A very enjoyable dinner. Probably too many wines in the end but that was my fault as much as anyone's
Brief notes that got briefer as the night rolled on.
2011 Langi Ghiran Sparkling Pinot Still has its lees in bottle apparently so cloudy in colour. Pinot sweetness and some yeastiness on mid palate then finishes dry. Made like a Champagne more than a Sparkling Burgundy style. Good on a hot day.
2010 Louis Moreau Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos Nice acidity underpinning good depth of citrussy/pear fruit. Some typical stony minerality nuances as well, although fruit hides it to some extent. Now onwards. An intelligent maker realising the benefit of screwcap.
2013 Dry River PinotDeep colour for a Pinot. Somewhat subdued nose leading to a rich but fairly soft palate which is maybe a bit dry reddish more than Pinot.
2009 Escarpment Kupe Pinot Maturing red colour. Attractive savoury, perfumed red fruits. At its peak and excellent drinking.
2008 Felton Rd Block 5 Pinot Deepish colour showing some maturity. Rich, ripe plummy, dark cherry fruit. Good length and balance. Drinking superbly.
2002 Yarra Yering Pinot Browning red. Ripe and aromatic developed fruit with complexing forest floor-mulchy characters from age. A fully mature but very much alive wine drinking really well.
2013 Hillcrest Premium Pinot Lovely mature drinking with excellent underlying tannin structure, not common in a lot of new world Pinots. Problem with it was that it is very advanced for a young wine - maybe just this bottle ? A screwcap would have benefited it and made sure it wasn't a cork issue Luddite.
2
008 Romney Park Pinot Still relatively tight and youthful for its age. Slightly skinny fruit as a result at this stage. The cracking pace of wines opening at this stage didn't give it a chance to fully unfurl before I had to move on.
2009 Paringa Estate Pinot Mid red. Not what I'd expect from Paringa - high acid and not that complex. Maybe a product of the hot vintage.
2013 Durbanville Hills Rhinofields Pinotage Obviously different. Smoky, herby, tannic black fruits. Medium bodied. Interesting to try.
2014 Home Hill Kelly's Reserve Pinot Jimmy Watson winner. Good sweet cherry fruit and spice. Nicely perfumed. Pretty young and presumably a serious style made to be cellared. I'd give it 4-5 years to soften and fully integrate.
2012 Felton Rd Calvert Pinot Youthful and tight, quality fruit, good acid-tannin structure. Needs more time in the cellar to open out.
2009 The Story Henty Pinot Too many wines now. Just wrote nice wine and something else that was pretty much undecipherable.
2000 Bindi Pinot Thought this was slightly corked.
2011 Curly Flat Pinot Light bodied and peppery. Reflects the cool, wet vintage.
2010 Burn Cottage Pinot Nice fruit, good structure, some alcohol on back palate that tended to dissipate with air. Shouldn't have opened this yet, needs a bit more time.
