The Auswine Forum

In no particular order:

1995 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz
NV Bay of Fires ‘Tigress’ Sparkling Rose
1996 Petaluma Riesling
2002 Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz
Rockford Sparking Shiraz
2004 Schild Estate Shiraz
2004 Berringer ‘Alluvium’
2005 O’Leary Walker Sauvignon Blanc
2002 Tamar Ridge Pinot Noir
2002 Petaluma Adelaide Hills Shiraz Viognier

Some great wines, all in context and for various reasons:

Penfolds Bin 389 1996 Cabernet Shiraz - one fantastic bottle, two average bottles, one very nearly fantastic bottle. Maybe my fave of the year (the first bottle that is)
Fromm La Strada Chardonnay 05?
Vinea Marson Heathcote Rose 2006
Escarpment 04 Pinot Noir
Penfolds St Henri 2001
Penfolds Bin 28 1996
Penfolds Bin 28 1998
Domaine A Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
Bouchard Pere et Fils Baby Jesus 2002
Pegasus Bay 2002 Pinot Noir
Orlando Lawsons 1999 Shiraz
Seppelt St Peters Shiraz 2002
Shaw and Smith 05 M3 Chardonnay
Shaw and Smith 04 M3 Chardonnay
Moet Vintage 1993

and

Some wine we had in Beaune, a 1993? Pinot plucked from a bottle shop shelf that was just so much like a 2002/3 with amazing life. Don't think it cost a fortune either...

mattECN wrote:In no particular order:

Rockford Sparking Shiraz (Disgorgement unknown as it was a cleanskin)

Had it lost its label? Didn't know Rockford did 'cleanskins' ....

-- George Krashos

With a couple of days to go I doubt I'll add anything else to these:

BEST CURRENT RELEASES IN 2006:

Grenache, Rhone Blends, etc. – 2004 Kalleske Old Vine Grenache

Shiraz – 2002 Penfolds St. Henri

Cabernet Sauvignon – 2004 Majella

Cabernet/Shiraz Blends – 2002 Yalumba Signature

Fortified - 1996 Peter Lehmann The King AD2017 Vintage Port

Best Overachievers (under $15) - 2004 Schild Estate Barossa Shiraz, 2004 Gemtree Uncut Shiraz, 2004 Kilikanoon Killerman’s Run Shiraz


BEST WINES FROM THE CELLAR IN 2006:

Shiraz – 1990 Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna

Cabernet Sauvignon – 1988 Wynns John Riddoch

Fortified - 1930 Seppelt Para Liqueur Port


MOST OUTSTANDING BOTTLE OF 2006: 1930 Seppelt Para Liqueur Port, closely followed by:

1988 Wynns John Riddoch
1990 Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz
1989 Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz magnum

MOST OUTSTANDING NEW RELEASE OF 2006: 2004 Kalleske Old Vine Grenache

BEST (WINE RELATED) COMMENT AT A 2006 BLACKTONGUES: “There's no such thing as over-oaking. There's under oaked, well oaked, and well and truly oaked.”


I hope everyone has a very happy and safe New Year, and I look forward to catching up with you all on the forum soon.


Cheers,
Ian

George Krashos wrote:

mattECN wrote:In no particular order:

Rockford Sparking Shiraz (Disgorgement unknown as it was a cleanskin)

Had it lost its label? Didn't know Rockford did 'cleanskins' ....

-- George Krashos

Funny this should come up - I had a bottle of the 03 disgorgement on Christmas day, and I always thought the disgorgement date appeared somewhere on the label - but it wasnt there! Am I mistaken?

n4sir wrote:
MOST OUTSTANDING BOTTLE OF 2006: 1930 Seppelt Para Liqueur Port, closely followed by:

1988 Wynns John Riddoch
1990 Penfolds Bin 28 Shiraz
1989 Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz magnum

Had the Bin 28 Xmas day. Only ever stored in a passive cellar but still magnificent. I don't think we'll see any Fosters Bin 28's made like that. Sadly, my last one.

Wizz wrote:

George Krashos wrote:

mattECN wrote:In no particular order:

Rockford Sparking Shiraz (Disgorgement unknown as it was a cleanskin)

Had it lost its label? Didn't know Rockford did 'cleanskins' ....

-- George Krashos

Funny this should come up - I had a bottle of the 03 disgorgement on Christmas day, and I always thought the disgorgement date appeared somewhere on the label - but it wasnt there! Am I mistaken?

AB

It is on the back label, very small print (you will need your specs) middle line of the bottom three lines

Tanunda Vintners ..............
Disgorged september ......
Preservative ........

Graham

Found it! thanks,

Ian (n4sir), you need to relay quotes more accurately, the statement about the three levels of oaking was

"Under oaked, well oaked, well and truly oaked"

No such thing as over oaked on the tastebuds of the quotes owner - and it's not my quote fellas!

With 2006 another fantastic wine year gone by, these were the highlights for me:

1.Cuvée DOM PERIGNON 1996
Remarkable, powerful stuff. A legend in the making.

2. Cuvée DOM PERIGNON ROSÉ 1978
Drunk it first in 1994, I didn’t think I’ll ever see it again. Fabulous old wine.

3.TE MATA Cape Crest Sauvignon Blanc 2005-Hawkes Bay
Powerful NZ dry white, very impressive.

4.BASS PHILLIP Premium Chardonnay 1999
So close to Montrachet in style and quality. World class, rare and superb.

5.CLONAKILLA Shiraz Viognier 2001 Canberra
Elegant, at it’s peak. Just lovely.

6.REDBANK Sally’s Paddock 2002 Pyrenees
Powerful and impeccable. Compares to top Bordeaux.

7.1990 HENSCHKE Hill Of Grace
Legendary red at it’s peak. Silky smooth!

8.Chateau PICHON Longueville Comtesse de LALANDE 2002-Pauillac
My favourite Bordeaux. Performs brilliantly.

9.LEOVILLE LAS CASES 1982-Saint Julien
The best 1982 I’ve drunk in 1996, magical.

10.HERZOG Botrytis Chardonnay 2005- Marlborough, N.Z.
Unexpectedly great sweet dessert wine. Lovely!

Cheers,
Attila

707 wrote:Ian (n4sir), you need to relay quotes more accurately, the statement about the three levels of oaking was

"Under oaked, well oaked, well and truly oaked"

No such thing as over oaked on the tastebuds of the quotes owner - and it's not my quote fellas!

I've made the change to accurately quote Keith, as such things don't happen very often here.

Now the year's actually over I'll add the following:
1996 Pewsey Vale Riesling - Sadly the last of the case, a classic wine in almost any company
1999 Dom de Aubesieres Vouvary Demi Sec - Classic Chenin that has many years left in it. Sweet, tart, acid all in lovely complex harmony
1999 - Bannockburn Pinot and Shiraz - Just exactly the types of oz wines I like, complex and not heavy, both at their peak
1998 - Vincent Girardin Santenay Les Gravieres - This was a very late entry on NYE and performed way above expectations. To think it was bought at NZ$35 in 2001, when the French get it right they are so hard to beat. This has the sheen of a new world pinot while still retaining its sense of place that real Burgundy offers.
2004 - La Beryl Chenin Straw Wine - I'm quite the Chenin fan and this wine shows the new world can provide Chenin's undernighable complexity occasionally. A beautiful dessert wine from grapes dried on straw mats al a some of the Willi Opitz wines

Better late than never. The wines that I have really enjoyed and bought another bottle or more (if available) after having the first one in 2006 are:

Grosset Polish Hill 2003

Schmelz Riesling Smaragd Steinriegl 2005

Nikolaihof Grunner Veltliner Vinothek 1991

Robert Ampeau et Fils Volnay-Santenots 1991

Cullen Diane Madeline 2002

Torbreck The Steading 2002

Castello di Ama Chianti Classico 2001

In no particular order. These few wines linger in my mind.

1990 Krug
1995 Dom Pérignon
1998 Dom Pérignon
1996 Dom Pérignon
1988 Dom Pérignon Enothèque
1999 Bass Phillip Premium Pinot Noir
1998 Leoville Barton
1999 Leeuwin Estate art series Chardonnay
1986 Lovedale Semillon
1986 Grange
1998 Grange
1996 Quinta Do Panascal port
1999 D'Yquem
1996 Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot 1er Cru
1996 Meshach
2001 Mount Edward Pinot Noir
1996 Pol Roger

Rob wrote:In no particular order. These few wines linger in my mind.

1990 Krug
1995 Dom Pérignon
1998 Dom Pérignon
1996 Dom Pérignon
1988 Dom Pérignon Enothèque
1999 Bass Phillip Premium Pinot Noir
1998 Leoville Barton
1999 Leeuwin Estate art series Chardonnay
1986 Lovedale Semillon
1986 Grange
1998 Grange
1996 Quinta Do Panascal port
1999 D'Yquem
1996 Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot 1er Cru
1996 Meshach
2001 Mount Edward Pinot Noir
1996 Pol Roger

Impressive! Makes me wonder about the wines that didn't make it to your memory bank

Have had a pretty lucky year with the following top 10 -

1975 Château d'Yquem
1980 Krug Champagne Clos du Mesnil
1963 Mildara Cabernet Sauvignon
1982 Château Léoville Las Cases
1985 Château Cheval Blanc
1996 Taittinger Champagne Brut Blanc de Blancs Comtes de Champagne
N.V. R.L. Buller & Son Calliope Rare Muscat
1967 Château d'Yquem
1966 Château Haut-Brion
N.V Krug

Chrismont La Zona Marzemino Frizzante NV

Completely agree with you on this one, first tried it at Wine Australia 06 and then bought a case ... only have two bottles left now and a re-order is due. Goes really well with Thai food

A modest group in no particular....

2003 Ponet Canet - Awesome, 20+ yr juice
1999 Vasse Felix Heytesbury - Never disappoints
1995 Houghton Jack Mann - Classy
2004 Schild Estate Barossa Shiraz - Totally unexpected
2003 Leewin Estate Chardonnay - Tremendous purity of fruit
2003 Meerea Park Hell Hole Shiraz - luscious bacon fat, deep musky fruit...
2001 Voyager Estate Cab/Mer - very powerful, balanced wine
2004 Wonga Estate Heathcote Shiraz - Powerful and complex
2001 Muller – Catoir Haadrdter Burgergarten Spatlese - Stunning depth of fruit
2004 Torzi Matthews Frost Dodger Shiraz - Loved it


Spent a veritable fortune on Pinot this year, but unfortunately it seemed to be much of a muchness......even at the top end.

That's it, It's Burgundy all the way in 07

2001, D'Arenberg Dead Arm
1995, Voyager Cab Merlot
1996, Tyrells Vat 5
2001, Moss Wood CS
2001, Ivanhoe Shiraz Pressings
2002, Kientzler Gewurz
2003, Guigal CdR (for value)
2002, Noble One
1998, Tyrells Vat 11
1976, Tyrells Cab VP

i know its not 10 but they have all had thier merit

1965 Ch. Haut Brion 1er Cru Bordeaux
1980 Ch. des Herbeaux Clos Vougeot
1983 Dom de Chevalier Graves Cab Blend
1986 Mark Bredif Vouvray Chenin Blanc
1994 Wild Duck Creek Reserve Cab. Sauv.
1998 Dom. Robert Arnoux 1er Cru Les Corvees Pagets Nuits-Saint-Georges
1998 Tyrrells Belford - Vat 18 Hunter Valley Semillon
1998 Wild Duck Creek Alans Cabernet Pressings (Magnum)
1999 Dom. Lequin-Colin Corton Charlemagne Chardonnay
2000 Solaia Tuscany Italy Cab. Sauv.
2001 Antinori Tignanello Tuscany Italy Sangiovese / Cabernet
2001 Isole e Olena Collectione di Marchi Syrah Italy Shiraz
2002 Ch. Montrose St. Julien Cab Blend
2002 Aloxe Corton Les Valozierres Cotes du Beaune Pinot Noir
2004 Mt. Difficulty Central Otago N.Z. Pinot Noir
2004 Wild Duck Creek Duck Muck Heathcote Vic Shiraz/Cab.