Weekend Drinkies 12/13 March

[Craig(NZ)]

Sister in law got married in the weekend so a few good bottles

NV Nautalis Brut. Nice with tempura Bluff oysters There is a softness to this wine which I really like and complexity enough to take it away from the standard run of the mill fruit driven NZ fizz

2002 Dom Perignon. This was a nice fizz but I expected more to be honest, didn't blow my mind. Nicely concentrated with flinty bready complexities. Was a little hard going...no doubt too young.

2009 Perigrene Pinot Noir. Lovely warm soft otago pinot, enjoyed

2010 Jules Taylor Sauvignon Blanc. nice light style with piles of re capsicum. no aggression here

2006 Neudourf Moutere Riesling. Nice off sry style, linear, controlled and complex. Good stuff but just a notch off the best examples of this style i have had lately

2007 Neudorf Moutere Chardonnay. A superlative wine. Would feature in any converation i had if picking a best chardonnay ever to come from NZ. Brilliant.

2009 Villa Maria Cellar Selection Merlot Cabernet. A good very ripe wine but to me it isn't in the same class as the 07 - misses the powdery tannin structure and seriousness. This seems to be a theme - the 07 vs 09 Awatea I thought the same. This definitely wont cellar to the same extent as the 07.

2007 Church Road Reserve Syrah. Absolutlely brilliant wine. You can't have enough of this stuff and I don't. Stunning poise, texture fruit/ oak quality. Supremely elegant without missing the depth and body. Rich chocolately and sweet spiced but not over blown. Treads all the tightropes with ease. Stunning

Also Johnny Walker Blue and Talisker 18yo which were both awesome but man I can't take that hard stuff like I used to - glad the next day that the girls came home early and poured cold water on that session!

[seddo]

Longhop 09 shiraz - not bad
Gran Sasso Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2009 - classy red good food wine
Teusner Independant 09 - for $16 a btl - what a bloody full blooded red - cant wait to try this agin over the next 5 years the mataro sticks out like the proverbial

[Teisto]

2006 Brown Brothers Pinot Meunier- Good drinking but lacking any real oomph in the fizz stakes
2005 Peppertree Semillon - Only just starting to develop some colour - still quite pale. Some toastiness starting to emerge but has plenty of life left in it
2004 Murray St Vineyard The Barossa GSM - This was lovely. Drinking very well now.
2005 Roennfeldt Genesis Shiraz - Still quite big, full of fruit which has a long way to go however some annoying heat in the finish. Hopefully this will settle down with some more time in the bottle.

[rens]

2009 Mike Press Merlot (14.0%): Different to other merlot I have had. It has nice fruit and the back of the palate is nicely held together by acid, similar to how a pinot noir finishes. Good for the price.
2009 Thorn Clarke Sandpiper Shiraz (14.0%): A typical Borossan shiraz whit fruit and oak and a bit of alcohol heat. A good quaffer worth the sub $15 price tag.
2008 Yalumba The Cigar Cabernet Sauvignon (14.0%): Nicely settled down from when I tried it soon after release. I enjoyed the Coonawarra nose, fruity Jubie goodness and fine tannins. Glad I have a few of these put away.
2001 Chateau Masar: Savoury fruity with a hint of funk. Chosen because I’ve never had a wine from Lebanon. Left the restaurant with two bottles to take home.
2009 Wynns ‘The siding’ (Green Label) Cabernet Sauvignon (13.5%): A nice nose of Connawarra Cabernet. Nice fruit with a hint of toffee on the lingering finish. Another good sub $15 quaffer.
2009 Pencarrow Pinot Noir (14.5%): Nice delicate small berries on the nose and front palate. Tannins a little green on the finish. Not Bad.

[griff]

2001 Chateau Masar: Savoury fruity with a hint of funk. Chosen because I’ve never had a wine from Lebanon. Left the restaurant with two bottles to take home.

If you mean Musar then we had one of these on the weekend as well. Mine had a whiff of leather (aka brett) but even Rebecca liked it which is rare when that happens. Was more on the Rhone side of things with musk and lovely crunchy and fresh red fruits. Carignan influence? Savoury as you say. Not much VA in this bottle either. An Excellent wine entering its drinking window.

cheers

Carl

[rens]

2001 Chateau Masar: Savoury fruity with a hint of funk. Chosen because I’ve never had a wine from Lebanon. Left the restaurant with two bottles to take home.

If you mean Musar then we had one of these on the weekend as well. Mine had a whiff of leather (aka brett) but even Rebecca liked it which is rare when that happens. Was more on the Rhone side of things with musk and lovely crunchy and fresh red fruits. Carignan influence? Savoury as you say. Not much VA in this bottle either. An Excellent wine entering its drinking window.

cheers

Carl

Yes Carl, a typo. I thought it was the Carignan too. There could have been some brett, but I'm of the opinion that it adds to the complexity (in small doses). I agree that it is a very nice wine (hence taking a few home).

[griff]

2001 Chateau Masar: Savoury fruity with a hint of funk. Chosen because I’ve never had a wine from Lebanon. Left the restaurant with two bottles to take home.

If you mean Musar then we had one of these on the weekend as well. Mine had a whiff of leather (aka brett) but even Rebecca liked it which is rare when that happens. Was more on the Rhone side of things with musk and lovely crunchy and fresh red fruits. Carignan influence? Savoury as you say. Not much VA in this bottle either. An Excellent wine entering its drinking window.

cheers

Carl

Yes Carl, a typo. I thought it was the Carignan too. There could have been some brett, but I'm of the opinion that it adds to the complexity (in small doses). I agree that it is a very nice wine (hence taking a few home).

I agree that was good brett. It is hard for me to quantify what is good however. It is also hard to store!

cheers

Carl

[TiggerK]

Neudorf Moutere Chardonnay 2008 - Real treat here, bit angular at times, but such quality in the fruit and handling. Very Good
Peregrine Pinot Noir 2007 - Rich, full bodied, minimal stalk influence and a happy surprise for the shiraz drinking crowd at the time. Drinking well now I feel (now that I've run out). Good Good.
Mumm Champagne NV - Good value at $46, this and Pol NV my fav NV's at this price area. Solid Good
Capital Wines Backbencher Merlot 2009 - Made to please, nice oak influence, soft, ripe fruit in abundance, will try the 08 tonight. Good.

And thanks for the note on the Ch Rd Res Syrah Craig, been wondering when to look at mine, sounds like I could start on one soon.. Long life ahead you think?? (mmmm bluff oysters... I'm an Invercargill boy)

Cheers
Tim

[Craig(NZ)]

And thanks for the note on the Ch Rd Res Syrah Craig, been wondering when to look at mine, sounds like I could start on one soon.. Long life ahead you think?? (mmmm bluff oysters... I'm an Invercargill boy)

Yes, the CRR is very approachable driven by its silky texture. I would say this has a good 10 years+ in it though I doubt the last of mine will last another 5! Its too tasty t wait. It is a fabulously contructed and exactingly balanced wine. Really really good. I keep regreting not buying more at $28 when I saw it on special at a supermarket once.