Hi Good Peoples,
Its that time of the week once again. Please let us know what you have been drinking over the past week. Lists, vibes, impressions or tasting notes all welcome.
Sin... make that Sunday.....
Had my first Central Otago Pinot - a 2007 Lowburn Ferry (thanks to SueNZ's advice). Almost as good as losing my virginity. It took me 2 days and 3 sessions to drink the bottle - it's a wine you have to sip rather than swill because its got masses of fruit and just seems to develop and explode in the glass. I've always thought pinots were a bit wishy washy up to now (being an unabashed Mclaren Vale shiraz fan) but I can see a need to have a few of these in the cellar. It's almost worth mortgaging the house to drink this style - you can see why they put the Burgundians to the test....
cheers
Luke
cheers
Luke
If you can remember what a wine is like the next day you didn't drink enough of it
Peynaud
Peynaud
-
Dave Dewhurst
- Posts: 283
- Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2006 2:03 pm
- Location: Perth, WA
Bersano Dolcetto D'Alba, 1995, lovely leathery, smoky old wine with rising redcurrant fruit and extraordinary length for such a light-to-medium bodied wine. I guess that accepted wisdon seemingly is to drink dolcettos young, but this particular wine has matured very well indeed. Just lovely.
Bersano Barbaresco, 1990, even more awesome than the above - rampant tar on the nose with some underlying floral perfume. Quite primary still in some ways with dominant savoury black cherry fruit, very smooth and silky, with touches of earthiness and mushroom and fully resolved tannins. Soft and velvety in the mouth with incredible length, power and finesse. Magic stuff.
San Vincente, Rioja, 2003, great depth and fruit power, black cherries and blackberries wrapped in enveloping dusty dark chocolate and mocha. Still a pup with ages to go. Seems a quite modern style and I rather enjoyed it.
Balgownie Goldfields Shiraz, 2006, first night this seemed quite light on the fruit side, dominated by vanillary oak and quite short but after 24 hours, the half bottle's-worth saved had transformed with much greater blackberry fruit depth, with moderate but smooth chocolatey, dusty tannins and reasonable length with the oak much more integrated. Relatively simple at the moment but will be interesting to see where this goes.
Also tasted a bunch of Picardy wines during the week. Very impressed with the 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, a very different style to both other Pemberton's I have had and way way better than the tropical fruity SB and SBS/SSB from Margaret River. Much crisper, cleaner flavours but with a lovely creaminess to it. The 2007 Chardonnay was aslo impressive, crisp, nutty and great length. The 2007 Shiraz and 2007 Merlot-Cabs were up to their usual high standard. The highlight of the tasting though was a vertical of the 1999-2003 Shiraz, showing a good range in style from varied vintage conditions. My favourites of these were the 99 to 01, with the former quite light and leathery and the 00/01 much more powerful and full bodied, but developing good aged character. Take home message was leave the shiraz at least 8-10 years.
OK, that's enough drivel from me....
Cheers
Dave
Bersano Barbaresco, 1990, even more awesome than the above - rampant tar on the nose with some underlying floral perfume. Quite primary still in some ways with dominant savoury black cherry fruit, very smooth and silky, with touches of earthiness and mushroom and fully resolved tannins. Soft and velvety in the mouth with incredible length, power and finesse. Magic stuff.
San Vincente, Rioja, 2003, great depth and fruit power, black cherries and blackberries wrapped in enveloping dusty dark chocolate and mocha. Still a pup with ages to go. Seems a quite modern style and I rather enjoyed it.
Balgownie Goldfields Shiraz, 2006, first night this seemed quite light on the fruit side, dominated by vanillary oak and quite short but after 24 hours, the half bottle's-worth saved had transformed with much greater blackberry fruit depth, with moderate but smooth chocolatey, dusty tannins and reasonable length with the oak much more integrated. Relatively simple at the moment but will be interesting to see where this goes.
Also tasted a bunch of Picardy wines during the week. Very impressed with the 2008 Sauvignon Blanc, a very different style to both other Pemberton's I have had and way way better than the tropical fruity SB and SBS/SSB from Margaret River. Much crisper, cleaner flavours but with a lovely creaminess to it. The 2007 Chardonnay was aslo impressive, crisp, nutty and great length. The 2007 Shiraz and 2007 Merlot-Cabs were up to their usual high standard. The highlight of the tasting though was a vertical of the 1999-2003 Shiraz, showing a good range in style from varied vintage conditions. My favourites of these were the 99 to 01, with the former quite light and leathery and the 00/01 much more powerful and full bodied, but developing good aged character. Take home message was leave the shiraz at least 8-10 years.
OK, that's enough drivel from me....
Cheers
Dave
Knocked over quite a few bottles this week, drinking with the family on two seperate occasions.
At Mum and Dad's place early in the week we opened another of Dominique Laurent's 1996 Serie Rare, this time a 1er from Vosne-Romanee, Les Rouges. Like the others I've tried, it needs a good hour of breathing to come around and then looks very good indeed for a day thereafter. Didn't take any notes but it would rate somewhere in the very high eighties.
Two bottles of Mount Horrock's 2002 Riesling hit the mark. TN - 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.
My daughter turned 20 this weekend and we took her out to the Ottoman Turkish restaurant (food was mostly very good, the service, terrific). She has developed quite a taste for Cabernet-based wines blends, so I opened a bottle of Peter Lehmann 1992 Mentor (Excellent, 90 points) and a 1996 Katnook Estate Cabernet (still needs time, eerily like a Bordeaux on the nose and lovely on the palate, blackcurrant and sweet earth - 91 points). We finished off with a half bottle of Seppelt's gloriously rich and ancient Show Muscat DP 63 (92 points).
At Mum and Dad's place early in the week we opened another of Dominique Laurent's 1996 Serie Rare, this time a 1er from Vosne-Romanee, Les Rouges. Like the others I've tried, it needs a good hour of breathing to come around and then looks very good indeed for a day thereafter. Didn't take any notes but it would rate somewhere in the very high eighties.
Two bottles of Mount Horrock's 2002 Riesling hit the mark. TN - 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.
My daughter turned 20 this weekend and we took her out to the Ottoman Turkish restaurant (food was mostly very good, the service, terrific). She has developed quite a taste for Cabernet-based wines blends, so I opened a bottle of Peter Lehmann 1992 Mentor (Excellent, 90 points) and a 1996 Katnook Estate Cabernet (still needs time, eerily like a Bordeaux on the nose and lovely on the palate, blackcurrant and sweet earth - 91 points). We finished off with a half bottle of Seppelt's gloriously rich and ancient Show Muscat DP 63 (92 points).
Cheers,
David
David
It's a chilly, drizzly Sunday 'arvo here in Adelaide.
We finished our 8km walk just as the drizzle started.
Now enjoying a nice bottle of 2008 R Wines Permutations Pinot Noir, with some creamy goats cheese, a surprisingly nice match
I have reviewed this wine previously, today we are just enjoying it without thinking too much.
Cheers
John
We finished our 8km walk just as the drizzle started.
Now enjoying a nice bottle of 2008 R Wines Permutations Pinot Noir, with some creamy goats cheese, a surprisingly nice match
I have reviewed this wine previously, today we are just enjoying it without thinking too much.
Cheers
John
2004 Mitolo Serpico
Good rich cabernet.
2003 Rockford Basket Press
Yummo. Best Rockford I have had for ages. To me, at its peak.
2006 Mudbrick Vineyard Shepherds Point Vineyard merlot
NZ. A gift. Rather good, better second day. (And I dont drink merlot)
1998 Katnook Odyssey Cabernet
Very good. At its peak, but will go a bit.
2002 Serafino cabernet
McLaren Vale. At its peak and drinking perfectly. A very good wine.
2004 Grant Burge Filsell
Ageing well, and drinking fine.
1998 d'Arenberg Dead Arm
Mellowed, and drinking well. Has come together.
2002 Willows Bonesetter shiraz
About its peak. Just bordering on too much oak, bit still a good drink.
2005 Kalleske shiraz
Very good, but needs a little bit of time.
2005 Schubert Gooseyard Block shiraz
Come together well, since my last bottle. Preferred to the Kalleske!
2004 Kalleske shiraz
Wow, yummo. Really top drinking.
Good rich cabernet.
2003 Rockford Basket Press
Yummo. Best Rockford I have had for ages. To me, at its peak.
2006 Mudbrick Vineyard Shepherds Point Vineyard merlot
NZ. A gift. Rather good, better second day. (And I dont drink merlot)
1998 Katnook Odyssey Cabernet
Very good. At its peak, but will go a bit.
2002 Serafino cabernet
McLaren Vale. At its peak and drinking perfectly. A very good wine.
2004 Grant Burge Filsell
Ageing well, and drinking fine.
1998 d'Arenberg Dead Arm
Mellowed, and drinking well. Has come together.
2002 Willows Bonesetter shiraz
About its peak. Just bordering on too much oak, bit still a good drink.
2005 Kalleske shiraz
Very good, but needs a little bit of time.
2005 Schubert Gooseyard Block shiraz
Come together well, since my last bottle. Preferred to the Kalleske!
2004 Kalleske shiraz
Wow, yummo. Really top drinking.
When not drinking a fine red, I'm a cardboard claret man!
Brucer wrote:
2003 Rockford Basket Press
Yummo. Best Rockford I have had for ages. To me, at its peak.
I must say the 03 BP was good in a 'drink early' sort of way, when I had my very few bottles of it. Very tasty from recollection.
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.
Rockford Basket Press shiraz 2002
Aniseed, violet, molasses on the nose.
Molasses, blackcurrant, prune, very full and thick in the mouth, beautiful, soft but substantial tannins following through from start to finish.
This was a wonderful wine; the wholesomeness of a great stout in what was unmistakably a red wine.
Penfolds Bin 707 1996.
Rich in colour. Caramel, vanilla on the nose.
Palate; still tight, closed, very muscular, tannic backbone, hint of mint, liquorice, great length, excellent grip, the tannins corporeal and grainy, very full and substantial mouthfeel.
All about the grape and not about the earth.
Penfolds Bin 389 1998.
Chocolate and blackberry nose, beautful chocolatey tannins, gravelly mouthfeel; the chocolate bittersweet, excelletn finish, long and tight.
A real mouthfull.
Chapel Hill shiraz 1998.
Coffee, blackcurrant on the nose.
Liquorice and blackberry on the palate, silky tannins.
Good, but far from great, and not a lot of legs in it.
Wynns Michael shiraz 1998.
Disappointing. Lacking weight, lacking spine, lacking substance.
Aniseed, violet, molasses on the nose.
Molasses, blackcurrant, prune, very full and thick in the mouth, beautiful, soft but substantial tannins following through from start to finish.
This was a wonderful wine; the wholesomeness of a great stout in what was unmistakably a red wine.
Penfolds Bin 707 1996.
Rich in colour. Caramel, vanilla on the nose.
Palate; still tight, closed, very muscular, tannic backbone, hint of mint, liquorice, great length, excellent grip, the tannins corporeal and grainy, very full and substantial mouthfeel.
All about the grape and not about the earth.
Penfolds Bin 389 1998.
Chocolate and blackberry nose, beautful chocolatey tannins, gravelly mouthfeel; the chocolate bittersweet, excelletn finish, long and tight.
A real mouthfull.
Chapel Hill shiraz 1998.
Coffee, blackcurrant on the nose.
Liquorice and blackberry on the palate, silky tannins.
Good, but far from great, and not a lot of legs in it.
Wynns Michael shiraz 1998.
Disappointing. Lacking weight, lacking spine, lacking substance.
leconfield coonawarra cab sav 2003...very good, brimming with berries and length...packed a real punch actually...very enjoyable. cant seem to get it out of my head that it would be perfect with a lamb ragu/stew dish.
woodlands 2006 cab merlot - horrible... lacked everthing and ended up down the sink. still seathing from that one.
morris premium tokay...mmm like liquid gold, a great note to end the night. thanks for the tip in the tokay thread everyone. will be trying the campbells and seppelts soon
woodlands 2006 cab merlot - horrible... lacked everthing and ended up down the sink. still seathing from that one.
morris premium tokay...mmm like liquid gold, a great note to end the night. thanks for the tip in the tokay thread everyone. will be trying the campbells and seppelts soon
Picardy tasting. Reckon these guys are really starting to hit their straps. Have been to many tastings and was not so impressed, this just confirms my theory that it’s just a matter of time before Picardy vines age and become classics in time. Certainly no doubting the Pannell family skill and knowledge. Though usually not my favourite styles (Pinot, Merlot driven colder climate wines), think I will be purchasing some for future development.
Pinot Noir 2007 – the best I’ve tasted so far from these guys. Really starting to form lots of character and class definitely will be an improver in my limited Pinot experience opinion.
Chardonnay 2007 – Outstanding. If I tasted it blind would have guessed 2007 MossWood. Has incredible similarity to it but if anything maybe a touch lighter. Will improve in 2 – 5 years.
Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon. 2007 – fragrant fragrant mmmmm. Very uplifting and fresh nose oozing out of the glass. The palette not yet complete where tannin a bit up front, certainly will improve to be quite a stunning drop. Fruitier Bordeaux style. My WOTN
Shiraz vertical 99 to 07 – 99 ready drinking. 01 not ready still improving should be very good, 03 was great to me, 07 will be quite good also in time (the rest not as good IMO).
Wynns BL 2004 – 11th or so bottle. Still don’t get this wine. Started incredible from release, went to almost nothing (maybe the strange Cabernet hole they sometimes get into) to now just a very typical but very average Coonawarra cab. Not bad just nothing great or wow. Tried again last night to see how it develops, was light slightly fragrant but flat. Tonight it was a bit the same, is not finished development faze but was almost watery in texture if that makes sense. ????? Confusing wine for me.
Pinot Noir 2007 – the best I’ve tasted so far from these guys. Really starting to form lots of character and class definitely will be an improver in my limited Pinot experience opinion.
Chardonnay 2007 – Outstanding. If I tasted it blind would have guessed 2007 MossWood. Has incredible similarity to it but if anything maybe a touch lighter. Will improve in 2 – 5 years.
Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon. 2007 – fragrant fragrant mmmmm. Very uplifting and fresh nose oozing out of the glass. The palette not yet complete where tannin a bit up front, certainly will improve to be quite a stunning drop. Fruitier Bordeaux style. My WOTN
Shiraz vertical 99 to 07 – 99 ready drinking. 01 not ready still improving should be very good, 03 was great to me, 07 will be quite good also in time (the rest not as good IMO).
Wynns BL 2004 – 11th or so bottle. Still don’t get this wine. Started incredible from release, went to almost nothing (maybe the strange Cabernet hole they sometimes get into) to now just a very typical but very average Coonawarra cab. Not bad just nothing great or wow. Tried again last night to see how it develops, was light slightly fragrant but flat. Tonight it was a bit the same, is not finished development faze but was almost watery in texture if that makes sense. ????? Confusing wine for me.
Picardy tasting. Reckon these guys are really starting to hit their straps. Have been to many tastings and was not so impressed, this just confirms my theory that it’s just a matter of time before Picardy vines age and become classics in time. Certainly no doubting the Pannell family skill and knowledge. Though usually not my favourite styles (Pinot, Merlot driven colder climate wines), think I will be purchasing some for future development.
Pinot Noir 2007 – the best I’ve tasted so far from these guys. Really starting to form lots of character and class definitely will be an improver in my limited Pinot experience opinion.
Chardonnay 2007 – Outstanding. If I tasted it blind would have guessed 2007 MossWood. Has incredible similarity to it but if anything maybe a touch lighter. Will improve in 2 – 5 years.
Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon. 2007 – fragrant fragrant mmmmm. Very uplifting and fresh nose oozing out of the glass. The palette not yet complete where tannin a bit up front, certainly will improve to be quite a stunning drop. Fruitier Bordeaux style. My WOTN
Shiraz vertical 99 to 07 – 99 ready drinking. 01 not ready still improving should be very good, 03 was great to me, 07 will be quite good also in time (the rest not as good IMO).
Also
Wynns BL 2004 – 11th or so bottle. Still don’t get this wine. Started incredible from release, went to almost nothing (maybe the strange Cabernet hole they sometimes get into) to now just a very typical but very average Coonawarra cab. Not bad just nothing great or wow. Tried again last night to see how it develops, was light slightly fragrant but flat. Tonight it was a bit the same, is not finished development faze but was almost watery in texture if that makes sense. ????? Confusing wine for me.
Pinot Noir 2007 – the best I’ve tasted so far from these guys. Really starting to form lots of character and class definitely will be an improver in my limited Pinot experience opinion.
Chardonnay 2007 – Outstanding. If I tasted it blind would have guessed 2007 MossWood. Has incredible similarity to it but if anything maybe a touch lighter. Will improve in 2 – 5 years.
Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon. 2007 – fragrant fragrant mmmmm. Very uplifting and fresh nose oozing out of the glass. The palette not yet complete where tannin a bit up front, certainly will improve to be quite a stunning drop. Fruitier Bordeaux style. My WOTN
Shiraz vertical 99 to 07 – 99 ready drinking. 01 not ready still improving should be very good, 03 was great to me, 07 will be quite good also in time (the rest not as good IMO).
Also
Wynns BL 2004 – 11th or so bottle. Still don’t get this wine. Started incredible from release, went to almost nothing (maybe the strange Cabernet hole they sometimes get into) to now just a very typical but very average Coonawarra cab. Not bad just nothing great or wow. Tried again last night to see how it develops, was light slightly fragrant but flat. Tonight it was a bit the same, is not finished development faze but was almost watery in texture if that makes sense. ????? Confusing wine for me.
orpheus wrote:Penfolds Bin 707 1996.
Rich in colour. Caramel, vanilla on the nose.
Palate; still tight, closed, very muscular, tannic backbone, hint of mint, liquorice, great length, excellent grip, the tannins corporeal and grainy, very full and substantial mouthfeel.
All about the grape and not about the earth.
I am intrigued by your last comment. Could you elaborate please?
I haven't had this wine for a while but it wowed me a few years ago and I can only imagine that it has improved.
cheers
Carl
Bartenders are supposed to have people skills. Or was it people are supposed to have bartending skills?
orpheus wrote:Rockford Basket Press shiraz 2002
Aniseed, violet, molasses on the nose.
Molasses, blackcurrant, prune, very full and thick in the mouth, beautiful, soft but substantial tannins following through from start to finish.
This was a wonderful wine; the wholesomeness of a great stout in what was unmistakably a red wine.
I remember quite a lot of dubious community reviews on this wine a few years back regarding it being over-ripe and marginally flabby.
Recently the reviews seem great ... sounds like it is coming around.
“There are no standards of taste in wine. Each mans own taste is the standard, and a majority vote cannot decide for him or in any slightest degree affect the supremacy of his own standard". Mark Twain.
griff wrote:orpheus wrote:Penfolds Bin 707 1996.
Rich in colour. Caramel, vanilla on the nose.
Palate; still tight, closed, very muscular, tannic backbone, hint of mint, liquorice, great length, excellent grip, the tannins corporeal and grainy, very full and substantial mouthfeel.
All about the grape and not about the earth.
I am intrigued by your last comment. Could you elaborate please?
I haven't had this wine for a while but it wowed me a few years ago and I can only imagine that it has improved.
cheers
Carl
Me too.
Roger
-
Phil Wilkins
- Posts: 95
- Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2003 7:25 am
- Location: Cambridge, UK.
Three Chateauneuf’s – Charvin, Mon Aieul & Clos des Papes or Friday, Saturday & Sunday's wines which were worth noting...
Domaine Charvin 2000
I last had this at the Jannase/Charvin off-line where it got a little lost in the line up and this bottle drunk on its own is a nice indulgence. Two hours in a magnum decanter. A very traditionally made Chateauneuf showing soft red berries, ground pepper & touches of leather with liquorice, olive & violet. The palate throws in sweet textured fruits with good purity, low acidity & tannin to the mix. Very tasty & drinking well now! 14.5%vol. 91pts
Pierre Usseglio Cuvee Mon Aieul 1999
My first try of this vintage and I have to say that it is the most backward & tightly wound 1999 CdP I’ve had in the past 24 months. Bags of dark cherry/plum fruit, beef, melted liquorice and leather followed by mineral, tar and spice. The palate is young, savoury, still tight-knit and highly structured with its dense and brooding fruit, tannic backbone & cleansing acidity - a surprise for the vintage. In fact I had to do a double take at the label thinking I ‘d open a bottle of the ’01 by mistake, but no. I’d be up for more but reading it seems a very variable bottling so perhaps I hit lucky with this bottle??!! 14%vol. 92+pts
Clos des Papes 1995
My first bottle of the stunning 1995 for seven months. Decanted for 90 minutes and what a nose teetering right on the edge of primary & secondary and so beautifully mixed at the moment. Ripe red berries & purple stone fruit with roasted beef, dried herbs, spice, tar, earth and brier – very complex indeed. How anyone can’t like this would be beyond me. The palate is spicy and multi layered with the requisite texture, balance, depth & structure. Gorgeous, just gorgeous! This still has another 15 years to change and evolve. Very, very impressive! 14%vol. 94pts
Domaine Charvin 2000
I last had this at the Jannase/Charvin off-line where it got a little lost in the line up and this bottle drunk on its own is a nice indulgence. Two hours in a magnum decanter. A very traditionally made Chateauneuf showing soft red berries, ground pepper & touches of leather with liquorice, olive & violet. The palate throws in sweet textured fruits with good purity, low acidity & tannin to the mix. Very tasty & drinking well now! 14.5%vol. 91pts
Pierre Usseglio Cuvee Mon Aieul 1999
My first try of this vintage and I have to say that it is the most backward & tightly wound 1999 CdP I’ve had in the past 24 months. Bags of dark cherry/plum fruit, beef, melted liquorice and leather followed by mineral, tar and spice. The palate is young, savoury, still tight-knit and highly structured with its dense and brooding fruit, tannic backbone & cleansing acidity - a surprise for the vintage. In fact I had to do a double take at the label thinking I ‘d open a bottle of the ’01 by mistake, but no. I’d be up for more but reading it seems a very variable bottling so perhaps I hit lucky with this bottle??!! 14%vol. 92+pts
Clos des Papes 1995
My first bottle of the stunning 1995 for seven months. Decanted for 90 minutes and what a nose teetering right on the edge of primary & secondary and so beautifully mixed at the moment. Ripe red berries & purple stone fruit with roasted beef, dried herbs, spice, tar, earth and brier – very complex indeed. How anyone can’t like this would be beyond me. The palate is spicy and multi layered with the requisite texture, balance, depth & structure. Gorgeous, just gorgeous! This still has another 15 years to change and evolve. Very, very impressive! 14%vol. 94pts
Mt Langi Cliff Edge Pinot Gris 2008- Nashi pear, some rosewater, mid palate lychee and some spice. All with great acidity & coming in at 12.9%. It's still unmistakabely Gris, not Grigio. I'm pretty certain this will gain more mid-palate Gris weight in a couple of years and the acid structure will hold it. I like now though. Nothing hot or flabby here.
Windy Peak 2008 Pinot Noir- well, its all been said really. This is real pinot at $11. Best bottle I've tried of it yet. Liked the sappy notes, thought they were in balance. Am wondering whether some people find sap in Pinot too "green". ps- My favourite Pinots don't have much of it.
Cleanskin SE Oz Chardonnay 2007- this had a bronze medal stuck on it, and no, that's not why I bought it, I don't really care much for medals, shows or the 20 point show system, that's just me. Thing is, at $5.50 it had some nice butterscotch and spice to back up the usual suspects, peach & melon. Still quite light on its feet. I was not cashed up and this gave me more than I had hoped for by a long way.
Windy Peak 2008 Pinot Noir- well, its all been said really. This is real pinot at $11. Best bottle I've tried of it yet. Liked the sappy notes, thought they were in balance. Am wondering whether some people find sap in Pinot too "green". ps- My favourite Pinots don't have much of it.
Cleanskin SE Oz Chardonnay 2007- this had a bronze medal stuck on it, and no, that's not why I bought it, I don't really care much for medals, shows or the 20 point show system, that's just me. Thing is, at $5.50 it had some nice butterscotch and spice to back up the usual suspects, peach & melon. Still quite light on its feet. I was not cashed up and this gave me more than I had hoped for by a long way.
As always, IMVHO. And Cheers
jeremy- http://winewilleatitself.blogspot.com/
jeremy- http://winewilleatitself.blogspot.com/
RogerPike wrote:griff wrote:orpheus wrote:Penfolds Bin 707 1996.
Rich in colour. Caramel, vanilla on the nose.
Palate; still tight, closed, very muscular, tannic backbone, hint of mint, liquorice, great length, excellent grip, the tannins corporeal and grainy, very full and substantial mouthfeel.
All about the grape and not about the earth.
I am intrigued by your last comment. Could you elaborate please?
I haven't had this wine for a while but it wowed me a few years ago and I can only imagine that it has improved.
cheers
Carl
Me too.
Roger
Could orpheus mean that the 707 was still very primary, fruit driven, without the secondary earthy (mushroom, truffle, leather, compost, cigar smoke) characteristics that are seen in older wines?
On that note, why is it that some wines develop that aged character within 7-12 years, whilst others still seem extremely primary at 13-15 years?
Is it all about storage conditions?
Monghead.
And so, the Sunday wine...
1999 Wendouree Shiraz Malbec
Speaking of wines that are still very primary at 10 years of age, this is one. Masses of dark berries, cherries and pepper laced with cedary oak and hints of cloves. Full bodied and mouth-filling, the wine still had a fair whack of chalky tannins. Would probably last (and hopefully improve) for another 10-15 years.
Cheers,
Monghead.
1999 Wendouree Shiraz Malbec
Speaking of wines that are still very primary at 10 years of age, this is one. Masses of dark berries, cherries and pepper laced with cedary oak and hints of cloves. Full bodied and mouth-filling, the wine still had a fair whack of chalky tannins. Would probably last (and hopefully improve) for another 10-15 years.
Cheers,
Monghead.
A few impressions using a patented emoticon rating scale:
Rockburn Central Otago Chardonnay 07 -
Villa Maria Ihamatao Single Vineyard Verdelho 08 -
Villa Maria Clifford Bay Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 08 -
Villa Maria Taylor's Pass Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 08 -
Villa Maria Ihamatao Single Vineyard Gewurtztraminer 08 -
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Noir 07 -
Villa Maria Seddon Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 07 -
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Syrah 07 -
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Syrah/Viognier 06 -
Overall the wines I tasted at villa were pretty good. The Seddon pinot is a super wine imo, its just a bit pricy ($58 ). The Clifford Bay sauv bl. is clearly a decent drink, with lots of character, its just not character that's to my taste (too vegetal and herbaceous). The verdelho is worth a try.
Rockburn Central Otago Chardonnay 07 -
Villa Maria Ihamatao Single Vineyard Verdelho 08 -
Villa Maria Clifford Bay Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 08 -
Villa Maria Taylor's Pass Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 08 -
Villa Maria Ihamatao Single Vineyard Gewurtztraminer 08 -
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Noir 07 -
Villa Maria Seddon Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 07 -
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Syrah 07 -
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Syrah/Viognier 06 -
Overall the wines I tasted at villa were pretty good. The Seddon pinot is a super wine imo, its just a bit pricy ($58 ). The Clifford Bay sauv bl. is clearly a decent drink, with lots of character, its just not character that's to my taste (too vegetal and herbaceous). The verdelho is worth a try.
Last edited by Bick on Mon May 18, 2009 7:44 am, edited 1 time in total.
Cheers,
Mike
Mike
monghead wrote:RogerPike wrote:griff wrote:orpheus wrote:Penfolds Bin 707 1996.
Rich in colour. Caramel, vanilla on the nose.
Palate; still tight, closed, very muscular, tannic backbone, hint of mint, liquorice, great length, excellent grip, the tannins corporeal and grainy, very full and substantial mouthfeel.
All about the grape and not about the earth.
I am intrigued by your last comment. Could you elaborate please?
I haven't had this wine for a while but it wowed me a few years ago and I can only imagine that it has improved.
cheers
Carl
Me too.
Roger
Could orpheus mean that the 707 was still very primary, fruit driven, without the secondary earthy (mushroom, truffle, leather, compost, cigar smoke) characteristics that are seen in older wines?
On that note, why is it that some wines develop that aged character within 7-12 years, whilst others still seem extremely primary at 13-15 years?
Is it all about storage conditions?
Monghead.
Mong
You are completely correct. I had this wine last year at a lunch last year. The theme of the lunch was 96 Cab Savs. The 707 was still so primary it was almost a complete waste of time opening it. It was all red berry fruit and as yet had taken on absolutely no characteristics one might expect to find in aged wine, no earthiness, layering complexity, nothing. This wine is going to be incredibily looooooong lived and personally I would not bother opening another one for at least 5 years.
Mark
Bick wrote
Love it, the new emoticon scoring system!
A few impressions using a patented emoticon rating scale:
Rockburn Central Otago Chardonnay 07 -
Villa Maria Ihamatao Single Vineyard Verdelho 08 -
Villa Maria Clifford Bay Reserve Sauvignon Blanc 08 -
Villa Maria Taylor's Pass Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 08 -
Villa Maria Ihamatao Single Vineyard Gewurtztraminer 08 -
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Noir 07 -
Villa Maria Seddon Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 07 -
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Syrah 07 -
Villa Maria Cellar Selection Syrah/Viognier 06 -
Overall the wines I tasted at villa were pretty good. The Seddon pinot is a super wine imo, its just a bit pricy ($58 ). The Clifford Bay sauv bl. is clearly a decent drink, with lots of character, its just not character that's to my taste (too vegetal and herbaceous). The verdelho is worth a try.
_________________
Love it, the new emoticon scoring system!
As always, IMVHO. And Cheers
jeremy- http://winewilleatitself.blogspot.com/
jeremy- http://winewilleatitself.blogspot.com/
The PEnfolds Bin 707;
Rooman and MOnghead, your answers are more articulate than the answer I would have come up with myself!
That is what I was driving at. It will certainly be very long-lived. I had the same feeling about the 1990 Grange when I tasted it at 60 Darling Street at an extraordinary tasting many years ago (probably back in about 1996?).
Incredibly impressive wines, the kind you would dream up in a test-tube, but lacking anything that speaks of the earth it comes from.
The direct contrast at that tasting were the two Lindemans Hunter River burgundies; 1983 and 1987, both drinking absolutely magnificently at that time, smelling of eucalypt and bird poo, absolutely full of character and sense of place.
Five or so years later, I bought the 1987, and it was a shadow of its earlier self.
Rooman and MOnghead, your answers are more articulate than the answer I would have come up with myself!
That is what I was driving at. It will certainly be very long-lived. I had the same feeling about the 1990 Grange when I tasted it at 60 Darling Street at an extraordinary tasting many years ago (probably back in about 1996?).
Incredibly impressive wines, the kind you would dream up in a test-tube, but lacking anything that speaks of the earth it comes from.
The direct contrast at that tasting were the two Lindemans Hunter River burgundies; 1983 and 1987, both drinking absolutely magnificently at that time, smelling of eucalypt and bird poo, absolutely full of character and sense of place.
Five or so years later, I bought the 1987, and it was a shadow of its earlier self.
Catching Thieves Cabernet Merlot 2007
I enjoyed this. A very approachable wine (I didn't give it much air) and good value at the price ($16). I did think it had started to fade on the second night?
Seppelt Victoria Shiraz 2004
I picked up 6 bottles of this last year for about $12 a bottle. They were languishing on the shelves at one of the big retailers. This is a pretty decent wine and would be good value at $20 a bottle. I have some of the 2004 Chalambar put away and am expecting big things from it when I get around to opening a bottle. I only wish I’d had a bit of a splurge and bought some of the St Peters before it sold out.
I enjoyed this. A very approachable wine (I didn't give it much air) and good value at the price ($16). I did think it had started to fade on the second night?
Seppelt Victoria Shiraz 2004
I picked up 6 bottles of this last year for about $12 a bottle. They were languishing on the shelves at one of the big retailers. This is a pretty decent wine and would be good value at $20 a bottle. I have some of the 2004 Chalambar put away and am expecting big things from it when I get around to opening a bottle. I only wish I’d had a bit of a splurge and bought some of the St Peters before it sold out.
We had our annual outing to the Norman Lindsy Wine and Jazz festival. This is always a great way to spend an afternoon, but the highlight has now become the dinner back at our house. This year we did a full, sit-down dinner for 30 people and served Beef Chateaubriand and Supreme Chicken Cordon Bleu with Brie cheese. Dessert was Strawberries Romanoff or Apple and Pear Tart.
As host I was kept pretty busy so I only have a vague recollection of some of the wines. Memorable wine highlights (OK, the ones I remember) were:
1988 Yalumba Menzies Cab Sav (magnum) – a wine at its peak. Great Coonawarra cab
1995 Browns of Padthaway Shiraz (magnum) – this still had the $25 price tag on it. Superb value
1985 Wolf Blass Black Label (magnum) – again, as good as it’s going to get, and that was pretty good.
1993 Lindemans Pyrus (magnum) – not a bad wine but dissapointing after the previous magnums
NV Chambers Rutherglen Muscat (Flagon) – the wine bargain of the world. The reverse wine-snobbery of serving wine out of a flagon at a dinner party appeals to me. The muscat speaks for itself.
2004 Lowe Zinfandel – oh yeah. I love Zin and this is a great example
1996 Orlando St Hugo Cab Sav – superb. Glad a friend bought this, I might consider opening the couple I have in the cellar, but there is no rush.
2005 Jacobs Creek Centenary Hill Shiraz – ok, it was getting late when we opened this but the friend who bought it thought the bottle may have been heat affected so we couldn’t really cellar it. This was a cleanskin sample (and it wasn't heat affected one bit). It is a deep dark wine of considerable length and intensity. Black currant and leather and smooth and should have years of development ahead of it.
A side note on the last 2 wines, with one being ‘Orlando’ and one being 'Jacob’s Creek' - I heard a rumour that the Orlando name might not be dead and buried.
As host I was kept pretty busy so I only have a vague recollection of some of the wines. Memorable wine highlights (OK, the ones I remember) were:
1988 Yalumba Menzies Cab Sav (magnum) – a wine at its peak. Great Coonawarra cab
1995 Browns of Padthaway Shiraz (magnum) – this still had the $25 price tag on it. Superb value
1985 Wolf Blass Black Label (magnum) – again, as good as it’s going to get, and that was pretty good.
1993 Lindemans Pyrus (magnum) – not a bad wine but dissapointing after the previous magnums
NV Chambers Rutherglen Muscat (Flagon) – the wine bargain of the world. The reverse wine-snobbery of serving wine out of a flagon at a dinner party appeals to me. The muscat speaks for itself.
2004 Lowe Zinfandel – oh yeah. I love Zin and this is a great example
1996 Orlando St Hugo Cab Sav – superb. Glad a friend bought this, I might consider opening the couple I have in the cellar, but there is no rush.
2005 Jacobs Creek Centenary Hill Shiraz – ok, it was getting late when we opened this but the friend who bought it thought the bottle may have been heat affected so we couldn’t really cellar it. This was a cleanskin sample (and it wasn't heat affected one bit). It is a deep dark wine of considerable length and intensity. Black currant and leather and smooth and should have years of development ahead of it.
A side note on the last 2 wines, with one being ‘Orlando’ and one being 'Jacob’s Creek' - I heard a rumour that the Orlando name might not be dead and buried.
Sharkey
I love cooking with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.
I love cooking with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.
Jimmy wrote
You can still get quite a few bottles of the 2004 here in Jindalee, Brisbane. Good ol' QLD
I only wish I’d had a bit of a splurge and bought some of the St Peters before it sold out.
You can still get quite a few bottles of the 2004 here in Jindalee, Brisbane. Good ol' QLD
As always, IMVHO. And Cheers
jeremy- http://winewilleatitself.blogspot.com/
jeremy- http://winewilleatitself.blogspot.com/
01 Willow Bridge Black Dog ShirazBlack in colour 
And i mean Black! This wine after settling for an hour was scrumptus , It handles the 16 percent alc very well . Tannins have settled right down and really is drinking well now and prob the next 3 to 5 years , but boy its good now so drink up while the fruit is so alive !!! Please dont have it with a meal as it really is one by itself
Alvear 1927 Pedro Ximenez (Sherry) MuscatOne Glass is a fantastic night cap and by the way lovely on ice cream
Loaded with raisins ,This is very good so i bought a bottle for a friends 40th in Adelaide (He really is into port so something unique for him to sip on)
Thats it got a stomach bug at my daughters school music camp so that has sorted me out and 40 others
Regards Dazza
And i mean Black! This wine after settling for an hour was scrumptus , It handles the 16 percent alc very well . Tannins have settled right down and really is drinking well now and prob the next 3 to 5 years , but boy its good now so drink up while the fruit is so alive !!! Please dont have it with a meal as it really is one by itself
Alvear 1927 Pedro Ximenez (Sherry) MuscatOne Glass is a fantastic night cap and by the way lovely on ice cream
Loaded with raisins ,This is very good so i bought a bottle for a friends 40th in Adelaide (He really is into port so something unique for him to sip on)
Thats it got a stomach bug at my daughters school music camp so that has sorted me out and 40 others
Regards Dazza
Some people slurp it,others swill it,a few sip on it,some gaze at it for hours ,enough now wheres the RED