The Auswine Forum

....and a late start to it after going to a birthday bbq last evening. Had plenty of Konig Pilsener, a rather too-watered-down 12yo Famous Grouse of the birthday bloke's that seemed ok but it was too dilute to really tell. I took along a bottle of Teusner cleanskin rose 09 that was nice and dry, not too fruity. At least the birthday bloke enjoyed it, was surprised at it's dryness for a rose. He also enjoyed the purpose-bought bottle of Pennys Hill Red Dot Shiraz 08 I took - it's a fruity but savoury McLaren Vale shiraz that I've posted a TN of before and is a bit of a go-to wine for me. I brought home the bottle of Brookland Valley Verse 1 Chardonnay 2006 that I grabbed at the barn for $11 when I picked up the Pennys Hill. The chardy has been my recovery day almost-hair-of-the-dog. It has plenty of ripe peach, a bit of grapefruit, integrated vanillin oak and some lees character. It also has a bit of an aged feel too it so I wouldn't keep it for much longer than another year.

Meanwhile, it's been windy today with a bit of rain from ex-cyclone Neville and the temperature has been agreeable compared to last week though still warm with oppressive humidity.

Hope everyone has had a happy Sunday.

Cheers

daz

1991 Lakes Folly Cabernets - layer upon layer of incredible primary and secondary flavours - berries, black olives, cedar and cigar box. Quite perfumed with wonderful balance and length (decanted for about an hour). Wish I had some in my cellar - it was owned by a mate who only had 1 bottle of wine (he's a single malt fan and this wine was given to him as a present about 10 years ago - I admit I had fun drinking his "entire' cellar). His wife however has quite a decent cellar and has been waiting a long time to get her hands on this wine. Can see why many Sydneysiders think that Lakes is the bees neez. Probably the best wine I've drunk this year which is saying something given the Brisbane offline wines.....

cheers

Luke

Lucky you Luke. The 1991 Lake's Folly has a bit a a reputation.

A couple of corked wines this week A 2002 Schmitges Erdner Treppchen kabinett Trocken along with a 1979 Yalumba Racing horse series vintage port.

On the other hand we had some great wines this week at a get-together at a Japanese Restaurant. The standouts were:

2002 Gunderloch Nackenheim Rothenberg Riesling Spätlese which was under screwcap (yes baby!). Long and pure with superb balance. Some kero and honey noted with no fruit standing out Slightly herby actually. Great balance. Excellent wine. The second was another riesling

2002 Orlando Steingarten Riesling. Cracking toast Grommit! Yes there was some lime but savoury finishing with a crisp finish. In its window now and another Excellent wine. Nice contrast.

Lastly a 1997 Rumball Show Reserve Sparkling Shiraz. Earthy wine with dried cherries. Very spicy. Good balance with the dosage although some preferred drier styles. Yet another excellent wine!

At present a 2007 McHenry & Hohnen Rocky Rd Chardonnay
Spicy french oak on the nose with some struck match. Maybe some melon suggesting Margaret but only if you go looking for it. Again a very spicy palate that is savoury. Its a broad palate and and rich. No butter I wonder what clones are in this? Very Good indeed.

cheers

Carl

96 Penfolds 389. The first of my bottles, havent I been restrained?? Extremely good wine, and all I expected of it. Had the focus and elegance of a st henri in fact. it really is looking smart. Lovely complexity and interest and loads of concentration. Opens up into a lovely gentle smooth drink. No hurry this is really only just left its youth, at least a decade left in it. Jay is right, you can't have too much of this stuff and i'm sure im not the only one to be thinking "shoulda bought more"

07 Wild Rock Merlot Malbec. Got pasted by the 389, but even in the context of "cheap supermarket 07 reds on special" I still prefer the villa cellar selection. A solid $13 quaffer thats for sure but not much more at this stage

Craig(NZ) wrote:96 Penfolds 389. The first of my bottles, havent I been restrained??

Wow, great effort. I am jealous!

Annie Lane Copper Trail 99: a dud!! suspect mildy corked as it was completely stripped of its fruit. Have had a couple of bottles of the 99 over the past 12 months and the others were singing.

cheers
Gerry

Richmong Grove 2002 limited release Riesling, Lovely smily face colour , Kero on the nose, in the mouth still
a good backbone of acid, good complexity, with plenty going on on the palate, tropical fruit, honey and a touch toasty, with
a good "whoosh "around the mouth revealing lemon/lime. A lovely rizza that kept revealing all sorts of flavours amongst the crowd i was sharing it with....S

2005 Kabminye Trex Doux Muscadelle- treacle, nuts, a variety of candied fruity, pineapple and orange rind. Really good wine, rich but with some lifted highlights and plenty of length.

2004 Brown Brothers Patricia Sparkling- always love it, loved it again. Still very tight. Would like to get some into the cellar.

2009 Pizzini Pinot Grigio- you have to like grigio but I can't think of a better Australian example off the top of my head. I love it with a good broccolini pasta. Excellent acidity that doesn't poke out in any way.

Rabl Riesling Schenkenbichl 2007 Kamptal, Austria, 2007
A real lesson for me that I should be chasing Riesling from Austria. Bone dry, lemon and lime with a lick of honey, a big style (13.5% alcohol) but balanced and composed. Very minerally, not in the "pebble-stones in a sea of acid" that often marks top Australian rieslings, but a mouthfilling and yet slightly understated way that is tightly integrated with the fruit. Real classic stuff.

Cracked a 99 Richomd Grove Limited Release riesling (Stelvin) last night in preparation for the Sydney group riesling tasting tonight. Wee coloured yellow. A bit of spritz still - amazing afer ten years! Quite waxy and lanolin with a waft of florals and honey. Really not sure about this one re if it just needs a bit more time or what. It did open up a little bit more as the night wore on to reveal a little more honey but the wax was really the dominant feature. 88

bacchaebabe wrote:Cracked a 99 Richomd Grove Limited Release riesling (Stelvin) last night in preparation for the Sydney group riesling tasting tonight. Wee coloured yellow. A bit of spritz still - amazing afer ten years! Quite waxy and lanolin with a waft of florals and honey. Really not sure about this one if it just needs a bit more time or waht. It did open up a little bit more as the night wore on to reveal a little more honey but the wax was really the dominant feature. 88

Was this the barossan or the clare version?

cheers

Carl

2007 Te Mata Coleraine Way too soon, of course, but decanted for 5 hours which helped. Quite stunning.

1998 Church Road Reserve Merlot Cabernet Suffered a little alongside the Coleraine, but still drinking very nicely -- a few years left in this yet.

2007 Craggy Range Block 14 Syrah Very good.

2004 Mission Jewelstone Chardonnay Probably at its peak now.

1997 Guiraud Ended up being drank alongside dessert, which wasn't the plan, & really not suited. Returned to it later on its own, & was impressed.

Cheers
Peter

Mini celebration on Friday…
Veuve Clicquot NV
Most enjoyable Champers I’ve drunk in ages (but I’m certainly no expert).
Lemony, bready, lively, delicious. Could have stayed on this all night.

2008 10X Tractor Pinot Noir
Typical light body and some nice savoury tannins on the finish. Not bad.

2008 Atlas 429 Shiraz (Clare Valley)
Taste buds had retired for the night by the time this was opened. Quite some heat on the finish though.

Trip to Canberra yesterday, managed to squeeze a 10 min tasting at Clonakilla.

2009 Riesling
Wanted to like this more than I did. Never ever thought I’d say this but maybe too dry for me.

2008 Viognier
Very nice, quite a complex/serious wine, very aromatic, little bit of peach maybe, some wood & spice characteristics, nice amount of acid. I’ve rarely tried straight Viognier but I liked this and bought a bottle.

Abstained from further tastings as was driving and had tried the others before.

Interestingly, the bloke at the cellar door tipped a tiny local Shiraz producer called Collector as ‘must try’ for the future. Seems like those in the know (Halliday etc) rate their wines highly but I had never heard of them. If any forumites have tried their wines, I’d be grateful for feedback as I’m considering picking up a lazy 6-pack.

Michael R wrote:
Interestingly, the bloke at the cellar door tipped a tiny local Shiraz producer called Collector as ‘must try’ for the future. Seems like those in the know (Halliday etc) rate their wines highly but I had never heard of them. If any forumites have tried their wines, I’d be grateful for feedback as I’m considering picking up a lazy 6-pack.

Tried the 2008 Marked Tree Red (his less expensive wine) at a wine store tasting in Canberra in late November conducted by the winemaker Alex McKay, along with the 2007 Reserve and a range of other local wines, including Clonakilla Hilltops and O’Riada.

I thought this killed the Hilltops for value at the same price, and the 07 Reserve was substantially better (and more substantial) than the O’Riada for not much more money. I thought the Reserve much better and justified the price difference. It may be the extra year made a difference.

2007 Te Mata Coleraine Way too soon, of course, but decanted for 5 hours which helped. Quite stunning.

Another wine I should buy some more of from the 07 vintage. I am sure to regret it some day if I don't but oh how twins cost a heap with uniforms, fees, camp costs, stationary etc when starting a new school!!

I think it may end up being downgraded to more 07 Church Rd Reserve Cab Merlot, but you never know!!!

Hoddles Pinot 06 - very good- spice, hand bag perfume, kirsch. Balanced and very solid indeed.

La Luna e I Falo 2006 Barbera d'Asti - Lovely plum, and hint of vanilla, fine tannins, and expansive finish. Lovely big body, but not at all agressive - wish to heck I'd decanted, will next timw.

Keller 2008 Rhienhessen trocken Riesling - Gentle spritz on entry, upfront lemon and lime on the palate with a talcum sensation all the way. Is it possible to be sweet and dry simultaneously? Love this wine more each time I open onem

New job killing me...

2005 Yalumba Signature Cabernet Shiraz- Very Good
1998 Yalumba Signature Cabernet Shiraz- Very Very Good
2006 Cloudy Bay Pinot Noir- Good
2006 Lake Breeze Bernota Cabernet- Not Good at All

Cheers,

Monghead.

monghead wrote:New job killing me...
2005 Yalumba Signature Cabernet Shiraz- Very Good
1998 Yalumba Signature Cabernet Shiraz- Very Very Good

Sorry to hear about the job!

Wouldn't mind knowing more about these. Found the 05 quite savoury indeed, not oaky and somewhat different to the rest of the linage but maybe it was because it was the first that I had tried on release. Perhaps it had changed?

Another wine to add into the mix. Tonight my first Marius and I don't know what kept me so long. Perhaps the limited distribution in WA

2004 Marius Simpatico Shiraz
Very dense colour with a red rim. Meaty leather on the nose that has some pepper thrown in. Reminds me of Wet Biltong. Dense, chewy palate of ripe shiraz that is a touch prickly in the mouth. Finishes a little shorter than I would like with firm tannin for a shiraz and I am thinking that this is just starting to enter its window. Should smooth and lengthen with time. Very Good now with potential. A bargain. Good match with homemade lamb koftas and watching Man v Wild. That Englishman is mad I tell you!

cheers

Carl

Craig(NZ) wrote:

2007 Te Mata Coleraine Way too soon, of course, but decanted for 5 hours which helped. Quite stunning.

Another wine I should buy some more of from the 07 vintage. I am sure to regret it some day if I don't but oh how twins cost a heap with uniforms, fees, camp costs, stationary etc when starting a new school!!

I think it may end up being downgraded to more 07 Church Rd Reserve Cab Merlot, but you never know!!!

Picked up another half dozen of the Church Road last week off Blackmarket (+ 6 of the '08 Reserve Syrah). Since '08's generally not sounding too flash, & I'm hearing rather more scepticism re '09 in Hawkes Bay than the earlier hype suggested, I'm thinking about buying a few more '07s than I'd originally planned on.

Stupid hot here in Brisbane. No aircon, so lots of beer (Zywiec, Dos X, Shofferhoffer) and whites and rose.

2008 Brookland Valley Verse 1 Margaret River Chardonnay. $13.
Watery pale yellow. Nose of nectarine and custard apple. Bright peach and leesy complexity on the palate. Lovely crisp acidity - not dominating. Finishes clean. Great with or without food. Went and bought a couple more bottles on the strength of this viewing. Excellent.

The glass left in the bottle was great the next night too which suggests (to me at least) that thi might get better over the medium term.

2009 Yalumba Y Series Sangiovese Rose. $9.
Rosepetal and bubblegum nose held in check by savoury mulchy notes. Structural rather than fruit driven. Needs a little more juicyness to drink without food, but goes well with homemade pizza. Very Good, and Very, Very Good QPR.

Cheers

Michael

Picked up another half dozen of the Church Road last week off Blackmarket (+ 6 of the '08 Reserve Syrah). Since '08's generally not sounding too flash, & I'm hearing rather more scepticism re '09 in Hawkes Bay than the earlier hype suggested, I'm thinking about buying a few more '07s than I'd originally planned on.

agree. 09 was a good vintage, but how good? there was some very heavy rain at key times in both HB and Auckland. I can remember visiting stonecroft in torrential rain at end of feb. carpark was a lake. we shall see

Craig(NZ) wrote:agree. 09 was a good vintage, but how good? there was some very heavy rain at key times in both HB and Auckland. I can remember visiting stonecroft in torrential rain at end of feb. carpark was a lake. we shall see

Funnily enough, Stonecroft, which I visited on the weekend, is one of the wineries I've had express less than a fully enthusiastic endorsement of '09, including because of the rain you mention. (Also heard what's probably old news, that they've now sold, with new owners in (I think) after vintage.)

Funnily enough, Stonecroft, which I visited on the weekend, is one of the wineries I've had express less than a fully enthusiastic endorsement of '09, including because of the rain you mention. (Also heard what's probably old news, that they've now sold, with new owners in (I think) after vintage.)

.

How good was that 07 Stonecroft Syrah? Wow such a stunning wine yet I have not seen it mentioned anywhere by any critic of any type. Seems to be totally under the radar. Just gorgeous!

Craig(NZ) wrote:

Funnily enough, Stonecroft, which I visited on the weekend, is one of the wineries I've had express less than a fully enthusiastic endorsement of '09, including because of the rain you mention. (Also heard what's probably old news, that they've now sold, with new owners in (I think) after vintage.)

.

How good was that 07 Stonecroft Syrah? Wow such a stunning wine yet I have not seen it mentioned anywhere by any critic of any type. Seems to be totally under the radar. Just gorgeous!

Agree, it's very good. (Neil Martin's reviewed it: "The 2007 Syrah has good purity on the nose: blackberry, raspberry and a touch of hot bricks. Well defined and natural. The palate is medium-bodied, fleshy texture, caresses the mouth, lovely balanced and bewitching crescendo towards the svelte finish. Pure black cherries and plums. Beautifully crafted. Wonderful. 92.")

Stavros,
The Richmong Grove 2002 limited release Riesling in my view is a very good wine, in fact for lovers of deep lime I have not tasted any better and it will continue to be a classic. Doesn't have the rough edges of some other vintages and has quality fruit, easily the best of the past 14 or so vintages of this wine and captures the 2002 watervale riesling perfectly. Some very good decisions have been made by the winemakers/growers on when to pick this fruit.