May already - Sunday reports due....

[TORB]

Hi Good Peoples,

Great to be back home! Please tell us what you have been drinking over the past week. TN's vibes, impressions and lists all welcome.

[jeremy]

Good to hear you're home, hospitals suck.

Jacobs Creek Reserve Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2006- nice fine-ish bead, fluffy texture. Lemon, lemon sherbert, biscuits, apples, hazlenuts, nougat and some mushroom on the finish. Good stuff for $15

Blue Poles Allouran Merlot/Cab Franc 2006- 24 hours in decanter then...rounded savoury fruit, dusty frech oak, pencils, plums, soy, spice, chocolate, liquorice, leaf and olive. Amazingly vibrant red fruits riding over the top. A keeper for sure, try again in 10 years, amazing for vintage in particular.

Neudorf Moutere Pinot Noir 2005- very little experience in Malborough Pinots, some Villa Maria is all. Cherry, cola, sap, liqourice strap, plum. Slinky mouth feel, acid carrys the flavours. It's still got it's best years ahead of it. Very, very good (thanks Andrew)- edit, it's Nelson not Malborough (thanks again Andrew!) NZ geography not my strong suit

Barwang Hilltops Cab/Sav 2006- shouldn't have been opened, but there you go. Some cassis but not like Coonawarra, blackberry, menthol cherries( or medicinal cherry with mint and tobacco), plum, touch of bitter dark chocolate, tar, cedary oak, spice and white pepper. Well structured, should have gone into cellar.

[wolf]

2007 Majella Magician: Quite closed. One dimensional with harsh tannins on the finish. Didn't improve overnight. Not very good, even for a quaffer.

[Phil Wilkins]

Oooohhhhhhh... which thread?

Don's BIG 50th birthday lunch at The Langham...
Consumed in excellent surroundings with an amazing 9 course lunch with some highly accomplished cooking - I can still taste that stunning scallop! Well more impressions really…

1979 Bollinger Grand Annee + 1990 Krug
Well Champers, eh. I’m not a great fan but only to happy to drink others stunning offerings. The Krug was drinking beautifully but certainly oxidative in nature, and I’m not a fan of the style but there is no denying the quality if the wine in the glass… lots of baked bread, minerality, acidity and a long finish - 92pts. The 1979 Bollinger Grand Annee was probably the weaker wine of the pair but overall I preferred it with it’s slightly less complex body, smaller bubbles, lower acidity but more complex fruit on finish - 92pts. I wonder if I will ever ‘get’ Champagne.

2000 Chablis Fevre Bougros (Cote Bouguerots) + 2000 Chablis Fevre Les Preuses
Drunk from two very different glasses. The Preuses was from a Vitis Montrachet glass(??) while the Bougros was in a Bdx Vinum glass. How much difference this made I’m not sure, but they were very different wines. But for me the Preuses was the better balanced wine with green fruit (apples/pears & some refreshing citrus), oyster shell minerality and a great finish - 92pts. The Bougros was flat in comparison but in no way flabby, more weighty and beautifully textured I guess, but not a slouch - 90pts. Fascinating Chards & a treat.

1976 Vina Real GR CVNE + 1979 Vega Sicilia + 1981 Lopez de Heredia Bosconia
Rioja’s eh? I know little about this region, but I have to say what fab wines & the complexity was a complete surprise for me… wow! On pouring the nose on the 1981 Lopez de Heredia Bosconia was A++++ just stunning and all earth & tobacco but it faded quickly becoming a good, but not a great wine - 90pts. The 1979 Vega Sicilia was so youthful top look at compared to the other two and built in complexity over time becoming quite Bordeaux like - 93pts. Then the 1976 Vina Real – holy crap this was the wine of the flight, and all sweet tobacco, dried purple fruits, brown spice & vanilla. Sublime, complex & stunning - 95pts.

1979 Grange + 1981 Grange + 1985 Bertani Amarone Recioto
The Amarone has never been a style of wine I’ve appreciated but this is, by a county mile, by far the best bottle I’ve ever drunk. All dried cranberry, raisin, soil, meat & chocolate wrapped in a core of cleansing acidity, very tasty - 91pts. The Grange split the camp. The 81 was still tight, very tannic and in a cloak of dark fruit, smoke, meat & coffee. Sings to you - 94pts. While the 79 reminds me what the 89 will almost certainly become in another 10 years… smelt of Bordeaux on opening and then softened down to plum, vanilla & caramel, finishes well but lacks huge complexity – 91pts. Will these wines ever die?

1959 Reynier (the UK shipper) Chateauneuf du Pape + 1989 Jaboulet Les Cedres Chateauneuf du Pape + 1989 Chave Hermitage
The 1959 to start with… is it really a table wine? A very dark mahogany brown & a nose that is so sweet and full of molasses, Marsala, mushroom & flat Coca-Cola. Not a wine as I know it, but incredibly interesting, so depending on your frame of mind while drinking it could mean anything. £8,000 well spent I think. I rather enjoyed it in a perverse sort of way. Certainly not dead, just very unique secondary characteristics – N/R as I’ve not had anything like it before. The 1989 Jaboulet Les Cedres was a classically made CdP and a pleasure to drink, but again this faded quickly showing game, smoke & earth – 89pts. The 1989 Chave Hermitage as again a stunner and another polarizing bottle. I love its feminine fragrance, animal scent & clarity. Incredibly seamless & elegant overall – 93pts.

1959 Coutet + 1989 Huet Cuvee Constance
The Huet Cuvee Constance is one the most balanced, structured, complex & complete wines I’ve ever had and lucky to have 3 bottles left. All you would want in a sticky & my WOTD – 97pts. The 1959 Coutet isn’t far behind with its apricot, creme brulee and apple nose, still bracing acidity & clean finish. It just lacks the extra excitement. But what a treat to try - 92pts

1970 Dow
A lovely port but it had an odd confected nose and a shortness on the finish. Slightly faulty perhaps(?) but as I’ve never had this producers vintage I’m not sure. – N/R

Afterwards some Albert Mann Riesling (vintage?) – comparatively dull & washed out compared to the wines above – 83pts.

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

Two Hands Moscato Brilliant Disguise 2006
Drunk with Russell & Sema in Dulwich Park today from high quality yellow plastic tumblers – the tumbler colour obviously beautifully chosen to compliment today’s brilliant warm sunshine!

Lovely grapey/floral nose, fine light ‘frizzante’ body with a real refreshing quality. Perhaps slightly old but more than enjoyable - the bottle only lasted 20 minutes. The perfect picnic wine!!?? 5%vol. 83pts

Russell’s picnic food, however, was a triumph! In fact the finest ciabatta sarnies, beef sausages, fruit kebabs & lemon cake I’ve had in a decade. And thankfully all the kids were a delight & well behaved too.

[Wayno]

Wynns CSM (Red Stripe) 2006
Nyeh. OK, bog standard party quaffer. Was this label once much better or has it always been so-so?

[monghead]

Nice effort Phil.

For me, so far:

1998 Chapel Hill The Vicar
Was looking for a complex earthy red, but got a rather jammy, rich fruit-cake type wine, which was full in flavour, but rather simple. Glad that was the last in the cellar.

Cheers,

Monghead.

[rooman]

Nice effort Phil.

For me, so far:

1998 Chapel Hill The Vicar
Was looking for a complex earthy red, but got a rather jammy, rich fruit-cake type wine, which was full in flavour, but rather simple. Glad that was the last in the cellar.

Cheers,

Monghead.

Snap!! I have been cleaning out the cellar and found half a dozen. Same experience. Lord I have another 5 to go!!

[John #11]

Tasted a few shirazes somewhere in Adelaide...

All wines listed would easily rate 90/100, and many would rate significantly higher. No particular order.

2004 Penfolds Grange Probably as good as the hype says.
2001 Penfolds St Henri This was my biggest surprise. Fantastic drinking right now.
2004 Penfolds St Henri Still sleeping, will be phenomenal in a decade.
2005 Penfolds St Henri Not too far behind the 2004, just slightly different, more an old fashioned St Henri.
2006 Penfolds RWT Gets better each time I try it. Elegant, balanced, smooth and refined.
2007 Penfolds Bin 128 A pleasant surprise, I know it will cellar for 10 years, but its just so good now, I don't think we can wait this long.
2003 Grant Burge Meshach Pure Barossa, bigger than life.
2006 D'arenberg Dead Arm Just beginning to show its (enormous) promise. Give it at least 5 years more.
2006 Elderton Command Surprisingly very minty, but very smooth and supple for such a young wine.
2004 Saltram The Eighth Maker Plush, swanky, smooth, luscious...
2006 Henschke Mt Edelstone My second tasting, a great Mt Edelstone like the 2004 and 2005
2005 Henschke Tappa Pass Stinky odour of ?DMS almost undrinkable. Pass
2004 Hardy's Tintara Blewitt Springs Lovely, already showing aged characters of leather, very smooth
2006 Wolf Blass Platinum Label Barossa Luscious, smooth, high oak content, but approachable now.
2005 Branson Coach House Very Barossan, moderate oak, some alcohol warmth
2006 Mitolo Savitar Smooth, concentrated, complex and sweet (chocolatey) already very approachable.
2005 Bests Bin 0 (zero) Very peppery, and tannic, needs time.
2006 Glaetzer Bishop Smooth, good Barossan formula, a little oaky, a little one-dimensional
2007 Heartland Director's Cut Another surprise, approachable, smooth, complex, easy drinking right now
2006 Carlei Green Vineyards Shiraz A pleasant surprise, would be a nice quaffer, if you prefer a lighter bodied shiraz.

There were 69 wines on tasting, I'm sorry I missed a few

Cheers
John

[via collins]

Kaesler Stonehorse Shiraz 2006 - rich dark colour, subtle blackberry and vanilla at the front, lovely mouthfeel, full & satisfying.

Teusner Avatar 2006 - a bit sharpish on opening, but settled within 30 minutes to be superb - hints of cherry on the palate, superb length, and half a bottle left to go tonight. Monday will be about grabbing another few for the distance - anyone care to make a call on cellaring potential?

[Matt]

vasse felix cab mer 2003 - ended up down the sink after forcing 2 glasses down.

[JG]

Majella Cab Sauv 2003

Deep purple. Lots of crust. Unmistakeably majella, but green in middle of the palate. Just enjoyable, not great. Very dry & tannic, needed to drink a load of during and afterward. Prob should have cellared another 5 years, but knew it was a weaker vintage and I had run out of quaffers.

[jeremy]

via collins wrote

Teusner Avatar 2006 - a bit sharpish on opening, but settled within 30 minutes to be superb - hints of cherry on the palate, superb length, and half a bottle left to go tonight. Monday will be about grabbing another few for the distance - anyone care to make a call on cellaring potential?

I'm going to lay some down for 5 years and I doubt there will be any problems. Having said that, I'm no expert, but the experts (Nick Stock, GW) have a window extending about that long. And then there is the matter of personal taste. So, thinking more carefully I'll probably whack at least 3 away and check on them during the 5 years.

[Partagas]

Tasted a few shirazes somewhere in Adelaide...

All wines listed would easily rate 90/100, and many would rate significantly higher. No particular order.

2004 Penfolds Grange Probably as good as the hype says.
2001 Penfolds St Henri This was my biggest surprise. Fantastic drinking right now.
2004 Penfolds St Henri Still sleeping, will be phenomenal in a decade.
2005 Penfolds St Henri Not too far behind the 2004, just slightly different, more an old fashioned St Henri.
2006 Penfolds RWT Gets better each time I try it. Elegant, balanced, smooth and refined.
2007 Penfolds Bin 128 A pleasant surprise, I know it will cellar for 10 years, but its just so good now, I don't think we can wait this long.
2003 Grant Burge Meshach Pure Barossa, bigger than life.
2006 D'arenberg Dead Arm Just beginning to show its (enormous) promise. Give it at least 5 years more.
2006 Elderton Command Surprisingly very minty, but very smooth and supple for such a young wine.
2004 Saltram The Eighth Maker Plush, swanky, smooth, luscious...
2006 Henschke Mt Edelstone My second tasting, a great Mt Edelstone like the 2004 and 2005
2005 Henschke Tappa Pass Stinky odour of ?DMS almost undrinkable. Pass
2004 Hardy's Tintara Blewitt Springs Lovely, already showing aged characters of leather, very smooth
2006 Wolf Blass Platinum Label Luscious, smooth, high oak content, but approachable now.
2005 Branson Coach House Very Barossan, moderate oak, some alcohol warmth
2006 Mitolo Savitar Smooth, concentrated, complex and sweet (chocolatey) already very approachable.
2005 Bests Bin 0 (zero) Very peppery, and tannic, needs time.
2006 Glaetzer Bishop Smooth, good Barossan formula, a little oaky, a little one-dimensional
2007 Heartland Director's Cut Another surprise, approachable, smooth, complex, easy drinking right now
2006 Carlei Green Vineyards Shiraz A pleasant surprise, would be a nice quaffer, if you prefer a lighter bodied shiraz.

There were 69 wines on tasting, I'm sorry I missed a few

Cheers
John

Yep went to the same tasting in Perth a few hours ago. Wow is what I come up with.

Grange 2004 is definitely a cracker for sure. You could honestly taste this blind and pick it as top WOTN amongst all these juggernauts of world class Shiraz. Almost infallible comes to mind. But there was the 2005 Mount Edelston, 2006 RWT, 2006? Command, 2007 Amon Ra, 2004 St Henri, 2001 St Henri, Mitolo Savitar and GAM, 2006? E&E Black Pepper, 2006 Grant Burge Filssell that were all simply superb. Top three for me though very difficult to choose would be the big G, Mount Edelston and RWT. In time 2004 St Henri, 2007 Amon Ra (very good but not quite as approachable yet as reported for me). The rest mentioned though were all gems (and there were a lot more tasted).

2004 Hill of Grace v 2004 Grange? Wow that’s a show down and a half. Different styles for sure. HOG (tasted last year) was extremely fragrant, floral, long and luscious. G is approachable, stylish, all round greatness, technically flawless. Wish I could afford some of both but had to settle leaving with a discounted magnum of 2005 389. Not a bad pick up anyway .

Sam

[Craig(NZ)]

2001 Penfolds St Henri This was my biggest surprise. Fantastic drinking right now.

I actually liked this on release (one of the few) and bought some cheap. Good to see some people falling into line with the truth hehe

Me, I was a bit of a pig this weekend. Most notable:

04 Petaluma Riesling
98 Jacaranda Ridge Cab
99 Masi Omar
07 Esk Merlot Cab Malbec
06 Kumeu River Coddington
06 Carrick Pinot
08 Carrick SB

[Bick]

06 Kumeu River Coddington
06 Carrick Pinot
08 Carrick SB

I thought the Coddington was the best of the 07's when I tasted. 06 Carrick pinot lovely, but my remaining btls are having a wee sleep, along with the 05's. Have you had 07 Carrick Pinot (is it out?) and what are your thoughts on the carrick sb?

I've cracked open only one bottle in the last 4 days or so: Peg Bay riesling 03 - very good. Sharper than other vintages, but pristine and fresh. I only have 1 or 2 btls left now, and will keep them 4-5 years p'haps.

[Craig(NZ)]

I thought the Coddington was the best of the 07's when I tasted. 06 Carrick pinot lovely, but my remaining btls are having a wee sleep, along with the 05's. Have you had 07 Carrick Pinot (is it out?) and what are your thoughts on the carrick sb?

The 06 coddington was stunning. just everything you want in a chardy. so so good. i went ga ga. wine of the weekend for me. the 06 carrick pinot was in the best shape ive tried it., detailed, restrained - real pinot not a 'dry red'. lovely. the sav was surprisingly good. reminded me of the amisfield i loved a year ago (07??). lovely restrained, stoney/ mineral notes, guava etc

[Mike Hawkins]

First booze in 2 months. I had planned to open some big guns, but 11th hour change of plans ruined it.

2000 Cristal Champagne - I've yet to have a bottle of Cristal that has wowed me. Like the last time, this lacked significant complexity and length.

1994 Penfolds Bin 28 - for a cheap wine, this is the real deal. Complex, long and emminently drinkable. Still has many years in front of it.

[Luke W]

Friday night a 2005 Viking Grand Shiraz (cork) - lots of fruit in a great commercial style - so easy to drink and left wanting more but nothing to write home about...

55th Birthday last night - cracked a 1995 Wendouree Shiraz - opened it and decanted about 9am and tasted it at regular intervals until started drinking around 6pm. By 10 pm it had started to open and show its stuff but by that stage I'd drunk almost all of it - not sure how I'm going to approach my Wendouree collection as I'm sure many will outlast me and I do want to drink them in the next 20 years. Any advice on how to drink these wines and maximise their wares would be appreciated.

Cheers

Luke

[redstuff]

Tasted a few shirazes somewhere in Adelaide...

All wines listed would easily rate 90/100, and many would rate significantly higher. No particular order.

2004 Penfolds Grange Probably as good as the hype says.
2001 Penfolds St Henri This was my biggest surprise. Fantastic drinking right now.
2004 Penfolds St Henri Still sleeping, will be phenomenal in a decade.
2005 Penfolds St Henri Not too far behind the 2004, just slightly different, more an old fashioned St Henri.
2006 Penfolds RWT Gets better each time I try it. Elegant, balanced, smooth and refined.
2007 Penfolds Bin 128 A pleasant surprise, I know it will cellar for 10 years, but its just so good now, I don't think we can wait this long.
2003 Grant Burge Meshach Pure Barossa, bigger than life.
2006 D'arenberg Dead Arm Just beginning to show its (enormous) promise. Give it at least 5 years more.
2006 Elderton Command Surprisingly very minty, but very smooth and supple for such a young wine.
2004 Saltram The Eighth Maker Plush, swanky, smooth, luscious...
2006 Henschke Mt Edelstone My second tasting, a great Mt Edelstone like the 2004 and 2005
2005 Henschke Tappa Pass Stinky odour of ?DMS almost undrinkable. Pass
2004 Hardy's Tintara Blewitt Springs Lovely, already showing aged characters of leather, very smooth
2006 Wolf Blass Platinum Label Barossa Luscious, smooth, high oak content, but approachable now.
2005 Branson Coach House Very Barossan, moderate oak, some alcohol warmth
2006 Mitolo Savitar Smooth, concentrated, complex and sweet (chocolatey) already very approachable.
2005 Bests Bin 0 (zero) Very peppery, and tannic, needs time.
2006 Glaetzer Bishop Smooth, good Barossan formula, a little oaky, a little one-dimensional
2007 Heartland Director's Cut Another surprise, approachable, smooth, complex, easy drinking right now
2006 Carlei Green Vineyards Shiraz A pleasant surprise, would be a nice quaffer, if you prefer a lighter bodied shiraz.

There were 69 wines on tasting, I'm sorry I missed a few

Cheers
John

I went to the Canberra expo, unfortunately no 8th Maker! St Henri's were awesome as was the Mount Ed. My wines of the day were the Maurice O'Shea and RWT. The St Hallet Old block 05 was pure crushed ants in a bottle.

[dazza1968]

[b]1997 Hardy Tintara Grenache
02 Taylors st andrews Chardonnay
01 Clarendon Hills Grenache
04 Wirra Wirra Chuch Block

[Anonymous]

Tasted a few shirazes somewhere in Adelaide...

All wines listed would easily rate 90/100, and many would rate significantly higher. No particular order.

2004 Penfolds Grange Probably as good as the hype says.
2001 Penfolds St Henri This was my biggest surprise. Fantastic drinking right now.
2004 Penfolds St Henri Still sleeping, will be phenomenal in a decade.
2005 Penfolds St Henri Not too far behind the 2004, just slightly different, more an old fashioned St Henri.
2006 Penfolds RWT Gets better each time I try it. Elegant, balanced, smooth and refined.
2007 Penfolds Bin 128 A pleasant surprise, I know it will cellar for 10 years, but its just so good now, I don't think we can wait this long.
2003 Grant Burge Meshach Pure Barossa, bigger than life.
2006 D'arenberg Dead Arm Just beginning to show its (enormous) promise. Give it at least 5 years more.
2006 Elderton Command Surprisingly very minty, but very smooth and supple for such a young wine.
2004 Saltram The Eighth Maker Plush, swanky, smooth, luscious...
2006 Henschke Mt Edelstone My second tasting, a great Mt Edelstone like the 2004 and 2005
2005 Henschke Tappa Pass Stinky odour of ?DMS almost undrinkable. Pass
2004 Hardy's Tintara Blewitt Springs Lovely, already showing aged characters of leather, very smooth
2006 Wolf Blass Platinum Label Luscious, smooth, high oak content, but approachable now.
2005 Branson Coach House Very Barossan, moderate oak, some alcohol warmth
2006 Mitolo Savitar Smooth, concentrated, complex and sweet (chocolatey) already very approachable.
2005 Bests Bin 0 (zero) Very peppery, and tannic, needs time.
2006 Glaetzer Bishop Smooth, good Barossan formula, a little oaky, a little one-dimensional
2007 Heartland Director's Cut Another surprise, approachable, smooth, complex, easy drinking right now
2006 Carlei Green Vineyards Shiraz A pleasant surprise, would be a nice quaffer, if you prefer a lighter bodied shiraz.

There were 69 wines on tasting, I'm sorry I missed a few

Cheers
John

Yep went to the same tasting in Perth a few hours ago. Wow is what I come up with.

Grange 2004 is definitely a cracker for sure. You could honestly taste this blind and pick it as top WOTN amongst all these juggernauts of world class Shiraz. Almost infallible comes to mind. But there was the 2005 Mount Edelston, 2006 RWT, 2006? Command, 2007 Amon Ra, 2004 St Henri, 2001 St Henri, Mitolo Savitar and GAM, 2006? E&E Black Pepper, 2006 Grant Burge Filssell that were all simply superb. Top three for me though very difficult to choose would be the big G, Mount Edelston and RWT. In time 2004 St Henri, 2007 Amon Ra (very good but not quite as approachable yet as reported for me). The rest mentioned though were all gems (and there were a lot more tasted).

2004 Hill of Grace v 2004 Grange? Wow that’s a show down and a half. Different styles for sure. HOG (tasted last year) was extremely fragrant, floral, long and luscious. G is approachable, stylish, all round greatness, technically flawless. Wish I could afford some of both but had to settle leaving with a discounted magnum of 2005 389. Not a bad pick up anyway .

Sam

I went to the Brisbane one. Wow! I was like a kid in a candy shop. The grange was flawless (glad kevin rudds cash came when it did and I gave in to the hype). The Elderton Command (?2006) was in second place on the day. A great multi layered complex wine (next on my shopping list). I also liked the saltram no1 and the Taylors st andrews. After that I stopped making notes and worked my way through the 69 on offer. The RWT was also a wine I went and had to taste a few times (to see how it developed over the 3 hours of course) .

[Partagas]

Agree on the Command, outstanding drink and up there with the best. Was the second last I tried behind 2001 St Henri and they were both still excellent even after all the others. I too might grab some when next on special.

[Roscoe]

Bowen Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
This seems to have emerged from a hole and is drinking much better than previous bottles. Good regional and varietal character, nicely balanced. Drink over next 2-3yrs. Very good
Bantry Grove (Orange) Chardonnay 2006
Nice fruit, oak and refreshing acid. Looks like it will last a few years but very good now.

[griff]

First booze in 2 months. I had planned to open some big guns, but 11th hour change of plans ruined it.

2000 Cristal Champagne - I've yet to have a bottle of Cristal that has wowed me. Like the last time, this lacked significant complexity and length.

1994 Penfolds Bin 28 - for a cheap wine, this is the real deal. Complex, long and emminently drinkable. Still has many years in front of it.

I thought this vintage of Cristal very ordinary. As I haven't tried any other vintages I have nothing to compare against but I wonder if it is just the vintage as not many 2000 champagnes impress me.

cheers

Carl

[Partagas]

Also had a bottle of Houghton’s Jack Mann 2000. Decanted it for about two and a half hours (while I went Shiraz tasting). I believe this is at its peak starting to head south and should only be decanted for a very short time when opened. Last time I had this a few years back it was bolder, fruitier and didn’t have the (don’t know what descriptor to use here) know it’s a bit too old edge taste. Still great mouthfeel and very good wine, but wouldn’t hold them too much longer.

[Mahmoud Ali]

Went over to a friend's place at the last minute. We had:

2003 Annie's Lane Riesling, Clare Valley. A nice riesling, in the dry style, already showing signs of maturitity.
2007 Le Petit Pistolette, Vin de Pay L'Herault, France. A light, fresh, savoury, almost Beaujolais-style blend of Syrah, Carignan, Cinsault, that went well with the lasagna.
1992 Weinert, Cavas de Weinert, Argentina. This is a bordeaux blend that was showing old world maturity much in the manner of a Bordeaux.
2003 Torres 'Mas la Plana', Penedes, Spain. A single-vineyard Cabernet this was young, flesh and firm, though somewhat awkward at this stage. Needs another 5-10 years. Worth cellaring, especially at C$34.
2005 Bonny Doon Vin de Glacier, California. This is unusual in that it is a late-harvest frozen muscat dessert wine. Fine, elegant and refined, it had a nice balance between the sweetness and acidity to stand up to a creamy mango-raspberry cheese cake. Startlingly good for only C$8/half-bottle.

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

[Daryl Douglas]

Tahbilk Cabernet Shiraz 1996 Still a nice dark crimson, a hint of purple and dark brick red that's lighter at the edge, oak obvious on the nose. The palate has good depth, blackberry, dark cherry, a lick of licorice, some salami and well-integrated but obvious cedary, good quality oak. It finishes with some sour red cherry coming to the fore after the dark fruits, subtle mint, low acid, soft, drying tannins and good length. It's more medium than full-bodied but is no shrinking violet. I reckon it'd handle another 3+ years with aplomb if well-cellared. I like it, reckon it's a bloody good drop, though some may find the oak a bit excessive. Recommended, 91pts, very good+ value at about $20 for a good quality, 13yo wine with some complexity that's ready to drink now.

Cheers

daz

[redstuff]

Tahbilk Cabernet Shiraz 1996 Still a nice dark crimson, a hint of purple and dark brick red that's lighter at the edge, oak obvious on the nose. The palate has good depth, blackberry, dark cherry, a lick of licorice, some salami and well-integrated but obvious cedary, good quality oak. It finishes with some sour red cherry coming to the fore after the dark fruits, subtle mint, low acid, soft, drying tannins and good length. It's more medium than full-bodied but is no shrinking violet. I reckon it'd handle another 3+ years with aplomb if well-cellared. I like it, reckon it's a bloody good drop, though some may find the oak a bit excessive. Recommended, 91pts, very good+ value at about $20 for a good quality, 13yo wine with some complexity that's ready to drink now.

Cheers

daz

just received a few bottles of the Tahbilk cab shiraz 96 myself and have had two of them in the last week. I think it's awesome value for money at $20 considering its age and you know the bottles are in perfect condition when u buy straight from Tahbilk.

[Daryl Douglas]

Opened my last bottle of shiraz 03 after the last glass of cab shiraz 96. Nice wine, less oak, fruit more savoury, a touch of bitterness on the finish, 88pts. Just upped my rating of the cab shiraz 96 to 92+/100 - it is at the upper end of the very good scale. The 96 blend is cabernet-dominant and I can see why others have been expressing a preference for Tahbilk cab over the shiraz.

Cheers

daz

[monghead]

Went to one of the Sydney DM shiraz bonanzas

Unfortunately, spitoons placed right next to the tables where wine was being served, thus always packed with people. Thus, had to drink most wines, rather than taste.

Our favourites were:
- 04 Maurice O'Shea
- 01 and 05 St Henri
- 06 RWT
- 05 Graveyard
- 06 Mt Edelstone

And of course, the big daddy of them all...
- 04 Grange

Now, do they have one for cabernets???