First Sunday in August....

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 10:40 am

Hi Good Peoples,

Please let us know what you have been drinking over the last week. Lists, vibes, impressions and tasting notes all welcome.

Wayno · Post by **Wayno** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 11:14 am

Steingarten 07. Just an awesome wine. Excellent food also at Nu Nu in Palm Cove.

A bunch of other whites whilst holidaying in FNQ.-
Peter Lehmann Eden Valley Riesling 08 - very good
Shaw and Smith SB 08 - nicely varietal and distinct
Heggies Chardonnay 07 - very impressive, a touch Burgundian
Knappstein Hand Picked Riesling 08 - lemon bomb

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 4:35 pm

2006 Primo Estate JOSEPH moda Cab Merlot- loved it at the end of two days, when it was all chocolate and caramel covered plums and blackberries. Great ride all the way though & quite amazing.

2006 Primo Estate Ill Briccone Shiraz/Sangiovese- bit of charry old oak and some tannins but this was pretty juicy, structured with acid. It gained flesh on its bones with time and had some nice bitter almond/chocolate and dark cherries complementing the pepper and blackberry. More generous ground coffee on day two. Decant for best results.

At Kev Carmody Tribute

08 Jimbour Station Merlot- classy dry structurural finish and the lovely black olives I enjoy in many merlots. Very good.

Adair · Post by **Adair** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 9:18 pm

The best from Canberra tonight...

2000 Lark Hill Pinot Noir - I am not sure if this was the wine that made James halliday "eat his hat" for Sue with regard to canberra Pinot, but I suspect so. The best I have tasted from Lark Hill, and nothing comes close in the last few vintages for me. It has aged brilliantly, still with a core of rich cherry and boynesberry fruit and the wonders of Pinot Noir aged complexity still building on a solid, expansive palate. 94 points.

2001 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier. Into my last 6 now.

Other very, very notable mention: 2006 Maven Pinot Noir. Having tasted their Sauv Blanc, I didn't expect much, but wow. 93 points with time to smooth out that hint of angular acid but the fruit complexity and power was superb.

Adair

TiggerK · Post by **TiggerK** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 12:19 am

Hi all,

Had a bit of an NZ feel recently... (but not all NZ, just influenced by a recent visit)

Valli Gibbston Valley Pinot 2007 (Central Otago) : Very good but not memorable.
Mt Riley 17 Valley Pinot 2002 (Marlborough): Decent wine from under-rated non-glamorous producer.
Ruinart NV Blanc de Blancs (France) : Excellent esp for the special occasion : Clean, fresh but still with depth of flavour, yum.
Mt Langi Cliff Edge Shiraz 2004 (Aus) : Very drinkable rich red, not elegant but for the price very tasty. Well developed good ripe year.
Pyramid Valley Eaton Vineyard Pinot 2005 (NZ) : Highlight of the week. Quality NZ pinot. They may often lack the savoury je ne sais quoi of Burgundy, but amazing fun for the price.

Cheers humbly
TiggerK

Michael McNally · Post by **Michael McNally** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 11:17 am

Some good wines on the weekend enjoyed with friends so impressions only.

Saturday
2008 Delamere Tasmanian Pinot Noir Rose. SC.
Lovely pale colour. Crunchy nose. Lovely dry style. Very, Very Good.

2005 Saddlers Creek Equus Series Seven Hunter Valley Merlot. SC.
Purplish edges. Vanillan Oak on the nose. Oak and more oak on the palate. At the top of my tolerance (which is fairly high). Very Good.

1999 Orlando Ã¢â‚¬Å“St HugoÃ¢â‚¬Â Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. Cork.
Great colour. Strong cassis and capsicum on the nose. Fabulous palate. Nicely integrated oak, long finish. Classic Coonawarra cab right in the zone (but with plenty left in the tank). Excellent.

1999 Seppelt Vintage Touriga Nacional. Cork. 375ml.
Nice, bit spitirty. Too young. Very Good.

Sunday
2008 Wine by Brad Margaret River Semillon Sauvignon Blanc. SC.
Great nose. Bright crisp fruit. Good acid. Style suited to the early afternoon sunshine and 25oC. Most morish. Very, Very Good (and excellent QPR).

2004 Majella Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. SC.
Stained the glass with its saturate purple colours. Fabulous nose. Beautiful fruit blackberry power! Exceptional structure balance and length, but the tannins so good as to make now consumption a pleasure. Excellent.

1972 Yalumba Barossa Valley Vintage Port
Pouring it into the decanter and knew we had one! The aromas of brandied plums filled the kitchen. Dark brown in the glass. Fabulous complex fruit. Nutty, fruity, sweet, toffee, fruitcake, old wood. Had everything. Extraordinary power. Brilliant (this is the highest rating on my scale).

A fitting end to a great vinuous weekend

pstarr · Post by **pstarr** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 12:38 pm

Saturday night at Ecco in Brisbane had a very good bottle of 2005 Castagna Sparkling Genesis Syrah and a cracking 2006 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier. A very good dinner it was.

Mount Majura new release night last Friday - bought six tempranillo and a taster of the Tempranillo Shiraz Graciano blend. Serious acids on the latter, from the graciano, and looked better on night three, so aging potential I reckon. Interesting blend.

Also a 2003 Mount Majura chardonnay over two nights (started with roast chook). Great development under screwcap example. Still bright acids, crisp and crunchy citrus fruit and white peach, plus developed colour and nice texture. Drinking at its peak, I reckon.

seddo · Post by **seddo** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 1:19 pm

Taltarni Heathcote shiraz 04 - not bad, lots of violets on nose and palate - starting to drift away from Heathcote reds - had a 04 Heathcote estate shiraz a while back and it was bland (not corked).

Bremerton Selkirk shiraz 04 - lots of barnyard characteristics - not too bad will finish rest tonight

cheers
Seddo

monghead · Post by **monghead** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 2:28 pm

TiggerK wrote:Hi all,

Had a bit of an NZ feel recently... (but not all NZ, just influenced by a recent visit)

Valli Gibbston Valley Pinot 2007 (Central Otago) : Very good but not memorable.
Mt Riley 17 Valley Pinot 2002 (Marlborough): Decent wine from under-rated non-glamorous producer.
Ruinart NV Blanc de Blancs (France) : Excellent esp for the special occasion : Clean, fresh but still with depth of flavour, yum.
Mt Langi Cliff Edge Shiraz 2004 (Aus) : Very drinkable rich red, not elegant but for the price very tasty. Well developed good ripe year.
Pyramid Valley Eaton Vineyard Pinot 2005 (NZ) : Highlight of the week. Quality NZ pinot. They may often lack the savoury je ne sais quoi of Burgundy, but amazing fun for the price.

Cheers humbly
TiggerK

Welcome TiggerK.

That Ruinart BdB is such a slurpable drink isn't it?

Cheers,

Monghead.

Decca · Post by **Decca** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 6:49 pm

Michael McNally wrote:

1999 Orlando Ã¢â‚¬Å“St HugoÃ¢â‚¬Â Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. Cork.
Great colour. Strong cassis and capsicum on the nose. Fabulous palate. Nicely integrated oak, long finish. Classic Coonawarra cab right in the zone (but with plenty left in the tank). Excellent.

Michael,

I had one of these 18 mths ago and thought it was a bit average. I've 3 left.

What sort of decant time, if any, did you give it?

Mark

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 6:49 pm

TiggerK wrote

Mt Riley 17 Valley Pinot 2002 (Marlborough): Decent wine from under-rated non-glamorous producer

Yeah, I like their SB, and that's saying something from me. Lots of good people here, much to learn & share. Thanks for your thoughts and have fun!

Michael McNally · Post by **Michael McNally** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 8:24 pm

Decca wrote:
Michael McNally wrote:

1999 Orlando Ã¢â‚¬Å“St HugoÃ¢â‚¬Â Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. Cork.
Great colour. Strong cassis and capsicum on the nose. Fabulous palate. Nicely integrated oak, long finish. Classic Coonawarra cab right in the zone (but with plenty left in the tank). Excellent.

Michael,

I had one of these 18 mths ago and thought it was a bit average. I've 3 left.

What sort of decant time, if any, did you give it?

Mark

G'day Mark

I double decanted (into a jug and back into the bottle) about two hours before serving. Anyone's definition of average or excellent depends on what else they drink :wink:

. I might have been relaxed as I wasn't taking notes. Or it might have been a great bottle. Sounds like a great excuse to open one of yours!! Ahhh the mystery of wine......

Cheers
Michael

Decca · Post by **Decca** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 8:58 am

re St Hugo,

Thanks Michael.

What I meant to say was 'a little disappointing for a St Hugo (from a good vintage)'.
It wasn't given any air time.... opened and drunk at a BYO.

Yes, I'll try another soon with a decant this time.

cheers,

Mark

Michael McNally · Post by **Michael McNally** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 1:09 pm

Hope it's a good 'un!

bacchaebabe · Post by **bacchaebabe** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 2:09 pm

Actually, on the St Hugo, I've got a six pack of both the 98 and 99. I opened a 98 recenty and the notes are here somewhere (within the last month) but the other day I was in my cellar and went around all the cases and wrote on them scores and drinking times as recommended by Jeremy Oliver.

I'm only going off memory but I think I was quite surprised that JO put the drinking time for the 99 way out there. I'd need to look again but I'm pretty sure it's nowhere near its window now while the 98 is near the end. Not that I use JO as a bible and will be opening one to check it out myself first, but it would indicate a decent decant would probably be worthwhile at the very least.

I've also had two friends who have had a bottle of the 99 in the last three years and both were very impressed but I've no idea if they decanted or not. I'm pretty sure one would have but maybe not the other. Personally, I'd think it would be a good idea to decant for at least an hour, possibly two.

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 2:53 pm

Had a few including a group blind tasting with 8 judges voting before unveiling

04 Cloudy Bay Pelorus
NV Taittanger
NV Lindaeur BdB

surprisingly the CB drew with the Taittanger 4-4. I voted CB. Big thumbs up here for CB. I thought it was the taittanger. Had the most elegance and detail of the 3. The best NZ fizz ive had this year. the Lindauer too was not embarrased though not quite the quality of the other two

Then:

94 Henschke Mt Edelstone
07 Craggy Block 14 Syrah
06 Fromm Spatlese Riesling

and a few other random CnP and no name Aussie Shiraz

odyssey · Post by **odyssey** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 4:07 pm

Craig how was the 94 Mt Edelstone? Some tasting notes out there are saying it's past its date... sent me into a minor panic... must pick an occasion to open it very soon!

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 6:22 pm

Craig how was the 94 Mt Edelstone? Some tasting notes out there are saying it's past its date... sent me into a minor panic... must pick an occasion to open it very soon!

My bottles have been at 12oC since release and are in great condition. It really was sublime and a notch up on everything else we drank that night. It really impressed everyone, most rating it as one of the best reds thay had ever tried. Easily a 100pt+ wine for me :lol:

I now have only 1 bottle of this left of 94 Ed in my near extinct Henschke collection which at one stage was quite sizable. Shame Henschke is just too expensive these days. I wont be in any hurry to drink the last one. For me it has another 5 years in it.

C

bacchaebabe · Post by **bacchaebabe** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 6:33 pm

Thanks for the 94 Edelstone info. I've got a couple of these too but like you, I stopped buying a little while ago. I think with the 96 vintage, which wasn't a bad place to stop. They all just got too expensive.

bacchaebabe · Post by **bacchaebabe** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 6:38 pm

Had a 96 Richmond Grove Barossa Shiraz on Sunday but haven't had time to post. Good crust in the bottle. Deep red with a purple heart. Blackberry and spice on the nose with some meaty aromas and blood. Full bodied shiraz with a good fruity finish. Black berry fruits with even some grapey flavours. Drinking well now and could even go a little longer on this form. 92

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 9:54 pm

Sunday - shared a 04 Moppa Springs GMS. Colour in the glass was NQR and there was an unhappy aftertaste - albeit it only had about three seconds to breathe - but friends said they liked it.

Tried another tonight after a couple of hours with the cork out - better colour, much more flavour, no aftertaste. Lovely.

xsorxpire · Post by **xsorxpire** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 8:12 pm

Michael McNally wrote:2004 Majella Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. SC.
Stained the glass with its saturate purple colours. Fabulous nose. Beautiful fruit blackberry power! Exceptional structure balance and length, but the tannins so good as to make now consumption a pleasure. Excellent.

I remember speaking to the wine maker about his 04 vintage.
He said it was a cracker and that it would cellar well.

How long do you think you would wait before cracking another?
(I have a couple laying down).

Michael McNally · Post by **Michael McNally** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 8:22 pm

xsorxpire wrote:
Michael McNally wrote:2004 Majella Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. SC.
Stained the glass with its saturate purple colours. Fabulous nose. Beautiful fruit blackberry power! Exceptional structure balance and length, but the tannins so good as to make now consumption a pleasure. Excellent.

I remember speaking to the wine maker about his 04 vintage.
He said it was a cracker and that it would cellar well.

How long do you think you would wait before cracking another?
(I have a couple laying down).

G'day xsorxpire

Unfortunately I only have one other, though after this I will be looking at the secondary market. I am no expert in how long wines will last and when they will be at their peak, but if I had six (and I will one day soon have six......twelve?) I would open the next one in 4-5 years if I can keep my hands off them. I will have to try it again once I have got some more, but as its under screwcap and given the wonderful structure, I would say it will be at its peak in ....10 years .... 20 years? Problem is, it is so beautiful now.

Hope that helps. Cheers

Michael

xsorxpire · Post by **xsorxpire** » Sun Aug 09, 2009 8:36 pm

That helps greatly.
Would you believe i have not tried it yet?!?!
I'll crack one in a few years.