Once again, it's Sunday....

[TORB]

It seems only last week that it was Sunday.

Its time to your weekly drinking reports. Tasting notes, vibes, impressions or lists are all welcome.

[Wayno]

Clos De Papes Chateneauf du Pape 1997
Lovely, interesting, funky nose with much more in common with a pinot than a syrah, but then that's old world for you I suppose. Nose of sweet fruit, some barnyardy elements and mushroom. The palate, however, was verging on dried out and a bit medicinal, with some soft tannins but diminished fruit. I suspect I got to this one a bit too late and this was only just passed it.

Jacobs Creek Johann Shiraz Cabernet 2001
Now here's a contrast! A nose of rich blackberry jam and monster oak, totally in-your-face and up-your-nose. The palate was quite meaty and possessed a weight of flavour that also bore some alcoholic heat and a barrage of that oak again. I think this is balanced and good but deserves hefty food with it. I don't think it's totally my style though.

Glaetzer Bishop Shiraz 2006
This felt lightweight and overly sweet in comparison to the Johann, with a ringing nose of redfruits and currants and a flavoursome but oddly diminishing palate. On it's own I think it would present as quite a good flavour-bomb wine but it was lurking in the shadows here. I like the 05 better.

Yangarra Cadenzia GSM 2004
Quite nice, tight, acid wine with some sweetness and an underlay of smallgood character. Punching well.

Orlando Jacaranda Ridge Cabernet 1999
This is drinking very well, quite a majestic, composed style, with a lot of interest, namely some herbs, berry fruits, pencil shavings and eucalypt. A finisher, this will go the distance and some. I like a whole lot.

EDIT: The next night, still going well, perhaps with a leaner, herbal quality but very classy. Same goes for the Steingarten below, virtually unmoved.

JC Steingarten Riesling 2005
This has come a good way in a year, developing some fat in all the right places. Pristine, clear and focussed, this is full of lemony, limey flavour and possesses a lovely rounded, textural palate. A powerful, impressive riesling.

[Pelican]

2001 Mount Horrocks Clare Valley Cabernet Merlot : good Clare Red and the main point of interest is that it is ageing well under screwcap.

1999 Cascabel Fleurieu Shiraz : pleasing as no brett etc. I do recall a bottle of the 2002 vintage under screwcap that kind of stunk and that made me wary of Cascabel for a while but this 1999 under cork was a very good medium bodied olive/savoury flavoured dry red.

[seddo]

A couple of wines shared with my dad

Penfolds Bin 707 99 - lovely colour - bit tight on the nose to start with but a palate of currants and chalky tannins - superb
Food - spicey lamb shanks on bed of parmeson and sweet potato mash - Vgood match.

Hardy's Eileen Hardy Siraz 95 - youthful colour - but on the nose and the palate - smoke ? high toast on the oak - not a bad wine but the eternal struggle of fruit Vs oak - unfortunately oak won out.
Food - basic beef curry - good match - food brought out some of the fruit in the wine but again the oak won.

Swings and Roundabouts Cab/Merlot 05 - started out a bit weak but blossomed with some breathing excellent WA cab.

Grant Burge cameron vale Cab 05 - alot of hype and quite justified - after being suckered to buy the 02 which was shite I was a little hesitant to purchase this one but was suprised - beautiful barossa cab.

cheers
Seddo

[dlo]

JC Steingarten Riesling 2005
This has come a good way in a year, developing some fat in all the right places. Pristine, clear and focussed, this is full of lemony, limey flavour and possesses a lovely rounded, textural palate. A powerful, impressive riesling.

Hey Wayno, top wine ain't it, bro!

My selections this week included a gorgeously rich and mature bottle of 1981 Ch. Coutet. Parker doesn't rate this at all, thus pretty valueless on the secondary market which is a good thing if you just bought it!

Another pristine bottle of Penfolds Reserve Bin Eden Valley Riesling 2002 met its maker providing sumptuous aromas and flavours of flinty minerals, lime and pear juice with sensational rapier-like acidity on an interminably long finish riddled with wet stones and grapefruit pith.

In the red department we tried a Paul Jaboulet Domaine Thalabert 1999 which provided very good to excellent qualities, particularly on the nose where a distinctive hung meat and earthy, undergrowth character provided a wonderful foil for the cardamon-tinged plummy fruit. The wine is approaching maturity but I doubt if it will get any better.

Next was a museum release from Tyrrell's. A 1998 Shiraz that, unfortunately, I cannot enlighten you with any more information. Needless to say, the year and maker produced a delightful, classically structured medium-bodied red with glossy red fruit, old saddle leather and tastefully engaged wood. An Excellent wine today with another 5-10 years of superior drinking.

Last, but not least, was the excellent bottle of Zilliken I wrote a full tasting note on -

Zilliken Saarburger Rausch Auslese Riesling Gold Capsule 1983

A. P. nr. 3 551 083-19-84 A/V 7.7%

I recently opened a TCA-affected bottle of this and thought it only fit and proper I drag another from the cellar for reconsideration.

Beguiling youthful colour of bright light gold with a gorgeous flash of green as you raise the glass to the light. Delicate, but intriguing, still quite floral bouquet of honey, minerals, overripe honey-dew melon, waxy apple, nectarine and just a touch of spice, smoke and petrol - still relatively fresh and invigorating. Perhaps not in the first tier but awfully good all the same. The palate marches to the beat of a very similar drum - silky in the mouth but with an intense honeyed richness, not a great amount of cleansing acidity but just enough to maintain focus and counterbalance. Flavours of honey-dipped ripe nectarine, baked Granny Smith apples, a touch of minerale and hint of petrol round off a very attractive, fully mature Saar Riesling that may have been better several years ago. The finish is most impressive with terrific lingering honeyed stone fruit flavours. 90 points (Excellent) from me today. This is definitely a drink now proposition.

[Daryl Douglas]

Presently finishing the weekend with a Schist Rock 07. If there's anything negative I can find about this wine it'd be that perhaps that it finishes a bit short and that the acid on the finish seems to have been added. Still, I reckon it's a cracker of a wine for the price though but I keep vascillating between whether I prefer this or the Longhop 07 from Dominic in this price range. I've now started to seriously consider getting some Frost Dodger 06.

Otherwise, I've had some agreeable companions in Jacobs Creek Reserve Chard and Shiraz 05. The chard's a bit blowsy with noticeable but integrated oak which I don't mind. There's some charry oak in the shiraz but I don't mind that either. Both are good bbq/quaffing wines, especially for <$10. They were lighter in body, possibly more interesting, after extended air exposure.

Cheers

daz

[Gustav]

After attending the Great Shiraz Challenge I was so impressed with the 2006 Cape Jaffa La Lune Shiraz that I bought a six pack. I had to try one just to see whether it was as good as I remembered it to be...and it was! Generous and ripe, but still restrained and promising. Very long finish and an excellent wine. On saturday I tasted the 1998 Richmond Grove Riesling which was a very nice drink. Still quite fresh and young tasting with hints of toast and petro. It was under screw cap and had gotten some extra CO2 at bottling to maintaing it's fruit better. Finally I had a 2007 Foggo Unwooded Chardonnay which showed good purity and honest Chardonnay fruit.

cheers,

[Bick]

A few impressions from the last week or so, all pretty recent vintages:

Brown Brothers Shiraz 05 - Tasty, peppery, fuller and longer than I might have expected. Good quaffer, and can be found on special all over the place.

Pirramimma Stocks Hill Shiraz 04 - nice enough - a perfectly presentable quaffer, just not especially memorable.

Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Quartage 06 - I just don't think Quartage is to my taste, funnily enough - I know its popular with many on the forum. Didn't seem so well balanced to me, with a green streak running through it. Maybe I tasted a poor bottle. Having said that I didn't rate the 05 Quartage much either, preferring the shiraz that year too.

Thorn-Clarke Shotfire Shiraz 06 - Okay. Not as rich, attractive or well-balanced as I recall the 05 being though. Was going to buy some, but probably wont on this showing. It was served a bit too cold though.

Thorn-Clarke William Randell Shiraz 05 - more complex, longer and rounder than the shotfire, but the oak seemed a bit too much and a touch jammy for me. I can see its 'good' , but just not to my taste.

Pegasus Bay Riesling 07 - as spritzig as always, but perhaps lacked some of the fruit depth of the 06 - just seemed a touch short given expectations. Perhaps this will develop - I'd be interested to hear anyone elses impression of the 07 vs 06.

Spy Valley Riesling 07 - Okay. Not lacking in initial fruit hit, but it didn't linger on the palate too much. With riesling being so cheap in NZ relative to most other grape varieties, there's no need to buy anything but the best, and this isn't quite there imho.

Felton Road Riesling 07 - no reservations about this one - lovely, rich bouquet and palate of citrous fruit - nice RS level, med-sweet. Very well made. I've already necked 2 of the 4 I bought - must get some more.

Villa Maria Reserve Riesling 07 - nice wine. Lovely lime and jaffa orange on the palate. Tastes relatively dry to me considering RS is around 30 g/L. Certainly comes across dryer than the Felton Rd. Will buy some more I think. (It got the all important "Ooh, that's nice" award from my wife)

Church Road Reserve Cab/Merlot 05 - good blend - took a while to open up and reveal its earthy, pencil-box aroma. Rich and pleasant on a cold night particularly with food (I matched with grilled lamb and veges with udon noodles).

Carrick Pinot Noir 05 - wotw for me - drinking very well. Super-sophisticated pinot, with lovely aromatics. Delicate yet full bodied. Should last for years yet though.

[Craig(NZ)]

Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 11:19 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few impressions from the last week or so, all pretty recent vintages:

Pegasus Bay Riesling 07 - as spritzig as always, but perhaps lacked some of the fruit depth of the 06 - just seemed a touch short given expectations. Perhaps this will develop - I'd be interested to hear anyone elses impression of the 07 vs 06.

Felton Road Riesling 07 - no reservations about this one - lovely, rich bouquet and palate of citrous fruit - nice RS level, med-sweet. Very well made. I've already necked 2 of the 4 I bought - must get some more.

Villa Maria Reserve Riesling 07 - nice wine. Lovely lime and jaffa orange on the palate. Tastes relatively dry to me considering RS is around 30 g/L. Certainly comes across dryer than the Felton Rd. Will buy some more I think. (It got the all important "Ooh, that's nice" award from my wife)

Church Road Reserve Cab/Merlot 05 - good blend - took a while to open up and reveal its earthy, pencil-box aroma. Rich and pleasant on a cold night particularly with food (I matched with grilled lamb and veges with udon noodles).

Carrick Pinot Noir 05 - wotw for me - drinking very well. Super-sophisticated pinot, with lovely aromatics. Delicate yet full bodied. Should last for years yet though.

Bick, classy line up of kiwis.

I had the 05 church rd res cab merlot in the weekend too as i grabbed something on the top of the heap as i flew out the door without too much thought. lovely wine but way way too young! and value for money exceptional. stunning ripeness...lit will definitely improve into something really special i think

07 Felton rd riesling is stunning and i reckon its better than the peg bay this year. probably my riesling of the year so far

peg bay 07 in the context of $20 is no argument. but in the context of close to $30 it seems to have lurched to i have to question it. i always buy a case but not this year, just a couple of bottles for the vertical collection, i think felton road and some other otago offerings are better. The last couple of 06 peg bays in some ways have seemed a bit tired to me but still enjoyable. mine cost me $18 so no arguments

Carrick 05 pinot is a sensation at the moment in my books, everything a kiwi pinot should be. i still have several bottles left thanks to the wifes work donating her a case! Picked it in my top 2 pinots for last year and on current form I dont think that is out of place.

villa reserve 07 riesling is scrummy too. we had an 05 version in the weekend which was maybe even a touch better with the extra couple of years bottle age.

[GraemeG]

2001 Zenato Valpolicella Classico Superiore {twintop, 13.5%}
Two bottles, drunk a week apart. Very deep colour, even at seven years. The first had a restrained but oddly metallic nose, which followed through on the palate. The second was better, although a hint of stainless steel – or something – remained. 80% Corvina, and with a bitter almondy quality to the palate, the wine touches on typicity from time to time, but there’s still an overall mustiness to the flavour. I kept wondering about the glue in the twin-top corks. (A twin-top cork seals a massive, heavy – and no doubt expensive – bottle. Figure that out!) Astringent finish – all the grape skins seem to fill out the length. All very odd – I expected better. Wouldn’t rush to buy again, although would like to try a younger example (or one with a different seal…).

2001 Cape Mentelle ‘Trinders’ Cabernet Merlot (Margaret River) {cork, 14.5%}
Solid garnet. Lovely MR nose of graphite and black olives, with a touch of British Racing Green (if you can imagine smelling that!) Still solidly fruity on the palate, wonderfully varietal without betraying its origins. Tannins have softened somewhat, alcohol doesn’t protrude, and the finish is weighty without being clumsy. A very endearing wine, not profound, but immensely enjoyable.

cheers,
Graeme

[winetastic]

Meerea Park Alexander Munro Shiraz 1997
Opened up initially a bit tannic and acidic however after around 90min in the decanter the blackberry fruit was really starting to sing, very good, drink now. It is almost criminal how cheaply you can get this wine at auction.

Di Lusso Barbera 2005
My first experience with an Aussie Barbera, it reminded me a little of Petit Verdot. Fleshy black and red berry fruit up front leading into a clean finish of fine, slightly spicy tannins. Excellent balance. High drinkability factor and an excellent match with meatballs in a tomato, paprika and red wine sauce. Not a "serious" wine but a very good one, if that makes sense...

Wynns Black Label Cabernet 1995
Auction purchase, solid ~$20ish spend. Initially all black olives but some gentle coaxing in the glass brought out the cabernet fruit. Drinking at its peak now I would say, after being opened for around 1 hour it was a very credible wine from a poor vintage. Lives in the shadow of the 94 and 96 I believe?

DeBortoli Noble One 1995
Cellar door purchase last year, looked like a tokay in colour, nowhere near as sweet as I was expecting, lots of lemon and honeycomb character, very good but not as great as I was hoping for.

[DJ]

A week away with some interesting bits and pieces

2006 Taylors Shiraz
Had been opened the day before and was really singing

2005 Thorne-Clarke Shiraz (not sure which one)
Okay but nothing special

1996 Tyrrells Vat 8 Hunter Coonawarra
Drinking very well needed some air to hit its straps - fair bit of life yet

1999 Ashton Hills Cabernet blend (has a name?)
Savoury mellow cabernet very enjoyable

Lunch at Elizabeth's Cafe, Mount Pleasant
Highlight 2003 Rosehill Shiraz - beautifully perfumed, soft in balance fruit
2006 Lovedale - in a dumb phase, not sure why current release
2007 Phil Ryan Semillion - good bright young semillion
2006 Phil Ryan Shiraz - don't remember much about it, think it was a decent drop
Brands Shiraz - fair commercial wine not in class of some of the others
2003 OP & OH Shiraz - it might come together later but didn't get close to the Rosehill in appeal at the moment.
Henry Shiraz Pinot - interesting older Hunter style

2004 Maurice O'Shea Shiraz - needs food and 10 years, plenty of potential but not immediately grabbed at the moment

Visited Audery Wilkinson for the first time. It won't be a regular in a crowded Hunter for me. Quite liked Pinoneer Shiraz, Hunter Valley Chardonnay and Dessert Semillion

Dinner at Old George & Dragon
Finally managed to return - the last time I went was 17 years ago, my 21st! - I realised it is only 15 years until my son's 21st. Very enjoyable rich meals. The better half had duck and I had partridge - so we went for a pinot
2006 Escarpment Pinot Noir
Too young, may be with 5 years on it would work. At 14% it was too big. It is the sort of wine which would probably show well in a tasting but we couldn't be bothered finishing the bottle

2001 Canobolas-Wild Yeast Chardonnay
Brilliant, lovely aged Chardonnay - note to self time to start buying more from this winery

1994 Lindemans Hunter River Stevens Shiraz
Smooth mellow red lacking nose, good but not great

2004 Leasingham Bastion Cab Sav
Not as good as the 2002 but still very good value for under $10 - will probably pick up a few.

2004 disgorge Turkey Flat Sparkling Shiraz
Very tasty, not the most complex ever but very good

[winetastic]

Highlight 2003 Rosehill Shiraz - beautifully perfumed, soft in balance fruit

2003 OP & OH Shiraz - it might come together later but didn't get close to the Rosehill in appeal at the moment.

Interesting, I found the OP&OH to be drinking brilliantly now + a long future ahead however the Rosehill to be overripe and porty (which is a shame).

[Bick]

2006 Escarpment Pinot Noir
... couldn't be bothered finishing the bottle

Fascinating how individual wine tastes are. I could drink Escarpment pinot until my liver packed in, cost notwithstanding.

[Gary W]

Highlight 2003 Rosehill Shiraz - beautifully perfumed, soft in balance fruit

2003 OP & OH Shiraz - it might come together later but didn't get close to the Rosehill in appeal at the moment.

Interesting, I found the OP&OH to be drinking brilliantly now + a long future ahead however the Rosehill to be overripe and porty (which is a shame).

Same. The 03 Rosehill is as hot as Haiti and tastes like road base.
GW

[griff]

Highlight 2003 Rosehill Shiraz - beautifully perfumed, soft in balance fruit

2003 OP & OH Shiraz - it might come together later but didn't get close to the Rosehill in appeal at the moment.

Interesting, I found the OP&OH to be drinking brilliantly now + a long future ahead however the Rosehill to be overripe and porty (which is a shame).

Same. The 03 Rosehill is as hot as Haiti and tastes like road base.
GW

Creosote for sure but didn't find it hot. Was a good wine and Was similar to the 05 Phillip in style. OP & OH was my preference however and was far more elegant.

But the partner liked the Creosote. Maybe needs more minerals in the diet

cheers

Carl

[DJ]

Highlight 2003 Rosehill Shiraz - beautifully perfumed, soft in balance fruit

2003 OP & OH Shiraz - it might come together later but didn't get close to the Rosehill in appeal at the moment.

Interesting, I found the OP&OH to be drinking brilliantly now + a long future ahead however the Rosehill to be overripe and porty (which is a shame).

Same. The 03 Rosehill is as hot as Haiti and tastes like road base.
GW

Creosote for sure but didn't find it hot. Was a good wine and Was similar to the 05 Phillip in style. OP & OH was my preference however and was far more elegant.

But the partner liked the Creosote. Maybe needs more minerals in the diet

cheers

Carl

Hmm - I wonder if the glasses were mixed up Oh well I'll just have to open one of the two Rosehill I bought on the strength of lunch and see what I get

[Deano]

2002 Lebich: The Darkie Shiraz - Deep and lovely on the second day.
2002 Kilikanoon: Oracle Shiraz - Fantastic, but thought another year or two would be better.

[bacchaebabe]

A couple of early weekers:

Penfolds 1976 Koonunga Hill special release I'm assuming this is actually 06 vintage? Think it was shiraz cabernet blend. Nice old school labelling. I had the real 76 a few years ago but don't remember too much about it other than it being past it but still drinkable. So this was very much drinkable. Nice and soft and fruity and well integrated. Some nice licorice and very well received by the table. I bought this in a pub restaurant and it was $40. Anyone know how much it retails for? Don't think I'd cellar it but a very nice drink now style, particularly if it's around $12.

And then last night from my cellar 94 Chapel Hill Shiraz Lovely wine. Eating at a friend's house and the lights were quite dim so hard to see the colour on this. Very pure core of licorce with layers of black fruits swirling around. Smooth and fully integrated with lovely complexity. I think this was when Chapel Hill was at it's peak with Pam Dunsford as the winemaker. Don't hear too much about Chapel Hill these days.

05 Warabilla Reserve Shiraz One from the box I just bought at Warrabilla and really too young. It was probably the oldest wine in the box and I wanted a backup in case the Chapel Hill was corked. Ended up opening both bottles anyway. Very deep and vibrant purple (even in the dim light, I could see that). Predominately blueberry, chocolate and anise. Very round and mouthfilling wine - all warm and friendly. You can't taste the alcohol on this but I only had two glasses and I could feel the results on the walk home. I'd only had four glasses of wine and I was pissed. Although that is considered binge drinking these days but I'd have that much most nights so it was a bit of a surprise. We didn't finish the bottle but I left it with my hosts. Would be very interested to see what it is like tonight.

[Gary W]

A couple of early weekers:

Penfolds 1976 Koonunga Hill special release I'm assuming this is actually 06 vintage? Think it was shiraz cabernet blend. Nice old school labelling. I had the real 76 a few years ago but don't remember too much about it other than it being past it but still drinkable. So this was very much drinkable. Nice and soft and fruity and well integrated. Some nice licorice and very well received by the table. I bought this in a pub restaurant and it was $40. Anyone know how much it retails for? Don't think I'd cellar it but a very nice drink now style, particularly if it's around $12.

The official RRP is $30 ..but it was selling for around $17 at the better prices. I reckon it's a cellaring style.
GW

[Adair]

Coming down from a weekend of SAK proportions, I quaffed a bottle of 2006 Dopff Pinot Blanc (under screwcap) tonight. Now Pinot Blanc tends to make me think of Pinot Bland, but this wine is quite a revelation. It reminds me of good NZ Chenin Blanc with its custard apple and pear sweet flavour, good depth and slightly peach-skinned textrure. Great value at the Uncle's for a little difference with a low risk and a cheap price. 90 pts for what it is worth. Adair