The Auswine Forum

A couple of more basic Aussies, with both wines showing classic regional characteristics for their variety - both good but not great, drinking at their peak, don't leave for much longer
2004 Leconfield Cab Sav & 2006 Thorn Clarke Shotfire Shiraz
Enjoyable, however looking for a bit more from a wine to grab my interest.

2001 Jamiesons Run Rothwell Cabernet.

A wine that was lost in the abyss of the meanderings of Mildara (or what once was). I cannot recall how many Rothwell's were actually made, think there was a 96, 98 and an 04?? Apparently this vintage was declassified and was sold as a clean skin at the now defunct (just gets better doesn't it) Coonawarra Wine Gallery. Never an $80 red, but neither was the winemakers reserve at $55. Made by Andrew Hales who presumably is long gone like just about everything/one/else...this $15 clean-skin is just starting to hit its straps. Great cork, vibrant purple, popped and poured. Lovely blueberry, olive, dusty oak gentle tannins, really good medium weight cabernet. Excellent at $15. This was bottle number 12, from memory I have another dozen that I will have to find.

Does anyone know where this fruit goes now...LR, St George??

Cheers
Craig

phillisc wrote:2001 Jamiesons Run Rothwell Cabernet.

A wine that was lost in the abyss of the meanderings of Mildara (or what once was). I cannot recall how many Rothwell's were actually made, think there was a 96, 98 and an 04?? Apparently this vintage was declassified and was sold as a clean skin at the now defunct (just gets better doesn't it) Coonawarra Wine Gallery. Never an $80 red, but neither was the winemakers reserve at $55. Made by Andrew Hales who presumably is long gone like just about everything/one/else...this $15 clean-skin is just starting to hit its straps. Great cork, vibrant purple, popped and poured. Lovely blueberry, olive, dusty oak gentle tannins, really good medium weight cabernet. Excellent at $15. This was bottle number 12, from memory I have another dozen that I will have to find.

Does anyone know where this fruit goes now...LR, St George??

Cheers
Craig

Craig, thanks for the note. I have a few bottles of this (along with the 2005) in the cellar. After reading your note must dig one out. Sounds very good.

1997 Rosemount Estate Chardonnay - Honey coloured and lacking both nose and flavour immediately after opening. Expanded after about an hour to quite smooth and and sweet. No grape characteristics at all and any oak had almost all gone. We think it may have been a year or two past its best, but there was no hint of vinegar or cork, just a lovely wine to enjoy with schnitzel and mash.

Not sure where to put this, but didn't want to start a new thread...

Random Auction buy for $40, is a nice frame, glazed and well made.

And no mjs and Phillsc you are not having it...

It is a 1953 Wynns Claret

^^

Morris Cabernet Sauvignon 1976
Fully soaked cork (but for about 2mm) came out in one piece. Stinky at first, this wine is somewhat oppressive in its aroma. For some time it carried a real foresty rotting log/earthy/leafy aroma, with little fruit aroma evident. The palate was vaguely sweet but also tart to a degree. The impression was of a wine that had pretty much dropped its fruit.
Whilst it never really developed beyond a fairly basic and only just discernible fruit profile, it made for decent enough drinking over a couple of hours, and dare I say it, was improving by the time we finished it. Green leaf, cheese, and some ethyl-alcohol. The palate softened and smoothed out and became a perfectly acceptable 40 year old wine.

dave vino wrote:Not sure where to put this, but didn't want to start a new thread...

Random Auction buy for $40, is a nice frame, glazed and well made.

And no mjs and Phillsc you are not having it...

It is a 1953 Wynns Claret

Dave you had me going there for a minute...nice work
Cheers
Craig

dave vino wrote:

DAVE!!

I didn't know you were a doggies fan!!
I'll pass on the Wynns picture, but can I have the signed Bulldogs one?

2011 Killikanoon Mort's Reserve Rielsing - Pale green, light and airy floral and lemon notes for the nose. Same can be said of the palate, which is delivered with a fresh, sherbet-y zing - almost as if it was just put in the bottle that morning. Add in a little lemon zest and this one should really be avoided for another 15-20 years. But it's just too nice (and we have only one left of the 2011) so it will be going down the next time we have a non-hot slow-cooked chicken 'stew'. The 2012, which we preferred on tasting 3 years ago, will remain unsullied for many years to come!!!

Recently quaffed:

2012 Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz
2011 Chateau Angelus - yes I know, a clear and indefensible case of vinfanticide
2011 Cullen Diana Madeline
2007 Kaesler Old Bastard Shiraz

2013 Catlin Wines Montepulciano, Adelaide Hills

I don’t profess to have a wide experience with ‘Montes’, but have had in recent months some decent younger and older wines from Italy which I have really enjoyed. This Adelaide Hills version is a good effort, it is medium bodied, nice depth of colour. The nose is red cherry dominated with a touch of French oak showing and some dried herbs. The palate shows good fruit flavours with a touch of spice, again red cherries, some 'chalky' tannins, matured in French oak; it is noticeable but plays a supporting role to the fruit/wine. The length and finish is good. Compared to the Italian wines I have tried, this lacks a certain depth of flavour and level of spice I have enjoyed. Taking nothing away from it, it is still an enjoyable wine best served with food. It needs a good decant an hour before serving. I have a V2014 of the same wine to try, I look forward to tasting that in due course.

2005 Domaine Pierre Usseglio CdP
Got this at auction and thought I’d give it a whirl while watching my Doggies show about as much spine as a NZ Savvy Blanc. Lovely barnyard, hints of brett, ripe dark fruits, green herbs, really nice aromatics if you are into this sort of thing (I am). On the palate it is a lot lighter than you are expecting based on the nose with good acidity still keeping it fresh and it carries the flavours for a nice length. One to mull over and enjoy as it changes in the glass, very French.

Good auction prices! Can't believe they're still there. Recent vintages cleaner

Birthday drinks..
Mader rosacker riesling 2010
Penny's bin 389 98"
Dinner at vintners ( Angaston )

2008 Paringa Estate Pinot Noir - beautiful. Fresh Herbs & sweet perfume nose, juicy ripe cherries and strawberries, spice and cinnamon sugar on the palate with a long lingering warm finish, not hot though. Quite amazed at how fresh this appeared at 8yrs, very new world style Pinot.
As much as I want to leave the 3 others to sleep a bit longer one of them is most definitely heading down to Thredbo with me and the family tomorrow

2004 Verve Cliquot Rose Beautiful & elegant, developing nicely. Not at it's peak yet.
1999 Peter Lehman Playing Card Cabernet Sauvignon, a cheapie that had been well stored, it had aged well. Soft and elegant, good length.
1998 Rockfod Basket Press Shiraz, Winemakers Reserve stunning. Complex savoury/sweet. awesome length, beguiling.

2001 Cullen Diana Madeline (cork). Wow. Long, rich, velvety. Length. Still has some primary aspects. Long life assured.
1990 Wendouree Cab Malbec. Rich, deep, eucalypt dominant, but happily doesn't detract.

The two wines are a great contrast of the quite different styles and terroir. Both an honour to drink.

Hacker wrote:2001 Cullen Diana Madeline (cork). Wow. Long, rich, velvety. Length. Still has some primary aspects. Long life assured.
1
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anecodotally people have told me about dodgy funky 2001 Cullens- i havent had any thus far
my daughters birthyear - still very young imo

2014 Saltram Shiraz 1859
Very dark purple, impenetrable. Nose had some stewed fruits, and cigarettes like opening a pack of Marlboro Lights. Although I don't mind this smell, I didn't like it from the wine.
Very tannic, and drying cheap oak flavours. Fruit tasted like overripe overcooked fruit. Not very pleasant. Could only go through half a bottle between the two of us. I tried a sip the next morning, and the stewy fruit and harsh oak still remained.
Down the sink. 82pts

2007 McWilliam's Mount Pleasant Wines Elizabeth
Pale golden colour, similar to others opened recently.
Vegemite and butter on toast flavours, with citrus - limes and lemons on the nose.
Taste is similar, with a slight oily lanolin feel on the tongue with a medium plus finish. Still some acid there to keep the wine going. Has evolved nicely however this vintage should last a lot longer. 90pts

NV Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut Réserve
Disgorged 2013, 2007 base.
Pale yellow appearance, fine persistent bubbles. Drank from a champagne tulip stem which emphasised the bubbles.
Seemed developing nicely, with some oxidised notes and flavours. perfect balance of RS, and plenty of acidity left which will allow this to age for much longer.
Bready, yeasty nose and flavours with some honeyed lemons. Long finish.
Best bottle so far of the 3 recent bottles I've had of this. 91pts

1996 Lake's Folly Cabernets
Bottle and cork in pristine condition - was as if I just bought it off the shelf from the winery yesterday.
Dark cherry and blackberries with a little bit of dusty, earthy smells. The nose was still very primary and showed little development.
Palate was similar, however it appears everything is just working together so well. The blackberries and cherries mixed with Hunter earth and tobacco. No Cabernet greenness at all. Velvety tannins and oak was there but only to hold things together more.
Was a delight to drink. If this bottle is anything to go by, this could and should last another 10+ years, although very pleasant drinking now. 94pts

A bit of a catch up from late last week through to the end of the weekend; some easily accessible and very good value for money wines which I would recommend:

2016 Jim Barry Wines Watervale Riesling, Clare. For a sub-$20 Riesling this is really good drinking at such a young age straight off the bottling line. Trademark Watervale Lime, citrus, sherbet and a very good line of cutting acidity. Young, fresh and untamed, give this 6-12 months and this will be a crowd pleaser over the summer months. Put a few away for longer. At this price point, 2016 is looking amazing. Given a few benchmark tastings I have done to date, cannot wait to see the likes of Grosset, Kilaknoon Mort’s, Pike Merle etc once released.

2016 Pikes Wines “Luccio” Sangiovese Rose, Clare. Rose is a fast growing category and it seems just about everyone is getting on board for 2016. I love Pinot Rose, but this is up there. Beautifully pink in colour, strawberries, cream, cranberry. Bone dry, but the well extracted fruit gives the wine a sweetness. A good line of acidity driving a nice finish. Great effort. Another crowd pleaser.

2016 Taylors Wines TWP Fiano, Clare. Honey suckle, flowers and a touch of lychee but still dry. Very good line of acidity and length. I don’t have a great experience with Fiano, but this is a decent wine, far more drinkable now compared to Grosset’s 2015 Fiano Semillon Blend. Recommended. Pikes. Taylors and Grosset doing some very good things with this variety.

2010 Reilly’s Wines Dry Land Cabernet Sauvignon, Minatro, Clare Valley. A big bold Cabernet Sauvignon, great depth of flavour and fruit. Juicy and vibrant black currant, blackberry, violets and chocolate. This is not a light weight wine, it has a driving and full flavoured palate and finish. Very good oak and tannin structure to support the pure rich cabernet cassis fruit and very good drinking over the next decade at least. Its been talked up by a few wine writers, I now know why.

My local was running out Serafino wines at less than half price so I jumped on a couple:

2010 Serafino Block 3 Shiraz, McLaren Vale. Big bold McLaren Vale Shiraz with a decent lick of American Oak. Full bodied, rich, lush, mouth filling/coating of chocolate, dark fruits, spice with supporting tannins, unashamedly bold and brash. Drinking well now, but give this 10+ years.

2013 Serafino Shiraz, McLaren Vale. At less than half of the price of the above wine, it still delivers some very good fruit and balance. Medium bodied, it is more at the cherry spectrum of flavours. After 2 or so hours of air time it was showing at its best. I would not pay the $24 RRP, but at just over $10 per bottle very good value for money.

Hacker wrote:2001 Cullen Diana Madeline (cork). Wow. Long, rich, velvety. Length. Still has some primary aspects. Long life assured.
.

A while back we had 2 x 2001 Diana Madeline's at a fairly famous steak restaurant (there's one in every casino, but I won't name names lol) and both of them were off. And it wasn't the cork! And I've heard others complain about these older Cullen vintages.

Don't get me wrong - I love the wine and have a stack of them in my cellar, but this sort of experience is disconcerting.

michel wrote:

Hacker wrote:2001 Cullen Diana Madeline (cork). Wow. Long, rich, velvety. Length. Still has some primary aspects. Long life assured.
1
.

anecodotally people have told me about dodgy funky 2001 Cullens- i havent had any thus far
my daughters birthyear - still very young imo

Just noticed this.....See above

Brief update on my latest quaffing....

2012 Wynns Black Label Shiraz - always gorgeous and fruity
2003 Best's Great Western Bin 0 Shiraz - this was stunning, silky smooth and long
2012 Nannup Ridge Estate Tempranillo Senor - this was surprisingly smooth, hat's off to my winemaker friend and owner Barry!!
2012 Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz - lovely and juicy, this will cellar well for a number of years

WAwineguy wrote:

michel wrote:

Hacker wrote:2001 Cullen Diana Madeline (cork). Wow. Long, rich, velvety. Length. Still has some primary aspects. Long life assured.
1
.

anecodotally people have told me about dodgy funky 2001 Cullens- i havent had any thus far
my daughters birthyear - still very young imo

Just noticed this.....See above

There is a ten year difference in vintages, but I hope your 2011 is as good as the 2001 in a decade!

Hacker wrote:

WAwineguy wrote:

michel wrote:
anecodotally people have told me about dodgy funky 2001 Cullens- i havent had any thus far
my daughters birthyear - still very young imo

Just noticed this.....See above

There is a ten year difference in vintages, but I hope your 2011 is as good as the 2001 in a decade!

Not that far above....I was referring to the immediately preceding post!

2 more 2007 Mount Pleasant Elizabeth over two nights.

Same notes as before.
Running low (down to last 5 or 6 bottles now so will have to buy some more).

dave vino wrote:Not sure where to put this, but didn't want to start a new thread...

Random Auction buy for $40, is a nice frame, glazed and well made.

And no mjs and Phillsc you are not having it...

It is a 1953 Wynns Claret

Nice picture! It just needs to be moved a little to the left. A little more. A little more.

1995 Leasingham Bin 61 Shiraz Cork was 90% dry, which for me is always a good sign and wine was just at the bottom of the neck. Dense red-purple colour. Nose very tame to begin with (we only opened it half an hour prior to initial taste, and it's been quite cold recently) but opened up with huge fruit and lovely, mild oak. Tasting was similar, but the remaining tannins still had some say in the wine. While not overpowering the dark plum, dark cherry, oak, blackberry, tobacco and nutmeg, I am thinking that the balance is probably similar to when it was first bottled. Difficult to decide if we opened it 5 years too late or 10 years too early. A cracker, by any stretch of the imagination - I might have to see if anyone has a good bottle of this lying around for sale somewhere. Really good value...

[edit]Got the brand wrong - Bin 61, not Classic Clare[/edit]

Beautiful line up-


Cos D' Etournal 1982- Classic! Years in the tank but I can't help thinking there was a greater enjoyment from the other wines at a fraction of the cost.

95pts


Peter Michael "Ma Belle Filles" Knight's Valley Chardonnay 1996- Current release price is 180 USD so great to see a matured beauty! Divine, Powerful but not overdone like many big Cals. There was a New World meets Montrachet appeal.

96pts


Tenimenti Angelini-Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 1990- A wine very comfortable with itself. Great! At an age it's hard to pick up varietally. Very pleasing.

93pts

Domaine Georges Vernay Condrie Coteau du Vernon Condrieu 2011- This is stunning! Probably the greatest Condrieu. Detractors of viognier haven't had Vernay's old vine Condrieu which mixes the floral and mineral spectrums with incredible length and age worthiness ( say 8 years ).

94pts

Cakebread Cellars Cabernet 1996- Beautifully done! Couldn't pick it as Bdx or Cal, but had a class and refinement beyond other regions.

94pts


Almaviva 1997-Inaugural vintage and from a friend who believes his lounge room is a sound place to store wine. The oak and the baking it has had was all too much for me. Pity!

NR

Night's End Joviality !



Great line up!