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

[mychurch]

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I think I posted a bottle of this 6 months ago. It’s a bit funky, but for my taste this is the best wine I have drunk in the last few years. This has power and intensity and at the same time is rich and lean, with a lovely acidity. It’s 2008 Savignin topped up for 7 years with Chardonnay. Majestic in a Montrachet glass. Previously it was a lovely oddity, but tasting online with Jelle in Amsterdam, it just had so much stature. He prefers the Crittendon Vin Jaune, and that’s a great wine, but for me this has even more to it.

We started with a 2017 Cirillo Semillon, which had the most mineral nose I have ever had from an Australian white. Just gorgeous. Very tight though and I can see a lot of people asking where the fun is here. Needs some time. Only 10% alcohol. Great.

[phillisc]

In the Barossa for three days over the last weekend, some great tastings, nearly 90 wines. Flight of The Caley (12, 13, 14, 15, 16) at Yalumba was a highlight. '12 The Caley was my WOTW

Other CDs ... Penfolds, Eperosa, Tscharke (fabulous tasting), Laughing jack, Poonawatta, Peter Lehmann and Turkey Flat

Yes cracking wine The Caley. Have been fortunate on a number of occasions now to taste/drink all releases...will no doubt be future classics, but just having difficulty stumping up the $350+ a bottle, that said, not convinced that their 7-8 times better than a Sig.

If you happen to be in Coonawarra for the third weekend, you should get a generous serve(s) at a particular winemakers dinner, with a new winemaker as Nat has flown the nest, but will be doing her thing up the road

Cheers Craig

[kenzo]

How was Poonawatta? Been a slight blip on my radar for some time but never tried...any other standouts?

2012 Caley just WOTW?!! you must have had some great wines this year!

[phillisc]

2016 Westmere Barbs Block Cabernet.
A small producer from Bool Lagoon (near Naracoorte, 50 Kms north of Coonawarra). Connections with Parker Estate, fabulous wine lush rich black currant, good lick of French oak...long long life ahead. Made by Phil Lehmann.
Cheers Craig

[mychurch]

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2nd weekend in a row rating with Jelle in Amsterdam - we need to get these in before the clocks change. After last weeks Old Vine Semillon we try the oldest Chardonnay and Grenache vines tonight

The HVD is too young at the moment and will be better in a few years time. It’s a solid Chardonnay, but misses the tension that really top examples can show (3*)

The Cirillo is a revaluation. It’s not a grape I enjoy much, but this shows why these old vines are so treasured. It’s a light red colour, shows some structure and is dominated by some intense and slightly savoury cherry. It’s light bodied and has that effortless feel in the mouth that is typical of Old Vines. Long finish and this has plenty of time ahead of it. (4*)

[phillisc]

Parker Coonawarra Estate 2018 Terra Rossa Cabernet
Lovely wine, black blue berry with a hint of olive, palate a delight fruit /oak/tannin all in harmony, really great drinking for the price, must get some more.
Cheers Craig

[Matt@5453]

2017 Simon Tolley Wines, Perfectus Shiraz, Single Vineyard

A friend bought this around on the weekend, it was a cracker. Simon is Adelaide Hills based, but the fruit comes from a vineyard that is a slight outlier to the Adelaide Hills GI, hence represented as Mount Lofty Ranges on the label.
This is Medium to full bodied with outstanding texture and balance. Wonderful plum/blackberry type fruit with layers of spice, savoury tones, with well judged oak (only 30% new I believe). The finish is long and delicious. The balance is impeccable, should evolve well over the next 5-7 years.

[Sean]

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[Mahmoud Ali]

1990 Eileen Hardy Shiraz (13.5%)

This was a lovely wine when young and quite impressed my group of wine drinkers. However time hasn't been kind. Although the back label claimed to be one of the best made so far and with a 10 or more year horizon, it has never delivered. Around the ten year mark it was sweet, gloppy, and stewed, not at all attractive. Some years later it seemed to be turning a corner, the stewed character much more attenuated and some tertiary characters poking through. However it has never really transformed into anything substantial, and now, at 31 years of age, it is somewhat disjointed . I like the nose, it has a fragrant, minty/eucalyptus notes along with briary elements. The palate however disappoints, delivering dry cherry fruit on a skeletal frame with a short finish. It lacks what I want in an old mature wine. I have to say that when it was first poured it appeared somewhat spirity and had elements of sweetness but with time it dried out. Actually, I somewhat preferred the "dried out" version as it had a bit of a savoury finish.

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

[Con J]

Thanks for the note on the Eileen Hardy.

Sounds disappointing, hope the 96 I have in drink soon pile is a lot better.

Cheers Con.

[phillisc]

Gee, there must be a bit of a synergy here
Mahmoud, remember at the time Eileen Hardy was a must buy in the early 90s along with Orlando Lawsons, St Hallet Old Block, Wynns Michael and Henschke Mt. Edelstone amongst others. Purchased a dozen of the 90 EH and have a solitary soldier left somewhere in the cellar...would take days to find.
Con, nice selection there, clearly my focus is the bottle on the hard left, but enjoyed a number of John Wade specials from Howard Park and have a few of the the Leasingham Classic Clare's, 90-91, 94, 96. Crack the Centenary tomorrow...nice way to sign off from Wynnsday.
Cheers Craig

[Matt@5453]

A couple note worthy wines post the long-weekend:

2013 Paulett Wines “47/74” Malbec Cabernet Blend, Clare Valley

This wine pays homage to the father / son relationship between Neil and Matt Paulett. As stated on the label, it is a rare wine and indeed a unique blend of Clare Valley Malbec & Cabernet Sauvignon.

Opened and decanted 3 hours prior to service. There was immediate enjoyment with cassis/black currant, jubes, violets, dark chocolate, some cigar box and a touch of cedar. The wine has softened out nicely with the acid, tannin and oak all playing a supporting role to the lovely fruit. The structure, balance and length are superb. An excellent wine, that will continue to evolve (under screw cap) for the next 10-15 years if not longer.

2019 Paxton Wines Tempranillo, McLaren Vale

Medium bodied. Super fragrant on the nose and the palate driven by ‘luscious’ fruits of plums, blueberries and spice. Delicious.

2021 Taylors Wines Estate Label Riesling, Clare Valley

We wanted something quite smashable by the beach with freshly caught KG whiting and squid, this hit the spot nicely. Lovely lime/lemon with crisp but soft/balanced acidity, which gave it a slight ‘zing’ on the finish. Pretty decent for the price.

[JamieBahrain]

Drinking the Paulett’s Antonina Riesling 2014. About a decade early for my palate! Winery notes say up
to a decade for peak development but I reckon they a long ways off. Powerfully crafted with astonishing drive. Pungent and primary.

[Matt@5453]

[quote="JamieBahrain"]Drinking the Paulett’s Antonina Riesling 2014. About a decade early for my palate! Winery notes say up
to a decade for peak development but I reckon they a long ways off. Powerfully crafted with astonishing drive. Pungent and primary.[/quote]

I had the 16 the other day, exactly the same vibe. Intensity was amazing.

[Matt@5453]

I attended the Annual Clare Valley Wine Show lunch today at Paulett Wines at Polish Hill, as always, a stunning venue with amazing views. The food was amazing again (second time within a fortnight).

The 2021 Leo Buring Riesling was a clear winner, it picked up a swag of trophies including best Riesling and Best Wine of show – unfortunately, no wine was available to try at lunch. So cannot comment on it. Tasted a whole heap of other fantastic wines:

2021 Jim Barry Wines Florita – lovely aromatics, racy acidity, taut, its tight, youthful with great length. Year in year out, just a great wine. This is no exception. Best years ahead of it.

2021 Jim Barry Wines Lodge Hill – disregarding price, pound for pound, this punches above its weight, another very good example.

2021 Pikes Merle – for me a step up from the Florita offering a slightly more generous palate, maybe not as dry as the Florita - a stunning wine by any measure.

2021 Naked Run ‘Der Zweite’ Riesling (Sevenhill). For me this was wine of the day. I think Steve is looking at what John Hughes is doing and expanding on his own Riesling portfolio. This was divisive amongst my group – I loved the tension of the slightly sweet with racy acidity. Perfumed nose, and length to burn, just lovely. Steve has put a drinking window to 2041 on it. A trophy winner, and worthy winner in my view. Top stuff

2017 Naked Run Time in Place Riesling – this is drinking very well, the acidity has dropped off slightly and the fruit sweetness appearing – a lovely example of Riesling with a bit of bottle age on it.

2013 Dan Wilson Riesling – despite its age extremely youthful. Dan is a great guy and wonderful winemaker. This is still in its infancy.

2020 Kilikanoon Ashton 1920 Mataro – to me this was the best red wine I tried today, if not this year, this is medium bodied at best, but displays a lovely intense flavour profile. One of the better straight Mataros I have ever tried. I know the grower of this block, he was excited, and so he should be. Stunning. I am tipping the RRP on this will be expensive on release given the small crop and absolute quality of this wine.

2020 Art Wine “Pack Leader” Cabernet Franc – Judges Trophy. Lovely fruit and balance, but slightly one dimensional amongst wines with plenty of tannin and acidity, its ‘smoothness’ definitely stood out, hence its award. I would describe it is as a lovely 'bistro' or cafe type wine for lunch

2020 Churinga Vineyard Grenache – as you drive north of Watervale, the Churinga Vineyard is on your right hand side just before you hit Penwortham. Light/Medium bodied, this impressed with its depth of flavour, showing that Grenache in the Clare Valley is something to persist with.

I probably tried another half dozen whites & reds, the above are what stood out the most. The food was the hero today, the chef did an amazing job.

2021 is lending itself as a fantastic year, Riesling is definitely a “strong” year.

As a side note, it will be Interesting to see how the recent frost events effect Vintage 2022, I believe only Coonawarra was one of the only regions that was not impacted. Limestone Coast (broadly speaking), the Barossa, parts of Clare all affected, some severely.

[phillisc]

Thanks Matt think 2021 is going to keep me poor.
Is the Leo Buring the cheapie, has an EV sibling and of course leonay. Picked up best white at Adelaide show too.
I have ordered a dozen.
Cheers Craig

[Matt@5453]

[quote="phillisc"]Thanks Matt think 2021 is going to keep me poor.
Is the Leo Buring the cheapie, has an EV sibling and of course leonay. Picked up best white at Adelaide show too.
I have ordered a dozen.
Cheers Craig[/quote]

I wouldn't buy any of them personally.

Hope you are getting super discounts (staff or Director price) on all these Treasury owned products you are buying?

[Mike Hawkins]

I’m planning on a dozen each of the Merle and Florita. Hearing good things from a number of sources about both wines

[phillisc]

Yes agree Mike, will certainly be doing same. Odd that the poster has gushed over them but wouldn't consider either worthy of purchase.
Cheers Craig

[Matt@5453]

[quote="phillisc"]Yes agree Mike, will certainly be doing same. Odd that the poster has gushed over them but wouldn't consider either worthy of purchase.
Cheers Craig[/quote]

I was only referring to the Leo Buring.
I'll pick up some of the others at Christmas time

[phillisc]

[quote="Matt@5453"][quote="phillisc"]Yes agree Mike, will certainly be doing same. Odd that the poster has gushed over them but wouldn't consider either worthy of purchase.
Cheers Craig[/quote]

I was only referring to the Leo Buring.
I'll pick up some of the others at Christmas time [/quote]

Good to hear!
I suddenly thought you have gone off Riesling
Cheers Craig

[Rory]

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Stunning value. Very good on first night, really opened to a very aromatic intrigue on second night. Worth looking at the background of the Producer.

[Sean]

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[Sean]

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[Sean]

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[phillisc]

Sean, go you good thing!!
Purchased a dozen mid week...$13 pb at a local chain, crazy value! Picked up best white at Adelaide show too.
Will be trying one tomorrow and will probably add Leonay to the 2021 Riesling list

Cheers Craig
Ps. thanks for the notes on the Wynns, have a sixer of the BL '13s. Agree with the Rose, tired it in July thought nothing of it.
Think there are simply too many wines in the range now, and clearly 1000+ hectares of grapes gives plenty of scope to make anything and everything, but should stick to what they do best.

[Matt@5453]

Dropped into Grosset's for a quick tasting to try the 3 x new release 2021 Rieslings and Gaia:

Alea - honey suckle, cut flowers, a touch of lemon pith, slight 'chalkiness'. Lovely acid balance and finish. A popular seller through Cellar Door, for good reason - this is delicious.

Springvale - distinctive Watervale citrus tones more in the direction of lime/bickfords lime, a lick of wet stone. The intensity and acid will ensure this is long lived. A very good example

Polish Hill - steely, minerals, talc, lemon zing, with mouth puckering/watering acidity. Length to burn. Should be a classic.

One word to describe both the Springvale and Polish Hill is 'intensity'.

2018 Gaia - medium to full bodied, classic cassis, blackcurrant, dried herbs, very balanced and nuanced. Tannin structure provides plenty of grip on the palate. A fine blend, with many years ahead of it. Suggest a long decant if drinking now.

The cellar door is closing up on the 5 November for the year, the Polish Hill is nearly sold out, if you are in Adelaide, perfect time to come up with this spring weather:

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[Sean]

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[Sean]

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[Matt@5453]

Thanks Craig.

Yes a bargain buy and will be nice drinking with some age on it.

Won 3 trophies at the Clare Valley Wine Show - Best Current Vintage Riesling, Best Riesling and Best Wine of Show.

Love to try the other Gold medal winners in that 2021 vintage Riesling class -

Annie’s Lane Riesling
Jim Barry Lodge Hill, Florita and Watervale
Pikes Traditionale and Merle

I've tried a fair cross section of 21 Rieslings now, the Merle for me stands out at the moment