Wine Choices 60th

[9redpens]

Upcoming 60th for my Dad.
Will be a degustation type dinner, Blazac, Bistro Ortolan or Claude’s are probably contenders.

I'm thinking;
1 Champagne
1 Rielsings
2 Semillion
1 or 2 Chardonnays
2 Pinots
2 cool climate shiraz
2 Cabernets
Stickies and port.......

I've listed what I think are the best of my choices. I have the Olivier and Halliday ratings to go by for those I havn't tried.

What does anyone think or recommend. Too many, which ones, what order ?????????


Champs and Riesling are limited so I havn't included.

Semillon
96 MOUNT PLEASANT Lovedale
XX TYRRELL'S Vat 1 (92 to 02)

Chard
XX LEEUWIN ESTATE Art Series (98 to 05)
XX TYRRELL'S Vat 47 (00 to 05)
05 KOOYONG FARRAGO

Cool Climate Shiraz
98 BRAND'S OF COONAWARRA Stentiford's
00 CRAIGLEE
00 DALWHINNIE
98 SEPPELT St. Peters
03 CLONAKILLA Shiraz Viognier
89, 94 MOUNT LANGI
63, 66 WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE


other shiraz
96 PETER LEHMANN Stonewell
99 TORBRECK Descendant Shiraz Viognier
00 KILIKANOON Oracle
98 CORIOLE Lloyd Reserve
98 TIM ADAMS Aberfeldy

Pinot
89 GIACONDA
05 PUNCH Lance's Vineyard
06 BASS PHILLIP WINES The 21st
05 KOOYONG FERROUS
05 KOOYONG Haven

Cabs
82,86,90 WYNNS John Riddoch
90 SALLY'S PADDOCK
00 DOMAINE A Estate
92,94 HOWARD PARK
90,91 PARKER COONAWARRA ESTATE Terra Rossa 1st Growth
98 YERINGBERG
00 COLDSTREAM HILLS Reserve
96 KATNOOK ESTATE Odyssey
91 MOSS WOOD
98 ORLANDO Jacaranda Ridge
XX PETALUMA (90 to 99)
98 VOYAGER ESTATE

Other
67 LAKE'S FOLLY Cabernet Shiraz
96 Penfolds 389

[monghead]

How many people will be attending 9redpens?

[dlo]

Upcoming 60th for my Dad.

1 Champagne
1 Riesling
2 Semillion
1 or 2 Chardonnays
2 Pinots
2 cool climate shiraz
2 Cabernets
Stickies and port....... Or cover both bases and use a Seppelt Rare or Morris Old Premium Tokay or Muscat or a combination of both

I've listed what I think are the best of my choices. I have the Oliver and Halliday ratings to go by for those I haven't tried - I'd rely on neither

What does anyone think or recommend. Too many, which ones, what order ????????? Depends on how many people are attending the dinner


Champs and Riesling are limited so I haven't included. - In this case, perhaps Roederer NV as the Champagne or if you've budgetary constraints the Jansz NV (looks like they've got low fill levels but the wine is bloody terrific for $20 bucks a bottle). Riesling - something good from the Clare from 2009 might work well. Try one first ....might be too acidic and young ..... or better still .... stick to just Semillon and Chardonnay after your Champers!!!

Semillon
96 MOUNT PLEASANT Lovedale ...... if well stored, will be ok or excellent ....i.e. bottle variation
XX TYRRELL'S Vat 1 (92 to 02) ...... 92 is just starting to tire but can be great (bottle to bottle), my 93 and 94's are long gone, 95 is ready and very,very good, 96 is still relatively young but can be fantastic or corked , 97, 98 both young, but approachable. 99 will be great but way too young, 2000 is drinking well but youthful. Corks are a problem with this mob. Monitor multiple openings carefully.

Chard
XX LEEUWIN ESTATE Art Series (98 to 05) ...... 2001 is the best for current drinking. I don't like Leeuwin's high alcohol regime!
XX TYRRELL'S Vat 47 (00 to 05) ...... 2000 if well stored can be sensational. Would you believe the 2002 is still a little too young but can be great.
05 KOOYONG FARRAGO ...... should be fantastic, if going off the Estate from this year as a guide.

Cool Climate Shiraz
98 BRAND'S OF COONAWARRA Stentiford's - NO!!!!
00 CRAIGLEE ....Not tasted
00 DALWHINNIE .....As above
98 SEPPELT St. Peters ....Terrific wine Strong reco
03 CLONAKILLA Shiraz Viognier ....ditto to the Seppelt
89, 94 MOUNT LANGI ..... Not tasted
63, 66 WYNNS COONAWARRA ESTATE ......Curio's but the old Wynn's Shiraz have a reputation for surprising and living for yonks. I'd serve them for the heck of it. You'd need to sus them out just before serving though.


other shiraz
96 PETER LEHMANN Stonewell ..... Should be in the groove
99 TORBRECK Descendant Shiraz Viognier .... No data
00 KILIKANOON Oracle ... as above
98 CORIOLE Lloyd Reserve ...... Should be in the groove
98 TIM ADAMS Aberfeldy ..... Usually too much American oak for me

Pinot
89 GIACONDA
05 PUNCH Lance's Vineyard
06 BASS PHILLIP WINES The 21st
05 KOOYONG FERROUS
05 KOOYONG Haven

I'd leave all these pinot's alone

Cabs
82,86,90 WYNNS John Riddoch ..... The '82 can be fantastic if well stored but watch out for bottle variation, the '86 and '90 should be outstanding
90 SALLY'S PADDOCK - better elsewhere methinks
00 DOMAINE A Estate - this was a renowned year for this producer ... don't know the wine myself
92,94 HOWARD PARK - better wine on the list - I've never shared the raves of others on the greatness of the 94
90,91 PARKER COONAWARRA ESTATE Terra Rossa 1st Growth .... The 90 was extremely good but did have a touch of mercaptan, the 1991 probably the better wine. Both getting a bit old now methinks
98 YERINGBERG - good producer, don't know the actual wine
00 COLDSTREAM HILLS Reserve - no recent data
96 KATNOOK ESTATE Odyssey - usually too oaky for me but good year/producer
91 MOSS WOOD - should be in the groove
98 ORLANDO Jacaranda Ridge - too young but excellent wine
XX PETALUMA (90 to 99) - 90 and '92 both excellent but haven't tried them for a long time
98 VOYAGER ESTATE .... better wines to choose from

Other
67 LAKE'S FOLLY Cabernet Shiraz - would be surprised if this is still ok
96 Penfolds 389 - terrific wine

[Wayno]

Could also comment on a number of these wines but for mine, the 99 Petaluma is drinking very well currently. 96 389 also very good but I have had some bottle variation...

[Wayno]

The 86 JR was in very good form at one of the Adelaide offlines last year too.

[9redpens]

There will be 10 - 12 people!!!!!!

Wow, thanks for the comprehnsive resposnse Mr dlo.
All this from memory while you ate breakfast

Are you saying these Pinots arn't worth touching ??????

[bacchaebabe]

I guess one of the key things is to make sure you have two bottles of each wine you choose so everyone gets a go at it. At my last birthday I think I had about 12 people and had tow bottles of each wine and it worked quite well getting six decent glasses out of each bottle. It also meant I could put one bottle at each end of the table as we worked through them.

Some nice wines on the list there. I guess the following wines stand out the most and it largely agrees with what everyone else has said:
The 96 Lovedale or the 95-98 Vat 1s.
The 99 or 01 Leeuwin Estate
The 98 St Peters (monghead's been raving in the weekly drinking section but this has always been an excellent wine right from release) or the 03 Clonakilla. I'd check the Mt Langis as my 98s have all been pretty average. Other vintages may well fare better. I had a 70 Wynns shiraz recently. I didn't expect much but it wasn't bad at all but not stunning by any stretch of the imagination. I'd be inclined to keep those for people's birthdays in those years rather than a 60th.
The 96 Stonewell should be good and would be my pick but the descendant should be good too. Can't say I've had the others.
The bass phillip should be good but it's the only one I've tried of that lot.
Of the cabs it's the JRs that are really jumping out. They are all stellar vintages and you couldn't go wrong with any of them. Agree the parker estates might be getting on a bit . The petalumas go on and on so the early 90s examples would be the go. I wouldn't have the 96, 98 or 99 yet.
And of course the 96 389 is a guaranteed crowd pleaser.

If you've got enough lead time, seppeltsfield have started making birth year ports available again. It's not cheap but if you want a 1950 bottle of something, this would be your safest and best bet. Some friends were just down in the barossa and I recommended the Seppeltsfield tour and they chose the one where you can taste your birth year and the 100 year old, as well as quite a few others. I can't remember how much they said it cost to get a bottle of your birth year but I would suspect it's more the older it is but it would have to be a minimum of $300 and it might only be a half bottle but that should give 12 people a decent taste and be the most memorable bottle of the night.

[dlo]

There will be 10 - 12 people!!!!!!

Wow, thanks for the comprehnsive resposnse Mr dlo.
All this from memory while you ate breakfast? - Yes

Are you saying these Pinots arn't worth touching ?????? - No .... just not on the night, too many wine's. Does your father prefer Aussie Pinot to either Shiraz or Cabernet?

I'll get back to you later on with a shortlist for what I think might be a plan ...... Bacchaebabe's two bottle plan is a good one, excepting for the vagaries of cork and bottle variation. For this number of people, this is why god invented magnums.

[Wayno]

There will be 10 - 12 people!!!!!!

Wow, thanks for the comprehnsive resposnse Mr dlo.
All this from memory while you ate breakfast? - Yes

Are you saying these Pinots arn't worth touching ?????? - No .... just not on the night, too many wine's. Does your father prefer Aussie Pinot to either Shiraz or Cabernet?

I'll get back to you later on with a shortlist for what I think might be a plan ...... Bacchaebabe's two bottle plan is a good one, excepting for the vagaries of cork and bottle variation. For this number of people, this is why god invented magnums.

Unless of course the Magnum is corked...

[9redpens]

There will be 10 - 12 people!!!!!!

Wow, thanks for the comprehnsive resposnse Mr dlo.
All this from memory while you ate breakfast? - Yes

Are you saying these Pinots arn't worth touching ?????? - No .... just not on the night, too many wine's. Does your father prefer Aussie Pinot to either Shiraz or Cabernet?

I'll get back to you later on with a shortlist for what I think might be a plan ...... Bacchaebabe's two bottle plan is a good one, excepting for the vagaries of cork and bottle variation. For this number of people, this is why god invented magnums.

Um, not sure of the preference as he drinks more Shiraz and Cab but likes a good pinot. An attendee is a pinotfile so I had him in mind, I was also thinking it may complete the experience.

Magnums;
86 Penfolds 707 may go longer I think
96 Chapel Hill Vicar
96 Devils Liar
Not sure about these;
01 Peter Lehman Blue Eden Riesling
96 Petaluma
94 Tim Adams Aberfeldy
94 Sally’s paddock

I only have veuve 2002 (which I like) and didn’t want to rely on my dads champs, but I’m hearing there is some Grand Anee and Krug (not sure of vintages)

Riesling will be
Leonay 91(watervale) or 94 (Eden)………

[9redpens]

The 86 JR was in very good form at one of the Adelaide offlines last year too.

Riddochs…..
82 Riddoch captured my imagination some time back and I eventually acquired two bottles at auction. On selling one to my regret when I eventually opened the other. It was a truly fabulous wine (my best Cab to date). If we serve this time around it will be retail sourced and $$$$$, I’m trying to determine whether it will be that much if any better then the 86 or 90 ?

The 90’s I’ve never tried and the 86 is an unknown auction purchase.

[9redpens]

seppeltsfield........
I know a hudred year old was recently purchased for the occasion. I bellive it may be a gift though and not for consumption......
At easter the 1878 was sold out and the 1908 was down to 100ml bottles only, post the Halliday? 100 point reveiw....

[dlo]

There will be 10 - 12 people!!!!!!

Wow, thanks for the comprehnsive resposnse Mr dlo.
All this from memory while you ate breakfast? - Yes

Are you saying these Pinots arn't worth touching ?????? - No .... just not on the night, too many wine's. Does your father prefer Aussie Pinot to either Shiraz or Cabernet?

I'll get back to you later on with a shortlist for what I think might be a plan ...... Bacchaebabe's two bottle plan is a good one, excepting for the vagaries of cork and bottle variation. For this number of people, this is why god invented magnums.

Unless of course the Magnum is corked...

Of course.

[dlo]

There will be 10 - 12 people!!!!!!

Wow, thanks for the comprehnsive resposnse Mr dlo.
All this from memory while you ate breakfast? - Yes

Are you saying these Pinots arn't worth touching ?????? - No .... just not on the night, too many wine's. Does your father prefer Aussie Pinot to either Shiraz or Cabernet?

I'll get back to you later on with a shortlist for what I think might be a plan ...... Bacchaebabe's two bottle plan is a good one, excepting for the vagaries of cork and bottle variation. For this number of people, this is why god invented magnums.

Um, not sure of the preference as he drinks more Shiraz and Cab but likes a good pinot. An attendee is a pinotfile so I had him in mind, I was also thinking it may complete the experience.

Magnums;
86 Penfolds 707 may go longer I think
96 Chapel Hill Vicar
96 Devils Liar
Not sure about these;
01 Peter Lehman Blue Eden Riesling
96 Petaluma
94 Tim Adams Aberfeldy
94 Sally’s paddock

I only have veuve 2002 (which I like) and didn’t want to rely on my dads champs, but I’m hearing there is some Grand Anee and Krug (not sure of vintages)

Riesling will be
Leonay 91(watervale) or 94 (Eden)………

The 1991 Leonay Watervale, if from good storage, is a delightful, classic aged Riesling. I've had heaps more dramas over the years with the 1994 Leonay. Have you tried either lately? How many bottles of either do you have to select from?

Vintage Krug or Bolly would be just wonderful. Our tasting group tried the 2002 Veuve a few months ago and it was generally well received, except it could do with more time on cork. It's light years away from the class of the other two.

The 1986 707 is the standout wine of your magnums.

The trick with all the older wine is to have back ups (whether it be the same wine or something similar).

[Sean O'Sullivan]

deleted

[drunkenbum]

Cabs
82,86,90 WYNNS John Riddoch
90 SALLY'S PADDOCK
00 DOMAINE A Estate
92,94 HOWARD PARK
90,91 PARKER COONAWARRA ESTATE Terra Rossa 1st Growth
98 YERINGBERG
00 COLDSTREAM HILLS Reserve
96 KATNOOK ESTATE Odyssey
91 MOSS WOOD
98 ORLANDO Jacaranda Ridge
XX PETALUMA (90 to 99)
98 VOYAGER ESTATE

My two cents on these (As it is in my league).
90 JR (Provided it is a good bottle!!)
98 Jacaranda Ridge
91 Moss Wood
96 Petaluma
98 Voyager.
However if your Guests love a bit of Brett, go for the 94 Howard Park (which was a great wine last time I tried it 3 years ago, if you look past the brett) and the 96 Katpoop.
Skip the Yarra and the rest, but the Parkers are ok, but a little tired and dried out in my eyes too much oak/tannin and not enough fruit to pull it off in comparison to the others already mentioned, but still reasonable wines.

[monghead]

I agree with the general discussion thus far. In a tasting, a bottle between 15 may be fine, but for a nice sit-down dinner for a significant milestone, no more than 6 glasses per bottle. Thus, for 10-12 guests, 2 bottles or a magnum is necessary I think. Also, I'm not sure of others, but generally, for a dinner, a bottle per person is pretty generous, and no more than 1.5 bottles pp...

Champers- If you could source a magnum of something, would be very impressive...
Riesling- I like them young and crisp- why not a couple of bottles of the myriad of excellent '09s currently on offer?
Chardonnay- Any 2 bottles of the LEAS should do dandy.
Pinot- If you have the Kooyongs in doubles, either should be quite noice.
Cabernet- The Wynns JRs or the Moss Wood would be a treat.
Shiraz- Of course the St Peters

Then I reckon a single bottle of the Torbreck Descendant and one of the '60s wines as a curio for those Red Bigots...

Then the stickies and/or ports- I like Kris's idea of the vintage Seppelt 1950 port if available.

Anyways, have a great night, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the old man...

Monghead.

[9redpens]

Thanks for the replies all. I shall digest.

The 1991 Leonay Watervale, if from good storage, is a delightful, classic aged Riesling. I've had heaps more dramas over the years with the 1994 Leonay. Have you tried either lately? How many bottles of either do you have to select from?
Watervale = 1 and never tried.
Edens = several and recent expereince. Substanial variation I thought was storage related, as they have resided at various places in a sydney house.

The 1986 707 is the standout wine of your magnums.
Possibly my Baby. It was purchased in my early days of collecting and cost me more at the time then I would have typically spent on a case.

The trick with all the older wine is to have back ups (whether it be the same wine or something similar)
Is a problem for some of these as they are singles......
.

[Michael R]

Hi Redpens
A very exciting line up! Keen to hear your feedback afterwards.
The only info I can offer different to the above is the 2000 Kilikanoon Oracle.I had 2 bottles of this last year.
Bottle 1 was wonderful, those present still talk about it. The nose was sublime. It had plenty of fruit but was balanced in terms of weight and tannins. No traces of alcohol heat and a long gentle finish. Would have confidently kept Bottle 2 for much longer only I couldn’t resist. Bottle 2 was showing a wine in decline. The cork looked perfect. However it was a real learning for me in terms of spotting a wines structure dissipating. The tannins were loose and the fruit was slightly jammy. It was still very drinkable and enjoyable just not nearly as good as Bottle 1.
Unfortunately I only had 2 bottles, so not sure which experience is the most likely. But my recommendation would be to open the bottle soonish as its certainly ready to drink now (and hopefully not on the decline).
Enjoy!

[9redpens]

Thanks for the help so far.
I'm running short of time, so may have to compromise.

Likely List below;

92 Dom

Leonay 91(watervale) or 94 (Eden)

96 MOUNT PLEASANT Lovedale
9X TYRRELL'S Vat 1

02 TYRRELL'S Vat 47 (00 was a ring in and someone bought the lot before me)
+ a possible mornington

66 WYNNS
98 SEPPELT St. Peters
94 MOUNT LANGI (should the Wynns be rank)

89 GIACONDA Pinot
05 PUNCH Lance's Vineyard
06 BASS PHILLIP WINES The 21st (if the GIaconda is shot)

86,90,91 WYNNS John Riddoch (1 of)
00 DOMAINE A Estate

[Roscoe]

[quote="Sean O'Sullivan

I am wondering if some of those 60s vintage wines are birth dates and including some wines with family birth dates might be a nice theme for your father’s 60th birthday??[/quote]
I actually think this is a great idea, Sean. I had my 50th last year and went away with my family for the weekend. Rather than source a very expensive 59 vintage (which could easily have had a dud cork), over the three day weekend we drank (amongst other drops) bottles of 91, 93 and 97 vintages- the birth years of my three sons. It was a good way of including them in what was a very family celebration

[monghead]

[quote="Sean O'Sullivan

I am wondering if some of those 60s vintage wines are birth dates and including some wines with family birth dates might be a nice theme for your father’s 60th birthday??

I actually think this is a great idea, Sean. I had my 50th last year and went away with my family for the weekend. Rather than source a very expensive 59 vintage (which could easily have had a dud cork), over the three day weekend we drank (amongst other drops) bottles of 91, 93 and 97 vintages- the birth years of my three sons. It was a good way of including them in what was a very family celebration[/quote]

Wifey and I did that for her parent's 30th anniversary a few years ago. '75, '77, '82, '86. We had a great time and consumed some gems...

Monghead.