The Auswine Forum

2020 Naked Run The First CV Riesling... very good indeed in a drier minerally style. Thought it would be all acid and fruit but slightly restrained. Will have another bottle soon.
Cheers Craig

Met up online with my Weird Wine Group Sunday night. Nice to see the boys, but we stayed up far to late for a school night

These came from Ramon, who has been collecting this house since their first vintage in 2015. I tried 2 of these a few years ago and was not that impressed - 14% alcohol and jet lag did not go together.

These ‘17s are a more modest 12.5 and come in enormous bottles - they look like magnums. The red capsule is one I I drank before - the Orbel and is stunning. It’s nothing like any Riesling I have had before. The wine spends time in oak and initially there was a hint of coconut in amongst the slate, sea spray and spices. In the mouth it’s silky, round and very dry. Some green apple and apricot. Good friendly bitterness on the finish. After 48 hours it’s delicate and the minerality is obvious. Reminds me of an Ossian Old Vines Verdejo and blind I would never guess Riesling.

The Teufelskopf, in blue, is a more standard Riesling. It’s off dry and has the fruitiness off a late harvest wine. It’s creamy and share the food friendly bitterness of the Orbel, but it’s not unique. It’s lovely and will age well - hey it’s a German Riesling - but at 45 Euro a bottle, you can buy Kabinett or better from some very good houses.

Fun evening and looking forward to our pre-Xmas get together.

Italian Themed evening, all wines served blind

Wine # 1 - 2013 Castello di Verduno S-ciopet Brut Rose
Pale Salmon Pink in colour, feels like a Sparkling Rose`
On the nose some aftershave florals and Orange rind. Yeasty, and on the strawberry spectrum. Fine....very fine mousse. Lovely soft cloud/pillow like bubbles, so very satisfying. Not sharp or acidic. This is VERY dry, bone dry that just adds to the complexity. Feels old world, but missing that backbone of acidity to be French. Strawberry leaf, lovely acidity, herbs and again that orange peel. Feels Italian and has these dry dusty tannins which i found really compelling (Neb Maybe?). Not sure i have experienced that in a sparkling before. Commune from Verduno....... while this would cellar a little, no point as its drinking so well now.
Second time I have had this wine, still didn't pick it.

Wine # 2 - 2017 Roagna Timorasso Derthona Montemarzino
Single Vineyard Wine (1 hectare in total) made in tiny volumes, and only in good years. Timorasso is described as Italy's Chardonnay, so naturally I had to see what all the fuss was about.
Wild Yeast, fermented in large old French oak, and aged another 2 years in old French oak, however I didn't pick really any oak in it. Silky mouthfeel, that one participant commented could have been
from skin contact.
Colour was initially quite worrying, dark gold with a tinge of (almost) brown. Nose was slightly muted, a hint of beeswax and lemon. Palate was a different story. Although it looked old,
looks in this case were deceiving. Very fresh and vibrant, with a lovely lemony tang. Stone minerals, a hint of wild honey and other citrus. Not as floral as I thought it would be, nice silky
mouthfeel with some bay leaf herb as well. Good experience, but not worth the $$ (not sure if this was a representative bottle though, that colour shouldn't have been that advanced)

Wine #3 3.1 (Left Glass) - 2016 SRC Alberello
Nice clear colour, dark cherry. Lots of minerals here, bit of talk/chalk as well, and acid. Has me more Etna than Piedmont due to the volcanic minerality here.
No discernible oak, so don't think its Tuscan. Tannin are quite large here....puckering is a good descriptor of how big they are at the moment. Almost like i'm taking a photo for instafame and duckface comes out.
Just too much Acid & tannin at the moment, and actually overpowers the fruit and the wine. Feels very young and a bit disjointed. Could be quite something if it lasts the distance and the tannin/acid calms down.

Wine # 3.2 (Right Glass) - 2016SRC Rivaggi
Smells faulty, Brett. Blurry in the glass, dishwater and wet cardboard. Mousey and feels old. Only thing I could distinguish was this unrelenting nuttiness. Like macadamia or cashew type nuts. Big no

Wine # 4 - 2012 Biondi-Santi "Tenuta Greppo" Brunello di Montalcino
Oh sweet baby Jesus, I'm having a wine moment. I don't think I should be left alone with this; whatever it is. So pretty & heavenly (Liv Tyler LOTR type stuff), so floral as well. Roses, Potpourri and lots of dry herbs, oregano, dry basil. Crystal clear, and nicely integrated, so maybe 2008? (nope), however the tannin is in the front and mid palate, so not Piedmont (I missed this very crucial indicator). Red Cherry, Strawberry and Red Currant fruit, very complex. Brunello is singing, and the hills are alive with Biondi-Santi.
My cherry has now been popped.

Wine # 5 - 2014 Nervi Conterno Vigna Valferana Gattinara
Another uniquely floral experience, but different to the Biondi-Santi. This feels cooler climate
or higher altitude. On the nose I got a lot of red apple/red apple peel. Never had this with an Italian wine before, very nice/different. More strawberries and roses, crystal clear bright red. Interestingly
there was more acid at the moment than tannin. Feels lighter than a Barolo, Alto perhaps?
Lifted purple florals, very elegant. There is a hint of old oak, lovely length.

Wine # 6 - 2006 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino
Dark Cherry in colour, smells oaky, like new barrique has been used. Smells like a brunello with that oak and lovely (very high quality) ripe red fruits. Still feels and tastes young though, very primary. Oak a bit too raw and distracting at the moment, but WOW this is 14 years old! This has a long life still (I guessed 10 years old). I do love the fruit profile here though, some plums, dark cherry, liquorice and tobacco.

Wine # 7 - 2005 Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili
Dark Cherry Red in Colour, but still clear. Again puckering tannin profile, they are some serious tannins. Cherry, Tar and pencil shaving oak type stuff. Some pine and tobacco. Not a Barolo, but feels like its from northern Italy (Barbaresco, so pretty close).

Wine # 8 - 2004 Sandrone Le Vigne Barolo
Immediately smells older. Slightly musty, but lovely mint and aniseed.
Quite Perfumed yet dry and savoury and that aniseed carry's over to the palate. Tannin
profile (front & mid) had me in Tuscany, combined with that oak i thought it was a Brunello (wrong)!
So Modernist a producer in Barolo then, overpowers that lovely fruit, will time soften that oak?

Wine # 9 - 2011 Giuseppe Rinaldi Tre Tine Barolo
Brick Red in colour, Acid still quite prominent (sort of balsamic acid), not usually a feature of the 2011 vintage. There is oak here, which is really strange as everything i read said this is a traditionalist producer. My fist Rinaldi, and due to the price, probably my last.
Not Archetypal, but quintessential tannin structure, unmistakably Barolo. Some chalky minerals, with rose, red cherry and that tar characters associated with Barolo. Length is very impressive, has a long life ahead, probably opened too soon, but it was beckoning me...whispering sweet nothings in my ear.... 'Go on Ross.... you know you want too'
Love the label.


Wine # 10 - 2007 Fuligni Riserva Brunello di Montalcino
Full on Brunello nose, picked it from the first whiff. There is oak there, but its not over done or prominent. Complimentary is a good descriptor. Svelte fruit...ripe fruit. Sweet oak on the palate, seems high quality French new oak. Im still in Brunello, tar, black cherry and sage type herbs.
This is drinking beautifully, even if oak still sticking out still.

Wine # 11 - 1973 Kaiser Stu hl Vintage Port
Super clean spirit here. Dark Brown colour, clearly has a bit of age. I thought McLaren Vale with those rich very ripe fruits. Blackberry, plum, Mint, Chocolate, almond and sultana. That spirit is super clean and no alcohol heat what so ever. Very long length ........ wonderful finish to a fantastic evening.

Quick trip to Barnbougle for a few days of golf. Was booked to go to Melbourne to play sand belt courses but alas, with the border closed we settled on Tasmania instead. Was just keen to get away if I'm being honest as we've had quite a few planned trips cancelled because of border closures the last couple of months. Barnbougle Dunes and Lost Farm were in OK condition. Fairways weren't as good as last time I played there in March 2019 and I found the greens a little slow, although they rolled very true. Played 2 rounds at Barnbougle and 1 at Lost Farm. Wind really blew hard on day 2 and 3.

2015 Yalumba Signature. Cabernet Shiraz. Barossa Valley This seriously impressed me. Decanted for 30 minutes at the restaurant and just got better and better. Those tannins are to die for. So well balanced. Good oak use too. Just lovely and have bought a few upon arriving home. 4.5/5

2014 Turkey Flat Shiraz. Barossa Valley Nice wine that finished a little short. The Signature over shadowed this by quite a lot. 3.5/5

2018 Sam Smith Parish Vineyard Riesling. Tasmania Really impressed with this wine. Really refreshing and was perfect after a round of golf. Really well balanced, grapefruit and flinty acidity. 4/5

2017 Moss Wood Ribbon Vale Cabernet. Margaret River. Very good wine that also got better with more air. Nice black fruit and oak balance with fine tannins. Excellent wine. 4/5

2009 S.C. Pannel Grenache. McLaren Vale. Probably on a downward trend now and lacked a bit of back palate. Still a decent wine. Some aged characteristics and nice to drink. I probably expected a little more as the last bottle I had was excellent a few years ago. 3.5/5

2018 Freycinet Vineyard Louis Chardonnay. Tasmania I'm not usually a fan of unwooded Chardonnay but this was a pleasant surprise. Just had the one glass after golf and it hit the spot perfectly before dinner. Lots of citrus fruit and bracing acidity went together really well. Very enjoyable wine 3.5/5

2010 Domaine A Cabernet. Tasmania. Another really good wine that also improved markedly with time in the glass. Silky tannins, fruit forward and oak only a minor player. 4/5

We did fit in a visit to Piper's Brook for a late lunch at Nadine's Cafe. Food was excellent and the wines OK. Not being a Pinot drinker, I'm not the person to judge them. I did find them a bit light for my tastes, but my golf partner said they were decent without being excellent. The 2019 Estate Chardonnay was very nice. Citrus, nice oak use and acidity all in balance.

Cheers
Ian

phillisc wrote:2020 Naked Run The First CV Riesling... very good indeed in a drier minerally style. Thought it would be all acid and fruit but slightly restrained. Will have another bottle soon.
Cheers Craig

Had another one of these yesterday, not getting the steely acidity, rather a very delicate wine, very light texture, yes the limes are there as is a hint of sweetness. Perhaps I am experiencing a bit of bottle variation?
Cheers Craig

Decanted some. Musar whites- 2000 and 2004.

One of the great, underrated wines of the Fine Wine scene! They go 50 years btw.

JamieBahrain wrote:Decanted some. Musar whites- 2000 and 2004.

One of the great, underrated wines of the Fine Wine scene! They go 50 years btw.

Couldn't agree more. Speaking of going 50 years I was mucking around in the cellar last week looking for something and discovered I still had a 1970 Musar, making it exactly 50 years old. I had thought my 1977s were the oldest and I had considered one last weekend when I encountered a low fill on different 1977 and decided it needed drinking so I took it home. The post developed into something other than I intended so I have posted it in a separate thread.

Mahmoud.

2010 Yalumba Hand Picked Shiraz Viognier.

Initial thoughts ... Pepper and spice.

A blend I really like. Always surprised it’s not more popular.

AndrewCowley wrote:2010 Yalumba Hand Picked Shiraz Viognier.

Initial thoughts ... Pepper and spice.

A blend I really like. Always surprised it’s not more popular.

I have possibly had this wine (vintage and label) in the past, pretty good value in the past if I recall right (no idea today).
Intrigued by the comment- it is certainly a divisive blend. Maybe I will start a new thread just to stir people up.

My guess with Shiraz Viognier is that it is hard to get right. A lot rests with the wine making. A risky blend in that regard.

I have to admit of the ones I've tried in the past none have really left an impression aside from the 2004 Clonakilla had in about 2011/12. I've found a number if others to be a bit syrupy and just not to my tastes.

The youngest of a mixed case I bought earlier in the year. Pale colour- hard to believe it’s 16 years old. Bone dry, green apple, some beeswax, quince, earthy finish, lots of minerality. Opened just before going to bed and I’ll not be drinking it until dinner tonight - Chenin needs a a long time to open up.

Update: having dinner now and it’s glorious, in a very chenin way. More honey, painful minerality (the curse of fillings) and just a weight that was too much for the scallop starter. Perfect for the rabbit though.

AndrewCowley wrote:2010 Yalumba Hand Picked Shiraz Viognier.

Initial thoughts ... Pepper and spice.

A blend I really like. Always surprised it’s not more popular.

A mate who doesn't know much about wine always brings out this wine (various vintages) and I'm rarely disappointed.

2000 Majella Shiraz. Bricking at the edges but a dark core. Perfect cork, 0.5mm staining. A lovely wine tertiary characters soft nose, violets, oak all gone. Fruit hanging in with the most delicate tannins and twinge of sweetness.
Well done old soldier, will drink the other 3 next year.
Cheers Craig

2009 Metala Cab Shiraz Malbec. A limited release and can't recall the triple blend since. Really dark impenetrable colour, meaty savory rich and spicy with a core of black fruit and a lick of oak. Great wine and good drinking now, but under screw cap another 5-10 easily. Ridiculous VFM at $7
2004 Mildara Cabernet Shiraz. Purchased at the CD in Coonawarra about 10 years ago when Mildara/Jamieson's Run/Lindies still had a presence. Again a limited release, usually a straight cab, but best wine of show in Sydney 2007 plus a number of awards/golds. Stunning wine, for about $15 chuck out price. Black colour, lovely blue berry, cassis smoky characters. The fruit is all Cabernet, but the Shiraz in the background makes this a very complete wine. Fabulous length on the palate, beautiful texture, in a lovely spot and will certainly develop further. Think I have a few somewhere... certainly hope so. Should have got 5 cases. An absolute cracking wine.
Cheers Craig

1990 Bin 389

A pristine bottle. In amazing condition, looked fresh and relatively youthfull. In a blind line up you'd guess maybe 10-15 years old.
Cork was in pretty good shape as well.

Rory wrote:1990 Bin 389

A pristine bottle. In amazing condition, looked fresh and relatively youthfull. In a blind line up you'd guess maybe 10-15 years old.
Cork was in pretty good shape as well.

389.jpg

The best bottles of this are really good. Not quite at 90a levels, but not too far behind.

Xmas get together if the Wierd Wines Group. First up tonight definetly fits the description. The 11 Sylvaner from Stephan Vetter had 18 months in old oak barrels and is very much in the natural style. A refreshing 10. 5 % alcohol. No mouse taint and the little dose of sulphur has let the wine age. Bone dry, this had a touch of fino on the nose, and some bruised apple, which is typical of Natural wines. It blows off though and the wine opened up really well. Aromatically the nose ends up in the aged Champagne territory, there is some flint, stone fruit, a creamy texture and a bone dry saliva inducing finish. Very much in the Hunter Semillon mode, this is a great examples of an off beat wine. Never would have guessed Germany or Sylvaner, but this shows that Natural style wines can age and that the idea of terroir does need to be challenged every now and again.

The Burg is not of course from THE Rouget, although Jelle did sell a case of this to someone who offered €200 a bottle. It’s the epitome of an old burg. Destroyed by the Riedel Sommelier Glass, it grows very well in the Vinum version. Some dead leaves and forest floor, but it grows in the glass to offer iodine, tinned cherry, sous bois, minerality, blood and a bitter finish. Will flourish with food. It’s a grand old lady and it’s a world away from the fruit forward young local Pinots I have tried. Yum. 90 mins in the fridge beforehand helped a lot.

Could continue in the Rockford worth it thread, but muddies the waters a bit and deserves its own post.

Quick trip to the BV Saturday and after a great tasting at Rockford it was time to visit an old friend, Greenock Creek. Again on a very tight schedule looked at 8 reds in about 30 minutes (speed dating and great service by Jen a sit down tasting), with just one other party of three 20 something females and their mums!!?? (all very giggly and very pissed).
2017 Mataro, this was outstanding and a bit of a theme for the day, really beautiful wine and a variety that I appreciating more. bright fruits really clean palate, so different to a Malbec
2018 Cornerstone Grenache, yes interesting, a fraction stewed/hot, no unpleasant, but not for me, others loved it
Then four 2018 Shiraz wines:
Casey's lovely fruit driven expression of Barossa shiraz, very polished balanced, fruit singing, oak there but not dominant, lovely drying tannins, entry level wine, a bargain really
Alice's, a bit more age here, vines getting into the third decade, medium body, again very balanced, great now, but will cellar 15-20
Apricot, this is really in the slot, warm earthy, savory, but that lovely twinge of sweetness, very good mouth feel, dry chalky tannins
Seven Acre, fabulous edition of this red, quite a few 90s in the cellar. Deep brooding and dark, full bodied, went on and on, great wine indeed.
2018 Cabernet, very different to typical 'warra fare, and that's a good thing, meaty leathery fabulous fruit, lovely wine, a bit like an old Dorrien will cellar forever.
Then onto the '15 Roennfeldt Roads, think 2015 was a warmish year, anyway these two very very ripe, but not over done, but on steroids compared to the rest. Very drinkable now, but you could clear see and appreciate that these were a class above. Terrific examples of the style....but no takers at $250
Credit card steaming now. Simply, the Mataro, Cabernet and the four shiraz wines from 2018 were fantastic. Yes under new ownership and presumably a new winemaker, but new Cd is a worthy edition and the wines are on song. Word is Creek block (discontinued due to increasing soil salinity) is making a come back. The vineyard has essentially been underpinned and flushed if that makes sense. Great tasting and great wines.

Lunch at the CG Tavern, under new ownership (2016) and better than ever, despite a one hour wait cause someone fu*ked up the order, but all meals excellent without the insidious Barossa tax. Gave me time for a spell and a couple of very refreshing beers.

Next stop Izway, been on the mailer, but never brought anything, another great tutored tasting, only ones there and well looked after by assistant winemaker Liam. Izway is Craig Isabel (day job at Torbreck??) and formerly Brian Conway (now brought out by Craig) with a range of Grenache, Mataro and a heap of Shiraz offerings. Lovely little CD tasting area.
'19 Maurice Grenache, nice wine, felt a little hot, surprised only 14.8%, but not really my bag
'19 Angelo Aglianico, a variety that I have not had before, very clean bright fresh wine, quite pleasant if a fraction confected, soft gentle tannins, interesting all the same.
'17 Mataro, this was lovely and at $25 good value, don't know if this a regular bottling but lovely rich earthy textures, got a few.
Then a run of four Shiraz (well if you come to the Barossa)
'19 Rob and Les, good entry level wine, certainly has plenty of palate weight and depth, think the 19 vintage will be good. lovely drying tannins
'17 Bruce, smart wine, heaps of that Barossa character, dark fruits, oak great structure, excellent wine and got a few.
'18 Harold, classy wine, fuller bodied than the 17 vintage, very balanced, but 20+ years here.
'17 Don another step up, fruit sourced from Adrian Hoffmann's vines, six rows apparently. Adrian also supplies Rockford, Sami Odi and Travis Earth and Standish?? Clear that this fruit is top shelf. The Don was full bodied, superbly balanced and dry chalky tannins that gently faded away. Very good.
Great experience here and more in the boot.

Last stop Travis Earth, a two minute drive from either Greenock Creek and or Izway. NW Barossa was really throwing up some treats.
Have been hankering for a while to go here and after making an appointment was welcomed into Travis's own home. Think Liam texted him that we were on our way over, as he and marketing sidekick Nathan met us out front. Again felt like old home week, traversing the dry creek bed up Radford Rd with GC to the south.
Interesting story behind the 5 wines, all dedicated to the likes of Ringers, Big Bob McLean and of course his Dad.
'17 Mataro Grenache Shiraz, nice blend this one, and has both the muscle and finesse with out the funk or the heat of most GSMs (+/-Malbec). Lovely mouth feel, delicious. got a few.
'17 Shiraz Mataro, a nod to Tony Brady and Travis freely admits if he can get close...a really lovely wine, the Mataro gives a bit of that earthy softer character, the shiraz still gives the spice and boldness. One of the wines of the day for me...got a few, will go 25 years cork willing.
'17 Shiraz, the wine of the day for me. A deep brooding beast but the most magnificent fruit and oak profile. Not over extracted at all, but an absolute powerhouse of a wine. Lovely palate with some sweetness and classy tannin...credit card has melted now. Really looking forward to the 2018 of this and to line up against Dad's effort. Stonking wine!!
Then onto a couple of specials, 2015 Mataro and Shiraz (tiny make $150/200 respectively...if i could afford them...)
Can't really do justice to either note here, Mataro just great, very fancy footwork with French oak, a delight now, who knows what it will be like in 10-15+
The Shiraz, all Hoffmann fruit, stunning wine, was poured a very generous glass by Nathan here, plus a second, proves that Riedel Vinum's are great to drink from. Black in colour, simply a baby, fruit that went on forever, terrific wine, $200 yes, but better than anything that I have tasted in that bracket. Why would anyone buy that outrageously overpriced $800+ stuff in the east, when four bottles here. Will save up for the 16/18, will be a brilliant pairing with Standish. A wonderful tasting experience and great to listen to Travis talking about all sorts of Barossa stuff.
Fabulous day...broke but happy.
Cheers Craig

A few recent wines....

2015 Powell and Son Barossa shiraz
I am really liking the 2015 vintage. This is rich ripe Barossa shiraz done so well. Better then the 2016 version.

2017 Marius Symphony
First one. I think I may have stuffed up not buying much 2017 from Mclaren Vale. This is big and very serious and I may not have enough for the future. Damn.

2013 Chapel Hill Chosen Block shiraz
Could do with a bit more time, but lots of everything i want.

2014 Fox Creek Old Vine shiraz
Rich with plenty of stuffing. Happy days.

2012 The Standish
Gee, this is really something else. Typical Standish treatment, opulent and I might have to start rationing this.

2010 Teusner Half bottle Reibke shiraz
Holding up well still. last bottle, but will go on for a few years yet. Good.

2014 The Standish
Not in the league of the 2012, but still a very satisfying drink.

2008 Mr Riggs shiraz
I drink this on my own, holding up very well. I do like Riggs shiraz.

2015 Mr Riggs shiraz
Younger version, but probably the pick of the last few releases. 2015 again.

2014 SC Pannell Koomilya shiraz
Big and quite tannic, but is slowly chilling out. good stuff.

2013 Marius Simpatico
We did drink it, not memorial, but probably having too much fun to remember.

Sami-Odi Little Wine 9
I remember this, had everybody in raptures. First bottle of 6, drinking well now, no waiting. Great stuff.

2012 Izway Harold shiraz
Bloody cork broke in 2, using the Rockford waiters friend.
Great wine, but it got me to buy 5 Screwpulls from Amazon in USA.

2013 Izway Harold shiraz
Again, cork broke in 2. Not using it properly. Wine was very good, as was the 2012.

2012 Izway Don shiraz
Bloody expensive bottle, but it was way better then I remember the last couple. Corks.

2012 Hart Of Barossa Old Vine shiraz
Class wine, all the usual Barossa goodness.

2012 Gibson Old Vine Barossa shiraz
Pass, too much oak for me.

Not tonight, but last week, a d'Arenberg 'The Peppermint Paddock' Sparkling Chambourcin (13%) that still sports the older label. I found it quite nice, dark fruited, and oddly enough fruity while still being savoury. I've no idea how old this non-vintage wine is but assume it has some bottle age. Does anyone know when d'Arenburg changed the label as it would give me some idea of how old it might be.

Cheers .................... Mahmoud.

I picked up some of the Peppermint from Dans earlier this year - all went down the sink. Some fruit, but dominated by a smell of vinager. I could be kind and say that maybe it was a bit volatile, but this really was horrible.

Sounds horrible. Perhaps it was heat affected.

Leabrook Estate 2007 Adelaide Hills Cabernet Franc

Another bottle of unknown origin found buried in the collection. I'm just learning about this grape in its own right and it's been a satisfying journey. From a warmish dry vintage which I think suited ripening the grapes in the cooler Adelaide Hills. This was reflected in the 14.5% ABV. I have found decanting CF a good move. Decanted and tried on opening and the tannins were quite evident but after a few hours these had settled and it had blossomed into probably the best expression of this grape I have experience. Blue and black fruit. So well balanced and best wine I've had in a while. And I think it would go another few years at least under screwcap.

We visited Virginia in the US in 2016. It's supposedly the home of CF in USA. Don't believe it. All wines were insipid, thin and lacking any ripe fruit flavours. ABV around 12%-12.5% reflected the harsh thin acidic tannic style. Even the attendant at a winery admitted he didn't like the style.

1997 Lindies Pyrus...wow!! Good cork opened with fabulous blue berry cigar box and spice. Amazing palate, silky velvety so smooth medium weight but rich with tannins that just melted away
Beautiful wine and better than the very good 98 that I had a few weeks back.
Will have another on boxing Day... not sure if this has peaked but a perfect
bottle of a Cabernet blend.
Cheers Craig

Final Wine Dinner with some wonderful and very generous people.

As usual all wines served blind.

Words of the night:
Archetypal
Omnitypal
Quintessential

And someone bought a Village wine to the Xmas Special... for shame


Wine #1 (Extra) - 2016 Cave Mont Blanc Vallee D'Aoste Blanc de Morgex et de la Salle Extra Brut
Great starter in an aperitif style. Very pale in the glass, almost white. Nose of grated ginger and saltiness of soy sauce. Lovely dry style too, with quite delicate white florals. No bready/yeasty notes at all, and don't get the Chalkiness or acidity backbone of Champagne, so I'm not in France. New world maybe?; Nope Italy.
Creamy mousse, Fresh Green Apples and some lemon rind with some nice salty minerals in there as well. Lovely length, only slight criticism is I want a bit more fruit complexity. No oak to be seen, so I'm assuming fermented in stainless steel vats. Great starter

Wine # 2 - NV Jacques Selosse "Substance"
Single Vineyard, with material that goes back to 1986!! Blanc de Blanc, Grand Cru vineyard
This is completely different to the previous wine. Some mentioned polarising style.... and indeed it was. You either liked it or you really didn't. Disgorged 8th November 2016.

Very dark gold in the glass, BIG yeasty & BIG oaky nose. Aldehyde reductive nose, purposely oxidised style of wine.
Red apple, vanilla bean, custard cream, Roasted/charred nuts and saline minerals. Had a sort of dried orange fruit character. Quite complex, but that nose was hard to get past and interfered somewhat.

I liked the wine, did not like the nose. Effing VERY expensive and I wouldn't be buying it. Happy that i have tried it though

Wine # 3- 2010 Domaine Coche-Dury Meursault
Initial nose of cheese and dairy but it blew off with some air. Some slight Matchstick reduction as well. Lovely bright gold, with a tinge of green in there. Vanilla florals, flinty, love the balance here, constant fight between acidity and fruit. First one, then the other punches back. Restrained power, creamy mouthfeel, some toasted pine nuts, raw macadamias. Initially I was in Montrachet, but as the wine developed, aired and warmed up, those Meursault nuances came flooding in. White flowers, mandarin citrus mixed with some slight lemon/lime acidity. White Peaches some nashi type pears as well....this just keeps going and going.

The most expensive Village wine I will ever have and from a man who stated emphatically last year drink your 2010's now as there is a lot of premox issues in that vintage...... dont play the man (I didnt pick 2010)


Wine # 4 - 2016 Francois Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons
I was worried about following Wine # 3, but this did it will. Nose was quite complex in the glass. Honey, beeswax, lemon type stuff. 'Young' gold with a tinge of green in colour that was similar to the Coche-Dury but it was 6 years younger. Looked and tasted older than it was. Not developed or a bad bottle, I just think vintage variation and a result of a warm vintage?

No one picked this as Chablis... and you can totally see why. I wouldn't have if I was tasting blind. Very little oyster shell or saline notes you typically see with Chablis. This was fuller, more rounded in style. Chassagne-Montrachet or Meursault type structure.
Lovely white burg nose, drinking beautifully now. The balance is very precise. No overt oak or acid, just lovely ripe fruit in a floral embrace (I wish my wife embraced me like this!). Some lemon custard cream, wet slatey minerals, and just a hint of white pepper spice.
Fleshy White Peaches, and again those white flowers. Lovely stuff, however based on this bottle, its not a 20+ year wine like most Raveneau's. This is a drink now to 2025-ish type wine.

Wine # 5 - 1997 Faiveley Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru
Nose is straight to burgundy without hesitation. Only question is it a Clos Vougeot or
Echezeaux (wrong on both counts, but i was close)..... Chinese 5 spice, earthy, and iron type minerals. Feels very young, like a 2008 or 2010 type wine....... jeepers this is 23 years old!!! WOW its in RUDE health. Crystal clear, no browning or blurring in the glass, its crystal clear. Very high quality fruit here. Touch of cranberry, slight raspberry and darker cherries. I really like the minerality here, nice forest mushroomy earth and some smoked herbs....possibly a bit of bacon fat as well. Oak was just perfect, leaving a really nice rounded mouthfeel, tannis were still there and the balance impeccable... this bottle had a long life left !

Wine # 6 - 1995 Chateau Leoville Las Cases (Saint Julien)
What else needs to be said other than when Bordeaux is on... its ON. And this bottle was definitely on fire!
Bordeaux from the first whiff.... I thought archetypal, others believed Quintessential... regardless what a cracking wine here.
The actual highlight was the austerity of the wine, only JUST medium body, had this racy line of mineral acidity I absolutely adored. Wasn't a big wine, it wasn't sweet, but it was deadly serious.

Bright purple in the glass.. This wine defied its age looks and smells almost like a barrel sample it was that young.
Blackcurrant, blueberry and pencil shavings. Lots of graphite minerals on the palate, some pine forest herbs, cassis, tobacco/cigar box stuff going on. That fruit is still so primary and vivid, defies its age. Some old leather and coffee grounds with just the right amount of tannin and oak. WOW.
More please.

Wine # 7 - 2003 La Mondotte (Saint-Emilion)
Rich and very Ripe fruit. Blackberry and Blackcurrant on the nose and palate. Very powerful wine here.... lots of Plums. Very typical Bordeaux nose, but feels right bank as it has nice front and middle palate weight, but drops slightly at the end, which I get from a lot of merlot majority wines.

Tomato leaf, espresso, more cigar and tobacco notes, lovely oak, maybe a bit too much although will calm down with some more age. Some slight herbs and dark chocolate, mocha. Full bodied wine... powerhouse which makes its presence known to all. Still has a very long life left.


Wine # 8 - 1995 Chateau Leoville Las Cases (Saint Julien)
Yet again this group astounds me. Somehow despite having a completely open theme (ie bring anything from anywhere) we STILL manage to have the same wine and the same vintage. However in a cruel twist of education, bottle variation was at play here.
While it was good, it wasn't as good as the previous bottle.
Slightly sweaty sock nose, smells like there is some whole bunch in there. Has a funk about it, iodine, cedar, mushroom, earth and tobacco. This one has more salinity and again that Austerity of the fruit to be just ripe enough not to be green, but still only just medium body. I was in St Julien again, but from the 2004 vintage and from another producer. Speechless was the only way to describe the group when the wine was revealed.

Wine # 9 - 1986 Chateau Leoville Las Cases (Saint Julien) - Faulty
Shame as having 3 Las Cases in one night would have been a record! And from the 1986 vintage...... makes me sad.


Wine # 10 - Second Extra - 1994 Seppelt Show Reserve Sparkling Shiraz
Huge fan of this wine. Served a bit too cold, so had to warm it up in the glass, but when I did, wow the aromas came out in abundance. The fizz died down pretty quickly once poured so that told me this had some serious age on it. Apparently it was a crown seal, so quite surprised to see the bubbles die out so quickly. Nevertheless this was enthralling. Raspberries and Ribena on the nose. Blackberries, truffles, earth, forest floor mushrooms, lots of blueberries and menthol. Dark and brooding wine, some white pepper and when you put that all together, it could only have come from the Great Western region. One member picked the fruit as Mulberry which was a sensational call. Old leather and some tar to finish off what was a lovely wine... only wish there was a bit more fizz.

Wine # 10 (Backup for the #9 wine) - 1995 Penfolds Grange
Totally unlike more 'modern' grange's and seemed either one of the last 'old style' grange's before huge oak was added or was it a vintage type thing?
Very floral, very pretty and feminine. Has this delicacy and subtleness about it. I guessed it as an old bordeaux, as i can see cabernet in there.... and man I couldn't be more wrong (well it had 6% cab.... I was more 60%) - Wrong Country, Wrong Grape.... hell not even on the right side of the equator Rossco!

Lovely perfume spice of white pepper, some liquorice, olives and mint. Fruit seemed more blueberry type and medium body... did not pick this as Shiraz OR Australian. Tannin were nicely integrated and had this saline minerality about it as well. Cedar oak, old leather, brown earth, oak was high quality and not intrusive and then those purple florals came rushing back. Lovely stuff and completely unexpected from Grange. Just so elegant.

Wine # 11 (Extra) - 2007 Joh.Jos Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese (Goldkapsel)
Yet again just another remarkable wine. So bright and fresh still even after 13 years.
Lovely fruit profile, white nectarines, peaches, tropical fruit salad, very very slately minerals. There seems to be a slight botrytis influence, but still completely balanced with acidity and that fruit purity. Laser like focus, the length is very very impressive. Ripe pears with some lemon flowers at the end. Just an absolute joy to experience. Anyone who hasnt tried a Joh.Jos Prum (or high quality German riesling) do yourself a favour. They are worth every cent!

Wine # 12.1 - Morris Old Premium Rare Liqueur Muscat (Left Glass)
Thick, Treacle-like and just coats the glass. Motor oil black in colour as well
with a hint of olive green. In the mouth is just an explosion of flavours. One little
sip is all you need, This is so thick it's almost chewy. Chewy caramel, raisin essence,
double shot espresso, golden syrup and treacle all at once. Christmas cake fruit, dried orange peel, molasses. Mouth coating.... length, weight, feel....,.. this is a meal in a glass. Just mind blowing!

Wine # 12.2 - Morris CHM Rare Liqueur Muscat (Right Glass)
So take the notes above about the Old Premium Rare Liqueur Muscat and then wind it up again......if thats even possible (yes it is it turns out!)
Somehow this is thicker, with more treacle, more everything that doesn't just coat the glass, its sticks to it! You can almost eat this with a spoon. There is some raspberry fruits in there that really freshens this wine up. The reduction is a cornucopia of flavours. Christmas pudding, caramel, toffee, treacle, molasses, espresso, exact same as Old premium... just more.... i feel like Oliver Twist "Please Sir, can I have some more'.
Life changing experience... made in minute quantities.... something like 100 x 375ml bottles a year worldwide. Unicorn wine and I doubt I will ever see another one. As the back label states, simply the best wine Morris can make.... of that there is no doubt!

What a way to end a really difficult year!

Nice one Rossco

A few impressions of mainly dinner party wines of late:

2020 Oliver Tarango’s Vermentino, McLaren Vale

A variety I struggle to find the love for and this is another example that does not really thrill. A light, unoaked style, reasonably fresh and zippy but lacking any real depth of flavour (or anything). A bit of a miss on this one unfortunately for me.

2019 Adelina Rosato Dolcetto / Barbera, Adelaide Hills

Heavier and darker extraction than Rose. A bit polarising for some, on one hand, lovely sweet red fruits, but some saw it as ‘over-confected’. A touch of tannic grip/dryness on the finish balances it out for me. I was in the camp that enjoyed it, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to buy it.

2019 Rusden Wines ‘Wildwood’ Cinsault, Barossa Valley

One of the better red wines I have had in a while. Simply put - fragrant, fresh and vibrant. Light-Medium bodied showing red currants, raspberries, touch of black olive, lovely touch of spice. Good acidity giving it its freshness, not a lot of tannin, soft and long on the finish. The fruit really does the talking here. Really good stuff.

2013 Taylors Wines St Andrews Cabernet Sauvignon, Clare Valley

Consumed after the Cinsault above – what a stark contrast of styles and flavours, and really hard to follow the class act of the Cinsault. A dark, rich, brooding wine. On the heavier spectrum of fruit and palate weight, with cassis, olive tapenade, dark chocolate encased in generous oak. Took some time to open up to show its best. Tannins feel a bit awkward. 2013 was a hot year and the wine shows. Good but one glass was ample.

2019 Claymore ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ Shiraz, Clare Valley / Limestone Coast

2019 was a small crop hence they have blended in some Limestone Coast material – what a blend of LIPs; this is juicy, rich and concentrated, but simply delicious. It is a reasonably big wine, but seems very balanced - very drinkable. At a very affordable price point and over delivers in my mind.

2020 Vickery Watervale Riesling, Clare Valley

Noticeably darker in colour than other 2020s I have had to date. A slight bitterness to the fruit that over plays the limes and minerals. Probably my least favourite of the CV 2020s.

2011 Fourrier Petit Vouguet. This was one of my best Burgundy experiences, certainly of this year and perhaps of the last couple of years. I made myself keep the rich taste in my mouth far longer than usual because of its enticing profile. Depth of exquisite fruit with perfect acid balance makes this an amazing wine.

Hacker wrote:2011 Fourrier Petit Vouguet. This was one of my best Burgundy experiences, certainly of this year and perhaps of the last couple of years. I made myself keep the rich taste in my mouth far longer than usual because of its enticing profile. Depth of exquisite fruit with perfect acid balance makes this an amazing wine.

indeed, and if you purchased it from RD when imported, it was cheaper than many high-end Aussie pinots, and in fact, half the price of the Bass Phillip Premium. Not all Burgundy is a rip-off, there are new Fourriers popping up everywhere, with incredibly competitive pricing.