The Money Spider!

bob parsons · Post by **bob parsons** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 4:43 pm

WTN: `04 Roussanne the Money Spider, d`Arenberg McLaren Vale Aust.

Cellared for 3yrs, $20 Cdn, 14.5% alc, SC, Rhone varietals were planted here in mid `90s.

Color. Medium to deep lemon.

Nose. Brilliant, white stonefruit, minerally, some tropical fruit here. Big aromatics as it opens with added apple and "rock jasmine flower" from across the table. Anastasia is a big wild flower buff and has an amazing collection of wild flower pics. Hum, I also get some honeysuckle on day 2.

Palate. Initial entry thoughts are R.S, tropical mango and pineapple, some nuttyness on the finish. Good fruit here but tad oily/fat? The whites I know from S France are a lot drier than this and show more terrior character. This is not a bad wine and has cellared nicely but not my style. I like the minerally tones but on day 2 not sure about the canned pineapple ring taste. Do I sound confused? Aagh well its been a long day.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 7:09 pm

I like Roussannes but I've never cellared any yet. Time for that in the future I hope. Hope the varietal is explored more in the future. I've had the "money spider" a few times. It's always of interest to me. Thanks for your TN.

dave vino · Post by **dave vino** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 7:24 pm

What temp do you generally serve it at? Chardy temp? or more riesling?

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 11:41 pm

jeremy wrote:I like Roussannes but I've never cellared any yet. Time for that in the future I hope. Hope the varietal is explored more in the future. I've had the "money spider" a few times. It's always of interest to me. Thanks for your TN.

Jeremy, have you tried Tahbilk Roussanne 08? I guzzled the 3-4 bottles I got - maybe I got some more after that, don't remember for sure! But I did also get a bottle aged 3-4 years. It showed some marmalade aged characfers, was very enjoyable (even though I'm not a big fan of aged whites) and I thought it could have developed for another couple of years before falling over. Tahbilk's roussanne has probably been my favourite of their whites for quite a while. Anyway, the 08 is the best of its line that I've tried.

Cheers

daz

Waiters Friend · Post by **Waiters Friend** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 1:02 am

dave vino wrote:What temp do you generally serve it at? Chardy temp? or more riesling?

Between the two, in my experience, but dependent on age. As Daz says, there's some complexity with age, and this can be masked by being too cold.

Although these days I am leaving Chardonnays (oaked) out of the fridge longer, and frequently leave the whole bottle on the table after opening (it doesn't return to the fridge).

Cheers

Allan

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Sat Jul 25, 2009 7:16 am

Daz wrote

Jeremy, have you tried Tahbilk Roussanne 08? I guzzled the 3-4 bottles I got - maybe I got some more after that, don't remember for sure! But I did also get a bottle aged 3-4 years. It showed some marmalade aged characfers, was very enjoyable (even though I'm not a big fan of aged whites) and I thought it could have developed for another couple of years before falling over. Tahbilk's roussanne has probably been my favourite of their whites for quite a while. Anyway, the 08 is the best of its line that I've tried.

Cheers

daz

Sadly, not as yet Daz. Not in retail stores (which is the main reason I drink the Marsanne more often) and I'm lacking in funds to place orders as I would wish currently. Thanks for the reminder though, I'll bump the 08 Tahbilk Roussanne up on my list. It ain't as if it's expensive!

roughred · Post by **roughred** » Sun Jul 26, 2009 2:51 pm

jeremy wrote:Daz wrote
Jeremy, have you tried Tahbilk Roussanne 08? I guzzled the 3-4 bottles I got - maybe I got some more after that, don't remember for sure! But I did also get a bottle aged 3-4 years. It showed some marmalade aged characfers, was very enjoyable (even though I'm not a big fan of aged whites) and I thought it could have developed for another couple of years before falling over. Tahbilk's roussanne has probably been my favourite of their whites for quite a while. Anyway, the 08 is the best of its line that I've tried.

Cheers

daz

Sadly, not as yet Daz. Not in retail stores (which is the main reason I drink the Marsanne more often) and I'm lacking in funds to place orders as I would wish currently. Thanks for the reminder though, I'll bump the 08 Tahbilk Roussanne up on my list. It ain't as if it's expensive!

Yep, concur on the 08 Roussanne, a great example of a variety that can be pretty hard to pin down. If your looking to round out a dozen you could do a lot worse than the 08 Mourvedre...varietal, complex, just ripe enough and an absolute bargain.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 8:43 am

roughred wrote

jeremy wrote:
Daz wrote
Quote:
Jeremy, have you tried Tahbilk Roussanne 08? I guzzled the 3-4 bottles I got - maybe I got some more after that, don't remember for sure! But I did also get a bottle aged 3-4 years. It showed some marmalade aged characfers, was very enjoyable (even though I'm not a big fan of aged whites) and I thought it could have developed for another couple of years before falling over. Tahbilk's roussanne has probably been my favourite of their whites for quite a while. Anyway, the 08 is the best of its line that I've tried.

Cheers

daz

Sadly, not as yet Daz. Not in retail stores (which is the main reason I drink the Marsanne more often) and I'm lacking in funds to place orders as I would wish currently. Thanks for the reminder though, I'll bump the 08 Tahbilk Roussanne up on my list. It ain't as if it's expensive!

Yep, concur on the 08 Roussanne, a great example of a variety that can be pretty hard to pin down. If your looking to round out a dozen you could do a lot worse than the 08 Mourvedre...varietal, complex, just ripe enough and an absolute bargain.

Oh, they do a stright up Mourvedre that is good as well? Thank you, looks like Tahbilk order just jumped the wine order queue again!

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 8:52 pm

jeremy wrote:Oh, they do a stright up Mourvedre that is good as well? Thank you, looks like Tahbilk order just jumped the wine order queue again!

Jeremy, I suggest you join the Tahbilk Wine Club for the quarterly hardcopy newsletter. I did a count of the number of individual wines offered by the current newletter from the website - 56 of 'em in all, including museum releases, the Dalfarras range, Everyday range and the limited number of sparklings, fortifieds and the single Dulcet sweet white. Including the limited release Cabernet Shiraz 1996 (very good value for ~$20), the premiums which include a couple of the previous vinatage releases, the standard label cab and shiraz and the cellar door/mail order reds, there are 16 reds. Similarly, there are 10 whites.

It's quite a range to choose from.

Cheers

daz

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 7:18 am

Cheers Daz, I'm gonna look into it now. 1996 Cab/Shiraz around $20 :!:

Generous pricing all round it seems. Want to drink some of the old vine gear too.

Michael McNally · Post by **Michael McNally** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:47 am

Daryl

You should use the "join a friend" function to join jeremy up. That way you get a 10% rebate on all of jeremy's purchases from Tahbilk. Even if he only spends $200 that's a free bottle for you.

I have blown this year's budget already, but will get you to sign me up next year. You are their "rep" on this board after all (I mean this in a good way!).

Cheers

Michael

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:19 pm

Too late but would have happily done it

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:12 pm

Michael McNally wrote:Daryl

You should use the "join a friend" function to join jeremy up. That way you get a 10% rebate on all of jeremy's purchases from Tahbilk. Even if he only spends $200 that's a free bottle for you.

I have blown this year's budget already, but will get you to sign me up next year. You are their "rep" on this board after all (I mean this in a good way!).

Cheers

Michael

Yes Michael, I am an avowed advocate of Tahbilk. The wines almost invariably show good varietal character whilst reflecting the terroir of the site which adds individuality to them. When buy their wines, with the exceptions of the reserves and the flagship 1860s Vines, they're usually all drunk within several months even though I kid myself each time I'll keep some cab and/or shiraz until fully mature. They're such good value that they end up being go-to wines. But then the cab and shiraz are released with a few years bottle age anyway.

Happpy to join you up whenever you wish. :wink:

Cheers

daz

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Tue Jul 28, 2009 11:40 pm

jeremy wrote:Too late but would have happily done it

I didn't even think of it Jeremy but wouldn't presume to do so even if I had your details, without your permission.

Hope you find you enjoy at least some of the wines from the extensive portfolio.

It is possible to also buy older vintages from the apparently considerable back-vintage collection. Last year I enquired about getting some Shiraz 02, having rather enjoyed a number of bottles of it. No problem, just a few dollars more than then current release wine (03, 04?). I think this web page is indicative of the cost of purchase, depending of course on availability. Just give cellar door a call to check price and availability.

http://www.tahbilk.com.au/worth/

Cheers (and welcome to the club!)

daz

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:20 am

Thanks Daz, great link! I'll mention your "work" when I give them a call

dave vino · Post by **dave vino** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 9:05 am

I had a Giaconda Aeolia on the weekend and it was sublime. Rich, creamy on the palate but with nice acidity. Great length went on forever. But at $75 a bottle it would want to be pretty good. I had it in the fridge and then decanted while bringing it up to temperature to see how it changed. In the end it was best just below Chardonnay serving temperature.

And for the CSI's out there, yes it was only about 9am in the morning we had it with brekky.

griff · Post by **griff** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 11:55 am

Which vintage Dave?

cheers

Carl

dave vino · Post by **dave vino** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 2:56 pm

2008.

Blurb from their website
2008 Aeolia is 100% Roussanne from the Nantua and Warner vineyards and is totally barrel fermented with about 10% new oak. 2008 vintage is very similar to 2005 which we believe was probably the best Aeolia to date. The name was selected by Rick to reflect the windy environment of the vineyards and is derived from the Aeolian Harp (wind instrument) and the Greek God of Winds Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Aeolus. Aeolia was the ancient name for the coastal region of northwestern Asia Minor (now Turkey). It was made up of a group of cities founded by the Aeolians c.1100 BC $75 per bottle Ã¢â‚¬â€œ includes GST.

griff · Post by **griff** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 3:18 pm

dave vino wrote:2008.

Blurb from their website
2008 Aeolia is 100% Roussanne from the Nantua and Warner vineyards and is totally barrel fermented with about 10% new oak. 2008 vintage is very similar to 2005 which we believe was probably the best Aeolia to date. The name was selected by Rick to reflect the windy environment of the vineyards and is derived from the Aeolian Harp (wind instrument) and the Greek God of Winds Ã¢â‚¬â€œ Aeolus. Aeolia was the ancient name for the coastal region of northwestern Asia Minor (now Turkey). It was made up of a group of cities founded by the Aeolians c.1100 BC $75 per bottle Ã¢â‚¬â€œ includes GST.

Thanks!

Another to add to the wanted list

cheers

Carl

9redpens · Post by **9redpens** » Wed Jul 29, 2009 11:29 pm

Daz,

Any thoughts on the 96 cab shiraz. I purchased one to make the case, mainly because I wanted to put together a string of cab siraz's and thought at sub 20 why not. Is "string" a wine word?????? A flight of varying vintages ????????

Cheers.

Dc

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Thu Jul 30, 2009 2:10 am

9redpens wrote:Daz,

Any thoughts on the 96 cab shiraz. I purchased one to make the case, mainly because I wanted to put together a string of cab siraz's and thought at sub 20 why not. Is "string" a wine word?????? A flight of varying vintages ????????

Cheers.

Dc

I won't string you along, Dc.

I bought a bottle to just try it, did, but don't recall posting a TN of it. So, from disjointed memory, it is cab dominant as the blurb on the website says. Oak is noticeable but well integrated, pencil-box cedar. There's some cherry/blackberry fruit with a flick of sourness, eucalypt on the front. The shiraz fills out the middle plate with some plum, spice, maybe a smidge of licorice. Finishes dry with good length sustained by dusty cab tannins.

Cheers

daz

9redpens · Post by **9redpens** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 12:04 am

Somehow I missed the response, until stumbling back on the thread in search of a 98 JC limited release Shiraz Cab note (pretty good stuff, btw)

Cheers for the response Daz. I can say however with some confidence that the 96 is currently superior and will drink well for some time. I tried both at Tahbilk a weekend back at their museum tasting.

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 1:06 am

9redpens wrote:Somehow I missed the response, until stumbling back on the thread in search of a 98 JC limited release Shiraz Cab note (pretty good stuff, btw)

Cheers for the response Daz. I can say however with some confidence that the 96 is currently superior and will drink well for some time. I tried both at Tahbilk a weekend back at their museum tasting.

Not sure which 96 you found superior to which other wine Dc?

Cheers

daz