August -week 1 drinks

[Michael R]

Anything worth sharing Forumites?

I’ve been on a very good run recently, Grape mates on Friday with the following since:

05 Moss Wood Chardonnay….. surprisingly quite light on its feet and mineraly, was expecting more buttery/malo profile, definitely good, but not great
08 Giaconda Chardonnay…WOW, the power, the finish, OMG the oak, yes it’s a lot of money but to me its worth every penny. Everyone should try this once, it’s an animal but I think they’ve just about got it under control. Freak wine.
08 Eileen Hardy Chardonnay…I know I love this wine, posted several times before about it, but the Giaconda ruined this bottle.

07 Rockford Rod & Spur….a little hot on the finish, sweeter than the 06 with a touch of varnish maybe, didn’t do much for me
06 Rockford Rod & Spur…much more balanced than 07, with a savoury profile and dark/black fruit
06 Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz….(screw cap, yay!)a lot more elegant than I was expecting, choc, some musty leather on the nose, dark Barossan fruit, classy tannins, didn’t quite have the length if I’m honest but a very nice drop
Also a couple of James Squires The Chancer Ale, a touch fruity with related sweetness, liked it, not sure everyones cup of tea though.

Cheers
Michael

[BlaCkAdDa]

Tuesday night w/Butter Chicken and Rotti my St Hallet Poachers block Semillon Sauv Blanc
Last night with roast pork a 2007 Chateau Chateau Skulls (R Wines) .. a great lighter style wine (Grenache / Mataro) shame they went down the gurgler ... but I probably never would have bought it if they hadnt!

[Sean]

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[rens]

Great notes Sean, Thanks.

[Sean]

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[AndrewCowley]

2004 Leasingham Classic Clare Cabernet Sauvignon: Textbook cabernet. A wonderful blend of dusty flavours. Not too much eucalyptus which is good. Delicate. As always hard for me to break down the flavours (not my strength unfortunately) but I taste masses of earthy dark fruits and a touch of spice and capsicum. Best Cabernet I've had for ages. Still a touch primary so it has plenty of years left in it.

[Michael McNally]

Hi Sean

Interesting post. I think we all go through busy phases where it's easier to lurk and post the odd note (or not at all). I would like to post notes more frequently, but with 3 young kids and a busy job.......

I do have a lot of pieces of paper with notes on them lying around the place!

I think a monthly thread would make it less rather than more likely that people would post notes, The lack of a regular Sunday thread is only a recent thing so perhaps it wouldn't be too hard to make it happen more regularly. I think people are happy there to post notes - brief or longer.

Enthusiastic Amateurs unite!

Cheers

Michael

[richie32]

Small time poster, very entusiastic reader whose "hobby" is wine.
Often feel like I get so much but give nothing to the forum.

How?
That's the simple word why I don't post tasting notes. My wine vocab is not to the standard I feel comfortable with to post notes.
I often read threads on a particular wine having had a bottle/glass thinking i've got something to contribute but when it comes to putting it into words I can't verbalise them to write them down.

Here goes my first

Mr Mick 2009 Shiraz
Function at the new Mr Mick establishment of Tim Adams, previoulsy the Leasingham cellar door.
My first taste of the new range of wines under the Mr Mick label, Tim told a great story o fMick Knappstein and what he meant to Tim and the part he played in Tim's personal journey.
Obviously Mr Mick sits under and but none the less along side the Tim Adam's label, aims to give the growers of Clare a community receival point which in current industry climate is very important and it's a return to an earlier time when the Leasingham brand was just that for the Clare community.
OK....no tasting note so far so here goes!
First impression upon dipping the nose was one of typical Clare spicy blueberry but not a alot else, maybe due to coming from the 09 vintage not the best for the Valley and possibly with blending of fruit from new sources...
Having plates of tapas put in front of me mid way also contributed to stunted or blurred impression.
In the mouth I found the wine to show slight tannin and oak both at suitable level for what the fruit needed and what the wine being at the $15 a bottle range should get, website says 18 months on oak.

An easy drinking non serious wine to be had with food during the week or at BBQ.
Cellar.........for me no, better examples at same or close price point better suited.

There it is........what a load of dribble but felt it time to hit the keys.

Enjoy the weekend and the wine that comes with it.

[AndrewCowley]

Small time poster, very entusiastic reader whose "hobby" is wine.
Often feel like I get so much but give nothing to the forum.

How?
That's the simple word why I don't post tasting notes. My wine vocab is not to the standard I feel comfortable with to post notes.
I often read threads on a particular wine having had a bottle/glass thinking i've got something to contribute but when it comes to putting it into words I can't verbalise them to write them down.

Same here. I try my best (see above) but my tasting notes are pathetic. Still trying to contribute though.

[Mahmoud Ali]

I tend to drink the blends rather than straight grenaches from either the Barossa or McLaren Vale, thinking every grenache will be fruit driven and high in alcohol, even too candy fruited or lollyish to take seriously.

Sean

I just wanted to say that this comment, along with another remark about Grenache being typically soft and lush might lead people to think that Grenache doesn't lend itself to making serious, long-lived wines. That isn't really true. Most of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines from the southern Rhone in France are predominantly Grenache, and they can be very firm, long-lived wines with plenty of tannic backbone. It is really a shame that many of the Australian Grenache and Grenache-based blends are made in a sweet, over-ripe, often high alcohol fashion. It doesn't do justice to what can be achieved with Grenache, as you so well said about the 2009 Cirillo 'the Vincent' Grenache.

In keeping with this thread I should mention that I recently had a 1998 Yalumba Bush Vine Grenache. The colour showed the wine's age while the nose and palate fooled tasters into thinking it was either a Bordeaux (the slight astringency and minerality on the palate) or a Rioja (the lighter colour and sweet nose). Nobody thought it to be an Australian wine as there was no residual sugar or sweetness. The wine was assisted by the goat stew but that isn't a negative in my book as I expect most wines to be had and complimented by food.

Cheers..........................Mahmoud

[sjw_11]

Luciano Sandrone Barbera D'Alba 2008: Very plush, clean and fruit-driven style, with its 50% new oak treatment not intruding at all, but contributing to structure. Very good food wine.

Starvedog Lane Pinot Chardonnay Sparkling 2004: Winner of enough gold to pay for a winery at todays spot price, according to the many icons on the label. This is quite pure, clean and fresh for a 7-yr old bubbles, with some bready/yeasty notes and a lick of apple and stone fruits. Moderately complex but may rise in complexity with a bit more time.

Hugh Hamilton "Goldilocks" gewurtztraminer 2010: Don't ask whats with a McLaren Vale Gewurtz, I haven't seen any others and it doesn't make a lot of sense to me. Plenty of sweetness here (clearly made in the "lolly" style) but this does help it avoid overt phenolics or high alcohol-syndrome (common to the variety). Pleasant enough.

Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2009: stunning value for money this, really opens up over a couple of days with bright red fruit, supple tannins and a silky mouthfeel. Not the most complex wine you'll ever meet, but I think will suit some time in the dark before drinking.

[TiggerK]

Been taking it easy but a couple worth noting...

Jantz Brut Rose NV - Rather impressed actually. Nice mouthfeel, slightly lush with clean strawberry notes, good aussie $22ish sparkler, love to try the vintage version.

Zema Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 1990 - was a backup for the grape mates cab event, (not needed), so had it last night with friends over lamb sirloin with quince sauce and rocket salad. From auction, so nervious about cork, it was stained almost to the top, but survived. Wine itself was OK, bit weak and dusty to start, took half an hour to open up, then with the food showed so much better, gaining flesh and nice balanced aged characters. A solid good old cab, albeit a touch simple as befitting its' original price point. Love those old brown bottles too!

Three regulars on my current casual quaffing list have been Cirillo The Vincent Grenache 2009, Teusners Dog Strangler 2010 and Turkey Flat Mourvedre 2008. All delicious wines.

Tonight after some lovely Sierra Nevada beers, I'll try the Grant Burge Filsell Shiraz 2009 (double decanted since yesterday, be interesting to see), and maybe peek at the Torbreck Woodcutters Shiraz 2010.

Cheers
Tim

[Sean]

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[Sean]

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[calm]

Three regulars on my current casual quaffing list have been Cirillo The Vincent Grenache 2009, Teusners Dog Strangler 2010 and Turkey Flat Mourvedre 2008. All delicious wines.

Cheers
Tim

Hey Tim
How have you found the Dog Strangler and Turkey Flat Morvedre's by way of comparison. I thought that they were very different wines and styles though the same varietal. Turkey Flat was less brooding and powerful for mine ( - I like brooding and powerfull) and had a less menacing colour about it as well. I have some of both left which I will give some time now, however, after the last few vintages of the Dog Strangler, the TF was not what I was expecting.

[bacchaebabe]

Far too busy at work lately to post or even lurk but just a quickie:

05 Penfolds Koonunga Hill A big wallop of licorice on the first sniff. Opened up to show a little more complexity and fruit. Not a bad quaffer really and we managed to scoff the whole bottle with no problems at all. I think I got this free when I bought the 08 Bin 28s. Happy with that.

[TiggerK]

Hey Tim
How have you found the Dog Strangler and Turkey Flat Mourvedre's by way of comparison. I thought that they were very different wines and styles though the same varietal. Turkey Flat was less brooding and powerful for mine ( - I like brooding and powerful) and had a less menacing colour about it as well. I have some of both left which I will give some time now, however, after the last few vintages of the Dog Strangler, the TF was not what I was expecting.

Yes as you described really, the TF a more leaner elegant style, still with great flavour and texture. (Quite similar in style to the wonderful Hewitson Old Garden BTW). The Teusner is a brooding deep dark young monster which needs a bit of breathing. Like you I've put a few of each away for a few years to see what's what with a bit of time. Of course the TF, being 2 years older already won't need as long, and won't benefit as much from the time. The Teusner will be very interesting to see with some more time on it, could be quite superb.

Cheers
Tim

[griff]

I think weekly threads are good. Ideally for the sake of tradition we should start the thread on Sundays. As everyone pitches in it isn't too bad

Guess I had better put the money where the mouth is

2005 Dominio De Tares Mencia Cepas Viejas
Interesting wine. Limpid purple red with stained froth on pouring. Left a fair dose of sediment on decanting as well. A nose of leather, game stew, wild cherries and savoury herbs including bay and thyme. Rich palate of wild cherry with brown spices and subtle oak support. Silky mouthfeel. Lingering finish. Excellent wine and great value!

[Sean]

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[Sean]

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[TiggerK]

Tonight after some lovely Sierra Nevada beers, I'll try the Grant Burge Filsell Shiraz 2009 (double decanted since yesterday, be interesting to see), and maybe peek at the Torbreck Woodcutters Shiraz 2010.

Beers were great BTW. The Filsell was young and thus full of oak, fruit not bad, but didn't impress me hugely. The Torbreck was reviewed by CM as having a big aldehyde aspect to it, but a good wine nonetheless. He's not wrong, certainly a strong hint of old paint tin, which I personally couldn't get past enough to enjoy the wine underneath.

[Sean]

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[TiggerK]

Yes I wondered about the strong power of suggestion putting me off too much..... Smells better today, will see how the last 1/3 is going tonight.

EDIT: No, was still crap.

[Teisto]

Been away for a little while - hasn't stopped the consumption though and a fair bit. No tasting notes and anyhow my descriptions aren't exactly descriptive

2000 Majella Cabernet Excellent
1998 Gapsted Durif Very good
2005 Kalleske Pirathon Very good
2008 Teusner Riebke Very good
2006 Moorilla Muse Pinot Noir Good
2006 Ravensworth Shiraz Viognier Still seems disjointed in comparison to the 2005
2006 Peppertree 14 Shores Merlot Gutsy and good
200? Wild Duck Creek Yellow Hammer Hill Shiraz Malbec Good
1970 Saltram Mamre Brook Port Excellent

[Phil H]

Hopefully not to late being well into the second week of August:
My small contribution:
Winburndale Solitary Shiraz 2005: - Purchased a number of years ago at a Boutique Wine Show Musuem of Contemporary Art:
Despite having a good knowledge of Orange Wineries, this was my first wine from Bathurst I had tried.
Similar to a Mclaren Vale Shiraz: 15% Alc, very dark brooding color. Full bodied, dark fruits with a touch of licorice. Drinking well know, however has limited life in it, drink now. 3.5/5

[Wayno]

Bremerton Selkirk Shiraz 07 - classic Australian style... really like this

Majella Shiraz 04 - can't say I'm as taken with this as I am with the 04 Cab - distinctly savoury - almost to the point of saltiness, with obvious Coonawarra mintiness and a whack of musty leather. This seemed developed beyond it's years in some ways but in others not so - still pretty tannic and despite the savoury edge, there was still a good amount of fruit. Not sure what to think. Sophisticated or disjointed? Or maybe just me.