Sunday again

Wayno · Post by **Wayno** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 8:04 am

In temporary lieu of TORB, I'll kick off this week's Sunday post.

Yesterday too much Coopers Vintage Ale watching the Crows belt the Blues... but it all concluded eventually with a D'Arenberg Coppermine Road Cabernet 2002 - fantastic varietally distinct nose, but it either needed a few hours in the decanter or a few more years (or both perhaps). Highly tannic and structured, very impressive, classy wine. Ruined with take-away Indian!!!

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:02 am

2007 Brokenwood Hunter Valley Shiraz-

2006 Cleanskin Riverina Boytritus Semillon Day one

Day two

Apologies to Bick, for once I don't feel verbose today :wink:

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:04 am

Wayno wrote

Ruined with take-away Indian!!!

What on earth where you doing matching THAT Cabernet with THAT indian?!

Wayno · Post by **Wayno** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:23 am

jeremy wrote:Wayno wrote

Ruined with take-away Indian!!!

What on earth where you doing matching THAT Cabernet with THAT indian?!

Foolishness.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:35 am

Well, that's admirable honesty

dlo · Post by **dlo** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:36 am

After Wednesday's big dinner (see http://forum.auswine.com.au/viewtopic.php?p=80506#80506) I had a good friend over last night for dinner - we drank four reds, pouring off half of each bottle into 330ml screw cap bottles. I took no notes, once again, but the wine's were all outstanding.

My guest brought two bottles -

Orlando Coonawarra Jacaranda Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 - typically robust with at least another 10-15 years superior resolution to come. Still relatively tannic with ample reserves of leafy blackcurrant fruit. Can be broached now but will be better in a few years time. 92 points.

Capel Vale "Howecroft" Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 1995 - a surprise packet. Fleshy deep set plum and blackcurrant underpinned by outrageously good cedar/oak amongst many other good things. Terrific balance, gorgeous mouth feel, expansive finish. Hard to fault. 93 points Drink now - 2015+.

Orlando Coonawarra St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon 1988 - opened a little lean and mean but over the next few hours flourished into a terrific cool climate cabernet with excellent structure and length. Will live for another 5 years, possibly more. 92 points 12% A/V!!!!!!!!

By this stage the theme was well and truly established, so I went for the jugular and opened an older Frenchy - Chateau Langoa-Barton (St Julien) 1985 - thought this would be silky smooth and fully mature - to our amazement this was incredibly youthful with at least two decades of evolution to look forward to. Typically earthy, herb-tinged blackcurrant fruit with undergrowth, damp earth and a hint of barnyard. The palate has abundant tannin to shed although the wine is drinking superbly right now. I peeked at Parker's rating etc and this was a totally different proposition in every respect to his 2001 tasting note! 93 points.

Another great night of superlative red wine drinking!

TiggerK · Post by **TiggerK** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:55 am

Tuesday was Veuve Clicquot 2002 and Wild Earth Central Otago Pinot 2007.. Was in party mode so can't recall the Veuve other than I enjoyed it! The Pinot was great. In the bigger style of Pinot but worth seeking out at a reasonable price.

Friday was a Torzi Matthews Frost Dodger Shiraz 2005.. Did certainly evolve! Started with a whack of american oak dominating, eventually settled down after a few hours in the decanter to be very ripe, interesting drinking. Touch jammy, but Mrs TiggerK certainly enjoys that style. :wink:

Look forward to trying the 2007.

Last night (after some Wehenstephaner Kristall Weissbier - my fav beer), tried an advance screening of Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz 2004 ... Closed nose and lots of tannins dominated to start with as you'd expect for a youngish wine, but again the decanter worked it's magic and ended up being a great drink. Lots of spicy dark fruits and length. Hold for at least another 5 years to be at it's best though.

Tonight will try the Seppelt at day 2, and might go for the E.Guigal Brune et Blonde 2003 for a bit of a Sunday treat. Been itching to try it..

Cheers
TiggerK

Wayno · Post by **Wayno** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 4:32 pm

Well we have two Sunday posts now... Take your pick I guess...

rooman · Post by **rooman** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 4:53 pm

After a recent discussion around brunello, I decided to try another one tucked down downstairs. This time it was the 1997 Tenimenti Angelini Brunello di Montalcino Val Di Suga. Having agreed they go well with food, I invited a friend over to watch the Wallabies get beaten up by the South African at rugby and cooked a stracci pasta with sausage meat, roast peppers ragu and ligurian olives. Excellent food for the wine, terrible game. As for the wine itself, I am now sadly half way through the case. Previously I have thought very little of the wine as it lacked anything of real interest. Now however with 12 years of age, it has soften and taken on a new sense of depth that was previously lacking. A dark cherry nose, a medium bodied wine with dusty fruit showing again dark cherries and plums with that Dutch salty licorice taste I find only in Brunello. I am pleased to have a few left, we shall see how it goes over the next few years

via collins · Post by **via collins** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 7:36 pm

O'Leary Walker Polish Hil Riesling 2008 - the slate/mineral beginning that goes down well at my place, with a lemon sherbert follow up once the wine warmed a little. Delicious, haven't met a 2008 riesling I didn't like yet.

Rincon de Navas 2004 Crianza - savoury characters, almost smoky, deep cherry, and long finish. Been a reliable wine all year.

Teusner Avatar 2006 - opened one on Friday night, little knowing I'd be listening to Kym Teusner go through the whole portfolio the next day. It's proving a hard wine to cellar as it hits the spot right now, but Kym reckons there's still a few years to go to peak. Interesting to drink it side-by-side with Joshua, and realise how serious and broody the Avatar is by comparison. And that's a very good thing. Earthy, leathery tones, in harmony with the fruit. God I love this wine.

Teusner "Salsa" Rose 2008 - a touch of spice, really earthy/meaty rose that pushed my buttons - a notch up on the Rose of Virginia which was my pick of last summer.

Teusner Riebke "FG" Shiraz 2006 - A regal beast, a fair way denser and smoother than the lovely standard Riebke. A velvet finish to a gorgeous wine.

Campbell's Rutherglen Tokay - it'll almost be a shame to say goodbye to winter as with the absurdly cheap stickies from Nth Victoria to keep us company, it's been a cakewalk really. All kinds of tangerine and mandarin rind on the nose.

Michael McNally · Post by **Michael McNally** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 7:47 pm

via collins wrote:Teusner Riebke "FG" Shiraz 2006 - A regal beast, a fair way denser and smoother than the lovely standard Riebke. A velvet finish to a gorgeous wine.

G'day VC

Agree the standard Riebke is great and excellent QPR. What does this cost do you know? And what does the FG stand for (f*$#ing good?) :shock:

?

Cheers

Michael

TiggerK · Post by **TiggerK** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 8:31 pm

Michael McNally wrote:G'day VC

Agree the standard Riebke is great and excellent QPR. What does this cost do you know? And what does the FG stand for (f*$#ing good?) ?

Cheers

Michael

I suspect that it stands for exactly that. Given Kim's modern 'young Gen Y' vibe, it would certainly make sense.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 8:33 pm

Michael, FG stands for what you thought and the website says it costs $130, so expect to pay somewhere around that. Many love it. Hope that helps.

TiggerK · Post by **TiggerK** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 8:43 pm

Currently sipping the E.Guigal Brune et Blonde 2003 that I mentioned earlier.... It's decently tasty, smells good, subtle liquorice, coffee, bacon, musky but I must admit not blowing my trumpet for the price. Not particularly long, will see how it develops over the next few hours (currently at 30 mins or so in decanter). Pleased I tried it, but also wish I'd spent that $130 on the FG instead... did see it there.. I think it's definitely on the cards for the next Sunday splurge.

EDIT: Tried the Guigal the next day, am confident the bottle wasn't good, either way it prob needs a bit longer, so look forward to trying another in a year or two.

Cheers
TiggerK

rednut · Post by **rednut** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:01 pm

2006 Bremerton Old Adam Shiraz

Well if this tastes this good now look out in 10 years time. Superb!

2004 Greenock Creek Cabernet Sauvignon

Full bodied, rich, true Barossa style. Loved it.

monghead · Post by **monghead** » Sun Aug 30, 2009 11:31 pm

Jacquesson NV- Good
1996 La Pousse D'Or- Very Good
1996 Wendouree Cabernet Malbec- Good Good
2006 Villa Maria Cellar Selection Pinot Noir- Shade below Good

Cheers,

Monghead.[/b]

Bick · Post by **Bick** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 7:50 am

Saltram Cabernet Sauvignon Mamre Brook 06 - very juicy and warming. Good structure; this seems to be an excellent qpr wine every year.

Villa Maria Reserve Merlot 05 - Pretty good. Quite refined, quality oak, nice deep colour and concentration. Needs more time though I'd say

Johner Estate Riesling 08 - very pleasant off-dry kabinett style. Quite light.

Church Road Reserve Syrah 07 - much has been written about this wine already. Best syrah I've had this year. Exquisite silky mouthfeel and perfectly ripe, rich fruit and a nose of shoe-polish, licorice, spice and blackberry. Lush, peppery finish is long and memorable. In my top 5 wines of the year so far.

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 8:00 am

04 Awatea. From a cooler year, and although not in anyway unripe it does have that fresher more breazy feel. plenty of graphite, cassis going on in a formnal dinner claret mould. not as good as the currant 07 but still stylish. medium term awatea to drink while 07's age

08 Doctors Riesling. Very yum. Probably my sub $20 white of the year so far? Plenty of delicacy and poise and rippling flavours of apple and lime sorbet (i read the back label and totally agree with its descriptions!). The 09 when it comes out is a ripper too

06 Penfolds BIn 28. Pretty good this stuff and sturdy enough to handle a big flavours stew on saturday night

Villa Maria Reserve Merlot 05 - Pretty good. Quite refined, quality oak, nice deep colour and concentration. Needs more time though I'd say

Church Road Reserve Syrah 07 - much has been written about this wine already. Best syrah I've had this year. Exquisite silky mouthfeel and perfectly ripe, rich fruit and a nose of shoe-polish, licorice, spice and blackberry. Lush, peppery finish is long and memorable. In my top 5 wines of the year so far.

I thouight the 04 villa res merlot far superior. the 05s seem a bit wishy washy in terms of alchohol balance.

crr 07 syrah is a stunner. everyone thinks so. everyone respects it. everyone marvels at how you can buy for $30

via collins · Post by **via collins** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 10:02 am

"Agree the standard Riebke is great and excellent QPR. What does this cost do you know? And what does the FG stand for (f*$#ing good?) Shocked ?"

G'day Michael,
Kym did suggest that if people wanted, "fairly good" is another option. Can't see anyone reaching for that descriptor in a hurry. It's a beaut. And was on sale on the day for $110 I believe....

Curt · Post by **Curt** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 10:52 am

Visited Puriri Hills and Vin Alto on Sunday - both for the 1st time. Can certainly see why Craig rates the Puriri Hills wines - all class , even the Rose'. Vin Alto was also in the more restrained classy style, loved the 2005 Ritorno.. which is made in the ripasso style ( Masi Campoforin )
gorgeous weight and balance. An 01 Neudorf Moutere Chardonnay from the cellar was stunning ( think Corton Charlemagne ) - could still be cellared longer but perfect now for me. Wine of the weekend .. 07 Awatea, what a bargin @ sub $27.

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 11:45 am

Visited Puriri Hills and Vin Alto on Sunday - both for the 1st time. Can certainly see why Craig rates the Puriri Hills wines - all class , even the Rose'. Vin Alto was also in the more restrained classy style, loved the 2005 Ritorno.. which is made in the ripasso style ( Masi Campoforin )
gorgeous weight and balance. An 01 Neudorf Moutere Chardonnay from the cellar was stunning ( think Corton Charlemagne ) - could still be cellared longer but perfect now for me. Wine of the weekend .. 07 Awatea, what a bargin @ sub $27.

must grab a few more 07 awatea. agree curt the 01 neudorf was great stuff, drank my last one a few months ago. its a great label

odyssey · Post by **odyssey** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 8:42 pm

Macquariedale Thomas Shiraz 2006 - Intense black fruit on both the nose, immense black fruit and some pepper on the palate. Decent amount of acid. I wasn't impressed although my partner enjoyed it. After 24 hours the fruit mellowed out somewhat and a little bit of oak became visible. On one hand I'd say this needs longer, on the other hand it's organic wine so it won't last too long.

Blueberry Hill Chardonnay/Sauvignon Blanc 2004 - for a 5 year old white with a Sauv Blanc component from a vineyard that focuses on near-term drinking, this held together extremely well. Oak is balanced, both grape varietals are identifiable but well balanced. Toasty citrus. Surprisingly good.

Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz 2001 - Dusty earth nose and not much else coming out of the glass. Palate is dry with very little tannin or fruits left but drinkable enough with a roast lamb and gravy. After 24 hours very little changed, nothing new opened up and still had a dusty nose. Quaffable but wouldn't write home about it, although it did contribute to making a great gravy. The remaining bottles may be good for BBQ quaffing (and contributing to gravies).

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 10:16 pm

via collins wrote:
Teusner "Salsa" Rose 2008 - a touch of spice, really earthy/meaty rose that pushed my buttons - a notch up on the Rose of Virginia which was my pick of last summer.

Not a big fan of rose but found the 1st vintage (07?) of Teusner Salsa at least as good as the better Turkey Flats I've had in the past. Never tried a Rose of Virginia. The Salsa does dance nicely in the gob. I've sung its praises before. :wink:

Cheers

daz

griff · Post by **griff** » Mon Aug 31, 2009 10:31 pm

odyssey wrote:Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz 2001 - Dusty earth nose and not much else coming out of the glass. Palate is dry with very little tannin or fruits left but drinkable enough with a roast lamb and gravy. After 24 hours very little changed, nothing new opened up and still had a dusty nose. Quaffable but wouldn't write home about it, although it did contribute to making a great gravy. The remaining bottles may be good for BBQ quaffing (and contributing to gravies).

Under cork? Corked wines make great cooking wines but you may be pleasantly surprised with the other bottles.

cheers

Carl

odyssey · Post by **odyssey** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 10:33 am

Yep under cork - oh well hope the others go better, will open another on the weekend and see. I always thought corked wines were much worse than that.

I had a white once that we later discovered visible green fungii growing underneath the cork! Been turned off Sauv Blancs ever since.

TiggerK · Post by **TiggerK** » Tue Sep 01, 2009 12:05 pm

Most common 'corked' problem I find is just smell-less, tasteless wine. A result of random oxidation, just a bit too much air via the cork than normal.

Sick of it myself.....