Right, what are we/you drinking now .. tonight

[rens]

(except for a week in 2011 when it was under water).

Wait, what? Do tell...

Brisbane floods. Not exactly under water, more lapping at the bottom of the bottle with humidity causing the label to slide down and on an angle.

[conformistpete]

Hayshed Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
Dark and inky
Fruity nose of mostly dark berries with a bit of cedar and cocoa nibs. Black currant and ripe plums on the palate, fine tannins not much in the way of acid.

Pretty good for a Monday night, however I think I preferred the 2011 which had more structure.

Should be just right with a lamb rack and potato gratin.

[Hacker]

Skiing through the pow pow (thats what my 19yo daughter calls it) all day at Niseko. So nothing could be better than an ice cold Asahi.
Yesterday a 2007 Fourrier 1er les Goulots which had the lovely mix of beautiful rich dark fruits and meatyness together with a hint of earth. Long and velvety with a complex palate that underlines why I love Burgundy.

[shauno]

2008 Marques de Murrieta Rioja Reserva - Good & spicey, decanted for an hour or so & went well with BBQ'd
lamb shoulder. Impressive QPR for a 7-8 year old wine bought last week for under $30.

2012 Zonin Valpollicella Ripasso - Nice red, okay as a quaffer, unfortunately not the mini-Amarone I was hoping for. Much better alternatives for ~$20.

[Phil H]

2011 Domaine Berthelemoi Monthelie(Pinot)
4th wine I have tried in my Burgundy Discovery Dozen. What I can ascertain, an entry level/everyday drinking wine. However pleasantly surprised , light to medium bodied, oak in the background, red liquorice, very enjoyable and intriguing Slowly being converted (Zaltos are helping).

[swirler]

Phil H. Great that you seem to be enjoying your wines. It's wine tasting season again. Get yourself on a few lists and try as much as you can. Don't buy too much of anything, though, unless it's cheap enough to quaff is my tip.

[winetastic]

Luke Lambert Chardonnay 2015: incredible, needs a decant, green pineapple, lemons, cider apple, struck match, has a creamy texture but no obvious oak or vanilla foolishness. Has a real mineral quality that you tend to see from old world wines, this is the real deal.

[rens]

2008 Marques de Murrieta Rioja Reserva - Good & spicey, decanted for an hour or so & went well with BBQ'd
lamb shoulder. Impressive QPR for a 7-8 year old wine bought last week for under $30.

I'm a big fan and could not agree more.

[rens]

2009 Sorrenberg Gamay This was a case filler. Last bottle the retailer had so in it went with the 11 bottles of other stuff. This wine is a bit of a revelation. Full bodied with a plump, not flabby, palate of sour cherries and cola with raspberry, stalkiness and spice from the 10% pinot. This is somewhat savoury with Prosciutto and bbq'd meats. It is intense with a slight racy streak that complements the earthy forest floor on the medium length finish. I always thought Gamay was a light, fine boned wine built to drink now, but this has turned that on its head. This could easily see 2020. Because the whole vineyard is only 2.5 hectares, there is no more where this came from, but there is still some 2012 and 2014 if you're prepared to do some research.

[conformistpete]

2009 Sorrenberg Gamay

Sorrenberg are doing something right. I had the 2010 Cabernet a few months ago and it was also a revelation.

[swirler]

Mike. Wouldn't the youngest wine be the base? Probably not as I just had a (recent release AFAIK) 2002 predominant NV (come on mike, 'MV' is just marketing!) Superb Krug. Super Champagne full stop IMO. Each to their own....

Which ones would you describe as reductive?

The 06 would indeed be the base. I had another bottle last night, which was a similar blend. Really good wine. Had it alongside the 2003 which is growing on me (I wasn't initially a fan of it or the 2000).

Mike, I found this on another forum that explains why the Krug I had was 'based' on the 2002 vintage:

"They are doing a re-release of the 2002 Grande Cuvee to correspond with the 2002 vintage release. This late release wine is now named the 158th edition as it is the 158th blend of a unique/different Grande Cuvee blend. Additionally, they previously did a limited late release of the 2002 based Grande Cuvee under the Equilbre name (rather than 158th edition)."

They don't do things the easy way, do they? For every 'rule' for French wine there are always exceptions.....

[Mike Hawkins]

Mike. Wouldn't the youngest wine be the base? Probably not as I just had a (recent release AFAIK) 2002 predominant NV (come on mike, 'MV' is just marketing!) Superb Krug. Super Champagne full stop IMO. Each to their own....

Which ones would you describe as reductive?

The 06 would indeed be the base. I had another bottle last night, which was a similar blend. Really good wine. Had it alongside the 2003 which is growing on me (I wasn't initially a fan of it or the 2000).

Mike, I found this on another forum that explains why the Krug I had was 'based' on the 2002 vintage:

"They are doing a re-release of the 2002 Grande Cuvee to correspond with the 2002 vintage release. This late release wine is now named the 158th edition as it is the 158th blend of a unique/different Grande Cuvee blend. Additionally, they previously did a limited late release of the 2002 based Grande Cuvee under the Equilbre name (rather than 158th edition)."

They don't do things the easy way, do they? For every 'rule' for French wine there are always exceptions.....

Some of these limited release Grande Cuvees have undrwhelmed me, though one based on 2002 vintage has piqued my interest. Will be interesting to see the Aussie price for it and the 2002 vintage

[JamieBahrain]

Some nice Aussies-

Quintet 1990 was exceptional even with the levels at the base of neck and a cork suggesting questionable provenance. 95pts

Yattarna 1995 shortish and lacks the command of great white burg. Very developed and a nicer drink 10 years ago. 89pts

Wolf Blass Black Label 2008. Cross between a dessert wine and a port wine to complete the evening. In a good place and true to style. 92pts

[mjs]

Quiet night at home with Maralinga Wine Society (and ladies Auxiliary) after a day trip yesterday to a few CDs in Mount Macedon area
2 x Curly Flat Macedon NV
1996 Taylors Promised Land Unwooded Chardonnay (magnum)
2013 Toby Bekkers McLaren Vale Grenache
2012 Tscharke Marananga Grenache Stonewell Vineyard
2011 Tscharke Marananga Grenache Gnadenfrei Vineyard
2005 Petaluma Coonawarra
1992 Redman Coonawarra Cabernet (magnum)
1992 Rymill Coonawarra Shirz (magnum)
1998 Penfolds Bin 707 (magnum)
1990 Penfolds Bin90A
rare whole eye fillet, roo, other bits and pieces from the bbq, salads cheese. coffees from new espresso machine and lots of laughs

The Taylors was a pleasant surprise, very pleasant drink, unrecognisable as a 96 Chardonnay, would have said mid 00's, lack of oak was probably a factor in that. Grenaches were a bit of a taste off (we are threatening to make a barrel this year). All good but the Bekkers was outstanding. Old Coonawarras were great, both in good nick. The 707 was pretty good, but not as good as I had hoped Not sure of the provenance of that bottle, but cork, level etc all good. The 90A started with a bit of funk, but that blew off and was eventually WOTN for most.

[Chuck]

Wolf Blass 2005 Grey Label Label Langhorne Creek Cabernet Sauvignon.

In a good spot but the oak was overwhelming. Not a good choice for a warm night even though it was in the fridge for half hour. Just don't understand Wolf Blass wasting good oak. Half as much would have been much better allowing the fruit to shine thru as the true star.

Carl

[Gavin Trott]

Very very cold Birra Moretti x at least 2... Yum, serious yum, to be followed by

Sassafras Wines Sparkling Ancestral Savagnin

Tough evening at Chez Trott

.

[maybs]

2009 Giaconda Nebbiolo. My first try of their Nebbiolo and very happy with it. Could have easily mistaken it for a decent Italian. Went very well with 6 hour smoked/bbq'd beef ribs too.

[michel]

Great free range pork roast on a Saturday with treasured friends.
Some of the greatest wines I have had for a while

[JamieBahrain]

Hope you have more Cascina Francia in the cellar. Though 2009 Barolo relatively approachable, this will be a stunner in 15 years plus. No Monfortino in 2009 which generally serves CF well.

[swirler]

2009 Giaconda Nebbiolo. My first try of their Nebbiolo and very happy with it. Could have easily mistaken it for a decent Italian. Went very well with 6 hour smoked/bbq'd beef ribs too.

Yes, it's quite remarkable. Just like the rest of the range. Don't know how they do it!

[michel]

Hope you have more Cascina Francia in the cellar. Though 2009 Barolo relatively approachable, this will be a stunner in 15 years plus. No Monfortino in 2009 which generally serves CF well.

Jamie
Whom makes neb as good as Giacomo Conterno ?
High tone & pure

[JamieBahrain]

Bruno Giacosa 2007 vintage and earlier though red labels only approachable now starting 1998-ish.

[winetastic]

Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé NV
My first experience with Rose champagne, strawberries and fresh sea air on the nose, palate was bloody delicious with a nice balance between some strawberry and cranberry fruit, hint of citrus, biscuits and a clean mineral finish. I could get used to this, was much better in Riedel Shiraz glass than the other 3 I tried.

[maybs]

2009 Giaconda Nebbiolo. My first try of their Nebbiolo and very happy with it. Could have easily mistaken it for a decent Italian. Went very well with 6 hour smoked/bbq'd beef ribs too.

Yes, it's quite remarkable. Just like the rest of the range. Don't know how they do it!

Me neither, but glad they do. Made this possible.

[Hunter]

Hubert lamy saint Aubin 1 er cru Les frionnes 2011.
Fat and juicy mouth feel, Big stonefruit flavours, mineral. great length. No oakyness. This is a chardonnay !

[TravisW]

Went out for some Japanese last night with the gang from work and had my first try of Brown Brothers Zibibbo. Light, refreshing, moreish and good bang for your buck. I think that it is the first wine-step for a mate of mine who only drinks cider. The thin edge of the wine-wedge.

Cheers, Travis.

[Cloth Ears]

Mayer 2012 Close Planted. A little green for the first glass, opened up and was quite aromatic, fruity and fairly complex. So nice, that I can't actually remember what we ate with it...

[griff]

Went out for some Japanese last night with the gang from work and had my first try of Brown Brothers Zibibbo. Light, refreshing, moreish and good bang for your buck. I think that it is the first wine-step for a mate of mine who only drinks cider. The thin edge of the wine-wedge.

Cheers, Travis.

Guilty pleasures. As good as many moscatos

[TravisW]

Went out for some Japanese last night with the gang from work and had my first try of Brown Brothers Zibibbo. Light, refreshing, moreish and good bang for your buck. I think that it is the first wine-step for a mate of mine who only drinks cider. The thin edge of the wine-wedge.

Cheers, Travis.

Guilty pleasures. As good as many moscatos

Indeed. It was great fun!

[Rickowa]

Sampled a couple of wines bought online through a well known auction house - average 20-30 % of retail.

2001 Willow Bridge reserve Shiraz - somewhat dry cork but no sign of leakage. Excellent colour, a little brickiness emerging. Lovely soft fruit and tannin balance, sous bois and leather notes initially but softened quickly with decanting. Opened up beautifully and became a lovely mouth fill. Great example of cooler climate WA Shiraz.
2002 Peter Howland Langley Shiraz - perfect cork, a small amount of funk on opening. Beautiful colour, no fading. Lean on initial tasting, more Syrah than Shiraz. Nice grip without overly tannic finish common in younger vintages. Typical lean cool climate balance and finish Almost Cote Rotie if I didn't know better. Fab value at $10 a bottle.
2002 Torbreck Neck Oil - if ever a wine had the perfect name its this one. 70/30 Shiraz/Grenache, sublime mouth fill from the very first sip. Imagine a cross between a fantastic Cote du Rhone/Chateauneuf (my favourite Chateau La Garde) and stand out Barossa Shiraz. Literally slips down the throat Hats off to Dave Powell, love to try an old Laird based on this tasting.