The Auswine Forum

2012 Vilmart Grande Cellier d’Or… I rarely drink champers this young, but after this bottle I might have to do so more often. This was superb… Lovely ripe Pinot offset by racy Chardonnay with cleansing acidity. This will improve (?) or plateau for a decade plus. Based on this bottle, I can’t wait to try the 2012 Couer de Cuvée .

yes, both are awesome Mike. 2012 has turned out a brilliant vintage in Champagne.

2014 Windows Estate Cab Sav: In a word, yum. Beautiful balance yet stunning intensity. Still young but velvety on the palate. I would seek out this compared to say, Woodlands Margaret, especially with the price differential.

Been looking at these for a while...
Wynns 1999 Johnsons Reserve Shiraz, what I acknowledge as the first single vineyard wine, no Michael released yet '99 is quite a surprise vintage. Perfect cork, browning on the edges, lovely floral notes, entering its secondary/tertiary phase, nothing out of place, a graceful old wine at its peak. Well done Sue Hodder and crew

Wynns 2001 Harold single vineyard Cabernet, what Wynns acknowledge as their first single vineyard release. Again, perfect cork, perhaps exemplary cellaring conditions over two decades count for something. Nose of berry, blue and black, brighter on the palate than the Johnsons, and a little more of that fruit sweetness, but think this one has peaked...tannins faded away.

Johnsons probably gets the points...a few bottles of each left.
Cheers Craig

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Some from my cellar.

9P was excellent. Classic rounded CNP style that’s Barossan in its darker profile and fruit sweetness. Complexity from the blend- earth and meats.

93pts

The Shiraz was a little wayward on the nose and vegetal/raisin like notes. Palate was joyful and expressive. Needs drinking soon.

89pts

JamieBahrain wrote:
9P was excellent. Classic rounded CNP style that’s Barossan in its darker profile and fruit sweetness. Complexity from the blend- earth and meats.

Jamie, CNP vs. 9P to most CNP enthusiasts, would they be won over with the Aussie version?

Only good thing about Lockdown is it finally gives me time to catch up on my notes.

My notes from a sensational evening back in May (June coming next)
Theme for the night was Brunello and as always, All wines served blind:

Wine # 1 - Starter Sparkling - 2014 Villa Saletta Millesimato Spumante Rose`
Blushed Pink, almost a Peach colour in the glass, tinghe of copper as well.
The nose is a heady mix of honey & beeswax, lots of musk here, musk sticks, I wonder if this is on theme?
Lovely line of acid going through the whole palate, pure red berry fruit had me thinking majority red grape, but not pinot.
Did have that slight strawberry & cream thing going on, but acid was different to champagne for some reason.
No yeasty or bready characters, fine bubbles, but sharp at the same time. Not soft pillows.

It was 100% on theme and a sangiovese. Lovey wine!

Wine # 2 - 2006 Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino
Probably the worst corked wine I have ever seen, of course it was my wine


Wine # 3- 2004 Ciacci Piccolomini d'Aragona Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso
Nose of lovely Strawberry and Rose Petal, delicate & feminine nose.
Soft but still astringent tannin. Tar & Bitumen with some cola and some roasted coffee beans.
Hint of tobacco, dark cherry fruit spectrum
I love the balance here perfect harmony of acid, fruit & oak.


Wine # 4 - 2007 Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino
Fruit Purity here from the first whiff. Vibrant nose of bright red cherry, red currants, strawberries.
Feels young (circa 2010+) and acid reminds me of an Aged Balsamic Vinegar type complexity.
Beautiful wine, NOT corked (unlike mine, and this is what mine should have been)
Fruit just explodes in the mouth, length goes on and on, Rose petals hint of oak, balance is
fantastic. Cannot get over the purity of fruit, contender for wine of the night already & my
first Poggio di Sotto WOW


Wine # 5 - 2006 Fuligni Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva
Magnificent nose here, different to the PdS above, this has more herbs. Alpine herbs, pine needles, sage. Less
fruit than the previous wine, but still great, just different. Red berry fruits but has a cranberry tartness there. Lick of oak
is beautifully handled, nicely balanced acid still there too. Doesnt feel old at all... agin 2010+?
Those herbal aromas are heavenly.
One thing about BdM's I have noticed from tonight (and other nights) is that they defy age. I mean this is 15 years old and it feels way younger.


Wine # 6 - 2010 Conti Costanti Brunello Di Montalcino
Huge fruit nose here, heady perfume is intoxicating. Cherry & Rose's simply off the chart.
Tannin is still quite prominent, more earthy as well than the others. Mushrooms, forest floor,
spice and tiny bit of tobacco. Again the purity of fruit is extraordinary, love this wine.


Wine # 7 - (Left Glass) - 2001 Conti Costanti Brunello Di Montalcino
Oxidised, I couldn't drink it, but the others in the group did. No notes as I poured mine out.


Wine # 8 - (Right Glass) - 2001 Tenuta Greppo (Biondi-Santi) Brunello di Montalcino
Terribly Corked, in the same realm as my 2006 PdS
Tragedy

This was meant to be a 2001 comparison flight, but such a shame



Wine # 9 - 2010 Gianni Brunelli Brunello di Montalcino
Lovely nose again - tonight is just one of those rare nights where all the wines (that havent been corked), have been simply stunning to smell. Quite a rare treat, and as one member so rightly summed up "an amazing night that exceeded my expectations. BdM can be very oaky, but not tonight. The best Brunello themed night I think I've ever attended and some of these wines could have been mistaken for top end Barbareso"

Bright Red Fruits again, lovely nose of old oak, and this is probably the 'oakiest' wine of the night. Not overpowering or disrupting in any way this is perfectly handled, but compared to the others of the night, its different yet again. Best description i can make is like a crossover of Traditionalist and Modernist. Feel young (2010) and still needs time to come together. This isnt anywhere
near its peak and has an easy 10+ years to go still. Acid and oak still needs time to integrate. Tannic grip, strong tannin here,
cola, black minerals, black pepper and new leather. Nice wine


Wine # 10 - (Backup) - 2013 Pertimali Livio Sassetti Brunello di Montalcino
So the story goes two siblings (Livio & Angelo) had a falling out, and both now strive to beat the other in terms of success and
quality of produce. Constantly at each other, constantly bickering and taunting.... ahh sibling rivalry but based on this
Pretty sure Livio is winning the contest!

Decanted for about 1.5hrs but just too young still. Very high quality fruit, pure red berry fruit again. Lovely length and very pretty florals. Dried roses, hints of lavender, violets and potpourri. Trouble is its just too young. Very high pearcing acid, but has a beautiful wet stone minerality, small, subtle oak. Leave for 10-15 years this will be spectacular.


Wine # 11 - 1975 Hoffmanns Vintage Port
Bit oxidative on the nose, so i didnt have high hopes for it. BUT geeee what a mouthful here when you actually taste it! Explosive red fruits, medicinal cherry, red rope liquorice, black liquorice, coffee, dark chocolate. Length is never ending, lucious mouthfeel, silky & textural. Great finish to the night.

My Notes for this wonderful evening way back in June.
Due to this effing lockdown #5, dont think we will get a July event.

Theme was Cote de Nuits and wines served blind as always.


Wine # 1 - Starting Sparkling - 2012 Champagne Prevoteau-Perrier l'Historique
What a great starter, has the sheer quality of a wine you would bring as a main wine.
Nose is a lot of short bread biscuit, wild honey & butter. Bright gold in the glass, tinge of green.Mouth is pure Champagne. Chalky and very rich. Lemony Acid spine goes right through, tartness and dry all at the same time, complexity you usually only find in top producers. The fruit power behind this is something to behold. Feels majority Chardonnay, ultra fine mousse, florals with more grapefruit, green apples, lemon curd adding to the richness and some talc as well. Yeah wow.


Wine # 2 - 2011 Domaine Robert Chevillon Nuits St. Georges Les Roncières 1er Cru
Slight browning in the glass indicating some age. Bright red fruits, florals and feels feminine.
Acid, tannin in fine balance, pretty wine here with some latent fruit power, autumn leaves, wet earth, orange peel, and leather.
Good wine, ready to drink.


Wine # 3 - 2006 Jacques-Frederic Mugnier Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Clos de la Marechale
Dark Plums, lots of funk and barnyard. Bit horsey at first on the nose... musty cellar type stuff.Huge masculine tannin, actually overpowers the wine. Slightly unbalanced as well due to that tannin, fruit just not up to it. Rustic, feels 15 years-ish old. Damp earth, mushroom and decaying leaves, that plummy fruit in the background. Drink now as I don't think it will hold.


Wine # 4 - 2002 Louis Jadot Vosne-Romanee Les Suchots 1er Cru
Another one with some initial Barnyard characters, stinky & musty that does blow off with air. Clearly older wine as browning colour... im guessing 20 years?Lots of earth here, tannin builds on the palate, not as complex as I thought it could have been, im guessing 1er cru as the fruit power isnt there.
Raspberries, with some coal minerals, tea leaves, spice and oak as well.


Wine # 5 - 2001 Louis Jadot Gevrey-Chambertin Clos St. Jacques 1er Cru
Nose just screams Burgundy. Has that unmistakable pungent pinot character. Mushrooms, earth, forest floor. Nose is a clear bright red, looks young here too - 10ish years (imagine my surprise when revealed!)
Acid still very primary, bright sweet red cherries, red liquorice, spicy funk too, not hugely powerful fruit though so again im in 1er cru territory, missing that X factor in complexity that the nose promises.
Dried sage, stone minerals. Another good (but not great) wine that will hold for a while yet,
and back to back Jadot


Wine # 6 - 2008 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
Yeah wow, what a nose here. So Musky and fragrant. Lavender florals, aftershave and raspberry jelly. Very minerally here. Bright clear red colour, and that nose. Intoxicating, wine of the night so far. Feel young still though and has a lot more time left before it even reaches its peak.

More raspberries in the glass, red cherries, love the perfume this pumps out. Acid tartness along the cranberry spectrum, red currants, orange rind, subtle but high quality oak (I wonder how much new oak this sees?). High quality premier cru here, although needs more time.Finishes with some aniseed/mint type notes, wet stone minerals and a sort of light graphite type thing. Lovely!


Wine # 7- 2013 Domaine Armand Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin Clos du Chateau
Just blew the George de Vogue above right out of the water. Wine of the night.Powerful nose, dark in the glass very dark red, almost purple/blue, lots of minerals on the nose too. Graphite & Coal
types, forest floor, mushrooms. Complexity is serious.

On the palate there is a big hit of fennel up front. Licorice root or aniseed, feels like whole bunches in here as well. Just adds to the complexity. Tomato leaf, Chinese 5 spice, earthy, musky and rose petals, all at once. Length is sublime with a grilled meatiness in the mouth... hard to explain but
its fruit weight is fantastic. Wow


Wine # 8- 2006 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Musigny Grand Cru
Strange nose initially. Funk, barnyard, is it slightly bretty? Not sure but its not a good start.Palate defies the nose though (PHEW) with some huge tannin, fruit explodes in the mouth, but
that tannin builds and builds. Length is quite extraordinary but all driven by that tannin.
Colour is a deep, dark red. Medicinal cherry with some black tea, spearmint, lavender, dark spices,dark earth. Something else in here, there is great complexity and i think its a GC. That fruit is very
powerful, but hidden somewhat by the tannin, and the nose is still off putting.


Wine # 9 - 2005 Gros Frere et Soeur Vosne-Romanee
Big hit of menthol on the nose, mixed (weirdly) with some Pears Bar Soap (that yellow one). More pine needles
and more forest floor, moss, love this nose. Could smell it all day.
More forestry wet pine on the nose too, this is so, so powerful feels GC type power. Very burgundy too, has that funk everyone aspires too. Balance is perfect. Not a hair out of place. Fruit, asic, tannin, oak... wow.
Smoked meats, blueberry and red berries fruit spectrum, there is a hoisin sauce note in there too... asian spices.
Great wine.


Wine # 10 - Additional - 2013 Domaine Armand Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin
We will forgive the presenter for bringing a village wine........... JUST this once Green Herbs, Tomato leaf. unripe strawberries. Translucent red in the glass, screams young wine.More red florals, game meats and undergrowth. Red currants as well, with a tart acid spine and some raw cedar oak and aniseed. Needs time to come together, all arms and legs, but will be a good wine when it does. Big $$ too for this now.


Wine # 11- Houghton San Simeon Vintage Port (Swan Valley WA) - (We think 1979?)
Haven't seen one of these before and it reminded me of Yalumba's release of Horse Themed VP's.Even rarer is the fact its a WA vintage port. Another first for me.Smells of black millipedes. You know that pong on your hands when you pick one up?
Mothballs and salty sea air. Has a nice almond spirit that has integrated nicely into the wine.
Rich fruit profile, very luscious and silky. Lovely liquorice, dried raisin and coffee notes. Old chesterfield leather as well. Well past its prime but very nice curio, points for scarcity and being from WA!

Coupla Lockdown Conseillantes:

2005 Chateau La Conseillante

This has finally come around, and is now in the infant stages of maturity. Beautiful blue fruits, and the Chateau trademark violets. Touch on menthol, great length. Even a touch of Aussie gum tree!! Despite the tannins, which will, I suspect, be ever-present, this is an awesome wine, I'd be drinking it around 2030.
95pts drink: 2030-2050.

2010 Chateau La Conseillante

As good as the 2005 is, this is totally on another level. Seriously, a complete difference in class. Perhaps more red fruits here, this is crammed with raspberries, ripe strawberries, violets, anise, menthol and eucalyptus. One of those wines that remind me of tasting the infant 60's Granges back in the early seventies, massive, massive tannins, extraordinary length, fruit to the fore..... this is like getting six bottles of great wine and cramming everything into one. Just magnificent, but this truly needs another 20 years.
99+ pts, drink: 2040-2080

felixp21 wrote: 2010 Chateau La Conseillante

As good as the 2005 is, this is totally on another level. Seriously, a complete difference in class. Perhaps more red fruits here, this is crammed with raspberries, ripe strawberries, violets, anise, menthol and eucalyptus. One of those wines that remind me of tasting the infant 60's Granges back in the early seventies, massive, massive tannins, extraordinary length, fruit to the fore..... this is like getting six bottles of great wine and cramming everything into one. Just magnificent, but this truly needs another 20 years.
99+ pts, drink: 2040-2080

Had one of these June last year. 2080 is a pretty apt drinking window.

On that day it was a 90 point wine, almost undrinkable it was so young and so monolithic (I put in my notes feels like a barrel sample)

Your descriptions are spot on though. Hopefully the fruit will hold up to those massive tannins and massive oak only time will tell, but it will outlive me thats for sure.

Blok Estate 2012 Coonawarra Cabernet...superb drinking
Woodstock NV Fortified, mixture of red and white Frontignac?? grapes...luscious drop, in front of the fire watching the Blues smash the Pies...best last quarter I have seen in 5 years
Cheers Craig

Get the whole Chateau La Conseillante thing now Felix. Drank a lot over the last year from friends’ cellars. Including a 1945. Always thought of your love of the wine when drinking it.

Hacker wrote:

JamieBahrain wrote:
9P was excellent. Classic rounded CNP style that’s Barossan in its darker profile and fruit sweetness. Complexity from the blend- earth and meats.

Jamie, CNP vs. 9P to most CNP enthusiasts, would they be won over with the Aussie version?

I’m not sure Hacker. It is difficult and pinning down a standard for CNP not easy due diversity of styles and obviously varietal make up.

9P just had the wildness and complexity I enjoy in many CNP’s. 9P being a bit darker nuanced than my favourite CNP.

Great stuff Charlie!

Regarding Melton's 'Nine Popes', or Californian Bonny Doon's 'Le Cigare Volant' for that matter, appeal to CnP fanciers much depends on the vintage and the style of the CnP, traditional or modern. in addition, as they age, there is tendency for the profiles to merge. Older Australian reds can easily be mistaken for old world wines.

Mahmoud.

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Couple of wines out of the cellar for a bit of a birthday bash dinner tasting last night. All purchased at release and cellared since then, apart from the burgundy which was an auction pickup a few years ago. Perhaps not surprisingly in my case, quite a few wines from Coonawarra.

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Tasted in this order ...
2013 Romney Park Blanc de Blancs (not shown)
2007 Romney Park Pinot Noir
2009 Domaine Tortochot Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux Saint-Jacques
2004 Katnook Prodigy Shiraz
2004 Katnook Odyssey Cabernet Sauvignon
2004 Balnaves The Tally Cabernet Sauvignon
2004 Majella The Malleea Shiraz Cabernet
1998 Wynns John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon
1998 Penfolds Bin707 Cabernet Sauvignon
1998 Penfolds BIn389 Cabernet Shiraz

Have to say that the BdB was a great starter, only recently disgorged, so almost eight years on lees. Checked and decanted the reds about two hours before tasting. No problem bottles fortunately and they were all enjoyable. Very hard to pick a WOTN, but the Malleea was my pick, just shading the John Riddoch and The Tally. Good food, great wines, good company, conversation and a lot of laughs .. that's what it is all about.

Happy birthday Malcolm...and on previous form the 'festival of birthday' will last a few days yet
Interested that the 707 was shaded by a couple of others, have some 90 and 94, guess its a wine that is far from 100% Coonawarra, with bits and pieces from all over.
I don't have a lot of Malleea but think its one that is often overlooked.

Cheers Craig

Amongst good company, The Head Redhead Shiraz 2016 expressing beautifully last night. Xmas in a glass and I felt it in a good place whereas many informed critics suggest plenty in the tank for a long cellar

JamieBahrain wrote:Amongst good company, The Head Redhead Shiraz 2016 expressing beautifully last night. Xmas in a glass and I felt it in a good place whereas many informed critics suggest plenty in the tank for a long cellar

I’ve got some 2012 and 2018 and was planning to leave them for another 15 years. Might have to reconsider.

Meant to save this for next weekend, but it was looking at me as the pizza went in the oven and I could not say no

Opaque colour. Very expressive nose, with tobacco, violets and red fruits. There is a hint of tomato leaf, but nothing like a good black label. Palate still has some structure, bay leaf, more red fruits and a slightly silky texture. Reminds a bit of an old Pomerol and although it’s 88% Cab and 12 % Shiraz I do find myself wondering about merlot. Finish has a slight minty edge. Lovely wine. Probably too old for a lot of people, but I’m well into middle age now and I do appreciate this style of wine much more than I did 15 years ago.

2005 Pontet Canet. Nice medium bodied left Bank Cabernet, with the usual graphite, dark berried structure, but if I was given this and told it was Australian and $50 I would say it is on the money. But nothing like a wine that constantly gets 94-96 points on CT. Save your money.

Interesting note on the 05.

It may be 16 years old, but it is a vintage that needs a lot of time - Uncle Bobs review from 2015 thought it would need another decade and I think this and the top wines from this vintage will be very long lived. I have a few cases from the right bank, and really should have bought some from the left. Currently the cheapest PC of the recent top vintages vintages - 00, 05, 09,10,16 - and well under the price I paid for the exotic ‘18. Good buy if you are under 40 and don’t mind storing for a decade or 2.

Hacker wrote:2005 Pontet Canet. Nice medium bodied left Bank Cabernet, with the usual graphite, dark berried structure, but if I was given this and told it was Australian and $50 I would say it is on the money. But nothing like a wine that constantly gets 94-96 points on CT. Save your money.

yes, that is a pretty accurate description of the wine ATM. Modern Pontet (2000 and onwards) is a very modern, "polished" wine that is exuberant in it's youth, then settles in for a long period of what seems like a very dull wine, the 09, 05 and 03 being classic examples. I am hoping and expecting that in another decade, these wines will take on nuances that show their terroir and class. Having said that, 2005 Left Bank Bordeaux is the most horribly-overrated vintage this century, and IMO, is turning out exactly like 1986, so I hold less hope for the 05 than the other vintages. (the right bank is far, far better) I had a real chuckle reading aVinous review by Galloni who looked at the 05's earlier this year. He either has the palate of a yak with a rather dreadful cold, or they tricked up the samples for him. 2005 Left Bank Medoc is no fun, with a few very pleasant exceptions.

I see Galloni more as a 'high scores sell' person who doesn't dislike much, except when he gets a bee in his bonnet about a once favoured producer. Not quite as generous as Suckling though to be fair. I'd much rather read Ian d'Agata's thoughts on Italian wine.

If you look at auction prices around the world, 2005 Medoc is decreasing, as a lot of drinkers, and investors, are becoming shy as the wines start to evolve in the wrong direction.
A cynic might ask why, all of a sudden, Galloni puts out a report of the 05's at 16 years, quite strange timing. Those cynics might point to the Bordelaise being behind this, who wouldn't love a top critic's absolutely glowing report of that Medoc vintage just when the market is softening!!!
There are a number of the 05's he describes that I have had in the past 24 months, and the vast majority of his notes bear no resemblance to the experiences both myself and my wine groups have had with them.
Like 86, the critics really stuffed up their tastings of 2005. RPJ called it the greatest ever on the left bank en primeur, and decided the right bank wines were pretty ordinary. 15 years later, many wine lovers think exactly the opposite!!!

The ‘old way’ here means skin contact and oak barrels. This leads to a rounder form of Riesling. Still needs some time to relax but this has a nice creaminess and just enough body to make it different. 13%, so not quite like the sweeter German examples, it’s has plenty of flavour and still has a zing from the acidity. Really good and maybe something to buy for the End of Lockdown party’s in April.

2018 Majella The Musician Cabernet Shiraz

Ridiculously cheap, heaps of gongs and not surprisingly so. Great colour, blackberries, cassis, soft tannins, bit of eucalyptus mint, good balance, age worthy. Great drop

2012 Drei Dona Pruno riserva, a rather impressive Sangiovese from Predappio in Emilia Romagna. The winery is a sideline from a renowned horse breeding estate, but is no less impressive, with Graf Noir (Sangiovese) and Magnificat (Cab/Merlot) also well worth trying. Feels like it could ease it's way to another decade, but very good now.

2007 Clos Des Papes
I picked this wine up in LA as I was returning to Sydney in 2009.

Full body, balance, tannis are, long finish, well made wine, traditional CDP, no hint of alcohol, Burgundist, 2007, ClosDesPapes, Chateauneuf Du Pape, #chateauneufdupape

mjs wrote:2018 Majella The Musician Cabernet Shiraz

Ridiculously cheap, heaps of gongs and not surprisingly so. Great colour, blackberries, cassis, soft tannins, bit of eucalyptus mint, good balance, age worthy. Great drop

Just picked up a few , along with the 2018 Cabernet
Cheers Craig