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

[Mike Hawkins]

Thanks Matt.

I just ordered 12 of the Merles. One of the great Aussie rieslings in gooD years.

Sam Barry spoke highly of the Florita too. Looking fwd to trying it.

[mychurch]

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It was only a half of a Jennie, so 250 ml, but I still managed to enjoy it over 3 nights. Tokaji, when it’s good, is the most life enhancing wine there is, which each sip sending a love bullet to the brain. It’s obvious why it used to be the wine of kings, but it’s something most of hardly drink now. Shame. This is not at the level of the single crus, which I have not had for years, but it still has enough to bring a joyous smile to this drinker. Barley sugar, marmalade, lots of acidity, long finish. It’s was divine and I really have to question why I don’t drink more sweet wine.

[Chuck]

Wynns 2008 Coonawarra Estate Davis Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. A one off wine from the second oldest vines in the area, circa 1957. As with most Wynns vines in the Coonawarra the vineyard was completely rejuvenated in 2003. I think much of very good Wynns cabernet fruit from the area like this is being taken away to build more upmarket expensive wines. The effect on the standard black label is apparent and is why I don't but it any more.

But the wine is glorious with the fruit well ripened in this very hot year. Black and blue fruits with a good dollop of oak, perhaps a bit too much. Tannins and acids have resolved with the wine in a great space now and should last another decade or more although I was surprised how quickly it started falling over after about 3 hours.

[Sean]

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[Sean]

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[phillisc]

Wynns 2008 Coonawarra Estate Davis Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. A one off wine from the second oldest vines in the area, circa 1957. As with most Wynns vines in the Coonawarra the vineyard was completely rejuvenated in 2003. I think much of very good Wynns cabernet fruit from the area like this is being taken away to build more upmarket expensive wines. The effect on the standard black label is apparent and is why I don't but it any more.

But the wine is glorious with the fruit well ripened in this very hot year. Black and blue fruits with a good dollop of oak, perhaps a bit too much. Tannins and acids have resolved with the wine in a great space now and should last another decade or more although I was surprised how quickly it started falling over after about 3 hours.

Thanks for the note on this Chuck...must look at one of these. Interesting that the 2019 Davis (will be released next year) won a trophy at last week's Limestone Coast Wine Show...best Cabernet in show, or something like that.
Cheers Craig

[brodie]

1997 Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 1

bought on release, cork in immaculate condition, mid red, lovely complex mature nose, palate is balanced, clean and long with that hard to describe the distinctive old YY wine character. Not especially varietal - not much Cab signature, more like an old lovely wine with red fruits, good acidity, fine smooth tannins and a long balanced finish. Yum, really in the zone. Fully mature but not danger of dropping off any cliff any time soon. 3rtd bottle from a 6 pack, the best yet. A good Yarra vintage with some nice ripe fruit character

[kenzo]

Great stuff - I had my first YY#1 recently and it was similarly great - mine a 1996.

[Sean]

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[phillisc]

Well good to see a spec (but pretty safe bet) buy has turned up trump's. $13 a bottle!!
2021 Leo Buring Clare Riesling
Opens with a very delicate but slightly floral nose, almost austere. But the palate is where it shines, citrus, laser like but restrained acid. Beautiful finish, clean and pure.

Can see why this cleaned up at both RAS and Clare show... technically perfect, to the point of perhaps??? being an early drinker but will put a sixer aside.
Matt if this is a barometer for the vintage, then there will be a shed load of amazing wines. Reminded of a 2012 Merle on release.
Happy days and ridiculous value
Cheers Craig

[Sean]

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[Matt@5453]

Well good to see a spec (but pretty safe bet) buy has turned up trump's. $13 a bottle!!
2021 Leo Buring Clare Riesling
Opens with a very delicate but slightly floral nose, almost austere. But the palate is where it shines, citrus, laser like but restrained acid. Beautiful finish, clean and pure.

Can see why this cleaned up at both RAS and Clare show... technically perfect, to the point of perhaps??? being an early drinker but will put a sixer aside.
Matt if this is a barometer for the vintage, then there will be a shed load of amazing wines. Reminded of a 2012 Merle on release.
Happy days and ridiculous value
Cheers Craig

Wait to you try the 21 Merle.

Had a glass of 2021 Reilly's Watervale Riesling at the pub the last weekend with my snitty, impressed also. Followed up and purchased a bottle this week, re-confirmed my initial impression - another very good example of 21 Riesling, generous fruit with lovely balanced acidity.

[Rory]

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The greatest of all Aus whites? Hard to disagree.
I dont know f any other (maybe a Riesling) that could look so good at 22 years of age.
So much lemon, structure and power with lingering acidity.

Stunning

[mychurch]

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After a bottle of Moet I opened this. Both are in my list of the worlds great wines: good year after year, ages well and enormous production. Yum.

[Chuck]

Some friends over last night for a dinner (novelty following lockdown) and they brought a wine I had never heard of. Nugan Estate 2010 McLaren Vale Matriarch Shiraz. Very impressive wine with everything in place except the new oak that was a bit heavy handed which I don't mind if the fruit is up to the task. Great vintage in MV. Black is colour. Typical plum and other black fruits. Regional dark chocolate there in spades. Right in the zone now and I wouldn't leave it too much longer as I think the fruit will fade before the oak. Acids fading.

[phillisc]

Rory, don't disagree...aged Semillion is a treat and have had a few over the years, but hard to beat Riesling. Will be opening a swag of 02s next year, should be some wonderful surprises, and probably a few duds.
Cheers Craig

[phillisc]

Dinner with the lads
Piper NV always refreshing
2021 Leo Buring Clare Riesling, youngest lad who is into wine brought one along, previous note posted, excellent with salt and pepper squid.
2002 Seppelts Victoria Shiraz, remember buying 02-05 and then label discontinued, a bit of boot polish, VA?? then blew off to be really lovely drinking. IIRC a vintage cellars special at $60 a dozen, found a case this week, will knock a few more off, fabulous drinking.
2018 Rockford BP (half). Been a while since I had a BP on release. Plenty going on here, dark core with a bit of cap gun flinty, wiff of smoke, savory plush palate, oak and fruit well balanced with a little heat on the end with very firm tannins to finish. Very good example and a long life ahead.
Cheers Craig

[Sean]

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[Rory]

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Which one was best?
Neither, both a foil for the other.
Wantirna Estate was typically more elegant and perhaps more seamless, the Parker First Growth more darker fruits and power.

[phillisc]

Thanks for the note on Parker Rory.
Picked up a magnum of the 2010 and a few loose bottles, really like the style, as you said, power without being over the top.
Cheers Craig

[phillisc]

A bit of a trip down memory lane... 2010 MV Hedonist Shiraz. Made by Walter Wilfred another W that I have forgotten Clappis. Used to own/run Ingolby before Treasury got hold of it. Drank a sixer of these on release and right in the slot tonight, mellow rich balanced smashable!!! Paid $12 IIRC, just one left. There's a dozen of the '12 somewhere... will have to dig them out.
Cheers Craig

[Rory]

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2018 Cherubino Shiraz Malbec.
Riversdale Vineyard, Frankland River.
A great vintage in these parts, and it shows in this wine. I just dont know why I dont have more Margaret River/Frankland River Shiraz, Cabernet and Chardonnay in my cellar. They are always outstanding.
I have been plundering Larry Cherubino's offerings over the past 12 months, all have been great.

This wine is mid between a cool climate shiraz and S.A. with the hint of Malbec depth. Very good wine, will definitely reward cellaring, although at $65 a pop, not cheap.

[Rossco]

2016 La Palazzina Bramaterra Balmi Bioti

Darker in the glass than the 2015. Nose is nice with some dried flowers and dark fruits, blueberry, blackberry and
blackcurrants.

Plums, Dark Cherry, and other purple fruits on the tongue....but there is a warmth to this. Not sure if
its alcohol or riper fruits. Im going with a riper year. Not stewed fruit or dead, but riper and darker.

Charcoal/graphite minerals in there too, not quite lava stone, but something similar. Nice acidity, not sure how
long it will keep, im guessing medium term 10-ish years.

Missing the elegance and purity of last year that had bright red Strawberry, Red Cherry spectrum fruits.... comes
down to preference really.
Not bad, but I much prefer the 2015.


2016 Bel Colle Barolo Monvigliero
Here we go! Verduno one of my favourite cru's in Piedmont. I find this cru generally more elegant, red fruited and to my liking.

Decanted for a couple of hours. Nose was initially a bit shy, but it sprang to life in the decanter.

Wonderful strawberry compote, rose pot-pourri, white pepper.... lots going on here.

Similar to the Balmi Bioti its very dark in the glass, black cherry type thing, but thats where the similarities end.

Lovely alpine mint, but again that white pepper kicks in, its quite pronounced. Energetic acid, dances across the tongue all the way to the back palate,
not distracting at all, just provides that long backbone. Tannin is dry, dusty and still dominating , some aniseed but then that strawberry compote fruit pulls everything together. Long, long life ahead. This will be a superstar in 10+

[sjw_11]

First business trip since March 2020 sees me in London for a couple of nights. My usual plan is to pop to a decent supermarket and get a moderate bottle and then order in some Deliveroo or equivalent, but for now the Tesco selection will have to suffice.

This sees me in possession of a patently over priced, cork sealed, bottle of Penfolds Max's Shiraz Cab 2019.
And genuinely, this is not bad. It is a classic SA Shiraz Cab, with dense plum and chewy, almost rustic tannin. Sure it is a bit ripe, a touch heavy (if you are used to drinking European wines) and at £22 the value is, well lets just not mention it. But still, I am enjoying it.

[WAwineguy]

Chateau L'Eglise Clinet 2012 last night - great Pomerol, drinking nicely.

[Rory]

2017 Cherubino Cab Sauv.
From vineyards in the Wilyabrup sub region.

Really nice. Smooth, ripe but not over done. Intense flavours well handled. Length is above average.

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[mychurch]

I met up with a friend at the Archive Wine Bar in Belmont. 2nd visit and it’s great. Almost all the wines on the list can be ordered in 75ml size, and splitting 2 half glasses per round means we got to taste, without getting intoxicated. Small glasses and a Corsivan system meant we could order 4 Californian reds, and still not have confess to our wives. Ridge Lytton Springs (17), Geyserville (‘18) and Monte Bello (17) were good examples of old favourites, but it was the 17 Ceritas Cabernet that impressed me the most. Blind I would have called it a very good Black Label or some other top Coonawarra, with poise and plenty of leafiness. Add in an 89 Bedif Vouvray, a cracking ‘11 Morgon and 5 nice whites, and it really was a lovely afternoon. Not cheap, but its great to be able try some wines you would not normally splash out on.

[Sean]

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[phillisc]

2013 Seppelts Salinger, I said it before and I'll say it again, pound for pound the best sparkler in Australia. Think I paid $20 for it.
Spends several years on lees, made in the old fashioned way. Biscuits, yeast the finest but most persistent bead, most tasters thought it was French. Just lovely!

Cheers Craig

[Sean]

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