The Auswine Forum

What have you been drinking this past week?

Friends came over for dinner earlier this week, so I opened a quite stunning bottle of Grand Cru Chablis - La Chablisienne's "La Preuses" from the 1995 vintage. Developed golden colour but remarkably fresh on both nose and palate with very attractive sea spray, oyster shell, mineral and white peach/green melon smells and flavours. The palate remains tight and focussed with plenty of mineral-infused extract, lovely mouth feel and a complimentary dry, crisp, chalky acid finish of considerable style and length. 91 points.

This was followed by Brands 1998 Stentiford's Reserve Shiraz - a wine spoiled by excessive use of new French oak. Although drinkable the overt savoury/chocolaty timber smells and flavours made hard work of pouring it down the throat. In fact I could have easily poured it down the sink! Barely 80 points from me. With hindsight, I was probably too harsh - 81 points!

The night before I opened the regularly "bagged" Seppelt Great Western Reserve Shiraz from 1998. The big French oak in this wine has now settled and integrated with the most luscious blackberry and concentrated plummy fruit. Still looks infantile in the glass and should drink superbly for another 10+ years. 92 points.

With the folks last night - terrific bottle of Raveneau 2002 Montee de Tonnerre followed by a very good but fast maturing 1996 Harmand-Geoffroy 1er Cru Laxaux-St. Jacques (Gevrey-Chambertin). 92 and 86 respectively.

1997 Hardys Eileen Hardy Shiraz: Fantastic. A bit short on length perhaps. Great fruit however and drinking well at the moment.

2000 Penfolds St Henri Shiraz: Ok. Not as good as the Eileen Hardy.

1998 Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon: Not sure what to make of it. Ok I guess. But glad I have only one left. I can't tell if it needs more time or if this is a good as it will get.

2004 Wyndham Bin 555

Still one of the best quaffers around. This has been in my wine fridge for years and was dark, full bodied, plummy and delicious.

2008 Nepenthe "Tryst" Cabernet Sauvignon Tempranillo

Young, light but full flavoured, cherries and rasberries but totally enjoyable.

Friday was atlantic salmon with steamed fresh asparagus, pasta spirals and hollandaise sauce, washed down with a bottle of Balgownie Estate 2006 Chardonnay and a Leabrooke 2003 Cab Merlot. Both very nice. Last night at an Italian restaurant we enjoyed a Orlando 1998 St Hugo Cabernet. At last this wine has matured to allow the exquisite fruit flavours to rise above the softening tannins and acid. Pure cassis and pure Connawarra. One of the best wines in the last few months and the balance can only improve in the cellar. Adelaide is cool and wet today so opportunity for a lamb casserole wash down with the last of the Balgownie Chardonnay and a Punters Corner 2004 Cabernet. Both needed more time, the latter years, the former days.

Chuck

Didn't know whether to post this in the drinking reports thread or in the Penfolds Bin thread. So I'll do both.

I have been a long-time fan of the Bin 28, though less so as in recent years as the QPR has slipped somewhat and I have tried other, newer, smaller wineries. Definitely a sentimental attachment though, so I went to the local tasting, thought it promising on that cursory viewing, and bought a bottle to take home.

2007 Penfolds Kalimna Bin 28 South Australia Shiraz. 14.5%. SC. $20
Good colour. Nose seems a little tight, but smells the goods with plums and raspberry and a touch of milk choc/vanilla. The flavours on the palate match the nose and there is good fruit and some nice, slightly green tannin. I think this has the balance to age. Hint of raspberry tang to the acid. Good length for a three-year-old. After an hour tasting it (also with food) I feel this could be a good Bin 28. My only worry is the lack of any truly spicy character, but I think it might be lurking, still wound, in the background. Very, Very Good +

Went back and got 6 today and intend to leave for 3-4 years before reassessing.

Cheers

Michael

Leasingham Bastion Shiraz Cab 05
Ringbolt Cab 07
Teusner Riebke 07
Tahbilk Cab 05
Jacobs Creek Chard 08
Sacred Hill Chard 08
McWilliams Inheritance Chard 08
Sacred Hill Shiraz Cab 08

2008 Bass Philip Crown Prince Pinot Noir- Fragrant dark plums, delightfully spicy, great length and fine tannins. Very Good.

02 rockford basket press shiraz (just a baby)
99 cyril Henschke
05 Greenock creek seven acre shiraz
99 rosemount Mountain blue shi/cab Yumm
Montrose Barbera rose
01Willow bridge black dog
and a couple of stickies .

May i say it was a great night out ...........................?

Regards Dazza

99 Jacaranda Ridge - in a great drinking window with a few years left, this has all the Coonawarra telltales but powerful enough to not present as green and herbal... my type of wine, this is very classy indeed... more please. Thankfully several more left.

2007 Cape Mentelle Trinders - a beautifully balanced and structured MR cabernet at a great price! ($22)
2006 Pegasus Bay Pinot Noir - dark fruits, chewy, savoury finish - good stuff!

Mt Langhi Cliff's Edge shiraz 2005 licorice and strong blackcurrant on the palate, nose quite closed initially. fruit opens up a little as the bottle goes, nice leathery tone, all in all, a real sense of balance. A nice way to welcome back red wines to the table!

Frankland Estate Isolation riesling 2009 light straw colour. sharp lime on palate, but very graceful at the same time, accompanied by a slight spritz. ever so slight hint of musk follows, and even an apple cidery component. Perfectly refreshing when the hot weather returned, this is a seriously complex and tasty wine.

Craiglee shiraz 2006 - Minerally, peppery nose, lots of raspberry and sour cherry at the front, and a nice licorice/tar tone to follow. Less heavy duty than 05, but by no means a light wine - a little Rhoneish perhaps? Bloody awesome really, and made up a nice double of Vic shiraz with autumn on the horizon.

2009 Felton Road Riesling
Very polarizing drink this, 2 liked, 4 thought it was ok but too sweet to drink on its own. I was in the 2nd camp. MAtched with Green Prawn salad. I was in the 2nd camp. Apples & spritz galore. Over 50g/rs.
2008 Felton Road Block 2 Chardonnay
This is magnificent, I’ve been really trying to keep a few but am now down to my last one. It ticks all my boxes….Light, and classy nose, rich mouthfeel, melons, some honeysuckle, traces of butterscotch all offset by wonderful amounts steely minerality and acid. Desert Island wine for me.
2003 Henschke Tappa Pass Shiraz
Plenty of chocolate on the nose, hints of leather also evident. Still has powerful dark colour with minimum bricking. Very silky mouthfeel, Finish suggested it may not hold for many more years, but good drinking now.
2006 Chateau Mont Redon, Lirac
Overbearing apricots running riot. Got worse as the bottle opened. Didn’t finish. Never again.
2006 Domaine le Clos des Cazaux, Vacqueyras (70%G, 20%S, 10%M….i think)
Nice balance, not overtly perfumed on the nose, raspberries everywhere, really enjoyed the tannins and grip on the finish, Recommend.

Cheers

via collins wrote:
Frankland Estate Isolation riesling 2009 light straw colour. sharp lime on palate, but very graceful at the same time, accompanied by a slight spritz. ever so slight hint of musk follows, and even an apple cidery component. Perfectly refreshing when the hot weather returned, this is a seriously complex and tasty wine.

Yes, must get more myself. Very Slurpable...

Monghead.

Taittinger Comtes De Champagne 1998
Closed at first. A slowly emerging nose of complex yeast inspired smells. Brioche with lemon and vanilla with a smokey top note. A mineral palate with lovely mouthfeel. Quite lean but long with excellent balance. Some red apples enter the equation as the wine warms/opens further. Excellent/Outstanding wine and a perfect foil for japanese cuisine.

cheers

Carl

griff wrote:Taittinger Comtes De Champagne 1998
Closed at first. A slowly emerging nose of complex yeast inspired smells. Brioche with lemon and vanilla with a smokey top note. A mineral palate with lovely mouthfeel. Quite lean but long with excellent balance. Some red apples enter the equation as the wine warms/opens further. Excellent/Outstanding wine and a perfect foil for japanese cuisine.

cheers

Carl

I do love a good champagne, and the Tait CdC always gets the juices running. Good to see this vintage is on form.

monghead wrote:

griff wrote:Taittinger Comtes De Champagne 1998
Closed at first. A slowly emerging nose of complex yeast inspired smells. Brioche with lemon and vanilla with a smokey top note. A mineral palate with lovely mouthfeel. Quite lean but long with excellent balance. Some red apples enter the equation as the wine warms/opens further. Excellent/Outstanding wine and a perfect foil for japanese cuisine.

cheers

Carl

I do love a good champagne, and the Tait CdC always gets the juices running. Good to see this vintage is on form.

Not as good as the 1996 (naturally!) which is stunning but the 1998 is in its window whereas the 96 needs time for me.

cheers

Carl