Wet Sunday

[I Love Shiraz]

The past week has been way too hot for reds, and didn't eat anything that would match well to white wine, so all beer this week.

What have you been drinking this week?

[Red Bigot]

The past week has been way too hot for reds, and didn't eat anything that would match well to white wine, so all beer this week.

What have you been drinking this week?

Wet Sunday? You must be in Melbourne/Vic?

Still hot (and muggy today) in Canberra, drank lots of sparkling reds last week, all good, Sir James 2004 Sp Shiraz (cleanskin), Sorby Adams Morticia, Bundaleer Sp Shiraz, Yalumba Black D 2002.
Also another bottle of Kays Hillside Shiraz 2008 after a recent tasting showed it was ready to go an won't get any better from here, lovely wine, nicely mature for my tastes, some may like it older.

[Craig(NZ)]

A week off running, hiking and climbing due to an old mans hip injury enabled me to hit the wines reasonably well this weekend! getting a bit of the aussie heat here, but not too bad. today drizzly and warm (nz xmas day weather)

Had a bottle of 08 cloudy bay sauvignon blanc which was rubbish. then next day and 09 cloudy bay sauvignon blanc which was very good without being amazing - very minerally - almost slatey/smoky - serious and interlectual. empty bottle now sitting next to 15 vintages of empty bottles in the garage. tradition

also a bottle of 98 delegats cab sauv to celebrate the twins 11yr birthday. Quite youthful still and full of cassis and blackcurrant. For a $17 nz red at 11 years old it was pretty special. All gone now, my 98's are now endangered species - im drinking them all except for terraces, bfgl and coleriane. 10 years time and it will be 98 coleraine ex magnum for the kids 21st

also a bottle of my nz red wine buy of the year - 07 villa maria cellar selection merlot cabernet. At $14 a bottle it is amazing value for money and will surely improve for 10 years at which point it will probably be a better wine than the 98 delegats is today. I doubt though i will have the will power!!

tonight 05 carrick pinot noir which is pretty damn good.

not looking forward to the 5km run tomorrow. im gonna suffer!

[I Love Shiraz]

Red Bigot,

I am indeed from Melbourne. As I am typing I notice the rain has stopped and the sun has sneeked though.

[via collins]

also reporting from Melbourne, that was 12 hours of sustained, tropical weight rain. i thought we were all saved 'til i heard on the news that most missed the catchments. doh!

Murdock 2000 Coonawarra - aged very nicely, rich, full berries in the mouth, hints of licorice, and a lovely length.

Melville 2007 pinot noir, Santa Barbera - dark in colour, lovely rich cherry and maple tastes.

Biale 2006 zinfandel, Napa Valley - sweet & peppery, again with the licorice, and a really dense and satisfying wine. Not your average zin by a long shot

Keller 2008 trocken riesling, Rhienhessen - enjoyed upon a rooftop one Melbourne's hottest night this past week, a party in a glass. Riciculously refined riesling - lychees, lime, fine minerally backing. I believe this is a fairly mid-range wine for Keller, but the taste was superb for me.

Tahbilk 2008 riesling, central vic - I know there are plenty of Tahbilk drinkers here, and a question occurs: has anyone else noticed a resemblance to gewurtz in this vintage? Don't get me wrong, it's a fine wine especially with Asian food, but I've had a few nw, and there's a musky nose that gets me every time.

Cheers

[monghead]

Just back in Sydney now, and what a stinker of a day!

Looked in the fridge, and the only thing available was a 2006 Granite Hills Riesling- Perfect. Crisp. Limes and verbena flowers abound, sumptuous acidity. Delectably Good.

Monghead.

[TiggerK]

Welcome back Monghead!!

The North Shore/Inner West tasting group (yet to decide an official name...) are having a dinner at Atelier on Wed 16th Dec. Theme is bring a favourite bottle. Hope you can perhaps make it..

As for me... the heat has meant rather too much Little Creatures Pale Ale, Weheistephaner Kristall Weissbier and James Squire Pilsner....

But tonight was

Mac Forbes Woori Yallock Pinot Noir 2008 (thanks Gavin) - Bloody Brilliant Pinot. Rich but light cherry colour, with a touch of cloudiness (a good sign IMHO).. Taste is just great. Reminds me of my favourite Burgundy as served by the glass at Rockpool Bar & Grill. That blew my mind, this is right up there..... I love the NZ PInots, but this is a different style that is very appealing.... Super Good.

Wife very much agrees!!

Cheers
TiggerK (Tim)

[daz]

Tahbilk 2008 riesling, central vic - I know there are plenty of Tahbilk drinkers here, and a question occurs: has anyone else noticed a resemblance to gewurtz in this vintage? Don't get me wrong, it's a fine wine especially with Asian food, but I've had a few nw, and there's a musky nose that gets me every time.

Cheers

Haven't had a Tahbilk riesling for some time but one of the things about it I have enjoyed is that I've generally found it to have more generous fruit than most of the Eden/Watervale and especially Polish Hill River rieslings I've tried. It's not off-dry, just more juicy. I've virtually no experience of gewurtztraminer( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gew%C3%BCrztraminer) so can't comment on that aspect you perceive of the 08 riesling style. Here's Campbell's (The Wine Front) TN:

"There’s so much I like about this wine. It’s pure, lengthy, multi-dimensional and floral, its limey flavour full of fleshy, attractive, mouth-revving bitterness. Elegant, long, complex" (92pts).

That pretty much descibes my experience of the better vintages I have had of Tahbilk riesling, without the bitterness. The winery seems to have turned a corner on quality since the turn of the millenium, the wines perhaps made in a more modern style whilst retaining some of the traditional character.

Cheers

daz

[Luke W]

Started with a 1996 Thomas Hardy Cabernet - a lovely wine to start with - all fruit, balance and elegance (decanted) and then made the mistake of leaving half of it while went on to a 2000 La Testa blend which at that stage was nice but nothing special. As the evening wore on the La testa got better and the Thomas Hardy was taken over with violets and tobacco leaf to the point where I stopped enjoying it. However the La testa became quite superb (not decanted). I remember having a TH a couple of years ago and drinking it almost from opening and thinking how wonderful it was, so I think the next 3 bottles that I have will be drunk before they turn into a florist shop.

[monghead]

Welcome back Monghead!!

The North Shore/Inner West tasting group (yet to decide an official name...) are having a dinner at Atelier on Wed 16th Dec. Theme is bring a favourite bottle. Hope you can perhaps make it..

As for me... the heat has meant rather too much Little Creatures Pale Ale, Weheistephaner Kristall Weissbier and James Squire Pilsner....

But tonight was

Mac Forbes Woori Yallock Pinot Noir 2008 (thanks Gavin) - Bloody Brilliant Pinot. Rich but light cherry colour, with a touch of cloudiness (a good sign IMHO).. Taste is just great. Reminds me of my favourite Burgundy as served by the glass at Rockpool Bar & Grill. That blew my mind, this is right up there..... I love the NZ PInots, but this is a different style that is very appealing.... Super Good.

Wife very much agrees!!

Cheers
TiggerK (Tim)

Thanks Tim.

Must say, nothing beats a night's sleep in your own bed.

Sounds like the Sydney tasting groups are going off! This is fantastic. Thanks for the invite to the Atelier do. I will check with the higher powers to see if we can make it. How many going at this stage, so I know roughly whether to take 2 different 750mL wines, or 1500mL of the same wine.

Cheers,

Monghead.

[jeremy]

2006 Karra Yerta Riesling- showing advanced toasty characters but all in balance. Little bit of kero, not much though. Excellent length & ready to go. Tasty

2007 Karra Yerta Riesling- reckon this is going to be excellent down the track. Currently tightly wound. I'd hold off for a while yet.

2009 Flaxman Riesling- more forward and friendly style from Eden. Very nice right now.

2007 Adelaide Hills Nebbiolo (cleanskin)- made by a very talented wine maker (who I can't name), this is really top notch stuff. And it's only $11.99. Extremely varietal, extremely good.

2008 Mountadam Chardonnay- larger than life, grilled peaches, grilled nuts, grapefruit. 100% malo and some good french oak. Not really about restraint but quite well balanced. Pretty much what I've come to expect from these guys. When I feel like this style, I love this wine.

[PaulG]

During the heatwave I planned a picnic/Rosé tasting for Sunday. Unfortunately the weather was cooler than we'd expected, but it didn't stop us from having a great day, and trying some lovely Rosé.

Chales Melton 2009 Rose of Virginia Deep red, savoury fruits with lovely turkish delight flavours and a crips finish. Very refreshing, but a little too sweet for the taste of most in attendance. Suffered to an extent from what I call 'Banrock Station Syndrome' - The situation in which a high level Rosé isn't especially discernable from a $5 bottle of Banrock Station White Shiraz.

Stoneyfell Winery/Amphora Wines 2009 Shiraz Grenache Rose The colour of cough syrup was the only negative we could find for this wine. Crisp, savoury, with rose-water flavours. Hands down favourite of the two Rosé's, and at $14 a bottle, that was music to my ears!

[via collins]

Thanks Daz.

I'm going to read the "multi-dimensional and perfumed" aspect of Campbell's note as an intersection with my gewurtz feelings. I'm also a little puzzled by the "mouth-revving bitterness" aspect of the note, but I know I'll be drinking plenty more of these, so I can investigate at length.

I agree wholeheartedly with you regarding the Tahbilk decade thus far. It's actually getting thrilling to discover what nuance each vintage will turn up!

Cheers.

[orpheus]

Shiraz by Farr (2001)

This is drinking beautifully. Striking and different is the restrained hint of stewed rhubarb and plum, and lovely, soft yet weighty tannins on the finish.

Quite opaque in colour - unfiltered?

A wine that you just want to keep drinking, a lovely, complex, generous, rounded mouthful.

[bacchaebabe]

Had a bottle of 08 cloudy bay sauvignon blanc which was rubbish. then next day and 09 cloudy bay sauvignon blanc which was very good without being amazing - very minerally - almost slatey/smoky - serious and interlectual. empty bottle now sitting next to 15 vintages of empty bottles in the garage. tradition

I bought a six pack of Cloudy Bay sav blanc on the weekend. To be honest, I didn't even look at the vintage just at the pricetag which was the cheapest I've ever bought it for - much cheaper than off the mailing list which is usually the cheapest. Just hoping now that it's the 09.

[Mandingo]

1998 Katnook Estate Cabernet, 1999 Hillstowe Mary's Hundred Shiraz and 2002 Nine Popes at the VIctory last night - all good wines in great condition. Been a while since I've had such a good line up on one night!

[Sharkey]

A few reds with pizza on Saturday night.

Lake’s Folley Cabernet 1993 – 12.2%. A wine of great finesse and intensity and an amazingly long finish. One of the best wines I have had this year.

St Hubert’s Cabernet Merlot 2001 – 12.5%. A good follow up to the Lakes Folley. Still low in alcohol but a fuller, meatier wine.

Rosemount Show Reserve Shiraz 1998 - Time for a change of pace and yet another excellent wine.

It’s not often you open 3 aged wines – all with corks – and all 3 are great.

[gpk]

Grant Burge G3 2002: do not remember much, had just got home from 28 days at work (dry days!!), but it was a nice welcome home drink and was a very good GSM.

Hensheke Mount Edelstone 2000: second bottle after G3, very average, wife described it by asking don’t we have any better than this!!

Rockford Pressing SVS 1999: black fruit, nice complexity with overlying tannins. Still very young, not sure about the SVS.

Leuuwin Art Series Chardonnay 2002: lots of melon, grapefruit, peach……very intense, nothing out of place, but I think I don’t just don't get the wow factor others see.

Giaconda Chardonnay 2004: Ok this is more my style compared to the Leuuwin, nice fruit of melon, grapefruit, with the still slightly prominent oak giving a beautiful buttery mouth feel.

Rockford 2000 Vine Vale Riesling: Aged Riesling, beautiful rich golden color, stone fruit and mineral nose, surprisingly still together. Some slight signs of oxidation but still a joy to drink. I had lost a few of these in the cellar and thought they would be way past it. Only 1 out of 4 has been a dud (oxidized).

Kurtz Lunar Block 2002: black berry, chocolate, seemed to be not quite together. Tried again on the second night and had softened and had improved a lot.