The Auswine Forum

2013 Mount Horrocks Cordon Cut Riesling.
Notes of Honey, butterscotch with some kero coming thru.
A really strong bouquet of Lychee that really dominates the more I give it a whirl.
IN behind that I'm getting some white peach and a touch of lime.
On the palate there's some nice sweet/concentrated apple and a touch of ripe pineapple.
Fantastic texture with a lovely supple/oily mouth feel.
A medium to moderate finish.
Let's go with 4.5 stars and a double thumbs up!
Great stuff, love it!

99 Wirra Angelus...blend of Coonawarra and MV fruit and you can certainly taste the savory note of MV Cabernet.
Perfect cork, colour still vibrant red with a tinge of browning on the edges
A lovely wine at its peak, will knock the remaining 3 or 4 off in the next year or two.

Cheers Craig

2012 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir Martinborough
Still very primary with cherries and red fruit. Silky tannins and a bit more savoury on the palate. If this turns out like the 06 I had last year I will be very happy.

Will wait 2-3 years for the next bottle.

Last night I had a few glasses of Montalto, Pennon Hill Chardonnay 2016. It commenced with lime sherbet and pear. The faint oak gave reminded me of roasted almonds with gravel like mineral undertones. It is one of my favourite chardonnays at the moment. 4.5 stars but 5 stars for value.

I then had a few glasses of Henschke Johann's Garden 2015 a GSM blend. I was slightly unimpressed. It ticked all of the boxes for fruit flavours and it had some nice peppery tones, with hints of star anise, but overall something was missing - 4 stars.

last night was a contender for WOTY.

2002 Trevor Jones Wild Witch Dry Grown Reserve Shiraz (Magnum)

I have gone off Barossa Shiraz somewhat, but this was so different to the normal blockbusters.

Elegant, refined and just in perfect harmony. Not sure if its due to the vintage, but this reminded me of an Eden or Clare Shiraz. Cooler climate,
silkier and in balance.

Nice spice, more medium bodied than full, and no sign of browning. In fact there was such a bright red hue, it looked much younger than the 16 years of age it was. Cherries, deft touch of oak and that length........... will stay with me for a long time. I have one bottle left, and although I cant see it getting better, i feel it will hold for a few more years yet.

I openend a 2009 Zepplin Big Bertha Shiraz last night - it tasted a bit odd & had a very slight fizz to it. I gave it a few hours, and it wasn’t any better so went down the sink..

Anyone had experience with fizz in a screwcap red?

Opened a Mike Press 2011 Cab Sav instead, nice bargain quaffer..

On Wednesday night I had a few glasses of Symphony Hill Reserve Lagrein 2015. It has a dark squid ink colour. The flavours that I picked up were dark berries and liquorice. I found the tannins and liquorice a bit overpowering. I'll probably finish the bottle tonight so maybe it has settled down bit. I preferred the 2014 which did not have such overpowering tannins and allowed the fruit flavours to the front and would have given it 4.5 stars. 3.5 stars for the 2015 vintage.

Actually at lunch today at Wild Duck, Kingston Foreshore, ACT (byo charge - $15 per bottle). A testament to how good the 2015 vintage is for red burgundy as all were excellent in their own way. I wouldn't normally go near Cote de Beaune but in 2015 they got them ripe and the Pernard Vergelesses a lovely cherry scented wine with enough structure to keep for a few years. The Trapet Gevrey Chambertin Ostrea (a Village wine) opened with strawberry/vegemite tones but pretty quickly settled down down to arch-type Gevrey. I am very happy to have some premier and grand crus from this maker in the cellar. The Chanson Corton was much more reserved as you would expect but was still an enjoyable drink now with ironstone undertones and 5 or more years needed to open up.

Had a bottle of 2005 Paxton Chardonnay (14%) last night, a single vineyard wine from the McLaren Vale. Although I had not anticipated keeping it this long the wine did not disappoint. It was still young looking, yellow and bright, and fresh, with a nice balance between cashew-like oak and melon fruit notes. There was plenty of acidity to accompany food. Once again, Australian chardonnay showing it's ability to age, unlike many a California chardonnay.

Mahmoud.

Brave New Wine Klusterphunk Chardonnay 2017 - very tidy wine in a not so tidy style

A few highlights for me from Monday's Vinosphere 2018 tasting in Sydney.

Top 3 Whites...

Clemens Busch Riesling Marienburg 1er GG 2016
Clonakilla Riesling 2017
Pooley Cooindah Vale Chardonnay 2017

Top 3 Reds (Although I was focused on white so really didn't try many reds at all)

Bindi Block 5 Pinot Noir 2016
COS Cerasuolo di Vittoria 2016
Famiglia Statella Etna Rosso Pettinociarelle 2016


Other wines that stood out for me (noting that I generally prefer higher acid, freshness, phenolic texture and restrained oak)

Philippe Collotte Aligote 2016
Philippe Collotte Marsannay 2016
Serge Dagueneau Pouilly-sur-Loire 2016 (not the Fume)
Damien Laureau Savennieres Les Genets 2015
Le Rocher des Violettes Cot VV 2015
Castagna Growers Collection Beechworth Chard 2016
Castagna La Chiave 2015
Koerner Watervale Riesling 2017
Keorner GV1 Riesling 2017
Koerner Tiver Rose 2017
Pheasants Tears Rkatsiteli Bodbishkhevi 2016
Clyde Park Single Block B3 Chard 2016
Picardy Chardonnay 2016 (maybe a touch oaky at this stage but nice)
Picardy Tete de Cuvee 2013 (touch big but not too oaky and great structure)

Also very impressed with the Bass Philip gear. Actually the BP Premium Pinot 2016 was my least fav of their lineup (esp given the price), all others very good.

The Berthet-Bondet Jura Tradition 11 was just so loaded with pure essence of walnut, so much fun but a bit one dimensional.

SO many I wanted to get to that I missed, just not enough time, 500+ wines and only allowing 2 hours is just ridiculous. It's still a good value tasting, and the trade tasting is open from 11am to around 5 so I can understand the timing needs for the public etc, but it's frustrating not being able to try more wines.

Great dinner afterwards at Nazimi with a cold beer and a few friends too, love their food.

Cheers
Tim

2005 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste This will be a superb wine but just not yet. At present it’s more like a dark brooding monster. It has filled out since the first bottle from the case 4 years ago but the dark red fruit has yet to develop those secondary flavours one can see lurking in the distance. I will try the next bottle in around five years. In ten years it will be superb.

Decided to open this one up after some Auswine forum discussion of this wine earlier in the year. The colour in the pic is actually paler than what it was in real life...
[url=https://ibb.co/na6XOy][img]https://preview.ibb.co/k2Wz3y/IMG_20180510_204520.jpg[/img][/url]

2016 Sorrenberg Chardonnay

Clear bright yellow gold, looked premoxed for such a young Chardonnay.
Nose was smokey, banana skins, guava, honey, some vanilla essence too.
Acid medium, very complex taste of unripe tropical fruits, green banana, guava, quite minerally, some very well integrated oak.
Finish was long, and quite possibly made in an oxidative style unless this bottle was an anomaly. I wouldn't hold this for too long, probably drink now to 3-5 years. Very good drinking now. 91pts

Mmm, had a couple of bottles now and do like that Sorrenberg Chard 16, does need a decant though so pleased so see that. It's certainly in a forward style, not the lean struck match reductive style, but I was impressed with the overall balance and oak integration.

How was the Mothervine 2014??

TiggerK wrote: How was the Mothervine 2014??

Didn't take any notes but it was pretty good. 1st bottle from a case.
I remember red fruit spectrum, cherries, some ashy/dirt. Was much less Shirazy and better than 2013 Mothervine. I reckon it will get better for another 5 years.

deejay81 wrote:
Clear bright yellow gold, looked premoxed for such a young Chardonnay.

Effing corks.

Last night, I had a few glasses of Montalto Pennon Hill Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir 2016 which is definitely my favourite Pinot Noir at the moment.
Red fruits - strawberry and rasberry perfectly balanced with fine tannins and cinnamon and vanilla notes. 4.5 stars but 5 stars for value.

deejay81 wrote:Decided to open this one up after some Auswine forum discussion of this wine earlier in the year. The colour in the pic is actually paler than what it was in real life...
[url=https://ibb.co/na6XOy][img]https://preview.ibb.co/k2Wz3y/IMG_20180510_204520.jpg[/img][/url]

2016 Sorrenberg Chardonnay

Clear bright yellow gold, looked premoxed for such a young Chardonnay.
Nose was smokey, banana skins, guava, honey, some vanilla essence too.
Acid medium, very complex taste of unripe tropical fruits, green banana, guava, quite minerally, some very well integrated oak.
Finish was long, and quite possibly made in an oxidative style unless this bottle was an anomaly. I wouldn't hold this for too long, probably drink now to 3-5 years. Very good drinking now. 91pts

What glassware did you use?

Raymo wrote: What glassware did you use?

I believe it's Riedel Vinum Burgundy
Decanter is Villeroy & Boch

Another ‘02 Lizzie this afternoon. Drinking really well.

rooman wrote:2005 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste This will be a superb wine but just not yet. At present it’s more like a dark brooding monster. It has filled out since the first bottle from the case 4 years ago but the dark red fruit has yet to develop those secondary flavours one can see lurking in the distance. I will try the next bottle in around five years. In ten years it will be superb.

my guess is that in 10 years you will be saying "in 10 years it will be superb"
2005 has, sadly, turned into a high quality 1986 on the left bank. I'd be looking at 2040 to start drinking.

felixp21 wrote:

rooman wrote:2005 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste This will be a superb wine but just not yet. At present it’s more like a dark brooding monster. It has filled out since the first bottle from the case 4 years ago but the dark red fruit has yet to develop those secondary flavours one can see lurking in the distance. I will try the next bottle in around five years. In ten years it will be superb.

my guess is that in 10 years you will be saying "in 10 years it will be superb"
2005 has, sadly, turned into a high quality 1986 on the left bank. I'd be looking at 2040 to start drinking.

I worry many 2000s will be described the same way

Mike Hawkins wrote:

felixp21 wrote:

rooman wrote:2005 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste This will be a superb wine but just not yet. At present it’s more like a dark brooding monster. It has filled out since the first bottle from the case 4 years ago but the dark red fruit has yet to develop those secondary flavours one can see lurking in the distance. I will try the next bottle in around five years. In ten years it will be superb.

my guess is that in 10 years you will be saying "in 10 years it will be superb"
2005 has, sadly, turned into a high quality 1986 on the left bank. I'd be looking at 2040 to start drinking.

I worry many 2000s will be described the same way

And perhaps 2016...?

Mike Hawkins wrote:

felixp21 wrote:

rooman wrote:2005 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste This will be a superb wine but just not yet. At present it’s more like a dark brooding monster. It has filled out since the first bottle from the case 4 years ago but the dark red fruit has yet to develop those secondary flavours one can see lurking in the distance. I will try the next bottle in around five years. In ten years it will be superb.

my guess is that in 10 years you will be saying "in 10 years it will be superb"
2005 has, sadly, turned into a high quality 1986 on the left bank. I'd be looking at 2040 to start drinking.

I worry many 2000s will be described the same way

I worry that Felix might be going so long on things the auction buyers his kids sell to will be the ones to know if his predictions were correct!

2013 St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon

Clear, dark inky purple.
Nose of dark soy sauce, some black currants and cigar box.
Not much oak, not much tannin, not much body, not much complexity. Taste was very hollow and almost dilute? Little to no fruit. Possibly in a dumb phase, if these wines do go through such a phase? If not, this was a very ordinary wine.
Finish was short and had my head scratching how dull this wine was.
I only had one glass from the bottle and leaving it overnight to see if it improves at all tomorrow. 80pts

deejay81 wrote:2013 St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon

80pts

I had an amazing 1991 St Hugo magnum. Dead set Aussie classic.

I checked cellartracker and found these. So they've trashed the brand? I mean 89pts? As opposed to what I saw in the magnum is disappointing.





Wine Type Vintage Name Variety Quantity Value Begin / End Score More...

Red
2004 St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon Coonawarra more 6 (750ml)$35 2013-2019 89.7 points 100% like it (7 votes)
Collection: 6 bottles in 1 wines / Value: $210

Everything, travelling through Canada/US have drunk lots of Californians... Cup cake Cabernet anyone, lots of Italians, in the Italian restaurants in the East Village and a few bottles of Champs.
Looking forward to a steely SA Riesling in a couple of weeks.
Cheers
Craig

felixp21 wrote:

rooman wrote:2005 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste This will be a superb wine but just not yet. At present it’s more like a dark brooding monster. It has filled out since the first bottle from the case 4 years ago but the dark red fruit has yet to develop those secondary flavours one can see lurking in the distance. I will try the next bottle in around five years. In ten years it will be superb.

my guess is that in 10 years you will be saying "in 10 years it will be superb"
2005 has, sadly, turned into a high quality 1986 on the left bank. I'd be looking at 2040 to start drinking.

Yes I thought you might make that observation. Having looked at similar Australian wines going through their brooding period, I suspect it will emerge earlier than you suggest. One can see the fruit lurking beneath the surface hence why I think it will be a butterfly one day.

Bobthebuilder wrote:

Mike Hawkins wrote:

felixp21 wrote:
my guess is that in 10 years you will be saying "in 10 years it will be superb"
2005 has, sadly, turned into a high quality 1986 on the left bank. I'd be looking at 2040 to start drinking.

I worry many 2000s will be described the same way

I worry that Felix might be going so long on things the auction buyers his kids sell to will be the ones to know if his predictions were correct!

I think you are right. It sounds as though Felix is well into his sixties if not his seventies hence it is his children that will be the main beneficiaries of his superb wine collection.

not 60 yet!!!!!
but MIGHTY close

I off-loaded a lot of 2005 Bordeaux purchases up here a few years ago, turned out to be one of my few smart wine-related moves, as 2005 as a Bdx vintage has been slowly dropping up here. Having said that, between HK and Aus I still have just over 20 OWC's cellared from that vintage, so it's still a huge quandry for me. I absolutely adore the right bank stuff from 05, almost as good as 10 and better than 09, but the left bank stuff is gradually spiralling into a tannin fest, as 86 did about 98 onwards. You younger lads might like that, I know Gary Walsh does, but it is so difficult to drink tannic wines with my usual cuisine up here (hence the dropping popularity of Bordeaux in many Asian regions, and the frantic surge to buy high-end Burgundy)
My remaining 05's won't end up at auction, I am like Jamie in that respect and see no reason to sell off perfectly cellared wines competing with a sea of poorly cellared rubbish that commands exactly the same price. I guess my sons will take care of them over the next 3-4 decades, but I certainly have no real enthusiasm to open any OWC's, up here I get the opportunity to have a look at 05 probably every month if I so wished.
Interestingly, and far more significantly for me, my doubts as to the quality of the 05 Burgundy vintage continue to creep up. The same problem in so many wines, a wall of tannins that overwhelms many wines. I am far more confident 05 Burgundy will eventually turn out just fine, but boy, it will be SOME wait!!!