and whilst I am not drinking at this time of the morning, your weekly drinking reports are due.
This week, I have had an interesting comparison between 2 wines from the same winery.
The (previous to last) Elderton2001 Shiraz I had a few months ago was starting to dry out. The last bottle earlier this week was one dimensional and pretty ordinary; all blackberry and oak. Not a great look, lucky it was my last bottle.
The Elderton 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon was a completely different story. Its drinking really well and in its prime where it should remain for some time yet. Its not a wonderfully varietal Cab, but a most enjoyable big red.
Now what have you been drinking? ..... its time to get back to the cricket.
Its World Cup Sunday.....
Peering into the dark I think that game is over and I believe we were the winners.
Mitolo Jester Shiraz 2005
Only a small taste of this and it didn't get much breathing. Still didn't enjoy it as much as the 04, didn't seem to have the depth of fruit and roundness. A little bit sharp and simple.
Glen
Mitolo Jester Shiraz 2005
Only a small taste of this and it didn't get much breathing. Still didn't enjoy it as much as the 04, didn't seem to have the depth of fruit and roundness. A little bit sharp and simple.
Glen
Winner of the inaugural RB cork-count competition
Runner up RB-NTDIR competition
Runner up TORB TN competition
Leave of absence second RB c-c competition
Runner up RB-NTDIR competition
Runner up TORB TN competition
Leave of absence second RB c-c competition
Looking at the line up of Sparkling Wines in shops it is apparent that this part of the industry has not been very nimble in taking up crown seals. I'm more or less on strike buying bubbles sealed with cork. Why Jansz NV et al do not come in crown seal is beyond me. So had admirably crown sealed Chandon 2003 ZD ( $33 ) which was pristine , also had a pleasant enough almost blush pink 2006 Pinot Chardonnay from Currency Creek wines that is fairly priced at about $15.
Also a notable discovery for me was Rusden wines of the Barossa. Tried a fresh but already quite complex 2006 Chenin Blanc ( $32 ) and a 2005 Grenache Shiraz blend called " Sandrift " that had real Barossa stamped all over it and was a pleasure to drink ( costs about $27 ). Rusden also make a straight Mataro and a Zinfandel - yet to try these - partly as was not in the mood to fork out $45 and $75 respectively. Sure they'd be interesting.
Only other interesting drink was a 2006 First Drop Barossa Arneis ( $8 a glass )( had in a new noisy Tapas bar in Adelaide last night ) which had a nice fresh " neutrality " about it that I like in white wines.
Also a notable discovery for me was Rusden wines of the Barossa. Tried a fresh but already quite complex 2006 Chenin Blanc ( $32 ) and a 2005 Grenache Shiraz blend called " Sandrift " that had real Barossa stamped all over it and was a pleasure to drink ( costs about $27 ). Rusden also make a straight Mataro and a Zinfandel - yet to try these - partly as was not in the mood to fork out $45 and $75 respectively. Sure they'd be interesting.
Only other interesting drink was a 2006 First Drop Barossa Arneis ( $8 a glass )( had in a new noisy Tapas bar in Adelaide last night ) which had a nice fresh " neutrality " about it that I like in white wines.
No notes taken on any of these wines.
Friday night: 06 Pegasus Bay Riesling cant get enough of this juice. This bottle has a slightly bitter orange pith element to it that I havent noticed before. Still love the flavours though.
Instore on Saturday morning, Guigal's (I might have some of these vintages wrong):
05 (?) Cotes du Rhone Blanc: 50% Viognier, the rest Marsanne and Roussanne. Pleasant honeysuckle fruit, quite textural.
03 Cotes du Rhone Rouge: The wine that has stirred controversy. I liked it. Didnt love it. Elegant expression of the Rhone. Will it age? Maybe, but why woudl you bother? For $20, fair enough and whether its value or not is an issue of style rather than price. If you lke more fruit, buy Hewitson Miss Harry, Rockford Moppa, Langmiel, Rolf Binder or something like that.
03 Crozes Hermitage: Nice wine, but falls in middle ground at $38, where I'd rather buy theCdR or...
04 St Joseph: Ooh, big young dense tarry shiraz. Lovely wine. $80ish
03 Chateauneuf du Pape: slightly stinky blackberry fruited, middle weight. Very nice indeed.
03 Hermitage: On first sniff you could pass this by. But spend some time with it, and the subtleties emerge, and the palate is very layered and as complex as Sudoku at the "Evil" level. Fruit, pepper, herbs, some oak, all appearing one after the other in a neat procession. Give it time to integrate and it could be Outstanding.
Dinner last night:
Roederer NV: older bottling with a coupe of years cellr time, and no worse for it. Lovely.
04 Daniel Defaix les Lys 1er Chablis: cashew, cram and oranges on the nose, very elegant palate. Perhaps this doesnt have the acid streak chablis often carries, and others saw green pea and asparagus. Lovely elegant aperitif which will benefit from a few more years in cellar.
05 Jean Claude Boisset Bourgogne Rouge: The most distinguishing thing about this was the back label describing this as being made from Chardonnay. Apart from that, acidic and tough going.
05 Jean Claude Boisset Vosne Romanee: Ah, my first serious 05 Burgundy. and OMG, am I going to be in trouble this vintage. Red and black fruits, intense enough that for a minute I thought this was from further south in Burgundy, and for a fleeting second it could even have been grenache. Very young and raw, but balanced all the same and very drinkable with food. Put it away for a 5 year sleep and contemplate again in 2012.
96 les Forts de Latour: Ooh, aah, this is nice Bordeaux. This has the longest cork in it I've seen for a while, and its in good shape. After a 1 hr decant, this shows perfectly ripe, dusty cassis like in fruit on the nose. In the mouth the fruit flavours are joined by creamy oak, a touch of capsicum and a flyspray character (others saw sea salt). Beautifully balanced, texturally spot on, fine tannin that’s on the way to resolution. Drinking beautifully now, but perhaps look again in about 3 years.
03 Pegau Cuvee Reservee: took a while to open up. I have to admit I struggled with this as the night wore on and I grew weary, but there is a lot to like about this - sweet icing sugar like grenache fruit, jammy density, approachability, holds 14% alcohol very nicely, but at the same time showing the ripeness of the vintage.
Quality tasting and drinking all weekend. And coincidentally not one Australian wine among them.
cheers
Andrew
Friday night: 06 Pegasus Bay Riesling cant get enough of this juice. This bottle has a slightly bitter orange pith element to it that I havent noticed before. Still love the flavours though.
Instore on Saturday morning, Guigal's (I might have some of these vintages wrong):
05 (?) Cotes du Rhone Blanc: 50% Viognier, the rest Marsanne and Roussanne. Pleasant honeysuckle fruit, quite textural.
03 Cotes du Rhone Rouge: The wine that has stirred controversy. I liked it. Didnt love it. Elegant expression of the Rhone. Will it age? Maybe, but why woudl you bother? For $20, fair enough and whether its value or not is an issue of style rather than price. If you lke more fruit, buy Hewitson Miss Harry, Rockford Moppa, Langmiel, Rolf Binder or something like that.
03 Crozes Hermitage: Nice wine, but falls in middle ground at $38, where I'd rather buy theCdR or...
04 St Joseph: Ooh, big young dense tarry shiraz. Lovely wine. $80ish
03 Chateauneuf du Pape: slightly stinky blackberry fruited, middle weight. Very nice indeed.
03 Hermitage: On first sniff you could pass this by. But spend some time with it, and the subtleties emerge, and the palate is very layered and as complex as Sudoku at the "Evil" level. Fruit, pepper, herbs, some oak, all appearing one after the other in a neat procession. Give it time to integrate and it could be Outstanding.
Dinner last night:
Roederer NV: older bottling with a coupe of years cellr time, and no worse for it. Lovely.
04 Daniel Defaix les Lys 1er Chablis: cashew, cram and oranges on the nose, very elegant palate. Perhaps this doesnt have the acid streak chablis often carries, and others saw green pea and asparagus. Lovely elegant aperitif which will benefit from a few more years in cellar.
05 Jean Claude Boisset Bourgogne Rouge: The most distinguishing thing about this was the back label describing this as being made from Chardonnay. Apart from that, acidic and tough going.
05 Jean Claude Boisset Vosne Romanee: Ah, my first serious 05 Burgundy. and OMG, am I going to be in trouble this vintage. Red and black fruits, intense enough that for a minute I thought this was from further south in Burgundy, and for a fleeting second it could even have been grenache. Very young and raw, but balanced all the same and very drinkable with food. Put it away for a 5 year sleep and contemplate again in 2012.
96 les Forts de Latour: Ooh, aah, this is nice Bordeaux. This has the longest cork in it I've seen for a while, and its in good shape. After a 1 hr decant, this shows perfectly ripe, dusty cassis like in fruit on the nose. In the mouth the fruit flavours are joined by creamy oak, a touch of capsicum and a flyspray character (others saw sea salt). Beautifully balanced, texturally spot on, fine tannin that’s on the way to resolution. Drinking beautifully now, but perhaps look again in about 3 years.
03 Pegau Cuvee Reservee: took a while to open up. I have to admit I struggled with this as the night wore on and I grew weary, but there is a lot to like about this - sweet icing sugar like grenache fruit, jammy density, approachability, holds 14% alcohol very nicely, but at the same time showing the ripeness of the vintage.
Quality tasting and drinking all weekend. And coincidentally not one Australian wine among them.
cheers
Andrew
1996 St Hugo Cab
1996 St Hugo
Wow what a wine! Beautiful aged Cabernet qualities. I thought it displayed a youthfulness I've not seen in many wines of its age. Truly a great experience. In fact the other two I've drunk this year were just as great. De cantered for about an hour at most.
Wish I had more....
Rorie
Wow what a wine! Beautiful aged Cabernet qualities. I thought it displayed a youthfulness I've not seen in many wines of its age. Truly a great experience. In fact the other two I've drunk this year were just as great. De cantered for about an hour at most.
Wish I had more....
Rorie
Grosset Watervale 2003 (13%, Stelvin)
Straw turning ever slightly pale gold. A very enticing nose of sweetish tropical fruits. Still very fresh, crisp, and with all its primary fruits. Initial entry of limes and a hint of honeysuckle which then gives way to sour green apples and minerally finish. I know the Polish Hill is meant to be the top Grosset, but for the 2003 vintage, I reckon the Watervale is the better wine for my palate with a better nose and more things happening on the palate.
Felsina Classic Chianti Riserva Rancia 1995 (13.5%, Cork)
Ruby with garnet edges. Did not decant, but poured straight into a Riedel Chianti glass. Tons of sour cherries and oak on the nose initially. The oak eased off after 20 minutes turning more cedary and the sour cherries become sweeter. Plenty of mouth-coating tannins, so this must have been a very tannic wine on release. Lingering finish of sour cherries with hints of plums. After 30 plus minutes and with the subsequent glasses, the wine developed a tar-like nose with smoked meat aromas. Medium to full-bodied. It was interesting to see how this wine gained complexity with some air time particularly with its nose. It went very well with penne in a bacon and tomato sauce. It is certainly a lovely food wine.
The following wines are from the previous two weeks.
Orlando Steingarten 2001 (12%, Stelvin)
Bought this wine at the Jacob’s Creek CD back in Dec. 2004 and then brought it back with me on the plane. This was before terrorists got to thinking about liquid-based bombs, and people were allowed wine bottles as cabin luggage. Dark straw. Flowers and lemon on the nose. It is still quite fresh with crispy lemony acids and green apples. It is still very primary, but showing some development with a degree of smoothness on the palate that one gets with older Rieslings. I think this is just beginning to show hints of aged development, so for those who like aged Rieslings, leave this for this one for while, five years at least.
Loimer Steimassl 2005 (13%, Cork)
2005 is meant to be very good vintage in the Danube wine regions of Wachau, Kremstal, and Kamptal. For a young Riesling, this is slightly darker than the equivalent Aussie ones sitting in the dark straw / light green-gold spectrum. I love the nose of this wine as it has so much going on here with a delightful fruit cocktail of limes, green apples, peaches, apricots, and hints of jasmine and other floral aromas. The palate is slightly less exciting dominated mainly by lemon, limes, and other citrusy fruits underpinned by a good mineral component and refreshing acids. This wine is quite delicate and well balanced, and you don’t really notice that you are drinking a Riesling with 13% alcohol. It feels more like 11% or so. Unlike some of the Grosset Rieslings, this is definitely very drinkable now, but with plenty of acids to see that it will age, too. I have five more bottles of a six pack to go. The only downside about this wine is the price. In Langenlois, at the Loimer CD, this is a 20 Euro (A$30) wine. By the time, it makes it here to Japan, it is just about double. That means this wine sells for 50% more than Grosset PH 2005 here in Japan, but I don’t think it is 50% better. If it is at the same price as a Grosset, I would buy this over the Grosset Watervale and PH 2003s that I have had and the Steingarten 2001, too. I will wait a few years and then pop open a Grosset PH 2005 and a Loimer Steinmassl 2005 for a comparison.
Peter Lehmann Semillon 2003 (12%, Stelvin)
A VFM Semillon that is beginning to develop hints of honey and petroleum-like texture.
I also had a Cape Mentelle Shiraz 2002 and Kaesler Avignon 2004 with some mates at a welcome BBQ for some new colleagues. Most people preferred the Cape Mentelle over the Avignon. I think it might be the plummy fruit that swayed most people.
Straw turning ever slightly pale gold. A very enticing nose of sweetish tropical fruits. Still very fresh, crisp, and with all its primary fruits. Initial entry of limes and a hint of honeysuckle which then gives way to sour green apples and minerally finish. I know the Polish Hill is meant to be the top Grosset, but for the 2003 vintage, I reckon the Watervale is the better wine for my palate with a better nose and more things happening on the palate.
Felsina Classic Chianti Riserva Rancia 1995 (13.5%, Cork)
Ruby with garnet edges. Did not decant, but poured straight into a Riedel Chianti glass. Tons of sour cherries and oak on the nose initially. The oak eased off after 20 minutes turning more cedary and the sour cherries become sweeter. Plenty of mouth-coating tannins, so this must have been a very tannic wine on release. Lingering finish of sour cherries with hints of plums. After 30 plus minutes and with the subsequent glasses, the wine developed a tar-like nose with smoked meat aromas. Medium to full-bodied. It was interesting to see how this wine gained complexity with some air time particularly with its nose. It went very well with penne in a bacon and tomato sauce. It is certainly a lovely food wine.
The following wines are from the previous two weeks.
Orlando Steingarten 2001 (12%, Stelvin)
Bought this wine at the Jacob’s Creek CD back in Dec. 2004 and then brought it back with me on the plane. This was before terrorists got to thinking about liquid-based bombs, and people were allowed wine bottles as cabin luggage. Dark straw. Flowers and lemon on the nose. It is still quite fresh with crispy lemony acids and green apples. It is still very primary, but showing some development with a degree of smoothness on the palate that one gets with older Rieslings. I think this is just beginning to show hints of aged development, so for those who like aged Rieslings, leave this for this one for while, five years at least.
Loimer Steimassl 2005 (13%, Cork)
2005 is meant to be very good vintage in the Danube wine regions of Wachau, Kremstal, and Kamptal. For a young Riesling, this is slightly darker than the equivalent Aussie ones sitting in the dark straw / light green-gold spectrum. I love the nose of this wine as it has so much going on here with a delightful fruit cocktail of limes, green apples, peaches, apricots, and hints of jasmine and other floral aromas. The palate is slightly less exciting dominated mainly by lemon, limes, and other citrusy fruits underpinned by a good mineral component and refreshing acids. This wine is quite delicate and well balanced, and you don’t really notice that you are drinking a Riesling with 13% alcohol. It feels more like 11% or so. Unlike some of the Grosset Rieslings, this is definitely very drinkable now, but with plenty of acids to see that it will age, too. I have five more bottles of a six pack to go. The only downside about this wine is the price. In Langenlois, at the Loimer CD, this is a 20 Euro (A$30) wine. By the time, it makes it here to Japan, it is just about double. That means this wine sells for 50% more than Grosset PH 2005 here in Japan, but I don’t think it is 50% better. If it is at the same price as a Grosset, I would buy this over the Grosset Watervale and PH 2003s that I have had and the Steingarten 2001, too. I will wait a few years and then pop open a Grosset PH 2005 and a Loimer Steinmassl 2005 for a comparison.
Peter Lehmann Semillon 2003 (12%, Stelvin)
A VFM Semillon that is beginning to develop hints of honey and petroleum-like texture.
I also had a Cape Mentelle Shiraz 2002 and Kaesler Avignon 2004 with some mates at a welcome BBQ for some new colleagues. Most people preferred the Cape Mentelle over the Avignon. I think it might be the plummy fruit that swayed most people.
Saturday...
Rockford Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Delicious, zingy, lemony and fresh.
Leland Estate 2005 Pinot Noir
A bit volatile and tannic, quite flavoursome, inelegant.
Rockford Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
A nice surprise, way better than my last. Soft, pleasing, tannins dropped away a fair bit, lots of generous Barossa fruit sweetness still.
Orlando Jacaranda Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 1999
Lots of life left in this, plenty of tannin and fruit oomph. Nice, classic and varietal.
Domaine A Cabernet Sauvignon 1999
Obviously green and cool characters, stalky and minty with herbaceous characters. Quite varietal though and fairly healthy still.
and last night...
Hardy's Oomoo Shiraz 2003
What a little ripper of a wine for the price. Jammy, fruit staining black fruits, a lick of leather, impressive.
[/b]
Rockford Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Delicious, zingy, lemony and fresh.
Leland Estate 2005 Pinot Noir
A bit volatile and tannic, quite flavoursome, inelegant.
Rockford Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
A nice surprise, way better than my last. Soft, pleasing, tannins dropped away a fair bit, lots of generous Barossa fruit sweetness still.
Orlando Jacaranda Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 1999
Lots of life left in this, plenty of tannin and fruit oomph. Nice, classic and varietal.
Domaine A Cabernet Sauvignon 1999
Obviously green and cool characters, stalky and minty with herbaceous characters. Quite varietal though and fairly healthy still.
and last night...
Hardy's Oomoo Shiraz 2003
What a little ripper of a wine for the price. Jammy, fruit staining black fruits, a lick of leather, impressive.
[/b]
Cheers
Wayno
Give me the luxuries of life and I will willingly do without the necessities.
Wayno
Give me the luxuries of life and I will willingly do without the necessities.
These are impressions rather than TNs:
1998 Jamesons Run Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Beautiful wine – rich, lovely fruit and structure, a finish that lingers for a long time, only improved with time the glass, it is developing nicely. Heaps of time left in it.
Roederer NV Champagne
We had 2 bottles, both were quite different. One was outstanding, the other was not up to the same standard. However, stunning match to crayfish.
2004 Wirra Wirra Woodhenge Shiraz
Given some of the 04 Barossa Style of wines I have had recently which have been fruit bombs, this was a nice surprise. A well balanced wine on the savoury side. This should age nicely in the medium term.
2003 Wirra Wirra Grenache
Was a tad tipsy at this stage of the night – nice wine, medium bodied, with nice lingering finish.
2005 Pipers Brook Gwertztraminer
Lovely wine, nice acid balance, touch of lime/citrus, rose petals. Perfect match to Red Snapper with Spicy Asian dressing.
2004 Seppelts Chalambar Shiraz
hmm – not sure what to made of this wine, on opening and on the first night , it was very tannic, hard to drink really. On the second night, not a great lot of improvement. either, but not sure if this wine will ever evolve. There are no elements of the 2002 vintage, which I rather like. I’d pass on this wine personally.
2005 Ninth Island Riesling
Refreshing, lemon zest, lovely finish, acidity all in check, nice on a lovely autumn afternoon.
1998 Jamesons Run Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Beautiful wine – rich, lovely fruit and structure, a finish that lingers for a long time, only improved with time the glass, it is developing nicely. Heaps of time left in it.
Roederer NV Champagne
We had 2 bottles, both were quite different. One was outstanding, the other was not up to the same standard. However, stunning match to crayfish.
2004 Wirra Wirra Woodhenge Shiraz
Given some of the 04 Barossa Style of wines I have had recently which have been fruit bombs, this was a nice surprise. A well balanced wine on the savoury side. This should age nicely in the medium term.
2003 Wirra Wirra Grenache
Was a tad tipsy at this stage of the night – nice wine, medium bodied, with nice lingering finish.
2005 Pipers Brook Gwertztraminer
Lovely wine, nice acid balance, touch of lime/citrus, rose petals. Perfect match to Red Snapper with Spicy Asian dressing.
2004 Seppelts Chalambar Shiraz
hmm – not sure what to made of this wine, on opening and on the first night , it was very tannic, hard to drink really. On the second night, not a great lot of improvement. either, but not sure if this wine will ever evolve. There are no elements of the 2002 vintage, which I rather like. I’d pass on this wine personally.
2005 Ninth Island Riesling
Refreshing, lemon zest, lovely finish, acidity all in check, nice on a lovely autumn afternoon.
Besides the Adelaide offline which was very enjoyable I also was able to attend a dinner with Ben Glaetzer presenting the 2005 Mitolo wines. This is is what I though of the wines:
2005 Mitolo Reiver Barossa Shiraz:
a quallity Barossa shiraz made from Greenock fruit. Full fruited with a good depth of flavour of red fruits and hints of coffee, licorice and earth. Smooth tannins and good balance. Very approachable now.
2005 Mitolo G.A.M McLaren Vale Shiraz:
Classic McLaren Vale Shiraz flavours of dark chocolate, sweet blackcurrant and cedary oak. Generous warm wine built for th medium turn.
2005 Mitolo Savitar McLaren Vale Shiraz:
A step up from the G.A.M. More intense in flavour and length. Complex dried herbs and some mineral like flavours accent the deep black fruits. A longer term prospect.
2005 Mitolo Serpico Cab Sav:
Amarone method used on about 70% of the grapes which gives a different take on cab sav. Dusty chocolaty fruit, savoury dried herbs and grainy tannins. A wine of difference and interest defined by its style rather than fruit.
Also had a bottle of 1996 Rockford SVS Flaxman Shiraz which was very good and still has a long future ahead of it.
2005 Mitolo Reiver Barossa Shiraz:
a quallity Barossa shiraz made from Greenock fruit. Full fruited with a good depth of flavour of red fruits and hints of coffee, licorice and earth. Smooth tannins and good balance. Very approachable now.
2005 Mitolo G.A.M McLaren Vale Shiraz:
Classic McLaren Vale Shiraz flavours of dark chocolate, sweet blackcurrant and cedary oak. Generous warm wine built for th medium turn.
2005 Mitolo Savitar McLaren Vale Shiraz:
A step up from the G.A.M. More intense in flavour and length. Complex dried herbs and some mineral like flavours accent the deep black fruits. A longer term prospect.
2005 Mitolo Serpico Cab Sav:
Amarone method used on about 70% of the grapes which gives a different take on cab sav. Dusty chocolaty fruit, savoury dried herbs and grainy tannins. A wine of difference and interest defined by its style rather than fruit.
Also had a bottle of 1996 Rockford SVS Flaxman Shiraz which was very good and still has a long future ahead of it.
Premierships and great wine... that is what life is all about
2004 Noon Eclipse - closed and broody, openned up second day to have sweet greanche character 
Have too conclude my tastes are shifting.
2004 Lethbridge Shiraz - soft cooler climate style, nice length, would perhaps have liked some more richness
1996 Wynns Cab Sauv - initially suffered from cellar at 15oC - too cold and took sometime to warm up. Once had a bit of air and warmth lovely Cabernet hitting its straps - should have a while to go.
2003 Marius Shiraz - if I remember rightly 03 was a tough year especially compared to 02 and 04. Not as good as the Marius 02 or 04 but a good effort. Rich fruit but not the amazing length and complexity of the 04 I had recently
2001 Turkey Flat Shiraz - Turkey Flat continues to be consistent, lovely Barossa briary character with great fruit yum
Baileys Winemakers Reserve Tokay - Need to have another look. Doesn't have the viscosity I expected but that might be a Glenrowan vs Rutherglen issue. Certainly good length but may be not the complexity - Seppelt Grand and Morris Cellar Reserve better.
Have too conclude my tastes are shifting.
2004 Lethbridge Shiraz - soft cooler climate style, nice length, would perhaps have liked some more richness
1996 Wynns Cab Sauv - initially suffered from cellar at 15oC - too cold and took sometime to warm up. Once had a bit of air and warmth lovely Cabernet hitting its straps - should have a while to go.
2003 Marius Shiraz - if I remember rightly 03 was a tough year especially compared to 02 and 04. Not as good as the Marius 02 or 04 but a good effort. Rich fruit but not the amazing length and complexity of the 04 I had recently
2001 Turkey Flat Shiraz - Turkey Flat continues to be consistent, lovely Barossa briary character with great fruit yum
Baileys Winemakers Reserve Tokay - Need to have another look. Doesn't have the viscosity I expected but that might be a Glenrowan vs Rutherglen issue. Certainly good length but may be not the complexity - Seppelt Grand and Morris Cellar Reserve better.
David J
Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake 1Ti 5:23
Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake 1Ti 5:23
2004 Vasse Felix Chardonnay
Best part of the way through a dozen. Middle of the road style, lean fruited, with good structure, and has picked up a bit of palateweight over the last 12 months. Finishes long, and pleasant.
1998 Cyril Henschke
Some attractive menthol, undergrowth type characters on the nose with blackcurrant and rhubarb fruit. Flashes of black, olive, sage, stalky rosemary, and nutty oak tannins. Long, linear, sinewy, chewy style, that was full of interest, but lacked the stuffing and the structure to be great. I had thought a couple of bottles drank over the last eighteen months were snoozing, but beginning to think it is just a bit of a non-event.
1995 Abbots Prayer
Very distinct bayleaf notes on the nose, which carried into a pleasant sweet herbal lift. Again some slightly mulchy, gritty characters lurking in the backgound. Palate is well integrated with blackcherry fruit, bitter chocolate, and a ball of savoury meaty, mushroomy bottle aged goodness on the back palate. A very pleasant surprise...great drinking now.
1995 Keyneton Estate
A sweet and slightly medicinal lift on the nose. Hints of iodine, violet and crushed rock. Mid-weight and seamless, the palate has some nice smoky bacon notes, fully resolved tannins, and some sweet and sour bottle aged notes. A touch oxidised which dampened my enthusiasm a little. Still a very pleasant wine, but probably in it's outer drinking window.
Best part of the way through a dozen. Middle of the road style, lean fruited, with good structure, and has picked up a bit of palateweight over the last 12 months. Finishes long, and pleasant.
1998 Cyril Henschke
Some attractive menthol, undergrowth type characters on the nose with blackcurrant and rhubarb fruit. Flashes of black, olive, sage, stalky rosemary, and nutty oak tannins. Long, linear, sinewy, chewy style, that was full of interest, but lacked the stuffing and the structure to be great. I had thought a couple of bottles drank over the last eighteen months were snoozing, but beginning to think it is just a bit of a non-event.
1995 Abbots Prayer
Very distinct bayleaf notes on the nose, which carried into a pleasant sweet herbal lift. Again some slightly mulchy, gritty characters lurking in the backgound. Palate is well integrated with blackcherry fruit, bitter chocolate, and a ball of savoury meaty, mushroomy bottle aged goodness on the back palate. A very pleasant surprise...great drinking now.
1995 Keyneton Estate
A sweet and slightly medicinal lift on the nose. Hints of iodine, violet and crushed rock. Mid-weight and seamless, the palate has some nice smoky bacon notes, fully resolved tannins, and some sweet and sour bottle aged notes. A touch oxidised which dampened my enthusiasm a little. Still a very pleasant wine, but probably in it's outer drinking window.
DJ wrote:2004 Noon Eclipse - closed and broody, openned up second day to have sweet greanche character
.
Dont know that they are. I am usually a fan of Eclipse but Ive had 4 of the 2004 and only the first bottle at release was how the wine should/used to be IMO. The other 3 bottles drunk last year and the last one a month ago were all as you found yours. I dont know that this wine will come back.
I missed the Saturday morning tasting that Wizz reported on. Some of us have to work.
I opened a 2002 d'Arenberg Footbolt Shiraz this weekend. I don't know why but some McLaren Vale reds and mainly shiraz taste a little meaty after a few years. I enjoyed the wine and found that this "meatyness" was gone the next night.
2002 Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet. My first of these and I have really enjoyed the wine. Different to Coonawarra and Margaret River and I don't know if this is typically Barossa cabernet. Whatever, I enjoyed its slightly perfumed nose which turned to tobacco and fresh fruit and some herbs. Lovely mouthfeel and fullness on the palate. I managed to save about 100Ml for tomorrow night.
Graham
I opened a 2002 d'Arenberg Footbolt Shiraz this weekend. I don't know why but some McLaren Vale reds and mainly shiraz taste a little meaty after a few years. I enjoyed the wine and found that this "meatyness" was gone the next night.
2002 Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet. My first of these and I have really enjoyed the wine. Different to Coonawarra and Margaret River and I don't know if this is typically Barossa cabernet. Whatever, I enjoyed its slightly perfumed nose which turned to tobacco and fresh fruit and some herbs. Lovely mouthfeel and fullness on the palate. I managed to save about 100Ml for tomorrow night.
Graham
Chardonnay: A drink you have when there is no RED wine, the beer hasn't arrived and the water may be polluted
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Daryl Douglas
- Posts: 1361
- Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2003 7:23 pm
- Location: Nth Qld
Sean wrote:2006 Hanwood Chardonnay - This is a regular and we compare others with it. It's got a bit of colour now, but still very fresh. Happily it's screwcapped. To say it's got peaches and oak sums it up, but the consistency is mind-boggling.
2006 High Country Chardonnay - This is sometimes better than the Hanwood and sometimes not. This one is, tasting of citrus and peaches and oak with a savoury feel to it. A $10 chardy, but some nice fruit makes the difference.
Have you tried De Bortoli's Windy Peak Victoria Chardonnay 2005? It's probably somewhere in between the Miranda (from your TN) and the McWilliams that's a reliable, good value chard. I've bought various vintages of Hanwood chard for immediate drinking many times but think the Windy Peak to be just a step above with more subtle oak but still clean and clear chardonnay fruit. The back label gives a surprisingly accurate description of the wine. It's my current <$10 preferred chardie when discounted.
I like to have a break from reds occasionally to lose a bit of the black-on-the-tongue.
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Daryl Douglas
- Posts: 1361
- Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2003 7:23 pm
- Location: Nth Qld
DJ wrote:2001 Turkey Flat Shiraz - Turkey Flat continues to be consistent, lovely Barossa briary character with great fruit yum
The only TF wine I've bought after 2002 is a couple of bottles of the cab 03. Mostly only buy <$20 in these days of quality wines in the $15-$20 bracket. But it's good to hear that the TF shiraz 01 is going well. I may start buying some more TF again after doing the 98-02 shiraz vertical I have stashed. Haven't ever tried the 98, loved the 99, thought the 01 to be close and the 02 was very nice but simply too young to really appreciate. Maybe next year.
griff wrote:Wayno wrote:Saturday...
Rockford Cabernet Sauvignon 1998
Delicious, zingy, lemony and fresh.
cheers
Carl
Yep, that's certainly one perspective!!! It was actually the Orlando St Helga 2005 Riesling, for the record.
Cheers
Wayno
Give me the luxuries of life and I will willingly do without the necessities.
Wayno
Give me the luxuries of life and I will willingly do without the necessities.
Dinner at T Chow. Impressions only
2002 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Spatlese (Magnum)
Green apples, minerals, white flowers. Power, length, balance and poise.
2001 Les Aphillanthes Cote du Rhone Cuvee Des Trois Cepages
Band Aids and Metal would be testing evening the most brett tolerant. Undrinkable
2001 Les Aphillanthes Cote du Rhone Villages Veilles Vignes.
Much the same, undrinkable
1990 JL Chave Hermitage
Absolute classic mature Syrah. Fruit still powerful meaty and fleshy. Silky mouthfeel with a finish that goes as long as the world cup. What a joy to drink.
2001 JP & JL Jamet Cote Rotie
Smoked small goods cracked pepper and a fine supple finish. Good line and length rotie.
2004 Torbreck RunRig
Must of been a bad bottle because this was really not pushing my buttons. Heat spikes and clumsy gruff tannins.
2004 Greenock Creek Creek Block Shiraz
Dead porty fruit, uninteresting, pass
2004 Greenock Creek Apricot Block Shiraz
Much better fruit, fresh and alive quite a floral nose, good intensity
2004 Kalleske Johann Georg Shiraz
excellent modern shiraz that has some character. Intensely rich and layered which holds the interest. Superb oak and tannin management slight heat on the finish but doesn't detract.
2004 Kilikanoon M Reserve Shiraz
corked, dissapointing.
2004 Relic Alder Springs Mendocino County Syrah
tough hard going syrah, overtly volatile
2004 Pax Alder Springs Mendocino County Syrah
Wow excellent rich peppery syrah. great structure. 16.2% but you would never know. just behind the Kalleske JG. Impressive US syrah.
2002 Fritz Haag Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr Spatlese (Magnum)
Green apples, minerals, white flowers. Power, length, balance and poise.
2001 Les Aphillanthes Cote du Rhone Cuvee Des Trois Cepages
Band Aids and Metal would be testing evening the most brett tolerant. Undrinkable
2001 Les Aphillanthes Cote du Rhone Villages Veilles Vignes.
Much the same, undrinkable
1990 JL Chave Hermitage
Absolute classic mature Syrah. Fruit still powerful meaty and fleshy. Silky mouthfeel with a finish that goes as long as the world cup. What a joy to drink.
2001 JP & JL Jamet Cote Rotie
Smoked small goods cracked pepper and a fine supple finish. Good line and length rotie.
2004 Torbreck RunRig
Must of been a bad bottle because this was really not pushing my buttons. Heat spikes and clumsy gruff tannins.
2004 Greenock Creek Creek Block Shiraz
Dead porty fruit, uninteresting, pass
2004 Greenock Creek Apricot Block Shiraz
Much better fruit, fresh and alive quite a floral nose, good intensity
2004 Kalleske Johann Georg Shiraz
excellent modern shiraz that has some character. Intensely rich and layered which holds the interest. Superb oak and tannin management slight heat on the finish but doesn't detract.
2004 Kilikanoon M Reserve Shiraz
corked, dissapointing.
2004 Relic Alder Springs Mendocino County Syrah
tough hard going syrah, overtly volatile
2004 Pax Alder Springs Mendocino County Syrah
Wow excellent rich peppery syrah. great structure. 16.2% but you would never know. just behind the Kalleske JG. Impressive US syrah.
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KMP
- Posts: 1246
- Joined: Sat Apr 17, 2004 4:02 am
- Location: Expat, now in San Diego, California
- Contact:
tex0403 wrote:Dinner at T Chow. Impressions only
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2004 Pax Alder Springs Mendocino County Syrah
Wow excellent rich peppery syrah. great structure. 16.2% but you would never know. just behind the Kalleske JG. Impressive US syrah.
If it was 16.2% then it was most probably the 2004 Pax Syrah, Alder Springs Vineyard, 'The Emerald Pool', Mendocino County. Very limited production (less than 300 cases) and equally hard to source. Pax makes a bunch of Syrahs but the only one I've seen at retail so far this year is the 2004 Pax, Cuvée Christine.
Mike
2003 Chandon Rosé - very long and dry with creamy middle. Short-term cellaring will be of benefit. Prbably the bext of the 2003s for me. 17.5/20, 91/100.
1996 Bannockburn Chardonnay - creamy with hints of peach and melon. Quite textural with mineral sensations. Good length. Its peak was a while ago but living and very enjoyable nonetheless. 17/20, 90/100.
2006 Leo Buring Eden Valley Leonay Riesling - Common and a bit boring in flavour and maybe a little overripe. The structure displayed some class but in total still a little disappointing for the label. 16.5/20, 88/100.
2004 Pepperjack Shiraz - quality oak bomb. 15/20, 82/100.
2000 Kay's Merlot - quite enjoyable. Maintains elegance. Lots of dried herbs. 16/20, 87/100.
2003 Stonier Reserve Pinot Noir - I quite loved this on release. It was actually quite special. If you are holding any bottles, hold on to them for at least another 4 years minimum as I was disappointed in this wine on the first day and drank most of it, then tasted the final glass on the third day and was very impressed. First day showed that some savoury flavours had developed but it was simple in both flavour and structure. On the third day, the structure was magnificent, bold and fine grained, although the flavour was still quite simple. All the elements of a wine needing age. I'll take an each-way bet at 17.5/20, 91/100, but I suspect it will be again a 94-95 point wine with time.
2003 Seppelt Moyston Cabernet Merlot - This wine has softened since release and is now a wonderfully enjoyable wine with more than a hint of class. 17.7/20, 92/100.
1998 Mount Pleasant Maurice O'Shea Shiraz - Opened this and finished within an hour with my father. Total waste of unfulfilled potential but we both enjoyed wasting it nonetheless. Very powerful core of vibrant dark fruit with dark earth and liquorice, and tight, fine structure asking for at least a decant. Superb. 18.5/20, 94/100.
1998 Jamieson's Rub Cabernet Shiraz - Bought a 4 or so of these to cellar at around $11 from memory and this was my first crack. Excellent wine with primary fruit holding the developed. Structure with no holes. Great buy. Unfortunately the label is not the same anymore. 16.5/20, 88/100.
2005 Mike Press Shiraz - I Audoze decanted this bottle for a day and I think it helped. Still, I think this is a wine that needs at least another 12 months to show its true quality. I am happy with 17/20, 90/100, but will probably get better in a year based on what a few bottles have told me.
2004 Mike Press Pinot Noir - This is my favourite Mike Press wine! Classic as opposed to fruit bomb structured. Long and lean. Needs time. 17.2/20, 90/100.
2005 Philip Shaw No.17 Merlot (43%) Cabernet Franc (34%) Cabernet Sauvignon (23%) - Wheat grass amongst the blackberry and plums. It has fine-grained but supple and fleshy tannins that expand very elegantly along the palate to help to create a sumptuous yet drying middle and back palate of Merlot flavour, length and real class. A hint of integrated fine acid provides a pleasing firmness that compliments the tannin structure. Age will definitely be of benefit. 18/20, 93/100, Orange may be the Merlot saviour for Australia!
2005 Sherdelmire Merlot - Heathcote - Too "commercial Merlot". There is a contrived, commercial, sweet plummy facet to the wine that I associate with the presence of residual sugar, which finishes short on the palate. Maybe it is just that Heathcote is not suited to this variety. This is more unfortunate as there is in fact a serious and classy Merlot with tight structure and complex Merlot flavour trying to poke its head out, but is only revealed once the commercial aspects finish on the middle palate. Considering these better aspects, the wine has quite a good finish. My favour for the Shelmerdine Sauvignon Blanc of this label and price point makes this wine disappointing. 15.5/20, 85/100.
2001 Gloucester Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon - Pemberton: Another bargain aging nicely, although a little black olive was a bit off-putting at first. Smooth and plummy. 16.7/20, 89/100.
1995 Yanmah Ridge Cabernet - Manjimup: Always a favourite of mine. At its peak or just past. Very gravely. 17.3/20, 90/100.
1999 Platt's Cabernet Sauvignon - Mudgee: Bought on release and happy I did. Primary and developed characters with good power. Classically structured Cabernet with ripe filling. 17.5/20, 91/100.
2001 Calais Estate Chardonnay - Developed but vibrant and enjoyable. Drink now. 16.7/20, 89/100.
Consumed the next 3 in the one long day:
2006 Tim Adams Riesling - Fantastic mineral/slate characters on citrus and florals that continues to expand along the palate. Super-fine, integrated acid. Great line and length. Bottle disappeared very fast. Gorgeous! Don't bother cellaring; it can't get any better. Serve at every dinner party for the next year! 18.6/20, 95/100.
2006 Ravenworth Riesling - Canberra region: Similar minerals as the Tim Adams with heavier, limey flavours but was quite upfront and did not carry and expand like the Tim Adams. Nonetheless, very good wine at great price. 17.5/20, 91/100.
2005 Michel Lynch Bordeaux Blanc - I like the White Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc style, and the Semillon adds to what I like about Sauvignon Blanc that has seen old oak. This is a cheap example but displayed what I like at a quality good enough to enjoy. 16.5/20, 88/100.
2005 Coldstream Hill Cabernet Sauvignon - I keep drinking this. It is so good now. So aromatic, long and svelte. Sensational value. 18.1/20, 93/100.
2005 Epis Pinot Noir - I love this wine although this bottle told me that it was time to stop raiding my stash to be opened no earlier than 2012. Impeccable balance. 93-97/100.
Had three AFDs last week and today will be my fourth this week. Wow!
Kind regards,
Adair
1996 Bannockburn Chardonnay - creamy with hints of peach and melon. Quite textural with mineral sensations. Good length. Its peak was a while ago but living and very enjoyable nonetheless. 17/20, 90/100.
2006 Leo Buring Eden Valley Leonay Riesling - Common and a bit boring in flavour and maybe a little overripe. The structure displayed some class but in total still a little disappointing for the label. 16.5/20, 88/100.
2004 Pepperjack Shiraz - quality oak bomb. 15/20, 82/100.
2000 Kay's Merlot - quite enjoyable. Maintains elegance. Lots of dried herbs. 16/20, 87/100.
2003 Stonier Reserve Pinot Noir - I quite loved this on release. It was actually quite special. If you are holding any bottles, hold on to them for at least another 4 years minimum as I was disappointed in this wine on the first day and drank most of it, then tasted the final glass on the third day and was very impressed. First day showed that some savoury flavours had developed but it was simple in both flavour and structure. On the third day, the structure was magnificent, bold and fine grained, although the flavour was still quite simple. All the elements of a wine needing age. I'll take an each-way bet at 17.5/20, 91/100, but I suspect it will be again a 94-95 point wine with time.
2003 Seppelt Moyston Cabernet Merlot - This wine has softened since release and is now a wonderfully enjoyable wine with more than a hint of class. 17.7/20, 92/100.
1998 Mount Pleasant Maurice O'Shea Shiraz - Opened this and finished within an hour with my father. Total waste of unfulfilled potential but we both enjoyed wasting it nonetheless. Very powerful core of vibrant dark fruit with dark earth and liquorice, and tight, fine structure asking for at least a decant. Superb. 18.5/20, 94/100.
1998 Jamieson's Rub Cabernet Shiraz - Bought a 4 or so of these to cellar at around $11 from memory and this was my first crack. Excellent wine with primary fruit holding the developed. Structure with no holes. Great buy. Unfortunately the label is not the same anymore. 16.5/20, 88/100.
2005 Mike Press Shiraz - I Audoze decanted this bottle for a day and I think it helped. Still, I think this is a wine that needs at least another 12 months to show its true quality. I am happy with 17/20, 90/100, but will probably get better in a year based on what a few bottles have told me.
2004 Mike Press Pinot Noir - This is my favourite Mike Press wine! Classic as opposed to fruit bomb structured. Long and lean. Needs time. 17.2/20, 90/100.
2005 Philip Shaw No.17 Merlot (43%) Cabernet Franc (34%) Cabernet Sauvignon (23%) - Wheat grass amongst the blackberry and plums. It has fine-grained but supple and fleshy tannins that expand very elegantly along the palate to help to create a sumptuous yet drying middle and back palate of Merlot flavour, length and real class. A hint of integrated fine acid provides a pleasing firmness that compliments the tannin structure. Age will definitely be of benefit. 18/20, 93/100, Orange may be the Merlot saviour for Australia!
2005 Sherdelmire Merlot - Heathcote - Too "commercial Merlot". There is a contrived, commercial, sweet plummy facet to the wine that I associate with the presence of residual sugar, which finishes short on the palate. Maybe it is just that Heathcote is not suited to this variety. This is more unfortunate as there is in fact a serious and classy Merlot with tight structure and complex Merlot flavour trying to poke its head out, but is only revealed once the commercial aspects finish on the middle palate. Considering these better aspects, the wine has quite a good finish. My favour for the Shelmerdine Sauvignon Blanc of this label and price point makes this wine disappointing. 15.5/20, 85/100.
2001 Gloucester Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon - Pemberton: Another bargain aging nicely, although a little black olive was a bit off-putting at first. Smooth and plummy. 16.7/20, 89/100.
1995 Yanmah Ridge Cabernet - Manjimup: Always a favourite of mine. At its peak or just past. Very gravely. 17.3/20, 90/100.
1999 Platt's Cabernet Sauvignon - Mudgee: Bought on release and happy I did. Primary and developed characters with good power. Classically structured Cabernet with ripe filling. 17.5/20, 91/100.
2001 Calais Estate Chardonnay - Developed but vibrant and enjoyable. Drink now. 16.7/20, 89/100.
Consumed the next 3 in the one long day:
2006 Tim Adams Riesling - Fantastic mineral/slate characters on citrus and florals that continues to expand along the palate. Super-fine, integrated acid. Great line and length. Bottle disappeared very fast. Gorgeous! Don't bother cellaring; it can't get any better. Serve at every dinner party for the next year! 18.6/20, 95/100.
2006 Ravenworth Riesling - Canberra region: Similar minerals as the Tim Adams with heavier, limey flavours but was quite upfront and did not carry and expand like the Tim Adams. Nonetheless, very good wine at great price. 17.5/20, 91/100.
2005 Michel Lynch Bordeaux Blanc - I like the White Bordeaux Sauvignon Blanc style, and the Semillon adds to what I like about Sauvignon Blanc that has seen old oak. This is a cheap example but displayed what I like at a quality good enough to enjoy. 16.5/20, 88/100.
2005 Coldstream Hill Cabernet Sauvignon - I keep drinking this. It is so good now. So aromatic, long and svelte. Sensational value. 18.1/20, 93/100.
2005 Epis Pinot Noir - I love this wine although this bottle told me that it was time to stop raiding my stash to be opened no earlier than 2012. Impeccable balance. 93-97/100.
Had three AFDs last week and today will be my fourth this week. Wow!
Kind regards,
Adair
Wine is bottled poetry.