It's Sunday and this is my weekly report-apologies to Ric...

[michel]

I am at work so I have the time to write up a few informal notes.
These are for you Ric- PINOTS.

2000 Yeringberg Pinot my first taste of my six pack. not as dark as the 97 and the nose has a bit of earth( I hope it is not Brett) My wife wasnt as conerned with the character as I was. A good pinot but not as good as I hoped for 2000 Yarra and not as good as the legendary 1988. very approachable now.

2000 Paringa Pinot to quote Huon Hooke or Ralph Kytte-Powell 'a rubenesqe pinot" less oak dominant as it matures . more of a dry red style than a true pinot. More impressive than the Yeringberg. I still get more enthused with the Kiwi pinots.

both of these retail for $45 and really reflect how the prices have crept up in the pinot world in recent years.

cheers
michel

[TORB]

Bloody hell, you guys are anxious these days, Cant I have breakfast occasionally before I post?

Talk about desperate to post and Michel your were on Pintos too! What a way to start the week.

As Michel beat me to it and I haven't typed up last nights TN yet, I will leave it till later and post it as a "what have I been drinking note?"


Its a long weekend so many of you guys will have had some very good wines so lets here all about them. Lurkers especially welcome, we don't bite first timers so jump in and tell us all about what you have all been drinking.

[Anthony]

Worked late friday and headed to Vin Cellar Cafe which has a great wine list at very cheap prices.
Had the Josmeyer 2001 Kottabe Riesling which was quite minerally and steely but finished a bit short. Not the best Josmeyer I have had.

Then a glass of De Bortoli Yarra Valley Cab 00 which was very nice. From a great year in the valley, I think this will be up there with the 95.

Moved onto a glass of La Spinetta Moscato d'Asti 2001 which had hints of apple and pear, some residual sweetness and some really good acidity which meant that it was not cloying like a lot of Australian stickies.

Cheers
Anthony

[SueNZ]

Wow, what a week culminated by the Liquorland International Top 100 Awards in Auckland on Friday night. Top Shiraz went to Elderton Barossa Shiraz 01 and there were some other goodies in the line-up like the Step Rd 01 and the Wirra Wirra McLaren Vale and RSW shirazes, but after tasting through almost the whole Top 100 wines, I preferred to sup on the delicious, sprightly peppery, more savoury and not quite so full-bodied Selaks Founders Reserve Syrah 2002 from Hawkes Bay at the dinner table. There was a raft of gorgeous Rieslings, the trophy winning Melness, a medium style, just such a fantastic combo with ham on the bone and hot whole grained mustard, and the trophy winning Kim Crawford Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2003 an outstanding example of Marlborough savvie, which was the most fantastic match to slightly cooked crisp asparagus. This was my choice even before the trophy was announced.
At the end of dinner there was the most perfect Muscat, the Morris Old Premium Liqueur Muscat, such a gorgeous rich nectar, I hope Mr Parker never ever gets to see this wine - it's got to remain affordable.
I didn't taste the trophy winning Lindemans St George Cabernet 2000 but I have to say the Villa Maria Reserve Merlot 2001 was the outstanding Merlot in the room and was my pick for wine of the show - which incidentally went to the Selaks Founders Reserve Chardonnay 2002. The VM Merlot is a fantastically balanced, super refined Merlot, chcolate, cedar, plums, cigar, everything you expect in this variety.
Great Pinots too, I liked the Villa Maria Res Marlborough 02 and the Kawarau Estate Central Otago 02 but nothing really could take it from the trophy winning Mt Difficulty 02 from Central Otago. There is so much colour extract and flavour in these wines and with their alcohols hovering around 14%, sometimes more, it seems that the 2002 Marlborough and Central Otago pinots might possibly even convert self-confessed 'red bigots' to the variety.

Cheers,
Sue

[michel]

Then a glass of De Bortoli Yarra Valley Cab 00 which was very nice. From a great year in the valley, I think this will be up there with the 95.



Cheers
Anthony

I have seen the 2000 for a fair price and have been considering it as I was given the 95 blind this year and thought as you it was a damn tidy little wine thank you very much for a fair price.

thanks for the note
michel

[Brett Stevens]

A few from last night, dinner and friends.

97 Paulettes Polish Hill Riesling - had some of the kero nose i associate with an aged riesling, still nicely balanced with fruit. i am not sure if i would hang onto the others from this vintage much longer.

01 Tassel Park Sauvignon Blanc - small winery in Margaret river only been open a bit over 12 months. in my opinion tough to make a good sav blanc with margaret river climate. respectable for the price approx $10-$15

96 Seppelts Original Sparkling Shiraz - found in the bottle, shop $16 (bargain) i enjoy sparkling shiraz and this is one of the best value for money sparklings you can get.

92 elderton Cabernet Sauvignon - (was this jimmy watson winner?) looking forward to this, won a lot of shows when released but now i would call a doughnut wine, not bad but nothing in the middle to carry it through. dissapointing after much hype.

97 Graylans Shiraz - possibly margaret rivers most prestigious winery. a reasonable wine with good fruit and soft tannins. however at $60-$70 a bottle i look for more, would have been a great wine at $30

79 Westfield vintage port - quick check the bottle, nope it is too old to have alcohol % marked on it. this was a big nasty VP, closer to brandy then port i should take remnants to Uni and measure the alc gotta be 25%, there may have been other flavours there but couldnt get past the hot mouthfeel from the alc.

any comments suggestions particularly on graylans or elderton appreciated i have some more of both and want to know if this was just these bottles or to open all now.

Brett

[TORB]

92 elderton Cabernet Sauvignon - (was this jimmy watson winner?) looking forward to this, won a lot of shows when released but now i would call a doughnut wine, not bad but nothing in the middle to carry it through. dissapointing after much hype.
Brett

Brett,

Elderton did very well in 93 with the JWT, the Stoddart winner and runner up too. The Cab did win the JTW gong but I thought it was the least of their line up with the Command at the top, the Shiraz and CSM coming second and the Cabernet the least impressive wine of the four.

IMO the 92 Cab is past its best and I drank my last one about 3 or 4 years ago.

[Pelican]

So far this weekend :

1997 Tollana TR222 Cabernet' : Oaky as buggery

Mumm NV Cordon Rouge : tidy Champagne , nice green apple flavours with a nice touch of sweetness

1998 Chateau Tahbilk Marsanne : lovely glowy gold , aged Marsanne characters but still with lovely tang as well , good with Buffalo Mozzarella and tomatoes and basil

Looking forward to a 2003 Lenswood Gerwz' and maybe a 1995 Basket Press this evening.

[Guest]

Lurkers especially welcome, we don't bite first timers so jump in and tell us all about what you have all been drinking.

Do I get a free set of steak knives too ?

[TORB]

Do I get a free set of steak knives too ?

What, so you can cut your throat and get it over with

[Kieran]

A busy week.

Platypus Lane Shiraz 00 - Extremely pleasant drinking, well balanced fruit and oak. Aging potential, but it's a great drink now. I'll call it Highly recommended, and at $15 we replaced the bottle with a dozen. Thanks to ric for his review which inspired me to get this bottle.

Backvintage Coonawarra Cab Sav 01 - A hyped-up cleanskin from a local store - a good wine for $11 with real aging potential. Maybe Agreeable with **** for value. (Probably Recommended in five years)

A dinner party Friday night

Ravenshead late disgorged pinot noir chardonnay brut 93 - Recommended - the age was evident but the effect minimal. Not bad, especially since the only reason we had it at all was that it came free with a random dozen.

Penfolds Bin 389 97 - I was still on whites when this was finished. Previous bottles have been good, and everybody who had one glass had another.

Henschke Henry's Seven Shiraz Grenache Viognier 01 - I seem to remember the cellar door recommending that we drink this young, but I think it could have used another 2-5 years. That said, it's a nice wine.

Saltram Mamre Brook Cabernet Sauvignon 00 - A good, solid red - Highly Recommended with **** for value. I'm still saving my 98s.

Waverley Estate Semillon 93 - Lovely wine - the age has brought out the honeyed characteristics beautifully - but I can't help feeling I could have found a better semillon for the $50 or so this cost.

Wine Tasting in the Southern Highlands today - Mundrakoona Estate

No Riesling or Sauv Blanc on the menu due to droughts.

Mundrakoona Reserve Chardonnay 03 (I think) - Pleasant unwooded style, crisp citrus and peach flavours. I think this will be best consumed young. Rated as Recommended, with (just) *** for value at $20. For the record, the reserve is their only chardonnay.

Mundrakoona Reserve Cab Sav 02 - Nice nose with blackberry and a bit of cherry. The taste was a little stalky-green capsicum, apparently a common local trait. It's an OK wine, but it needs time. Rated as Agreeable, with ** for value at $22. I probably would have bought a little at, say, $15.

Mundrakoona Nouveau Rouge (02 I think) - Beaujolais style, made with pinot noir with a couple of days on skins. I found that it lacked the depth of a real red wine, and lacked the freshness of a real Rose. Rated as Acceptable, with ** for value.

Mundrakoona Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc 03 - Overwhelming passionfruit on the nose, this is a delightfully fresh sticky which might age well but is really tasty stuff now. Rated as Highly Recommended, with *** for value at $18 (I'd definitely give it another * at $15).

Artemis Shiraz Cab 02 (I think) - Made from Hilltops grapes, this is a big, strong red wine which needs time. Rated as Highly Recommended with *** for value at $36, we bought a bottle.

Artemis Pinot Noir 02 was there but not opened for tasting. I wasn't about to pay $45 for a pinot that I hadn't tasted.

Kieran

[TORB]

AWine Tasting in the Southern Highlands today - Mundrakoona Estate
Kieran

Kieran,

Now you know why I dont try many of the wines in this area although live there.

You would have been much better off going to the pet shop in Mittagong and spending your money there! No pets? No worries, they could have fixed you up with one.

[Raisin]

This post should probably read "what have I been drinking this past summer" ( I live in the Land of Up Above). Work prevents me from posting much during summer but now I am coming out slowly from "lurker mode". So here is a quick synopsis or highlights of my Aussie tastings this past summer.

- 95 Penfolds, Bin 389 and Kalimna Bin 28 are drinking very nicely. I was quite impressed with these wine considering the vintage. The tannins are well integated, the fruit still very present. I have also tasted a few 96s and there are starting to show very well.

- 95 Devil's Lair, Margaret River. Should have purchased many more years ago. Complex, velvety and a smooth, long finish.

- 93 Lindemans St-George. One of my most pleasant suprise this summer.
Great nose of dark berries and chocolate with a full, long finish. It feels so rewarding to pay 28.00 to 30.00 dollars for a wine, cellar it for 6 years or so and reap the benefits. Drank this on 3 occasions, everybody loved this wine.

-94 Lindemans Limestone Ridge. Ditto feelings as with the St-George but a wine from a bigger vintage, with plum and spices. Tannin presence is still evident but nevertheless becoming pleasant to drink now.

-96 Eilleen Hardy, Shiraz. Quite big, Huge black fruit and anis/licorice with oak and tannins not fully integrated yet. Needs a few more years I think.

-98 Peter Lehman, The Mentor. Drank a half dozen. Big and seductive, not overly complex but very satisfying.

-97 Kaesler, Old Vines. Bottle variation on this one. The first two had an initial soapy, lanolin smell that blew away after a while. It would afterwards reveal a big, up front fruit bomb with a fairly long finish. Third bottle was dominant with fig and stewed fruit so I figured it must have baked somewhere.

-99, Jim Barry, The Armagh. This is what happens when you get too drunk and want to impress your friends. Way too young, closed and tight. When will I ever learn...

- 98 Chapel Hill, Shiraz. Needs 1-2 hours of air time to really come out. Very tasty but a bit unidimensional with a medium finish.

- 00 Vasse Felix, Shiraz and Cabernet. The shiraz has big vanillin oak and fruit, sort of a wow factor wine. The cab is more restrained but shows a bit more compexity. Both interesting in their own ways and worth trying.

- My every day value quafers this summer included 01 Kaesler Stonehorse, 01 St-Hallets Gamekeepers Reserve and 01 Wirra Wirra Chuch Block. All very good QPR.

That about sums it up. On my radar screen this fall (spring for you guys) is Pennys Hill, Brokenwood, Knapstein and Balnaves,all newcomers in this region's wine stores.

Cheers,

Francois

[Chuck]

Revisited the '99 Browns of Padthaway Ernest Shiraz after 12 months. It has developed beyond my expectations. Quality fruit and well integrated oak with soft tannis. All the right flavour including chocolate that I love. Drank after 2 hour breathing with rare aged steak with a red wine sauce extracted from the Bridgewater Mill chef in 1998. Let me know if anyone want the recipe.

Again this confirms 1999 is an underated vintage

Chuck
haberman@senet.com.au

[Gavin Trott]

Revisited the '99 Browns of Padthaway Ernest Shiraz after 12 months. It has developed beyond my expectations. Quality fruit and well integrated oak with soft tannis. All the right flavour including chocolate that I love. Drank after 2 hour breathing with rare aged steak with a red wine sauce extracted from the Bridgewater Mill chef in 1998. Let me know if anyone want the recipe.

Again this confirms 1999 is an underated vintage

Chuck
haberman@senet.com.au

I'd love the recipe!

Can you perhaps email it?

[Popov]

Only managed to get through a couple on the weekend
First was the 2003 Lawsons Dry Hills SB. A very nice wine @ a good price. Definitely worth trying if you like SB's.
Last night with some rare eye fillet was the 1998 Knight Granite Hills Shiraz which was drinking quite nicely and while not a great wine it is about the best shiraz these guys have produced that I have tasted so far. At its best now and over the next 2 years.
Cheers
Popov

[Irregular]

Had some real beauties over the weekend:

90 Penfolds Clare Estate Shiraz
91 and 95 Rosemount Balmoral
91 Signature
2000 Richmond Grove Riesling
85 Bin 389
93 Rockford Basket Press
91 Lindemans Limestone Ridge

All excellent, some brilliant. Standouts being 91 Rosemount, 85 Bin 389 and the Basket Press.

[Davo]

Ashbrook 1998 Cab Merlot had some sort of spoilage, probably phenols as it was quite horsey. Didn,t think about it too much at the time as I was out for dinner. Just tipped the bastard down the drain.

Goundrey Reserve Cabe Sauv 1997, I was most unimpressed when I first tasted this wine on release but it is turning out to be pretty bloody good. Excellent varietal nose and palate with good depth of flavours and ample complexity. Still going well and has a few years in front of it yet.

Campbells "BOBBY BURNS" Shiraz 1998, Drinkable is the kindest thing you could say about it. Had the typical NE Victoria crushed ant flavour hiding well in the background behind a horrible sugary sweet red cordial confection. Never was my favouite winery and this helped to drive the message home.

Deep Dene Shiraz 1996, I bought half a dozen of these out of a bargain bin at Hainault several years ago at $8 a bottle. Deep Dene is/was a co-operative vineyard and the grapes were vinified and bottled by Peter Fimmel at Hainault when he was still the owner. They have been steadily improving since purchase and I wish I had bought a lot more.

How good do I hear you ask? My wife, who had tasted all the goodies at the Peel Shiraz challenge said it was better than anything she had tasted there. I think she was being a bit harsh but it was certainly better than most. Sensational deep black with a thin purple rim, a big nose redolent of rich spicy fruitcake and a hint of white pepper. The palate was deep broad and complex. just a hint of tannins, cinnamon, cloves, blackberry, and a hint of pepper and still slightly more acid than sweet.

Stanton & Killeen Classic Muscat, Well the name says it all. Give me more. Sen-bloody-sational stuff.

Oh, and Rick, we had heaps of whites as well, but as noone here is interested in aged verdelhos I wont talk about them

[MartinC]

Wines drank last week.

Arakoon Doyen 2001 - an exibitionist, a swagger of a Shiraz. My "liquid ecstasy"

Cloudy Bay S/B 2001 - Losing some vigour and the zesty penetrating intensity upon released.

E&E Black Pepper 1999 - not a monster like the 96 but a gentleman in Saville row suit.

Mitolo Serpico 2002 - like a Joseph Moda Amarone on steriods.

Houghton Gladstone 1999 - Coming together very well since released. Probrably the best Shiraz ever aspired fr WA. Iron fisted in satin glove.

[michel]

Had some real beauties over the weekend:

90 Penfolds Clare Estate Shiraz
91 and 95 Rosemount Balmoral
91 Signature
2000 Richmond Grove Riesling
85 Bin 389
93 Rockford Basket Press
91 Lindemans Limestone Ridge

All excellent, some brilliant. Standouts being 91 Rosemount, 85 Bin 389 and the Basket Press.

In the mail list a year or two ago the notes suggested the 93 Rockford shiraz and cab were drink sooner rather than later and I found them very good indeed and no need to rush in to drink them,
michel

[Adam]

Just a few breif impressions from last week:

1998 Nautilus Reserve Cabernet/Merlot (NZ): Great wine, drinking really well now but will hold. Non-believers of NZ red should get some of this. Excellent

1995 Villa Maria Reserve Merlot (NZ): Drinking beautifully, lovely nose and elegant finish. Very well balanced and at the prime of its life now...although a 91 I had recently was also stunning. Same final comment as above. Excellent

2001 Tollangi Reserve Chardonnay (VIC): Nice wine, big buttery chard's, fruit a little subdued. quite blunt and maybe a touch too much oak for me. Maybe this will come around, drank better last year I think.

1997 Gaja "Damaji": Gaja single vineyeard barbaresco cabernet sauvignon, drank from a half bottle, took a while to come around but eventually displayed a rather typical cab nose and had a decent long finish. Not worth the bucks though.

1990 Bollinger RD: Simply the greatest champers I have tried, has everything I could ask for, balance power, not too much yeast and a stunning mouthfeel with a finish that goes on and on. Definately reccomend a try for champagne lovers. This oen was disgorged last year, reckon they need a year at least from digorgement to settle.

CHEERS!

Adam

[Guest]

Mt Difficulty 02 from Central Otago. There is so much colour extract and flavour in these wines and with their alcohols hovering around 14%, sometimes more, it seems that the 2002 Marlborough and Central Otago pinots might possibly even convert self-confessed 'red bigots' to the variety.

Cheers,
Sue

Hi Sue,

I have tried the 1999 Mt Difficulty Pinot which we though was great and the 2000 which we disappointed it just didn't have the same weight or power. Is the 2002 similar to the the 1999 or better and/or different?

Have you tried the Rippon 2002 Pinot? I tried it a couple of weeks ago and found to be beautifully balanced silky point with lovely pure cherry fruit. If you have tried the Rippon how does it compare with the Mt Difficulty?

[Ben]

That last post was by Ben.........I forgot to log in

[Guest]

A big long weekend, we often go to Sydney for food/wine long weekends, this time we decided to help the local economy.

Friday - Dijon (they usually don't allow byo Fri/Sat nights, unless you have something good and older and bring it in the day before or before service so the other diners don't see you bring it in.)

92 Croser - the best Croser I've ever tried, I usually find them a bit simple when young, this was showing a lot of bready complexity, but still quite fresh.

87 Seppelt Show Sparkling Shiraz - as good as ever

I'm told the 96 Petaluma Chardonnay was more than acceptable.

Yalumba 90 The Reserve (Cab/Shiraz) - showing a fair amount of oak, but the fruit is up to the challenge, lovely with rare kangaroo.

Saturday - Atlantic

Arras 97, pretty good Oz bubbly, a fair bit better than the 2000 Croser

Green Point Chardonnay 2001 smelt soft, buttery and nutty, the white drinkers enjoyed it and another Petaluma Chardonnay, 99 I think, didn't even sniff that one.

Mt Langi Ghiran 91 Shiraz, mushrooms, cherries, white pepper, spice, mid-weight, but opened up nicely in the glass, just about at it's peak for my taste.

Penfolds 707 90, big rich, oaky and powerful, still too young.

Also a sip of 96 Bullers Shiraz-Mondeuse (15.9%) from the restaurant part-owner, big old-fashioned Rutherglen style and a touch varnishy initially, a love/hate sort of wine, I think I prefer the straight Calliope Shiraz.

Sunday lunch - Axis Seafood Signature menu, all bubbles from pale through pink to red.

Billecart-Salmon NV bubbles, ever-reliable

Ashton Hills Salmon Brut 2001 (Pinot Noir) - lovely colour and the best way to drink Oz Pinot

Garden Gully Sp Shiraz 98, cherries and toffee, just staring to show the benefit of a little bottle age, a lovely change from the generally richer SA sparkling reds.

Monday - Poachers Pantry Smokehouse Cafe

Piper Heidsieck 90 Champagne - yeasty, bready, but not overly complex.

Ashton Hills Salmon Brut again

Grossett Gaia 94 Cabernets - maybe too young, possibly going through a slight lull, an herbaceous character and still firm tannins are a bit dominant, got a bit better in the glass, but I'm unconvinced the fruit will ultimateley cope.

[Red Bigot]

Guess who the last post was from....

[Phil Shorten]

1990 Seppelt Show Sparkling Shiraz

Lots of sweet dark cherry and prune verging to dark chocolate over soft bubbles. For my palate, the liqueuring of this wine seems a tad heavy handed - it's just a tad too sweet. However, it would match very well with Peking duck or BBQ pork. For mine, this needs to be laid down for a while.

NV Louis Roederer Brut Premier

Classy stuff, good Champagne for breakfast in bed - stylish and elegant.

2002 Les Chenes St Joseph (Blanc)

Initially served way too cold but opened up to show nice honeysuckle fruit overlaying subtle citrus zest. Nice and not too fat as these wines can sometimes be. The only detracting point was the somewhat metallic finish.

Cheers
Phil

[TORB]

Guess who the last post was from....

Judging by the amount of c-through and bubbles mentioned thats a good question!

[Ben]

Friday: 2000 De Bortoli Cabernet Sauvignon - Nice enough wine but didn't leave me with any lasting impressions.

Saturday (at a Wedding): 2001 Cape Mentelle Marmaduke (GSM blend) - This is a bloody good wine to be served at a wedding and at around $15 a bottle retail is great value. Deep red in colour with a nose of plums, leather and spice. In the mouth there was a nice mix of fruit and savoury characters which was balance out with just enough acid and tannin.

2002 Cape Mentelle Georgiana - (Sauvignon Blanc / Chenin Blanc / Semillon) - The Chenin Blanc seemed to dominate on the nose and in the mouth.......sweet/sugary floral characters. To sweet for me and I didn't go back after 1 smell and 1 taste.

The wedding was at Oscar W's in Eucha and I have to say it was the best food I have ever had a wedding. I would recommend a meal there to anyone who happens to find themselves in Eucha......and they have a great wine list.

[Red Bigot]

Ric, the chardonnays never passed my lips, honest, but no apologies for the amount of bubblies. It's the price I pay for having a couple of (some allege mythical) good friends who are white wine drinkers. Oddly enough they love sparkling reds, so there may be hope for them yet.

Davo: Campbells "BOBBY BURNS" Shiraz 1998, Drinkable is the kindest thing you could say about it.

In the 80's it used to be a half-decent biggish red and a regular at our tasting groups. I remember some years ago (early 90's) someone at Chambers saying they had effectively swapped the Bobbie Burns label onto their other Shiraz to make the label a more approachable red. I've tried the BB a few times in the 90's and never been tempted to buy it, it used to be a big firm red now it's a bit like the drainings from my decanter after rinsing the remnants of a decent red. It was meant at one time to be their premium red, but the prices I've seen it discounted to recently means that's not working.

[Davo]

Brian,

I have to agree with your comments re the Bobby Burns. I am a big fan of the region as you may have guessed (where too big a red is still not big enough), but the Campbells line up, and the BB in particular, have left me cold over the last decade. They definitely lost the plot somewhere.

This particular bottle had been a birthday present to a mate who, knowing I liked Rutherglen reds, decided to share it with me. The Bastard.