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

[Mahmoud Ali]

When going for Turkish wines the recommendation is to try their native varietals, things Boğazkere, Öküzgözü, and Kalecik Karasi.

[felixp21]

When going for Turkish wines the recommendation is to try their native varietals, things Boğazkere, Öküzgözü, and Kalecik Karasi.

I hear the Turks like to serve their wines in coffins.

[JamieBahrain]

Yep surprised Erdogen hasn't inspired a vine pull ! What a thug.

I met these guys when trekking remote battlefields of the Gallipoli peninsula. They are in beautiful Suvla Bay ( where the Brits landed and drank tea on the beach )

http://www.suvla.com.tr/home.html

[Matt@5453]

A couple of nice rieslings over lunch yesterday:

2016 Petaluma Riesling, Hanlin Hill, Clare Valley

Colour slightly darker than I expected. Very good intensity to the wine showing limes, minerals / wet stone, with reasonably high acidity. Very good wine with good depth of flavour - should live a long time.


2017 Grosset Riesling Alea, Clare Valley

A delicate wine with florals, talc and lime/citrus. Very subtle sweetness on the finish, with balancing acid. Delicious.

[Mahmoud Ali]

I met John Duval at a tasting in Sydney's Custom House a number of years ago. His wines, all three that were on tasting, were classy and elegant. A person could not do much better if they had his wines in their cellar.

I have a doz Entity 2010 & 2012 in the cellar which im itching to try. Wisely I put them right down the back and have stacked other wines on top....so not easy to get to

You are a lucky man. Also, with a dozen bottles, you have the luxury of trying a bottle early in the game to see how they are progressing.

[kenzo]

I tried the Eligo late last year (can't recall vintage), and it was a deep, brooding wine that took hours to open (somewhat) up. Great depth of fruit with weight kept in balance and quality of fruit and winemaking obvious. I intend to seek out more, and likewise bury them deep!

[Mahmoud Ali]

When going for Turkish wines the recommendation is to try their native varietals, things Boğazkere, Öküzgözü, and Kalecik Karasi.

I hear the Turks like to serve their wines in coffins.

I don't understand the reference .... perhaps you could explain.

[Ozzie W]

When going for Turkish wines the recommendation is to try their native varietals, things Boğazkere, Öküzgözü, and Kalecik Karasi.

I hear the Turks like to serve their wines in coffins.

I don't understand the reference .... perhaps you could explain.

I guess it didn't make the news headlines in Canada. This is referring to a recent very unpleasant remark by the Turkish president. Google "Turkish coffins" if you are interested. I'd rather not quote him on this forum.

[Mahmoud Ali]

I had heard about Mr Erdogan's use of a video of the mosque massacre in his campaign rallies but missed the bit about sending anti-Muslim Australians and/or New Zealanders visiting Turkey back in coffins. However the connection between wine and coffins is somewhat oblique I must say.

Mr Erdogan's use of the video is, at best, in very poor taste, and his remarks about sending people back home in coffins deeply insensitive and undiplomatic. Mr Erdogan also needs a lesson in history because the casualties of the Gallipoli campaign were not sent home in coffins but rather buried in cemetaries in the Gallipoli peninsula.

According to SBS the opposition leader Mr Shorten said: "I think the remarks of the Turkish President were foolish and they were offensive ... What I also understand, though - this might comfort for Australians who are upset by the remarks - there is an election in Turkey, a domestic election within the next 10 days ... It is not unknown for domestic politicians in domestic elections to say inflammatory things about matters beyond their borders."

Indeed, some of us do remember Mr Howard and the Children Overboard affair in the leadup to the federal elections.

Mahmoud.

[JamieBahrain]

Let's keep it relevant please to wine please Felix.

The theocratic thug Erdogen puts more journalists in jail than any other nation. This probably includes their wine journalists which is why nobody's heard of Turkish wine.

[Mahmoud Ali]

Turkish wine is apparently making its way to Canada but I have only seen one, an inexpensive wine by the name KUP. It was a blend of two native varietals and bottled under a very simple and cheap-looking screwcap, the kind one might see on a bottle of cordial. It was very light, almost Beaujolais-like but more sappy and minerally if I recall. It was more than a few years ago. Apparently other Turkish wines are around but I have yet to come across them.

I bought these two at duty free while passing through Istanbul airport but have yet to try them. The one on the left is made from Okuzgozu and on the right from Bogazkere.

[Rory]

My understanding is there are a couple of Australian winemakers doing some advisory work in Turkey.

[Ozzie W]

Finishing off the last of my Rosé.

2017 Rocca di Montegrossi Rosato Toscana IGT

[url=https://postimg.cc/DJVxMpqF][img]https://i.postimg.cc/DJVxMpqF/IMG-20190327-193256.jpg[/img][/url]

90% Sangiovese with 5% each of Merlot and Canaiolo. From Monti In Chianti, Tuscany.

Strawberry, red currants, cranberry, watermelon, cherry, blood orange. Despite the red fruit salad, it's also very savoury - earth, mixed nuts, dried herbs, Chardonnay-esque grassiness. Low acidity. The finish lingers longer than most Rosé, mostly bitter orange.

[Con J]

I made a Boeuf Bourguignon with creamy garlic mash potato and opened a 1994 Leasingham Classic Clare Sparkling Shiraz with a lot of bling.
The cork broke in half opening it so had to use a corkscrew and there was no discernible pop or fizz, some bubbles while poring but disappear very quickly. Color looked developed, hard to describe like a burnt slightly brown deep burgundy color. Nose is earthy mushroom like and not a lot of fruit. The palate’s got more going on, earthy sweet black and blue berries with some tannin grip and a lovely blue berry finish.
This was my third from six I purchased a few months back from auction.
The first was good the second was great and this was in between.

Cheers Con.

[Mahmoud Ali]

Sounds lovely Con, and I like the food match.

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

[Rossco]

My notes for a wonderful wine evening last week. All wines served blind.


2006 Dom Perignon
Beautiful Richness here quite typical of the house. Had a wonderful line of acidity that kept the richness in check, with
a very long length. Bright yellow/gold in the glass, initially i was worried it was a bit developed, but no it was in a great spot.
White Nectarine, Cashew and creamy macadamia with some nougat. Yeasty just baked bready notes, rice crackers and
just this mouth filling silky fruit weight. 55% Pinot 45% Chardonnay with 7 g/l dosage (very easy to spot the high sugar)
but everything in perfect balance and what a great Dom. Not sure if 06 flys under the radar and is overshadowed by its
04 & 08 brothers, but wow I loved this.

2004 Mount Mary Chardonnay
Definitely on the decline if this bottle was a typical example (not sure it was though). Very brown/dark gold in the glass, with some
slight oxidative notes. Everyone picked this as new world, but as an aged Sem. I should have known better as there were no grassy or
hay notes in the glass. Preserved Lemon & Mandarin Peel. Didnt wow me

2002 Domaine Bertagna Clos Vougeot
Fauly - TCA

2011 Domaine de la Vougeraie Clos de Vougeot
Lighter in colour yet still bright red om the glass. Very pretty and floral on the nose. Elegant and feminine. Lighter fruit forward
style.. again bright red fruits. Red Currants & Cranberry. Beautiful wine. Grape Tannin, whole bunch, little hints of violets and lavender. Dry sage and some
other dry herbs. Feels like a young wine, 2010? Feels like a Clos Vougeot due to those beautiful fruits. Not as structured as an Echezeaux,
but that is a good thing as those fruits really shone through.

2010 Mongeard-Mugneret Echezeaux
Darker and slightly blurry so probably unfined/unfiltered?
Immediate hit of Graphite on the nose, possibly coal as well? Lead Pencil/Pencil Shavings. Lots of Iron filings and minerals in here, just a completely different wine,
there is structure, Echezeaux? Feel young, again like a 2010. Fruit is there, but there is this earthiness and power
to the wine. Acidity still quite prominent and probably more so than the tannin. Lovely wine, still on the way up and will live a a long time.

2004 Bruno Desaunay-Bissey Echezeaux
200% Whole bunches in here. So much whole bunch characters its unbelievable. Scorched earth on the nose too. Not hot/heat, but
more of an ash type nose. Grey Earth? Very Moist forest floor, undergrowth, mushrooms, black truffles and straw. Cold tea, with a
slight sweet sarsaparilla notes. Divided the room like nothing I have seen before, polarising wine. I really liked it, because it was really
different and really interesting. Didnt get any of the green meanies typical 04 wines.

2005 Bruno Desaunay-Bissey Echezeaux
Quite Dark red in the glass. Very fruit forward wine initially. New Season Red Cherries and raspberries , however then the structure
came in. Dry tannin, quite powerful tannin. Not sure if this is Vouget or Echezeaux. Fruits of Vouget but structure of Echezeaux....
Gorgeous wine, again is still improving and not hitting its peak yet. We were all blown away that it was another Bruno! What
a massive difference one year makes. No similarities, no hints at all its the same wine, just different vintages..... gebus what a freak
out!

2013 Alain Hudelot-Noellat Clos Vougeot
Beautiful and enthralling nose. Some slight whole bunch in there really lifts it up, still has some prominent oak,
the tannin is fine and dry. Silky raspberry fruit. Very primary fruit wine here. Vougeot? Floral fragrance here too. Jasmine?
Again i get some black tea / tea leave characters supported by some subtle spice. Absolutely stunning wine. Loved it.

2008 Domaine Anne Gros Clos Vougeot Le Grand Maupertui
What power here. So muscular and structural. Darker red in colour in the glass, I was very surprised just
how approachable and drinkable this was now, despite the power. Red fruits again with some leading into blacker fruits, but there was the minerality and earthiness that i saw in the Mongeard-Mugneret wine as well just Not as prominent. Lovely.

1999 Domaine Rene Engel Clos Vougeot
Lots of very strong and pungent barnyard characters. Slightly smokey whole bunch, massive tannin.... huge and powerful. Surely this was
an Echezeaux? No wrong do not pass go. Spicy but balanced acidity, but again I just couldn't get passed the barnyard. Others loved it, but I was clearly
missing something and missing the nuisances they really enjoyed.

1986 McWilliams Mount Pleasant Vintage Port (Hunter Valley)
Equal wine of the night for me. This was truly fantastic and such a revelation. Who knew Hunter Valley could
produce a fortified of this quality and caliber. Mix of Shriaz & Cabernet although not sure of %. It was the freshness
that really appealed here. I picked it as a cooler climate VP. I thought maybe Clare or Eden Valley. Bright red colour,
defies its age. Spirit was perfectly judged. Wasnt intrusive, hot or harsh, just complemented the wine. Crystal clear with no sign of blurring
or browning. So Clean, so fresh. Coffee, Toffee and red currents.
Raspberry, perfect balance, red rope licorice, spicy green peppercorn with some sea spray and salty mineral oyster
shell. What a way to finish!

[Sean]

deleted

[Mahmoud Ali]

Nice notes Sean, a good read, thanks ................... Mahmoud.

[Luke W]

Thought I'd better have a go at some of my older wines before they turn into vinegar. Opened a 1996 Tahbilk Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, what a pleasant surprise. Its not a 96 Grange, closer to a 96 Rockford BP. It lacks the nuance and the amazing plethora of flavours of the former, but boy it's got a lot of the latter. Full of an amalgam of red and black fruit, beautiful cigar box tannins, a balance like a ballet dancer and a flavour that lingers. It must have MSG in it because i want more every couple of seconds! Tahbilk says it's ready to drink, and i reckon they're right. It won't get any better but it might linger for a few years in the right cellar. A symphony in your mouth....

[Rory]

2004 Petaluma Coonawarra.
Wow, its in a great place at the moment. Beautiful complexity and length.
The fruit looks still great, but not sure of structure to go the distance.

[Cloth Ears]

Found this one in an auction and thought it was a great accompaniment for left-over lasagne and some figs with goats cheese. For a cheap wine, this was pretty good. Solid cork and lots of yummy, buttery, chardonnay goodness within.
Keeps the warmth in on a cold night...

IMG_20190329_195308.jpg

[shauno]

I’m in Perth for a few days & heading out for pizza tonight, so picked up a local Margs bottle - 2016 Cape Mentelle Shiraz - not tried it before, hopefully a nice drop!

[Mahmoud Ali]

Found this one in an auction and thought it was a great accompaniment for left-over lasagne and some figs with goats cheese. For a cheap wine, this was pretty good. Solid cork and lots of yummy, buttery, chardonnay goodness within.
Keeps the warmth in on a cold night...

IMG_20190329_195308.jpg

Alway nice to hear about pleasure received from an old bottle of inexpensive wine.

Mahmoud.

[Con J]

Last night went to a local restaurant that I recently discovered is BYO and no corkage on Mondays, the best thing about it is that it’s a two minute walk home.

Took along a 1971 Wynns Ovens valley (Burgundy) Shiraz that I recently bought at auction and a couple of backups, thankfully no need for a backup. Had this with house made tagliatelle with duck and mushroom with cream, thyme and truffle oil.

Very carefully taking the cork out, it was fully soaked but came out in one piece. There was a good sign when the cork screw went through the bottom of the cork and broke the seal you can see a few bubbles and hear air getting in. I’ve seen this a few times with very old bottles, old Wynns Black Label and Bin 389 come to mind.

The color was orange brown on the edges with a bright red core. The nose was mostly tertiary with some red fruit and spice. The palate was similar to the nose with a little white pepper just noticeable on the finish.

I would say a little past it’s best but still pleasant and enjoyable if you like them on the older side as I do. The earthiness of the mushrooms went well with the wine.

Cheers Con.

[michel]

Last night went to a local restaurant that I recently discovered is BYO and no corkage on Mondays, the best thing about it is that it’s a two minute walk home.

Took along a 1971 Wynns Ovens valley (Burgundy) Shiraz that I recently bought at auction and a couple of backups, thankfully no need for a backup. Had this with house made tagliatelle with duck and mushroom with cream, thyme and truffle oil.

Very carefully taking the cork out, it was fully soaked but came out in one piece. There was a good sign when the cork screw went through the bottom of the cork and broke the seal you can see a few bubbles and hear air getting in. I’ve seen this a few times with very old bottles, old Wynns Black Label and Bin 389 come to mind.

The color was orange brown on the edges with a bright red core. The nose was mostly tertiary with some red fruit and spice. The palate was similar to the nose with a little white pepper just noticeable on the finish.

I would say a little past it’s best but still pleasant and enjoyable if you like them on the older side as I do. The earthiness of the mushrooms went well with the wine.

Cheers Con.

Great food match

[felixp21]

some of the (mainly American) stuff during a week in NYC.

2016 Kistler Chardonnay "Les Noisetiers"
quite a developed, Burgundian nose, unusual for it's age. Drinks like a decent Meursault villages, but absurdly priced. 87pts

2014 Domaine Eden Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
half the price and twice the wine of the Kistler. Nuanced, long and complex. Very Burgundian. 91pts

2016 Chateau Carbonnieux Blanc
a superb, riveting wine, so precise with an incredible nose. Obviously very young at this stage, but just a super wine. 95pts

2016 Chateau Montelana Chardonnay
pretty easy drinking, simple wine. Reminded me of Leeuwin's prelude. (although 3x the price!) 88pts

2013 Mount Eden Vineyards Reserve Chardonnay
Santa Cruz fruit, was nice, but totally lacked any "x' factor. Pretty run of the mill, and for the price, disappointing. 89pts

2004 Dominus Estate
now were talking!! Stunning wine, gorgeous fruit, long and complex. Big step up in price, but a huge step up in quality from the generally mediocre American whites. 96pts

2014 Hirsch Vineyard Pinot Noir "San Andreas Fault"
decent quality fruit, but a clipped and astringent finish. Meh. 86pts

2015 Copain "Les Voisins" Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
this was the absolute stand-out Pinot of the week, and also maybe the cheapest!! Great wine, I'm almost certain I would have called this a top Chambolle if seen blind. Quite easily the best Pinot Noir I have seen outside of Burgundy. Dunno if you can get it in Australia, but seek this beauty out!! 95pts

2014 Domaine Caneros Pinot Noir "The closed Gate"
I'm not a fan of USA pinot in general, but particularly from the Napa. Heavy, thick wine, sweet and gluggable. Decent quality fruit, but overall a pretty flabby and unmemorable wine. I have no doubt this will appeal to new-world pinot lovers, so I upped the score. 89pts

2014 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard
interesting comparison to the other Hirsch vineyard.Bright red fruits, made in the Fourrier style, but the inferior terroir results in an absence of minerality, drive and focus. Excellent quality fruit, though. Worth a look, as it is an archetypical USA pinot. 90pts

2017 Pax Sonoma Hillside Syrah
the only reason I knew this particular bottle wasn't faulty is because the somm at Morrell's wine bar at the Rockefellar gave me a taste on his recommendation. Sadly, I had already purchased a bottle earlier for consumption that night. Just horrendous, loaded with dry extract, green tannins and awful green fruit. A disaster of a wine, but I guess it might evolve into something drinkable over the next 5 years or so. 70pts. Avoid.

2015 Olsen Brothers Vineyard "B.Leighton" Petit Verdot
cult wine from Washington. Loved it, chock full of blackberry, earth and liquorice. Nice length. Real interest here, but I suspect best drunk young. 93pts

heaps and heaps more wines, none not mentioned were memorable in any way. Overall, I maintain my view that the septics make world class cabs and blends (much better than the Australian versions), decent chardonnays (not as good as the Aussie stuff), so-so pinots (probably the equalk of Aussie pinots, although their peaks are higher) and not much else of note, other than a few iconic shiraz wines that are ludicrously priced.

[michel]

some of the (mainly American) stuff during a week in NYC.

2016 Kistler Chardonnay "Les Noisetiers"
quite a developed, Burgundian nose, unusual for it's age. Drinks like a decent Meursault villages, but absurdly priced. 87pts

2014 Domaine Eden Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay
half the price and twice the wine of the Kistler. Nuanced, long and complex. Very Burgundian. 91pts

2016 Chateau Carbonnieux Blanc
a superb, riveting wine, so precise with an incredible nose. Obviously very young at this stage, but just a super wine. 95pts

2016 Chateau Montelana Chardonnay
pretty easy drinking, simple wine. Reminded me of Leeuwin's prelude. (although 3x the price!) 88pts

2013 Mount Eden Vineyards Reserve Chardonnay
Santa Cruz fruit, was nice, but totally lacked any "x' factor. Pretty run of the mill, and for the price, disappointing. 89pts

2004 Dominus Estate
now were talking!! Stunning wine, gorgeous fruit, long and complex. Big step up in price, but a huge step up in quality from the generally mediocre American whites. 96pts

2014 Hirsch Vineyard Pinot Noir "San Andreas Fault"
decent quality fruit, but a clipped and astringent finish. Meh. 86pts

2015 Copain "Les Voisins" Pinot Noir Anderson Valley
this was the absolute stand-out Pinot of the week, and also maybe the cheapest!! Great wine, I'm almost certain I would have called this a top Chambolle if seen blind. Quite easily the best Pinot Noir I have seen outside of Burgundy. Dunno if you can get it in Australia, but seek this beauty out!! 95pts

2014 Domaine Caneros Pinot Noir "The closed Gate"
I'm not a fan of USA pinot in general, but particularly from the Napa. Heavy, thick wine, sweet and gluggable. Decent quality fruit, but overall a pretty flabby and unmemorable wine. I have no doubt this will appeal to new-world pinot lovers, so I upped the score. 89pts

2014 Williams Selyem Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard
interesting comparison to the other Hirsch vineyard.Bright red fruits, made in the Fourrier style, but the inferior terroir results in an absence of minerality, drive and focus. Excellent quality fruit, though. Worth a look, as it is an archetypical USA pinot. 90pts

2017 Pax Sonoma Hillside Syrah
the only reason I knew this particular bottle wasn't faulty is because the somm at Morrell's wine bar at the Rockefellar gave me a taste on his recommendation. Sadly, I had already purchased a bottle earlier for consumption that night. Just horrendous, loaded with dry extract, green tannins and awful green fruit. A disaster of a wine, but I guess it might evolve into something drinkable over the next 5 years or so. 70pts. Avoid.

2015 Olsen Brothers Vineyard "B.Leighton" Petit Verdot
cult wine from Washington. Loved it, chock full of blackberry, earth and liquorice. Nice length. Real interest here, but I suspect best drunk young. 93pts

heaps and heaps more wines, none not mentioned were memorable in any way. Overall, I maintain my view that the septics make world class cabs and blends (much better than the Australian versions), decent chardonnays (not as good as the Aussie stuff), so-so pinots (probably the equalk of Aussie pinots, although their peaks are higher) and not much else of note, other than a few iconic shiraz wines that are ludicrously priced.

I love Copain
I seriously rate them

[Mahmoud Ali]

I've not had Copain's pinots but I really liked an '05 Syrah (Eaglepoint Ranch Vineyard) that I had a couple of years ago.

[Matt@5453]

2016 Ashton Hills Pinot Noir Piccadilly Valley, Adelaide Hills

Raspberries, strawberries, an earthiness, and subtle french oak lurking in the background. Light 'tea like' tannins lingering on the finish. Lovely fragrant nose. Drinking really well.

2013 Rockford Cabernet Sauvignon Rifle Range, Barossa Valley

On pulling the cork and tasting an initial sample it was quite closed. I double decanted and then left in the bottle for 3 hours, the wine opened up nicely. The nose is beautifully fragrant with blackberries and a 'chariness' from the oak. The palate is medium bodied showing cassis, chocolate, dried herbs, a hint of raspberry and well supported by what I call Rockford's trademark 'Chary' Oak. A very slight hint of development with the ripe tannins in my mind softening since the last time I tried this on release. The palate is very good, perhaps not as long finish as I was expecting, but that is a minor 'blip' on what I considered a very good wine. I'm happy to open my next one at 10 years of age.

[phillisc]

After a couple of quiet weeks and successful surgery, a 2018 Vickery EV Riesling and a 2002 Zema Estate Cabernet really hit the spot.

cheers craig