The Brisbane forumites got together at Brent's Restaurant at Toowong for an offline on Friday night (02/09/11). The theme for the night was the "Outstanding" catagory on the current Langton's chart. This followed on from our "Exceptional" night back in December. I am not the best at tasting notes and palate fatigue did kick in a little later in the night. I'll keep the notes fairly short and simple and I'm hopeful others can correct me where I'm a bit out.
The Wines
1994 Seppelt Show Reserve Sparkling Shiraz. Disgorged 2008: A big thanks to Gerry for generously bringing 2 of these along with him to start the night. They were sealed with a crown seal. The colour was near perfect and the fizz was still at a nice level as well. I found it quite dry and powdery. Fruit was still at the fore and it was a great way to start the night. I have only really drank the Rockford Black Shiraz (in the Sparkling Red styles) and this was not near as sweet as that style. This made it easier to drink for me. 4/5
Whites
2005 Grosset Watervale Reisling. Clare Valley: Sweet on the nose and also on the palate. Light colour. Very Citrus dominant and almost zesty. Quite racey for a 6 year old. I found it reminded me of a Margaret River SSB. Still quite young for a quality Reisling and will maybe mature into a better wine. Not near as good as a Polish Hill. 3/5
1995 Tyrells Vat 1 Semillon. Hunter Valley: Incredible light colour for the age. I've not had a lot of experience with aged Hunter Semillons so I'm probably not the best person to comment on this wine. It was not what I expected. The aged toasty flavours that I expected were just not there. It was showing so young for a wine of this age. Primary fruit was all but gone but it still had something about it. So easy to drink but it was almost too light for me. 3.5/5
1996 Mount Pleasant Lovedale Single Vineyard Semillon. Hunter Valley: Now this was what I expected from an aged Hunter Semillon. So much darker in colour than the Vat 1 and almost a light honey colour. The nose was much more complex as well. Lots of toasty butter and a little spice. I went back for seconds, I enjoyed it that much. 4.5/5
2002 Pierro Chardonnay. Margaret River: Double decanted at 4pm. Developed colour as expected. Honey, creamy buttery oak and a slight nutty note as well. Just what aged Chardonnay should be. So balanced with everything where it should be and nothing really dominating at all. A real competitor for LEAS. I also went back for seconds on this one and it was for me, the best white of the night. Yum. 5/5
2006 Pierro Chardonnay. Margaret River: It was a small treat to have 2 vintages of this great wine on show together. Sadly, this didn't match the quality of the '02. It was somewhat disjointed and a little all over the place. Nice light colour and the nose suggested it might be really good, but on the palate...not so good. Lacked the backbone to suggest it will come together with some age which could be indicitve of the poor 2006 vintage in WA. 3/5
Reds
1994 Wendouree Cabernet. Clare Valley If there was a prize for the best nose on the night, this would have won. I never tire of smelling the Wendouree's (the few I have had). Eucalypt and mint with some dark fruit. The palate was not as good though. It was closed and the fruit was stuggling to get out. Luke thought he should have decanted it for longer and I tended to agree. Nice solid colour and super fine tannins, just not the fruit power the nose suggested. 4/5
1988 Wynn's John Riddoch Cabernet. Coonawarra: Thanks to Brett for parting with this gem. Colour still nice and bright with no bricking. Bacon and tobacco on the nose. Perfect balance and everything right where it should be. The primary fruit is fading but the super fine tannins and what fruit is left weld together with the cedary oak to make a wine that was a pleasure to drink. I have often wondered what all the fuss is about with the JR's, and this answered it for me. A stunning wine and hard to believe it is 23 years old. 4.5/5
2001 Hensckhe Mount Edelstone Shiraz. Eden Valley: I love the nose on every Mt Edelstone I have had the pleasure of drinking and this was no exception. Dark red fruit, some rose and lavender dominate. Fine tannins and dark fruit along with lashings of sweet oak make up the palate. Perfect balance. Still has years ahead of it. My WOTN. 5/5
2002 Penfolds Bin 389: This wine polarised the group little. Many thought it was faulty (oxidised or some other fault though not corked). Craig and I thought it just needed time to breathe. It was poured straight from the bottle without a decant and in my limited experience it needs a good 24 hours airtime. It did have a rancid unburnt acetylene smell when first poured although it did blow off a little with time. Palate was very closed with no fruit at all. NR
1986 Penfolds Bin 389 Many thanks to Rens for parting with this gem as well. Colour still nice and dark. Dark fruits, some 5 spice and clove with just a hint of aniseed. perfectly intergrated and balance spot on, almost restrained As with the John Riddoch, I have often wondered what all the fuss is and how this wine managed to get so high on the Langton Chart. Now I know. 4.5/5
2004 Katnook Odyssey Cabernet. Coonawarra: Without a doubt, the best young Coonawarra Cabernet I have ever had. A bit of a fruit bomb. Lots of dark fruits underpinned with a large whack of sweet cedary oak and silky smooth tannins all in a harmonious balance. No alcohol heat whatsoever. Will go for years and years, but so approachable now. Was perfect with my beef mains. Stunning. 4.5/5
2003 D'arenburg Dead Arm Shiraz. McClaren Vale: When I decanted this at 1pm I thought it only quite average. But by the time we drank it, it had developed into a good wine. It maybe suffered a bit from being after the Odyssey and before the Kays Bros, but was a pleasant enough drop. Dark in colour with dark fruit and some aniseed on the nose. Dark fruit and a good lick of spice and liquourice on the palate. 4/5
2006 Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz.McClaren Vale: Very bright colour, Lashings of dark fruit and smokey bacon on the nose. A real blockbuster of a wine. Lovely dark fruits, spice, pepper and sweet oak dominate the palate. A little heat on the finish but this is more than forgivable considering how well balanced this wine is. The tannins intergrate well and provide a backbone to see it ageing for a long time. Once again, I'd love to drink this wine in 10 years time. 4.5/5
1999 Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Shiraz. Barossa Valley: I was really looking forward to this. It didn't disappoint either. I was starting to fade for the last few wines but managed to pick myself up for this blockbuster. Gerry thought he should have decanted maybe the night before for it to open up a bit more. It presented like a young wine. Very big but not over the top. I half expected something even bigger than it was. Big Colour, big nose and big flavour is the easist way to describe it, but it also had a certain restraint to it and the fruit has gobbled up all the new oak with ease. One for the long term. 4.5/5
Wine of the night votes
4 - 2001 Hensckhe Mt Edelstone Shiraz
2 - 2002 Pierro Chardonnay
2 - 1988 Wynns John Riddoch Cabernet
2 - 1986 Penfolds Bin 389
2 - 2006 Kays Block 6 Shiraz
1 - 1994 Wendouree Cabernet
1 - 1999 Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Rd Shiraz
So the Mt Edelstone was WOTN with the Pierro the most popular white.
I'd like to personally say thanks to all the attendees for their generosity in sharing all these amazing wines. 2 things stood out for me. 1, the amazing colour of all the reds. They were all so young looking, even the very aged examples. 2. How good cellaring can really benifit a wine. Every wine must have been perfectly cellared as there was not 1 bad example (except the 2002 Bin 389, which I am not sure of the issue) that had been cooked or presented poorly.
A big "Thank You" to Brent's as well. The food was also "Outstanding" along with the wines. I never heard 1 complaint about it and Janine's and mine was 5 star. The service was exceptional and a steady supply of good quality glassware was never far away.
Can't wait for the next offline......perhaps the "Excellent" catagory.
Cheers
Ian
Tasting Notes for Brisbane Offline 02/09/11
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ticklenow1
- Posts: 1147
- Joined: Tue Aug 31, 2010 3:50 pm
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Tasting Notes for Brisbane Offline 02/09/11
If you had to choose between drinking great wine or winning Lotto, which would you choose - Red or White?
Re: Tasting Notes for Brisbane Offline 02/09/11
Great notes Ian and thanks for all the info.. Sounds like a great event. Isn't it amazing how well these older 80's era wines show. A real eye opener for me over the past year or two of serious wine tasting. Patience is indeed a virtue. I also note lower alcohol levels of most older wines, 12.5% quite common. So I have to wonder if current releases will age as well as the 80's JR's and old 389's etc....
And I got a JR 88 at auction last week so pleased to have additional ammo as to its' consistency!
Cheers
Tim
And I got a JR 88 at auction last week so pleased to have additional ammo as to its' consistency!
Cheers
Tim
Re: Tasting Notes for Brisbane Offline 02/09/11
Thanks Ian
Great tasting notes - good to see someone taking up the mantle - I'll add my impressions to the mix, although I don't think that they'd be as accurate as yours because I didn't take any notes.
1994 Seppelt Show Reserve Sparkling Shiraz. Disgorged 2008: A big thanks to Gerry for generously bringing 2 of these along with him to start the night. They were sealed with a crown seal. The colour was near perfect and the fizz was still at a nice level as well. I found it quite dry and powdery. Fruit was still at the fore and it was a great way to start the night. I have only really drank the Rockford Black Shiraz (in the Sparkling Red styles) and this was not near as sweet as that style. This made it easier to drink for me. 4/5
Ditto - Gerry brings along 2 x $70 bottles of beautiful sparkling (even tasted good 2 hours later without the sparkle), and a $350 bottle of 99 Roenfeldt Rd (and his wife Nicole didn't even drink!). Last time a 1996 Grange and a 2004 Mt Mary - Gerry if there was a life membership we could bestow on you for your support and generosity it would be done.
Whites
2005 Grosset Watervale Reisling. Clare Valley: Sweet on the nose and also on the palate. Light colour. Very Citrus dominant and almost zesty. Quite racey for a 6 year old. I found it reminded me of a Margaret River SSB. Still quite young for a quality Reisling and will maybe mature into a better wine. Not near as good as a Polish Hill. 3/5
I found this pleasant enough but it was kinda in between - either needed more time or could have been drunk a year ago as a youngster.
1995 Tyrells Vat 1 Semillon. Hunter Valley: Incredible light colour for the age. I've not had a lot of experience with aged Hunter Semillons so I'm probably not the best person to comment on this wine. It was not what I expected. The aged toasty flavours that I expected were just not there. It was showing so young for a wine of this age. Primary fruit was all but gone but it still had something about it. So easy to drink but it was almost too light for me. 3.5/5
I quite enjoyed this despite Brett (redstuff) insisting that it was oxidised. For me it was a typical good quality old hunter semillon but was missing some of the quality that some of its illustrious brothers have had.
1996 Mount Pleasant Lovedale Single Vineyard Semillon. Hunter Valley: Now this was what I expected from an aged Hunter Semillon. So much darker in colour than the Vat 1 and almost a light honey colour. The nose was much more complex as well. Lots of toasty butter and a little spice. I went back for seconds, I enjoyed it that much. 4.5/5
Didn't love this - it had some spritz and was fresher than the Tyrrells but less oomph on the palate.
2002 Pierro Chardonnay. Margaret River: Double decanted at 4pm. Developed colour as expected. Honey, creamy buttery oak and a slight nutty note as well. Just what aged Chardonnay should be. So balanced with everything where it should be and nothing really dominating at all. A real competitor for LEAS. I also went back for seconds on this one and it was for me, the best white of the night. Yum. 5/5 Ditto - stunning in every way
2006 Pierro Chardonnay. Margaret River: It was a small treat to have 2 vintages of this great wine on show together. Sadly, this didn't match the quality of the '02. It was somewhat disjointed and a little all over the place. Nice light colour and the nose suggested it might be really good, but on the palate...not so good. Lacked the backbone to suggest it will come together with some age which could be indicitve of the poor 2006 vintage in WA. 3/5 I think Ian is harsh here - if this didn't follow the 02 it would have been a lovely chardy.
Reds
1994 Wendouree Cabernet. Clare Valley If there was a prize for the best nose on the night, this would have won. I never tire of smelling the Wendouree's (the few I have had). Eucalypt and mint with some dark fruit. The palate was not as good though. It was closed and the fruit was stuggling to get out. Luke thought he should have decanted it for longer and I tended to agree. Nice solid colour and super fine tannins, just not the fruit power the nose suggested. 4/5 Got better as the night wore on - should have been decanted a month ago it took so long for the palate to settle and what a nose!
1988 Wynn's John Riddoch Cabernet. Coonawarra: Thanks to Brett for parting with this gem. Colour still nice and bright with no bricking. Bacon and tobacco on the nose. Perfect balance and everything right where it should be. The primary fruit is fading but the super fine tannins and what fruit is left weld together with the cedary oak to make a wine that was a pleasure to drink. I have often wondered what all the fuss is about with the JR's, and this answered it for me. A stunning wine and hard to believe it is 23 years old. 4.5/5
Lovely old lady - if you have any I wouldn't wait much longer
2001 Hensckhe Mount Edelstone Shiraz. Eden Valley: I love the nose on every Mt Edelstone I have had the pleasure of drinking and this was no exception. Dark red fruit, some rose and lavender dominate. Fine tannins and dark fruit along with lashings of sweet oak make up the palate. Perfect balance. Still has years ahead of it. My WOTN. 5/5 Everything a red wine should be - incredible flavour and complexity - my WOTN as well
2002 Penfolds Bin 389: This wine polarised the group little. Many thought it was faulty (oxidised or some other fault though not corked). Craig and I thought it just needed time to breathe. It was poured straight from the bottle without a decant and in my limited experience it needs a good 24 hours airtime. It did have a rancid unburnt acetylene smell when first poured although it did blow off a little with time. Palate was very closed with no fruit at all. NR shit in a bottle
1986 Penfolds Bin 389 Many thanks to Rens for parting with this gem as well. Colour still nice and dark. Dark fruits, some 5 spice and clove with just a hint of aniseed. perfectly intergrated and balance spot on, almost restrained As with the John Riddoch, I have often wondered what all the fuss is and how this wine managed to get so high on the Langton Chart. Now I know. 4.5/5 Another fine old girl that needs to be drunk straight away - faded badly after an hour or so in the glass
2004 Katnook Odyssey Cabernet. Coonawarra: Without a doubt, the best young Coonawarra Cabernet I have ever had. A bit of a fruit bomb. Lots of dark fruits underpinned with a large whack of sweet cedary oak and silky smooth tannins all in a harmonious balance. No alcohol heat whatsoever. Will go for years and years, but so approachable now. Was perfect with my beef mains. Stunning. 4.5/5 Too young for me - a fruit bomb as Ian says - accidently dropped a bit of the licorice wafer from my wife's dessert into this glass and WOW - it brought it to a level that blew me away (but only for a minute or two).
2003 D'arenburg Dead Arm Shiraz. McClaren Vale: When I decanted this at 1pm I thought it only quite average. But by the time we drank it, it had developed into a good wine. It maybe suffered a bit from being after the Odyssey and before the Kays Bros, but was a pleasant enough drop. Dark in colour with dark fruit and some aniseed on the nose. Dark fruit and a good lick of spice and liquourice on the palate. 4/5 A wine that I would be overjoyed to drink on almost any other night but a bit lost in this company
2006 Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz.McClaren Vale: Very bright colour, Lashings of dark fruit and smokey bacon on the nose. A real blockbuster of a wine. Lovely dark fruits, spice, pepper and sweet oak dominate the palate. A little heat on the finish but this is more than forgivable considering how well balanced this wine is. The tannins intergrate well and provide a backbone to see it ageing for a long time. Once again, I'd love to drink this wine in 10 years time. 4.5/5 Some unusual flavours that I found very appealling - am looking forward to drinking more of this wine - it's a beaut.
1999 Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Shiraz. Barossa Valley: I was really looking forward to this. It didn't disappoint either. I was starting to fade for the last few wines but managed to pick myself up for this blockbuster. Gerry thought he should have decanted maybe the night before for it to open up a bit more. It presented like a young wine. Very big but not over the top. I half expected something even bigger than it was. Big Colour, big nose and big flavour is the easist way to describe it, but it also had a certain restraint to it and the fruit has gobbled up all the new oak with ease. One for the long term. 4.5/5 Seamless, classy and a wonderful wine - only slightly overshadowed by the Henschke
Thanks for a great night guys - terrific company and wonderful wine - how are we going to top the last couple?
Cheers
Luke
Great tasting notes - good to see someone taking up the mantle - I'll add my impressions to the mix, although I don't think that they'd be as accurate as yours because I didn't take any notes.
1994 Seppelt Show Reserve Sparkling Shiraz. Disgorged 2008: A big thanks to Gerry for generously bringing 2 of these along with him to start the night. They were sealed with a crown seal. The colour was near perfect and the fizz was still at a nice level as well. I found it quite dry and powdery. Fruit was still at the fore and it was a great way to start the night. I have only really drank the Rockford Black Shiraz (in the Sparkling Red styles) and this was not near as sweet as that style. This made it easier to drink for me. 4/5
Ditto - Gerry brings along 2 x $70 bottles of beautiful sparkling (even tasted good 2 hours later without the sparkle), and a $350 bottle of 99 Roenfeldt Rd (and his wife Nicole didn't even drink!). Last time a 1996 Grange and a 2004 Mt Mary - Gerry if there was a life membership we could bestow on you for your support and generosity it would be done.
Whites
2005 Grosset Watervale Reisling. Clare Valley: Sweet on the nose and also on the palate. Light colour. Very Citrus dominant and almost zesty. Quite racey for a 6 year old. I found it reminded me of a Margaret River SSB. Still quite young for a quality Reisling and will maybe mature into a better wine. Not near as good as a Polish Hill. 3/5
I found this pleasant enough but it was kinda in between - either needed more time or could have been drunk a year ago as a youngster.
1995 Tyrells Vat 1 Semillon. Hunter Valley: Incredible light colour for the age. I've not had a lot of experience with aged Hunter Semillons so I'm probably not the best person to comment on this wine. It was not what I expected. The aged toasty flavours that I expected were just not there. It was showing so young for a wine of this age. Primary fruit was all but gone but it still had something about it. So easy to drink but it was almost too light for me. 3.5/5
I quite enjoyed this despite Brett (redstuff) insisting that it was oxidised. For me it was a typical good quality old hunter semillon but was missing some of the quality that some of its illustrious brothers have had.
1996 Mount Pleasant Lovedale Single Vineyard Semillon. Hunter Valley: Now this was what I expected from an aged Hunter Semillon. So much darker in colour than the Vat 1 and almost a light honey colour. The nose was much more complex as well. Lots of toasty butter and a little spice. I went back for seconds, I enjoyed it that much. 4.5/5
Didn't love this - it had some spritz and was fresher than the Tyrrells but less oomph on the palate.
2002 Pierro Chardonnay. Margaret River: Double decanted at 4pm. Developed colour as expected. Honey, creamy buttery oak and a slight nutty note as well. Just what aged Chardonnay should be. So balanced with everything where it should be and nothing really dominating at all. A real competitor for LEAS. I also went back for seconds on this one and it was for me, the best white of the night. Yum. 5/5 Ditto - stunning in every way
2006 Pierro Chardonnay. Margaret River: It was a small treat to have 2 vintages of this great wine on show together. Sadly, this didn't match the quality of the '02. It was somewhat disjointed and a little all over the place. Nice light colour and the nose suggested it might be really good, but on the palate...not so good. Lacked the backbone to suggest it will come together with some age which could be indicitve of the poor 2006 vintage in WA. 3/5 I think Ian is harsh here - if this didn't follow the 02 it would have been a lovely chardy.
Reds
1994 Wendouree Cabernet. Clare Valley If there was a prize for the best nose on the night, this would have won. I never tire of smelling the Wendouree's (the few I have had). Eucalypt and mint with some dark fruit. The palate was not as good though. It was closed and the fruit was stuggling to get out. Luke thought he should have decanted it for longer and I tended to agree. Nice solid colour and super fine tannins, just not the fruit power the nose suggested. 4/5 Got better as the night wore on - should have been decanted a month ago it took so long for the palate to settle and what a nose!
1988 Wynn's John Riddoch Cabernet. Coonawarra: Thanks to Brett for parting with this gem. Colour still nice and bright with no bricking. Bacon and tobacco on the nose. Perfect balance and everything right where it should be. The primary fruit is fading but the super fine tannins and what fruit is left weld together with the cedary oak to make a wine that was a pleasure to drink. I have often wondered what all the fuss is about with the JR's, and this answered it for me. A stunning wine and hard to believe it is 23 years old. 4.5/5
Lovely old lady - if you have any I wouldn't wait much longer
2001 Hensckhe Mount Edelstone Shiraz. Eden Valley: I love the nose on every Mt Edelstone I have had the pleasure of drinking and this was no exception. Dark red fruit, some rose and lavender dominate. Fine tannins and dark fruit along with lashings of sweet oak make up the palate. Perfect balance. Still has years ahead of it. My WOTN. 5/5 Everything a red wine should be - incredible flavour and complexity - my WOTN as well
2002 Penfolds Bin 389: This wine polarised the group little. Many thought it was faulty (oxidised or some other fault though not corked). Craig and I thought it just needed time to breathe. It was poured straight from the bottle without a decant and in my limited experience it needs a good 24 hours airtime. It did have a rancid unburnt acetylene smell when first poured although it did blow off a little with time. Palate was very closed with no fruit at all. NR shit in a bottle
1986 Penfolds Bin 389 Many thanks to Rens for parting with this gem as well. Colour still nice and dark. Dark fruits, some 5 spice and clove with just a hint of aniseed. perfectly intergrated and balance spot on, almost restrained As with the John Riddoch, I have often wondered what all the fuss is and how this wine managed to get so high on the Langton Chart. Now I know. 4.5/5 Another fine old girl that needs to be drunk straight away - faded badly after an hour or so in the glass
2004 Katnook Odyssey Cabernet. Coonawarra: Without a doubt, the best young Coonawarra Cabernet I have ever had. A bit of a fruit bomb. Lots of dark fruits underpinned with a large whack of sweet cedary oak and silky smooth tannins all in a harmonious balance. No alcohol heat whatsoever. Will go for years and years, but so approachable now. Was perfect with my beef mains. Stunning. 4.5/5 Too young for me - a fruit bomb as Ian says - accidently dropped a bit of the licorice wafer from my wife's dessert into this glass and WOW - it brought it to a level that blew me away (but only for a minute or two).
2003 D'arenburg Dead Arm Shiraz. McClaren Vale: When I decanted this at 1pm I thought it only quite average. But by the time we drank it, it had developed into a good wine. It maybe suffered a bit from being after the Odyssey and before the Kays Bros, but was a pleasant enough drop. Dark in colour with dark fruit and some aniseed on the nose. Dark fruit and a good lick of spice and liquourice on the palate. 4/5 A wine that I would be overjoyed to drink on almost any other night but a bit lost in this company
2006 Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz.McClaren Vale: Very bright colour, Lashings of dark fruit and smokey bacon on the nose. A real blockbuster of a wine. Lovely dark fruits, spice, pepper and sweet oak dominate the palate. A little heat on the finish but this is more than forgivable considering how well balanced this wine is. The tannins intergrate well and provide a backbone to see it ageing for a long time. Once again, I'd love to drink this wine in 10 years time. 4.5/5 Some unusual flavours that I found very appealling - am looking forward to drinking more of this wine - it's a beaut.
1999 Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Shiraz. Barossa Valley: I was really looking forward to this. It didn't disappoint either. I was starting to fade for the last few wines but managed to pick myself up for this blockbuster. Gerry thought he should have decanted maybe the night before for it to open up a bit more. It presented like a young wine. Very big but not over the top. I half expected something even bigger than it was. Big Colour, big nose and big flavour is the easist way to describe it, but it also had a certain restraint to it and the fruit has gobbled up all the new oak with ease. One for the long term. 4.5/5 Seamless, classy and a wonderful wine - only slightly overshadowed by the Henschke
Thanks for a great night guys - terrific company and wonderful wine - how are we going to top the last couple?
Cheers
Luke
If you can remember what a wine is like the next day you didn't drink enough of it
Peynaud
Peynaud
Re: Tasting Notes for Brisbane Offline 02/09/11
Sounds like a great tasting. There can sometimes be a fine line with these things. Sometimes it seems like a "mine's bigger than your night" or even "why bother", but this sounded very much like nice people wanting to share nice wines with fellow fans. Good on you all.
-
Michael McNally
- Posts: 2091
- Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2005 3:06 pm
- Location: Brisbane
Re: Tasting Notes for Brisbane Offline 02/09/11
Great notes guys thanks!
Ignore the other thread - I need to look before I post.
Looks like I should have stuck with the offline.............
Any fistfights?
Cheers
Michael
Ignore the other thread - I need to look before I post.
Looks like I should have stuck with the offline.............
Any fistfights?
Cheers
Michael
Bonum Vinum Laetificat Cor Hominis
-
ticklenow1
- Posts: 1147
- Joined: Tue Aug 31, 2010 3:50 pm
- Location: Gold Coast
Re: Tasting Notes for Brisbane Offline 02/09/11
Luke,
I agree, it would be hard to top the last 2 offlines. If I am perfectly honest, I think I enjoyed the wines a tiny bit more in this one. I didn't think the "Exceptional" night could be topped, but this one just about did. I think if we went for the "Excellent" next time it would be just as mind blowing. It was also interesting to note our different takes on the 2 Semillons. I much preferred the Lovedale while it looks like you were more partial to the Vat 1. As for your Wendouree, a mate of mine reckons they need up to 3 days to open up, amazing! In reality, all the wines were of a extremely high quality.
I'll also like to praise Gerry's generosity again. Luke is right, he went way above and beyond again. Those Seppelt sparklers were something that too few wine lovers will get to try. For that, I thank you Gerry.
Michael,
No fisticuffs that I could see?? (or caused)
Cheers
Ian
I agree, it would be hard to top the last 2 offlines. If I am perfectly honest, I think I enjoyed the wines a tiny bit more in this one. I didn't think the "Exceptional" night could be topped, but this one just about did. I think if we went for the "Excellent" next time it would be just as mind blowing. It was also interesting to note our different takes on the 2 Semillons. I much preferred the Lovedale while it looks like you were more partial to the Vat 1. As for your Wendouree, a mate of mine reckons they need up to 3 days to open up, amazing! In reality, all the wines were of a extremely high quality.
I'll also like to praise Gerry's generosity again. Luke is right, he went way above and beyond again. Those Seppelt sparklers were something that too few wine lovers will get to try. For that, I thank you Gerry.
Michael,
No fisticuffs that I could see?? (or caused)
Cheers
Ian
If you had to choose between drinking great wine or winning Lotto, which would you choose - Red or White?
Re: Tasting Notes for Brisbane Offline 02/09/11
I'd be happy to do the "Excellents", Ian - there are some amazing wines in there including some of the old Wynns and I've got plenty of them. It would be nice to try a different venue too. Sometimes I wish I lived in Brissie - I'd love to do this sort of thing every month or so.
My next trip to Brissie is likely to be just before Xmas if anyone is around and wants to partay!
My next trip to Brissie is likely to be just before Xmas if anyone is around and wants to partay!
If you can remember what a wine is like the next day you didn't drink enough of it
Peynaud
Peynaud
Re: Tasting Notes for Brisbane Offline 02/09/11
A wonderful night yet again, great company, wines and food - looking forward to the next one already.
The 02 Pierro and 01 Mt Edelstone being real highlights for me, but all the wines bought something special to the night (except for a dodgy 389
)
Also interesting to see the differing opinions on the two aged semillions, I'm definitely in the Vat1 camp - to me it had more of the aged character I look for in Hunter Sems.
Cheers - Nick
The 02 Pierro and 01 Mt Edelstone being real highlights for me, but all the wines bought something special to the night (except for a dodgy 389
)Also interesting to see the differing opinions on the two aged semillions, I'm definitely in the Vat1 camp - to me it had more of the aged character I look for in Hunter Sems.
Cheers - Nick
Re: Tasting Notes for Brisbane Offline 02/09/11
A great night with some wonderful wines and excellent company. Once again everyone was very generous with what the brought along. Looking forward to the next one. Have to look at what 'excellent' wine I've got in the cellar.
never underestimate the predictability of stupidity
Re: Tasting Notes for Brisbane Offline 02/09/11
Nice notes Ian, you captured the wines well. For me the WOTN of the night was the 1988 Wynn’s John Riddoch Cabernet. Cannot go passed and aged cabernet, each time I took a wiff of this beauty it had changed and evolved more.. As always, great company, great food and some fantastic wines. Ready for the next one 
Re: Tasting Notes for Brisbane Offline 02/09/11
Great notes Ian.
The only wine on that list I have tasted which is also the same vintage is the Kays Bros Block 6 2006. I agree with you that this is a very good wine, and that while the fruit are very ripe, it is nonetheless both balanced and poised. I managed to get hold of a dozen, have drunk about one a year since 09, and this has been so at each stage of its development so far.
I haven't had the 96 Lovedale, but have never had a bad Lovedale experience, and think I will side with you over Luke on this one (reckless, since I didn't taste it, and have never tasted it!).
I'm slightly surprised but pleased that you had a good impression of the Greenock Creek. I am generally disappointed by them. They tend to be too hot for my taste, and the heat has blown off much of the complexity and interest in the fruit.
As for the Mount Edelstone, your enthusiasm for it doesn't suprise me at all. I often prefer it to the Hill of Grace of the same vintage, and it used to be great value for money at about $40. It's rather a lot more than that now, though, isn't it?
Finally, I wonder whether you are happy with the flexibility of your 5 point (10 notch) scale?
The only wine on that list I have tasted which is also the same vintage is the Kays Bros Block 6 2006. I agree with you that this is a very good wine, and that while the fruit are very ripe, it is nonetheless both balanced and poised. I managed to get hold of a dozen, have drunk about one a year since 09, and this has been so at each stage of its development so far.
I haven't had the 96 Lovedale, but have never had a bad Lovedale experience, and think I will side with you over Luke on this one (reckless, since I didn't taste it, and have never tasted it!).
I'm slightly surprised but pleased that you had a good impression of the Greenock Creek. I am generally disappointed by them. They tend to be too hot for my taste, and the heat has blown off much of the complexity and interest in the fruit.
As for the Mount Edelstone, your enthusiasm for it doesn't suprise me at all. I often prefer it to the Hill of Grace of the same vintage, and it used to be great value for money at about $40. It's rather a lot more than that now, though, isn't it?
Finally, I wonder whether you are happy with the flexibility of your 5 point (10 notch) scale?
Re: Tasting Notes for Brisbane Offline 02/09/11
orpheus wrote:I'm slightly surprised but pleased that you had a good impression of the Greenock Creek. I am generally disappointed by them. They tend to be too hot for my taste, and the heat has blown off much of the complexity and interest in the fruit.
Orpheus, the 99 Roennfeldt Road was only 14%, not your typical Greenock creek. I didnt see any hotness and did find it quite balanced, though it was a long way off being my pick for the night. would be very interesting to revisit this wine in another 10 years. cheers Gerry
Re: Tasting Notes for Brisbane Offline 02/09/11
I don't even know if Greenock Creek is typically high alcohol..they had a few years where it was just insanely high alcohol % (2005 and 2006 come to mind) which was surrounded by years of 14-15%.....I think their 2009 Cab is even 12.5% which is really nice to see...
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ticklenow1
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Re: Tasting Notes for Brisbane Offline 02/09/11
orpheus wrote:Great notes Ian.
The only wine on that list I have tasted which is also the same vintage is the Kays Bros Block 6 2006. I agree with you that this is a very good wine, and that while the fruit are very ripe, it is nonetheless both balanced and poised. I managed to get hold of a dozen, have drunk about one a year since 09, and this has been so at each stage of its development so far.
I haven't had the 96 Lovedale, but have never had a bad Lovedale experience, and think I will side with you over Luke on this one (reckless, since I didn't taste it, and have never tasted it!).
I'm slightly surprised but pleased that you had a good impression of the Greenock Creek. I am generally disappointed by them. They tend to be too hot for my taste, and the heat has blown off much of the complexity and interest in the fruit.
As for the Mount Edelstone, your enthusiasm for it doesn't suprise me at all. I often prefer it to the Hill of Grace of the same vintage, and it used to be great value for money at about $40. It's rather a lot more than that now, though, isn't it?
Finally, I wonder whether you are happy with the flexibility of your 5 point (10 notch) scale?
Orpheus,
With regards to the Semillon's, I think I preferred the Lovedale because it seemed to show more age than the Tyrrell's. It was more developed to me. The Vat 1 was incredibly fresh for an old wine and to my tastes wasn't as complex as the Lovedale. This is maybe because I like aged Chardonnays. Others preferred the Vat 1 though. Like I said, I have very little experience with old Semillon's so pardon my ignorance.
On the Greenock Creek, I have had many over the years and I think I have only noticed alcohol heat once or twice (drank too young). They are normally well balanced even when they have high alcohol. I subscribe to the theory that if a wine is well balanced, the alcohol content shouldn't matter. I have had a couple of Noon's at 16.5 to 17% and the heat has been barely noticeable. I agree with Gerry that there was no alcohol heat at all in the '99 Roennfeldt Rd and to me it was a better wine than Gerry gives it credit for (hard to be the last wine of the night I reckon). He is right though, I would love to try it in 10 years time also. I am sure that I will be corrected if I am wrong, but I think it is the only Greenock Creek wine that receives new oak. 3 years at that. The oak wasn't overly obvious either. I loved it. Even some of the Cornerstone Grenache's have had silly alcohol numbers over the years but with a few years in the cellar, they are amazing. I am drinking 04's and '05's now and the balance is stunning. Alcohol heat is non existent.
As for my 5 point scale. I am not a huge fan of the 100 point scale. It seems that all marks start at 80 or 85. What about the other 80 or so points, are they a given. I don't want to start an argument but that is just the way that I see it. For me 5 stars is an unforgettable stunning wine, 4 1/2 is on the cusp of 5 but still a stunning wine, 4 is a really good enjoyable wine, 3 1/2 is an above average wine that is still a very good wine, 3 is an average wine that is still enjoyable, 2 1/2 is a drinkable quaffer but nothing more, 2 is below par and not worth drinking, anything less is swill. Not everyones cup of tea but I also think my palatte is not good enough to distinguish between say a 95pt rated wine and a 96pt rated wine. I think I have only ever given 2 whites 5 stars, a 2001 LEAS and the 2002 Pierro. As for reds, only about 10 wines have ever stacked up. 2 of them were Mt Edelstones as well.
Hope that explains it without hijacking the thread.
Cheers
Ian
If you had to choose between drinking great wine or winning Lotto, which would you choose - Red or White?
Re: Tasting Notes for Brisbane Offline 02/09/11
I slipped a word in a mates ear, sweet talked his boss and ended up buying 12 bottles of the 2006 Kay brothers Block 6 for wholesale price.
Reading the tasting notes I am glad they are stashed in the off site storage.
It is so bloody hard when you have a young wine collection to wait.
I wish I had a time machine so I could go forward to drink the wines a their peak and go backwards to restock...
Reading the tasting notes I am glad they are stashed in the off site storage.
It is so bloody hard when you have a young wine collection to wait.
I wish I had a time machine so I could go forward to drink the wines a their peak and go backwards to restock...
Re: Tasting Notes for Brisbane Offline 02/09/11
ticklenow1 wrote:orpheus wrote:Great notes Ian.
The only wine on that list I have tasted which is also the same vintage is the Kays Bros Block 6 2006. I agree with you that this is a very good wine, and that while the fruit are very ripe, it is nonetheless both balanced and poised. I managed to get hold of a dozen, have drunk about one a year since 09, and this has been so at each stage of its development so far.
I haven't had the 96 Lovedale, but have never had a bad Lovedale experience, and think I will side with you over Luke on this one (reckless, since I didn't taste it, and have never tasted it!).
I'm slightly surprised but pleased that you had a good impression of the Greenock Creek. I am generally disappointed by them. They tend to be too hot for my taste, and the heat has blown off much of the complexity and interest in the fruit.
As for the Mount Edelstone, your enthusiasm for it doesn't suprise me at all. I often prefer it to the Hill of Grace of the same vintage, and it used to be great value for money at about $40. It's rather a lot more than that now, though, isn't it?
Finally, I wonder whether you are happy with the flexibility of your 5 point (10 notch) scale?
Orpheus,
With regards to the Semillon's, I think I preferred the Lovedale because it seemed to show more age than the Tyrrell's. It was more developed to me. The Vat 1 was incredibly fresh for an old wine and to my tastes wasn't as complex as the Lovedale. This is maybe because I like aged Chardonnays. Others preferred the Vat 1 though. Like I said, I have very little experience with old Semillon's so pardon my ignorance.
On the Greenock Creek, I have had many over the years and I think I have only noticed alcohol heat once or twice (drank too young). They are normally well balanced even when they have high alcohol. I subscribe to the theory that if a wine is well balanced, the alcohol content shouldn't matter. I have had a couple of Noon's at 16.5 to 17% and the heat has been barely noticeable. I agree with Gerry that there was no alcohol heat at all in the '99 Roennfeldt Rd and to me it was a better wine than Gerry gives it credit for (hard to be the last wine of the night I reckon). He is right though, I would love to try it in 10 years time also. I am sure that I will be corrected if I am wrong, but I think it is the only Greenock Creek wine that receives new oak. 3 years at that. The oak wasn't overly obvious either. I loved it. Even some of the Cornerstone Grenache's have had silly alcohol numbers over the years but with a few years in the cellar, they are amazing. I am drinking 04's and '05's now and the balance is stunning. Alcohol heat is non existent.
As for my 5 point scale. I am not a huge fan of the 100 point scale. It seems that all marks start at 80 or 85. What about the other 80 or so points, are they a given. I don't want to start an argument but that is just the way that I see it. For me 5 stars is an unforgettable stunning wine, 4 1/2 is on the cusp of 5 but still a stunning wine, 4 is a really good enjoyable wine, 3 1/2 is an above average wine that is still a very good wine, 3 is an average wine that is still enjoyable, 2 1/2 is a drinkable quaffer but nothing more, 2 is below par and not worth drinking, anything less is swill. Not everyones cup of tea but I also think my palatte is not good enough to distinguish between say a 95pt rated wine and a 96pt rated wine. I think I have only ever given 2 whites 5 stars, a 2001 LEAS and the 2002 Pierro. As for reds, only about 10 wines have ever stacked up. 2 of them were Mt Edelstones as well.
Hope that explains it without hijacking the thread.
Cheers
Ian
Interested to hear you expand about the Grenock Creeks. I certainly agree that high alcohol does not equal hot. The Tin Shed Shiraz 2005 is a good example of this at an absurd 16.6 %. It teeters on the edge of excess, but it is not hot, nor jammy.
Of course you are right that the 100 point scale is an odd thing. Anything below 80 is well and truly faulty. I expect 70 or below is poisonous, and battery acid would rate about 50.
I like it because (frankly) it is easy. All the action with good wines is between 90 and 100, and wines just end up feeling like a number on that scale! Unsatisfactory, unscientific, impressionistic, appearing more precise than it is, yes, granted, but I find it easy to use.
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Maroon&Blue
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Re: Tasting Notes for Brisbane Offline 02/09/11
Hi Ian
Just read your impressive tasting notes of your obviously enjoyable night at Brents.
I am impressed by your notes & also by your ball striking!
Cheers
Ronaldo
Just read your impressive tasting notes of your obviously enjoyable night at Brents.
I am impressed by your notes & also by your ball striking!
Cheers
Ronaldo
Wine improves with age....the older I get, the better I like it!
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ticklenow1
- Posts: 1147
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Re: Tasting Notes for Brisbane Offline 02/09/11
Maroon&Blue wrote:Hi Ian
Just read your impressive tasting notes of your obviously enjoyable night at Brents.
I am impressed by your notes & also by your ball striking!
Cheers
Ronaldo
Thanks Ron.
You'll have to come to the next one. It was a great night.
Hopefully we can both play a little better next time we tee it up. Just tucking into a nice red right now!
Cheers
Ian
If you had to choose between drinking great wine or winning Lotto, which would you choose - Red or White?
Re: Tasting Notes for Brisbane Offline 02/09/11
ticklenow1 wrote:As for my 5 point scale. I am not a huge fan of the 100 point scale. It seems that all marks start at 80 or 85. What about the other 80 or so points, are they a given. I don't want to start an argument but that is just the way that I see it. For me 5 stars is an unforgettable stunning wine, 4 1/2 is on the cusp of 5 but still a stunning wine, 4 is a really good enjoyable wine, 3 1/2 is an above average wine that is still a very good wine, 3 is an average wine that is still enjoyable, 2 1/2 is a drinkable quaffer but nothing more, 2 is below par and not worth drinking, anything less is swill. Not everyones cup of tea but I also think my palate is not good enough to distinguish between say a 95pt rated wine and a 96pt rated wine. I think I have only ever given 2 whites 5 stars, a 2001 LEAS and the 2002 Pierro. As for reds, only about 10 wines have ever stacked up. 2 of them were Mt Edelstones as well.
Hope that explains it without hijacking the thread.
Cheers
Ian
Ian,
Each to his own on rating systems. I do note of late, a number of people of some reknown have given their numerical systems the boot with a vengeance. I see little difference between your system (I used it in the early 90's when I first wrote for the Canberra Times), the twenty point system (used exclusively for Australian Wine Shows etc.), the more commonly used 100 point system or just verbal/written descriptors. When I look at your system, I draw paralell's to the 20/100 point systems as follows:
- 2 and 1/2 star wine would score about 15/75 points
- 3 stars about 16/80
- 3 1/2 stars about 17/85 ..... and so on.
Therefore, working on these parameters the starting points for the 20/100 point system are 10 and 50 respectively (which in itself is somewhat illogical). I have awarded 10/50 points to wine's on many occasions over the years.
To my way of thinking, the critical mass on any system employed gets back to the credibility of the taster (i.e. their ability to identify, assess, articulate and then rate accordingly).
So thanks for explaining it above but let us not ever forget - without our detailed/accurate written notes, scores are totally meaningless.
The subjectivity of our passion will always stimulate comment and criticism and, believe me, if "scoring" was banned from the planet from now on, the same debates would most probably go on and on for as long as wine is made, drunk and assessed!
Cheers,
David
David