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

[Sean]

Pepperjack Grenache 24 - Barossa and McLaren Vale fruit. A deep, lustrous red colour and lifted aromatics. Raspberry, cherry and mulberry. Got a mix of tank and oak maturation, so this is very fruit driven. Robust and fresh on the palate. Just 14% a/v and feels medium-bodied with soft, powdery tannins. - 11/11/25

Eden Hall Springton Riesling 24 - Eden Valley. Picked off blocks 8 and 10 this vintage, different blocks from the previous one. Yields down 50% mainly due to frost. Some colour in this and showing early development. Infused with kero rather than dominated by it. Yellow straw colour and florals. Limes, tropical fruit, kero and herbs. - 13/11/25

Robert Oatley Signature Series GSM 21 - A 60/35/5 GSM blend from McLaren Vale. Got 6 months maturation in French oak. I drank this over a couple of nights. A dark ruby red colour and nice floral aromatics. Red fruits, cherry, plums, earth and spice. Feels medium-bodied and fruit driven with smooth tannins. - 13/11/25

[felixp21]

2018 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay
thought I'd pop a TN here because, simply put, this is an absolute legend in the making.
drinking well despite its young age (well, very young for a LEAS CHARDONNAY), this now gets my vote as the best of this most prestigious line. (IMO only second to Grange for its long term excellence and consistency)
a powerful, complex and utterly majestic wine without peer for me in this vintage. Stunning, greeted by general "wows" around the table.
absurd length, myriad of flavours and, despite the luscious fruit, has a steely core giving it endless energy and drive.
I have seen this wine at least a dozen times since release, and while it has always been promising, I honestly didn't see it getting to this level.
Worth trying if you have ample stocks, but if you are low on numbers, it should peak in another five years and hold on for another decade after that.
Yep, best Aussie white ever for me
98 POINTS, drink: 2030-2040.

[felixp21]

PS, yes, as you probably know, I am a rusted-on Francophile when it comes to wine, but there are very, very few White Burgundies from 2018 that I would drink in preference to this.

[JamieAdelaide]

Was outbid for the 2018 at auction last year. Damn!

[jdisc]

Found a bottle of this hiding in a local bottle shop. Still a ton of fruit and acidity but so much complexity.

Straight Semillon, very textured, honey and almost light cheese? on the back palette

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[jdisc]

2018 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay
thought I'd pop a TN here because, simply put, this is an absolute legend in the making.
drinking well despite its young age (well, very young for a LEAS CHARDONNAY), this now gets my vote as the best of this most prestigious line. (IMO only second to Grange for its long term excellence and consistency)
a powerful, complex and utterly majestic wine without peer for me in this vintage. Stunning, greeted by general "wows" around the table.
absurd length, myriad of flavours and, despite the luscious fruit, has a steely core giving it endless energy and drive.
I have seen this wine at least a dozen times since release, and while it has always been promising, I honestly didn't see it getting to this level.
Worth trying if you have ample stocks, but if you are low on numbers, it should peak in another five years and hold on for another decade after that.
Yep, best Aussie white ever for me
98 POINTS, drink: 2030-2040.

Jealous, how do you compare it to the 23 Heytesbury?

[Rossco]

Had an engagement dinner with some amazing people back at the start of October.

Theme was Open (ie bring anything)

All wines were not masked, just plonked on the table and away we went

Aperitif # 1 – Andre Clouet Grande Reserve NV
Nice yellow gold in colour, very fine mousse, some nought characters on the nose, nuts and meringue sweetness. You can see some reserve material in here, there is a depth of colour and fruit that others just don’t have. Some brioche/bready & yeasty inklings and then the fruit comes in. Oh that rich ripe peach both yellow and white, very faint tropical notes of maybe mango or papaya, very fine minerals, white stone with just a hint of talc. Fine length, tiny bubbles that pop in the mouth with joy. Wonderful wine. Great house style and should be on everyone’s list for the $$$. Exceptional value

Aperitif # 2 – Seppeltsfield Museum Reserve DP898 “Paramount Collection” Aged Flor Apera
This has to be the fanciest bottle I have seen in ages. Expensive bottle for sure. Light tawny in colour, green tinge to the wine, especially at the rim. Nutty notes, dried citrus peel with caramelised nuts on the nose. This is super dry in the mouth… bone dry. Explosive power in this wine, quite astonishing
Really. There is an acid line that runs through front to back, giving the wine immaculate balance. More grilled nuts, almond meal, wild bees wax, marzipan, toffee. This isn’t a sweet wine, the flor is very apparent and gives this an x factor that completes the wine and adds complexity.
Could easily be a top Spanish sherry its so convincing. Ginger, fennel, medicinal cherry and some amaro herbs round off what is simply a top wine, for all different reasons. Perfect aperitif even though its probably not mean to be one. 49 years is average age of material. Unbelievable wine

Wine #1 2018 Domaine Francois Raveneau ‘Chapelot’ Chablis 1er Cru
I love this colour, it’s a light yellow with a tinge of green at the core and a cleat rim. Looks very young and is shining bright. Nose is pure Chablis, classic oyster shell, saline salty notes, some orchard fruits and quite floral as well. Lots of white peach on the palate, macadamia nuts, and then some ripe yellow peach and nectarine as well. The fruit is much richer than the nose suggests, but not overt ripe or blousy just perfectly ripe. Was this a warm vintage?
Very nice length, has a green pineapple type acid that runs the entire palate, perfectly judged as it tames that fruit and ties the wine together. I love this wine – if only I could afford to drink it more regularly.


Wine #2 - 2013 Bouchard Vigne L’Enfant Jesus (Baby Jesus)
For some reason there is a homeliness about this wine. It’s a warm cuddle on a cold night, it’s a the love of a long term partner, it just has this familiarity and complete fondness about it. Never had a bad one, but likewise they never hit the absolute highs of Grand cru Burgundy… they are dependable and friendly. A joyfulness comes over the table as this is poured, everyone is happy, everyone knows this wine and everyone dives deep into their glass. Dark cherry colour, no blurring, no browning just a lovely aged red wine. The nose is pure burgundy, has that wet earth forest, mushrooms, dark fruits and some noticeable oak. This is in the darker fruit style of pinot, some magnificent tannins, gravelly yet still fine.
More wet earth, spice and pine needle. Some more dark cherry and pomegranate molasses type fruit, stunning length and just a lovely wine. Always remember baby jesus – label is a classic too.

Wine # 3 – 2019 Littorai Savoy Vineyard (Anderson Valley) USA
Very similar in colour to the baby jesus, dark cherry but this is super clear. Has a very bright red rim too which makes me think this is a slightly younger wine (going on looks). Wet forest floor nose, pine, earth and mushroom/umami type nose, good red/dark red fruits, maybe some cherry but more dark strawberry. This is one of those you would struggle in a blind line up with on the nose, but you would need to really look at the structure to say its not burg. Missing the tannin and acid is new world, this is one of those wines that the nose screams burg and the palate is new world. Trust your palate. More dark berry fruit, more seaweed nice use of oak, gives some spice and complexity. The balance is quite good for such a young wine, I thought around 5 years old, good length without being great, but it’s a beautiful wine overall.


Wine #4.1 - (Left Glass) 2015 Georges Lignier Morey Saint Denis Clos des Ormes 1er Cru
Slight blurring in the glass, cherry red, ting of dark cherry core. Nose has some muted fruit of ripe cherry… .but not much else… then the oxidative notes come though…. Laced with VA.
Dead fruit on the palate, TCA. So its Ox, VA and TCA all at once. NQR Tipped out


Wine #4.2 - (Right Glass) 2015 Domaine Bertagna les beaux monts Vose Romanee 1er Cru
Much darker in the glass, this is black cherry type colour, deeper colour. This has a slightly better nose, but there is a tar and rubber note which is different. Some nice fruits on the nose, more light plums and dark cherry, and some wonderful violet floral notes…and that’s where it all ended.
On the palate, this was all tannin, all acid. Fruit was being hidden and dominated by the oak which I thought strange as it didn’t seem that oaky on the nose. This isn’t anywhere near ready to drink, all arms and legs. Still has a burnt rubber note, will that ever go away?
I didn’t really enjoy this wine


Wine # 5 - 1988 Chateau Latour
Deep purple blackberry in colour, no sign of age its still quite youthful grape colour. No blurring or bricking, no tertiary or secondary colour to indicate age. I would guess 10-15 years.
Nose is an ethereal complex delight, blackberry, blueberry spearmint, cigar box, menthol, loose leaf tobacco, its extraordinary. Violets and perfume fill the glass, its joyous.
Stunning tannin structure here, its one of the first things you really notice is how complete that structure is. Ultra fine grained, sandy tannin, just enough acid to hold those super powerful and commanding fruits in order, they are akin to the riot police, maintaining order in what is extraordinary powerful fruit. Top tier wine, has to be bdx, has to be grand cru class from one of the big names.
There is some fresh crushed tomatoes and stems in there, but no greenness, ultra minerally too, but a dark/black type of mineral. Ferrous and iron filings, charcoal, lead pencil shavings, and more of that glorious fruit. Plum, blackberries, blueberries, dark chocolate, moca and freshly ground coffee notes. The texture is quite chalky, very interesting, super dry and has this austerity to it, but the fruit is super sweet. Length for days, wine moment – probably the best Bordeaux I have ever had. Will live for decades based on this example, but drinking so well now, why wait. Wine moment, proper wine moment in my top 10 of all time. *Wipes a tear just thinking about it* Wine of the year? Man it has to be close. – Glad it was my wine and perfect way to celebrate the engagement of a dear friend.


Wine # 6 - 1998 Wendouree Cabernet Malbec
Another black ink wine, light doesn’t penetrate this wine, not even at the rim, this is super thick, super dense in colour… squid ink black, with just the slightest tinge of red/purple. Looks super young, but then again so did the 88 latour!

Nose leaps out of the glass again, but hits differently. Lots of menthol, blueberries, licquorice and aniseed, gum leaves… has a sweet fruit nose that leads me to clare valley immediately. There is this ‘clare nose’ that is so unique and pronounced. Although I thought this a top tier Jim Barry initially on the nose.....

There is lots of dark chocolate on the palate, beautiful acid, again to keep those very powerful fruits in balance, some eucalyptus oils and lavender. Its thick too, weighty wine with texture, new leather, pouch tobacco and some molasses / burnt caramel vibes. Length is stunning, more blackberries and plumb, blueberries, the malbec adds complexity too which I find really completes the wine and adds a roundness to it. Still a pup, has decades left too.


Finishing wine - 1977 Dows Vintage Port
Wonderful dark red colour, bit of ruby red in there too, very clear, with no bricking or blurring.
Nose can only be Portuguese always has this unmistakable perfume to it. Marzipan, red current, almond and other red fruits, possibly pomegranate as well.
On the palate there is a big hit of red rope liquorice, earthy as well which is quite unusual, but a light red earth, not brown or dark/wet earth. Medicinal herbs in the mouth together with a medicinal cherry note as well, kind of like cough syrup, but way better. Very clean spirit too, well integrates, doesn’t sit on top of the wine, its not spiky or hot spirit either which is amazing to see in this wine. Length is astonishing, its medium body, drinking beautifully but will hold for many more years (cork permitting) – what a wine. Fortified of the year so far too. WOW

What a great night and perfect way to celebrate the engagement

[Ian S]

Not surprised the Wandoo still doing well. A lovely wine, but one I've not seen for about 2 decades

[phillisc]

2017 Pikes Riesling, fresh as a daisy, no secondary development yet, zingy acid wonderful profile
2021 Reschke Vitilus Shiraz, this is for a cheapie is drinking very nicely, dark chocolate notes, not a hair out of place. bargain for the money.
Cheers Craig

[Rossco]

2021 Santolin Gladysdale Pinot
Popped and poured

Very light in colour for a Pinot. It's a strawberry colour with a hint of black cherry. You could almost think it's a dark rose' type wine. Very clear too.

Lots of Alpine herbs, Twiggy and sappy on the nose. A sweet fruit of strawberry compote type sap if that makes sense.

Super Fragrant nose with redcurrant, boysenberry and some wild Forest mushroom/seaweed characters. The seaweed that's wrapped around sushi kind of thing

The nose is quite something. Very very fragrant, dried rose and purple potpourri florals.

I really like how dry and savoury this is, that's really the star of the wine.

It's missing a bit of fruit in the mid palate, its missing some weight and texture but it's also what makes this wine different from the rest.... And very interesting. Time will fill this out and it will be a great wine in a few years.

Bit too much acid at the moment but that will calm down with time and probably needed a quick decant.

I didn't have it with food and it probably needs it as well at the moment with that acid profile

This is a Pinot for the Pinot drinkers if that makes sense. It's not for everyone as I can see some people not liking it. It will be Polarising

I would like a bit more tannin but the oak treatment is perfect, really let's the fruit shine

[Rossco]

7,000th post of this thread. Good work everyone!

Izway Rob and Les Shiraz 2023

Black ink I colour with a hint of purple.
Lots of sweet purple and black fruits on the nose, oak and some blackberry jam.

Bramble and briar fruits, sweet barossa berries. Twiggy and jammy like a true Barossa Shiraz , but its not over the top.

Very good use of oak, not over powering just supporting those fruits.

Good acid, probably a bit too much right now. Will calm down with age and a bit of a Decant.

Good wine for $35 retail

Will please the masses who like a good Shiraz that isn't over oaked.

Length a little short
It's not my cup of tea, but I see the appeal

[Ian S]

Well done!

[Sean]

Vickery Watervale Riesling 24 - Sourced from 6 vineyards with plantings dating back to 1975. Made by Keeda Zilm. Some pressings went back in, which adds a little body and texture. A pale straw colour, early days with this Riesling. Loads of musky aromatics and clean fruit. Citrus, limes, red apple and talcum. Got pristine fruit character and fresh acidity with a dry finish. - 14/11/25

Hardys HRB Chardonnay 23 - A multi-regional blend from Pemberton, Margaret River and Adelaide Hills. Yellow straw colour. Citrus, stonefruit, almond, toast and wild honey. Old style chardonnay. Barrel-ferment influence always features in these wines, well this is no different. Nicely weighted however, with oak spice and some leesy complexity. - 15/11/25

Yangarra Estate Circle Grenache 24 - Nice budget-priced intro to a Blewitt Springs grenache. Young vines however. 50% whole berries, wild ferment and maturation in a mix of tank and old oak for 5 months. Ruby coloured and florals. This is very fresh and fruit driven. Red fruits, cherry, herbs and spice. Medium-bodied and vibrant acidity with moderate natural tannins. - 16/11/25

Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon 19 - Just as good as the bottle that I had last year. I still have the 12, 13, 14 and 20 vintages. Really like these wines. Need to get more age on them if I can. This is 96% Cab and 4% Malbec. Got 22 months in French oak, 50% new barrels, which is nicely integrated. Deeply coloured and still intense. The aromatics are next level typical of high quality Cab. Cassis, violets, lush dark berries, cedar, a little earthy, green and dried herbs. Just 13.5% a/v. Feels balanced with deep, velvety tannin and a long finish. - 17/11/25

Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon 16 - The fruit sourced from around SA. Matured for 12 months in French and American oak hogsheads, some of it new. A deep purple colour. But showing some aged character already, which surprises me given this is screwcapped. Dark fruits, plums, cherry and mocha (oak). Also obvious smoky/earthy tertiary notes. Big powdery tannins not going anywhere, which have a blunting effect on the wine. Could be a phase or simply the direction this has taken now. - 19/11/25

Barking Frog Pinot Gris 25 - Wendy dropped into the local bottlo and told me they had a tasting on. A range of 2 whites and 3 reds. The whites are Adelaide fruit and the reds are old vine Barossa floor. Straw colour. Clean and fresh aromatics. Pears, apple and spice with some nice savoury texture and moderately dry. - 21/11/25

Barking Frog Grenache 22 - The reds are from their Kulara Estate vineyard in the Barossa. Bush vine grenache planted from the 30s, average vine age is 60 yrs. Ruby coloured and fragrant. Cherry, red fruits, dates/figs and dried herbs. Feels lush and velvety smooth with soft tannins. - 22/11/25

Cirillo The Vincent Grenache 24 - Lots of old vine grenache in this. Ruby coloured and perfumed. Some whole bunch adds lift to it. Wild yeast. Maturation for 6 months in tank and old oak, so it feels fresh and fruit driven. Perhaps a little more than the previous vintage. Cherry, red fruits and spice. Just 13.8% a/v and good fruit intensity with soft tannins. - 23/11/25

[jdisc]

Domaine Naturaliste Artus Chardonnay 2021

Was worried it would be quite oak heavy but it ended up still retaining a lot of acidity and fruit characteristics

[Sean]

Giant Steps Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 24 - Upper and lower Yarra Valley fruit, some whole bunch, wild yeast and 8 months in French oak. Ruby coloured. Teasing aromatics. Cherry, raspberry, rhubarb and spice. Really clean and fresh. Vibrant acidity. Feels lightweight and elegant, with nice fruit and sappy tannins. Much too easy to drink. - 27/11/25

Stanton & Killeen Arinto 24 - Rutherglen. One of their Portuguese varietals planted in 2015. Some of it has been fermented in aged French oak. Yellow straw colour. Florals, citrus and stonefruit. Typically lots of fresh acidity. A bit of waxy texture on the palate and a dry finish. - 28/11/25

Forester Estate Sauvignon Blanc 24 - Trophy for best SB at the Western Australia wine show. A third of it barrel-fermented, solids and 5 months maturation in French oak. Green straw colour. Tropical fruit, cut grass and nettles. Subtle savoury barrel nuances. Nice balance of freshness and leesy influences. Still a little wound up, let it warm up in the glass. - 29/11/25

Pindarie TSS Tempranillo Sangiovese Shiraz 23 - Barossa Valley. The Tempranillo is the biggest component in the blend. Matured in aged French oak. A dark red colour and perfumed. Morello cherry, red fruits, plums and spice. Lovely vibrant acidity and feels medium-bodied. Just 13% a/v. Deeply flavoured with unobtrusive oak and soft tannins. - 30/11/25

[Michael McNally]

2018 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay
thought I'd pop a TN here because, simply put, this is an absolute legend in the making.
drinking well despite its young age (well, very young for a LEAS CHARDONNAY), this now gets my vote as the best of this most prestigious line. (IMO only second to Grange for its long term excellence and consistency)
a powerful, complex and utterly majestic wine without peer for me in this vintage. Stunning, greeted by general "wows" around the table.
absurd length, myriad of flavours and, despite the luscious fruit, has a steely core giving it endless energy and drive.
I have seen this wine at least a dozen times since release, and while it has always been promising, I honestly didn't see it getting to this level.
Worth trying if you have ample stocks, but if you are low on numbers, it should peak in another five years and hold on for another decade after that.
Yep, best Aussie white ever for me
98 POINTS, drink: 2030-2040.

I have a sum total of 1 bottle of LEAS Chardonnay in my cellar and it's this vintage - thanks Felix!

Cheers

Michael