Sunday... fourth one for March

[TORB]

Hi Good Peoples,

That time of the week again. Please let us know what you have been drinking. Tasting notes, vibes, lists etc. all welcome.

[Craig(NZ)]

With Ross on Fri Night

07 Le Fou Riesling. "Best Riesling ive ever tried" was Ross's reaction. A little more shy than other times ive drunk it but still class
05 Foxes Island Chardonnay. Bought out by him, insane amounts of flavour just so complex. Only minus from a technical point of view is it isnt as long as some but still a lovely drink
05 Puriri Hills Reserve. First time for Ross with this wine. "F*&^%n amazing wine" was Ross's comment! Its still very youthful but hard to keep hands off it. Just as well i bought a dozen.

Last night

07 Gravitas Pinot Noir. Very Marlborough red fruit driven, textural and refined. For its clearnace price this is bloody good buying
04 Unison Selection. Lovely dense Unison, very dark, warm powdery tannin. Starting to drink now
08 Ohiminmuri Gewurtztraminer. From a bit of a "who cares" winery. This was actually pretty good. A little unusual with canned apricot , peach and spice flavours.

[dlo]

Wines from two dinners put on for family and friends this week.

Trimbach Reserve Gewurtztraniner 2001 - typically potent mix of lychee, wild flowers, spices and apricot. Finishes a tad hard for me but Janet thought it just great with Turkish dips (homoss, cacik and beetroot) and pide bread. 88 points

Kuentz-Bas Pfersigberg Riesling 1996 - stuffed, oxidised.

La Chablisienne Chablis Grand Cru "La Preuses" 1995 - was much better in 2007 (92 points, IIRC). The very first sign of oxidation starting to creep in, otherwise a sound, rounded wine, if somewhat flat. About 84 points from me today. Possibly just bottle variation.

Vincent Girardin Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatieres 2005 - extremely well-honed, nicely balanced creamy fruit and mealy oak. Smooth and no rough edges. About a 91 pointer. Drink now-2012.

J. J. Confuron Nuits-St.-Georges 1er Cru "Aux Boudots" 1993 - just entering its prime drinking window. A little funk, mushroom, game and sous bois intermixed with bucketloads of glossy plum and cherry fruit with some delightful sappiness adding interest. Slightly blocky tannins need to resolve marginally for this to be at its very best, otherwise quite an outstanding example of pinot noir. 92 points

Turkey Flat Cabernet Sauvignon 1998 - haven't tried one of these for quite a few years and from memory this was a lot better back when. Still holds a very deep magenta, with good reserves of choco-berry fruit but reveals some spiky acidity on the palate. Finishes with decent length but somehow I found the wine a little tired and somewhat boring. 83 points

Chambers Vintage Port 1972 - Right on the cusp of being passed it. Our guests loved it. I thought it very good only. About 86 points would pull it up for me - too much astringency on the palate and the fruit has receded to allow the spirit to dominate. Almost "tawny" in style.

[ross67]

Greenock Creek Apricot Block Shiraz 1999: 14.8% Medium - full bodied spice and black fruits very evident.10yo wine still very much going strong. Really good

Braydun Hill Handpicked McLaren Vale Shiraz 2004 14.5% full bodied rich and concentrated. Very nice

Lindeman's Bortrytis Rhine Riesling 1991 10.5% Gorgeous aged amber colour... smooth with a long life ahead. Not overtly sweet....perfect!


ross

[jeremy]

2007 Tar & Roses Tempranillo- quite spectacular young wine, much much better after being open a day. Quite simply the best Australian Tempranillo I have tasted. Heathcote.

2006 Jacobs Creek Reserve Reisling- dissappointing (if one can be dissappointed in a $13 wine). Jarring pineapple flavours over very basic lemon characters, chuck in a green apple for broadness and a miser's sprinkle of bath salts. Then falls over on the finish, with an awful taste of Corona and Lemon. Think the 2008 standard might have been a better choice.

2006 Wonga Estate Chardonnay- Very "worked"style, very leesy and cheesy but quite nice as far as I'm concerned. Yarra, although I wouldn't have picked it.


cheers

jeremy

[Pelican]

2007 SC Pannel McLaren Vale Grenache Rose ( $25) :bright rose red colour - excellent seriously dry rose.

2006 Bleasdale " Second Innings " Langhorne Creek Malbec ( $14 ) : I'm sure Bleasdale would have access to some great old vineyards but this was cloying in an oppressive way for me. I've tried most of their wines over recent years. I think they are generally an underperforming winery given what they have to work with. I'd love to see them move away from trying to please the streotypical palate of the sweet tooth and aim a bit higher for some refinement.

[monghead]

2006 Knight's Granite Hills Riesling- Excellent drink, full of limes, hints of pomegranites, lovely acidity. Delectably quaffable.
2008 Grosset Springvale Riesling- Startling lemon acidity. Very tight and focussed. Usually, I associate this structure with the Polish Hill, and the Watervale is the easier drinking, more approachable style. Have not tried the 08 Polish Hill to compare though...
1999 Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon- Big sweet and jammy, with the fruit starting to dry out... One dimensional. Not my cup of tea.
1998 Grant Burge Meshach Shiraz- Wow. Stunning. Expected a huge jammy fruit bomb, but was very pleasantly surprised by a complex, mouth filling, soul soothing drink. Layers of dark berries and currants persist, with elegant cigar, tea, and leather flavours adding complexity. Length and persistence were great, and the tannins fine and creamy. Will last many more years, ? perhaps another decade.

Cheers,

Monghead.

[wolf]

2002 Penfolds Bin 389: Intense dark fruits, cloves with a hint of oak. Tannins still fairly prominent. Good finish, but should soften over the next 3-5 yrs. Will try another in 2012. Very good.

[seddo]

First tasing post in a while - have consumed some very Ho-hum wines of late but the following were not in that class.

Jacob's Creek Centenary shiraz 02 - needed to decant this wine longer - still very youthful in it's colour and was superb drinking not jammy not over the top. For me a great example of Barossa shiraz.

Turkey Flat Shiraz 02 - again another youthful wine in it's colour and flavour profile but as it opened up, the glorious black fruit put this wine in anothe dimension - dear I mention grange-like. As a guestimate another 7-10 years in front of it.

Saltrams Mamre Brook Cabernet 02 another pearler of a wine colour, flavour and nose. Enjoy Barossa Cab from cooler years - very under rated.


cheers
Seddo

[Waiters Friend]

A couple of Josef Chromy wines:

Josef Chromy Pepik Chardonnay 2005: I think this is very good VFM. Lovely balanced chardonnay with a little of most of the things you expect (vanilla, nectarine, slight mealy & cashew characters, citrus finish) and with the advantage of some bottle age. Impressive in its price range. Don't serve too cold, though, or you will lose a lot of this wine's appeal.

Josef Chromy Pepik Pinot Noir 2008: Very youthful, bright sour cherry, very little noticeable oak and tannins also in the background. Served at cellar temperature (17'), and was very enjoyable at that temp. It's a tad too youthful even for me to make any call about its ageing potential - so I won't, I'll probably just drink the remaining bottles young-ish.

Cheers

Allan

[Paradox]

With Ross on Fri Night
07 Le Fou Riesling. "Best Riesling ive ever tried" was Ross's reaction. A little more shy than other times ive drunk it but still class

We opened a 2nd bottle of this Friday as well, and it was quite unlike the first. Slightly keroseney, some limes, nicely sweet but lacking any real depth. It was more like Max's description and I wonder if there isn't some significant bottle variation here. This bottle certainly wasn't great like the first one.

[Waiters Friend]

Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

Still a dark purple with crimson rim. It has opened up after decanting to offer a mix of milk chocolate, rich red stonefruit and firm tannins on the palate. There's a bit of warmth (alcohol) and menthol around the sides of the tongue, and it is a full and satisfying wine, without being too big and porty - there is a touch of restraint and, dare I say, elegance about it. I'm happy to have a few (and a magnum) in the cellar.

I'm pleasantly surprised it is as good as it is, and would like some advice from those that know the wine over a range of vintages. I think the oldest WBL I've had in the last 3 years or so was a 1990 (but drunk in 2005), and at 8 years old I'm wondering if the 2001 is a better wine at the right time, if you know what I mean.

Your thoughts?

Allan

[Wayno]

Allan

I reckon the 01 BL is a fair cop. Much more impressive than the so-so 03, for mine. I'm holding onto my last 3 to enjoy gradually over the next little while.

Tonight, only Seppelt Victoria Pinot Noir 2005 - sweet, forward, grippy tannins with a firm, bolted-on rivets-and-all finish. Quite good, truthfully varietal and I don't think it cost the earth either.

[Waiters Friend]

Thanks Wayno.

I have 2001-2005 in the cellar, and possibly a couple of previous vintages as well of WBL. I think I'll be guided a little by today's experience and maybe drink some of the older ones earlier than I would have normally. Not sure about the 2003s - haven't opened one for a while, but I have a vague memory of 'early drinking' for these.

Seppelts Vic Pinot? I didn't know they made one. In all honesty, though, I've not been impressed by their Victorian Chardonnay or Shiraz after some initial enthusiasm (I had a few bottles, but they lost my interest after a short time when I thought I might have found a good budget wine). If the Pinot is better, then it could be worth the investment.

Having said that, Seppelt wines further up the food chain; e.g. Chalambar Shiraz and Jaluka or Partalunga(?) Chardonnay are more my style, and for me are relative bargains.

Cheers

Allan

[Peter NZ]

07 Gravitas Pinot Noir. Very Marlborough red fruit driven, textural and refined. For its clearnace price this is bloody good buying

Good to hear -- I've picked up a dozen each of the '06 and '07 at those clearance prices, without ever having tasted either.

For me:

Jacobs Creek Limited Release Shiraz 1996 $75 on the list at Vivace in Auckland, & an absolute bargain -- excellent example of mature Barossa shiraz.

Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz 1996 Nothing wrong with it, but suffered in comparison to the Jacobs Creek, which was a more complete wine ...

Cheers
Peter

[Jay60A]

Jacobs Creek St. Hugo 2004 Coonawarra
Nice wine but not worth the money even discounted.

Henschke Mt. Edelstone 2002
Superb, this will last 20 years no problems. Impeccable wine.

[Craig(NZ)]

We opened a 2nd bottle of this Friday as well, and it was quite unlike the first. Slightly keroseney, some limes, nicely sweet but lacking any real depth. It was more like Max's description and I wonder if there isn't some significant bottle variation here. This bottle certainly wasn't great like the first one.

just missed a bit of the underlying layered 'zanyness' that has been there previous bottles. still enjoyed it though, just not quite the wow factor i remember. ive nearly drunk all my stash already. Only 3 left!!

Good to hear -- I've picked up a dozen each of the '06 and '07 at those clearance prices, without ever having tasted either.

yeah at the price you would drink this over industrial aussie shiraz swill anyday even though its not 100% the style that rings my bells:lol:

[JG]

Rosemount Show Reserve Chardonnay 2005

Found one of these in the cellar. Wasn't expecting much. Full golden colour. Well rounded oak, good length, a surprise packet. Better than i remembered them on release. Very enjoyable with bbq'd whole snapper.
Will prob be the last rosemount that i will ever drink, given drop in quality. my last show reserve cab sauv coonawarra 2003 was corked, no response when sought replacement on winery website.

Leconfield Coonawarra 2006

Will age a treat, bit of a waste opening so early. Will keep others for 3-4 years before trying another. 2004 tried recently is going well.

[bacchaebabe]

07 Woodlands Chardonnay On openeing, typical chardonnay characters of cashews, etc. Once it sottd for a little and probably warmed a little it became more lime and lemon. My qantas friend who had just completed their wine course and my girlfriend were trying to guess what is was as they hadn't seen te bottle. They both immediately ruled out chardonnay and were trying to figure out if it was a riesling or semillon. I became intrigued and retasted and they were right. If it was served blind to me I would have been going for probably a semillon as it had more of those young characteristics and the buttery cashewy elements had gone. A lovely drink but probably needs a bit of time to age into its more typical characteristics.

06 Voyager Estate Chardonnay Well this certainly is the bomb. Still very pale, a very refined and elegant chardy, simply described by all and sundry as delicious. Faint peachy, peary elements with a nutty balance. Very nice indeed.

We went sailing yesterday and my uncle who owns the boat was going on about how he bought the best chardonnay in the world for only $6.99. As I'd brought the Voyager Estate along, this clearly needed to be called. He'd brought a bottle of his world beater along so we tasted them side by side. It was a 07 McWilliams Hanwood Chardonnay I nearly laughed out loud when he told me what it was but tried to keep an open mind. Anyhoo, it as a a deeper yellow in the glass. Surprisingly, it was pretty damn good. Not a cellaring style so much and everyone agreed the Voyager Estate was better but the Hanwood wasn't bad at all, particualrly at that price point. A bit bigger but still quite elegant and rounded. Nice leesy flavours with a little lemon and pears. I'll probably get a case or a six pack for quaffing, particularly at $7 a bottle! Should see the last of the summer out nicely.

During the week with some rather decent pizzas: 98 Penfolds Koonunga Hill shiraz cab Still holding up very well indeed. Deep red and fantastic spicy savoury characteristics that are built for pizzas. Very fine tannins still present but this really is drinking at its peak right now. Another one in the delicious category.

[KMP]

1994 Lindemans Limestone Ridge (55% Shiraz, 45% Cab) - 13.5% ABV. Was not overjoyed when the cork crumbled. But after removing all the fragments this has turned out to be a nice Shiraz/Cab blend with plenty of developed character of roasted meats, school desk inkwell, violets, earthyness, toffee, and a touch of anise. The tannins are drying a little but the acidity is still juicy, and a little food softens it all into a very appealing wine. Much better than a bottle from 4-5 years ago which seemed past its prime. Lucky I kept what bottles I had.

Mike

[Sean]

deleted

[Roscoe]

Taylors Shiraz 2002
Last bottle. Rich and chocolatey. Very good.
Stonehaven Stepping Stone Padthaway Shiraz 2004
Very similar to the Taylors, perhaps a touch softer and broader. Very good. Drink over next year.
I had a taste of the Lake Breeze Bullant Shiraz 2007 at an instore- sensational drinking at around $12.

[Davo]

Turkey Flat Cabernet Sauvignon 1998 - haven't tried one of these for quite a few years and from memory this was a lot better back when. Still holds a very deep magenta, with good reserves of choco-berry fruit but reveals some spiky acidity on the palate. Finishes with decent length but somehow I found the wine a little tired and somewhat boring. 83 points

They had this on tasting at CD as a museum release when I was there a couple of weeks back. I thought it a quite nice aged varietal cabernet at the time, still with plenty of fruit, hints of green capsicum and cigar box cedar. I was tempted to buy some at the $60 asking price.

[malliemcg]

2005 Allegrini Valpolicella Classico (Italy, Veneto, Valpolicella, Valpolicella Classico) - Great with food, medium to low tannins, sour cherry, opening up nicely after 2.5 hours at which point it was gone, for the price point though, hrrrm probably not again ($30 from one of those little IGA's) better Aussie Sangio's can be had for half that.


2008 Lerida Estate Pinot Gris Botrytis Lake George (Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Canberra District) - Dropped this one on it's head and damaged the stelvin, would have been great in 5 years, but for now - lots of tropical fruit, some fairy floss, and not cloyingly sweet. I like.

Also had the Merlot and the Shiraz from a "3 Fast Men" 2004 pack - made somewhere in the Grampians in Vic - seems like it got cooked in transport and were somewhat Maderised but as a wine w/ some ranchio/porty characteristics I didn't mind them for something really odd ball in the middle of an insane week.

[Wayno]

During the week with some rather decent pizzas: 98 Penfolds Koonunga Hill shiraz cab Still holding up very well indeed. Deep red and fantastic spicy savoury characteristics that are built for pizzas. Very fine tannins still present but this really is drinking at its peak right now. Another one in the delicious category.

Yep, a gun this one. Agreed. 96 is also doing well, for mine.

[ross67]

Tried the 96 Koonunga around New Yrs Wayno and really thought it was past its best......perhaps a bad btl/representation...it was a relatives and cannot vouch for providence

ross

[Mahmoud Ali]

I have been holding back from drinking my 1996 Koonunga Hill because it is from a fine vintage and is now only 13 years old. The last Koonunga Hill I had was also a 13 year old wine but it was from the weak 1989 vintage.

I reckon the 1996 should last much longer if it's well cellared. The inaugural '76 Koonunga Hill is reputed to have lasted 20 years.

Cheers.....................Mahmoud

[monghead]

I have been holding back from drinking my 1996 Koonunga Hill because it is from a fine vintage and is now only 13 years old. The last Koonunga Hill I had was also a 13 year old wine but it was from the weak 1989 vintage.

I reckon the 1996 should last much longer if it's well cellared. The inaugural '76 Koonunga Hill is reputed to have lasted 20 years.

Cheers.....................Mahmoud

Well, the '76 Grange is still going very well, and I think critics have deemed this vintage over the hill...

Overall, I think Penfolds produce wines with amazing longevity across the range.

[pizzler]

This was the 24th year that some of the best wineries in California display their barrel samples in Washington DC. We managed to sample a tight selection of 31 wines of about 150 available at the tasting.

Our Cabernet Sauvignon favorites were the 2007 Barnett Spring Mountain, 2007 Delectus Cuvee Julia, and the 2007 EMH Vineyard Black Cat. The Black Cat is an amazingly small production of about 125 cases.

I was disappointed in some of the big boys, Ridge Monte Bello and Diamond Creek...good, but not great.

Bang for the buck wine was the 2007 Ravenswood Sangiacomo Merlot.

It's a lot of fun going to extensive tastings like this one, but its Monday and I'm still feeling mild effects from Saturday night! How long does it take for tannin to exude from the pores?

[Bick]

I've had a couple of nice Margaret River cabernets in the last week. They were quite distinct, but both good.

Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon 05 - this had a fair whack of mint, tomato leaf and spice on the nose in additon to its fruit core; tasty with prominent but gentle fruit acid on the finish. Seemed well balanced. I've heard this described as elegant a few times and I would agree. Cork.

Voyager Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot 03 - this was very supple and clean; nose and palate had much less of the mint and leafiness that was seen in the Vasse Felix and acid was less noticeable (but its there). Tannins in the Voyager are very smooth and silky, whereas more velvety in the Vasse (perhaps the extra 2 years showing here). I'd rate this wine very highly - neither wine is a blockbuster, but this is the subtler, classier one of the two. The finish is reasonably complex and the oak just about right. Cork.