Its Sunday (well it will be in about 12 hours)....

[TORB]

Hi Good Peoples,

Off to Sydney soon and not taking a 'puter so I am posting this early.

Please let us know what you have been drinking over the past week. Tasting notes, vibes, impressions and lists welcome.

The highlight of my last weeks drinking was the Kaesler 2002 Old Vine Shiraz. Bloody terrific drop but its a criminal waste to drink it now. Still has many years before it reaches its peak and still looks like it was bottled yesterday.

Both the Winter Creek 2002 and 2003 Shiraz and drinking superbly. I had them two night running. A wonderful expression of pure, Barossa fruit without the heavy influence of overt oak. It shows just how well one small block can do when managed well, even in an 'average' year, and David didn't stuff up the good fruit he had grown either.

Now what have you guys been drinking?

[rooman]

I talked one of the steakhouses in the city into letting me bring along a Pyrus '98. Developing noicely. Dark redish/brown colour. Red and black berry flavour, mocha and dark chocolate and well into secondary development phase. Fine tannins and smooth finish. Sadly no great depth of complexity but very drinkable on a Friday afternoon with a steak.

[via collins]

Last year in Wellington I drank Te Mata Coleraine for the first time - 2005 I think. It was one of those moments that shone brightly, told me much I'd never dreamt of.

Celebrations y'day caused the uncorking of a bottle of 2003 Awatea as the Coleraines are all resting in the darkness.

Cabernet/Merlot/Petit Verdot blend I think. Quite thin in body, a blackcurrant colour on pouring, slightly brown tone, which disappeared after a few hours in decanter. It was drunk over a 7 hour period, and while just a tad closed at the opening siren, the cherry/vanilla tones increased over the hours. After a good 5 hours, leather, and cigar notes that was just what I'd been looking for.

Feel like I'd read a great book for all the time invested, and enjoyment returned. Imagine what the sleeping Coleraines will offer down the line..

Back in Melbourne this week, 2006 Mt Campbell Pinot Gris (Nelson) was eminently serviceable, and table pleasing at a long lunch - slightly spiced pear notes.

Last week was lots of Blue Poles - courtesy of the dinner in Carlton. Notes lost in the fog, but recall being super impressed with the viognier - a really unique, and refreshing specimen. The French/Margaret River line-up made a good night a terrific one, and the food was sensational too. Now, which of the Allourans did I particularly like? None i didn't, but the 2007 really does have a complexity unlike the others, and it stood proudly in the company.

Any tales or taste reports from Sydney Blue Poles event?

[jeremy]

Last year in Wellington I drank Te Mata Coleraine for the first time - 2005 I think. It was one of those moments that shone brightly, told me much I'd never dreamt of.

Celebrations y'day caused the uncorking of a bottle of 2003 Awatea as the Coleraines are all resting in the darkness.

Cabernet/Merlot/Petit Verdot blend I think. Quite thin in body, a blackcurrant colour on pouring, slightly brown tone, which disappeared after a few hours in decanter. It was drunk over a 7 hour period, and while just a tad closed at the opening siren, the cherry/vanilla tones increased over the hours. After a good 5 hours, leather, and cigar notes that was just what I'd been looking for.

Feel like I'd read a great book for all the time invested, and enjoyment returned. Imagine what the sleeping Coleraines will offer down the line..

Back in Melbourne this week, 2006 Mt Campbell Pinot Gris (Nelson) was eminently serviceable, and table pleasing at a long lunch - slightly spiced pear notes.

Last week was lots of Blue Poles - courtesy of the dinner in Carlton. Notes lost in the fog, but recall being super impressed with the viognier - a really unique, and refreshing specimen. The French/Margaret River line-up made a good night a terrific one, and the food was sensational too. Now, which of the Allourans did I particularly like? None i didn't, but the 2007 really does have a complexity unlike the others, and it stood proudly in the company.

Any tales or taste reports from Sydney Blue Poles event?

Well, firstly Mark is a bugger for not coming to Brisbane But I've already let him know that. Great to hear some more thoughts on the 2007 Allouran, can't wait to taste it! And I agree, the Blue poles Viognier is very unique. I'm not sure it would be "varietally correct" enough to win show medals, but the point is, it's a lovely, and as you say, refreshing wine. Thanks for the rundown Via Collins.

2001 Petaluma Riesling- very fresh for an 8 year old. Toast there, honey coming along, citrus is still beautiful. Not a hint of Kero.

2007 Hewitson Baby Bush Mourvèdre- spicy cherries, florals and earth. All you could expect and want from the younger sibling of the Old Garden Mourvèdre

2008 Mt Langi Cliff Edge Pinot Gris- Nashis, pears, rosewater/turkish delight and spice. Crisp, structured and long. All I could ask for in an Australian Pinot Gris.

2007 Printhie Merlot- from Orange, this is excellent value at around $17 and maybe more. 1st day juicy blackberries and plums with lovely spice and an intriguing touch of orange juice acidity at the end (no, that's not a pun, it was there). Tannins seemed a little awkward. 2nd day tannins integrated and the previous day's hints of olives and leaf had become prominent. Much more complex and I thought it was a very good wine.

[rooman]

Yering Station Reserve Shiraz Viognier 2003. I have had quite a good run of stuff out the cellar recently so I suppose I was due for a dud. By comparision to the Clonakilla SV 01 I had last week, this really was a shocker. Not that there was anything technically wrong with the wine. Simply this is the sort of sweet, fruit driven bomb that continues to give Australian wines a bad name. Sickly sweet nose, excessively sweet red current and raspberry fruit with no much structure. Sadly I have another 5 of these. I will probably leave the remainder for another few years and see if the fruit dies down a little and any sort of complexity develops.

[Wayno]

A few decent drinks to toast a good City to Bay run...

Mumm NV - very nice, citrus notes, good balance

Kanta Riesling 2008 - Terrific nose, all fruit and lime juice, palate quite drying and a bit short but still a pretty classy wine. Out of it's element, given the wines to follow.

Whisson Lake Nouveau Pinot Noir 2007? - total Beaujolais style, primary Pinot, with cracked black pepper, spice and roasted plum with a savoury, salty quality. Very interesting and a good luncheon wine.

Yalumba Signature 2002 - singing. Velveteen oak, cabernet characters quite dominant, with classy mid-range shiraz notes shining through. Super wine and will improve.

Woodstock The Stocks Shiraz 2004 - ink monster. Curiously I opened bottle of this a few months back and it was nothing but tasty but this one was a super charged wall of pain, very dense, impenetrable and unforgiving. Needed a few more years (at least)! Hard work. A few hours open and it tasted like whisky. Not promising...

[Bick]

... the uncorking of a bottle of 2003 Awatea... after a good 5 hours, leather, and cigar notes that was just what I'd been looking for.

Glad you enjoyed it. The 03 is generally regarded as one of the poorest vintages, so that augers well for you if you get to open an 04 or 05, which are a lot tidier.

For me this weekend: Villa Maria CS Gisborne Viognier 08 - very pleasant, rounded, aromatic and a nice match with the platter we had at the vineyard in Mangere.

[Craig(NZ)]

Glad you enjoyed it. The 03 is generally regarded as one of the poorest vintages, so that augers well for you if you get to open an 04 or 05, which are a lot tidier.

or 07, must get myself another 6

I had a 03 Meerea Park Hell Hole Shiraz. Lovely wine, nice oak handling and not over cooked. Strange though it had a lot of characters i would attribute to chardonnay - grapefruit and pith like flavours both nose and palate. Anyone have any insight to this?? Does this have a dash of something else in it viognier or???

[TiggerK]

Cork/provenance gods not smiling upon me on Sat...

Petaluma Coonawarra 1998 - Oxidised, no nose or flavour at all.
E.Guigal Brune et Blonde Cote Rotie 2003 - Oxidised, flat, no nose or flavour at all

So off to the wine fridge for...
Grant Burge Filsell Shiraz 2003 - had me worried as not much nose or taste here either... but it was still 14C and thus far too cold to give up anything.
The next day had blossomed nicely and was a good solid Sunday drink, without being stunning. Few more years will be worth a revisit.

Primo Estate Joseph Cab Sav Merlot Moda 2006 - Wow, fantastic wine. Spice, raisins and blackcurrants on the nose, with rich ripe fruit and a hint of caramel. More savoury than fruit bomb, but right up my alley and WOTM for me so far. Look forward to finishing it tonight.

(Got the Petaluma and Guigal refunded as recent purchases and still had receipts.. the 1998 was their last bottle and the 2003 was my 2nd oxidised one from there, so I bought other stuff instead)

Cheers
TiggerK

[jeremy]

Cork/provenance gods not smiling upon me on Sat...

Petaluma Coonawarra 1998 - Oxidised, no nose or flavour at all.
E.Guigal Brune et Blonde Cote Rotie 2003 - Oxidised, flat, no nose or flavour at all

So off to the wine fridge for...
Grant Burge Filsell Shiraz 2003 - had me worried as not much nose or taste here either... but it was still 14C and thus far too cold to give up anything.
The next day had blossomed nicely and was a good solid Sunday drink, without being stunning. Few more years will be worth a revisit.

Primo Estate Joseph Cab Sav Merlot Moda 2006 - Wow, fantastic wine. Spice, raisins and blackcurrants on the nose, with rich ripe fruit and a hint of caramel. More savoury than fruit bomb, but right up my alley and WOTM for me so far. Look forward to finishing it tonight.

(Got the Petaluma and Guigal refunded as recent purchases and still had receipts.. the 1998 was their last bottle and the 2003 was my 2nd oxidised one from there, so I bought other stuff instead)

Cheers
TiggerK

I love that 2006 Moda. It evolves heaps over two to three days (maybe longer, but I sunk my bottle before I could find out)

[Gary W]

Glad you enjoyed it. The 03 is generally regarded as one of the poorest vintages, so that augers well for you if you get to open an 04 or 05, which are a lot tidier.

or 07, must get myself another 6

I had a 03 Meerea Park Hell Hole Shiraz. Lovely wine, nice oak handling and not over cooked. Strange though it had a lot of characters i would attribute to chardonnay - grapefruit and pith like flavours both nose and palate. Anyone have any insight to this?? Does this have a dash of something else in it viognier or???

It's 100% Shiraz. I have a bottle just sent through last week as it happens..to taste along with the 2007. (also have 6 of the 2003 + a magnum in the cellar). I'll look out for the grapefruit....

GW

[Craig(NZ)]

It's 100% Shiraz. I have a bottle just sent through last week as it happens..to taste along with the 2007. (also have 6 of the 2003 + a magnum in the cellar). I'll look out for the grapefruit....

yes was a very very good wine and plenty of years left in it. some interesting flavours in a good way. I enjoyed it. couldnt get over the fact that blind aside from the tannin mouth feel the flavours were very 'chardonnay', so was the nose.

not that i found that a minus at all was just unusual

[seddo]

A few decent drinks to toast a good City to Bay run...


Yalumba Signature 2002 - singing. Velveteen oak, cabernet characters quite dominant, with classy mid-range shiraz notes shining through. Super wine and will improve.

Excellant have 5 of these cellared

Leasingham bin 61 02 - nice wine did not start to flesh out till 2hours after decanting, 1 left might give it another 2 years in the cellar

cheers
Seddo

[Loztralia]

I had a 03 Meerea Park Hell Hole Shiraz. Lovely wine, nice oak handling and not over cooked. Strange though it had a lot of characters i would attribute to chardonnay - grapefruit and pith like flavours both nose and palate. Anyone have any insight to this?? Does this have a dash of something else in it viognier or???

Interesting that you say that - we were at the cellar door a week or so ago and asked exactly that question about a new vintage Meerea Park shiraz (I can't actually remember which one it was and certainly not sure it was the Hell Hole). Anyway they said it was 100% Shiraz and of course I have no reason to doubt that, but at the time we felt pretty stupid for asking so I'm glad someone else got the same impression. Lovely wines, though, as you say.

[Gary W]

The Meerea Terracotta Shiraz has Viognier in it (small amount). Rest don't. Some have whole bunches in which contribute to fragrance.
GW

[dkw]

Had another 2006 Balgownie Estate Goldfields Cab Merlot last night - there was some discussion about this wine back in May I think when some found it okay and others including me, didn't. We're up to bottle 7 out of a dozen (persistent beggars we are), and this one was much, much better than any of the previous 6. More body, more balance, and a blend of fruit and tannins that I like. Bit of a bummer in a way, because that probably means the first half dozen really were duds, rather than 'the style'. Here's hoping the remaining 5 bottles are like this one!

Dave

[Michael McNally]

Had another 2006 Balgownie Estate Goldfields Cab Merlot last night - there was some discussion about this wine back in May I think when some found it okay and others including me, didn't. We're up to bottle 7 out of a dozen (persistent beggars we are), and this one was much, much better than any of the previous 6. More body, more balance, and a blend of fruit and tannins that I like. Bit of a bummer in a way, because that probably means the first half dozen really were duds, rather than 'the style'. Here's hoping the remaining 5 bottles are like this one!

Dave

G'day Dave
I had 2 out my dozen and decided that it was simply too closed at the moment and will not be trying another for at least 12 months. The two bottles I had both underwhelmed me, but showed promise and improved drastically on the second night.
Maybe they have suddenly "come good". Hope so!
Cheers

Michael

[GRB]

One of note on the weekend Bowen Estate Shiraz 2000 Good length impeccable balance and at it's peak, drink up and enjoy.

[dkw]

Michael wrote:

I had 2 out my dozen and decided that it was simply too closed at the moment and will not be trying another for at least 12 months. The two bottles I had both underwhelmed me, but showed promise and improved drastically on the second night.
Maybe they have suddenly "come good". Hope so!

For what it's worth (thinking about it a bit more) the first few I tried a month after arrival didn't seem to improve at all with time. We drank a couple more early last month and they were just okay on the second night. The last one this week was good the first night, hence the post. That means the first half doz probalby weren't duds, just way too young.

So I learned something about wine today, which is always good. The other thing I've realised by looking at those drinking times is that my alcohol consumption jumps whenever my in-laws are around!

Dave

[Gary W]

I had a 03 Meerea Park Hell Hole Shiraz. Lovely wine, nice oak handling and not over cooked. Strange though it had a lot of characters i would attribute to chardonnay - grapefruit and pith like flavours both nose and palate. Anyone have any insight to this?? Does this have a dash of something else in it viognier or???

OK Craigy Baby - have this open now and I can see (although I'm not a synaesthete) the characters you mention, and I've always put them down to bottle aged Hunter shiraz characters. This is quite smoky/bacony and holding excellent redcurranty fruit. High acid, but that's a trait of Hunter too. Very nice.
GW