Its Sunday drinking report please.....

TORB as guest · Post by **TORB as guest** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 6:45 am

I dont want to get into trouble with you guys for being late three weeks in a row :oops:

or I might lose my job.

As a result I am up bright and early to post the most important question of the week.

"What have you been drinking?"

In my case staying in Melbourne with friends, far to much :wink:

but the details will have to wait till I gte a chance to type them up. However we would all like to know what you good peoples have been guzzling. Lurkers especially welcome, tasting notes or tasting vibes most welcome, or even just brief impressions.

Just a quick note of caution to nayone who openes a 96 Balmoral. Decant it and give it a few hours to open. The bottle stink is pronounced and obnoxious but it does blow off to leave an intense chocolate, cofffee, mocha and plum flavoured wine.

Cheers
Ric

Ian S · Post by **Ian S** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 9:34 am

A couple of goodies
2000 Te Kairanga Martinborough Chard, which we'd bought at cellar door on our trip (I guess almost two years ago now). Colour wise, straw-yellow which was slightly less developed than expected. Can't remember the nose as we were in drinking not tasting mode! Strong (but not overpowering) taste of butter, but this literally melted on the tongue. Subtle backbone of acid. All in all it went down well (both with Chicken & Ham pie & afterwards), having to fight Michelle for the dregs! Would buy again.

1997 Dom Marteihnas Dao (Portugal)
Bottle 5 of 6. Has been buy of the year at Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£2.90 a bottle (~$7). To be fair, the price is a bit misleading as I'd seen it elsewhere for Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£7, which would still be fair value.
More subtle than I've previously experienced from Portugal, with some aged character, but far from past it. Sorry no better notes - I was going to dig out the notes from the original tasting (a friendly merchant threw it in for free

). However I'd only kept notes on the 1st two wines. Next time.

Ian

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 10:35 am

It has been a quite week as I have been laid low with a nasty bug. Still managed to have a few sips:

The Alabama Shiraz 2001: from NSW and it is their first release with 400 doz produced. A pretty big and tannic wine but found it a tad unbalanced.

Jim Barry Cover Drive Cab 01: very good wine that is a lot better than the $17 price tag suggests. Think this will develop beautifully with 5 years age on it with lovely cassis and dark cherry flavours.

cheers
anthony

MartinC · Post by **MartinC** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 7:10 pm

Taylor St.Andrew Cab '98 - miles ahead of their '97. Cassis, herbal, minty, well balanced & intense.

Rosemount Traditional '01 - the best traditional todate. A worthy JWT winner? I rest my case.(bound to be better wines around)

D'arry Laughing Magpie'02 - this Magpie doesn't laugh...it's sings! My favourite mid-$20s wine for 2003.

Pelican · Post by **Pelican** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 8:31 pm

A rare week in fact as had the past week off work (and thus no AFD's) for the Tasting Australia Festival in Sleepy Hollow ( aka Adelaide ).

Wine highlights :

1998 Penfold's Grange : Went to the Magill Estate Restaurant for the 5 course Tasting Australia Degustation and expected a Grange of some sort but here it was - the much talked about 98 Grange. What was it like ? Well it was Lovely. Pelicanette was very impressed and remarked that it was very good now to which I cannot disagree - very drinkable now we found - seriously so in fact to my surprise. I think this is because it is big but well balanced. The sort of wine that disappears before you know it. Pity we're priced out of the market.

2002 Mt Horrocks Cordon Cut Riesling ( $31 ) : Although market forces have priced us out of drinking Grange regularly - they have meant I can usually find this wine in a bottle shop. It is so good but people are too , er , worried about $$$ , to buy this so there is more for us - hurrah !!! Why is it so good ? It is sweet but not cloying at all and has that marvellous raciness of Riesling. IMHO Australias best sweet wine.

2003 Dominique Portet Fontaine Rose Yarra Valley ( $19 ) : lovely dry expression of Rose. Excellent.

David Bryant · Post by **David Bryant** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 8:34 pm

A fair week all round.

At a good Italian restaurant in Adelaide:

1991 D'Arenberg Darry's Burgundy (as it was known then) - The Grenache/Shiraz/Mourbedre beldn - brick red with brown hints, farmyardy, with the more confectionary tones of the grenache showing through. Some didn;t like it but I thought it was a great food match. fading - so drink up now - but good value at around $40 on the list.

2001 Yering Station Reserve Pinot - medium red, a little hard on the palate and didn;t quite hold in balance. Good-ish but that's all. Better to be had for what would be the cellar door price. Drink now - 2006

2001 Dutschke St Jakobi Shiraz - a screamer - deep purple with masses of spicy, peppery, plums on the nose and a really nice floral hint. Long and well balanced. Will last a good 15 years. Excellent +

Later:

1996 Dominqiue Laurent 1er Cru Le Caillerets or Caignerets (sp? didn;t pay attention) - beautiful Burgundy. opened over a couple of hours with sour cherries, raspeberries, and violets. Yummy+. Will last another 8-10 years and be sensational for all that time.

Cheers
David

JamieBahrain · Post by **JamieBahrain** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 9:09 pm

Salitage 1998 Bordeaux Blend-Interesting nose, mulchiness at first, followed palate that lacked a bit of weight. The dark fruit mixed with faded leather. Good length and tannin structure but not sure if it will benefit from cellaring.

Chapoutier Cote Rotie 1997- Don't bother, have written extensive notes on the old forum and nothing new here. A bad year? Or bad terroir justifying their investment in Oz?

Chapoutier 2001 Condrieu-Nice Viognier. Subtle, as opposed to the top flight of viognier from Yalumba, and dearer. About $70 Australian. Subtle floral and honeyed notes, oily texture and the vanillan oak on the finish absorbs the alcholic warmth.

Salitage 2000 Chardonnay-Pineapple, citrus combine to make the variety recognisable on the nose. Rich, creamy and full bodied. Pleasant warmth as opposed to the hot finish that traps many. Price wise, this style hasn't inflated around Australia, making it a good alternative to the booming riesling trend.

Zema Estate Cluny 2000-Rich,chewy but somehow rounded wine. Drinking well and not a long termer.

Admiral De Beychevelle 1996-2nd Label of Chateau Beychevelle. Great nose, everthing I enjoy in godd cabernet-blackcurrent, truffle and pencil shavings. Mid weighted and with the classic doughnut-despite a portion of merlot-and fell away into a gritty finish.

Chateau Kirwan "Les Charmes" 1998-Another fourth growth second label. Failed to impress, enough done and almost as if near enough is good enough. Came with the big Kirwan tannins.

Tom A · Post by **Tom A** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 10:44 pm

Quiet but pleasant week,

Leeuwin Estate 1993 Art Series Chardonnay:
A nice full yellow without getting that tired golden look. Rich, cashew upfront show pony nose, the table just gulped it down. The palate continued the flavoursome richness but lacked the acid cut of great years. Nonetheless thoroughly enjoyable, especially for 10 year aussie chard, drink up.

Cape Mentelle 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon:
I noticed ChrisH's note on this wine and I agree. I chose this wine to match Greek food because I remembered it as a more savoury, cedary style wine. It was certainly in that savoury style with an abundance of dusty tannins but the fruit was so dark and powerful, it overpowered the veal that was served. This is a wine that would be commonly described as "strong". Plenty of life ahead but in a very austere drying style. I enjoyed it but definitely not a stereotypical ladies style.

O'Leary Walker 2003 Watervale Riesling:
This is my favourite from this years crop so far (haven't drunk Mesh or Grosset Polish Hill yet). I seem on the outer with this one but I'm finding the 03's vastly different to the 02's, there seems to be a considerable lack of that vibrant acidity that made last years so refreshing. This O'leary may not be a long term keeper but offered beautiful clean and crisp lifted drinking that is just asking for the front row position in the fridge this summer. Good stuff!
The Kilikanoons arrived this week so I look forward to confirming their great reviews I've read so far!!!!
cheers
TA

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 7:22 am

David Bryant wrote:2001 Dutschke St Jakobi Shiraz - a screamer - deep purple with masses of spicy, peppery, plums on the nose and a really nice floral hint. Long and well balanced. Will last a good 15 years. Excellent +

Hi David,

A different take on this one. My bet is that it will be best over the next five years. Time will tell.

Murray · Post by **Murray** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 9:06 am

2002 Tahbilk Marsanne.

Lovely bright fruit with good acidity, typically Tahbilk fruit structure, balance and a goof finish. A bargain at around $10 and just the thing to lessen the impact of a visit to the outlaws.

GraemeG · Post by **GraemeG** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 9:19 am

A very large chunk of the 1998 Ingoldby Cabernet Sauvignon (McLaren Vale) went into the casserole, but that which was left was a very attractive, soft, plummy, squished red berry wine. The tannins are very soft now with just a little furry astringency remaining, but it's still fresh. It's lost that young primary attack, but is very pleasant to drink, even if it falls short of profound. To drink quaffers of this standard is testament to the value of keeping a cellar. Interestingly, I see this was one of the Sydney Top 100 (blue gold) wines - nice to see it's still hanging together well.

Of more concern to me was the 1998 Chapel Hill The Vicar Cabernet-Shiraz (McLaren Vale - Coonawarra) I drank the previous week. Consumed from crappy restaurant glasses at dinner, it was only just OK - clumsy and disjointed, still tannic, but with fruit very submerged. The remaining third of the bottle, taken home, re-corked and refrigerated, had by the following lunchtime completely collapsed into a varnishy (VA? bretty?) mess and was nigh on undrinkable. What's going on here? Is this one of the famous "falling-apart" 98s?

Also, the same weekend, Dr Loosen Berkasteler Lay Kabinett (Mosel) was singing it's sweet, appley, refreshing song, my last 1991 Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz was developed and meaty in the traditional Penfolds fashion, without being truly outstanding, and my last 1994 Seaview Vintage Brut Pinot-Chardonnay was as attractive as ever, some vegemite characters predominating over the fine bead and long more-ish finish.

cheers,
Graeme

PaulV · Post by **PaulV** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 10:31 am

A busy week-end with kids etc. meant nearly an alcohol free couple of days :cry:

Anyway if you are looking for a good easy drinking barossa red that won't break the bank but has some complexity, length and richness without being over-oaked, or over-sweetened, I can thoroughly recommend the Hardy's Barossa Valley Estate Moculta 2001 Shiraz. Bought it on special for $12 and the bottle was empty before the end of oz/argentina game!

Cheers

paul V

michaelw · Post by **michaelw** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 11:35 am

2000 Gibson's BarossaVale Shiraz

Took this along to a Malaysian BYO for lunch prior to seeing the All Blacks game on Saturday afternoon.

Rob Gibson has done a magnificent job on this wine. It was big without being too tannic and the fruit flavours were awesome. A great length and very approachable.

This did not seem like a young Barossa Shiraz, but a more mature wine. With it drinking so well now, I'm not sure how long it still has to go. Any thoughts on this would be most appreciated. Also, it was a great match to the spices and meats that accompanied it.

DJ · Post by DJ » Mon Oct 13, 2003 12:21 pm

1996 Noon Grenache Shiraz. With the newsletter on the kitchen table demanding attention, I thought it time to see how the oldest Noon red I had was travelling. Didn't check but from memory this is a low alcohol red for Noons :wink:

only about 14%. This is the last Noon called Grenache Shiraz before the 97 became Eclipse - I think 96 is the first Drew vinatge but I could be wrong. Initially very closed and a bit flat but after about an hour opened up beautifully. Intense fruit with a little bit of development just adding complexity. Any worries about the alcohol being too high for aging dissipated. The legs on the glass reminded me of the 55 Hardys Tintara Cabinet (sic) - one the best Aussies I've had (drunk c 1998).

1998 Bloodwood Schubert Chardonnay - that's right I do like good chardonnay - always end up buying more riesling on price though. Bought this at cellar door in January 2001. I didn't make any notes - too interested in food (Chicken pie - a great Luke Mangan recipe from the SMH) after a busy day in the garden.

1991 Lindemans Hunter River Sparking Shiraz - this was a cellar door only line bought in about 1997. Lighter in structure than the Seppelts, E&E and Rockfords. Slightly sweet finish, lots of cherry on the palate Probably only Recommended as it only just passed my bottle test (bottle disappears - in a genuine pass or better you don't notice the bottle disappearing and wish there was more - often a dangerous point in the evening if you have to get up the next day

)

Mike Hawkins · Post by **Mike Hawkins** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 12:45 pm

1999 S Kidman Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon - typical minty, soft and sweet Coonawarra Cab. Much more enjoyable than the equivalent Majella we had a couple of weeks ago.

1999 Tollana TR16 Eden valley Shiraz - this is my favourite quaffer. I can't believe those mental giants at Southcorp are getting rid of the label. Anyway .... Sweet, peppery, decent length. A bargain at $15.

Wizz · Post by **Wizz** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 1:06 pm

Just one wine for the weekend, the 1997 Rosemount Mountain Blue

Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon, Mudgee. 13.8% ABV.

Thanks to those who gave the heads up that I should look at this wine soon.

Opened one last night. It looks dark ruby red, clearer at the rim. After decanting for about an hour, the nose was initially a fairly soft mix of tobacco, redcurrant, some oak spice. The palate shows a bit different to this, with juicy cassis, plum, traces of pine like oak and hessian, and the first "soy sauce" signs of age. Quite silky on the palate, and well integrated, seamless even. Length is moderate only. Over a couple of hours the palate faded to perfumed strawberries, a bit grenache like but still retained that juicy feel.

I was expecting this would be a bit firmer and weightier. Nonetheless, this was a very nice drink, most enjoyable right now. If you have any, open one soon.

cheers

Andrew

MartinC · Post by **MartinC** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 3:08 pm

Wizz,

I've more or less given up on Mudgee Reds. These wines performed better upon released and don't cellered well. Soft and uneventfull.
The Mountain Blue is one of them and so is Andrew Harris the "Vision"

Cheers,
MC

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 4:22 pm

A few over the weekend...

1998 Penfolds RWT: great wine, lovely balance. I love the french oak influence.
1998 Pegasus Bay Prima Donna: plenty of the barn yaard characteristics , medium bodied, decent pinot.
1997 Rymil Cabernet: medium bodied cab, decent chocolaty flavour profile. drink now.
2001 Jean Baptiste Riesling Kabinnet (germany) steely fresh nose, slightly sweet finish, not really my type of wine but the girls certainly liked it
Another 2001 riesling that was corked...grrrr.

Tonight 1983 Pichon Longueville lalande that was due for the weekend but postponed for tonight.

This wednesday I am off to a Joseph Phelps Insignia dinner and tasting which should be interesting.

PaulV · Post by **PaulV** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 4:28 pm

Adam wrote:A few over the weekend...

1998 Pegasus Bay Prima Donna: plenty of the barn yaard characteristics , medium bodied, decent pinot.
.

I haven't had the prima donna but have had both the 97 and 98 non-reserve pegasus bay recently and while they have clearly gained complexity on the nose I have found that the finish on both are now quite short as if the fruit is drying out and the tannins are taking over. Any comments?

Cheers

Paul V

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 4:32 pm

I would tend to agree, will go a little longer but I dont think this will improve.

Finish was medium length, decent mouthfeel with berries and spice. As I mentioned, didnt get too much more on the nose than barn yard. It was slightly cloudy aswell...is this common for pegasus bay?

IanP · Post by **IanP** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 7:53 pm

Lindemans St George 1998

On special at my local bottle shop ($35) so thought I'd try one. Opened on Saturday night - lots of dusty tannins tended to overwhelm the fruit. Decanted and left to Sunday night when seemed to be much more "open". Nice drop, but I'd leave for a while.

Phil Shorten · Post by **Phil Shorten** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 10:02 pm

2000 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee, Domaine Roger Sabon, Southern Rhone 14.5% ABV

A slight case of vinfanticide, but what the hell? Full bodied, lots of kirsch on both the nose and palate together with blood plum and a whiff of white pepper. Not a sin to drink it now but it will undoubtedly improve.

1997 Lang & Reed Cabernet Franc, Napa Valley 14.0% ABV

Ripe Cabernet Franc, but not overripe, typical Cab France leafiness on the nose. Palatewise, good ripe slightly sweet fruit leading to dry blackcurrant and fine grained tannins. Good length. Drinking at its peak and unlikely to improve further.

1995 Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos, Oremus, Tokaj 11.0% ABV

Lush and sweet with good acidity, but not showing a huge amount of dried fruit character at this stage - more fresh apricot and quince than dried fruits - perhaps a reflection of the vintage and the reductive winemaking employed at Oremus; very much "modern" Tokaji.

Cheers
Phil

markg · Post by **markg** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 9:58 am

DJ wrote:1996 Noon Grenache Shiraz. With the newsletter on the kitchen table demanding attention, I thought it time to see how the oldest Noon red I had was travelling. Didn't check but from memory this is a low alcohol red for Noons only about 14%. This is the last Noon called Grenache Shiraz before the 97 became Eclipse - I think 96 is the first Drew vinatge but I could be wrong. Initially very closed and a bit flat but after about an hour opened up beautifully. Intense fruit with a little bit of development just adding complexity. Any worries about the alcohol being too high for aging dissipated. The legs on the glass reminded me of the 55 Hardys Tintara Cabinet (sic) - one the best Aussies I've had (drunk c 1998).

Nice to hear about the Noons. Do you have any tasting notes on the Hardy's ??

Mike Hawkins · Post by **Mike Hawkins** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 10:45 am

Adam,

How was the 83 Pichon Lalande ? I had the 82 a few months ago and it was superb.

Adam · Post by **Adam** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 10:54 am

Mike...

Had the bottle standing up a few days prior, very carefully transported it into work and down to the restaurant....decanted just prior to opening...took the first swirl and sniff....corked. :twisted:

Luckily I have one more with me...it will be opened this weekend.

If Bordeaux offered screw tops, I would take 50/50. Nothing worse than storing a bottle for 20 years and then finding out it was a complete waste of time. Has anyone ever sent a bottle back to france when it was corked??

GrahamB · Post by **GrahamB** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 10:56 am

Lots of relatives around in the early part of the week and you don't open good wine for them.

Later in the week

2001 West Cape Howe Shiraz (Viognier) - Just loved this wine last year when it was released and tasted with a "Laughing Magpie". This wine opened slowly and showed the lovely fruit, floral nose with great mouth feel. I still think it is better than the Magpie.

2002 West Cape Howe Shiraz (Viognier)- Saw that the new vintage had been released and on special locally I had to try a bottle. This one not a patch on the 2001. Could be too newly bottled. I will try another later when it has settled.

2000 dÃƒâ€šÃ¢â‚¬â„¢Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz - Read RPJ ratings on the 2001 and decided to taste both the 2000 and 2001.

This one has great fruit and tannin balance as expected, but the length blew me away. It just went on and on. Must get more of this when I have the pennies. Apparently there is still plenty around.

2001 dÃƒâ€šÃ¢â‚¬â„¢Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz -15% Great wine and similar in many ways to the 2000. I think it will possibly be a better wine but at the moment because of the length, I am a 2000 man. The local distributer tells me there is no more. All his stock is out there. Heard one store had their entire stock of 10 dozen bought by one customer.

2002 dÃƒâ€šÃ¢â‚¬â„¢Arenberg High Trellis Cabernet Sauv - 14.5% and lovely. Left a bit for the next night and was equally impressed. I could become a d'Arenberg fan if this keeps up.

Graham

Davo · Post by **Davo** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 3:43 pm

92 St George, 92 Pyrus and 92 Limestone Ridge. All still drinking well. The St George less legs left than the other 2. The Pyrus was exceptional with the LR just behind.

2002 Warabilla Shiraz Durif.

Big bold and bloody bewdiful. The 16.5% alcohol was not noticible on the palate. Even better the next night after 24 hours breathing.

2002 Warabilla Durif

Read as for above. Alcohol a little higher at 17% but still not noticible. Sensational fruit and soft tannins with non-intrusive wood. None left to try the second night.

Mike Hawkins · Post by **Mike Hawkins** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 5:47 pm

GrahamB,

Not surprised about your comments re 2001 Dead Arm. A few of my mates in California have been trying to track it down (or have me track it down) because of the 98+ rating. Apparently it is selling for USD100 a bottle in some places over there. It would not surprise if many of the bottlos here are being bombarded by Americans.

Adam,

Got luck with the PL on the weekend. Look forward to reading your notes.

MatthewW · Post by **MatthewW** » Tue Oct 14, 2003 7:37 pm

1994 Wynns Cab Sav Good varietal character, sufficient fruit and structure for some further improvement for my palate

1998 Leasingham Bin 61 Seemed a bit coarse after the preceding wine - good fruit and structure - will benefit from some additional time in the bottle

Matthew

Paul T · Post by **Paul T** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 8:59 pm

..but the life of a storeman in a Byron Bay liquor shop whose forklift decides to die is bloody exhausting. :cry:

Ok quite a big (and expensive) week for no other reason than why not?

First a few pinot's

Waipara Springs Reserve 2001 - My favourite drink atm..great value for $28 ..especially when the straight varietal goes for $24. Funky nose of barnyard,cherries and plum..a hint of toasty oak..and a great palate with lots of flesh along a long backbone of fine tannins. Great wine..seek it out!

Waipara Springs Pinot Noir 2001 - Very nice wine. Not quite as complex as the reserve with a slightly shorter finish.Still very nice and better than most aus pinots at it's price of $24.

Palliser Estate Pinot Noir 2001 - Beautiful wine.Pure velvet. Great pinot nose of cherries,strawberries and foresty hints.Complex and velvety long palate. Happy to pay the $39 for this wine..and i am often dissapointed by many pinots around this pricepoint.

Isabel Estate Pinot Noir 2001 - Cant say to much about this one as it was late in the day when we cracked her :wink:

but everyone thought it was a quality drink...but our opinions were probably a bit dubious by that point

Old Kent River Pinot Noir 1999 - Beatiful complex pinot. I have drank quite a lot of this wine and it is at its peak now..only one bottle left goddamn!! Great Value at $23

Debortoli Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2000 - again another great wine.Excellent value for $30.If only all $30 pinot's were this good!!

Now some bigger reds.

Houghtons 1994 Jack Mann Cabernet blend.
A bit closed up at first but in a short time in the glass she really opened up.I had another one that was corked (replaced by work no problems) and was glad i tried a second. She still has many years left in her but was drinking well..i think the peak window is still ten years away for this wine. Very concentrated fruit.with oak in nice balance..great value for $40 if you can find it (and i have secured all my works remaining stock) Seek and find!!

Cape Mentel Zinfandel 1998 - A beautiful concentrated red. Never had a zinfandel before so nothing to compare it to but i really enjoyed it. I imagine this wine also has many years left ahead of her.

A few whites

Miranda High Country Chard - 2002 - Nice chardy for everyday quaffing. Nice creamy texture, a hint of oak and good fruit balance. Bloody good value for $9

Mesh riesling 2003 - Superb drink. Restrained yet flavoursome with a delightful palate that goes on and on. Buy while you can.Excellent value at around $26

..wont be having a week like that for a while now i have spent a small fortune getting tickets and airfares to see Neil Young in Sydney..but a man also cant live on bread alone... :lol:

..it's bloody hard to resist nice wine when you work with it

Cheers

Paul

The Auswine Forum

Its Sunday drinking report please.....

Its Sunday drinking report please.....

weekend wines

A few worth trying .....

Re: A few worth trying .....

2000 Gibson's BarossaVale Shiraz

TV: A few good bottles

Weekend imbibement

Re: TV: A few good bottles

This is a bit late..