Last night Marion came over for dinner and we started off with nibbles at about 5 pm. A ripper Frog blue cheese, Mrs Beers pate and other assorted goodies with a bottle of Lake George 2001 Botrytis Semillon
The bouquet had an attractive lightly toasted nutty fragrance with an aldehyde like character with honeyed fruit. Beautifully balanced and poised on the palate, its mid weight, sweet but not overly so, the acid is judged to perfection and it is harmonious. Sweet candied orange is pleasantly contrasted by a lemon flavoured nuttiness, it also has a kerosene like apricot character to add interest and it is dangerously slurpable. A more refined elegant style than many others the only downside is that it will need food to show its best, mild blue cheese is sensational with it. Rated as Highly Recommended with *** for value. (Cost $29.95)
With a roast rolled leg of lamb that had been marrinated with garlic, red wine and other "stuff" we had a bottle of Kay Bros 1998 Block 6 Shiraz
Big in your face nose that is completely black; showing iodine characters, licorice, blackberry and lifted menthol. Full-bodied, the tannins have toned down and are integrating nicely; they are perfectly matched to the deeply seeded intense fruit and unobtrusive acid. The palate is as expected; intensely off-sweet on the uptake with blackberry, licorice and very dark chocolate flavours that finish with respectable persistence. Its probably just entered its drinking window but there is no hurry to consume it as itÂ’s no where near developing tertiary characters. Rated as Excellent.
A good week, wine wise, after several dissapointments in the last fortnight. A mid week dinner at Two Small Rooms here in Brisbane produced a 94 St Henri which showed plent of black fruit and chocolate on the nose and palate and long length a good wine,A 94 Magill earth,chocolate again, plums,cigar box fine tannins and good length another good wine.
Soothed by the first two bottles we ordered a 94 Palmer Margaux I loved the nose pencil shavings,cedary type nuances a bit shorter on the length than i expected but a nice wine a good night.
Mid week produced a Water Wheel 97, a 98 Robertsons Well, a Elderton Command98 a Balgownie Estate 98 Cab/Sauv and a shiraz all pleasing wines.
A 98 Michael,a 96 Maurice O'Shea which was very nice a 01 Emilys Paddock while good was sort of over shadowed by a 99 Mt Marys Quintet which would have to be one of the nicest wines ive drank this year"the clean smell of spring" was the partners comment.
At friends
1999 Crociani Vino Nobile di Montepulciano
Very good & glad I'd taken a punt on a 2nd bottle. Probably buy some more next week as it was only £10 a bottle.
Ken Forrester Chenin Blanc
Nicely balanced for early drinking & tending towards sauv Blanc in style
2004 Carnevale Moscato D'Asti
At 5.5% was deemed appropriate for their children, who loved it. Interestingly they were able to express opinions we'd readily translate as complexity, talking of the changes in taste & describing the stages.
Ian
Firstly, a Denis Mortet Gevrey-Chambertin "Lavaux-St-Jacques" 1996. A truly spectacular Pinot Noir and every bit worthy of cellaring for a decade or more. Riddled with sappy satsuma plum and blessed with a silky texture and sensational structure, I could drink this wine ad nauseum without the chance of impending lassitude. Monetary constraints, perhaps, being the only restraining factor here. Drunk over two nights this wine only got better and better; a rarity for this winestyle and a great precursor to its' eventual zenith.
Likewise, Seppelt's 1996 Dorrien Cabernet Sauvignon paints a similar picture for a local producer with equally high-quality aspirations. Concentrated, old-viney and full of personality, this winemaking tour de force exemplifies what we do best - lush opulence of perfectly ripened varietal fruit coupled with equally lavish, judicious oak, all wrapped in coccoon of lively acidity and fine-grained tannins with a distinctive chocolaty regional thumbprint. A lovely drop indeed and something I enjoyed as much the following evening with dinner.
Lastly, the 1994 Henschke Mt. Edelstone was about Excellent but not as profound as the last bottle I tried a few weeks back. Somewhat unusual nose this time with added notes of creme de cassis, creosote and a whiff of asparagus. Dimethyl sulphides at work here, I suspect. Not a trace of this in the last bottle opened. Quite better on the palate displaying plenty of body, intense flavour from deepset plummy/blackberry fruit matched to background cedary oak. I enjoyed the wine, all the same. My note from 5 August follows:
Blood red, still youthful in colour. Enticing nose of blackberry, satsuma plum, nicely integrated cedary/vanillin/coconut oak with some varietal pepper and spice adding interest. With extended breathing add classy saddle leather, dark cherry, licorice and a trace of road tar to enlarge the equation. The palate continues along the same path - very clean and pure with the telltale creamy texture of "old vine" material. Of medium-weight but stunningly intense and acutely focussed, the palate offers up gorgeous red fruit flavours of raspberry, cherry, plum with, seemingly, only a kiss of subservient oak in attendance. Coupled with bright integrated acids and fine, lacey tannins, this wine displays the necessary ingredients/potential for more improvement (possibly) over the next 10-15 years. A graceful, complete wine drinking beautifully now but better things may be in store for those with the correct cellaring conditions and requisite patience. Outstanding.
Looking decidedly dusty and a little tired 24 hours later. I'll take a rain check on the 10-15 years. Still very plummy, it must be said, but a lot more dark chocolate characters on the palate. Still an Excellent wine.
Last night, 2003 Glaymond the Landrace (Shiraz Mataro) seriously good, better than the 2002 IMO, (better balanced), still super intense, pepper, earth, spice, dark berry style with minimal oak influence. Seriously good stuff with a big cellar future!
2003's from the Greenock sub region have all been very good so far, Glaymond, Kalleske, Amon Ra etc
A few nice things last night including a particularly good value 01 Morris Cabernet, and a nice fleshy 02 Montrose Black Shiraz. But the highlight was unboubtedly a 1999 Lawsons. Dense colour, youthful aromatics, heightened by sweet American Oak. Perfectly in balance, lush plum and blackberrry fruit, long grainy tanins, a touch of sweet tobacco. Stunning drinking now, but love to see it in another 5 years. Certainly the best I have tried from the 99 vintage. Orlando seem to have a knack for crafting these gems from less renowned vintages. A 95 Centenary Hill drank recently was equally impressive. Must sniff a few more out.
Gavin Trott wrote:Last night, 2003 Glaymond the Landrace (Shiraz Mataro) seriously good, better than the 2002 IMO ...
Hi Gavin,
I remember you were selling the 2002 Glaymonds earlier this year; are you, or will you be, offering the 2003s at all? I note they are not listed on the auswine web site at present ...
Anonymous wrote:A few nice things last night including a particularly good value 01 Morris Cabernet, and a nice fleshy 02 Montrose Black Shiraz. But the highlight was unboubtedly a 1999 Lawsons. Dense colour, youthful aromatics, heightened by sweet American Oak. Perfectly in balance, lush plum and blackberrry fruit, long grainy tanins, a touch of sweet tobacco. Stunning drinking now, but love to see it in another 5 years. Certainly the best I have tried from the 99 vintage. Orlando seem to have a knack for crafting these gems from less renowned vintages. A 95 Centenary Hill drank recently was equally impressive. Must sniff a few more out.
LL
Those Orlando's Centenary,Jacaranda,Lawsons are exceptional bargains.
I am eagerly awaiting the next release of Centenary which is the 98.
I drank at least my quota of wine for the next month in the last five days alone. A serious amount of vino was drunk. Here are my very brief impressions.
Monday Night 1999 Henschke Keyneton Estate - a little herbaceous on the nose, but has integrated well on the palate and is probably at its peak now. Nothing special.
1998 Wyndham Show Reserve Cab Merlot - thin, poor fruit and green. At least the style is consistent...
Tuesday Night 2002 Mountford Chardonnay - exceptional. A big and rich Chard with plenty of lush fruit, nuts and oak use, just the way I like them. Doesn't pound the tongue either, there is great elegance and a balanced structure in the mouth. Long finish.
2004 Mills Reef Riesling - great value Riesling, this is a label I introduced to the folks who also agreed.
2003 Pencarrow Pinot Noir - this is the second label of Palliser Estate out of Martinborough. At a super special price of NZ$14.40, it's hard to say a negative thing about this wine. Not spectacular, but easily a quaffing crowd pleaser with oodles of fruit from a great Martinborough vintage.
2001 Tatachilla Foundation - pants off. This is extraordinary stuff. Definitely a contender for wine of the year for me thus far. The nose was initially a tad closed, but there was heaps and heaps on the palate, along with a gum staining viscosity and loooong finish. The nose blossomed with time, but unfortunately most of it was gone. Super stuff.
Wednesday Afternoon Attended the "Magnificent Seven" trade tasting, which is a culmination of wineries hand picked by an American distributor to come under the one marketing platform and to express the different regions of NZ. There was Voss Estate and Escarpment from Martinborough, Clearview Estate from Hawkes Bay, Foxes Island and La Strada (Fromm) from Marlborough, Pegasus Bay (and their second label Main Divide) from Waipara and Peregrine from Central Otago. I won't go into detail on the individual wines, but most of the winemakers or important personnel were there, including the likes of Larry McKenna from Escarpment and Greg Hay from Peregine - both great blokes.
I'm still not fussed on the Fromm Pinots (all three current releases were present), but I was very impressed with their Spatlese style Riesling (7% A/V with a leg opener finish) and the '04 Reserve Syrah. The Peregrine 2003 Pinot is full and generous, a great wine that I need to buy more of, and I found the 2002 Pinot from Peg Bay more approachable than when I tried it six months ago (scary thing is, '03 Pinot is meant to be 'bigger' again). Tim from Clearview is also a character, his Two Pinnacles Malbec dominant blend pretty sensational, along with the fortified Sea Red, inspired by Split Enz (that after drinking the 18% A/V wine, you could well think that you can walk on water...).
Wednesday Night Went to the local haunt here in Christchurch - Ironside - for the best Thai money can buy (short of going to Thailand). All the staff are Thai except for the owner/manager Jon, who can speak the language fluently and married a Thai so he pretty much counts anyway. Brian, you must go here when you're next in Christchurch.
We started with a Daniel Schuster 2001 Petrie Vineyard Chardonnay (house compliments) which was a bit tart and sour for my liking, apparently very French in style. However, the wine comes off vines that are very, very young (perhaps too young to produce viable fruit after tasting this wine) from the new region south of Christchurch around the Rakaia river. Next was the '03 Cornish Point Pinot, grown by Gareth King and made by Blair Walter, both of Felton Rd fame. Essentially, a second label. Has the hallmarks of Felton Rd panache in the mouth, but the nose lacks that concentrated dark berry fruit and spectacular game nose that you associate with the original. For the extra $10, Felton Rd is the better option IMO. Last but not least we had a 2002 Unison Selection Red which had a lovely nose and super softness, ideal for throwing down the hatch after some of the 'mild to medium' dishes that Jon served us up (thank God for the excess lime used in one of the fish dishes). As a result of this (and the earlier tasting), I wouldn't have fully appreciated this wine.
Thursday Night Tonight was lamb rack with roast vegetables. During preparation, we attacked some whites.
2004 Shingle Peak Riesling - another exceptional value NZ Riesling. If I'm going to be super critical, the finish might be a little short but at $12 this is great qpr.
2002 Chard Farm "Judge & Jury" Chardonnay - an elegant and feminine style compared to the masculine brutes full of overt oak that we'd had the previous few days. Finish has a bit of residual sweetness but it's not unpleasant. Could be a little harsh in the price department at $35 retail.
1983 Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz - this went very well with the first half of the main meal. Soft, with good fruit although not as complex or aged as I would have imagined. A respectable old wine.
1998 Moss Wood Cab Sauv - this was my first Moss Wood experience, and what an experirence it was - this wine was just incredible. I thought all the hype around Moss Wood would render my impression of the wine over-rated, but considering this was from a poor vintage in WA the wine shone. Nose full of chocolate, blackcurrant, nutmeg - no hint of the greenness that I was expecting from an under ripe year. Velvet texture in the mouth and a long finish with traces of black olive on the palate. GORGEOUS.
2002 Clearview Estate "Enigma" - this is a Bordeaux style blend of Cab Sauv, Cab Franc, Merlot and Malbec. It was good, but it had a very, very tough act to follow. I found it a bit green when compared to the Moss Wood previously, but maybe it was more a nose of herbs and leaf rather than the fruit being under-ripe (esp given the vintage).
1998 Noon Solaire - boy was there some hype around the table about this wine, and boy did it disappoint. Nose of port and prune - unpleasant. We got through about 80ml of the 500ml and recorked it, hoping that the little angels in the bottle would perform miracles within 24 hours. They didn't. Hopefully this is a one-off bottle.
Friday Lunch 2002 Craggy Range Te Muna Rd Vineyard Pinot Noir - this little number is from Martinborough, in a year which was pretty average for the region. I talked this wine down a bit prior to opening, but there was no need for excuses. We all adored it and admired the age old adage of a good Pinot -you can sit back with the antipesto platter and devour bottles of this, as opposed to a rough looking, high alcohol red that demands attention and leaves the mouth gagging after a single mouthful. Top stuff - I can see myself targeting a lot of Martinborough Pinots in the future.
Friday Night 1996 Charles Heidsick Mis en Cave - creamy, biscuity nose, styled with a yeasty and masculine goodness. Vanilla finish was awesomely good.
2004 Mt Difficulty Riesling - a personal favourite, I love this wine. Introduced it to Mum and Dad, who both enjoyed it too (although preferred the Shingle Peak from the previous night). I can't fault the wine, everything in harmony as far as I'm concerned.
2002 Amor Bendall Reserve Chardonnay - made in a similar vein to the gold trophy winning Sauv. Delicious and represents great value (NZ$17).
1990 Grant Burge Meschach - this was a little pruney (were we tainted by the Noon the night before perhaps?), but had some gorgeous aged characters. It perhaps didn't live up to reputation of wine or vintage, and although Mum and I enjoyed it immensely I think Dad was a little disappointed.
2002 Kaesler WOMS - this speaks for itself, and completely overshadowed the Meschach. The one word sentiments around the table summed it up - 'wow'. A seriously good wine, this can be drunk now, in five, in ten, or in fifteen years - it'll be great forever. The chocolate and super concentrated berry fruit nose is complimented by the sexy Shiraz Cab Sauv combo in the mouth - masterful winemaking.
Well, I've now started a detox which could last a while. As you can see, a lot of wine was drunk and the top reds from each night - the '98 Moss Wood, '01 Foundation and '02 WOMS - were amazing.
I could be MIA for the next couple of Sunday reports...
Cheers,
Max ----- Avant d’être bon, un vin doit être vrai
Majella Cabernet Sauvignon ‘01, Dark red, purple center, Blackberries and currant, big fruit and smooth, lived up to expectations. Plenty of tannins to leave a warm fuzziness. Picked up six of these after recommendations from posts and happy I did. Will put this on the list of ‘must get more’
Petaluma Cab / Merlot ‘00, Bright red, Dusty, herbal earthy tones, bright, sharp long finish, slightly cooked and sweeter than the Majella. No winners here IMO, both different in good ways, side by side was interesting a couple of mouthfuls and nosing of the Petaluma left the Majella wanting and a couple of mouthfuls and nosing of the Majella left the Petaluma questioning it’s self.
Yellow Tail Shiraz ‘04 Well my wife, Marion, decided I was spending too much on wine recently and picked this up to prove her point. She drank this while I was drinking the last glasses from a bottle of the Majella (with my Fillet Mignon) and she should be a sales person because she got me curious enough to taste it. A little vinegary with a cup of added sugar maybe caramel? (maybe cork taint)? Marion had some of the Majella for a comparison and the yellow tail now sits on the kitchen sink waiting to be tipped out while we drink the rest of the Petaluma. 7 bucks for half a bottle of wine, I guess it’s still cheap? But compromise is for relation ships not wine. So I won’t be filling my cellar any time soon with yellow tail.
Well thatÂ’s all this week end. Need to have a break from the cabs and start opening some shiraz for a change.
Mick.
p.s Max, I'm not sure wether I should feel bad for you or envy you, the later is far more likely:lol: . You sold me on the Moss Wood, recover soon and be well. Remember there is a lot of experts saying wine is good for you, they just didn't say more is always better!
1996 Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimina Ripe raspberry nose. Very odd wine on the palate, seemed out of kilter, lighter weight but alcohol obviously sticking out, very sweet loganberry, sweet oak. Settled a little after being left in the glass. I couldn't get over the sweetness of this wine. Could have been a poor bottle, purchased a number of years after the vintage.
2002 Moss Wood Amy's Vinyard Brambly spicy nose, rich fruit palate, a touch of green bitterness...not sure how that comes about.
Not impressed with this bottle.
The following wines drunk at Riva Restaurant at St Kilda Marina. Average food but some handy wines:
Eileen Hardy Chardonnay 2002 - Showing its cool climate origins of Tas, Yarra Valley. Aromas of cashew, white peach. Good chardy from a large producer ie. subtle.
Katnook Estate Cab Sav 2001 Textbook Coonawarra with bright fruit & Cigar box aromas. A lovely medium bodied Cab, not earth shaking but everythin where it ought to be.
Heathcote Estate Shiraz 2003 The best wine of the night. Only a pup but class is there with dark (liquer) fruits. The finish is so long. Only a baby now but I liked this one a lot.
Then on Saturday night
Bernard Baudry Chinon "Les Croix Boisee" 1998 Bought while in Sydney at Ultimo on sale at $28 (half price). '98 was a pretty average year in the Loire and it shows with this wine when compared with a '96 I had a year or so ago. Prett Raspberry fruit but not much length.
The next night this had opened to offer more savoury flavours while still retaining the primary fruit. It had become interesting just as the last of it went down my throat....
1999 Rockford "Basket Press" Shiraz - 14.5%: 3 bottles from 6-pack and each wine totally different. One awesome, one very good but medium/light bodied (totally not Barossa-like), and one disjoined!!!
2001 Rockford "Rifle Range" Cabernet Sauvignon - 14%: 2 bottles. Both enjoyable. One ripe and luscious and at its peak now and for the next 6 years, the other showing more structure, more varietal and in need of 4 years minimum!!! 17.3-17.9/20, 90-92/100.
1982 Leo Buring "Eden Valley" Shiraz - 12%: Light/medium bodied. Savoury with aged sweetness. No real structure but hanging together well. Very, very enjoyable although probably better 3 years ago. 17/20, 90/100.
2000 Gartner Shiraz - 13.5% - Padthaway, SA: Savoury aspects with pure blackcurrant and spice. Excellent structure. Medium bodied. Long. Somewhere between Cabernet and Shiraz, and Bordeaux and Coonawarra. Worth up to $20 when thousands of these bottle come onto the market when Heritage Fine Wine prisoners finally get their wines. 17.7/20, 92/100.
NV Larmandier-Bernier “Vertus†1er Cru – Champagne – 12%: A good $35 French Champagne that is unfortunately $70+. Good depth with creaminess but yeastiness is too harsh giving an unwanted bitterness. 15.8/20, 86/100.
2001 Penley Estate Shiraz Cabernet: Ripe, dark and harmonious. Smooth with layers to be revealed with time but the bottle was consumed too quick to allow this. 16.7/20, 89/100.
1998 Rosemount "Giants Creek" Chardonnay - 13.5%: Beautiful, deep front palate of lively, sweet aged characters with nuttiness, but ended with bitter acid. On the following night, the bitterness has been covered by the sweet, aged fruit. Quite lovely. 17.3/20, 90/100 based on the 2nd day. I look forward to another bottle.
2001 Courtney’s Post Cabernet Sauvignon – Coonawarra: Ripe with elegance. Good structure, slightly chalky tannins but harmonious. Varietal. Has a commercial, contrived feeling about it. Nonetheless, a much better wine than the Shiraz. 15.9/20, 86/100.
2001 CourtneyÂ’s Post Shiraz - Barossa Valley: Medium/full bodied. Ripe with enjoyable aspects but acid starting to fall out on the back losing its enjoyment. 14.8/20, 81/100.
2002 Gal Tibor Syrah/Merlot – Eger, Hungary – 13% Excellently controlled, restrained dark fruits. Some forest berries and spice. Well layered and good depth. Slightly reductive. Fine tannins. I thought it was a very good Northern Rhone wine. Will open more with time. A step above any other Hungarian red wine I have tasted. 17.7/20, 92/100.
It was a pleasure to sample this wine, especially as Tibor Gal died earlier this year in a car crash in South Africa. As well as his belief in the Eger region of Hungary's wine producing abilities, Tibor Gal was the winemaker of Sassicia and Ornellaia (including the mighty 1998). His class shone in this wine.
Russian Hill Estate Zinfandel 1999 Russian River Valley - Nice zin with some developed characters. Winery sold them cheap - $99USD/doz.
Trimbach Gewurtztraminer 1999 (Alsace) - Honeyed with pineapple and guava. Not a lot of depth acoss the palate but a better wine than the purchase price of $13.99USD.
Ramey Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2002 - Nice California Chard toasted oak with muted tropical fruits. Not overly fat or buttery. $28.99USD
Marquis Philips Shiraz 2004 (Screwcap) - Very aromatic with notes of blackberry, plums, vanilla, dusty oak and a hint of menthol. Full bodied with soft and supple tannins. Well balanced with some alcohol on the abbreviated finish. $11.99USD
Rolf Binder Halliwell (Barossa) 2002 (70% Shiraz, 30% Grenache) -Confected notes of Grenache over plums and blackberry. Developed menthol and licorice with time. Full bodied with soft tannins. Seemingly elegant until marred by a little metallic hardness to the finish. $14.99USD
"Donkey wine" - Intensely colored dense black cherry with cherry red edge. Flavors of blueberry, vanilla, chocolate and dusty earth jump out of the glass. Full bodied with fruity sweetness, fine soft tannins, and clean acid underlie a well balanced wine of excellent value. $15.99 (Screwcap).
Based on the comments in the halliday thread around scoring and much recent debate and personal thoughts, I've decided to use a new scoring system and I call it the academic system. So I'm awarding scores as they award marks to essays at Uni. i.e. Fail, Pass, Credit, Distinction, High Distinction and for the totally sublime, University Medal. I figure its a good one as all tertiary educated people should be resonably familiar with what is expected at each level and it's obvious what the order of ranking is (which I personally find confusing sometimes with other word based systems). Also, be aware I'm a hard marker so don't expect too many HDs. So for the first notes using this system:
1998 Christa Rolf Shiraz Grenache Not a bad drop at all with a deep garnet/purple colour. Nice blackcurrent notes on the nose and following through on the palate along with anise. Very good drinking indeed. Credit.
1998 RBJ Theologicum This is a Mourvedre Grenache blend. Colour was a cloudy murky plum colour. Very strange. Again blackcurrant and black fruits on the nose going more towards the stewed plums spectrum on the palate. An OK wine but a bottle I had a year or so ago was showing much better with much clearer notes and vibrant flavours. This all just seemed a bit murky and dull. A suspect bottle, I think but still quite quaffable. Pass (That's pass as opposed to fail rather than pass it by)
Cheers,
Kris
There's a fine wine between pleasure and pain
(Stolen from the graffiti in the ladies loos at Pegasus Bay winery)
1996 Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Had a go at this again after 24 hrs opened, tasted quite a bit better, more savoury leathery than sweet, perplexing given the original sweetness. perhaps it needs more of a rest and is going through a phase ( I think the 96 Bin 389 is in a hole at present)
bacchaebabe wrote:Based on the comments in the halliday thread around scoring and much recent debate and personal thoughts, I've decided to use a new scoring system and I call it the academic system. So I'm awarding scores as they award marks to essays at Uni. i.e. Fail, Pass, Credit, Distinction, High Distinction and for the totally sublime, University Medal. I figure its a good one as all tertiary educated people should be resonably familiar with what is expected at each level and it's obvious what the order of ranking is (which I personally find confusing sometimes with other word based systems). Also, be aware I'm a hard marker so don't expect too many HDs. So for the first notes using this system:
What a great concept - the trouble will be the complication of price point.
Something like the Leasingham Bastion 02 C/S could end up with an HD for value for money - so under $10 is like marking a first year essay, $10 - $25 second year, and so on up the price scale. I think under this complication Grange would rarely score better than a credit being in the PhD price range - or do you need to go the 100 yr old Seppelt price before PhD price range - nah that would be a full doctorate.
I think I might have spent a few too many years at the old sandstone pile
Cheers
David
David J
Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake 1Ti 5:23
bacchaebabe wrote:Based on the comments in the halliday thread around scoring and much recent debate and personal thoughts, I've decided to use a new scoring system and I call it the academic system. So I'm awarding scores as they award marks to essays at Uni. i.e. Fail, Pass, Credit, Distinction, High Distinction and for the totally sublime, University Medal.
Good idea!
Cheers -Mark Wickman
WICKMAN'S FINE WINE AUCTIONS FREE membership, LOWEST auction commissions in Australia. Now accepting wine for our next auction. http://www.wickman.net.au
After last week's confusion with Italian and Spanish wines I am double checking my bottles before posting Based on previous posts I've give my marks.
<b>1998 Muri Veteres Spain Mourvedre Tempranillo Merlot</b>: Italian Not bad, still some good fruit, although drying on the back palate. Fantastic aroma! <b>C</b>
<b>2003 Simon Gilbert Mudgee Shiraz</b>: Enjoyable. Although for $15 it falls behind on value for money. <b>PC</b>
<b>1999 Bolla Creso Cabernet Sauvignon</b>: Beautiful italian wine that still shows youthful fruit. Absolute bargain at langtons for $14. <b>D</b>
<b>2002 Coldstream Hills Pinot Noir</b>: Drank after an hour bushwalk to Wentworth Falls. Accompanied with cheese and biscuits. Delightful! Interesting trip home <b>C</b>
<b>1999 Crabtree of Watervale Shiraz</b>: Second bottle for the fortnight. Love Clare Valley shiraz. <b>D</b>
<b>2001 Orlando St Helgas Eden Valley Riesling</b>: Screwcap. Such a youth! Better than the 2002, but not by much. This will go the distance. <b>D</b>
Glad everyone likes my new system Feel free to use and abuse.
David, I like the scoring within years concept so will adopt that too. Makes perfect sense. If one is inclined to marks within the ranges, we can even go that way to and start using the full 100 points! A pass with 64 is obviously much better than a pass at 51.
Just to make it clear for everyone:
Fail under 50
Pass 50 - 64
Credit 65 - 74
Distinction 75 - 84
High Distinction 85 - 100
University Medal - at your discretion.
This obviously does not use Halliday, Parker's or anyone elses 100 point system where virtually everything is between 80 and 100. But just the word expresses it just as well too.
Hmmm, Sandstone pile - yes, 6 years at Sydney Yooni for me. Mainly because it took me ten years (four years off in the middle) just to get a BA!
Cheers,
Kris
There's a fine wine between pleasure and pain
(Stolen from the graffiti in the ladies loos at Pegasus Bay winery)
Adair wrote: NV Larmandier-Bernier “Vertus†1er Cru – Champagne – 12%: A good $35 French Champagne that is unfortunately $70+. Good depth with creaminess but yeastiness is too harsh giving an unwanted bitterness. 15.8/20, 86/100.
Hi Adair,
Did you drink it with food? Had a couple bottle this year, but I did not find the bitterness you described. I found it too be very dry and yeasty, but not toward the bitter end.
here is my note
The super dryness of the wine is a shock to the palate and person who is used to a softer, fruitier champagne. The bubble is consistant and fine grained. On the palate the yeasty dryness grips your tongue instantly followed by a slow release of critus, granny-smith apple and a hint of pineapple.
Cheers
Rob
"The red liquid circulating in my body is actually red wine, not blood."
bacchaebabe wrote:Glad everyone likes my new system Feel free to use and abuse.
David, I like the scoring within years concept so will adopt that too. Makes perfect sense. If one is inclined to marks within the ranges, we can even go that way to and start using the full 100 points! A pass with 64 is obviously much better than a pass at 51.
Just to make it clear for everyone: Fail under 50 Pass 50 - 64 Credit 65 - 74 Distinction 75 - 84 High Distinction 85 - 100 University Medal - at your discretion.
This obviously does not use Halliday, Parker's or anyone elses 100 point system where virtually everything is between 80 and 100. But just the word expresses it just as well too.
Hmmm, Sandstone pile - yes, 6 years at Sydney Yooni for me. Mainly because it took me ten years (four years off in the middle) just to get a BA!
PC is Pass Conceded (close to a pass, but just fell short)
Adair wrote:NV Larmandier-Bernier “Vertus†1er Cru – Champagne – 12%: A good $35 French Champagne that is unfortunately $70+. Good depth with creaminess but yeastiness is too harsh giving an unwanted bitterness. 15.8/20, 86/100.
Hi Adair, Did you drink it with food? Had a couple bottle this year, but I did not find the bitterness you described. I found it too be very dry and yeasty, but not toward the bitter end. here is my note: The super dryness of the wine is a shock to the palate and person who is used to a softer, fruitier champagne. The bubble is consistant and fine grained. On the palate the yeasty dryness grips your tongue instantly followed by a slow release of critus, granny-smith apple and a hint of pineapple.
No, in fact I drank it on 5pm on Friday afternoon on an empty stomach!!!
Gavin Trott wrote:Last night, 2003 Glaymond the Landrace (Shiraz Mataro) seriously good, better than the 2002 IMO ...
Hi Gavin,
I remember you were selling the 2002 Glaymonds earlier this year; are you, or will you be, offering the 2003s at all? I note they are not listed on the auswine web site at present ...
Regards, Staybaker.
Hello
Sure will, stay tuned, these are on the tasting bench currently, and coming up trumps!
Gavin Trott wrote:Last night, 2003 Glaymond the Landrace (Shiraz Mataro) seriously good, better than the 2002 IMO ...
Hi Gavin,
I remember you were selling the 2002 Glaymonds earlier this year; are you, or will you be, offering the 2003s at all? I note they are not listed on the auswine web site at present ...
Regards, Staybaker.
Hello
Sure will, stay tuned, these are on the tasting bench currently, and coming up trumps!
Bit of a theme to the posts on this thread I noticed, so I'll add to it:
1998 Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz (mostly Barossa) Still a deep red/black. Nose showing only a little development; it's largely soy, molasses, tar, and ripe blackcurrant fruit. I find plenty of softening oak on the palate, not a lot of tannins, respectable balance, medium-full weight, and a finish of reasonable but not outstanding length. Neither really one thing nor the other at the moment - the riot of primary fruit the 98 Penfolds showed has subdued, but secondary characters are yet to truly develop. Hold another 5 years at least for some real drinking interest.
Gavin Trott wrote:Last night, 2003 Glaymond the Landrace (Shiraz Mataro) seriously good, better than the 2002 IMO ...
Hi Gavin,
I remember you were selling the 2002 Glaymonds earlier this year; are you, or will you be, offering the 2003s at all? I note they are not listed on the auswine web site at present ...
Regards, Staybaker.
I sure will, these are on the tasting bench currently (where they are starring) and will be available soon.
Not bad, still some good fruit, although drying on the back palate. Fantastic aroma! <b>C</b>
