The Auswine Forum

Its Tulip Time in the Southern Highlands and cold and wet!

Crazy weather - air condish on cold one day and heating the next, but at least much of the wine growing regions have been getting very good rain.... at long bloody last.

Its good red drink weather, but was ok fro c-through earlier in the week, so please let us know what you have been drinking. Notes, vibes and impressions all welcome.

Hot & dusty in Brisbane, so white wine it's been-

2008 Aerin's Vineyard Pinot Grigio- pear, bit of musk and the seaspray salt finish I like in a Grigio. Reminded me a bit of the 2008 Tar & Roses Grigio, but not as good.

2009 Jim Barry Watervale Riesling- good summer retail Riesling for the money. Standard flavour profile. Nice crunch.

2008 Coriole Chenin Blanc- Brown pear, apples, spice and honey with passionfruit around the edges. More developed than I expected or wanted, but the lemon held it just in check. Seemed a little dirty. The 2009 looked a better wine than this when I last tasted it.

04 Bin 389 over 2 nights.....nice wine, one of the few recent vintages I have any time for. tasty
keeping the alc intake to a minimum

Had some friends over for tea on Thrusday.

1988 Marc Bredif Vouvray
Yellow gold. A slightly corky aroma along with honey on the nose. A very developed palate with honey and a hint of caramel. Good wine bar the corky smell and drink up.

2001 Cepparello
Opened with some VA. After a couple of hours it opens with bright spicy cherries. Palate is ripe and tannins submerged in the rich fruit and only emerge on the finish. I think I prefer the 1998 but an Excellent wine and definitely a few more years in her.

2003 Domaine de la Janasse Vielles Vignes
Intriguing wine this what changed constantly. At first is had a nose of coffee. Then changing to red licorice, then figs. Tarragon along with the usual french herbs in the mix. Intense palate that is a little too rich but not as overripe as I feared and with undeniable class. Gobs of fruit yet savoury with the herbs and licorice. Very clean wine! Finishes with strong fine tannin. Drinking very youthfully and may improve further for me should the fruit quieten down. Excellent but Rebecca thought this Outstanding.

2007 Woodlands Margaret Cabernet
Blackcurrant leaf. A very elegant wine that is just ripe enough with the tannins perhaps having a hint of green. A great result if it was from the cool 2006 vintage but this is 2007. Good wine.

cheers

Carl

Just picked quite a quantity of old wine on the secondary market - so far, so good.

Kay Bros Amery Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 1971 - a McLaren Vale classic harbouring a still impressive depth of deep ruby/red with plenty of brown/rust in the edges. The bouquet opens with some dusty old oak and a little bottle stink but, in no time, gives way to a most impressive amalgam of old saddle leather, cigar box, road tar, old books, briar and a sweet earth top note over quite remarkably vibrant, deep-set blackberry, blackcurrant and dark plum fruit - beautifully poised and seamless in its delivery. The palate, if anything, raises the bar another notch. Endless as a moonless night, the silkiness of texture, mouth-filling richness and superbly preserved sweet dusty fruit intermingles with ancient earth/leather tertiary characters to produce a stunning result. Surprisingly, the accompanying fine lacy tannin structure reveals remarkable staying power, suggesting there's some life in this old diva yet. I'm looking forward to opening the remaining 16 bottles over the next several years. 93 points.

As an aside, one bottle of the batch of the above was incorrectly catalogued. It was in fact a 1970 Shiraz from the same maker. In any event, I agreed to take it and opened it last night. It's an extremely good drink (about 90 points) just lacking the fruit intensity and complexity of the 1971 Cab/Shiraz. As I had to dash off to the Casino to hear my daughter sing with a jazz trio last night, I didn't have time to do a TN, but on my return home, a few glasses with the family revealed a fully mature, very solid wine with extremely fine tarry blackberry fruit with an endless array of aged leather complexity. Silky in nature, this glided down the throat all too easily and hadn't fallen apart even with more 4 hours sitting opened in the bottle.

Another wine I picked up in quantity was a relatively old bottling of Chambers Special Liqueur Tokay. In a 750ml bottle, this wine's texture approaches the thickness of sump oil and a simply extraordinary bouquet and palate which pushes the boundaries of lusciousness and richness. Redolent with masses of toffee, caramel, molasses, prune and melted brown sugar this incredible example also throws up suggestions of exotic spices, cold black tea, dusty old oak and a pleasing, if somewhat perplexing, volatility. It's complexity, intensity and amazing length would be almost impossible to emulate from any other region or wine-style in the world. 95 points

1993 Rockfords Basket Press Shiraz
Perfectly aged, full of life, smooth, rich, deep red. I loved it and it matched our lamb shanks to a tee.

2004 Kay Bros Block 6 Shiraz
Deep red also, rasberry, licorice, very smooth and will only get better with age.

2005 Wendouree Shiraz Malbec
Way too young, has all the potential to be a nice wine but needs a lot more time.

Not wine, but I splurged on a 4pk of [b]Knappstein Enterprise Reserve Lager [/b] for the ARL final. As noted on the label, it's fruity and floral, puts me a bit in mind of the MSB Hop Thief releases I've had in the past, with enough but perhaps not quite so much drying hop bitterness on the finish (which I like) as the Hop Thief.

[b]Zema Estate Family Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2004[/b] The fruit and oak have integrated more than the last/first bottle I tried perhaps a couple of years ago, the tannins softened but there, drying on the finish. Very nice drinking, varietal, cab with regional character, the cedary oak influence with breathing seemed to show some vanillin, classic blackberry fruit with a touch of bacon/salami on the palate finishing with low level mint. I'll try to leave the last bottle for another five or more years.

[b]Paxton AAA Shiraz Grenache 2006[/b] Wasn't quite as impressed by this as I was the first bottle a year or so ago, this one the the last. Still very enjoyable though, plummy chocolate fruit dominating with cherry/musk lolly under it, oak much in the background.

[b]Teusner Riebke Shiraz 2007[/b] Very approachable, easy-drinking Baossa Shiraz with generous fruit, excellent oak treatment. Wish I had more, should seek some out.

Cheers

daz

1998 Tyrrells Vat 11 Baulkham Shiraz - stuffed volatile didn't drink

1998 Penfolds Bin 389 - that's more like it still very young

1998 Ashton Hills Sparkiling Shiraz - a bit disappointing. Went well with food but lacked fruit intensity

2007 Head the Blonde Shiraz - great juice. Long intense, should get some more and see how it goes.

Friday night had the 2005 Seppelts Original Sparkling Shiraz. Bit ho hum really was my conclusion. Solid wine, but little individuality. Okay, that's harsh; good red wine with bubbles in it, but that's all .

Cheers

Michael

dlo wrote:Just picked quite a quantity of old wine on the secondary market - so far, so good.

Kay Bros Amery Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 1971 - a McLaren Vale classic harbouring a still impressive depth of deep ruby/red with plenty of brown/rust in the edges. The bouquet opens with some dusty old oak and a little bottle stink but, in no time, gives way to a most impressive amalgam of old saddle leather, cigar box, road tar, old books, briar and a sweet earth top note over quite remarkably vibrant, deep-set blackberry, blackcurrant and dark plum fruit - beautifully poised and seamless in its delivery. The palate, if anything, raises the bar another notch. Endless as a moonless night, the silkiness of texture, mouth-filling richness and superbly preserved sweet dusty fruit intermingles with ancient earth/leather tertiary characters to produce a stunning result. Surprisingly, the accompanying fine lacy tannin structure reveals remarkable staying power, suggesting there's some life in this old diva yet. I'm looking forward to opening the remaining 16 bottles over the next several years. 93 points.

As an aside, one bottle of the batch of the above was incorrectly catalogued. It was in fact a 1970 Shiraz from the same maker. In any event, I agreed to take it and opened it last night. It's an extremely good drink (about 90 points) just lacking the fruit intensity and complexity of the 1971 Cab/Shiraz. As I had to dash off to the Casino to hear my daughter sing with a jazz trio last night, I didn't have time to do a TN, but on my return home, a few glasses with the family revealed a fully mature, very solid wine with extremely fine tarry blackberry fruit with an endless array of aged leather complexity. Silky in nature, this glided down the throat all too easily and hadn't fallen apart even with more 4 hours sitting opened in the bottle.

Another wine I picked up in quantity was a relatively old bottling of Chambers Special Liqueur Tokay. In a 750ml bottle, this wine's texture approaches the thickness of sump oil and a simply extraordinary bouquet and palate which pushes the boundaries of lusciousness and richness. Redolent with masses of toffee, caramel, molasses, prune and melted brown sugar this incredible example also throws up suggestions of exotic spices, cold black tea, dusty old oak and a pleasing, if somewhat perplexing, volatility. It's complexity, intensity and amazing length would be almost impossible to emulate from any other region or wine-style in the world. 95 points

David

This is seriously good wine writing and an absolute pleasure to read. Thank you for sharing!

Kind regards

Michael

Greenock Creek 2002 Cabernet. First of 3 that have spent all their release time in the cellar and was not disappointed. Very impressive wine that could have passed for a cooler (not cool) climate Cabernet. It was well matched with an aged scotch fillet with my home made red wine sauce. Recipe stolen from the Bridgewater Mill. Lovely cabernet fruit and good oak treatment. 14% alcohol, yes that's right 14%. Decided to cruise up to the Barossa today to check out current wines but they were around 16.5% and showing it. 2002 was an unusual summer as I recall donning the ugh boots in February. Not your regulation SA summer footwear.

Slipped a case of the lovely Seppeltsfield 1998 VP cleanskin in the boot (of the new Honda Accord) that someone raved about recently on this forum. They were right. Lovely stuff and 375 ml bottles area manageable fomat. $60 a case is a joke and I'm still laughing.

BTW the Accord is a ripper of a car. The paddle gears even in the auto model are a hoot to play with. Made the descent down the Torrens gorge a fun drive although SWMBO wasn't impressed.

And tonight with King George Whiting we enjoyed a The Lane 2008 Adelaide Pinot Gris (more a Grigio style) and a lovely Tim Adams 1998 Clare Cabernet which was right in its window. The Lane winery seems to have nailed the Pinot Gris style whilst many others haven't

On Friday with flathead there was a Punters Corner 2004 Cabernet and Greenpoint Yarra Valley 2006 Chardonnay. Both lovely wines with the chardy quite elegant and refined.


Chuck

[quote="Chuck"][b]

BTW the Accord is a ripper of a car. The paddle gears even in the auto model are a hoot to play with. Made the descent down the Torrens gorge a fun drive although SWMBO wasn't impressed.

Chuck[/quote]

Guess she wouldn't want to pillion on the trusty old ZZR1100.................

daz wrote:

Chuck wrote:Greenock Creek 2002 Cabernet. First of 3 that have spent all their release time in the cellar and was not disappointed. Very impressive wine that could have passed for a cooler (not cool) climate Cabernet. Lovely cabernet fruit and good oak treatment. 14% alcohol, yes that's right 14%. Decided to cruise up to the Barossa today to check out current wines but they were around 16.5% and showing it. 2002 was an unusual summer as I recall donning the ugh boots in February. Not your regulation SA summer footwear.

Slipped a case of the lovely Seppeltsfield 1998 VP cleanskin in the boot (of the new Honda Accord) that someone raved about recently on this forum. They were right. Lovely stuff and 375 ml bottles area manageable fomat. $60 a case is a joke and I'm still laughing.

BTW the Accord is a ripper of a car. The paddle gears even in the auto model are a hoot to play with. Made the descent down the Torrens gorge a fun drive although SWMBO wasn't impressed.

Chuck

Guess she wouldn't want to pillion on the old ZZR1100

I'll ask but I think I know the answer. BTW there was a mass of Nissan Skylines congregating in Birdwood and not a cop to be seen. 90% were 21 year old hoons with short life expectancies.

You were quick Chuck, post edited while you were responding.

I rather like the ka-chssss of the turbo wastegate on those older Nissan GTRs but if I'd had one of those or a big bike at 21yo I possibly wouldn't be here now, hoping the braccytherapy, internal radiation treatment, has at least forestalled the spread of malignant prostate cancer.

I bought the ZZR almost 10yrs ago and still enjoy it, using the six speed gearbox, the clutch, unlinked front and rear brakes, the 108kw motivating about 240kg(wet). It's great for very quick, safe overtaking on the highway, drop back to 4th gear at 100 kmh, roll on the throttle and it ain't no Mazda, it just zooooms. I Iike changing up a gear, hitting the throttle as I pass the car driver's window. Although capable of about 280 kmh, I've only had it up to 200-210 kmh a couple of times, 160+ numerous times when overtakting, particularly B-doubles. Paddling is for canoes - F1 is much changed since Jack Brabham won his 3rd championship in 1966.

Do you have the Euro Accord or the V6? I'd guess the latter but would be happy to be wrong.

Well, I just finished the bottle of Riebke 07. It's a very good Barossa shiraz with just enough complexity to make it rather good value at it's price point.

Cheers

daz

Just a couple over the weekend.
Mills Reef Elspeth Chardonnay 08 was very pleasant drinking, showing a rather traditional bready, vanilla aroma, along with a suggestion of banana, and a palate that was quite citrousy: grapefruit on top of melon. Good oak, but lacking just a touch of body for me. From the Gimblett Gravels, though it didn't shout out regionality the way Hawkes Bay chardonnay can; 14% alc.
Peter Lehmann Shiraz 05 found in a box under the house, was eminently slurpable, though it wasn't especially interesting or memorable, which may explain why I have half a bottle left for tonight, having made a cup of tea at 9:30 last night rather than pouring a third glass. Quite nice, mind you, can't complain. Perhaps a bit more bottle age would add some further interest.

daz wrote:Y
Do you have the Euro Accord or the V6? I'd guess the latter but would be happy to be wrong.


Cheers

daz

Just the 4 cylinder VVTI but its quite pockey using the paddle gears. Also there are 2 Accord shapes in Australia, the Thai built job and the Spanish built Euro that is smaller and more sportier designed for the Euro market. the Euro is $5K more. I think the Thai job is the only one that comes in the 6 cylinder format.

Chuck

Michael McNally wrote:

dlo wrote:Just picked quite a quantity of old wine on the secondary market - so far, so good.

Kay Bros Amery Vineyard Cabernet Shiraz 1971 - a McLaren Vale classic harbouring a still impressive depth of deep ruby/red with plenty of brown/rust in the edges. The bouquet opens with some dusty old oak and a little bottle stink but, in no time, gives way to a most impressive amalgam of old saddle leather, cigar box, road tar, old books, briar and a sweet earth top note over quite remarkably vibrant, deep-set blackberry, blackcurrant and dark plum fruit - beautifully poised and seamless in its delivery. The palate, if anything, raises the bar another notch. Endless as a moonless night, the silkiness of texture, mouth-filling richness and superbly preserved sweet dusty fruit intermingles with ancient earth/leather tertiary characters to produce a stunning result. Surprisingly, the accompanying fine lacy tannin structure reveals remarkable staying power, suggesting there's some life in this old diva yet. I'm looking forward to opening the remaining 16 bottles over the next several years. 93 points.

As an aside, one bottle of the batch of the above was incorrectly catalogued. It was in fact a 1970 Shiraz from the same maker. In any event, I agreed to take it and opened it last night. It's an extremely good drink (about 90 points) just lacking the fruit intensity and complexity of the 1971 Cab/Shiraz. As I had to dash off to the Casino to hear my daughter sing with a jazz trio last night, I didn't have time to do a TN, but on my return home, a few glasses with the family revealed a fully mature, very solid wine with extremely fine tarry blackberry fruit with an endless array of aged leather complexity. Silky in nature, this glided down the throat all too easily and hadn't fallen apart even with more 4 hours sitting opened in the bottle.

Another wine I picked up in quantity was a relatively old bottling of Chambers Special Liqueur Tokay. In a 750ml bottle, this wine's texture approaches the thickness of sump oil and a simply extraordinary bouquet and palate which pushes the boundaries of lusciousness and richness. Redolent with masses of toffee, caramel, molasses, prune and melted brown sugar this incredible example also throws up suggestions of exotic spices, cold black tea, dusty old oak and a pleasing, if somewhat perplexing, volatility. It's complexity, intensity and amazing length would be almost impossible to emulate from any other region or wine-style in the world. 95 points

David

This is seriously good wine writing and an absolute pleasure to read. Thank you for sharing!

Kind regards

Michael

Yes, even if I tried for hours, I would not be able to replicate a TN like this which really grabs you, engulfs your senses, yet leaving you yearning for more...

Good one.

[quote="Chuck"][quote="daz"]Y
Do you have the Euro Accord or the V6? I'd guess the latter but would be happy to be wrong.


Cheers

daz[/quote]

Just the 4 cylinder VVTI but its quite pockey using the paddle gears. Also there are 2 Accord shapes in Australia, the Thai built job and the Spanish built Euro that is smaller and more sportier designed for the Euro market. the Euro is $5K more. I think the Thai job is the only one that comes in the 6 cylinder format.

Chuck[/quote]

That's my understanding too Chuck. Main thing is you enjoy the drive.

Cheers

daz

Thus, I may have to resort to my simpler ways:

2008 Seppelt Jaluka Chardonnay- Barely Good
2004 Mamre Brook Cabernet Sauvignon- Good
2009 Briar Ridge Karl Stockhaussen Semillon- Good Good
2009 Meerea Park Hell Hole Semillon- Very Good
2004 Meerea Park Alexander Munro Semillon- Very Good
2006 Poole's Rock Shiraz- Not Good at all
2007 Meerea Park Hell Hole Shiraz- Very Good
2007 Meerea Park Alexander Munro Shiraz- Outrageously Good
2005 Brokenwood Graveyard Shiraz- Sensationally Good
1999 Brokenwood Graveyard Shiraz- Superbly Good
2006 Wantirna Lily Pinot Noir- Sexy Good
1997 Petaluma Cabernet Sauvignon- Good God It's Corked...

Yes, a long weekend...

Monghead.

2001 Penfolds Bin 389 - Still good but not as good as the one opened a month ago. Bottle variation, memory variation or just situational difference, who knows...
2001 Annie's Lane Cabernet Merlot - Super easy to quaff. Good.
2000 Lindemans Pyrus - Velvety and, to steal monghead's terminology, good good. Didn't expect too much from this vintage but it came through with the goods.
1998 Lindemans Pyrus - Even better. Does "very good" rate above "good good"? Also super velvety, but a little more iron fist in this. Nice length!! Surprising considering some recently bad feedback on these forums. This bottle's still got plenty of life.
2007 Bird in Hand "Nest Egg" Cabernet Sauvignon. Whoa hoah - what a stunner for such a young wine..... we have a winner. A big, bright future ahead for this. Super smooth, fruit, judicious oak. Criminal to drink now but yet we took plenty of guilty pleasure in it.

And a footnote on some store-labelled wines sampled earlier in the week without much success:
2005 Kemeny's Hidden Label Mclaren Vale Shiraz - OK but overly acidic
2006 Vintage Cellars Chalkboard Toscana Sangiovese - ungood. One of the worst store-labels I've had this year.

2006 Mollydooker Goosebump Sparkling Shiraz - thick and a tad one dimensional. Decent length. A wine to drink rather than analyse.

1998 Charles Melton Nine Popes - spicy and intense. Decent complexity but hasn't quite hit the heights I thought it might at the time of release. Still has many years in front of it.

1996 Lanson Champagne - TCA affected. Stripped of fruit and essentially a glass of acid.

2006 Penfolds Bin 389 - I really liked this though others were less enamoured. Lovely perfumed nose. I love the mouthfeel, as it lacks the sweet fruit intensity characterised by the 04 and 05 releases. This is a real long-termer. Will be magnificent in years to come.

2006 Torbreck The Steading - Decent enough, but a touch simple.

Krug MV - not sure of disgorgment date, but it was the 'previous' label. Sweet fruit (by Krug standards), ok acidity, but lacked the length I expect from this label. A tad disappointing.

Mike

odyssey wrote:And a footnote on some store-labelled wines sampled earlier in the week without much success:
2005 Kemeny's Hidden Label Mclaren Vale Shiraz - OK but overly acidic

Suspect this was Leconfield (Paul Gordon), from memory - I had some young, but drank it more promptly.

From the weekend, experimenting with mostly-too-young wines;

• 2007 Barwang Shiraz - Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Hilltops (10/4/2009)
  {screwcap, 14%, A$15} Ruby with crimson tones. Peppermint chocolate, menthol; all the hallmarks of ripe cool-climate shiraz, but without the pepper & spice. Solid and rich on the palate, enough acid for life, but minimal tannins and the back-label suggests 6 years aging, which is about right. Rather short finish, not surprisingly. A competant but simple quaffer, and a shadow of what this label was 10 years ago - for the same price (which says a lot...)
• 2006 M. Chapoutier Coteaux du Tricastin La Ciboise - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Coteaux du Tricastin (10/3/2009)
  {cork, 13%, A$14} Low intensity crimson, quite translucent. Light sour cherry aromas with a smokey note. The palate is light and chewy, oak-free, moderately acidic, not unripe but rather simple and diffuse. Light grape tannins present. Short finish, what length of flavour there is sits on the front palate. Simple country wine. Kinda pricey in this country.

Posted from CellarTracker

Must say I'm rather enamoured with Cellartracker as a searchable TN repository.
cheers,
Graeme

An anniversary weekend so some nice wines with lots of cheese and prime cut meats.

1999 Seppelt Dorrien Cab - just beginning to sing - less overt oak than previously and drinking well
2006 Eugen Muller Forster Kirschenstuck Auslese - more like an auslese trocken; interesting
2007 Felton Road Pinot Noir - class act
2005 Dalrymple Pinot Noir - lots of red-sprectrum fruit, quite noice
2008 Dancing Water Tauhou Scheurebe - a real cool wee wine; off-dry style and complex - perfect with ginger prawns
1979 Penfolds Grange - an absolutely sensational bottle
2006 Craggy Range Glasnevin Gravels Riesling - just starting to develop some kero - noice
2003 Craggy Range My Selection Block 1 Pinot Noir - rich and a real powerhouse, needs another 5+yrs

Cheers,

Maximus wrote:An anniversary weekend so some nice wines with lots of cheese and prime cut meats.

1999 Seppelt Dorrien Cab - just beginning to sing - less overt oak than previously and drinking well
2006 Eugen Muller Forster Kirschenstuck Auslese - more like an auslese trocken; interesting
2007 Felton Road Pinot Noir - class act
2005 Dalrymple Pinot Noir - lots of red-sprectrum fruit, quite noice
2008 Dancing Water Tauhou Scheurebe - a real cool wee wine; off-dry style and complex - perfect with ginger prawns
1979 Penfolds Grange - an absolutely sensational bottle
2006 Craggy Range Glasnevin Gravels Riesling - just starting to develop some kero - noice
2003 Craggy Range My Selection Block 1 Pinot Noir - rich and a real powerhouse, needs another 5+yrs

Cheers,

Hi Max,

Six months no see (hear). What's been happening? ... and welcome back home!

That 1999 Dorrien is great juice especially at the silly price it was sold off at in NZ, mine is all gone now. I may have drunk a couple of cases over six months ... I wish I had bought it all especially if the oak is integrating.

Jay

GraemeG wrote:2007 Barwang Shiraz[/url] - Australia, New South Wales, Southern New South Wales, Hilltops (10/4/2009)
{screwcap, 14%, A$15} Ruby with crimson tones. Peppermint chocolate, menthol; all the hallmarks of ripe cool-climate shiraz, but without the pepper & spice. Solid and rich on the palate, enough acid for life, but minimal tannins and the back-label suggests 6 years aging, which is about right. Rather short finish, not surprisingly. A competant but simple quaffer, and a shadow of what this label was 10 years ago - for the same price (which says a lot...)

Graeme

G'day Graeme
Had a bottle of the 06 on Sunday night. Not impressed either, particularly with the overt alcohol. Back label suggested 10 years! It did get better over the evening as it opened up a little but was never better than just good. As you say, it used to be great, particularly with respect to QPR.
Cheers
Michael

GraemeG wrote:

odyssey wrote:And a footnote on some store-labelled wines sampled earlier in the week without much success:
2005 Kemeny's Hidden Label Mclaren Vale Shiraz - OK but overly acidic

Suspect this was Leconfield (Paul Gordon), from memory - I had some young, but drank it more promptly.

Yep it was, I also had a half dozen of the 2005 KHL Coonawarra Cab Sauv, which was also Paul Gordon and was very good for the price and is still travelling well now. But not the Mclaren Vale.

Cheers

Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz 2001 - excellent, quality wine drinking well and still youthful
Penfolds Bin 311 Chardonnay 2005 - funky nose but fresh palate and will last
Phi Pinot Noir 2005 - in a sweet spot, meaty, midweight, has improved over a year or two
Petaluma Shiraz 2003 - a touch rustic but still well put together and with lots of time left
Bay of Fires Pinot Noir 2006 - light but textural, very good

Wayno wrote:Phi Pinot Noir 2005 - in a sweet spot, meaty, midweight, has improved over a year or two

Hear, hear. Had this last month and it was one of the few pinots that every know and then remind me why I continue to try them.

cheers

Carl

Ringbolt Cabernet 07 had two of these over the weekend and both delicious the second bottle complimented the slow cooked roast lamb, bargain at $16.90a bottle.

Glen Eldon Dry Bore Shiraz 06 - not bad had a cool , slippery feel to it with dark fruit.

Collector Reserve Shiraz 07 - bloody lovely with red fruit, spiceyness and a refreshing lightness to it although very medium bodied. my WOTW.

a couple of others that have slipped my feeble mind, not all that crash hot.


cheers
Seddo