The Auswine Forum

Pulling a long shift tonight, so that means AFN for me...

What cheeky little wines are the rest of you enjoying?

Cheers,

Monghead.

2007 Forest Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
So, the big JH gives this 97 eh? Let's have a look. Dense colour with purple bubbles when poured. Some vanillin notes on the nose among blackberries, blackcurrant, truffles and tobacco. Fleshy, ripe palate of medium weight but nice glycerol mouth feel that coats the mouth. Lovely spicy finish (from the oak?) with no heat. Acid completely integrated. So well balanced that it may not interest/challenge advanced tasters A Very Good/Excellent wine from me which may yet improve. Time will tell if it hits 97 but easy now to say it is a bargain.

cheers

Carl

2005 Greirson MargaretRiver Shiraz Very good fruit and gee its good value at 16 Bucks , Very nice purple colour with plenty of the usual margaret river flavours

Regards Dazza

griff wrote: So well balanced that it may not interest/challenge advanced tasters .

cheers

Carl

Carl, what qualifies one as an advanced taster?
- someone in the trade?
- years enjoying wine?
- wine course participation?
- number of wines experienced?
- MW?

Saw this term used in the regular wine tasting group thread as well...

Cheers,

Monghead.

monghead wrote:

griff wrote: So well balanced that it may not interest/challenge advanced tasters .

cheers

Carl

Carl, what qualifies one as an advanced taster?
- someone in the trade?
- years enjoying wine?
- wine course participation?
- number of wines experienced?
- MW?

Saw this term used in the regular wine tasting group thread as well...

Cheers,

Monghead.

Haha...I think this term took on significance on another forum and now has a life of its own. I think the above factors may help but I think the most important factor may be believing it about yourself.

My thought of an advanced taster is a person with a jaded palate

What I was trying to capture is that the wine didn't really have a hair out of place so it may hold less interest for some.

I should also mention that it occurs for me now and then where all wines are boring for a while. I hope the disease doesn't progress...

cheers

Carl

In making an effort to keep the budget constrained (been failing that a bit lately), experimented with a couple of KHLs in the hopes of something cheap and cheerful but decent:

Kemeny's Hidden Label Martinborough Pinot Noir 2008 (winemaker Steve Smith from Craggy Range): Concentrated tannins yet not really enough fruit to balance. Not really what I'm looking for in a Pinot. For a near-cleanskin to cost $20 I expected a bit more (or less as the case may be).

Kemeny's Hidden Label McLaren Vale Basket Press Shiraz 2007 (winemaker Frank Mitolo): This I enjoyed. Some plummy fruit and a little chocolate, smooth (vanillin?) oak. For the $15/$13 price tag a very decent little wine to occupy a cold winter weekday evening.

Gartelmann Ambrosia 2005: Citrus and a little honey. Freeze concentrated (not botrytis), so although sweet enough, still not sickly sweet. Clean, no liqueur effect.

2002 Orlando St Helga Riesling
Damn I only have one bottle left - I wish I had cases.
Fabulous nose and length - so much for being good on a school night and only sharing half the bottle. Lots of lime, hints of slate, just starting to get the suggestion of toast and age. Delicious, will live for ages.
Note to self - this is a wine to look at more often and get more of in the cellar.

A bit of a back log to get through

1999 Glenguin Individual Vineyard Shiraz- Another Heritage roll of the dice. Typical Hunter style with plenty cherry, earth and leather. Drying out a little on the finish, so I'd say drink up.

2005 Chestnut Grove Chardonnay- A nice alternative to Margaret River fruit, there's a lot of melon, with a hint of butterscotch.

2001 Houghton Museum Release Sparkling Shiraz- Been searching for this in the shops in WA, only to find it browsing in Sydney. Really, rich, deep set fruit, and still just a pup. I think this is the sparkling version of the 1995 Houghton Show Reserve Shiraz (well not literally , more so a spiritual connection). Everything in this in bucketloads. Buy and hold if you can.

Then a few at Etch on Saturday night

2007 Williams Crossing Chardonnay- The Curly Flat entry wine. Quite oaky, but pleasant enough. Not really a food wine which didn't help it's cause.

2007 Bilancia Syrah- The strength of the 2007 Hawkes Bay vintage shows through in this wine. It feels light on it's feet, almost the antithesis of the SA styles, but still packs a whole lot of flavour. I liked this one a lot

Aaron Lovett wrote:2001 Houghton Museum Release Sparkling Shiraz- Been searching for this in the shops in WA, only to find it browsing in Sydney. Really, rich, deep set fruit, and still just a pup. I think this is the sparkling version of the 1995 Houghton Show Reserve Shiraz (well not literally , more so a spiritual connection). Everything in this in bucketloads. Buy and hold if you can.

Good isn't it! Wish I could find more myself.

cheers

Carl

griff wrote:

Aaron Lovett wrote:2001 Houghton Museum Release Sparkling Shiraz- Been searching for this in the shops in WA, only to find it browsing in Sydney. Really, rich, deep set fruit, and still just a pup. I think this is the sparkling version of the 1995 Houghton Show Reserve Shiraz (well not literally , more so a spiritual connection). Everything in this in bucketloads. Buy and hold if you can.

Good isn't it! Wish I could find more myself.

cheers

Carl

There is always leasingham sparkling 98 still getting around and that is exceptional (as an Option)

2007 Capel Vale Regional Selection Cabernet Sauvignon

Hmmm, a fairly oaky rendition this one... pass.

griff wrote:My thought of an advanced taster is a person with a jaded palate

What I was trying to capture is that the wine didn't really have a hair out of place so it may hold less interest for some.

I should also mention that it occurs for me now and then where all wines are boring for a while. I hope the disease doesn't progress...

cheers

Carl

All wines are boring for a while? Are they the same style, as I can imagine myself getting bored of riesling for example if drank everyday for a couple of weeks...

Alternatively, drink nothing for more than a couple of days, and I reckon that Queen Adelaide becomes pretty spech...

Monghead.

DJ wrote:2002 Orlando St Helga Riesling
Damn I only have one bottle left - I wish I had cases.
Fabulous nose and length - so much for being good on a school night and only sharing half the bottle. Lots of lime, hints of slate, just starting to get the suggestion of toast and age. Delicious, will live for ages.
Note to self - this is a wine to look at more often and get more of in the cellar.

I've got just under two cases of this very nice little riesling in the bat cave.

Went for the jugular tonight and opened a 1999 Anne Gros Clos-Vougeot Grand Cru Le Grand Maupertui. Bought six of these at release on the strength of some incredibly high ratings/reviews from a number of overseas pundits. Glad now I've held off as long as I did.

Seriously deep nose of oak spice over brooding dark fruits of the forest, some wonderful sappy top notes, delectable Asian spices including a judicious lick of cardamon and some top shelf hung game and truffle notes appearing with extra time in the glass. The medium-bodied palate delivers a superior mouthful of perfectly-wrought dark cherry, sappy pinot fruit with deft structural backbone from the spicy new oak and yet-to-resolve firmish tannins. There's also excellent support from lively, bright acidity and a powerful long dry finish providing a virtual surety that this wine will only get better with at least another 5 years rest and should blossom until 2020. Still holding a very deep ruby/plummy colour with only marginal lightening towards the outer edges this outstanding Grand Cru pinot noir is all class with plenty of petrol in the tank. 93 points. Drink 2014 - 2020+. 13.5% A/V

monghead wrote:

griff wrote:My thought of an advanced taster is a person with a jaded palate

What I was trying to capture is that the wine didn't really have a hair out of place so it may hold less interest for some.

I should also mention that it occurs for me now and then where all wines are boring for a while. I hope the disease doesn't progress...

cheers

Carl

All wines are boring for a while? Are they the same style, as I can imagine myself getting bored of riesling for example if drank everyday for a couple of weeks...

Alternatively, drink nothing for more than a couple of days, and I reckon that Queen Adelaide becomes pretty spech...

Monghead.

It tends to happen after a few tastings in a row. Or a run of stunning wines. When regular transmission resumes, wine becomes pedestrian for a while. No particular wine style is more prone. My solution is to switch to beer whilst my passion for wine recharges

cheers

Carl

2009 Blue Poles Viognier- even better than 2007. I had something to celebrate yesterday, and my Blue Poles arrived just in time. I'll TN the next bottle. This was all about pleasure and a pleasure it was.

griff wrote:2007 Forest Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
So, the big JH gives this 97 eh?

I just remembered the previous Halliday 97 pointer that came out of the blue. 2002 Ashbrook Chardonnay . I wonder where that is now

So, the big JH gives this 97 eh?

yeah he is big... he could do with a bit more time on the treadmill or exercycle

Aaron Lovett wrote:

griff wrote:2007 Forest Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
So, the big JH gives this 97 eh?

I just remembered the previous Halliday 97 pointer that came out of the blue. 2002 Ashbrook Chardonnay . I wonder where that is now

My experience was the 1997 Abercorn Shiraz. Bought 10 with 2 1998's to round out the case. Preferred the 1998 actually

cheers

Carl

De Bortoli Sacred Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2008 I think this is the cheapest red I've had for some time but it's better than the $5.49 it cost.

It's actually quite a juicy little mid-weight wine with sweet red berries on the mid-palate moving to sweet/sour red cherries on the finish that whilst not really long, does have some satisfying carry assisted by fine acid. A real bargain for mid-week easy drinking.

Cheers

daz

jeremy wrote:2009 Blue Poles Viognier- even better than 2007. I had something to celebrate yesterday, and my Blue Poles arrived just in time. I'll TN the next bottle. This was all about pleasure and a pleasure it was.

Spoke to Mark Gifford last night - my folks are about to embark on a tour of off-beat Margaret River & SW WA locations and will be visiting Blue Poles in the next week or two. Mark seemed extremely happy with his 2007 Reserve Merlot. I'll try one and post a tasting note after my parents return home.

Meerea Park Terracotta Semillon 1999

Still holding a youthful bright straw green colour followed by a slightly closed but most attractive, seamless bouquet of freshly mown hay, lightly buttered toast with traces of lanolin and sunlight soap. The palate delivers a smooth, cool profile with beautifully modulated flavours mimicking the grassy/melony fruit of a much younger Hunter Sem. There's a wealth of lively acidity to hold this outstanding wine in check for another decade. The finish is particularly flavoursome and mouthfilling with extremely good carry. 91 points with a higher mark expected once this wine develops more complex bottle-aged characters. Drink now - 2019. 11% A/V and cork-sealed.

2004 Clarence Hill Shiraz - about $20-25 with a label but a lot cheaper without (Halliday 93 points) - can't drink on night 1 but a fabulous drop on night 2. Usually take a glass out and vacuvin the rest for night 2.

2001 Seven Hills Verdelho - what a surprise - got it as a mistake on Langtons but a pleasant surprise - like a semillon crossed with a good chardy crossed with a good Savvy - couldn't believe it was 8 years old

Luke W wrote:2001 Seven Hills Verdelho - what a surprise - got it as a mistake on Langtons but a pleasant surprise - like a semillon crossed with a good chardy crossed with a good Savvy - couldn't believe it was 8 years old

I should drink more verdelho - prefer it sauv blanc.

dlo wrote

jeremy wrote:
2009 Blue Poles Viognier- even better than 2007. I had something to celebrate yesterday, and my Blue Poles arrived just in time. I'll TN the next bottle. This was all about pleasure and a pleasure it was.


Spoke to Mark Gifford last night - my folks are about to embark on a tour of off-beat Margaret River & SW WA locations and will be visiting Blue Poles in the next week or two. Mark seemed extremely happy with his 2007 Reserve Merlot. I'll try one and post a tasting note after my parents return home.

It's a fantastic wine IMO, but very difficult to TN in some ways. Look forward to reading your thoughts.

Another weekday, another Heritage wine

2002 Binder Mitchell Dovetail Baroota Shiraz- A brilliant quaffer. There's a nice mix of plums, and blackberries, and some tarriness which I've found is a real characteristic of the vintage. All rounded off with a nice lick of vanilla. It's the pick of the bunch so far

The one thing I've found in all the wines I've openend so far is that they have had a good deal of tartrate crystals in them, which would suggest that it's gotten pretty cold somewhere along the line. I also haven't struck any that appear to be heat damaged either...................... touch wood

Lindeman's Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 1990 (Magnum)

Picked up another three of these recently (at very reasonable pricing) - all in top shape and, seemingly, extremely well stored - level well into neck, pristine cork with virtually no wine stain. Opened one at lunchtime for the Keira Jazz Band who practice at my house once a month. Drinking the last of it now as I type. Probably enjoyed it more with the sweet and sour casserole I made for lunch but there's little to complain about - this wine has always impressed this taster and the bottle this afternoon went down an absolute treat with the lads in the band. If you've got any don't hesitate to open one anytime over the next 5 -10 years (depending on provenance, of course). Could have easily gone 94 points over lunch - closer to 91 tonight. No notes for once on this one - just for something different.

BTW, this wine was a special release commemorating Lindeman's 150 years in Australia (their sesquicentennial). It does have a small amount (9%) shiraz, was aged for 2 years in 85% new French and 15% US barriques and hogsheads and comes in at a very acceptable 12.9% A/V.

Capcanes Peraj Ha'Abib Flor De Primavera 2004
Spanish Grenache Carignan Cabernet Sauvignon blend. A touch spiky in a pleasingly textural way, rather rich in the grenache and cabernet components, quite full bodied but savoury and otherwise pretty good!

Scarpantoni Block 3 Shiraz 2005
The full blown Mc Laren Vale deal, all candy cane and spice, quite plummy and sweet of fruit, especially directly after the Spaniard. Predictable but very attractive to boot.

Yalumba 1977 Racehorse VP
I chanced upon some dripping port in the cellar and realised that the cork had slipped into the bottle and the only thing holding the port in was the capsule! Not sure how long this had been the case but there were only a few drips so I gave it a shot. Impressively smooth, molten chocolate, choc orange, spice, some tarry characters and a quite grapey albeit spirity finish. A nice surprise and paired well with prunes and ice cream as an accompaniment.

Had a wonderful(after the tasssie tasting) Saltrams No1 shiraz 2002 Full blooded Barossa, just starting to develop, while drinking well now still in its primary, (the palate was sensational!) another few years will do this wine justice.
Last night...
Moss Wood Chardy 2007
What a great wine this is going to be. Have had some LEAS, but this at a young age looks smashing, and a cheaper buy!
Branson House Coach Shiraz 2005
Massive Barossa style, needed an hour of air, but this wine rewards. Its so drinkable now in its big style I think cellaring might not improve? Anyway very juicey now
Tonight...
Wirra Wirra RSW 2006
Much more Mclaren refined SA style, raspberry, olive, very nice creamy palate, again drinking well now.

cheers all
Simmo