Granted, it's early but I'm keen to post some notes. I have saved TORB the trouble, for this week. Hope all is well with the universe.
Two exceptional wines, both of which were markedly better the next night:
Cullen SSB 2007
As per the last bottle of this, I found it quite austere, grassy and maybe a touch on the perky side, verging on one dimensional. We left a half bottle in the fridge over night and last night it had bloomed into something much more interesting. The grass and herb remained but lovely hints of honey, blossom and a spiky aroma of fennel dominated. Really lovely wine, long and bodied.
Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz 2001
Again, on the night of opening, this just seemed a bit dried out and harsh, with bitter tannins and a slightly unattractive end note. Granted, it had not been decanted. Last night, it was a different wine, very rich and concentrated, dark as night, tobacco, spices and blackcurrant notes, with a solid but not dominating oak backing. Much, much better than the 02 in my opinion.
Sunday Drinking Notes?
Sunday Drinking Notes?
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.
in the title.
Hi all,
Only one highlight this week.
1999 Leroy Bourgogne
Amazingly perfumed on opening. Cherries, strawberries, and hints of forest floor mushroom flooded the kitchen upon pulling the cork. Pale cherry red in colour, there was no signs of bricking as yet. The palate was vibrant, and complex. Masses of sweet and slightly sour cherries, cranberries, and strawberries intwined with beautiful savoury, earthy, mushroom and herb characteristics. The palate was light to medium bodied, the length medium, and the texture was soft and supple. Interesting to the end. Really impressive wine.
On the strength of this, went out to secure another 4 bottles. Pretty great drinking for $54 each I reckon...
Cheers,
Monghead.
Only one highlight this week.
1999 Leroy Bourgogne
Amazingly perfumed on opening. Cherries, strawberries, and hints of forest floor mushroom flooded the kitchen upon pulling the cork. Pale cherry red in colour, there was no signs of bricking as yet. The palate was vibrant, and complex. Masses of sweet and slightly sour cherries, cranberries, and strawberries intwined with beautiful savoury, earthy, mushroom and herb characteristics. The palate was light to medium bodied, the length medium, and the texture was soft and supple. Interesting to the end. Really impressive wine.
On the strength of this, went out to secure another 4 bottles. Pretty great drinking for $54 each I reckon...
Cheers,
Monghead.
2005 Mount Pleasant Phillip Shiraz
Drank over 3 nights - the seond night after the screwcap had been left overnight! Great drinking wine - the bargain of the year for me.
Drank over 3 nights - the seond night after the screwcap had been left overnight! Great drinking wine - the bargain of the year for me.
Last edited by qwertt on Sun Aug 10, 2008 4:08 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Daryl Douglas
- Posts: 1361
- Joined: Fri Sep 05, 2003 7:23 pm
- Location: Nth Qld
Petaluma Hanlin Hill Riesling 2007 This was quite a surpise, not austere as expected. A bit like lemon sherbet (without the fizz/tingle) when first opened, fruity with a medium-length, dryish finish. Left about 1/3 of the bottle and the next day it was a bit more fruity, the finish shorter and quite soft. A nice change from some of the really dry rieslings that seem prevalent in the market. Recommended if it's $20-25 - this bottle was from a prize win.
Mike Press Shiraz 2007 Don't go there if you don't like plenty of sweet vanillin oak boosting the plumminess of shiraz. I don't mind a change of flavour profile occasionally so I quite enjoy this wine. There's some licorice, black fruits accompanying the dark plums, tannins are a bit chewy and good acid balance on the reasonable finish. Recommended if a cheap quaffer with a bit of class is what you're after. $11 incl freight for me.
Longhop Shiraz 2007 Had 16 bottles of this now, 1 left but 6 more in transit. Nuff said. Highly recommended at $15.
Cheers
daz
Mike Press Shiraz 2007 Don't go there if you don't like plenty of sweet vanillin oak boosting the plumminess of shiraz. I don't mind a change of flavour profile occasionally so I quite enjoy this wine. There's some licorice, black fruits accompanying the dark plums, tannins are a bit chewy and good acid balance on the reasonable finish. Recommended if a cheap quaffer with a bit of class is what you're after. $11 incl freight for me.
Longhop Shiraz 2007 Had 16 bottles of this now, 1 left but 6 more in transit. Nuff said. Highly recommended at $15.
Cheers
daz
One more to round out the weekend
Tomboy Hill Nintingbool Vineyard Pinot Noir 2003
An improvement on the previous bottle about a year back, this is quite a nice pinot with lifted cherry fruit and a touch of mint, some dried herbs and a bit of a savoury quality. Good.
Tomboy Hill Nintingbool Vineyard Pinot Noir 2003
An improvement on the previous bottle about a year back, this is quite a nice pinot with lifted cherry fruit and a touch of mint, some dried herbs and a bit of a savoury quality. Good.
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.
Most interesting wine thing this weekend was seeing some hand made glasses as part of an art festival here in Adelaide. Firstly a pinot glass to go with Ashton Hills , a Sangiovese glass made in conjunction with Coriole and some Seppeltsfield sherry glasses made from the cut off bottoms of the small bottle the sherries come in. Decided to order 2 of the Sangiovese glasses. I've probably got more justifiable things to spend my dosh on buy hey so what....
also interesting was :
1997 Yarra Yering Dry White No 1 : one of the best whites I've had in the past. Got 2 at auction recently. First bottle a few weeks ago was fairly oxidised but still interesting. I thought perhaps this wine had slid downhill. However this was an excellent bottle - no oxidisation just lovely rounded and honied sublime dry white wine. Great wine worth hunting down if you're prepared to cop the randox roullette game.
also interesting was :
1997 Yarra Yering Dry White No 1 : one of the best whites I've had in the past. Got 2 at auction recently. First bottle a few weeks ago was fairly oxidised but still interesting. I thought perhaps this wine had slid downhill. However this was an excellent bottle - no oxidisation just lovely rounded and honied sublime dry white wine. Great wine worth hunting down if you're prepared to cop the randox roullette game.
rooview wrote:1996 Louis Jadot Batard-Montrachet
Reassuringly pale in colour. Opening a touch stinky but soon blew off. Nose of white fruits, roasted cashews and honey crumpets. In the mouth it's a touch heavier than I'd expect for a 96, but it offers generous complex flavour and interest. A good cut of acid refreshes and encourages another sip. No rush to drink this but I think it's ready. Very good-excellent.
I served this blind to a friend who didn't care for it particularly much. A bit stinky and oaky apparently. However warmed to it more with food (pan-grilled SA King George whiting with celeriac mash). I don't agree with his comments but I could have been sucked in by the label...
Yes I can relate to the above scenario of serving what I find a very interesting wine that is perhaps not squeeky clean and therefore disliked by others.
Whilst I'm generally in favour of screwcaps and don't seek out faulty wines as such I wonder if one of the the downsides of screwcaps and ultra clean winemaking is that it has made some of us " soft " and so sensitive to anything like a bit of bottle stink or slight oxidisation that interesting wines with lots to offer are too quickly dismissed.
Perhaps this phenomenon is one of those instances of modern life like not wanting to walk 200 metres to the shops but driving there instead etc.
Pelican wrote:1997 Yarra Yering Dry White No 1 : one of the best whites I've had in the past. Got 2 at auction recently. First bottle a few weeks ago was fairly oxidised but still interesting. I thought perhaps this wine had slid downhill. However this was an excellent bottle - no oxidisation just lovely rounded and honied sublime dry white wine. Great wine worth hunting down if you're prepared to cop the randox roullette game.
Shhhhhh... I thought I had cornered the market. I don't know how you got your bottles!
Wine is bottled poetry.
a couple of stunning rieslings drunk back to back: 07 Felton Road and 07 Fromm Spatlese. FWIW I found it too close to call. You should have both. Absolutely gorgeous wines.
then 07 Aurum Pinot Noir; very tasty and a 04 Brookfields Gold Label Reserve Cab Merlot. A lot better than my last bottle. Beefy, savoury and ripe.
then 07 Aurum Pinot Noir; very tasty and a 04 Brookfields Gold Label Reserve Cab Merlot. A lot better than my last bottle. Beefy, savoury and ripe.
Follow me on Vivino for tasting notes Craig Thomson
Just the one from me this week.
94 Pesquera Reserva Especial
Bought on release and stored in a passive cellar.
Very high shoulder; cork totally soaked through with the top damp and sticky.
On opening, pure underripe redcurrants (not pleasant), though after 4 hours in the decanter this put on weight and opened out. Redcurrants, strawberries and mocha chocolate. Acid is refreshing, and the tannins rounded, but still do their job.
Kept changing over time, though at about six hours the taste of the oak really started to show through.
A lovely wine, and, based on this bottle, I'm in no rush to open my next one.
94 Pesquera Reserva Especial
Bought on release and stored in a passive cellar.
Very high shoulder; cork totally soaked through with the top damp and sticky.
On opening, pure underripe redcurrants (not pleasant), though after 4 hours in the decanter this put on weight and opened out. Redcurrants, strawberries and mocha chocolate. Acid is refreshing, and the tannins rounded, but still do their job.
Kept changing over time, though at about six hours the taste of the oak really started to show through.
A lovely wine, and, based on this bottle, I'm in no rush to open my next one.
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winetastic
- Posts: 889
- Joined: Mon Apr 03, 2006 9:51 pm
- Location: Sydney
Meerea Park Alexander Munro Shiraz 1997 - Sadly we lost again in a game of cork roulette, bottle had leaked and smelled really candied, was almost passable upon opening and un-drinkable an hour later. So far the 1997 count: Two have leaked and been oxidised, one was corked and three have been brilliant.
Piggs Peake "Super Tusker" Sangiovese 2007 - Drinks surprisingly well now, medium body with red cherry, a little spice and floral notes. Should be rather good with a few years in bottle.
Tamburlaine Durif Cabernet 2002 - Smells dark and smokey, on its way out - a little dark fruit emerged near the end of the bottle, acceptable bbq wine.
Kay Brothers Amery Merlot 2005 - Fairly full bodied for a Merlot, nice structure too. Very good, goes well with olympic gold.
Piggs Peake "Super Tusker" Sangiovese 2007 - Drinks surprisingly well now, medium body with red cherry, a little spice and floral notes. Should be rather good with a few years in bottle.
Tamburlaine Durif Cabernet 2002 - Smells dark and smokey, on its way out - a little dark fruit emerged near the end of the bottle, acceptable bbq wine.
Kay Brothers Amery Merlot 2005 - Fairly full bodied for a Merlot, nice structure too. Very good, goes well with olympic gold.
Caladonia Australis Pinot Noir 2001
Nice red brick colour, strawberries and mushrooms on the noise, silky smooth drinking with just a hint of acid at the end to keep it refreshing
Canabolas-Smith Chardonnay 2004 - Orange
Pale green, lovely melon and citrus with a hint of toast, nice balance and holds its alcohol well given 14.5%.
Kingsvale Ridge Shiraz Melot 2004 - Hilltops
Dense purple, load of ripe berries and vanilla, tannins a little tuff at the moment, wine was better second day round.
Nice red brick colour, strawberries and mushrooms on the noise, silky smooth drinking with just a hint of acid at the end to keep it refreshing
Canabolas-Smith Chardonnay 2004 - Orange
Pale green, lovely melon and citrus with a hint of toast, nice balance and holds its alcohol well given 14.5%.
Kingsvale Ridge Shiraz Melot 2004 - Hilltops
Dense purple, load of ripe berries and vanilla, tannins a little tuff at the moment, wine was better second day round.
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bacchaebabe
- Posts: 1222
- Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2003 5:04 pm
- Location: Sydney
pcjm wrote:Caladonia Australis Pinot Noir 2001
Nice red brick colour, strawberries and mushrooms on the noise, silky smooth drinking with just a hint of acid at the end to keep it refreshing
Been drinking a bit of this lately as it's been available cheap at auction. Enjoying it a lot as an easy drinking quaffer.
Cheers,
Kris
There's a fine wine between pleasure and pain
(Stolen from the graffiti in the ladies loos at Pegasus Bay winery)
Kris
There's a fine wine between pleasure and pain
(Stolen from the graffiti in the ladies loos at Pegasus Bay winery)
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bacchaebabe
- Posts: 1222
- Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2003 5:04 pm
- Location: Sydney
A few during the week.
00 Peter Lehmann Clancey's (red) Nothing spectacular and can't remember too much about it to be honest. FIne without being memorable.
01 Bin 56 Nice deep red still. Lovely bouquet that filled the room with blue fruits, red currants and spice. On the palate, lovely full bodied wine with good intensity and length. More of the fruit profiles mentioned above with a deep and satisfying anise finish. Very good wine.
00 Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet A bit muted after the Bin 56 and a bit of a let down to be honest. I was wondering if it wasn't very slightly corked but there was no mustiness about this at all. Just seemed a bit dumb. Mild blackcurrents and quite smooth. Body was fine but just no major flavours jumping out at all. Might also just be a little bit past it and on the decline. I'll have to try another bottle soon.
78 Redman Claret (shiraz) A thin red colour but bricking on edge however nice clarity. Slightly musty nose on opening but blew off to reveal rich currants and plums. Initially a bit thin on the palate and also a little musty but all this disapated too.Got more body quite quickly and the flovour profile changed to sweet cherry and blood. No tannins to speak of, which is hardly surprising. Developed nicely over some time to become more full bodied but still elegant. Almost pinot like. A nice surprise for an oldie that I didn't have much hope for. I have one more bottle of this which I should drink very soon.
Emma's Cottage Tokay Cloudy brown. A very strong brandy spirit nose and taste. Not enjoyable at all on opening. Got slightly better over the next few days but I think the hunter should leave the tokays to Rutherglen. Really quite thin and insipid and too spirity. Very little in the way of classic tokay flavours. Not enjoyable.
00 Peter Lehmann Clancey's (red) Nothing spectacular and can't remember too much about it to be honest. FIne without being memorable.
01 Bin 56 Nice deep red still. Lovely bouquet that filled the room with blue fruits, red currants and spice. On the palate, lovely full bodied wine with good intensity and length. More of the fruit profiles mentioned above with a deep and satisfying anise finish. Very good wine.
00 Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet A bit muted after the Bin 56 and a bit of a let down to be honest. I was wondering if it wasn't very slightly corked but there was no mustiness about this at all. Just seemed a bit dumb. Mild blackcurrents and quite smooth. Body was fine but just no major flavours jumping out at all. Might also just be a little bit past it and on the decline. I'll have to try another bottle soon.
78 Redman Claret (shiraz) A thin red colour but bricking on edge however nice clarity. Slightly musty nose on opening but blew off to reveal rich currants and plums. Initially a bit thin on the palate and also a little musty but all this disapated too.Got more body quite quickly and the flovour profile changed to sweet cherry and blood. No tannins to speak of, which is hardly surprising. Developed nicely over some time to become more full bodied but still elegant. Almost pinot like. A nice surprise for an oldie that I didn't have much hope for. I have one more bottle of this which I should drink very soon.
Emma's Cottage Tokay Cloudy brown. A very strong brandy spirit nose and taste. Not enjoyable at all on opening. Got slightly better over the next few days but I think the hunter should leave the tokays to Rutherglen. Really quite thin and insipid and too spirity. Very little in the way of classic tokay flavours. Not enjoyable.
Cheers,
Kris
There's a fine wine between pleasure and pain
(Stolen from the graffiti in the ladies loos at Pegasus Bay winery)
Kris
There's a fine wine between pleasure and pain
(Stolen from the graffiti in the ladies loos at Pegasus Bay winery)
Gee there are a lot of labels on Graysonline going for prices greater than you would buy them at retail, particularly considering the number of labels that you simply would not see in a retail store. What the hell is: Brokenwood Partner's Blend Shiraz/Cab, Pepper Tree Quadrant Merlot.. even the Sandalford Protege range does not have standard link on the Sandalford website!?bacchaebabe wrote:pcjm wrote:Caladonia Australis Pinot Noir 2001Nice red brick colour, strawberries and mushrooms on the noise, silky smooth drinking with just a hint of acid at the end to keep it refreshing
Been drinking a bit of this lately as it's been available cheap at auction. Enjoying it a lot as an easy drinking quaffer.
Anyway, given your comments I just bought a case of the 2001 Australis Pinot Noir. Got it for what will end up being $89.35 for the case ($10 + ($69 x 1.15)) = $7.45 per bottle... which quite frankly is not that cheap considering you need to buy 12 bottles and there are a number of quality retail/cellar door wines only a few dollars more, but as long as I am able to read an independant review of a wine and have some chance of determining whether it is my sort of wine, which this one seems to be, I reckon it will be worth it.
Adair
Wine is bottled poetry.
2006 Stevens Wines Vat 52 Shiraz Grenache Cabernet: Early drinking wine, but very nice with pizza or pasta. Good fruit up front, with a long spicy grenache finish.
2006 Balnaves Cabernet: Deep. dark fruit, with all the oak soaked up. Didn't quite carry the alcohol though, finished a bit short.
2002 Punters Corner Cabernet: Great secondary flavours, coffee beans, olives. Still improving, will leave the rest for another 3-5 years.
2006 Balnaves Cabernet: Deep. dark fruit, with all the oak soaked up. Didn't quite carry the alcohol though, finished a bit short.
2002 Punters Corner Cabernet: Great secondary flavours, coffee beans, olives. Still improving, will leave the rest for another 3-5 years.
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bacchaebabe
- Posts: 1222
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- Location: Sydney
Adair wrote:Gee there are a lot of labels on Graysonline going for prices greater than you would buy them at retail, particularly considering the number of labels that you simply would not see in a retail store. What the hell is: Brokenwood Partner's Blend Shiraz/Cab, Pepper Tree Quadrant Merlot.. even the Sandalford Protege range does not have standard link on the Sandalford website!?bacchaebabe wrote:pcjm wrote:Caladonia Australis Pinot Noir 2001Nice red brick colour, strawberries and mushrooms on the noise, silky smooth drinking with just a hint of acid at the end to keep it refreshing
Been drinking a bit of this lately as it's been available cheap at auction. Enjoying it a lot as an easy drinking quaffer.
Anyway, given your comments I just bought a case of the 2001 Australis Pinot Noir. Got it for what will end up being $89.35 for the case ($10 + ($69 x 1.15)) = $7.45 per bottle... which quite frankly is not that cheap considering you need to buy 12 bottles and there are a number of quality retail/cellar door wines only a few dollars more, but as long as I am able to read an independant review of a wine and have some chance of determining whether it is my sort of wine, which this one seems to be, I reckon it will be worth it.
Adair
An aged pinot with a bit of interest for $7.45 is pretty good buying I reckon. I was a bit worried it might be past it mostly with my first case but I bought a second case as I quite like it as a quaffer and it's drinking well right now. I think I paid a little more with my first case and a little less with my second. Hope you enjoy it too.
Cheers,
Kris
There's a fine wine between pleasure and pain
(Stolen from the graffiti in the ladies loos at Pegasus Bay winery)
Kris
There's a fine wine between pleasure and pain
(Stolen from the graffiti in the ladies loos at Pegasus Bay winery)