Right, COVID-19, what are we drinking right now?

[sjw_11]

A Domenico Clerico Barolo 2015 .. I will post notes with my usual monthly batch, but I am enjoying this. There is definitely a clear oak structure on the nose, but on opening there is a lovely burst of intense bright red cherry in the mouth. What I would almost call it a cheeky wine (unusually for Barolo) but there is structure there as well.

[Benchmark]

2008 Sierra Cantabria Gran Reserva Rioja.

Go the Pies.

Screw the pies (not against them - just not interested). I don't know this producer. Any good? What style? Worth tracking down? If so, where?

Interrogation complete!

Cheers

Michael

Picked it up on sale from our local.

I have little experience with Rioja.

It was gentle, entirely pleasant. Savoury with a bit too much sweetness from the American oak.

I wouldn't go out of my way to find it, but if you stumbled on a bottle worth a drink.

[JamieBahrain]

Footy was shit. Dog's players expected a flu-ridden Collingwood not the electricity they brought to the contest.

Two bottles of Barbaresco were stunning- both 2008's and perfectly displaying the soils of Rio Sordo. I don't have enough stockpiled in Australia yet if forced into early retirement. Hmmmm.

[Dragzworthy]

Sorrenberg Chardonnay 2018 - 96 points. Woah Nelly. This is super impressive and as good as any Australian Chardonnay as I've had, possibly the best. Utterly, utterly impressive. Drink young though.

Thanks Rosewater. I bought a bottle of this and this gives me an excuse to taste it sooner rather than later!

Cheers

Michael

Remember how I put this up in another thread and mentioned banana and pineapple notes and you were a tad worried? I had another bottle the another night and I got nothing of those notes on the more recent bottle. Talking with a friend of mine, he thinks this type of flavour characteristic can come out in early bottle tasting but typically fades - it's also more prevalent (for him) in young Riesling but not unknown in Chardonnay.

Back to the Sorrenberg... it's not clear to me whether this, the Giaconda or the Leeuwin is the best Chardonnay in the country that I've tasted. They're all thereabouts but, based on cost, the Sorrenberg has to win out....it's half the price of the nearest ...though that assumes you can find it...? Friend of mine just cleaned out a bottle shop in Melbourne (a whopping 5 bottles left).

Once again, Beechworth are doing some amazing things with Chardonnay based on the handful I've tasted. Anyone have more extensive knowledge?

Last night I polished off half a bottle of Arnoux Lachaux Vosnee Romanee 2014 - delightful wine but certainly evolved rapidly in the glass and would clearly benefit from a decant (that's hard when you just want to get home and have a glass after a hard day's yakka! Who has the patience? OK ..maybe you, not me...). Lots of strawberry on the nose but there's lots power and depth lurking in the wine with a super long finish and tertiary notes of bramble and some cherry tartness. After that I moved onto an Il Poggione Brunello Riserva 2013. I've now had 2 or 3 bottles of this out of my 6 bottle order and I'm appreciating each bottle more. This wine will clearly benefit from further bottle age but I think it drinks well now.

[rosewaterwrx]

Sorrenberg Chardonnay 2018 - 96 points. Woah Nelly. This is super impressive and as good as any Australian Chardonnay as I've had, possibly the best. Utterly, utterly impressive. Drink young though.

Thanks Rosewater. I bought a bottle of this and this gives me an excuse to taste it sooner rather than later!

Cheers

Michael

Remember how I put this up in another thread and mentioned banana and pineapple notes and you were a tad worried? I had another bottle the another night and I got nothing of those notes on the more recent bottle. Talking with a friend of mine, he thinks this type of flavour characteristic can come out in early bottle tasting but typically fades - it's also more prevalent (for him) in young Riesling but not unknown in Chardonnay.

Back to the Sorrenberg... it's not clear to me whether this, the Giaconda or the Leeuwin is the best Chardonnay in the country that I've tasted. They're all thereabouts but, based on cost, the Sorrenberg has to win out....it's half the price of the nearest ...though that assumes you can find it...? Friend of mine just cleaned out a bottle shop in Melbourne (a whopping 5 bottles left).

Once again, Beechworth are doing some amazing things with Chardonnay based on the handful I've tasted. Anyone have more extensive knowledge?

Last night I polished off half a bottle of Arnoux Lachaux Vosnee Romanee 2014 - delightful wine but certainly evolved rapidly in the glass and would clearly benefit from a decant (that's hard when you just want to get home and have a glass after a hard day's yakka! Who has the patience? OK ..maybe you, not me...). Lots of strawberry on the nose but there's lots power and depth lurking in the wine with a super long finish and tertiary notes of bramble and some cherry tartness. After that I moved onto an Il Poggione Brunello Riserva 2013. I've now had 2 or 3 bottles of this out of my 6 bottle order and I'm appreciating each bottle more. This wine will clearly benefit from further bottle age but I think it drinks well now.

Actually funny you mention that, I did mention to my mate that the Sorrenberg had a bit of a wood putty quality, a smell that I've always found has a banana component. I don;t actually recall any pineapple but I certainly wouldn't argue the point.

Ahh yes I dearly wish I could find a few more bottles and regret that I only have one left, for me this is certainly the best Sorrenberg Chardonnay I've tasted. I must try the Art Series Chardonnay again as the only two times I've tried it (05 and 07 from memory) I found the oak very distracting and just couldn't get into it.

[Dragzworthy]

Thanks Rosewater. I bought a bottle of this and this gives me an excuse to taste it sooner rather than later!

Cheers

Michael

Remember how I put this up in another thread and mentioned banana and pineapple notes and you were a tad worried? I had another bottle the another night and I got nothing of those notes on the more recent bottle. Talking with a friend of mine, he thinks this type of flavour characteristic can come out in early bottle tasting but typically fades - it's also more prevalent (for him) in young Riesling but not unknown in Chardonnay.

Back to the Sorrenberg... it's not clear to me whether this, the Giaconda or the Leeuwin is the best Chardonnay in the country that I've tasted. They're all thereabouts but, based on cost, the Sorrenberg has to win out....it's half the price of the nearest ...though that assumes you can find it...? Friend of mine just cleaned out a bottle shop in Melbourne (a whopping 5 bottles left).

Once again, Beechworth are doing some amazing things with Chardonnay based on the handful I've tasted. Anyone have more extensive knowledge?

Last night I polished off half a bottle of Arnoux Lachaux Vosnee Romanee 2014 - delightful wine but certainly evolved rapidly in the glass and would clearly benefit from a decant (that's hard when you just want to get home and have a glass after a hard day's yakka! Who has the patience? OK ..maybe you, not me...). Lots of strawberry on the nose but there's lots power and depth lurking in the wine with a super long finish and tertiary notes of bramble and some cherry tartness. After that I moved onto an Il Poggione Brunello Riserva 2013. I've now had 2 or 3 bottles of this out of my 6 bottle order and I'm appreciating each bottle more. This wine will clearly benefit from further bottle age but I think it drinks well now.

Actually funny you mention that, I did mention to my mate that the Sorrenberg had a bit of a wood putty quality, a smell that I've always found has a banana component. I don;t actually recall any pineapple but I certainly wouldn't argue the point.

Ahh yes I dearly wish I could find a few more bottles and regret that I only have one left, for me this is certainly the best Sorrenberg Chardonnay I've tasted. I must try the Art Series Chardonnay again as the only two times I've tried it (05 and 07 from memory) I found the oak very distracting and just couldn't get into it.

This is the only sorrenberg I’ve had...is it a small producer? Hoping the next vintage is similar
Keeping 6 bottles in my Australia storage cellar but itching to have when I’m next downunder

[mjs]

Our booking at Scopri for tonight has just been hampered by the 4m2 ruling

Dinner went off without a hitch. Spectacular food accompanied by the following fabulous wines.

2015 Howard Park Allingham Chardonnay )
2015 Tarrawarra MBB Chardonnay ) tasted together and everyone picked them as French
2009 Tortochot Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru )
2010 Felton Road Bannockburn ) tasted as pair to look at the difference between a commercial New World wine vs Old World
2005 Bruno Desaunay-Bissey Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru
2002 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits Saint Georges Les Cailles 1er Cru
2010 Tout Près by Farr
2005 Bruno Deaunay-Bissey Chambolle-Musigny Combe d-Orveaux
2011 Bouchard Le Corton Grand Cru
1997 Ch Rieussec
1933 Seppelt Para Liqueur

[brodie]

Our booking at Scopri for tonight has just been hampered by the 4m2 ruling

Dinner went off without a hitch. Spectacular food accompanied by the following fabulous wines.

2015 Howard Park Allingham Chardonnay )
2015 Tarrawarra MBB Chardonnay ) tasted together and everyone picked them as French
2009 Tortochot Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru )
2010 Felton Road Bannockburn ) tasted as pair to look at the difference between a commercial New World wine vs Old World
2005 Bruno Desaunay-Bissey Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru
2002 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits Saint Georges Les Cailles 1er Cru
2010 Tout Près by Farr
2005 Bruno Deaunay-Bissey Chambolle-Musigny Combe d-Orveaux
2011 Bouchard Le Corton Grand Cru
1997 Ch Rieussec
1933 Seppelt Para Liqueur

Jeez, I really miss Scopri and the wine dinners. How is Chris doing these days?

[mjs]

Jeez, I really miss Scopri and the wine dinners. How is Chris doing these days?

On the Apple Isle on hols I believe. Given that Tassie has pulled up the drawbridge on the rest of Australia, I trust he can get back!

[Benchmark]

Our booking at Scopri for tonight has just been hampered by the 4m2 ruling

Dinner went off without a hitch. Spectacular food accompanied by the following fabulous wines.

2015 Howard Park Allingham Chardonnay )
2015 Tarrawarra MBB Chardonnay ) tasted together and everyone picked them as French
2009 Tortochot Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru )
2010 Felton Road Bannockburn ) tasted as pair to look at the difference between a commercial New World wine vs Old World
2005 Bruno Desaunay-Bissey Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru
2002 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits Saint Georges Les Cailles 1er Cru
2010 Tout Près by Farr
2005 Bruno Deaunay-Bissey Chambolle-Musigny Combe d-Orveaux
2011 Bouchard Le Corton Grand Cru
1997 Ch Rieussec
1933 Seppelt Para Liqueur

#socialdistancing

[Dragzworthy]

How did the Tout Pres and Felton go against the Burgs? Those are some very serious wines.

Would love to make one of these dinners next time in Melbourne... I did a BYO night at France Soir last time I was there.

[mjs]

How did the Tout Pres and Felton go against the Burgs? Those are some very serious wines.

Would love to make one of these dinners next time in Melbourne... I did a BYO night at France Soir last time I was there.

The Felton Road was tasted as a pair with the Mazis-Chambertin. It actually showed up ok, but it was more of a "simple" wine, a little smoky character, good fruit and some tannins, but not the same structure and complexity as the burg. The Mazis-Chambertin really opened up in the glass, and was a beautiful drink. Given price differential, the FR was good. The Tout Pres was also very good, that was tasted by itself. Both new world wines were by no means disgraced. Have to say that all of the wines were in pretty good nick as well, no cork problems, so a 100% hit rate.

[Dragzworthy]

Sounds like a great dinner....guessing the Chambolle would have been lovely as well. Good to see people think the chardonnays were french... I've experienced that myself, having served Australian Chardonnay to french drinkers and confuse them.

[Rossco]

Our booking at Scopri for tonight has just been hampered by the 4m2 ruling

Dinner went off without a hitch. Spectacular food accompanied by the following fabulous wines.

And the spectacular & patented Rossco Zalto Glass Cleaning technique MJS

[mjs]

Our booking at Scopri for tonight has just been hampered by the 4m2 ruling

Dinner went off without a hitch. Spectacular food accompanied by the following fabulous wines.

And the spectacular & patented Rossco Zalto Glass Cleaning technique MJS

Yes, enjoyed that as well

[Lincoln]

2009 Bouchard le Chambertin.

#fuckyoucovid

Ooh errrr, tell us more!

[felixp21]

actually, I was most interested in that too!!
I was unaware Bouchard made a Chambertin, but small volumes of purchased grapes is quite possible in plentiful vintages.
Would love to hear how it was.

[Wizz]

2009 Bouchard le Chambertin.

#fuckyoucovid

Ooh errrr, tell us more!

This is a level I don't drink at other than on special occasions, but if we're heading for lockdown, then fuck it. I have a cellar and I'm prepared to use it.

AFAIK Bouchard have firm access to vines in le Chambertin, Ive had the 05 and 09 and have the 12 in the cellar. The Jasper Morris book says they hold 0.15 Ha

Holey Moley. So powerful. Spice, flowers, forest berry fruit. Early signs of forest floor development, and a little bit of bricking in the colour too, but the tannins are fresh as a daisy. Coiled up and expressive at the same time, beautifully balanced and energetic - probably opened 10 years too early. Elegant on the finish and still persistent for a long time after the last sip. A wine you could sit with for a lot longer than we did.
14% ABV and doesnt show any of it.
What a wine.

[JamieBahrain]

I’m drinking up my stash of wines I wanted to keep longer in Hong Kong . This may not seem special but it is - one of the purest Barberas you could imagine. An insight into the genius of Rinaldi. My house quaffer in 2016 over a few cases but gee it would have cellared better than most !

2014 vintage

[url=https://postimg.cc/D8jNkg9q][img]https://i.postimg.cc/K8xhTpQs/3075-D743-B577 ... FE5-C4.jpg[/img][/url]

[Rossco]

I’m drinking up my stash of wines I wanted to keep longer in Hong Kong . This may not seem special but it is - one of the purest Barberas you could imagine. An insight into the genius of Rinaldi. My house quaffer in 2016 over a few cases but gee it would have cellared better than most !

2014 vintage

Have you have their standard 2015 and 2016 Langhe Neb Jamie?

[JamieBahrain]

No Rossco. I'd love to though.

Since "G" Rinaldi has become investment class, their wines at all levels, are inflated in the HKG market. So I see their Langhe at a price above a lot of quality Barolo and Barbaresco!

The barbera was $20 for instance. It's now near tripled just glancing wine searcher. That's kind of madness.

[Rossco]

No Rossco. I'd love to though.

Since "G" Rinaldi has become investment class, their wines at all levels, are inflated in the HKG market. So I see their Langhe at a price above a lot of quality Barolo and Barbaresco!

The barbera was $20 for instance. It's now near tripled just glancing wine searcher. That's kind of madness.

2015 & 2016 Standard Langhe here is floating around $ 100 AUD, not sure if thats good value or not.

[Lincoln]

2009 Bouchard le Chambertin.

#fuckyoucovid

Ooh errrr, tell us more!

This is a level I don't drink at other than on special occasions, but if we're heading for lockdown, then fuck it. I have a cellar and I'm prepared to use it.

AFAIK Bouchard have firm access to vines in le Chambertin, Ive had the 05 and 09 and have the 12 in the cellar. The Jasper Morris book says they hold 0.15 Ha

Holey Moley. So powerful. Spice, flowers, forest berry fruit. Early signs of forest floor development, and a little bit of bricking in the colour too, but the tannins are fresh as a daisy. Coiled up and expressive at the same time, beautifully balanced and energetic - probably opened 10 years too early. Elegant on the finish and still persistent for a long time after the last sip. A wine you could sit with for a lot longer than we did.
14% ABV and doesnt show any of it.
What a wine.

Nice work. I'm gonna open a Chambertin too I reckon, since it's a cooler day today

[Wizz]

Nice work. I'm gonna open a Chambertin too I reckon, since it's a cooler day today

Ooh please tell. Or post, once you have it open.

[Mike Hawkins]

A few bottles of 2006 Taittinger Comtes. I think this is going to peak much earlier than the 04. It’s really good, but not as good as earlier releases, though better than the 05 and 07.

[Mahmoud Ali]

Hmm, methinks there is a bottle of the 2007 Rinaldi Barbera somewhere in the cellar.

[Benchmark]

Shell's birthday tomorrow. Thinking Brunello.

[mjs]

Shell's birthday tomorrow. Thinking Brunello.

So you bloody well should!
cheers mate, hope things are ok in KL

[Benchmark]

Shell's birthday tomorrow. Thinking Brunello.

So you bloody well should!
cheers mate, hope things are ok in KL

Just had lockdown extended to April 14.

All is well.

[Rossco]

Oddero 2014 Barolo
Recent purchase, decanted for over 3 hours.

Still very young and primary. Darker fruit profile than I would have liked, but still quite traditional.
Lovely use of old oak and acid, balance not quite there, but will come with time. Tannins are prominent, but beautiful
and will soften with age.

Liquorice and fennel quite prominent at the moment, plums and black cherry, hint of blueberry/blackberry and tar as well.
Didnt get the rose petal, violet florals nor any of the red fruits that i like in my Nebs. Still there is a lot of upside to
keeping the remaining 2 in the cellar for a while and seeing where it goes.