time for your weekly drinking reports.
Notes, vibes or list welcome.
It's Sunday again.....
A few from the cellar...
Mount Langi Shiraz 1998
Perfumed musky aromas, slippery medium weight palate with small berries, juicy acidity...good but not great. At its peak and won't gain much more completity. 90/100
Hardy's Tintara Shiraaz 1996
The nicest vintage of this label I've tried. Consistently good. Beautiful musky nose with dark sweet fruit. Great weight and mouth feel. Nice earthy wine - at it's peak but will easily go another 3-4 yrs. Over all a balanced quality wine. 95/100
Vasse Felix Shiraz 2000
Spotlessly clean wine w/pure cherry, however seems to have a strange bubblegum oak nuance in the background. 14.5% Alc not showing. 89/100
Leasingham Bastion Cab/Shiraz 2001
Very ordinary wine, dirty oak on the nose, etc 84/100
Paringa Estate Shiraz 2000
Nose was very different from the palate - big oaky, almost chemically. Palate had good weight (warmer year), good purity of fruit & balance. Still 2-3 years off being ready. Should improve. May have had an off bottle. 88/100
Leasingham Classic Clare Shiraz 1996
Deep red rim with cinnimon and cloves on the nose. This is a deeply fruited wine with spicy oak and power on tap. The wine is better for the age and should continue to go strong for a while yet. 91/100
Mount Langi Shiraz 1998
Perfumed musky aromas, slippery medium weight palate with small berries, juicy acidity...good but not great. At its peak and won't gain much more completity. 90/100
Hardy's Tintara Shiraaz 1996
The nicest vintage of this label I've tried. Consistently good. Beautiful musky nose with dark sweet fruit. Great weight and mouth feel. Nice earthy wine - at it's peak but will easily go another 3-4 yrs. Over all a balanced quality wine. 95/100
Vasse Felix Shiraz 2000
Spotlessly clean wine w/pure cherry, however seems to have a strange bubblegum oak nuance in the background. 14.5% Alc not showing. 89/100
Leasingham Bastion Cab/Shiraz 2001
Very ordinary wine, dirty oak on the nose, etc 84/100
Paringa Estate Shiraz 2000
Nose was very different from the palate - big oaky, almost chemically. Palate had good weight (warmer year), good purity of fruit & balance. Still 2-3 years off being ready. Should improve. May have had an off bottle. 88/100
Leasingham Classic Clare Shiraz 1996
Deep red rim with cinnimon and cloves on the nose. This is a deeply fruited wine with spicy oak and power on tap. The wine is better for the age and should continue to go strong for a while yet. 91/100
PB
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2004 Wynns Black Label Cabernet very fruity with a hint of oak, nice long finish. Very impressive and I'll be getting some more of this
2003 Lanzaga Rioja pleasant but slightly bitter. Seemed to be quite progressed for an 03
2001 Seppelt Victorian Shiraz still fairly primary with hints of cigar box flavours, but should be left for a bit I think.
2003 Petaluma Riesling limes and lemon aplenty, with a slight steely edge. My kinda riesling.
2003 Lanzaga Rioja pleasant but slightly bitter. Seemed to be quite progressed for an 03
2001 Seppelt Victorian Shiraz still fairly primary with hints of cigar box flavours, but should be left for a bit I think.
2003 Petaluma Riesling limes and lemon aplenty, with a slight steely edge. My kinda riesling.
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Julio
I have talked the old man into opening some of his dinosaurs and this week has been the highlight with a 1981 Leeuwin Chardonnay....
1981 Leeuwin Chardonnay
Amazing golden, honey colour - crystal clear. Offered very little on the nose initially so given some time in the decanter to open up. After about 45 mins it was offering up a sort of nutty mustyness. First sip was much the same as the nose with little or no fruit to speak of and very refined so it was left to sit a little longer and subjected to constant swirling. This did the trick as the glass started offering up nuts, honey, ripe melon and something I couldn't quite put my finger on... sort of a mushroomy flavour. The finish was long and balanced... a wonderful experience.
1999 Petaluma Coonawarra
The Leeuwin was going to be a hard act to follow. The fruit and oak were happily partying together but tannins had not yet joined the party. If tasted blind I would have thought this was a much younger wine. Given another few years thsi will be lovely... clearly a quality wine.
2003 Plantagenet Cabernet
Not nearly as good as I remembered it from a tasting a few months ago and not in the same class as the previous two wines unfortunately. Fruit, oak and tannins all doing there own thing at present and the fruit seemed a little stewed which gives me no confidence that this wine will come together. Not bad but not great.
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1981 Leeuwin Chardonnay
Amazing golden, honey colour - crystal clear. Offered very little on the nose initially so given some time in the decanter to open up. After about 45 mins it was offering up a sort of nutty mustyness. First sip was much the same as the nose with little or no fruit to speak of and very refined so it was left to sit a little longer and subjected to constant swirling. This did the trick as the glass started offering up nuts, honey, ripe melon and something I couldn't quite put my finger on... sort of a mushroomy flavour. The finish was long and balanced... a wonderful experience.
1999 Petaluma Coonawarra
The Leeuwin was going to be a hard act to follow. The fruit and oak were happily partying together but tannins had not yet joined the party. If tasted blind I would have thought this was a much younger wine. Given another few years thsi will be lovely... clearly a quality wine.
2003 Plantagenet Cabernet
Not nearly as good as I remembered it from a tasting a few months ago and not in the same class as the previous two wines unfortunately. Fruit, oak and tannins all doing there own thing at present and the fruit seemed a little stewed which gives me no confidence that this wine will come together. Not bad but not great.
[/b]
Just a list rather than notes, hardly a bad wine among this lot:
Thursday:
99 JL Wolf Forster Jesuitengarten Spatlese Trocken: bad bottle, oxidised
04 JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett: Nice
05 Phi Chardonnay: Excellent, Chablis with quality oak added. refined, lean coiled and needs some bottle age
04 Port Phillip Estate Chardonnay: Oyster shell seaspray, barrel ferment. top value
04 De Bortoli Yarra Valley Pinot Noir: Masculine, full and needs food
05 William Downie Pinot Noir: more feminine and quite lovely, deserves the accolades its picked up
91 Seppelt Great Western Shiraz: Excellent, this bottle in really good shape, plums berries, leather, etc
04 Port Phillip Estate Shiraz: very primary red and black berries with cracked pepper, again very good for the money
96 Dr Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Auslese Goldkapsel: 375ml. Unbelievably youthful, leave for another 10 years.
Friday:
06 Clonakilla Riesling: like this wine, although like many young rieslings it seems to take time to show floral, bathsalts, limes. Nice.
Saturday:
97 Raveneau Montee de Tonnerre: Still backward and unevolved, shed its puppy fat, and now entering its prime, but still needs years. Excellent wine.
02 Raveneau Montee de Tonnerre: young, but more colour than the 97 and more body. almost excellent.
00 Rousseau Ruchottes Chambertin: Be damned if I wasnt distracted as I drank this, but it evovled a lot over 4 hours, and ended up perfumed, fragrant, redcurrants blackberries, spices, minerals etc, needs years to come around.
98 Vincent Girardin Clos St Denis: This was more earthy and muscular after the Rousseau, a little more black fruited and ripe. Excellent wine also.
82 Brainaire Ducru: In excellent shape, fully mature and ready to go. Nice secondary characters to go with the fruit that is still preseent, tannins well resolved, drink now.
90 Mouton Rotschild: Cork was soaked right through. Cassis, cedar leaf and mint. Elegant, btu balanced, medium bodied. Entering its window, still coiled, but way better than the 87 points parker gave it.
86 Wynns Black Label Cabernet: wow, what a surprise! Beautiful wine. Also well resolved and drinking now.
96 Fritz Haag Braunberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Auslese Goldkapsel: Again needs 10 years, although the searing acid is less overt than the Dr loosen from 2 nights ago. Apple white peach, pear, minerals, great length, and only 7.0%. Keep 10 yrs.
Cheers
Andrew
Thursday:
99 JL Wolf Forster Jesuitengarten Spatlese Trocken: bad bottle, oxidised
04 JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett: Nice
05 Phi Chardonnay: Excellent, Chablis with quality oak added. refined, lean coiled and needs some bottle age
04 Port Phillip Estate Chardonnay: Oyster shell seaspray, barrel ferment. top value
04 De Bortoli Yarra Valley Pinot Noir: Masculine, full and needs food
05 William Downie Pinot Noir: more feminine and quite lovely, deserves the accolades its picked up
91 Seppelt Great Western Shiraz: Excellent, this bottle in really good shape, plums berries, leather, etc
04 Port Phillip Estate Shiraz: very primary red and black berries with cracked pepper, again very good for the money
96 Dr Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Auslese Goldkapsel: 375ml. Unbelievably youthful, leave for another 10 years.
Friday:
06 Clonakilla Riesling: like this wine, although like many young rieslings it seems to take time to show floral, bathsalts, limes. Nice.
Saturday:
97 Raveneau Montee de Tonnerre: Still backward and unevolved, shed its puppy fat, and now entering its prime, but still needs years. Excellent wine.
02 Raveneau Montee de Tonnerre: young, but more colour than the 97 and more body. almost excellent.
00 Rousseau Ruchottes Chambertin: Be damned if I wasnt distracted as I drank this, but it evovled a lot over 4 hours, and ended up perfumed, fragrant, redcurrants blackberries, spices, minerals etc, needs years to come around.
98 Vincent Girardin Clos St Denis: This was more earthy and muscular after the Rousseau, a little more black fruited and ripe. Excellent wine also.
82 Brainaire Ducru: In excellent shape, fully mature and ready to go. Nice secondary characters to go with the fruit that is still preseent, tannins well resolved, drink now.
90 Mouton Rotschild: Cork was soaked right through. Cassis, cedar leaf and mint. Elegant, btu balanced, medium bodied. Entering its window, still coiled, but way better than the 87 points parker gave it.
86 Wynns Black Label Cabernet: wow, what a surprise! Beautiful wine. Also well resolved and drinking now.
96 Fritz Haag Braunberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Auslese Goldkapsel: Again needs 10 years, although the searing acid is less overt than the Dr loosen from 2 nights ago. Apple white peach, pear, minerals, great length, and only 7.0%. Keep 10 yrs.
Cheers
Andrew
Tried a couple of wines today.
STEFANO LUBIANA NV-Tasmania
When I first tried it about 2 years ago this sparkling NV looked concentrated and had more flavours. The current release is somewhat lighter.
Fine mousse with tiny bubbles. Acacia flowers and white stone fruits on the nose. Promising. Good, dry palate at first but then lacking middle palate richness and focus. Not enough complexity in this sparkling but no doubt will show better with food. AUD $30
2004 STEFANO LUBIANA Primavera Chardonnay
Barrel ferment aromas and white stone fruits on the nose. Surprisingly flat and unexciting palate. This Chardonnay is lacking zest, life, excitement and future. It tastes ready even old, ordinary wine with no future.
I’ve tried better examples of the Primavera before. AUD $24
Cheers,
Attila
STEFANO LUBIANA NV-Tasmania
When I first tried it about 2 years ago this sparkling NV looked concentrated and had more flavours. The current release is somewhat lighter.
Fine mousse with tiny bubbles. Acacia flowers and white stone fruits on the nose. Promising. Good, dry palate at first but then lacking middle palate richness and focus. Not enough complexity in this sparkling but no doubt will show better with food. AUD $30
2004 STEFANO LUBIANA Primavera Chardonnay
Barrel ferment aromas and white stone fruits on the nose. Surprisingly flat and unexciting palate. This Chardonnay is lacking zest, life, excitement and future. It tastes ready even old, ordinary wine with no future.
I’ve tried better examples of the Primavera before. AUD $24
Cheers,
Attila
02 Kaesler Stonehorse Shiraz
This was enjoyable, but not that complex. Everything was in balance. 88
02 Coriole Old Barn Shiraz Cab
Good wine. Everything in balance.91
01 Heritage Roscos Shiraz
I liked this, but it was at the very end of the ripeness scale.Lots of plumbs. The oak has settled, and its great now.92
98 Great Western Reserve Shiraz.
I really enjoyed this. Layers of savoury fruit, and oak in the background. 94
02 Wirra Woodhenge Shiraz
Good wine, in balance, but a bit simple.88
96 Seppelt Original Sparkling Shiraz
It was just so drinkable, very good wine, and its not in a hurry to be drunk.93
99 Wirra RSW
This was not a bad drink, but lacked any excitement. 89
02 Dutschke Oscar Semler Shiraz
This opened up with a lot of oak. Almost at the extreme level, but the fruit there is excellent and I drank 2 glasses, before moving on. The second day, it had settled, but the third day it was really good. 93
97 Eileen Hardy Shiraz.
I have always liked this wine. Its still going strong, and is more delicate than the usual Eileen, and has less oak influence than most other vintages. 91
96 St Henri
The first night it was good, but not terribly exciting, but had what was needed. The second night it really opened up, and was brilliant. Not quite as good as the 90 in its prime, but very close. Needs a few more years 95
98 Rosemount Balmoral
I enjoyed this wine, but it didnt hit my buttons. The oak is tamed, and there is good fruit, but its still only good. 90
04 Schubert Estate Gooseyard Block Shiraz
I dont normally drink really young wines, but this wine is so approachable, and the oak and brilliant fruit are in balance, I have opened a few.
This wine has an excitement factor for me. 95
98 Wirra RSW
The oak is still slightly dominant, but the fruit is good, and it seems to be holding on. 91
Bullers Calliope Shiraz
This is starting to show some signs of ageing, which has taken away that amazing young fruit which hooked me to the wine. It is changing, and I like the way its happening. This wine is a joy to drink. 96
Bruce
This was enjoyable, but not that complex. Everything was in balance. 88
02 Coriole Old Barn Shiraz Cab
Good wine. Everything in balance.91
01 Heritage Roscos Shiraz
I liked this, but it was at the very end of the ripeness scale.Lots of plumbs. The oak has settled, and its great now.92
98 Great Western Reserve Shiraz.
I really enjoyed this. Layers of savoury fruit, and oak in the background. 94
02 Wirra Woodhenge Shiraz
Good wine, in balance, but a bit simple.88
96 Seppelt Original Sparkling Shiraz
It was just so drinkable, very good wine, and its not in a hurry to be drunk.93
99 Wirra RSW
This was not a bad drink, but lacked any excitement. 89
02 Dutschke Oscar Semler Shiraz
This opened up with a lot of oak. Almost at the extreme level, but the fruit there is excellent and I drank 2 glasses, before moving on. The second day, it had settled, but the third day it was really good. 93
97 Eileen Hardy Shiraz.
I have always liked this wine. Its still going strong, and is more delicate than the usual Eileen, and has less oak influence than most other vintages. 91
96 St Henri
The first night it was good, but not terribly exciting, but had what was needed. The second night it really opened up, and was brilliant. Not quite as good as the 90 in its prime, but very close. Needs a few more years 95
98 Rosemount Balmoral
I enjoyed this wine, but it didnt hit my buttons. The oak is tamed, and there is good fruit, but its still only good. 90
04 Schubert Estate Gooseyard Block Shiraz
I dont normally drink really young wines, but this wine is so approachable, and the oak and brilliant fruit are in balance, I have opened a few.
This wine has an excitement factor for me. 95
98 Wirra RSW
The oak is still slightly dominant, but the fruit is good, and it seems to be holding on. 91
Bullers Calliope Shiraz
This is starting to show some signs of ageing, which has taken away that amazing young fruit which hooked me to the wine. It is changing, and I like the way its happening. This wine is a joy to drink. 96
Bruce
When not drinking a fine red, I'm a cardboard claret man!
2005 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc. Average at best
2004 Cairnbrae Stones Riesling. Quite developed for its age but to be honest this just added to its appeal. Hints of Kero, beeswax and the usual citrus array. Very good wine for the $12 outlay
Think both these wines had been stored pretty badly and certainly showed, though in the case of the rielsing it seemed to speed up the process of waiting for an aged wine!
2004 Cairnbrae Stones Riesling. Quite developed for its age but to be honest this just added to its appeal. Hints of Kero, beeswax and the usual citrus array. Very good wine for the $12 outlay
Think both these wines had been stored pretty badly and certainly showed, though in the case of the rielsing it seemed to speed up the process of waiting for an aged wine!
Follow me on Vivino for tasting notes Craig Thomson
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winetastic
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Dave Dewhurst
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Wynns Coonawarra Shiraz, 2005 - better than the 04 with deep brambly fruit, milk chocolate and soft tannins.
Dukes Shiraz, 2004 - Powerful and in your face for a Great Southern shiraz. Bilberries on the nose, deep dark and sweet blackberries, quite viscous and mouth coating, becoming chocolatey with time. Strongly fruit driven wine with soft tannins and well hidden acidity.
Hoddles Creek Pinot Noir, 2003 - First bottle was oxidised and second bottle had an unpleasantly metallic finish to it, so nothing positive to report unfortunately.
Lightweight week really 
Cheers
Dave
Dukes Shiraz, 2004 - Powerful and in your face for a Great Southern shiraz. Bilberries on the nose, deep dark and sweet blackberries, quite viscous and mouth coating, becoming chocolatey with time. Strongly fruit driven wine with soft tannins and well hidden acidity.
Hoddles Creek Pinot Noir, 2003 - First bottle was oxidised and second bottle had an unpleasantly metallic finish to it, so nothing positive to report unfortunately.
Lightweight week really
Cheers
Dave
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Daryl Douglas
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- Location: Nth Qld
Brucer wrote:96 St Henri
The first night it was good, but not terribly exciting, but had what was needed. The second night it really opened up, and was brilliant. Not quite as good as the 90 in its prime, but very close. Needs a few more years 95
Bullers Calliope Shiraz
This is starting to show some signs of ageing, which has taken away that amazing young fruit which hooked me to the wine. It is changing, and I like the way its happening. This wine is a joy to drink. 96
Bruce
Thanks for the update on the St Henri 96 Bruce. I had wondered if 10 years was enough - I'll give it another two.
Which vintage was the Bullers? I've a couple of the shiraz 02 but from the TNs I saw when it was released, it should need at least another 3-4 years to enter it's maturity.
Cheers
daz
98 Metala Black Label original plantings shiraz.
I was checking some wines in JO's 2005 book and noticed a few wines to be consumed. This one I thought had more time. Opened well and was described by my wife as ballsy. Softened out beautifully over 90 mins and by 180 mins was beginning to fall apart. JO said 03 to 06. Spot on the money for me.
Also had the opportunity to try some Kabminye wine this week.
2002 Kabminye Hubert Shiraz - Excellent quality and a very well balanced wine. Was drinking well 24hrs later
2002 Kabminye HWG Cabernet - Really enjoyed this wine on the night. Barossa cabernet of high quality. Faded a bit by 24hrs later.
I was checking some wines in JO's 2005 book and noticed a few wines to be consumed. This one I thought had more time. Opened well and was described by my wife as ballsy. Softened out beautifully over 90 mins and by 180 mins was beginning to fall apart. JO said 03 to 06. Spot on the money for me.
Also had the opportunity to try some Kabminye wine this week.
2002 Kabminye Hubert Shiraz - Excellent quality and a very well balanced wine. Was drinking well 24hrs later
2002 Kabminye HWG Cabernet - Really enjoyed this wine on the night. Barossa cabernet of high quality. Faded a bit by 24hrs later.
Chardonnay: A drink you have when there is no RED wine, the beer hasn't arrived and the water may be polluted
Wizz wrote:Just a list rather than notes, hardly a bad wine among this lot:
Thursday:
99 JL Wolf Forster Jesuitengarten Spatlese Trocken: bad bottle, oxidised
04 JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Kabinett: Nice
05 Phi Chardonnay: Excellent, Chablis with quality oak added. refined, lean coiled and needs some bottle age
04 Port Phillip Estate Chardonnay: Oyster shell seaspray, barrel ferment. top value
04 De Bortoli Yarra Valley Pinot Noir: Masculine, full and needs food
05 William Downie Pinot Noir: more feminine and quite lovely, deserves the accolades its picked up
91 Seppelt Great Western Shiraz: Excellent, this bottle in really good shape, plums berries, leather, etc
04 Port Phillip Estate Shiraz: very primary red and black berries with cracked pepper, again very good for the money
96 Dr Loosen Urziger Wurzgarten Auslese Goldkapsel: 375ml. Unbelievably youthful, leave for another 10 years.
Friday:
06 Clonakilla Riesling: like this wine, although like many young rieslings it seems to take time to show floral, bathsalts, limes. Nice.
Saturday:
97 Raveneau Montee de Tonnerre: Still backward and unevolved, shed its puppy fat, and now entering its prime, but still needs years. Excellent wine.
02 Raveneau Montee de Tonnerre: young, but more colour than the 97 and more body. almost excellent.
00 Rousseau Ruchottes Chambertin: Be damned if I wasnt distracted as I drank this, but it evovled a lot over 4 hours, and ended up perfumed, fragrant, redcurrants blackberries, spices, minerals etc, needs years to come around.
98 Vincent Girardin Clos St Denis: This was more earthy and muscular after the Rousseau, a little more black fruited and ripe. Excellent wine also.
82 Brainaire Ducru: In excellent shape, fully mature and ready to go. Nice secondary characters to go with the fruit that is still preseent, tannins well resolved, drink now.
90 Mouton Rotschild: Cork was soaked right through. Cassis, cedar leaf and mint. Elegant, btu balanced, medium bodied. Entering its window, still coiled, but way better than the 87 points parker gave it.
86 Wynns Black Label Cabernet: wow, what a surprise! Beautiful wine. Also well resolved and drinking now.
96 Fritz Haag Braunberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Auslese Goldkapsel: Again needs 10 years, although the searing acid is less overt than the Dr loosen from 2 nights ago. Apple white peach, pear, minerals, great length, and only 7.0%. Keep 10 yrs.
Cheers
Andrew
Great list of wines there, AB. I've got many unopened bottles of the '96 Haag and not tried one yet. Thanks for the heads up - will now leave them in the bat cave for a suitable "some time" down the track.
Cheers,
David
David
Visited a new Adelaide Hills Cellar door sunday afternoon – Howard Vineyard (near Mt Barker).
The cellar door is still under construction but that does not detract from the wines. These are more ‘impressions’ than tasting notes as I had my 2 young children with me on the day running amok.
Wines include:
06 Sauvignon Blanc – typical Adelaide Hills style, tropical flavours, hints of lime and flint.
05 Riesling (06 is due for release soon) – I have gone off riesling in recent times, hence not fair for me to comment on this.
06 Chardonnay – barrel fermented, very elegant with the fruit characteristics driving this wine, with light/subtle french oak influence, this is a very good wine and will evolve nicely in bottle.
06 Viognier – having tried some ‘flabby’ and phenolic styles in recent times, this is again an elegant style, hints of apricot kernel, spice and good acidity balance, this will develop over the next 2-3 years.
05 Cabernets (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc) – nice cool climate red, probably needs another 12 months to come together. Nice balance of french oak, good tannin structure, cassis, hints of chocolate – this was my favourite red.
05 Cabernet Franc – grippy tannins, cassis, good mouthfeel. Again with the above wine needs a bit more time in bottle – hallmarks are there that it will lead to good short-medium term cellaring. Would like to try again in 6 or so months to see for the integration of the wine.
04 Shiraz – cool climate influence, elegant, 05 is due for release soon.
06? Botrytis Semillon (only for tasting at the moment, due for release later this year) – not overly sweet, fine acidity, hints of pineapple. Quiet a refreshing dessert wine and will be a popular seller ex cellar door.
Overall, the wines are reasonably well priced and the range of wines are very good for a ‘young player’ in the number of emerging cellar doors in the Adelaide Hills. The owners are very friendly and scored points with me as they provided ice blocks for the kids and are getting a ‘kids corner’ together soon.
The cellar door is still under construction but that does not detract from the wines. These are more ‘impressions’ than tasting notes as I had my 2 young children with me on the day running amok.
Wines include:
06 Sauvignon Blanc – typical Adelaide Hills style, tropical flavours, hints of lime and flint.
05 Riesling (06 is due for release soon) – I have gone off riesling in recent times, hence not fair for me to comment on this.
06 Chardonnay – barrel fermented, very elegant with the fruit characteristics driving this wine, with light/subtle french oak influence, this is a very good wine and will evolve nicely in bottle.
06 Viognier – having tried some ‘flabby’ and phenolic styles in recent times, this is again an elegant style, hints of apricot kernel, spice and good acidity balance, this will develop over the next 2-3 years.
05 Cabernets (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc) – nice cool climate red, probably needs another 12 months to come together. Nice balance of french oak, good tannin structure, cassis, hints of chocolate – this was my favourite red.
05 Cabernet Franc – grippy tannins, cassis, good mouthfeel. Again with the above wine needs a bit more time in bottle – hallmarks are there that it will lead to good short-medium term cellaring. Would like to try again in 6 or so months to see for the integration of the wine.
04 Shiraz – cool climate influence, elegant, 05 is due for release soon.
06? Botrytis Semillon (only for tasting at the moment, due for release later this year) – not overly sweet, fine acidity, hints of pineapple. Quiet a refreshing dessert wine and will be a popular seller ex cellar door.
Overall, the wines are reasonably well priced and the range of wines are very good for a ‘young player’ in the number of emerging cellar doors in the Adelaide Hills. The owners are very friendly and scored points with me as they provided ice blocks for the kids and are getting a ‘kids corner’ together soon.
I had a rather ecclectic mix of old & new wines at the API Wine Club Xmas bash last Friday night (a pretty casual affair, and no notes were taken):
The highlight was a 1979 Maglieri McLaren Vale Shiraz, with a smoky/meaty nose, and still some fresh raspberry fruit on the equally smoky palate. A few months ago I openly questioned the virtues of aging MV Shiraz, and this seemed to be the perfect reply (although it was the Bushing Trophy winner for best red of the year, and spent it's entire life sleeping in 707's perfect cellar).
Others that looked good on the night included a 1994 Wynns Cab Sav, 2002 Marius Shiraz, 2002 Seville Estate Pinot, 2003 Glaymond Zinfandel and a Barossa GSM that I don't remember!
Cheers,
Ian
The highlight was a 1979 Maglieri McLaren Vale Shiraz, with a smoky/meaty nose, and still some fresh raspberry fruit on the equally smoky palate. A few months ago I openly questioned the virtues of aging MV Shiraz, and this seemed to be the perfect reply (although it was the Bushing Trophy winner for best red of the year, and spent it's entire life sleeping in 707's perfect cellar).
Others that looked good on the night included a 1994 Wynns Cab Sav, 2002 Marius Shiraz, 2002 Seville Estate Pinot, 2003 Glaymond Zinfandel and a Barossa GSM that I don't remember!
Cheers,
Ian
Forget about goodness and mercy, they're gone.
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Daryl Douglas
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Brucer wrote:Daryl,
The Bullers is the 02. Its not mature yet, but has started to change.
Bruce
Thanks Bruce. I remember it was given a long time to reach maturity in tasting notes I saw when it was released. I've only a couple of bottles so will leave my first taste for at least a few years yet.
Cheers
daz
n4sir wrote:I had a rather ecclectic mix of old & new wines at the API Wine Club Xmas bash last Friday night (a pretty casual affair, and no notes were taken):
Others that looked good on the night ... and a Barossa GSM that I don't remember!
I worked out what it was: the 2003 Kurtz Family Vineyards Boundary Row, under cork in a Burgundy-style bottle. The 2003 BR Shiraz was also there and it was the complete opposite: under screwcap, Bordeaux-style bottle and terribly reductive!
Cheers,
Ian
Forget about goodness and mercy, they're gone.
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Mike Hawkins
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