Sunday is here again....

[TORB]

Hi Good Peoples,

It's that time of the week again. Please let us know what you have been drinking over the last week. Highlights and low lights are all welcome. As usual, tasting notes, vibes and general impressions are all welcome.

[Jay60A]

I have been drinking French and Spanish Riojan wines on holiday most of the last week or so ... may help explain ...

Glaetzer Amon Ra 2005 - sweet, alcoholic and over the top. I have had one very good bottle of this so wonder if variation or my palate is changing. Pass. Enjoyed the 04 btw.
Rockford Basket Press 2001 - needed time to open up. Not complex but savoury wine relying on texture and length. Very enjoyable. Lovely nose (shite cork btw). Better on night 2. Another glass garcon ...
Wolf Blass Platinum Shiraz 2001 - far far better than the Amon Ra. Length, balance, intensity, more length, the complete package. Lavish oak treatment but lots of fruit and well integrated. Outstanding and seems balanced to age. Another bottle garcon ...

Rockford for me has a quite artisanal quality which I am learning to love. It does not try to hide vintage variation but make the best of what is delivered.
The WB Platinum Shiraz 01 needs time but is great aussie shiraz.

Cheers -- Jay

[Pelican]

2006 John Duval Plexus Shiraz Greanche Mourvedre Barossa ( $60 at a pub ): Definitely good wine but at this stage the high toned Grenache stood out - needs more time...if you're gonna commit vinfanticide the lovely plush Duval Entity Shiraz is a better option.

2007 Two Hands Brilliant Disguise Moscato Barossa ( $30 at a pub ) 500ml: As Adair said a good palate cleanser. However bizarrely this is sealed with cork and the waitress could not get the cork out - she had to leave for 10 minutes and somehow open it out the back - a bit flat compared to previous bottles I've had and on last few sips I reckon I noticed some cork taint for good measure.....as they say " there's no great old wines just great old bottles.............".

2002 Pirramimma Fortified Grenache McLaren Vale 500ml ( $9.20 at auction ) : lovely fresh floral rose and violet nose on this. Good.

[Dave Dewhurst]

Mount Pleasant Lovedale Semillon, 1995, Bought as a curiosity on close out. No idea whether it would have survived. Cork fully intact though. Honey and butter on the nose. Really upfront honey initially, almost sweet, but soon turns savoury. A touch mouth-coating, with honey and a certain waxiness to it, along with vague hints of orange way in the background. Slightly short, watery finish, just seems to take a dive. OK to quaff, interesting to try, but wouldn’t go back for more.

Tahbilk Shiraz, 2001, mmmmmm, Taaaahhhbiiiillllk. Lovely, meaty, smokey. Deep savoury blackberry fruit, bit of leatheriness, soft tannins, great length. Just yum.

Mildara Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, 2003, mint and blackcurrant nose. Initially not much primary fruit but strong mintiness but some blackcurrant rises after a while. The mintiness subsides with time and balances better with the fruit. Some mushrooms and old leather there too, with a waft of milk chocolate. Quite liked this but have had many better from Coonawarra.

Cheers

Dave

[Taswegian]

Wellington Chardonnay 04 S.Tas
Great, if a little out of proportion, chardonnay from Andrew Hood. Very subtle fruit overshadowed by massive new oak. Could quite possibly take a few more years.

Robert Stein Reserve Cab Sav 02 Mudgee[b]
One of my favourites right now. Beautiful smoky fruit with only a hint of spice and caramel notes. In this bottle actually got a touch of eucalypt for the first time.

Not much else of note, had a bit of bad luck with my pinots. On one night had two corked, one cooked and the other just plain wrong.

Pelican,
we serve the two Hands moscato by the glass and have had exactly the same problems with the corks. Either imposibble to get out, or breaking the rim of the neck attempting. My rep said something about the glue sealing the wax cap seeping. Never really any trouble with the actual wine though.
Cheers.

[Wayno]

Majella 05 Cabernet
Good, full bodied but shapely wine. Caricature Coonawarra in a good way.

Chapel Hill Shiaz 2001
Quite true to the region, a fair effort, spicy, long.

Penfolds Cellar Reserve Grenache 2002
Too big for me, to truly represent my version of the grape. Big, a bit hot and, like the last bottle, a bit imbalanced. OK but hopeless the day after.

[Daryl Douglas]

Tin Shed Three Vines MSG 2003 2nd bottle I've had, thought the first was a good wine but this one I found difficult to drink more than a glass or two. Alcohol is dominant on the nose and the palate and the fruit is ripe and a bit savoury. Not a good vintage and I think it shows.

Forest Hill SSB 2005 Not really enjoying SBs and SSBs lately. Not bad, but seemed to lack fruit definition although there was some passionfruit on the nose and palate.

Tamar Ridge Devils Corner Chardonnay 2004 Showing some aged characters, it wasn't bad but I won't be looking for more.

Miranda High Country Chardonnay 2006 Simple, easy-drinking, finishes short, just a smidge of oak.

Cheers

daz

[michaelw]

Penfolds Bin 128 Shiraz, 1998: Still really big! I've got a modest collection of wine and I am now reaching the point where I have a number of 8-10 year olds and thought I'd give this a crack tonight.

I remember tasting this shortly after release and thinking it was quite big and a lot of the flavours were not discernible. That's still the case for me at the moment with a big showing of French oak. It doesn't so much overpower the fruit, but it is noticeable. The fruit flavours are still really intense and the wine opens up in the glass with a bit of time.

I think this particular wine may well see another 10 years. Anybody else had this recently?

[camw]

A few bottles on Friday night with Alex who was briefly passing through town.

NV Vincent d'Astree Gouttes d'Or Premier Cru Champagne - Drinkable, but not exciting.
1998 Dom Perignon Champagne - Very good, looking a bit more advanced than some bottles last year but still tasty.

2006 Grans-Fassian Trittenheimer Apotheke Riesling Spatlese Trocken - Not impressed.
2005 Wantirna Isabella Chardonnay - Nice. Some picked it as Chablis blind. Drinking well now.
2001 Rayas Blanc Reserve - Interesting and complex. Certain to divide opinions.

2005 Vincent Girardin Chambolle-Musigny Vieilles Vignes - Alright, but uninspiring.
1998 Bodegas Muga Rioja Gran Reserva Prado Enea - Very good. Seemed approachable.
A not yet released/labelled 2007 Shiraz Grenache Viognier from the Barossa - Really did not like this at all. Some thought it okay.

2006 Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Brauneberger Juffer-Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese - Good wine, but some more time in bottle would not hurt.

[Adair]

2006 Wild Rock "Cupids Arrow" Pinot Noir - Martinborough, NZ: Ripe, dark fruit, sap and good savouriness. A complete wine. Simple in structure but a most enjoyable quaff. 89/100.

NV 42 Degrees South (Hood) Sparkling Chardonnay / Pinot Noir - Tasmania: Excellent at the price. Ripe apple, good complexity and light on its feet. Reminds me of the 2005 Yarra Burn in style, quality and value for money. 90/100.

2007 Tim Adams Riesling: Not as good as the 2006 for me with the 2006's focused, piercing acidity replaced by more broad, not as racy, acid. Its flavour is more understated, which is probably a good thing though. Nonetheless, very nice. 91/100.

James Squire Golden Ale - Camperdown, Sydney - 4.5%: Fast becoming my favourite beer. Deep yet quite light. Complex fruit and toast flavours with wonderfully judged bitterness (read: not too much) that allows you to enjoy the next tastes as much as the previous. 95/100.

Adair

[Daryl Douglas]

James Squire Golden Ale - Camperdown, Sydney - 4.5%: Fast becoming my favourite beer. Deep yet quite light. Complex fruit and toast flavours with wonderfully judged bitterness (read: not too much) that allows you to enjoy the next tastes as much as the previous. 95/100.

Adair

I've had a fair bit of this beer. It's brewed from a combination of wheat and malt, a bit light for me. I much prefer the Pilsener and occasionally the India Pale Ale that's even heavier. I like the hops bitterness that good pilseners display. JS had a limited run of "The Malt Thief" that I first thought was a bit off-putting with it's floral character on the front palate but it finished with nice pilsener-like hop length - a very interesting beer and I relished it.

My current favourite is a 1st Choice offering, Konig Pilsener, which seems to be nicely balanced, easy-drinking with good Pilsener characteristics/flavours at reasonable cost.

Cheers

daz

[Adair]

James Squire Golden Ale - Camperdown, Sydney - 4.5%: Fast becoming my favourite beer. Deep yet quite light. Complex fruit and toast flavours with wonderfully judged bitterness (read: not too much) that allows you to enjoy the next tastes as much as the previous. 95/100. Adair

I've had a fair bit of this beer. It's brewed from a combination of wheat and malt, a bit light for me. I much prefer the Pilsener and occasionally the India Pale Ale that's even heavier. I like the hops bitterness that good pilseners display. JS had a limited run of "The Malt Thief" that I first thought was a bit off-putting with it's floral character on the front palate but it finished with nice pilsener-like hop length - a very interesting beer and I relished it.
My current favourite is a 1st Choice offering, Konig Pilsener, which seems to be nicely balanced, easy-drinking with good Pilsener characteristics/flavours at reasonable cost.
Cheers
daz

Thanks for the reply. I am only really now getting into my beer. For what it is worth, the JS Pilsener is too bitter for me and the JS India Pale Ale even moreso. I found the Bluetongue Pilsener to be wonderful though. When I am in the mood for a bit heavier, I enjoy the JS Amber Ale and the Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale. I am happy to hear some recommendations for my beer palate. I will definitely try the Konig Pilsener though, although I am expecting a bit too much hoppy bitterness for me... but trying and experimenting with these alcoholic delights are much cheaper than wine.

Thanks,
Adair

[Daryl Douglas]

Not sure if you'd like it but Pilsener Urqell is excellent, about 4.3% alc I think but a bit too expensive for me for a quaffing beer. Have you tried the original Redback beer? It's an all wheat beer - you may enjoy it but I find it a bit light for me (he says as he sips on a glass of his last bottle of Brothers In Arms No 6 Shiraz 2003 with all of it's integrated-but-still-noticeable alcohol warmth)

Cheers

daz

[ChrisV]

Thanks for the reply. I am only really now getting into my beer. For what it is worth, the JS Pilsener is too bitter for me and the JS India Pale Ale even moreso. I found the Bluetongue Pilsener to be wonderful though. When I am in the mood for a bit heavier, I enjoy the JS Amber Ale and the Coopers Extra Strong Vintage Ale. I am happy to hear some recommendations for my beer palate. I will definitely try the Konig Pilsener though, although I am expecting a bit too much hoppy bitterness for me... but trying and experimenting with these alcoholic delights are much cheaper than wine.

Thanks,
Adair

Suggestions:

Two Metre Tall "Cleansing Ale" (If you can find it. It might be a touch hoppy for you but certainly not as hoppy as the JS Pilsener or anything like that)
Little Creatures' Bright Ale
Knappstein Enterprise Lager

[roughred]

A couple of interest -

2004 Mountadam Riesling
Have tried 4-5 of these over the past two years and it is developing well unders screwcap. It was never a searing acid style, but the wine has a nice textural element, with subtle lemon and grapefruit. Soft acids and good length.

1999 Silesian 'Scribblers' Shiraz Grenache
Last bottle, and the best so far (aint it always the way). Leather, earth and smoky raspberry fruit on the nose. Mouthfilling and generous with complex nutty oak, licorice, and still retaining some confected Grenache characters.

1997 Virgin Hills
Weighing in at a hefty 11.3% alcohol, this was a treat. A multi-faceted offering of ground cinnamon, nutmeg, new leather, black cherry, aniseed and more. Moderately intense, and built with time in glass. As one might expect, acids are still prominent, fine tannins yet to fully resolve, and I think this will be looking better again in another 7-8 years when I might consider opening another.

[ACG]

Meerea Park Shiraz Viognier 2004: Lovely, truly lovely. The nose is stewed plums (not in an overripe sense) dirt, pepper & more ripe fruit. The palate is medium bodied, earthy, savoury, with a real Pinotish perfect weight to the palate. Very smooth, perfectly integrated and with enough Hunter Shiraz character for interest.
A lovely Hunter Burgundy, with very nicely integrated Viognier (hooray for that) and lots of life yet. Superb value @$17 18/20

Cape Mentelle Georgiana 2007: Always a nice value option, this is a riper vintage and seems to lack a little crispness, with the tropical juice taking over and leaving it a little flabby. Drink Now

1998 Devils Lair Ca: Superb, drinking at its peak, a lovely example of the leafy style more associated with Southern MR. A little herbal, bit it didn't do this wine any harm.

2002 Ross Estate Shiraz (Magnum): Drinking particularly well now, but really needed a decant (serious crust) A nice example from a lesser known Barossa maker.

1998 Leasingham Bin 56 Cab Malbec: Disappointing. Leathery and a little pruney, looking quite developed and a little hollow.

Junior

[Mike Hawkins]

1978 Dom Perignon - not the wow factor I've gotten from other 70s and 80s vintages. I'd be inclined to drink up in the next few years if you have any of this.

2001 Voyager Estate Cabernet - super wine that will only get better

2001 Lindemans Limestone Ridge - so-so.

1983 Chateau Mouton - while it rightly sits in the shadows of the 82, its a decent drop. Perhaps a tad underfruited given the acid and chalky tannins. Lovely Pauillac nose.

1994 Henschke Mt Edelstone - I popped the cork given a comment I read on e-Bob that this was at the end of the road. Definitely not the case. This was awesome. Pristine, yet elegant fruit, plenty of length and many years of life left. Looking forward to trying the 05 when I'm in Oz later this year.

[Adair]

Some quick notes:

2004 Hood Wines Tempranillo/Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon - Tasmania - 12.9%: Deep base of sweet, aged blackcurrant of excellent intensity with springing of herbs of savoury complexity. Don't get much varietal Temp, it is more Right Bank. A lovely New World wine for the slightly Old World palate... me! 91/100. Drinking best now.

2005 Firebox Cabernet Sauvignon - Barossa Valley: Intensely fruited but also with heaps of savoury interest and rounded enjoyable tannins. Impressive depth. 90/100.

2006 Firebox Shiraz - Victoria: Simple, sweetly fruited but well enough controlled. BBQ. 87/100.

2002 Oddfellows Shiraz - Langhorne Creek: Intense and deep. Savoury oak balances powerful fruit well. Rich and smooth. 91/100.

Gabriel Meffre "Cuvee Gabriel" (Vin de Table) - Gigondas, France: Yes, that is correct, a dry red non-vintage. The last dry red non vintage I remember tasting was the Scarborough Pinot Noir, which was quite enjoyable in fact. Interesting what I get to taste. I can't remember my last Vin de Table, but I can remember many worse Frenchies. Red jam base on typical Rhone, savoury and rocky complexity. Little depth but a some interest. Slightly furry and dead animal finish. Probably a SMG or MSG blend. 85/100.

Adair

[dazza1968]

my son turned 18 so out came some interesting wines,

1990 Wynns Black label,[b] Cork was starting to fall apart ! This did not effect the wine at all ,after placin inthe decanter for 4 to 5 hrs the nose started to flow mints like a true coonawarra cabenet,no crimson edges at all , black berry was very prevelant on the nose herbacius charactors right the way thru. This wine willgo a while yet but the corks are starting to take over the show as i had one a couple of months ago and it was a little tired to be polite.
1990 Yarra Yerring Underhill shiraz,This wine was closed for a long time but when left it showed its true colours , mind you the nose was showing lack of fruit and same with the way it started to show some caramel edges to the glass , cork was a1 , what i loved about this wine was the way it never went away after you drank it So on the palate the length was awsome ,plumfruit with some toasty leather thrown in !!!!!
I wish i had a couple more bottles to see just how far it would go

1998 Canaliza Spanish Syrah , Bitumen,soy,aniseed were all running riot ,this wine will will go for a while yet, I loved it but others didnt , it must have been the preservative free side of things or their palate was very one dimensional with their love of aussie wines Who knows but i love bitumen and soy which is becoming a favourite

[b]1991 wynns Black LabelThis wine is still stunning so if you have any guard it with you life !!!!!!!! There isnt much to say except if you want to sell some !!!!!! ring my wife

2002 Saltram Mambre brook Cabenet, Living up to its name lovely wine with nice balanced oak flowing thru. Abundance of fruit if i could only remember yummmy

Thats all till next week

Regards Dazza

[Ian S]

1985 Taltarni Cabernet Sauvignon Tannic and unready
The fruit is still hanging in there, but vinfanticide at 23 years old Well this is Taltarni of old after all

The 1988 Shiraz and 1988 Merlot / Cab Franc we've previously drunk from the same lot, were more relaxed and tannins hardly noticeable.

Any wines made in the (old) Taltarni style these days?

[griff]

1985 Taltarni Cabernet Sauvignon Tannic and unready
The fruit is still hanging in there, but vinfanticide at 23 years old Well this is Taltarni of old after all

The 1988 Shiraz and 1988 Merlot / Cab Franc we've previously drunk from the same lot, were more relaxed and tannins hardly noticeable.

Any wines made in the (old) Taltarni style these days?

Not from Australia. Even Wendouree is becoming more approachable by all reports.

cheers

Carl