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

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Sean
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

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ticklenow1
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by ticklenow1 »

Tonight we would have been at the Rockford Black Magnum Golf dinner, due to Covid-19 we obviously aren’t there. So we decided to pull an old Basket Press out of the cellar. We settled on the 2003.

It’s one of the few Basket Press’s I can say that the oak overpowers the wine. Lots of smokey oak and the fruit takes a back seat. It got better as the wine aired in the glass and did show some nice aged characters. Cork was soaked to halfway but did it’s job. Colour was still quite bright for a 17 year old wine. Just a little alcohol heat and a slight tinge of bitterness. For the vintage I think they did OK but it was much better at 10 years of age.

My mate reckoned I should have got dressed up in the plus 2’s we wear to the golf day to make it feel more authentic :D

Cheers
Ian
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Hacker
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by Hacker »

ticklenow1 wrote:Tonight we would have been at the Rockford Black Magnum Golf dinner, due to Covid-19 we obviously aren’t there. So we decided to pull an old Basket Press out of the cellar. We settled on the 2003.

It’s one of the few Basket Press’s I can say that the oak overpowers the wine. Lots of smokey oak and the fruit takes a back seat. It got better as the wine aired in the glass and did show some nice aged characters. Cork was soaked to halfway but did it’s job. Colour was still quite bright for a 17 year old wine. Just a little alcohol heat and a slight tinge of bitterness. For the vintage I think they did OK but it was much better at 10 years of age.

My mate reckoned I should have got dressed up in the plus 2’s we wear to the golf day to make it feel more authentic :D

Cheers
Ian
What is the name of your Rockford partner? Phil? Did you really wear plus 2's? That is information you don't want to disclose in a public forum.
Imugene, cure for cancer.

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Michael McNally
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by Michael McNally »

ticklenow1 wrote:My mate reckoned I should have got dressed up in the plus 2’s we wear to the golf day to make it feel more authentic :D

Cheers
Ian
You should have Tick! :D

Cheers

Michael
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JamieBahrain
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by JamieBahrain »

Geez Ian, unless significant parallax error, I'll take the glass on the left!
"Barolo is Barolo, you can't describe it, just as you can't describe Picasso"

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Rory
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by Rory »

2017 Tripe Iscariot Absolution Wilyabrup Chenin Blanc.

Purchased this on a whim during the week, as I had read an interesting tasting note on the 2018 (which now seems unavailable).

Lovely wine, and a great alternative to Chardy on a cold night with seafood.

Tight and unyielding on opening, needed a good hour to open up and tell its story. Complex array of smells and flavours with some acid backbone to keep it fresh. Good length.

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Benchmark
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by Benchmark »

2015 Château Talbot Connétable de Talbot Saint-Julien

MCO restrictions were lightened here in KL on Monday. Restaurants are now open with social distancing measures in place.

We are fortunate to live in a condo that sits above 'The Row', a food and wine strip.

There is a French place on the street that reliably produces great food and is BYO.

Along with the LaForge we drank last week, this was another impulse but from Shell. The only French wine we have. It was a ripper.

36% Cabernet.
64% Merlot.

You can't deny the Cabernet on the nose. Black fruits and fresh herbs. A good hit of aniseed that is almost liquorice. Some chocolate in the background, but the oak seems minimal. On the palate the merlot comes forward. Still black fruits, but leaning into cherries. The liquorice gives way to dried herbs. It is a little heavy, but the Cabernet gives it a well balanced structure. Soft tannins, but the finish, well it seems to go forever.

I loved this wine. Reading my notes I can still see I have a grudge against Merlot. All credit seems to go to the Cabernet.

Bordeaux needs a good look.

Merlot needs a second chance.

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Ozzie W
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by Ozzie W »

Some TN from the last few weeks of quarantine drinking.

2014 Benanti Etna Rosso
13.5% ABV, which seems on the low side for 2014. For comparison, 2014 Passopisciaro is 15.5%. Or perhaps Passopisciaro is on the high side?
Bright red fruits, cinamon, white pepper, leather. Finish a tad short with some bittersweet dark chocolate notes and also candied red fruits. Just when you think the fruits are very slightly sweet, in kicks a bit of tart acidity to balance it out. Very easy to drink with tannins and acid more subdued than I expected. The body, dare I say, just a little bit thin. Some bricking in the colour, more than I'd expect to see for a 2014. I'm thinking the tiny cork hasn't done a good job with this bottle and it's tasting like it's been opened for a few days.

2014 Le Vigne Di Eli Etna Rosso San Lorenzo
A blend of mostly Nerello Mascalese with a little Nerello Cappuccio. Grown on a tiny plot of 0.3 hectares on the northern slope of Mount Etna @ 750 meters. (14.5% ABV)
This estate is a side project of Marco de Grazia, owner of Tenuta delle Terre Nere.
I first discovered this label around 3 years ago and managed to buy a mixed dozen (retail) of various Crus over 3 vintages. I've had mixed results as I drink my way through them (this is bottle 9 of 12). Some were poor, some were great, some were just OK.
This bottle is "just OK" . Badly stained cork, but no leaking capsule. Tastes like a good bottle that's been open just one day too long and has now oxidised just a little too much. It's all a bit flat, but I can still taste the potential. The tannins are chalky and intense. The acid spine brings balance to the wine. Black and red fruits, tar, liquorice. A bit of vanilla oak which I don't like (33% New French Oak). It's a bit too lacklustre overall.

2013 Rainoldi Valtellina Superiore - Sassella Riserva
(13% ABV)
I like Nebbiolo from Alto Piedmont and Valtellina. While they don't reach the heights of a great Barolo or Barbaresco, I find they don't reach the lows either. They're also more approachable when young and more friendly on the hip pocket.
Red fruits, morello cherry, alpine herbs, red liquorice, a bit of tar. Very light on the oak. Strands of fine tannins on the long, dry finish. An elegant fruit forward expression of Nebbiolo.
Really benefits from a long decant. Lovely drinking now.

2013 Sandro Fay Valtellina Superiore - Valgella Riserva Carteria
(13.5% ABV)
Cherry, plums, herbs, dark chocolate. A beautiful purity of fruit that supports the vanilla oak (barrique), in a way where the oak doesn't assert its own characteristics.
Feels light on the front palate but intensifies at the mid palate. Finishes long with more fruit and very fine tannins. The acidity brings it all into balance.

2007 Houghton C.W. Ferguson Cabernet Malbec
(14% ABV)
45% Cabernet & 25% Malbec was sourced from the Justin Vineyard in the Frankland River with the remaining 30% Cabernet being sourced from the Langton Vineyard in Mt Barker.
Drinking beautifully with layers of complexity. Juicy black fruits, plum, coffee, dark chocolate, black olive, leather, tobacco. Oak is integrating nicely. A good hit of tart fruits (acid) on the long finish too. Still has a crisp freshness after 13 years. Resolving itself well but still so much primary fruit power from front to back palate. Still a long way to go before hitting its apogee. Under screwcap, I would confidently cellar for another 2 decades.

2015 Méo-Camuzet Frère et Sœurs Fixin 1er Cru Clos du Chapitre
(13.5% ABV)
I'm not familiar with Fixin, a commune I've only ever tasted once before. Intense & sweet fruits cover the whole spectrum from black, blue & red. Perhaps too much fruit for a Burgundy? New World in style with structure taking a back seat to the fruit. Despite that there is that typical Burgundian elegance about this wine.

2012 Cappellano Barbera d'Alba Gabutti
(13.5% ABV)
Different to the 2013 I had a few weeks ago. This one further along its trajectory to apogee and I'd say it's there now. Dark fruits, cassis, strawberry jam, spices. Less acid (and tastes sweeter) and lighter tannins than the 2013. Not easy to pick this is as Barbera.

2013 Terrazze dell'Etna Etna Carusu
(13.5% ABV)
Strawberry jam, dried cherry, baking spices, earth. A bit of Brett adds complexity, but perhaps too much for some. Good on the entry and mid-palate but falls short on the tart finish. Not going to get any better with further cellaring. Graci and Pietradolce better producers at this entry level price-point ($35).

2014 Mayford Tempranillo
(14% ABV)
Light to medium bodied. Mainly dark fruits but also some raspberry fruits, cola, spices. Suburb plush tannins. A little bit of oak which is nicely integrated. Good acid spine keeps everything tasting fresh. Long tart finish with red liquorice notes. Probably still a few more years until it peaks but its in a good place now.
Mayford is my favourite Aussie Tempranillo. If I was still buying Aussie wines to cellar, Mayford would definitely be on my list.

NV Drappier Champagne Rosé Brut Nature Dosage Zero
12% ABV. 100% Pinot Noir made by Saignee method.
Ripe strawberry, blood orange, brioche, white pepper. Lean but balanced. Tart bone dry finish (I was looking for a stronger phrase than "bone dry" as this is seriously dry and then some, but couldn't think of one). Fine bubbles but I'd prefer them a bit more persistent. Apart from the brioche and bubbles, these aren't descriptors I usually associate with Champagne. Nothing faulty with this Champagne per se, but when I buy Champagne I have expectations of what will be in the glass and this isn't it. Would have picked it as a New World sparkling if tasted blind.

Ian S
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by Ian S »

JamieBahrain wrote:Geez Ian, unless significant parallax error, I'll take the glass on the left!
He who pours the set, sets the pours :lol:

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phillisc
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by phillisc »

Didn't seem like that long ago when a few punters here on the forum were going ga ga for Stoneyfell Metala (now just Metala) and Sparky Moira (ex TWE) was telling me to keep a lid on it otherwise the whole world will want some. They tell me 2019 is no longer a single vineyard edition anymore, TWE have great form in really fu*king up something good...where's the fruit going now, do tell....more brought in from elsewhere to pump up production?

2012 Metala LC, bunged in the decanter, nose of the most lovely perfumed fruits, blueberry, spice, pepper and a palate that just sings and screams more of the same, juicy delicious lovely wine.
FWIW won gold in its class for best blend, and Trophy for best overall blend at the 2014 LC wine show...for $9 bloody amazing. Think I have 29 left!!!
Cheers Craig
Tomorrow will be a good day

Sean
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

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Sean
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

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Scotty vino
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by Scotty vino »

ticklenow1 wrote:Tonight we would have been at the Rockford Black Magnum Golf dinner, due to Covid-19 we obviously aren’t there. So we decided to pull an old Basket Press out of the cellar. We settled on the 2003.

It’s one of the few Basket Press’s I can say that the oak overpowers the wine. Lots of smokey oak and the fruit takes a back seat. It got better as the wine aired in the glass and did show some nice aged characters. Cork was soaked to halfway but did it’s job. Colour was still quite bright for a 17 year old wine. Just a little alcohol heat and a slight tinge of bitterness. For the vintage I think they did OK but it was much better at 10 years of age.

My mate reckoned I should have got dressed up in the plus 2’s we wear to the golf day to make it feel more authentic :D

Cheers
Ian
Plus 2's! love your work.
Tonight im drinking a tscharke 2017 temp/graciano from marananga. slurpable stuff. great vino when im feeling indecisive and not up for a study/dissection of a wine. grip it...rip it.
There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.

Chuck
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by Chuck »

Houghton 2013 CW Ferguson Great Southern Cabernet Malbec (stelvin). Decanted 3 hours earlier and enjoyed with Jamie Oliver's lamb shanks and mash. Still primary flavours and you can taste the fruit quality and good oak treatment. The Malbec really adds to the overall package much like how shiraz adds to cabs adding another layer of flavour without detracting from the cab. Lovely mouthfeel. Tannins still yet to resolve this wine should go another 20 years+. Very impressive but leave it another 3-5 years.
Your worst game of golf is better than your best day at work

Rossco
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by Rossco »

De Bortoli Section A5 Chardonnay 2017

This A5 is next level. When people talk about elegance and class, they should really look here. I really enjoyed the subtle nuances. Loved the acid spine, purity and there was a lot of minerality in there (wet stone type stuff)

Didn't have the in your face punch of a MR or 864, but thats not the style here, this is feminine.

White peach and that oak is so tame it just sits there letting the fruit shine. This is proper delicate Yarra chardonnay.

Sean
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

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Sean
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

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Rory
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by Rory »

2010 Wantirna Estate Lily Pinot Noir.
I had one of these late last year, and this hasn't budged a bit (and its under Diam). The fruit is still wonderfully sweet and delicious, that structure still there. Great length, lovely wine. Years ahead of it to get to a more complex elderly lady.

Fourney et Fils Rose Premier Cru.
Lovely, lovely bubbles. Everything I love about Champagne Rose. Middle palate sweetness, fruity. lively, great acid balance. Will buy more.

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phillisc
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by phillisc »

Fished out a 2009 Wynns 2009 Gables Cab/Shiraz...believe from the 2010 vintage a straight Cabernet. Really lovely wine, bright colour soft perfume blue fruits medium weight slippery tannins. Still has plenty in the tank. For a tenner or whatever it was... ridiculously good value.
Cheers Craig
Tomorrow will be a good day

Mike Hawkins
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by Mike Hawkins »

1999 LEAS Chardonnay... rockstar. Right in its wheelhouse. Should be excellent for a few more years.

2002 Grosset PH.... still so young. Is this the slowest ageing Aussie Rizza ever? Its really good though

1996 Seppelts Dorrien Cabernet... worst bottle so far. Simple and short. Based on others I suggest this is an anomaly

2002 Pol Roger Winston Churchill.... in a strange spot now. Will be fantastic down the track

2004 Guy Charlemagne Mesnillesime.. better than previous bottles. More youthful and livelier acid finish

1990 Henschke Mt Ed... as always, a truly outstanding wine and what Aussie Shiraz should strive to be qualitatively

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phillisc
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by phillisc »

Mike... understand the Grosset being a slow developer...02 Petaluma and Leonay the same.
Have a wry smile about 90 Mt Ed...had 2 dozen at $12 a bottle when my Dad dealt a fair bit with the Henschke's. It wasn't considered anything out of the ordinary 30 years ago (read no one was hyping it up then... like they do now). Drank the last bottle 20 years back...oh well.
Cheers Craig
Tomorrow will be a good day

Rossco
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by Rossco »

Rory wrote:

Fourney et Fils Rose Premier Cru.

Lovely, lovely bubbles. Everything I love about Champagne Rose. Middle palate sweetness, fruity. lively, great acid balance. Will buy more.
Such a good wine! Outshines pretty much everything at its price point.

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Scotty vino
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by Scotty vino »

2002 Grosset ade hills Pinot Noir. Bought this from the cellar door.

Red/dark cherry/crimson in the glass with the slightest bit of bricking. Off the bat getting some graphite/pencil shaving notes with a little hint of smokiness, gamey meats and charcuterie.
Red cherry/red currant fruit really coming to the fore here. Little bit of black tea in the mix and also a bit of greeness that seems to be helping it in terms of structure and backbone. Absolutely stunning floral/perfume/sweet herb lift after about 30mins in the flask. The nose on this is fantastic. Just can't get enough it. Look like a mad scientist hovering over this one.

Long long length and the finish just persists and persists. Little push of acidty and the balance is bang on the money
Tannins are beautifully soft, velvety, plush and resolved.

Ok so this was under screw cap and the provenance is as good as one could hope for. Straight out of the Grosset members temp controlled back vintage cellar and straight into my vintec. Would loved to have tried one under cork in this situation. But to be honest i really think it's at its peak under this closure. Any more ox ingress and I can see this falling off the perch. Has an amazing freshness yet it's quite apparent that age has played a part. I don't fly a flag for either closure and I'm still gathering my 'backyard data' but this to me is a win for screw cap. Just the one bottle dammit. Hmm time for a phone call......
There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.

Sean
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

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FredericoWines
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by FredericoWines »

Made surf and turf with prime rib roast and broiled garlic buttered lobster tail. Opened and decanted a '96 Pontet-Canet. No detailed notes but all I can remember is what a delicious meal.

Dragzworthy
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by Dragzworthy »

FredericoWines wrote:Made surf and turf with prime rib roast and broiled garlic buttered lobster tail. Opened and decanted a '96 Pontet-Canet. No detailed notes but all I can remember is what a delicious meal.
What a meal. Sounds fantastic.

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Benchmark
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by Benchmark »

FredericoWines wrote:Made surf and turf with prime rib roast and broiled garlic buttered lobster tail. Opened and decanted a '96 Pontet-Canet. No detailed notes but all I can remember is what a delicious meal.
Such an understated post for an incredible meal and wine.
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Dragzworthy
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by Dragzworthy »

The 1994 Pontet Canet is one of the better wines I've had in the last few years.

Mahmoud Ali
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by Mahmoud Ali »

FredericoWines wrote:Made surf and turf with prime rib roast and broiled garlic buttered lobster tail. Opened and decanted a '96 Pontet-Canet. No detailed notes but all I can remember is what a delicious meal.
I'm sure the meal was lovely, but what about the wine?

FredericoWines
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Re: Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

Post by FredericoWines »

I consider a delicious meal should include food, wine, people and atmosphere. That meal has it all.

The '96 P-C is fully matured with all elements of an old Bordeaux. Red fruits of cherry, plum and blackcurrant. A hint of fragrant oak, pencil and leathers spice. Tannins are smooth and sweet. Finish is medium long. It's at an optimal drinking window but I suspect it will hold same for 5+ years. Glad I have one more bottle.

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