School Night Drinks

[rooman]

Elderton Shiraz 1998 A much sweeter wine than I expected. Not really my style although the sweetness did diminish as we got to the end of the bottle.

Knappstein Enterprise Cab Sav 1996 Still quite a dark red with very little evidence of any browning around the rim. The tannins have softened up and the primary fruit has faded. Unfortunately the wine has yet to take on any depth of complexity. There are a few left in the cellar so I will probably leave them for another couple of years to see how they progress.

[Waiters Friend]

It's not a school night any more

The 2000 Leasingham Bin 61 Shiraz softened nicely after 24 hours, and was a thoroughly delightful wine. Still full-bodied, but the acid and tannins had softened slightly, and it all came together.

So, the school lesson for today (for me) is 'decant big reds a day before'.

I'm also quietly trying Heron Lake (MR) 2006 Chardonnay for the first time. Not a big well-known winery, and I collected a case of this wine from the owner (in Perth) today, along with his 2005 Cabernet (which I am also looking forward to trying). You might have trouble finding this wine around, and it seems that Rob has sold much of the next two vintages to China, so it will be rarer.

The 2006 Chardonnay includes the first product of some grafting to Burgundy clones a few years ago, along with Mendoza. This is a very good wine for the price (I think around $20 on the website), with a touch more savoury and complexity than the 2005. Don't overchill, or you will miss some of the richness and length of the wine. I'm impressed.

Do yourself a favour......if you can find it. Rob's email is on the website.

[Wayno]

It's not a school night any more

The 2000 Leasingham Bin 61 Shiraz softened nicely after 24 hours, and was a thoroughly delightful wine. Still full-bodied, but the acid and tannins had softened slightly, and it all came together.

Yep. Learnt that lesson with an Arakoon Doyen Shiraz 03 tonight. Horrible and OTT last night but a day later it actually resembled a respectable southern vales shiraz and was pretty drinkable, albeit massively alcoholic.

[Waiters Friend]

I suppose this raises the perennial question (yet again) of when to decant a wine.

In the case of the Leasingham 2000, I need not have been concerned about decanting and watching it wither - no chance.

I also have a couple of magnums that will be opened soon - and in all honesty, a long slow decant into a juice jug, then back into the bottle, on the night prior to the dinner party, seems 'the go'.

Any thoughts?

[monghead]

Twas like a school night for me last night, as am at work today

Had a stunner last night though.

2001 Jasper Hill Georgias Paddock Shiraz

Big, bold spicy shiraz. Deep dark fruits with smoky, meaty undertones. Some cigar/tobacco action, and fine tannins. Mouth-filling, with a tremendous persistence of nearly 15s.

Next step, the 2001 Emily's Paddock me thinks.

Cheers,

Monghead.

[rooman]

Mount Horrocks Clare Valley Riesling 2002

Displaying a most attractive youthful luminescent straw green colour, this outstanding example of Clare riesling opens with a fascinating array of musky scents of lime juice, ripe Josephine pear, crisp new season green apples, lightly-browned toast, minerals and honey with the merest hint of petroleum. In the mouth, the wine raises the bar another few notches delivering a precise and focussed attack, bucketloads of fresh fruit aka the nose, incredibly good mouthfeel, with beautifully-judged minerally acids providing a crisp and invigorating finish of considerable duration. A marvellous expression of this country's best region for this variety that only requires another few years to be at the peak of its powers and should last to the end of the next decade if well-stored. Secured by a screwcap and weighs in at 13% A/V. 93 points.

David

I ended up having an unexpected dinner recently with an old friend Rob Geddes. Rob has taken over Robin Bradley's Gold Book. Anyhow during the dinner we got onto discussing riesling. As I recall he is really impressed with the Mount Horrocks to the extent he would prefer to cellar it over the Grossets. Personally I have yet to try one. What is your overall opinion of the winery vis-a-vis other clare vineyards? Was this 02, a one off or it right up there with the Grossets, Steingarten and Hanlins (I really like the 02 version)?

[rooman]

Mount Horrocks Clare Valley Riesling 2002

Displaying a most attractive youthful luminescent straw green colour, this outstanding example of Clare riesling opens with a fascinating array of musky scents of lime juice, ripe Josephine pear, crisp new season green apples, lightly-browned toast, minerals and honey with the merest hint of petroleum. In the mouth, the wine raises the bar another few notches delivering a precise and focussed attack, bucketloads of fresh fruit aka the nose, incredibly good mouthfeel, with beautifully-judged minerally acids providing a crisp and invigorating finish of considerable duration. A marvellous expression of this country's best region for this variety that only requires another few years to be at the peak of its powers and should last to the end of the next decade if well-stored. Secured by a screwcap and weighs in at 13% A/V. 93 points.

David

I ended up having an unexpected dinner recently with an old friend Rob Geddes. Rob has taken over Robin Bradley's Gold Book. Anyhow during the dinner we got onto discussing riesling. As I recall he is really impressed with the Mount Horrocks to the extent he would prefer to cellar it over the Grossets. Personally I have yet to try one. What is your overall opinion of the winery vis-a-vis other clare vineyards? Was this 02, a one off or it right up there with the Grossets, Steingarten and Hanlins (I really like the 02 version)?

[griff]

Tonight was

Shingleback Black Bubbles Sparking Shiraz
Off the back of the Houghton's 2001 Sparkling Shiraz which was great last night we thought we would have this. I suppose it competes with the Fox Creek vixen in price and not bad at that level but I think the Vixen has the edge. Has the power of Mclaren shiraz. Perhaps some chocolate. A little dirty though. Agreeable.

cheers

Carl

[bacchaebabe]

Mount Horrocks Clare Valley Riesling 2002

Displaying a most attractive youthful luminescent straw green colour, this outstanding example of Clare riesling opens with a fascinating array of musky scents of lime juice, ripe Josephine pear, crisp new season green apples, lightly-browned toast, minerals and honey with the merest hint of petroleum. In the mouth, the wine raises the bar another few notches delivering a precise and focussed attack, bucketloads of fresh fruit aka the nose, incredibly good mouthfeel, with beautifully-judged minerally acids providing a crisp and invigorating finish of considerable duration. A marvellous expression of this country's best region for this variety that only requires another few years to be at the peak of its powers and should last to the end of the next decade if well-stored. Secured by a screwcap and weighs in at 13% A/V. 93 points.

David

I ended up having an unexpected dinner recently with an old friend Rob Geddes. Rob has taken over Robin Bradley's Gold Book. Anyhow during the dinner we got onto discussing riesling. As I recall he is really impressed with the Mount Horrocks to the extent he would prefer to cellar it over the Grossets. Personally I have yet to try one. What is your overall opinion of the winery vis-a-vis other clare vineyards? Was this 02, a one off or it right up there with the Grossets, Steingarten and Hanlins (I really like the 02 version)?

Well the winemakers of Grosset and Mount Horrocks are married so it's fair to think they may share a few riesling secrets.

[Jeremy Oliver]

Somebody has incorrectly identified brett in the Paradise IV Dardel Shiraz 2006. Made by Doug Neal, the guy who cleaned up most of the brett in a high-profile Geelong winery recently, this wine is indeed quite meaty, rustic and reductive (in a controlled way), but does not show any indication whatsoever of a presence of brett.

I make this comment because this is a brilliant wine from an emerging site and one that should inspire more Australian winemakers to delve into the possibilities of more savoury and sophisticated shiraz. I'd urge anyone to check it out, for sheer fruit quality, texture and balance of tannin, oak and acidity.

I fully realise the initial review was largely positive, but when words like brett get thrown around, they tend to generate significant reactions.

[griff]

Somebody has incorrectly identified brett in the Paradise IV Dardel Shiraz 2006. Made by Doug Neal, the guy who cleaned up most of the brett in a high-profile Geelong winery recently, this wine is indeed quite meaty, rustic and reductive (in a controlled way), but does not show any indication whatsoever of a presence of brett.

I make this comment because this is a brilliant wine from an emerging site and one that should inspire more Australian winemakers to delve into the possibilities of more savoury and sophisticated shiraz. I'd urge anyone to check it out, for sheer fruit quality, texture and balance of tannin, oak and acidity.

I fully realise the initial review was largely positive, but when words like brett get thrown around, they tend to generate significant reactions.

Time for another bottle then.

cheers

Carl

[griff]

Somebody has incorrectly identified brett in the Paradise IV Dardel Shiraz 2006. Made by Doug Neal, the guy who cleaned up most of the brett in a high-profile Geelong winery recently, this wine is indeed quite meaty, rustic and reductive (in a controlled way), but does not show any indication whatsoever of a presence of brett.

I make this comment because this is a brilliant wine from an emerging site and one that should inspire more Australian winemakers to delve into the possibilities of more savoury and sophisticated shiraz. I'd urge anyone to check it out, for sheer fruit quality, texture and balance of tannin, oak and acidity.

I fully realise the initial review was largely positive, but when words like brett get thrown around, they tend to generate significant reactions.

Brought the 2006 Paradise IV Dardel Shiraz to the Perth offline last night. Generally very well received and liked. Classy wine. Most people that stated that they can spot brett said that they thought it was present. Indeed most thought it a positive note at this stage of the wine's development.

So, this wine may be clean of brett. Zero levels even. But it sure tastes like a wine that has brett. So I refute the suggestion that this wine "does not show any indication whatsoever of a presence of brett". It may have been the power of suggestion for many of those present last night after the first few people commented but its the best I can do

I perhaps should add it was mid-way through proceedings so we may have been happy but not too far gone

cheers

Carl

[dlo]

Mount Horrocks Clare Valley Riesling 2002

Displaying a most attractive youthful luminescent straw green colour, this outstanding example of Clare riesling opens with a fascinating array of musky scents of lime juice, ripe Josephine pear, crisp new season green apples, lightly-browned toast, minerals and honey with the merest hint of petroleum. In the mouth, the wine raises the bar another few notches delivering a precise and focused attack, bucket loads of fresh fruit aka the nose, incredibly good mouth feel, with beautifully-judged minerally acids providing a crisp and invigorating finish of considerable duration. A marvelous expression of this country's best region for this variety that only requires another few years to be at the peak of its powers and should last to the end of the next decade if well-stored. Secured by a screw cap and weighs in at 13% A/V. 93 points.

David

I ended up having an unexpected dinner recently with an old friend Rob Geddes. Rob has taken over Robin Bradley's Gold Book. Anyhow during the dinner we got onto discussing riesling. As I recall he is really impressed with the Mount Horrocks to the extent he would prefer to cellar it over the Grossets. Personally I have yet to try one. What is your overall opinion of the winery vis-a-vis other clare vineyards? Was this 02, a one off or it right up there with the Grossets, Steingarten and Hanlins (I really like the 02 version)?

Sorry for the delay in coming back to you, Roo, I just now saw your question.

So what do I think of Stephanie Toole's Riesling's? Consistently excellent to outstanding with 8 - 12 year drinking windows. I've tried them for many years now - back to the mid-nineties, IIRC. As a rule, I'd cellar these with far more confidence than Petaluma, for instance. I rate them on par with the better producers - definitely in the top twenty percent. The Cordon Cut Riesling is also well worth seeking out.

Oh, and I just noticed, my note on the 2002 is somewhat ambiguous. My "last to the end of the next decade" should read "last for another decade".

[dlo]

Mount Horrocks Clare Valley Riesling 2002

Displaying a most attractive youthful luminescent straw green colour, this outstanding example of Clare riesling opens with a fascinating array of musky scents of lime juice, ripe Josephine pear, crisp new season green apples, lightly-browned toast, minerals and honey with the merest hint of petroleum. In the mouth, the wine raises the bar another few notches delivering a precise and focussed attack, bucketloads of fresh fruit aka the nose, incredibly good mouthfeel, with beautifully-judged minerally acids providing a crisp and invigorating finish of considerable duration. A marvellous expression of this country's best region for this variety that only requires another few years to be at the peak of its powers and should last for another decade if well-stored. Secured by a screwcap and weighs in at 13% A/V. 93 points.

[rooman]

david

thanks for the feedback. most of the spare cash recently has gone into adding some german rieslings to the cellar. as a percentage of the overall varieties laid down, riesling is now becoming fairly dominant. nevertheless i have calculated using the latest mathamatical science available that you can never have too much of the stuff. based on those calculations, I figure it is time to add some more.

cheers
mark

[Wayno]

Warrabilla Durif 2006
An alcoholic beast but it hides it quite well, with a nice sense of balance. That said, I'm not sure what to make of this as it seems fairly anonymous and lacking in varietal distinctiveness. Then again, I'm hardly a Durif expert so go figure. Good.

[monghead]

After 2 AFNs:

2007 Seppelt Jaluka Chardonnay- Very nice lemony/melony drink with hints of pine nuts and ash. Has a minerality to it, with a hint of creamy butter. Quite delectable.

2006 Bourgogne of some sort... ? Mucien- Not the best. Tight, unyielding, tannic, short, and a little oxidised? Did not get a good look, now back from restaurant...

Had a couple of Cooper's Sparkling Ales instead...

Anyways,

Monnghead.

[Wayno]

After 2 AFNs:

2007 Seppelt Jaluka Chardonnay- Very nice lemony/melony drink with hints of pine nuts and ash. Has a minerality to it, with a hint of creamy butter. Quite delectable.

2006 Bourgogne of some sort... ? Mucien- Not the best. Tight, unyielding, tannic, short, and a little oxidised? Did not get a good look, now back from restaurant...

Had a couple of Cooper's Sparkling Ales instead...

Anyways,

Monnghead.

Pine nuts and ash my flavour combination of choice.