The Auswine Forum

Best red Europe: Leoville Barton 1985
Best red in Australia: Yalumba The Octavius '02 + Bannocburn Pinot (Adelaide offline)
Best white Europe: Zind-Humbrecht Clos Windsbuhl Gewurztraminer '02
Best white in Australia: Petaluma Hanlin Hill Riesling '07
Best dessert wine: Olssen Late Harvest Riesling '07

# Best red - Best's Thomson Family Shiraz
# Best white - Best's Great Western Riesling
# Best value wine - Best's Victorian Riesling
# Honourable mention - Best's Bin 0 Shiraz
# Biggest disappointment - There's no category for fortified, which is naturally Best's Liqueur Muscat

all quite obvious really

Seems a bit of premature adjudication to be picking my choices with a couple of big events to go before 2008 starts - while I reckon there's a good chance my top wines won't change, you just never know.

Cheers,
Ian

Best red: 1978 (might have been 79) Cullen Cabernet Sauvignon
Best White: 2005 Picardy Chardonnay
Best value: 2005 Picardy Chardonnay
Honourable Mention: 1996 Leasingham Classic Clare Cabernet Sauvignon
Most disappointing: Any Sauv Blanc I drank in a weak moment

Okay, with just over a day to go and my plans for a big wine NYE event being scuttled, it's time to give this one a go (in my usual drawn-out way):

BEST CURRENT RELEASES IN 2007:

Shiraz - 2004 Gemtree Obsidian Shiraz
Cabernet Sauvignon - 2004 Penfolds Bin 707
Cabernet Blends - 2005 Yarra Yering #1
Pinot Noir - 2004 Bannockburn
White - 2006 Tim Adams Reserve Riesling
Sticky - 2006 Mt. Horricks Corton Cut
Fortified - 1986 Seppelt Para Liqueur
Best value - 2005 Mike Press Cabernet

BEST WINES FROM THE CELLAR IN 2007:

Shiraz - 1972 Grange Hermitage
Cabernet Sauvignon - 1992 Mitchell Sevenhill
Merlot - 1999 Irvine Grand Merlot
Pinot Noir - 1990 Bannockburn (magnum)
White - 1983 Madame Jean Bachelet Sous Le Puits, Puligny-Montrachet
Sticky - 1982 De Bortoli Noble One
Fortified - 1978 Chateau Reynella Vintage Port

NOTABLE MENTIONS:

Shiraz - 2004 Serafino Sharktooth, 2005 Kaesler Old Bastard, 1995 Houghton SS Reserve Shiraz
Cabernet Sauvignon - 2004 Wynns John Riddoch, 2003 Moss Wood, 1994 Shadrach (magnum)
White - 2007 Penfolds Gewurztraminer, 2006 Ngeringa Chardonnay
Fortified - 2005 Coates VP, 2005 Winter Creek VP
Best Value - 2006 ROSS Tempranillo, 2005 Lou Miranda Old Vine Shiraz

MOST OUTSTANDING BOTTLE OF 2007: 1972 Penfolds Grange Hermitage

MOST OUTSTANDING NEW RELEASE OF 2007: 2004 Penfolds Bin 707

MOST DISAPPOINTING WINE OF 2007: 2005 Mollydooker Carnival of Love


Cheers,
Ian

Another really lucky year;

Best Red: 1964 Chateau Cheval Blanc
Best White: 1986 Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne
Best New Champagne: 1996 Krug Champagne Brut
Best Old Champagne: 1981 Bollinger Champagne Vieilles Vignes Francaises
Best Fortified: N.V. Chambers Rare Tokay
Best Sweet: 1997 Hugel Gewürztraminer SGN "S"

Ten Honourable Mentions:
1962 Penfolds Bin 60A
1982 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
1988 Krug Champagne Brut
N.V. Chambers Rare Muscat
1996 Salon Champagne Blanc de Blancs
1966 Moet & Chandon Champagne Cuvee Dom Perignon
1982 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion
1979 Chateau Rayas Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve
1955 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Michael Shiraz
1976 Penfolds Grange

Wayno wrote:Um, I was just being stupid with my 1953 reference... which is probably breaking someone's rules somewhere. I mean who swizzles Grange with diet tonic? Maybe the same people who drink red wine with fish.

What's wrong with drinking red wine with fish? I do it about once a week, either sparkling or still. Maybe I should try Grange with Pepsi Max...

Breaking the mold ....

Going through cellartraker notes, difficult to be too excited about some of the wines, so I've picked out the star of the year, sandwiched between two unanticipated successes (with TN's)
1984 Vinimpex Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Oriahovitza - Bulgaria, Nova Zagora (10/5/2007)
A rather pleasant surprise.

This bottle came in a mixed case at auction. The level on this wine was upper shoulder and there was signs of old leakage on the top of the cork, which was mostly soaked through, but came out in one piece. Colour-wise claret to red with some (but far from excessive) age at the rim.

The nose is a mixture of some still vibrant primary blackcurrant fruit, a little (but not too much) VA, some luxurious leather and some background mint. A certain floral nature to it as well. Pretty complex.

The wine itself is now relatively light bodied, but there's plenty of both life and flavour. One feature more noticeable on the palate is that the primary fruit element (perhaps as much red-fruit as the blackcurrant on the nose) is still very nicely held in place by nicely judged acidity - so much so that it seems surprisingly young. Whilst this isn't the greatest wine ever, it shows very good complexity, is surviving nicely and is a good reminder of what this region can produce.

1994 Isole e Olena Syrah Collezione de Marchi Toscana IGT - Italy, Tuscany, Toscana IGT (3/4/2007)
:¬)

Colour is still a rich purple, though there is a touch of age at the edge. Still remarkably young looking for 12-13 years old. The nose mixes blackberries with wild mushrooms and a some (pleasant) barnyard aromas. Perhaps a little eucalyptus there as well. Plenty happening on the nose at least and the intensity is very impressive.

On the palate, the complexity continues, but the balance is also impressive. Tannins are soft and supple, with the acidity judged perfectly. Despite the intensity of flavours, this isn't a soupy wine, far from it. It's easy to drink and went well with roast stuffed pheasant, but on it's own as well. Interestingly the alcohol was shown as 12.5%, which goes to show what depth of flavour can be achieved at lower levels of alcohol (and from a 'lesser' year). On the offchance someone has a bottle of this remaining, you can drink it with (great) pleasure now, but there's no reason to suggest it wouldn't see the decade out with ease.

Time to gloat. Picked this up for (IIRC) about £10. A quick check on wine-searcher suggests that £25-30 is nearer the mark, but on this performance I'd pay that with pleasure.

1979 Nervi Gattinara - Italy, Piedmont, Northern Piedmont, Gattinara (1/28/2007)
Well, this threw up some surprises!
The colour was surprisingly bold and young looking, albeit with some browning at the rim. The nose was a wonderfully rich mix of mushroom, coffee and hints of the fading fruit. Absolutely stunning and the sort of nose that you can spend quite some time over. On the palate the richness was replicated, with fine texture and acidity was spot-on. I couldn't fault this wine and showed much of what I seek in older wines. For me this around it's peak. Definitely wine of the night and at the price a crazy bargain, showing that it's not just the famous names in the famous regions who can make great wine.

Red Bigot wrote:

Wayno wrote:Um, I was just being stupid with my 1953 reference... which is probably breaking someone's rules somewhere. I mean who swizzles Grange with diet tonic? Maybe the same people who drink red wine with fish.

What's wrong with drinking red wine with fish? I do it about once a week, either sparkling or still. Maybe I should try Grange with Pepsi Max...

Depends on whether you prefer the taste of the red wine or the flavour of the fish, then again, some champagnes are reputed to be good accompaniaments with oysters

It's a curious thing wine. I'm not sure which most impressed but these did:

Port Phillip Estate Chardonnay 2005
Zema Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Tahbilk Shiraz 1986
Wilson Polish Hill Riesling 1999
Teusner Joshua 2005
Teusner Salsa Rose 2007
Kaesler Stonehorse Shiraz 2005
Wise Reserve Chardonnay 2005
Tahbilk 1860s Vines Shiraz 1997
Polleters Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

daz

Daryl Douglas wrote:

Red Bigot wrote:

Wayno wrote:Um, I was just being stupid with my 1953 reference... which is probably breaking someone's rules somewhere. I mean who swizzles Grange with diet tonic? Maybe the same people who drink red wine with fish.

What's wrong with drinking red wine with fish? I do it about once a week, either sparkling or still. Maybe I should try Grange with Pepsi Max...

Depends on whether you prefer the taste of the red wine or the flavour of the fish, then again, some champagnes are reputed to be good accompaniaments with oysters

It's mostly simple home-cooked fish and chips on a Friday night with friends, usually pan-fried Flathead or Orange Roughy or Barra fillets and chips cooked by the double-pass method. There are plenty of reds that go well with that as well as Tuna or Atlantic salmon etc.

Whenever people talk about rules for colour of wine with various types of food I'm reminded of the tests that show when drinking from black glasses or blindfolded many people can't tell whether they are drinking red or white wine anyway.

But I do agree Sparkling red and Oysters isn't quite the same as Oysters and Champagne.

I enjoyed these wines (very much) in 2007

Reds
2002 Grange
2002 Stonewell
2004 Petaluma Coonawarra
2003 Moss Wood Cabernet
2002 St Henri (magnum)
2005 Amon-Ra, Godolphin
2005 William Downie PN
2005 Ashton Hills Reserve PN
2004 JR Cabernet
2003 and 2004 Michael
2004 Agly Brothers Roussillon (unputdownable)
2003 Philip (only a few nice ones out of a case )

Whites
2007 Petaluma Riesling
2006 Tim Adams Riesling
2002 and 2004 Leeuwin Art series Chardonnay
2005 Yalumba FDW7c Chardonnay
2005 Lilydale Chardonnay
2005 Shaw and Smith Chardonnay
2002 Elizabeth Semillon
1999 Vat 1 Semillon

Red Bubbles
1997 and 1999 Black Queen
NV Silverband SS
1999 D Black SS
1991 (?) Seppelts Show Sparkling Shiraz

White Bubbles
1996 Croser
1988 Croser Anniversary (?correct year)
2001 Patricia
2000, 2001 Arras
1996 Lanson Gold

and too many honourable mentions that I have left out.

Red Bigot wrote:

Wayno wrote:Um, I was just being stupid with my 1953 reference... which is probably breaking someone's rules somewhere. I mean who swizzles Grange with diet tonic? Maybe the same people who drink red wine with fish.

What's wrong with drinking red wine with fish? I do it about once a week, either sparkling or still. Maybe I should try Grange with Pepsi Max...

Actually I do often too to be fair, and try to pass on the Grange and tonic as often as possible. Speaking of Grange and Pepsi Max, I can think of a few fruit bombed oaky monsters that probably have the ring of such a mixture to them.

Best reds
1988 Grange.. Wow (Thanks Murray)
2004 Bremerton Old Adam.. worth every point JH gave +1!!
1996 Brokenwood Misstress Block...
2004 anything from WA!

Best White
2007 Audrey Wilkinson rose
2004 Mt Adam Chardonnay

Disappointment
Corked wines!
Not making an offline yet

Best Red: 2004 Penfolds Bin 60a
Best White: 1982 Dom Perignon
Best Value: 2003 Lindemans Pyrus (USD9 pb)
Honourable Mentions: 1986 Mt Edelstone, 1990 Leoville Las Cases, 2001 Chateau d'Yquem, 1988 Chateau d'Yquem, 1982, 1991, 2002 Grange, 1983, 1990, 1996 Dom Perignon, 1990 Krug
Biggest Disappointments: 2 corked bottles of Penfolds Bin 90a, and a third bottle which wasn't showing its best. Also, 1999 Perrier Jouet Belle Epoque - rubbish

Best Red : 1997 Ashton Hills Reserve Pinot Noir - great balance.

Best White : 1992 Howard Park Riesling

Best value : Kalleske Clarrys Red

Honorable mention : 1985 Lakes Folly Cabernet

Biggest disappointment : 2006 Rabbit Ranch Central Otago Pinot Noir