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

[Sean]

Penfolds Bin 51 Riesling 23 - Sourced from the Woodbury vineyard in Eden Valley. Straw colour with aromas of citrus and flowers. A little softer or rounder than when it was released. Lemon/lime, apple, honeysuckle and talcum. The fruit is typically fresh and pristine. Jumping out of the glass, so the chalky texture you usually get feels secondary rather than obvious. A dry finish however. - 26/1/25

Pfeiffer Durif 21 - I have drunk a couple of bottles of this now. Much more polished than I remember big, tannic Durifs being years ago. The basics are the same however, can’t hide that. Got 18 months in French and American oak. This is a full-bodied style, but smooth. Plums, cherry, red fruits and spice. A bit warm I guess. Generous fruit and deep tannins. - 28/1/25

Pfeiffer Merlot 22 - Made up of differently sourced parcels handled separately in the winery. After 10 weeks blended and matured in French oak for 12 months. Strong, plush red-purple colour. Violets, mulberry, plums and dried herbs. This is 14.8% a/v and feels full-bodied. Lush, warm mid-palate and some texture with long dry tannins. - 29/1/25

Kooyong Massale Pinot Noir 23 - Some whole bunch, open fermenter and 10 months in French oak. Ruby red colour and aromatic. Cherry, strawberry and rhubarb. A notable spicy character that often features in this wine. Subtle earthy feel to it. Some serious tannin, but it is more about the fruit intensity and acidity driving through the palate. Drink now or get a few years age on it. - 30/1/25

DiGiorgio Family Coonawarra Emporio 21 - A blend of 60% Cab Sav, 30% Merlot and 10% Cab Franc. Comes from the red dirt terra rossa vineyard at the winery. Got 18 months in French and American oak. I probably should keep this 10 yrs. (The 10 yo Emporio I tried at the cellar door was very good.) Nice red-purple colour. Cassis, red fruits, mocha, mint, some green herbs and earth. Full-bodied with evenly balanced oak/fruit and dense tannins. - 31/1/25

[mjs]

Sadly no posts from me in this thread this month, I'm doing Febfast!

[Chuck]

Leconfield 2018 Coonawarra Cabernet Franc. I do like this grape when treated like a cab sav in the winery and is more fuller bodied. Really nice black fruits that were sweeter than I was expecting. I liked that. Tannins settled now. Everything in place. Should improve and hold for quite a while.

[phillisc]

2021 Katnook Shiraz, thought I'd look at one.
For the money, (I paid) ridiculous value. Bright core of plums, spice and a little oak. Palate seamless, medium to full body, big glycerol hangs on the glass but handles the 14.5% with ease. A little warmth, but fruit holds up well. Fine lingering tannins with a firm finish. Coonawarra Shiraz is often overlooked, this wine is a delight. Reinforces the stellar 2021 vintage.

Cheers Craig

[Sean]

Knappstein Clare Valley Riesling 24 - Gee this was flying under the radar. I have really enjoyed a couple of bottles of this Riesling. They have been making it for yonks of course. Typical florals with lime/lemon, talcum and gentle spices. Neat acidity through the palate and loads of fresh varietal character. - 2/2/25

Katnook The Caledonian Cabernet Shiraz 18 - A 60/40 blend of Cab Sav and Shiraz. Got 18 months in mostly French oak barriques. Drinking this over two nights. A dense purple colour. Cassis, dark berries, plum, mocha and spice. A little earthy when it opens up more. This is smooth and long on the palate with robust tannins. You could probably keep it long as you like. - 3/2/25

Petaluma White Label Sauvignon Blanc 23 - Adelaide Hills. Won trophies at the Melbourne and Queensland Wine Shows in 2024. Tank fermented, so this is very clean and fresh. Tropical fruit, cut grass and herbs. Some subtle texture on the palate (rather than simply fruit sweet) and refreshing acidity. - 5/2/25

Sam Miranda Sangiovese Barbera 18 - Wendy likes Italian reds and she was hooking into this. Sourced from their Myrrhee vineyard in King Valley. Matured in French oak. Lighter red-purple colour and medium-bodied. The barbera adds florals and lifted fruit quality to this. Cherry, plums and spice. Evolves and fills out when you get into the bottle more with earth, dried herbs and soft, savoury tannins. - 6/2/25

Phaedrus Reserve Pinot Noir 10 - Best fruit from their original block and best barrels. Wild ferment and 18 months maturation in French oak. 100 cases. Got out the big glasses for this and lots of swirling. Garnet red colour and much paler at the rim. This is fully developed and mature. Some nice florals and earthy pong. Cherry, five spice, mushroom and barnyard. Mellow with a brambly feel to it and soft tannins. Long finish. - 7/2/25

[Ian S]

Seppelt DP63 Grand Muscat. Bought in 2008. This the last of 4. The previous three were enjoyable for sure, but I felt the intensity dropped away mid-palate, at least compared to the better Rutherglen Muscats. Still super for the price. I ended up burying this bottle, but more out of 'yeah, whatever' than any expectation it would improve in the bottle/cellar. On opening the cardboard case, I saw faint seepage, and the typically short T cork is clearly on its last legs as is comes out rather too easily / is soaked through. The wine however was a big surprise, as it seems to have filled out a little more, and the progression through the finish avoids the sharp drop-off of the earlier bottles. Really good complexity, and whilst still clearly sweet, age has brought some savoury complexity.

Did I have it wrong about these stickies, and that they reward bottle age, not just time in barrel? I think I may have made a poor assumption.

[Sean]

Hey Ian

Usually they do not need further ageing, and they will not improve once bottled.

The degree of richness and complexity, etc is already there depending on the aged material they have used for the blend.

Hence the classification of muscats, although this is also dependent on the house style of each Rutherglen maker.

Even so it comes down to what you like. My old dad had dusty old Rutherglen muscats lying around in his cellar for years until I suggested we started opening them.

They had gone dark and viscous/treacley and were utterly delicious. Long past any acid/sweetness balance or anything like that. Just gobsmackingly luscious and good.

Sounds like the last bottle you had was the best of them.

OK so tonight I have been drinking…

Phaedrus Reserve Pinot Noir 10 - I opened a 2nd bottle of this. It had a lining cap, which the previous bottle didn’t. Much less developed and earthy. Showing more fruit/acidity with sufficient tannin to encourage you to keep it longer if you have another bottle. Such is the lottery with even screwcap sometimes. - 8/2/25

[Ian S]

Thanks Sean. Yes, definitely a big step up, at perhaps the cost of a little freshness / lightness, but the upside significant. That bottle could IMO have matched up to any other grand, and maybe 1 or 2 rares. The earlier ones were probably a fraction disappointing for 'grand' level, but the price was very modest.

[Sean]

d’Arenberg The Hermit Crab 23 - A 55/45 blend of Viognier and Marsanne. Basket press and some of it matured in French oak (older barrels) for 8 months. Years ago this could be savoury, a little fresher these days. A bit of colour in this. Stonefruit, peach, citrus and some of that “otherness” that comes with the winemaking and style. This is 14% a/v and feels like there’s weight in it. Texture in the palate and moderately dry. - 9/2/25

Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 18 - These BLs have hit a purple patch, and I always enjoy opening one. Just 13.7% a/v, but loads of fruit intensity. Oak and tannin have a role, but definitely a supporting one. Deep red-purple colour and still very fresh and primary. Blackberry, cassis, violets, mint, dried herbs and some cedar. Really shines on the mid-palate. Nicely balanced with slow, dry tannins. - 10/2/25

Merricks Estate Shiraz 14 - The vineyard was est 1978, incl shiraz, and is one of the better Shiraz from Mornington Peninsula. Got 12 months in French oak, which has been fully absorbed after 10 yrs. The colour is still pretty good. It is medium-bodied, just 13.2% a/v. Pepper, dark berries, dried herbs and spice. Some earthiness and plenty of tannin. No hurry with this. - 12/2/25

Penfolds Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz 19 - What I am realising with these Penfolds wines in recent years is that you will probably have to wait ages for them to get a bit interesting. The wine style and screwcap? Got 12 months in French oak barriques. It feels a little obvious, and needs time. Really fresh and primary. Loads of spice, vanilla/mocha and fruit. Blackberry, raspberry, cherry and pomegranate. Rich and intense with powdery tannin. - 13/2/25

Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 22 - Nothing wrong with this. But it’s nothing special as a young wine. I still have 16, 18, 20 and 21 and will probably drink them with some age on them. A 51/49 blend of Cab and Shiraz. Multi-regional and 12 months in American oak. Don’t bother calling it Baby Grange (old Grange barrels) anymore, this has 36% new oak. Deeply coloured and intense. A bit more perfumed when it opens up. Plums, dark berries, violets, cherry and cocoa. Loads of tannin from the very start. Open a bottle when it has 10 years on it. - 14/2/25

Wynns V&A Lane Cabernet Shiraz 22 - A 60/40 blend of Cab Sav and Shiraz, which was picked at the same time and co-fermented. That must be unusual I think. Some whole bunch, wild yeast and 11 months in new and old French oak. Red rather than purple colour. Dark berries, red fruits, aniseed and dried herbs. Just 12.3% a/v and feels leaner or reticent. Nicely balanced oak/fruit with smooth, powdery tannins. - 15/2/25

[Chuck]

The Stage Door Wine Company 2015 Eden Valley Shiraz.

Had never heard of this winery and wine before seeing large volumes on offer at Oddbins Wine Auctions in Adelaide a few years before we moved to Sydney. Picked up a case at silly prices hoping for a good mid week quaffer. It was much more than that. I raced back to Oddbins to hopefully load up with more. Noticing a truck being loaded with wine outside I asked Oddbins if there was any more. They advised the truck outside was actually taking the unsold wines back to the winery. Grabbed another case literally off the back promising to pay the winery directly. That's the way I like to do business

Well last night was the last bottle and boy was it good. Eden Valley shiraz at its best. A little lighter that valley floor wines and the wine was in a great place. Black and blue fruits. Lovely mouthfeel. US oak was poking out at bit but I don't mind that. Well balanced with everything now in place. Tannins resolved and acid reduced. At its best now and unlikely to improve. Should have bought more. Best wine of the year so far.

Sad to see the industry in a difficult place with over supply and demand declining. Nice to see a winery proudly using Eden Valley on the label for its Shiraz rather than hiding behind the larger Barossa region of which EV is a sub region. .

[Chuck]

And forgot to add something that should be in the Spirits area of the forum but couldn't find a thread to attach it to.

Wife bought a brandy for the Xmas cake. Decided to try it. De Valcourt VSOP Napoleon Brandy. from France. Wasn't expecting much I was very impressed. Not quite as good as a VSOP cognac but not far off. At $43 pb it's now a permanent feature in the liquor cabinet.

[phillisc]

1998 John Riddoch
Amazing wine, perfect cork inky purple colour. Lovely nose, cool climate mixed spice blue fruits. Long seamless palate, beautiful mouth feel, silky tannins. Lasts an age... another 10 easily.
Magnificent Coonawarra Cab!!

2012 Peter Lehmann Wigan. Nose of florals, a hint of butterscotch, no overt kero. Plenty of acid, in a good spot.
Cheers Craig

[Sean]

Wynns Messenger Cabernet Sauvignon 21 - Not released every vintage, previous ones were 05, 10 and 15. Comes off a dry grown block at the southern end of the terra rossa strip. Got 15 months in French oak hogsheads. Really enjoyed this over a couple of nights. Lustrous purple colour. Florals, berries and earth. Getting into the bottle and this has loads of Cab character. Blackcurrant, cherry, red fruits, cedar, tobacco and herbs. Just 13.6% a/v, but somehow wound up a notch. This has lush fruit and strong driving tannins. - 17/2/25

Yalumba The Signature Cabernet Shiraz 14 - Nice to open a 10 year old Signature. Aside from the lottery of cork, obviously you could keep it much longer. A 57/43 blend and 21 months in French, Hungarian and American oak barrels. Got 32% new oak, which has been mostly absorbed. The wine has thrown a crust in the bottle. A crimson red colour with bricking. Plums, berries, earth, spice and chocolate. Hitting the mature stage and has an old style warm/porty Barossa feel to it. Maybe a bit more refined. Long and harmonious with soft tannins. - 18/2/25

Sam Miranda Super King Sangiovese Cabernet 21 - Open fermenter, gentle plunging and matured in tank and French oak barrels. Also a small amount of shiraz to “freshen” it up. Aiming for a wine that’s a bit more savoury and textured rather than fruity, and I think it does that. Cherries, dark berries, herbs and earthy. Just 13% a/v and medium-bodied. Lingering flavours with nice acidity and soft, savoury tannins. - 19/2/25

[marmi01]

Tried for first time a Pierro 2023 LTC Semillion/Savignon Blanc. Crisp and fresh - citrus, pear, green apple, melon and tropical fruit.

Will have to buy some more.

Mick

[phillisc]

Thanks Sean...the Messenger is a superstar, such a beautiful wine, if TWE start slashing, I'm in for another sixer.
Must dig out a 2014 Sig...a quintessential Aussie blend.
Cheers Craig

[Hacker]

Thanks Sean...the Messenger is a superstar, such a beautiful wine, if TWE start slashing, I'm in for another sixer.
Must dig out a 2014 Sig...a quintessential Aussie blend.
Cheers Craig

What would be a keen price for the Messenger? At present it is offered for $58pb on cellardoor.

[phillisc]

Thanks Sean...the Messenger is a superstar, such a beautiful wine, if TWE start slashing, I'm in for another sixer.
Must dig out a 2014 Sig...a quintessential Aussie blend.
Cheers Craig

What would be a keen price for the Messenger? At present it is offered for $58pb on cellardoor.

That's about the cheapest its been for a while
IIRC think I picked it up for $53 when it was released.
Cheers Craig