The Auswine Forum

OK, my absolute highlight was a Wirra Wirra Chook Block 02. Mouthfeel was incredible, flavours peeled off from start to finish and a complete delight. Have 11 bottles left and will have extreme difficulty letting them age as they deserve.

Watched Sideways again (great film) and decided that I need to expand my familiarity beyond Oz, so went and bought some US wines. Drank a Beringer Clear Lakes Zinfandel 1999 last night... my first ever Zinfandel. The bouquet seemed almost like a Shiraz - very peppery and a hint of cocoa, but the taste was something else. Surprisingly sweet and light, and it came and went with little to either condemn or recommend it. Drank it at room temperature... should I have chilled it?

If our esteemed american colleagues have any comments/advice on my selection (limited by the fact that this was the only US zinfandel on sale at Dan Murphy's in Hornsby), I'd love to hear them.

manning wrote:Drank a Beringer Clear Lakes Zinfandel 1999 last night... my first ever Zinfandel.

Manning,

At least your first one was red, not that horrid White Zinfandel rubbish Beringer trys to flog off as wine!

Also purchased a few bottles of the Chook Block but I think I will lose them in the cellar for the time being. What are you going to do with your 12 Chook "dogtags"??

Gary W wrote:Had it twice now. Not quite impressed enough to buy it at the price...but then again I have enough 2001 MR in the cellar and not enough money - the real problem. Really good stuff but there is some leafy character that some might find off putting. Tearing myself away from the nice system - about 94 points.

GW

Thanks for that Gary ... may buy a couple as I am still not convinced I have enough MR 01's in the cellar.

Gary W wrote:
For muscat mike..... a wine can be massive blackcurrant and fine. Massive blackcurrant can be a very good sign of DMS. Look at Seppelt Drumborg Cab or 2000 St Peters as examples of very pronounced blackcurranty wines that are fine. Also 93 Cyril Henshcke.

GW

Thanks GW. It just sounded a contradiction in terms.
MM.

Andrew Jordan wrote:

manning wrote:Drank a Beringer Clear Lakes Zinfandel 1999 last night... my first ever Zinfandel.

Manning,

At least your first one was red, not that horrid White Zinfandel rubbish Beringer trys to flog off as wine!

Also purchased a few bottles of the Chook Block but I think I will lose them in the cellar for the time being. What are you going to do with your 12 Chook "dogtags"??

As I've only consumed one of them so far, the dog-tag went on my car keys... SWMBO will get #2 and after then I have no idea. I really have to get them out of sight/mind or they won't last the year.

A few of the best I've had over christmas/ new year break:

Penfolds St Henri '99
Clonkilla SV '04
Wynns John Riddock '96

Gary W wrote:

Andrew Jordan wrote:In regards to 2001 Vasse Heytsbury, I assume you are referring to the red version, I noticed this just was named Wine of the Year in the latest Winestate mag. Is it that good?? I have some of the 1999 sitting it the cellar and was wondering if I should give them some company with some of the 2001.

Thanks in advance.

Had it twice now. Not quite impressed enough to buy it at the price...but then again I have enough 2001 MR in the cellar and not enough money - the real problem. Really good stuff but there is some leafy character that some might find off putting. Tearing myself away from the nice system - about 94 points.

GW

I tried the 2002 Vasse Heytsbury Red at the cellar door last year, for me it was the best wine of the trip, and better than anything I've had since then. I have only seen 2001's in sydney so I haven't been able to get a bottle of 02 and confirm as yet. I think my pallet is more towards elegant wine with obvious complexity( I don't taste it if it's subtle ) if that helps...

GrahamG

1996 Chateau Lanessan (Haut-Medoc) - Upon opening this is quite funky but it quickly blows off after decanting to reveal some ripe small forest berries and a slightly earthy, charcoal bouquet. For the first 2 hours this is far too acidic on the palate, slightly volatile, and the fruit component is closed down but it did begin to open up after 3 hours. It was at about this point we tried it on the Vamps night. After the 4th hour it really starts to take shape, remaining elegant yet showing good flesh around the bones and the hard corners receding whilst maintaining structure. Pencil shavings and ripe dark berries over dusty tannins prevail. The palate begins to indicate that I should have a 24hr decant. Not being overly complex and being too short it doesnÂ’t deserve more than an 87/100. Still tempted to buy more to see where it goes over the next 5yrs where it may gain points. Reasonable QPR.

2001 Elderton Cabernet - Big beast of a thing that has already started to throw a crust but still has dark dried blood in its heart. Powerful blackcurrant, ripe plum and inky blueberries on the nose followed by a palate that displays an awkward oak that is strangely kept in balance with the big fresh fruit by a bridging pruniness. 14.5% is noticable but under control. It needs a good run around the state to pull in the flab but it's never going to get out of its chair and is best drunk within 5 yrs before fresher flavours fall under the oak and shrivelled fruit. I know it doesn't sound great but it is a larrikin wine that was very welcome in my cellar (on to the 2002). 89/100 and v.good QPR at $16.

Andrew Jordan wrote:

manning wrote:Drank a Beringer Clear Lakes Zinfandel 1999 last night... my first ever Zinfandel.

Also purchased a few bottles of the Chook Block but I think I will lose them in the cellar for the time being. What are you going to do with your 12 Chook "dogtags"??

I freaked out when I opened the wooden case and found these. At the moment I have left them on the bottles in the cellar but what do you do with 6 of these when you drink the wine ? Manning you did well to get 12

platinum wrote:I freaked out when I opened the wooden case and found these. At the moment I have left them on the bottles in the cellar but what do you do with 6 of these when you drink the wine ? Manning you did well to get 12

Don't throw them at anybody too hard or else you might kill someone! They are very chunky and definitely have some weight behind them.

Some ideas:

Ear-rings for you beloved
Fishing weighs for your line
Key ring (as Manning is currently using it for)
Wine charms for the wine glasses at dinner parties
Join a few together and make a "chook" charm bracelet
Napkin rings for the table

I'm sure there are more uses out there .....

platinum wrote: Manning you did well to get 12

We used the "two different names & credit cards" method to get two cases, and used both home and office addresses. I think they've sold out now unfortunately - there only 1500 bottles made, so getting 12 was nearly 1% of the total production.

And oh my, it's good - too good for someone with a palate as unsophisticated as mine, but such is life.