The Auswine Forum

As you all know I opened a 1982 Baileys of Glenrowan Bin 32 Cabernet Hermitage.

A couple of days ago I also had the pleasure of drinking a 1982 Baileys of Glenrowan Bin 29 Cabernet Sauvignon and a 1998 Lakes Folly Cabernet.

The straight Cabernet was darker and sweeter with some vanilla. The Cabernet Shiraz blend was more savoury and leafy with a core of sweet fruit.

Both were in great shape and looked mature but nowhere near 40 years old. I think there’s something special about drinking old and mature wine.

The Lakes Folly was drinking really well, well stored bottles should last for at least another 5 years.

Cheers Con.

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That’s a lovely looking Hermitage-Cabernet Con. Jealous

Tonight I was online with Mic and Jelle in the Netherlands. The 4th member of our group cancelled yet again, so now we are down to 3.

The great thing about tonight was that I never realized that top quality Muscadet and Shiraz were so similar.

The 18 Terre de Gneiss and the Sami-Odi Little Wine 10 share impeccable balance, a creamy texture, balancing acidity, and an unhealthy drink ability. Alcohol levels are not dissimilar either.

Sami-Odi is now one of the most wanted wines in Auz, and the balance, the texture and the finish on this Little Wine are incredible. If you are unfamiliar, it’s a Multi Vintage blend, based on the difficult 2020 and the easier 2019. Lots of raspberries and blue fruit and tannins that are so, so ripe. Yum.

The Muscadet is the top wine from Vincent Caille. It’s the 2nd wine I have had from him in the last few months and it’s so delightful to drink with perfect balance and some Selix minerality coming through on the finish.

Another wine night held last week with some very generous people.

Theme was: Italy outside Piedmont

As always, all wines are served blind.

Wine # 1 2015 Pietradolce Sant’ Andrea (Carricante)
Amber Yellow, looks like a flat beer its that dark gold. Nose initially sweet of bubble gum
and banana lollies. Some lychee sweetness as well, interesting and this isn’t an extra, so it HAS to be from Italy. This also smells like grape skins. Smells like its been on skins for a while there is this funk to the wine, but I cant pick the variety. Reminds me a lot of the Donnafugata ‘Ben Rye’ sweet muscat we had last year, but the table wine version. So with that theory im in Sicily… which ended up being right. (Wrong Grape variety though)
Minerally salty briny notes in the mouth too, very textural and silky, but its just so flat on the palate. No fruit to be seen, very little acid to speak of, which is why I thought Muscat as well. This does NOT look anything like a carricante. Looks old, but smells young. Has a freshness and vibrancy on the palate, so I choose around 5 years old. Others choose much, much older 10 – 20 is the general consensus. Very interesting wine, glad to have tried it, but once is enough. Just doesn’t have the fruit or acid in there for me. 13.5%


Wine # 2 - 2016 Benanti Contrada Monte Serra Etna Rosso
Beautiful clear crimson in colour, very very pinot like in its appearance. Initially it was very stinky, kind of like old dirty socks, but thank fully it blew off with some air. Once the stank was gone lots of black and bergamot tea on the nose, lovely, intriguing stuff. Loads of tannin too, on the back of the tongue which was a surprise. More pinot like characters, rose hip, some slight mushroom, touch of pine air…. And loads of chalk. That chalk is really the interest here. It adds that x factor of mineral complexity, very light acid (which is surprising) and dryness all in one. Some orange zest and what feels like a very small amount of whole bunch. Like 5 – 10% type stuff, there is a stalky character I pick up, but none of the others do. The real question is where is it from! Feels like either a Valtellina or etna type wine… high altitude, lightness and elegance. I choose Valtellina (dam). It’s a riper style of Narello than im used to, acid is lower too, so I think its older…. Like a 2006 or something….. lol im losing on all accounts here!
Its nice wine. Drink up as I cant see this lasting a long time.


Wine # 3 – 2006 Tenuta Greppo (Biondi Santi) Brunello di Montalcino
The first really serious wine of the night, without knowing what it is, I can already tell its not to be messed with. Dark red in colour, this has seen oak and possibly some extraction. Still shines and glistens in the glass, but that colour is mesmerising! Dark Purple, inky almost.
Perfume leaps out of the glass too, envelopes the whole room. So many red fruits in here. Strawberries, red currents, raspberries, red cherries. Touch of liquorice and red rope lollies, has a savoury sweetness battle going on. Fruit is sweet, but the structure is really fighting it for dominance. This wine is absolutely timeless. It could be 20 years old, it could be 5 years old. Some of these Brunello’s (and this IS a top Brunello) are so ageless, you simply cannot tell. I choose 2006 out of the options, others choose 2012 and younger. Those tannins are just perfect. Actually feels like a combination of grape and oak tannin. Oak is there, and it is noticeable but not overpowering. There is a tension between the fruit and oak it’s a wonderful battle, may it forever continue. Length is astonishing…. Just goes and goes. Love this wine…. Price is stupid, worth every cent, no I cant afford it. Bottle number 28,748 of who knows how many bottles! - so Bordeaux like in its production figures. Amazing how they keep the quality so high. Wine of the night easily


Wine # 4 – 2012 Antinori Tignanello Toscana IGT
Wow just look at that colour, liquid purple. Is a tad darker but that purple is vibrant and deep. A comment was made that it looks like someone has poured beetroot juice in the wine hahaha!
Lovely floral aroma too, dried flowers potpourri type roses, hint of lavender and some other herb…. Rosemary maybe? Cured meats of prosciutto type things as well on the nose. That nose is lovely, complex and powerful. The fruit is perfectly ripe and commanding. The fruit profile is just so deep here, length similar to the Biondi but different. There is something different about it has dark plums and almost a Bordeaux like profile. I would swear there is Merlot in here, right bank fruit and tannin, Feels like French oak, possibly some new, but its not intrusive. Fruit swallows it up easily and it’s a delight. HOWEVER French oak in an Italian wine is not my cup of tea. Indeed for some reason I have an aversion to French varieties in Italian wine……. Can you imagine the outrage if Nebbiolo was planted in Burgundy… even if I think it would be a perfect variety for it.
ANYHOO back onto the wine, this is a wonderful expression of Super Tuscan, one of my very first (for the above reasons) and I can see why they are popular.


Wine # 5 – 2012 Il Poggione (Proprietá Franceschi) Brunello di Montalcino
Similar to the last wine, this has a deep, dark purple colour just not as ‘beetrooty’. Lots of oak on the nose, overpowers the wine at the moment and it’s a little off putting. It’s a raw wood / raw oak type nose. Not corky, just smells very young and new. Feels like a riserva with all that oak, or modernist producer.
Palate is the same profile, at the moment the oak overpowers the fruit. It does have a nice acid balance in there, but it just needs time. Another 10+ easily before you re-visit. Some nice grainy tannin structure, vanilla spice and some white pepper notes. Even if you leave it, I still question if the fruit will hold up to that oak.


Wine # 6 – 2012 MastroJanni ‘Vigna Schiena d’ Asino’ Brunello di Montalcino
Much lighter in the glass than the other two, are we back to either a traditionalist or one that is ‘in the middle’ between that and Modernist.
Earthy nose here, wet earth and pine once again. Mushroom type notes, it reminds me of a 1er burgundy a little. Cherry and some milk chocolate notes in the mouth, Cherry Ripe was one members comment – pretty much sums it up perfectly. Very savoury in its approach. There is a dryness and acid line that really complements the fruit, soft spice, oak is there but its large and old… possibly some near new oak but its very minimal. Nice grippy tannin, I really do love the fruit depth here, more dark cherries and a touch of blueberry maybe.


Wine # 7 – 2012 Le Potazzine Gorelli Brunello di Montalcino
Smell those florals coming out of the glass, so bright and elegant. Nose is rose, young red cherry and more red raspberry, strawberry fruits. Only just medium body, this has a clear red translucent colour. Almost pale and I can see why people didn’t pick this as a BdM.
There is a purity about this wine that is just so appealing. Everyone chooses Etna – Everyone is wrong. Next question, everyone chooses Chianti Classico – again everyone is wrong. I get (jokingly) accused of bringing the wrong wine to the night. There is no oak here at all, this is all pure red fruits. Very traditionalist wine style, iron minerality is wonderful, chalky, floral of rose petals, rosehip, violets, black tea tannin and just so pretty. Fruit tannin is perfect, for me this is right in the zone of styles I love. Second place wine of the night. I need more – complexity off the chart


Wine # 8 – 2004 Agricola Querciabella Camartina IGT
The colour is quite confusing here. Its Big and Dark, almost black and impenetrable. Do we have another super Tuscan here? Looks like a lot of oak or non-indigenous grapes… lets have a smell.
Crushed black ants, cured and bbq’d meats ……… this is a meaty nose. Sausage meat on the nose.
On the palate has very sweet purple and black fruits, quite interesting and different to what the nose promises. Blackberries, plums, touch of lavender and menthol. Oak is prominent, it’s a mix of new and old and yes the fruit is up to it. The wine is still so tight and young, this needs more time to be comfortable with itself. Its like a teenager in their awkward stage, or maybe that’s because I can see Bordeaux varieties mixed in here which are not my favourite. Feels like a Cab blend, and once again I can appreciate the style and reason people enjoy it, but its not for me.


Wine # 9 – 2006 Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT
I think we have another super Tuscan again (*sigh*) – Intense nose, intense colour. Deep dark purple and again, almost black. Another impenetrable colour here, light cannot enter or escape. Lots of raw oak on the nose. Similar to others of the night, it over powers all those fruits. Feels very young, like a 2016 or thereabouts, but again these wines can be deceiving. Very surprised at the vintage and this is another timeless wine…, BUT again I just don’t get the over use of oak. What is it with all that raw & new oak. Its intense and again this needs another 15+ years. Black Coal minerals, huge vanilla spice hit, iron tannin, but just so oaky. Those poor fruits are blinded. Excellent example of a perfectly cellared wine – but still a big no from me. Maybe it’s a vintage thing for this wine? Maybe the vintage demanded the over use of oak…. Maybe it’s a producer style or just what a certain market who loves oak want to buy.
No from me.


Wine # 10 – 2000 Morris Vintage Port
Youthful Black Cherry and Dark Plum colour in the glass. Nice viscosity as you swirl it around with an equally Impressive sheen/shine in the wine. Nose of blackberries, Marzipan and almonds, blackcurrants and some liquorice. This has a bit of a harsh spirit. Sits on top of the wine and it quite hot & alcoholic. Its not integrated into the wine at all, not sure it will with time either? Coffee notes, menthol and feels like there is Portuguese grapes in there, specifically Touriga. Very surprised that when revealed the bottle notes shiraz as the variety. Definitely didn’t come across that way. Nice dryness about the wine, with sweet back fruits. Great finish to the evening

A great selection and some very clearly generous offerings, though I reckon the next challenge might need to be Italy outside of Piemonte/Toscana

Harder to source for sure, but plenty of gems from the other regions of Italy as well as in these two giants of Italian wine.

Ian S wrote: ↑Tue Aug 30, 2022 11:12 pm A great selection and some very clearly generous offerings, though I reckon the next challenge might need to be Italy outside of Piemonte/Toscana

Harder to source for sure, but plenty of gems from the other regions of Italy as well as in these two giants of Italian wine.

Very astute observation Ian, and there was a lot of group think on this night (which tends to happen with this bunch of people for some reason). The irony was the majority of back up's were from Etna and Valtellina/Lombardy.

My back up was the 2013 Ar.Pe.Pe Valtellina Superiore Riserva Sassella Nuova Regina which in hindsight i should have opened. Oh well, there will always another theme in which that is suitable.

Rossco, average has dropped to 0.66 now.

Clearly need to get out more
Cheers Craig

phillisc wrote: ↑Wed Aug 31, 2022 9:34 am Rossco, average has dropped to 0.66 now.

Clearly need to get out more
Cheers Craig

I missed the last event, and it feels like 3 months since i have been!

LOL @ Average dropped

Rossco wrote: ↑Wed Aug 31, 2022 8:40 am

Ian S wrote: ↑Tue Aug 30, 2022 11:12 pm A great selection and some very clearly generous offerings, though I reckon the next challenge might need to be Italy outside of Piemonte/Toscana

Harder to source for sure, but plenty of gems from the other regions of Italy as well as in these two giants of Italian wine.

Very astute observation Ian, and there was a lot of group think on this night (which tends to happen with this bunch of people for some reason). The irony was the majority of back up's were from Etna and Valtellina/Lombardy.

To be fair, that focus on Piemonte & Toscana (and indeed Barolo/Barbaresco & Brunello) is pretty common. Sicily (Etna) has definitely been the 'hot new thing' which has helped get it some attention.

I had a quick look for some quirkier stuff that might still be available in Australia and see there's an Aostan Fumin, 3 Vespolina wines (!), a few recioto della Valpolicella, a few castel del monte / Nero di Troia wines, plenty of decent Lambrusco (Venturini Baldini one I like), Gini's wonderful Gini Contrada Salvarenza (genuinely) old vine Soave, Foradori's excellent Teroldego wine (the eponymous wine, more 'natural' bottlings and the fancier Granato), plus Tiefenbrunner's 'Feldmarschall von Fenner' Muller-Thurgau which stole the show at a recent 'blind tasting from hell' I organised for friends.

So yes it's very much harder work to sniff such under-the radar wines out, but they are in the country if the group fancied a 'push the boundaries' tasting where everything is likely to be a DOCG/DOC that is new to them. I also see a Grappa di Ruché listed, a lesser seen grape, but interesting, and the grappa I had from it was brilliant.

2002 Basket Press, first since release, bright deep colour, lovely savoury earthy tones, so much fruit great balance, full of life another 5 years easily. The joys of cellaring wine.
Cheers Craig

2021 Agricola Vintners Ebenezer Barossa Valley Shiraz

A quick blurb of the fruit sources; it is predominantly Dimchurch Home Old (70 year old), with splashes of Dallwitz, Hill and Limit Lodge vineyards.

Based on other reviews, I was expecting something a bit lighter in style, but this was more on the medium/medium+ bodied style.

Plenty of lush, ripe fruits at the core of the wine. Plums, clove, dried herbs, touch of graphite, licorice nuances, supported by a touch of oak. Lots of drying tannins on the finish.

Overall, it comes up quite short on the finish, then you get the drying effect from the tannins, not thrilling at this stage - it feels a bit unbalanced, or unfinished. 13.9% alcohol per the label.

Matt, was contemplating getting some of these, and really a surprise for the vintage...isn't 2021 meant to be outstanding?
I would expect a lot more from fruit of this quality from the BV.

Cheers Craig

phillisc wrote: ↑Mon Sep 05, 2022 8:59 pm Matt, was contemplating getting some of these, and really a surprise for the vintage...isn't 2021 meant to be outstanding?
I would expect a lot more from fruit of this quality from the BV.

Cheers Craig

My expectations were very high for this.
Good fruit doesn't always mean good wine. A lot happens in between. As I said, not thrilling at this stage, for my tastes at least.

Ian S wrote: ↑Thu Sep 01, 2022 12:06 am

Rossco wrote: ↑Wed Aug 31, 2022 8:40 am

Ian S wrote: ↑Tue Aug 30, 2022 11:12 pm A great selection and some very clearly generous offerings, though I reckon the next challenge might need to be Italy outside of Piemonte/Toscana

Harder to source for sure, but plenty of gems from the other regions of Italy as well as in these two giants of Italian wine.

Very astute observation Ian, and there was a lot of group think on this night (which tends to happen with this bunch of people for some reason). The irony was the majority of back up's were from Etna and Valtellina/Lombardy.

To be fair, that focus on Piemonte & Toscana (and indeed Barolo/Barbaresco & Brunello) is pretty common. Sicily (Etna) has definitely been the 'hot new thing' which has helped get it some attention.

I had a quick look for some quirkier stuff that might still be available in Australia and see there's an Aostan Fumin, 3 Vespolina wines (!), a few recioto della Valpolicella, a few castel del monte / Nero di Troia wines, plenty of decent Lambrusco (Venturini Baldini one I like), Gini's wonderful Gini Contrada Salvarenza (genuinely) old vine Soave, Foradori's excellent Teroldego wine (the eponymous wine, more 'natural' bottlings and the fancier Granato), plus Tiefenbrunner's 'Feldmarschall von Fenner' Muller-Thurgau which stole the show at a recent 'blind tasting from hell' I organised for friends.

So yes it's very much harder work to sniff such under-the radar wines out, but they are in the country if the group fancied a 'push the boundaries' tasting where everything is likely to be a DOCG/DOC that is new to them. I also see a Grappa di Ruché listed, a lesser seen grape, but interesting, and the grappa I had from it was brilliant.

Not as "new" but there's also some decent nebbiolo coming out of Australia as well. I liked Soumah's version. Not a fantastic wine but so easy to drink.

From a few weeks ago; first time trying this. Plenty of fruit, lots of power, but very well balanced. Really enjoyable and a long life ahead.

2006 Wynn's Alex SV Cabernet. At 16 years needed to take notice of the winemaker, stating 20 years on the back label. Really firm wine, needs to settle, I drank it over a couple of days and still needed more time... something about screwcaps perhaps. Certainly a very nice drink, but needs a lot more time
2000 Petaluma Riesling (cork). Golden yellow almost a hint of Maderia on the nose and more so on the palate. Plenty of acidity to carry through. Will knock these and earlier editions off soon.
Cheers Craig

2003 Seppelts Chalambar. "Found" a dozen of these tucked away. Screwcap has done its job, bright reflective, dark purple tones. Lovely fragrant nose and a slippery palate, enjoyed by all. Still plenty of life left, about $10-11 on release.
Cheers Craig

2010 Yeringberg a blend of cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, malbec and petit verdot.

A wine purchased at CD about 5-6 years ago and cellared since. This wine could either be described as an elegant example of Yarra Valley cabernet blend or as a lean ungiving Yarra Valley cabernet blend. I prefer the latter, very hard to get much out of this wine. I expected more for 2010. Unripe characters, some lean fruit, maybe it improved after an hour or so, but still struggling tbh. Disappointing.

VinoEd wrote: ↑Sun Sep 11, 2022 4:57 pm From a few weeks ago; first time trying this. Plenty of fruit, lots of power, but very well balanced. Really enjoyable and a long life ahead.

Enjoy these wines, but CD has become more commercial. We had a visit to the original winery shed some years ago and David took us through umpteen wines, very enjoyable. CD needs to up its game though, perhaps a sign of the times.

2009 Noon Reserve Shiraz. Really enjoyed this, lovely mouth feel rich with a touch of sweetness. Carries the 16% alcohol easily.
Plenty left in the tank here
Cheers Craig

phillisc wrote: ↑Tue Sep 13, 2022 10:17 pm 2009 Noon Reserve Shiraz. Really enjoyed this, lovely mouth feel rich with a touch of sweetness. Carries the 16% alcohol easily.
Plenty left in the tank here
Cheers Craig

Great to hear. I have 3 bottles stashed away as it's my youngest's birth year. Hopefully last another 5 years till his 18th.

Cheers
Ian

First one of these I’ve tried, going down very nicely. Lots of fruit, well balanced, many years of life.

Brilliant reflection of the 2019 vintage, glad I have a few.
Cheers Craig

A few yesterday,
2010 Orlando JC Barossa Shiraz, opened well, still quite primary, will go a few more years
2013 Orlando JC Coonawarra Cabernet, in a great spot, beautiful fruit, really bright lovely tannins
2016 Gomersal BV Shiraz, nice quaffer, good VFM
2014 WB Grey Label Cab/Shiraz Langhorne Creek, this is just getting into shape, really good mouth feel, lovely finish with drying puckery tannins, very good
2019 Redman Shiraz, really good fruit, very representative of the 2019 vintage. If a wine for $17 can be this good, then very much looking forward to the upcoming top marques
Cheers Craig

phillisc wrote: ↑Fri Sep 16, 2022 8:51 am 2014 WB Grey Label Cab/Shiraz Langhorne Creek, this is just getting into shape, really good mouth feel, lovely finish with drying puckery tannins, very good
Cheers Craig

I have a single of this that came in a mystery case from CD.co - thanks for the note

phillisc wrote: ↑Fri Sep 16, 2022 8:51 am 2019 Redman Shiraz, really good fruit, very representative of the 2019 vintage. If a wine for $17 can be this good, then very much looking forward to the upcoming top marques
Cheers Craig

Glad to hear, I saw this new addition at my local recently. May have to give it a try soon.

A couple of recent wines:

2014 Taylors Cabernet Sauvignon St Andrews, Clare Valley

This is coming along nicely, just starting to soften out. Medium+ bodied. Ripe dark fruits, cassis, menthol and dark chocolate, supported by the savouriness of french oak. Very good depth of flavour and mouth feel - a bit of acidity lurking there, but otherwise a very good drink. No rush on these at all.

2017 Marius Wines End Play, McLaren Vale

Drinking very nicely at the moment. It feels a bit more rounded out and balanced than on my first tasting on release. Lovely fruit on the palate, with the rustic / spiciness of the mataro present, but some plum and bluer type fruits indicate a good % of shiraz? Not sure. Either way, it works nicely with a nice long finish with a soft tannin structure. I really enjoyed it.

1997 Tyrells Semillon Vat 1

Hazy notes from a couple days ago. Light gold/yellow in colour. The nose and palate was a little one note, but what a note it was! The palate was medium bodied but incredibly intense lemon preserve, the deepest, most flavourful lemon flavour I've ever tasted in a wine. Quite dry, but there is a slightly creamy texture due to the depth of the lemon fruit; there is a nice length of finish too. Very unique and impressive (A-).

phillisc wrote: ↑Fri Sep 16, 2022 8:51 am 2019 Redman Shiraz, really good fruit, very representative of the 2019 vintage. If a wine for $17 can be this good, then very much looking forward to the upcoming top marques

I tried this. I also picked up the 2020 at the same time. The 2019 was okay, seemed a bit lean, 'bright' fruited and slightly acidic, compared the 2020 which is a richer, fuller style and felt more rounded (for my tastes); 2020 was my pick of the two vintages.

Con J wrote: ↑Sun Aug 28, 2022 5:00 pm As you all know I opened a 1982 Baileys of Glenrowan Bin 32 Cabernet Hermitage.

A couple of days ago I also had the pleasure of drinking a 1982 Baileys of Glenrowan Bin 29 Cabernet Sauvignon and a 1998 Lakes Folly Cabernet.

The straight Cabernet was darker and sweeter with some vanilla. The Cabernet Shiraz blend was more savoury and leafy with a core of sweet fruit.

Both were in great shape and looked mature but nowhere near 40 years old. I think there’s something special about drinking old and mature wine.

The Lakes Folly was drinking really well, well stored bottles should last for at least another 5 years.

Cheers Con.

Con,
I can just imagine that it was fabulous to taste these wines, quite envious. Love this sort of thing, especially cabernet/cabernet blends
cheers, Malcolm