot beat Wine, Women and Song!

I didn't think the Tea Party's latest album "7 Circles" was much chop but they mixed up the gig with one old, one new track. Worked well and they're great live. Much preferred "Edges Of Twilight" and "Interzone Mantras".

I also saw A Perfect Circle in Sydney at the Hordern, another brilliant performance from a band who did not take themselves too seriously on stage, despite the "progressive/alt rock" nomenclature (they joked around alot). This was despite the antics of primadonna Maynard (and noted Grange lover who bought the 98 Jeroboam for $75,000 a couple of years ago) who basically didn't even acknowledge the crowd with a "Hello" once and sung with his back to us most of the time.

cranky unlogged · Post by **cranky unlogged** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 12:49 pm

Occasionally still kick myself for missing out on both big shows in Feb. Was busy doing something else, can't remember what, so couldn't have been that important! Almost got to see APC at Madison Square Gardens about 3 years ago, but couldn't get tickets at short notice (played just a couple of days after we arrived in NY and saw the gig advertised). :roll:

I have seen both T.P. and Bowie many, many moons ago, T.P. before into wine, Bowie when still underage!
Don't often get out to rock shows these days. but I did get to drink Emu Bitter at a Celibate Rifles gig recently, though!

DaveL · Post by **DaveL** » Thu Dec 16, 2004 9:58 pm

That was me posting earlier as an untitled guest.

A shame MKJ was being a primadonna, he was brilliant at the Perth gig - great connection with us, eye contact and everything. Played Judith as the last track of the gig with some drunk a$$-hole hanging off the rafters directly above him. They are a fabulous band, though eMOTIVE was a bit of a let down for me, I hear new Tool is well on the way too. *starts panting* I just wish the Tea Party's Jeff had auditioned to sing lead vocals for the "New Doors" - I could almost pass that off as the real thing.

/non-wine gushing

cranky · Post by **cranky** » Sat Dec 18, 2004 2:34 pm

... and so it comes back to being wine related (sort of!)

The lineup for the Perth edition (does it tour?) of the Moonlight Music and Wine Festival has just been announced. Some more details HERE
It looks like a Big Day Out for 35 to 55 year olds. Blondie, Taj Mahal, David Byrne, Jimmy Barnes, Willie Nelson, and a LOT more. Oh well, I am in that age bracket! :roll:

At the top of the headliners list is The Doors, featuring Ian Astbury as the replacement for Jimbo M. As The Cult were one of the most impressive live bands I have seen, in no small way due to the presence and talent of him, and judging from some promo photos with Mr A sporting long bushy black locks, I don't think they could have found anyone nearly as good to fill in.
Well, maybe Jeff, but he would look far too young compared to the rest of the band! Ian is looking a bit roadworn, and has the whole shaman thing down pat too.

I don't know anything about the wine side of the festival at this stage, but I think it involves a bunch of reps in tents out the back or in the grandstand.