Sunday drinking reports 11/9
Sunday drinking reports 11/9
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Last edited by Sean on Mon Mar 11, 2013 2:57 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Sunday drinking reports 11/9
Opened a few modest wines from the cellar at a Spring Kick Off party on Fri night.
Served roughly in this order, although it was a casual party, so many went straight to the reds, or stuck with beers or whites all night etc. I tried to get some of each but was kept busy with hosting duties, so notes are just vague impressions, FWIW.
Croser NV Sparkling - Acceptable, but would have liked a bit more weight and body.
Mount Riley Limited Release Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010 - Bro-in-law makes this so biased, but rather good, even for a savvy.
Seppelt Jaluka Chardonnay 2009 - Nice balance, served it a bit too cold though, and prob better in a few years. Much better than the 2010 IMO.
Leo Buring Clare Valley Riesling 2006 - A personal favourite ATM. Lovely aged characters yet still young, limey and vibrant. And for under $20? Brilliant.
Tim Adams Riesling 2010 - Same blurb as the Leo Buring, just without the aged characters. Hard to fault.
Church Road Central Otago Pinot Noir 2009 - Only had a sip, good solid CO pinot richness, bit of stalky element, party friendly.
Amisfield Pinot Noir 2007 - Missed out!! But luckily got 2/3 of the bottle still leftover for tonight, will edit with update soon. 2 days in the fridge....
Wynns Coonawarra Estate Hermitage 1991 - Instantly fruity and delicious aromas while pouring into the decanter. Fruit still in the foreground, with soft and gentle tannins taking it to Very Good territory.
Tahbilk Cabernet Sauvignon 1991 - A decent cheap 'quaffer' turns into an elegant classy drink with 20 years in the bottle. Cork just hanging on, bit of cab sav mid-palate hole but no complaints here.
Penfolds Bin 128 Shiraz 1998 - Mixed reaction from the guests, certainly in the leaner spectrum, especially after the younger Pinots or the Wynns 1991 Shiraz. I say drink sooner, not later. Just Good.
Gnadenfrei Barossa Valley Grenache 2002 - Bit hot, still a bit awkward (after 3 hr decant), decent fruit quality though and the bottle disappeared rather quickly I noticed.
Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier 2008 - Still too young, decanted 6 hours or so, just started to open out a bit then. Once you've had older wines, always a mistake suddenly changing to closed younger ones. Will be great one day though.
D'Arenburg D'Arry's Original GSM 2004 (magnum) - Didn't get to try this, but again, have some left over, so will report back, it certainly needed a decant so 2 days later may be good.
So a big Friday night, followed by Dave's mega sticky and fortified tasting last night.... phew...
Cheers
Tim
Served roughly in this order, although it was a casual party, so many went straight to the reds, or stuck with beers or whites all night etc. I tried to get some of each but was kept busy with hosting duties, so notes are just vague impressions, FWIW.
Croser NV Sparkling - Acceptable, but would have liked a bit more weight and body.
Mount Riley Limited Release Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010 - Bro-in-law makes this so biased, but rather good, even for a savvy.
Seppelt Jaluka Chardonnay 2009 - Nice balance, served it a bit too cold though, and prob better in a few years. Much better than the 2010 IMO.
Leo Buring Clare Valley Riesling 2006 - A personal favourite ATM. Lovely aged characters yet still young, limey and vibrant. And for under $20? Brilliant.
Tim Adams Riesling 2010 - Same blurb as the Leo Buring, just without the aged characters. Hard to fault.
Church Road Central Otago Pinot Noir 2009 - Only had a sip, good solid CO pinot richness, bit of stalky element, party friendly.
Amisfield Pinot Noir 2007 - Missed out!! But luckily got 2/3 of the bottle still leftover for tonight, will edit with update soon. 2 days in the fridge....
Wynns Coonawarra Estate Hermitage 1991 - Instantly fruity and delicious aromas while pouring into the decanter. Fruit still in the foreground, with soft and gentle tannins taking it to Very Good territory.
Tahbilk Cabernet Sauvignon 1991 - A decent cheap 'quaffer' turns into an elegant classy drink with 20 years in the bottle. Cork just hanging on, bit of cab sav mid-palate hole but no complaints here.
Penfolds Bin 128 Shiraz 1998 - Mixed reaction from the guests, certainly in the leaner spectrum, especially after the younger Pinots or the Wynns 1991 Shiraz. I say drink sooner, not later. Just Good.
Gnadenfrei Barossa Valley Grenache 2002 - Bit hot, still a bit awkward (after 3 hr decant), decent fruit quality though and the bottle disappeared rather quickly I noticed.
Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier 2008 - Still too young, decanted 6 hours or so, just started to open out a bit then. Once you've had older wines, always a mistake suddenly changing to closed younger ones. Will be great one day though.
D'Arenburg D'Arry's Original GSM 2004 (magnum) - Didn't get to try this, but again, have some left over, so will report back, it certainly needed a decant so 2 days later may be good.
So a big Friday night, followed by Dave's mega sticky and fortified tasting last night.... phew...
Cheers
Tim
Re: Sunday drinking reports 11/9
TiggerK wrote:Amisfield Pinot Noir 2007 - Missed out!! But luckily got 2/3 of the bottle still leftover for tonight, will edit with update soon. 2 days in the fridge....
Tim, I'm surprised you have 2/3 left. This was my favorite Pinot last year. I hope you enjoy it when you finally get a taste.
never underestimate the predictability of stupidity
Re: Sunday drinking reports 11/9
2004 Neudorf Moutere Chardonnay. Still very young even though it hasnt been stored in any special way. Clean, and edgy with plenty of primary citrus/ bottled lemon and mealy notes. Still plenty of life left in this. Perhaps not the most exciting x-factor packed vintage for Neudorf but still regal and solid. Screw Cap showing its worth I think. This is the first vintage of this wine that I have purchased that had screwcap. Not quite sure when they actually started. Nice
2007 Matua Aririmu Merlot Cabernet. I still haven't found out if this wine has a sprinkling of American oak but I strongly suspect it does. A lovely sweet fruited wine and the obvious oak treatment is done very well and to me adds to the wines character. Shoulda bought more of these but i suspect mine will be well gone before I confirm how well it travels in the cellar. I suspect it will look great in 5 years. Tasty
2007 Matua Aririmu Merlot Cabernet. I still haven't found out if this wine has a sprinkling of American oak but I strongly suspect it does. A lovely sweet fruited wine and the obvious oak treatment is done very well and to me adds to the wines character. Shoulda bought more of these but i suspect mine will be well gone before I confirm how well it travels in the cellar. I suspect it will look great in 5 years. Tasty
Re: Sunday drinking reports 11/9
Craig(NZ) wrote:2004 Neudorf Moutere Chardonnay. Still very young even though it hasnt been stored in any special way. Clean, and edgy with plenty of primary citrus/ bottled lemon and mealy notes. Still plenty of life left in this. Perhaps not the most exciting x-factor packed vintage for Neudorf but still regal and solid. Screw Cap showing its worth I think. This is the first vintage of this wine that I have purchased that had screwcap. Not quite sure when they actually started. Nice
Found an '01 Neudorf Moutere Chard in the cellar last night that's under screwcap, which was probably the 1st of them.
Took a couple of excellent bottles along to BYO night at our favourite Wgtn restaurant Logan Brown last night,
2006 Church Road Tom Chardonnay and 1998 Te Mata Awatea. Both wines absolutely stunning -- thought the Awatea might have been a little past it but no, it's drinking superbly well.
Cheers
Peter
Re: Sunday drinking reports 11/9
Nice trio Peter, LB, 06 Tom & 98 Awatea........ jealous. Been keen to try that Tom Chardy.
Re: Sunday drinking reports 11/9
A few over the weekend to celebrate various things
2004 Chain of Ponds Grave's Gate Shiraz Pretty good
2005 Church Road Reserve Chardonnay Excellent
2006 Charles Melton Nine Popes Very good although noticed a little bit of heat on the finish
2004 Chain of Ponds Grave's Gate Shiraz Pretty good
2005 Church Road Reserve Chardonnay Excellent
2006 Charles Melton Nine Popes Very good although noticed a little bit of heat on the finish
Re: Sunday drinking reports 11/9
Took a couple of excellent bottles along to BYO night at our favourite Wgtn restaurant Logan Brown last night,
2006 Church Road Tom Chardonnay and 1998 Te Mata Awatea. Both wines absolutely stunning -- thought the Awatea might have been a little past it but no, it's drinking superbly well.
Yes 06 Tom Chardonnay is very smart. Nice. 98 Awatea (as with cork in general) was a bit variable towards the end of my stash. Some stunning, some average. I think I have drunk all mine now
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ticklenow1
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Re: Sunday drinking reports 11/9
2005 Greenock Creek Cornerstone Grenache. Barossa Valley: Needed some air for the nose to shine. Lots of Cherries, Rasberries and a lick of Chocolate. A little like a Turkish Delight in a bottle. Medium bodied at best. In a really good place now. Lovely. 4.5/5
2004 Hugh Hamilton The Ratbag Merlot. McClaren Vale: Much better than my last bottle a couple of years ago. Has transformed into quite a nice wine. Very soft tannins are dominated by lovely, but not overpowering, black fruits. To me it is typical of Merlot, nice but not a lot of backbone (in my experience anyway!). A bit of a pleasant surprise though. Drink now and don't keep any longer. 3/5
Cheers
Ian
2004 Hugh Hamilton The Ratbag Merlot. McClaren Vale: Much better than my last bottle a couple of years ago. Has transformed into quite a nice wine. Very soft tannins are dominated by lovely, but not overpowering, black fruits. To me it is typical of Merlot, nice but not a lot of backbone (in my experience anyway!). A bit of a pleasant surprise though. Drink now and don't keep any longer. 3/5
Cheers
Ian
If you had to choose between drinking great wine or winning Lotto, which would you choose - Red or White?
Re: Sunday drinking reports 11/9
Just got back from a week and a bit up at surfers so the wines consumed tended to be young.
2009 Penfolds Bin 138, was probably the first 138 i've tried, not as much clout as some other GSM's I've had before, and certainly needed to go down for a few years I think
2009 Wirra Wirra Church block not the first of these I've had and it was just as good, very easy as a drink now wine, or something to put down for later.
2010 Late harvest Herritage Estate Botrytys Semillion nice and sweet with fruit and honey througout
I also tried a few other wines at Heritage (Chardonnay was superb, and this coffe/chocolate port was quite surprising also) and some other wineries up Mt Tamborine way, including one called Thomms which was actually a Barossa winery I'd never heard of, but their wines were pertty average save an aged port which was good but not worth $120 a bottle!
2009 Penfolds Bin 138, was probably the first 138 i've tried, not as much clout as some other GSM's I've had before, and certainly needed to go down for a few years I think
2009 Wirra Wirra Church block not the first of these I've had and it was just as good, very easy as a drink now wine, or something to put down for later.
2010 Late harvest Herritage Estate Botrytys Semillion nice and sweet with fruit and honey througout
I also tried a few other wines at Heritage (Chardonnay was superb, and this coffe/chocolate port was quite surprising also) and some other wineries up Mt Tamborine way, including one called Thomms which was actually a Barossa winery I'd never heard of, but their wines were pertty average save an aged port which was good but not worth $120 a bottle!
Re: Sunday drinking reports 11/9
Brief impressions of Glaetzer & Heartland at an instore last Saturday:
2011 Heartland Pinot Gris, Langhorne Creek (screwcap): Full of sweet/green banana esters and grass, perhaps a little more grigio in style but a little unexpected and simple; maybe it will develop some complexity over the next few months, it needs to.
2009 Heartland Dolcetto & Lagrein, Langhorne Creek (screwcap): Lighter and sweeter than the 2007 vintage, very perfumed and more in the bright cherry spectrum, but the palate is let down by quite a bitter finish. It’s more like an ordinary Rosé this year for some reason – then again, it was literally a hell of a vintage down there.
2009 Heartland Shiraz, Langhorne Creek (screwcap): A promising nose of mint, cherries and white pepper is replicated on the medium-ish weight palate, but a like the Dolcetto & Lagrein a rather green/bitter finish spoils the party.
2009 Glaetzer Wallace Shiraz Grenache, Barossa Valley (screwcap): A little stinky at first, but it blows off to reveal jubes and boiled lollies, a touch of Turkish delight; despite being shiraz dominant it’s more grenache-like on the palate too, lightweight with a rather short finish.
2009 Heartland Cabernet Sauvignon, Langhorne Creek (screwcap): Minty and jubey with a dash of pepper like the shiraz, but it’s rather lightweight and hot.
2009 Heartland The Director’s Cut Shiraz, Langhorne Creek (screwcap): More perfumed than the rest of the Heartland range, a dash of coffee/nougat oak and richer, slightly medicinal black cherry fruit matching the familiar mint and black pepper characters. The palate’s medium-weight and plusher too, but has significant minty heat mid-palate (listed as 14.5%, I’d guess it's over 15%) that continues on to the nutty finish.
2009 Glaetzer Bishop Shiraz, Barossa Valley (screwcap): A little stinky at first like the Wallace, but likewise it blows off to reveal perfumed, musky raspberry fruit; the palate’s rather thin, not much more weight than the Wallace, and is short and hot too (15%). Very ordinary stuff.
2009 Glaetzer Anaparenna Shiraz Cabernet, Barossa Valley (cork): It’s a beautifully perfumed wine, full of raspberry cordial concentrate and musk, a lick of cedar, but doesn’t have quite the weight or length of previous releases. It’s medium-weight and also quite hot from the mid-palate onwards, the alcohol listed on their website as 14.5%, but the tasting sheet on the day had 15.1% – not a great vintage for the label.
2009 Glaetzer Amon-Ra Shiraz, Barossa Valley (cork): Easily my favourite wine of the tasting, a sweet lick of nougat & coffee on the nose matched by powerful red liquorice and perfumed musk characters; the palate is a major step up on everything else and yet shows some restraint, finishing with grippy tannins. An excellent wine for the vintage, and a very pleasant surprise.
2010 Glaetzer Amon-Ra Shiraz, Barossa Valley (cork): This was far more fruity than the previous vintage, full of those sweet red liquorice and musk characters without any sign of oak; the palate isn’t as impressive, while it has the same scale and grippy tannins as the 2009 there’s also significant minty heat on the mid-palate and finish. A bit of a disappointment considering this should have been a much superior vintage.
Cheers,
Ian
2011 Heartland Pinot Gris, Langhorne Creek (screwcap): Full of sweet/green banana esters and grass, perhaps a little more grigio in style but a little unexpected and simple; maybe it will develop some complexity over the next few months, it needs to.
2009 Heartland Dolcetto & Lagrein, Langhorne Creek (screwcap): Lighter and sweeter than the 2007 vintage, very perfumed and more in the bright cherry spectrum, but the palate is let down by quite a bitter finish. It’s more like an ordinary Rosé this year for some reason – then again, it was literally a hell of a vintage down there.
2009 Heartland Shiraz, Langhorne Creek (screwcap): A promising nose of mint, cherries and white pepper is replicated on the medium-ish weight palate, but a like the Dolcetto & Lagrein a rather green/bitter finish spoils the party.
2009 Glaetzer Wallace Shiraz Grenache, Barossa Valley (screwcap): A little stinky at first, but it blows off to reveal jubes and boiled lollies, a touch of Turkish delight; despite being shiraz dominant it’s more grenache-like on the palate too, lightweight with a rather short finish.
2009 Heartland Cabernet Sauvignon, Langhorne Creek (screwcap): Minty and jubey with a dash of pepper like the shiraz, but it’s rather lightweight and hot.
2009 Heartland The Director’s Cut Shiraz, Langhorne Creek (screwcap): More perfumed than the rest of the Heartland range, a dash of coffee/nougat oak and richer, slightly medicinal black cherry fruit matching the familiar mint and black pepper characters. The palate’s medium-weight and plusher too, but has significant minty heat mid-palate (listed as 14.5%, I’d guess it's over 15%) that continues on to the nutty finish.
2009 Glaetzer Bishop Shiraz, Barossa Valley (screwcap): A little stinky at first like the Wallace, but likewise it blows off to reveal perfumed, musky raspberry fruit; the palate’s rather thin, not much more weight than the Wallace, and is short and hot too (15%). Very ordinary stuff.
2009 Glaetzer Anaparenna Shiraz Cabernet, Barossa Valley (cork): It’s a beautifully perfumed wine, full of raspberry cordial concentrate and musk, a lick of cedar, but doesn’t have quite the weight or length of previous releases. It’s medium-weight and also quite hot from the mid-palate onwards, the alcohol listed on their website as 14.5%, but the tasting sheet on the day had 15.1% – not a great vintage for the label.
2009 Glaetzer Amon-Ra Shiraz, Barossa Valley (cork): Easily my favourite wine of the tasting, a sweet lick of nougat & coffee on the nose matched by powerful red liquorice and perfumed musk characters; the palate is a major step up on everything else and yet shows some restraint, finishing with grippy tannins. An excellent wine for the vintage, and a very pleasant surprise.
2010 Glaetzer Amon-Ra Shiraz, Barossa Valley (cork): This was far more fruity than the previous vintage, full of those sweet red liquorice and musk characters without any sign of oak; the palate isn’t as impressive, while it has the same scale and grippy tannins as the 2009 there’s also significant minty heat on the mid-palate and finish. A bit of a disappointment considering this should have been a much superior vintage.
Cheers,
Ian
Forget about goodness and mercy, they're gone.
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Waiters Friend
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Re: Sunday drinking reports 11/9
Lots to report from four days in the Great Southern. This will require a separate report when I get the time, but will include Castle Rock, Dukes, Plantagenet, Wignalls, and Old Kent River. As expected, riesling and pinot 'on song', but some top chardonnay as well.
Wine, women and song. Ideally, you can experience all three at once.