Thanks guys for a very enjoyable night, I was very pleased as an out-of–towner to be able to attend and meet you guys. Restaurant was a good venue for the night. Food was not bad, though the serves were certainly “shareableâ€Â, don’t think I would serve potatoes as a course in a mini-degustation! Salmon, peas, pork belly were all good.
I did endeavor to taken some very brief notes on the iPad and these are provided below. A considerable number of wines and styles. I missed the last couple of stickies/fortifieds … it was getting late
Lenoble cuvée intense NV ChampagneNice structure, bit toasty, some citrus
2008 Franck Bonville Grand Cru MillesmeBit of volatility, beautiful creamy mouthfeel,
1989 Ch Tahbilk MarsanneDeep bright gold, chlorine, flat, nice developed flavour but not enough acid
1996 Ch Tahbilk MarsanneStraw gold, complex, treacle mouthfeel, soft, complexity
2002 Ch Tahbilk MarsanneGreen straw, bit grassy, maybe some stone fruit, medium acid, maybe even a bit thin later
Masked wineYellow straw with touch of green, bit doughy, Slight spritz for me, not chardy for me, but similar, bit buttery, not much acid,
Revealed as
2009 Lillian Rousanne, Pemberton WA
1976 Freiherr Langwerth von Simmern Eltville Spatlese (correct ?)
Colour of urine when dehydrated, sadly corked
2009 Kumeu River Hunting Hill ChardonnayPale pale straw, nice melon, stone fruit bouquet, buttered toast, acid ok, some oak treatment, bit minerally, quite enjoyable
Another Masked WinePinot, pale salmon, cherry, light red fruits, Victorian maybe, stylish, attractive but a bit light for me,
Revealed as
2010 Dromana Estate2004 Witchmount ShirazDeep red black, bit of pepper, black red fruits, complexity, beautiful fruit in the mouth,
1998 Seppelts Great Western Reserve ShirazDeep red black, bit of mint, black fruits, long flavour, some oak but well integrated, fruit still lively, beautiful wine
1998 Wynns Michael ShirazDeep red purple, beautiful bouquet, some black fruit, little bit of dustiness, still some tannins, great fruit, well balanced, again beautiful wine
2008 Wendouree ShirazBlack, slight whiff of malty vinegar, grippy, black fruits, tannins,
2004 Rockford Rifle Range CabernetDeep red purple, closed, opened up later, softer fruit
1991 Leeuwin Estate CabernetDeep red purple, beautiful black fruits, maybe dropping off with time,
1990 Lindemans St. George CabernetDeep red purple, just a bit of tca unfortunately, it's trying to come through, but edge taken off
Masked wineThought was a cabernet, maybe Coonawarra, some thought cabernet blend, one thought shiraz
Revealed as ….
1969 Redman Claret f@%k me!!!
Still fresh, some fruit, not terribly complex, easy to drink, definitely a surprise.
Will see if I can post my pic of this bottle a bit later (its already on twitter (@m_j_short)
2009 Mount Horrocks Cordon Cut Rieslingno further notes at this stage, iPad batteries sadly carked it and I had the attention span of a gnat by then
A great night with an interesting and eclectic range of wines. The Seppelts was WOTN by universal consensus. Michael was right behind for me (little surprised others haven't mentioned this). Kumeu was good as well. Have to give Dave big kudos for the Ch Tahbilk and especially for the Redman, was a real surprise, in great nick for a 45yo red, just didn’t taste that old!! From a family winery and lineage that has been a part of Coonawarra for almost ever through some four generations, a winery that I first visited in 1973 and where I cut my teeth on Coonawarra reds. Almost brought a tear to my eye ☺
