The Auswine Forum

A couple of months ago I, together with a few friends, opened a bottle of 'Montes Folly 2005" (a chilean wine). It was the best wine I have ever had, and by far NOT the most expensive wine I've drank (retails for about $125)

So I'm putting this out there... "What is your favorite bottle of wine you have drank?!

Dont know what my favourite ever is, but i enjoyed your post.
Interesting that you were with friends, company is as important as what's inside the bottle for me.

My 'Wow' wines this year were the 2000 Kilikanoon Oracle Shiraz and the 2007 Dalwhinnie Moonambel Shiraz.
Both were awesome, the nose on the Oracle was particularly memorable.
Both of these are around the $50 mark and were so enjoyable i could seriously drink them with my cornflakes

My favourite wine is usually the one that is open in front of me.

Tough question Senor Torres. But a good one to think on.

Cheers

Michael

Too many too pick.

A 95 Dom, '71 Kays Cab Shiraz would be up there as would an '83 Riesling Gold Kappaer thingingymabob.

To be honest - the favourites are - Penfolds St Henri's (wine that got my wife into Reds, and first ever decent red I'd tried some years previous). The other special ones are Masi Costasera 2003 (Honeymoon), Chandon Rose (Wedding Night), Wirra Wirra Church Block (Jeraboam Shared w/ wedding party). Hrrm - a tad one tracked I think .

So far, and based on my limited experience,

Penfolds Bin 707 1998
Penfolds Grange 2004 (vinfanticide)
Valli Pinot Noir 2003
&
Unknown Burgundy by the glass @ Rockpool Bar & Grill.

Amongst a few others of course...

yet to try really old old wines... one day my time will come.

Cheers
TiggerK

To me a favourite wine is one that I drink somewhat regularly, cost being a significant factor. In that category I'd include De Bortoli Sacred Hill shiraz cab 08 and chard 08, Pennys Hill shraz 08, Jacobs Creek shiraz cab 06,Tahbilk cleanskin dry white 08. The Sacred Hills and the Tahbilk cleanskin are my current staples.

There are a few wines that have particularly impressed (if that's the intent of your question) in the past, perhaps more memorably Lindemanns Limestone Ridge 91, Tahbilk shiraz 86, Penfolds Bin 707 98, Peter Lehmann Stonewell 98, Seppelt Dorrien 96, Turkey Flat shiraz 99, Tahbilk 1860s 87 and 97, Cullen cab merl 99, 00, 01, The Story Westgate shiraz 06, Polleters cab 05, Zema Estate Family Selection cab 04. Then there are others from Cullen, Coldstream Hills, Plantagenet, Forest Hill Vineyard, Thorne Clark, Kilikanoon, Tahbilk, Torbreck, Seppelt, Jasper Hill, Voyager, Stonier, Port Phillip Estate, Teusner etc., etc., etc., all Australian wines. I'd rather pay $60 for an Aussie premium wine than a mediocre Medoc.

Dumb question.........

daz

A favourite wine would be something purchased regularly, a wine that I could continue to buy, or open if I had a stash in the cellar. I don't have a favourite wine in that sense. I like variety when it comes to wine.

When you refer to the "best wine you've ever had" I have something to contribute.

The best wine I've had, bar none, was the 1961 Chateau L'Arrosee, a wine shared among friends, the last bottle remaining in the old ALCB store, a government run outlet and heaven for any Bordeaux lover.

The best Australian wine I've had was the 1982 Penfolds Bin 820 Cabernet/Shiraz, a wine served at a restaurant by an importer of Australian wine and a brilliant example of why there should be more Cab/Shiraz blends. A runner-up would be the 1975 Lindemans Auburn Burgundy (can't remember the bin number but it was 4 digits), a wine with a similar profile to the '82 Penfolds but with a bit less punch.

Young wines. no matter how good, rarely beats a good example of a well aged wine. the young wine shows promise for the future while a mature wine at it's peak is drinking as it should.

Cheers.......................Mahmoud.

Without a doubt our's was the Penfolds 1990 Bin 90A. Best cabernet from Coonawarra with the best Barossa Shiraz in the best oak. First of 3 drunk at one of our anniversaries a while back. It was one of those wines that could happily be enjoyed just for its aromas. Palate was the icing on the cake. Heaven in a glass. Better than sex! 2 still to go.

Mahmoud if you liked the 820 try the 90A or even the 80A or 920 or 620. I've tried all and are right up there. These are the special Penfolds wine with the Bin 60A being the first and arguably the greatest wine Australia has ever produced. I owned and sold one a few years back (offer I couldn't refuse). Later some wine scribes got together to rate the top 100 wines ever from all over the world. It came in number 7. I'd like to think the 90A may get close to it. Wishful thinking.

Chuck

Chuck wrote:Without a doubt our's was the Penfolds 1990 Bin 90A. Best cabernet from Coonawarra with the best Barossa Shiraz in the best oak. First of 3 drunk at one of our anniversaries a while back. It was one of those wines that could happily be enjoyed just for its aromas. Palate was the icing on the cake. Heaven in a glass. Better than sex! 2 still to go.

Whoa...

Easy on there Chuck. Let's not get too carried away heh?

Hmmm, must track one of these down... Also, the 820.

Monghead.

Such a weighted question and so dependent on the company and setting...
A 96 389 over a wintry Sunday lunch.....
A mid-range Nebbiolo on our last night in Beaune over Scrabble....
Those two come to mind but there are probably lots of others....

Not sure about all time, Chilean Torres, but this year I've had three wines, all from 2005 vintage, that have probably stood out for me, and interestingly, one of them was also Chilean: 05 Concha- Y Toro Don Melchor, which was stunning. The other two were Domaine Trintignant CndP, and Stonyridge Larose from the same year. A bottle of 01 Chateau Musar lives long in the memory too. Just realised that's a fairly global shortlist, all red, but none Aussie (my fault, not Australia's).

A 21 year old 1986 bin 389. A sensational example of what bin 389 ages into. Shame they are becoming hard to find on the secondary market and expensive too. But great little wine.

Not in the league of some of the others mentioned here, but my two favourites will always be:
2002 JJ Hahn '1914' Shiraz - Introduced me to my love of wine; and
2002 Sterhuis Merlot (RSA) - This wine always conjurs memories of sitting in the lounge of the winemaker, Johann, revelling in his enjoyment of his produce, looking out over the picturesque mountains of Stellenbosch.

2001 Cullen Diana Madeleine. Power, amazing fruit intensity but wonderfully balanced. Had this with a rack of lamb .... perfect.

Close behind are 1996 Moss Wood Cabernet and 2002 Penfolds Cellar Reserve Grenache.

Favourite kinda implies that u have it more than once.....so I won't wank on about the 1955 Grange or the old 1st growths from the days when u could afford them. Favourite implies the putting on slippers near the fireplace type wine. These have changed in each decade with my development as a wine drinker and my ability to afford better wines. Some that bring back great memories as being wines regularly drunk and sort after include: In the 70's Leo Buring private bin rieslings and McWilliams Phillips, in the 80's - Maglieri Shiraz's, Henschke HoG's when they were only $4-15 a bottle,and old Granges 75-85 which were between $12-$35, Penfolds 389's and Wynns black label cabernets and shiraz's, in the 90's E&E black pepper shiraz's, Vasse Felix Shiraz's,Cape Mentelle Cabs and in the 00's - Old Wendourees, La Testa's, old Penfolds, Thomas Hardys and Rosemount reds. Presently I'm demolishing 20 dozen La Testa Blend 2000 and I've had few other wines that can match the flavour, aroma and balance of this wine at any price.

cheers

Luke

Luke W wrote:Presently I'm demolishing 20 dozen La Testa Blend 2000 and I've had few other wines that can match the flavour, aroma and balance of this wine at any price.

cheers

Luke

G'day Luke

Wow!!

240 bottles? That is going long with a wine. Over what period do you expect to drink them? I find more than three or four of the same wine in a month and I start looking for something new, no matter how good it is. I gues if it lasts 10 more years that's 2 a month.....

Cheers

Michael

wolf wrote:2002 Penfolds Cellar Reserve Grenache.

One of my favourites too....

Michael McNally wrote:

Luke W wrote:Presently I'm demolishing 20 dozen La Testa Blend 2000 and I've had few other wines that can match the flavour, aroma and balance of this wine at any price.

cheers

Luke

G'day Luke

Wow!!

240 bottles? That is going long with a wine. Over what period do you expect to drink them? I find more than three or four of the same wine in a month and I start looking for something new, no matter how good it is. I gues if it lasts 10 more years that's 2 a month.....

Cheers

Michael

Hi Michael

I guess it'll take me a couple of years at maybe 1 or 2 a week and then 3 or 4 if friends drop over. Like you I get a bit sick of drinking the same wine but its drinking so nicely now that I get disappointed when I drink other wines that aren't up to its standard but I'll be really p...off if it deteriorates before I've drunk them all.

cheers

Luke

I like unusuall decorative bottles =)


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I quite like a question like this that can be left to each persons perception of what favourite (in this case) means. (Also gives me some level of amusement if it makes a person angry).

Whenever I get a question like this I always think of the Cape Mentelle Chardonnay 2001. The reason being that I had this wine maybe four/five years ago at a Thai restaurant (relatively cheap but not cheap to us five years ago) and was the first wine that made me think, wow wine can be really nice. I think my girlfriend may have regretted sharing that wine with me ever since (as she brought it). Not sure whether it may be the greatest wine I have had but it was the wine that had the greatest impact on me (and therefore is my "favourite").

I have not tasted that many old wines or Burgundys or Bordeauxs etc. etc. etc. (just recent release Australian wines) but I like the fact that at any time I could be about to taste my "favourite" wine.

1988 Grange @ Magill restaurant few years back... perfect place to have that iconic wine....

[quote="Mahmoud Ali"]A runner-up would be the 1975 Lindemans Auburn Burgundy (can't remember the bin number but it was 4 digits), a wine with a similar profile to the '82 Penfolds but with a bit less punch./quote]

I think it would be Bin 3620. Had 2 bottles of 1967 vintage last year. They were still very drinkable.

Regards

Allan

Is this a "best" or "favourite" thread? Does a one-off taste/bottle of wine qualify it as a favourite? I've had at least a couple of cases of Longhop Shiraz, same of Mike Press Cabernet - they've been favorites for me, wish I could afford to buy a case each of the current releases. Charles Sturt Uni Chard 07 is another but apparently the current release isn't quite as good. Tahbilk cleanskin dry white 08 is a favourite - I'm about to order my 4th of 5th dozen of it.

Cheers

daz

Daz

Title of the thread says "favorite" (sic).

My favourite wine used to be the Kalimna Bin 28 - when I was poorer than I am today it was the one wine I would buy for special occasions and know it would be good. One of the few wines I regularly bought multiples of. Things dropped off a bit in the early noughties, but I think it is back on form (though overpriced).

My favourite wine now is Marius Shiraz. It started with the 2003 (still fantastic) and since then it has become a regular purchase. Whether the Simphony (had a 2004 with chargrilled steak on Friday - yummo) or the Simpatico (I think I am over 30 bottles purchased of the 2006), it is the essence of bold full-flavoured complex shiraz that my palate seems geared to. The Symposium (blended with mourvedre) is pretty good stuff too. And good prices.

Cheers

Michael

PS It helps that Roger Pike, who makes Marius, is a nice bloke as well.

Michael McNally wrote:Daz

Title of the thread says "favorite" (sic).

My favourite wine used to be the Kalimna Bin 28 - when I was poorer than I am today it was the one wine I would buy for special occasions and know it would be good. One of the few wines I regularly bought multiples of. Things dropped off a bit in the early noughties, but I think it is back on form (though overpriced).

My favourite wine now is Marius Shiraz. It started with the 2003 (still fantastic) and since then it has become a regular purchase. Whether the Simphony (had a 2004 with chargrilled steak on Friday - yummo) or the Simpatico (I think I am over 30 bottles purchased of the 2006), it is the essence of bold full-flavoured complex shiraz that my palate seems geared to. The Symposium (blended with mourvedre) is pretty good stuff too. And good prices.

Cheers

Michael

PS It helps that Roger Pike, who makes Marius, is a nice bloke as well.

Thanks Michael, the Marius Sympatico and Symphony have been on my radar for several years but haven't got around to tasting them and yes, the Symposium does sound interesting. I've developed a bit of a bent for MV shiraz over the last few years but did always like the old Seaview shiraz before the label was dropped by SouthMount, the biggest buggerisation of wine labels as a result of corporate mergers that I've ever seen in Australia - I will never knowingly buy an Oates' wine again, couldn't give a rat's arse if Hamilton Island was swallowed by a massive earthquake though I'd feel sorry for the guests there at the time, even if they were deluded social climbers. Rant over.

The wine that drew me back to the Vale was Wolf Blass Grey Label 04, think I still have a bottle of it left. I've also demolished a fair few bottles of Nashwauk cleanskin and labelled shiraz. As you're probably aware, Penny's Hill Red Dot Shiraz 08 is my personal splurge wine at present, especially for <$10-$11. Ben Riggs isn't a bad winemaker either.

Cheers

daz

Probably my favourite wine over the years, where I have always had some vintages of it in the cellar is Wirra RSW shiraz. Currently drinking the 04, and have 05 and 06 waiting.
I think I started drinking this in 1990.

Second would be Penfolds 389. 1982 was the first vintage I bought. Currently have 91,94,96,98,02,05,06 in the cellar. Not far behind that would be St Henri.

White would have to be Lovedale semillon. There is 95,96,98,00,01,03,05,06 in the cellar. The greatest white I have drunk would be the 84 Lovedale.

B

Ata rangi Crimson...

Cheap (compared to the first label) and the wine that got me drinking Pinot

monghead wrote:

Chuck wrote:Without a doubt our's was the Penfolds 1990 Bin 90A. Best cabernet from Coonawarra with the best Barossa Shiraz in the best oak. First of 3 drunk at one of our anniversaries a while back. It was one of those wines that could happily be enjoyed just for its aromas. Palate was the icing on the cake. Heaven in a glass. Better than sex! 2 still to go.

Whoa...

Easy on there Chuck. Let's not get too carried away heh?

Hmmm, must track one of these down... Also, the 820.

Monghead.

Monghead,

I find the 90a and 80a to be both significantly better than the 820. The 920 is going be really good too - just a bit awkward now. Of all of them, the 90a is the standout for me - one of the top 10 Aussie wines I've had.