Starting another weekly thread...
Tonight I am possessed of the joys of figuring out how to get my air freight belongings from my service apartment to my new permanent apartment... What else to accompany but something I bought on a whim at a strange but interesting store that sells good whiskey, Armagnac, olive oil and balsamic by the jar straight from casks (being singapore, this is in a mall)
Hospices de Beaune Pommard Cuvée Billardet 1998. The colour is mid brick red. Certainly ageing, but not overly brown. First impressions of this wine are masculine, muscular (nappy clad? Brutal breeding? No, and apologies to the whitlams), that is quite dense. With some breathing (this was pop and pour) it emerges a little more nuanced, with some lifted strawberry, some sous bois, but still a slightly grippy, medium finish. Not bad. Perhaps a little one dimensional.
SGD70 for the record. (Apologies Gavin, but I am sure you don't mind me reporting prices from another country!)
Weekly drinking, w/c 12th August
Weekly drinking, w/c 12th August
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Sam
Sam
Re: Weekly drinking, w/c 12th August
Been serious drinking sessions all over the place last two weeks:
2002 Wendouree Shiraz - First ever Wendouree, very very good drop, decanted for 4 hours, cork was in mint condition, bugger all staining, not too tannic, yet smooth subtle mature notes, read some mixed reports on the 2002 vintage, but mine was just fine, plenty of time to open my second and last 2002 vintage bottle. Ate Wagyu Scotch Fillet with Truffled Butter with it. Very distinctive type of shiraz. Stunning aromas. But it didn't have the "wow" factor to me, yet I really enjoyed this drop.
2010 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz - First of a six pack...wow, what a ripper, awesome young shiraz, won't be opening others for a long long time. Love this.
2007 Tahbilk Shiraz - Solid Good, can't complain with simple things Tahbilk does.
2010 Marius Mataro - Very Solid Good, beautifully matched with BBQ Rosemary, Balsamic and Garlic Infused Saltbush Leg of Lamb
2010 Marius Shiraz Mourvedre - Being Marius Wine, again, can't complain, solid good, Enjoyable.
2007 Woodlands "Margaret" - Cab Blend, much better than the 1st one drank last year, good drop, smooth and very light bodied, never will be "awesome" wine for me.
2011 Bellarmine Dry Riesling - Brilliant, Love it, so light, crisp, refreshing, glad got several more in cellar.
2012 Bellarmine Dry Riesling - Very very good, reminds me some of Clare Valley Rieslings, little bit more bodied than the 2011 Vintage, little, not much little darker colour than the 2011 Vintage. Still very good drop, happy with it.
1978 Samuels Vintage Port - Enjoyable, typical standard old Aussie Port, went great with European cheeses and truffled honey, drank over 3 days, fruit notes seem little lost after 2-3 days. Got 1979 and 1980 Vintages in cellar, better get onto them soon I believe.
2002 Wendouree Shiraz - First ever Wendouree, very very good drop, decanted for 4 hours, cork was in mint condition, bugger all staining, not too tannic, yet smooth subtle mature notes, read some mixed reports on the 2002 vintage, but mine was just fine, plenty of time to open my second and last 2002 vintage bottle. Ate Wagyu Scotch Fillet with Truffled Butter with it. Very distinctive type of shiraz. Stunning aromas. But it didn't have the "wow" factor to me, yet I really enjoyed this drop.
2010 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz - First of a six pack...wow, what a ripper, awesome young shiraz, won't be opening others for a long long time. Love this.
2007 Tahbilk Shiraz - Solid Good, can't complain with simple things Tahbilk does.
2010 Marius Mataro - Very Solid Good, beautifully matched with BBQ Rosemary, Balsamic and Garlic Infused Saltbush Leg of Lamb
2010 Marius Shiraz Mourvedre - Being Marius Wine, again, can't complain, solid good, Enjoyable.
2007 Woodlands "Margaret" - Cab Blend, much better than the 1st one drank last year, good drop, smooth and very light bodied, never will be "awesome" wine for me.
2011 Bellarmine Dry Riesling - Brilliant, Love it, so light, crisp, refreshing, glad got several more in cellar.
2012 Bellarmine Dry Riesling - Very very good, reminds me some of Clare Valley Rieslings, little bit more bodied than the 2011 Vintage, little, not much little darker colour than the 2011 Vintage. Still very good drop, happy with it.
1978 Samuels Vintage Port - Enjoyable, typical standard old Aussie Port, went great with European cheeses and truffled honey, drank over 3 days, fruit notes seem little lost after 2-3 days. Got 1979 and 1980 Vintages in cellar, better get onto them soon I believe.
Re: Weekly drinking, w/c 12th August
Last night was a nice surprise. A friend called me over to a wine bar and shouted a couple of bottles.
DRC Echezeaux 2000 - Strawberries, salted cherries, sweet dark berries, dashi, five spice, dirt and probably some other stuff on the nose that I forget. It lacked the intensity I look for in a wine of this stature. The palate was pleasant but thin, not much fruit showing but a fair amount of acid. Tannins were VERY fine and were the biggest indicator of which winery this came from. Almost invisible but very present at the same time. I'd leave them for a while if I had any but I'm not sure if this will ever come together as it should. Bottle variation or issues of provenance could be a thing.
Chateau Latour 1988 - Beautiful ruby and an ever so slight bricking on the rim. It still looked quite young and glossy. Initially a nose of tobacco, cedar, leather, tar, rocks and a hint of green capsicum. After time there was a hint of bright cassis and some kind of an umami kick but the fruit didn't last. The palate was thin, minerally, and super dry. It's decent but not even a 90pointer if you ask me. It may see a slight improvement in the future but I'd sell them if you have them.
Neither worked out so well this time but it's always a privilege to try these kinds of wines and it was fun to check them out.
DRC Echezeaux 2000 - Strawberries, salted cherries, sweet dark berries, dashi, five spice, dirt and probably some other stuff on the nose that I forget. It lacked the intensity I look for in a wine of this stature. The palate was pleasant but thin, not much fruit showing but a fair amount of acid. Tannins were VERY fine and were the biggest indicator of which winery this came from. Almost invisible but very present at the same time. I'd leave them for a while if I had any but I'm not sure if this will ever come together as it should. Bottle variation or issues of provenance could be a thing.
Chateau Latour 1988 - Beautiful ruby and an ever so slight bricking on the rim. It still looked quite young and glossy. Initially a nose of tobacco, cedar, leather, tar, rocks and a hint of green capsicum. After time there was a hint of bright cassis and some kind of an umami kick but the fruit didn't last. The palate was thin, minerally, and super dry. It's decent but not even a 90pointer if you ask me. It may see a slight improvement in the future but I'd sell them if you have them.
Neither worked out so well this time but it's always a privilege to try these kinds of wines and it was fun to check them out.
Re: Weekly drinking, w/c 12th August
Panda 9D wrote:Last night was a nice surprise. A friend called me over to a wine bar and shouted a couple of bottles.
DRC Echezeaux 2000 -
Chateau Latour 1988 - .
I wouldn't mind a few friends like that!! Even if the wines weren't quite as good as you might have hoped...
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Sam
Sam
Re: Weekly drinking, w/c 12th August
Nice bottle for lunch today at Le Chassagne in Chassagne-Montrachet.
In keeping with our goal of thinking globally but drinking locally, we had a 2007 Premier Cru, "Clos Saint-Jean" from Domaine Ramonet which went down very well with the 5-course lunch menu, after a glass of "Les Chenevottes" from Phillipe Colin. It was a really well balanced wine with everything we like about Burgundy - complex with lots of very attractive, spicy, cherry fruit and a huge finish. Went particularly well with the beef and with the extremely smelly d'Epoisses.
Lucky it was only a short drive home after nearly 3 hours at the restaurant - and come to think of it, it wasn't that expensive if you work it out as a per minute rate!
In keeping with our goal of thinking globally but drinking locally, we had a 2007 Premier Cru, "Clos Saint-Jean" from Domaine Ramonet which went down very well with the 5-course lunch menu, after a glass of "Les Chenevottes" from Phillipe Colin. It was a really well balanced wine with everything we like about Burgundy - complex with lots of very attractive, spicy, cherry fruit and a huge finish. Went particularly well with the beef and with the extremely smelly d'Epoisses.
Lucky it was only a short drive home after nearly 3 hours at the restaurant - and come to think of it, it wasn't that expensive if you work it out as a per minute rate!
Re: Weekly drinking, w/c 12th August
2007 Te Mata Estate Awatea Cabernets Merlot.
Without question in my my mind the greatest ever vintage of Awatea. I even think it is a better wine than lesser Coleraine vintages even though it is slightly more open knit in style. I love it so much that the substantial stocks that I collected on, and after release, are nearly all gone! I think I only have three bottles left. I fear I may drink my last bottle before it even peaks.
This is a very serious bordeaux styled wine with a nose chock full of iodine, black olive, cedar and graphite. The palate is very concentrated and serious again with black olive, liquorice and pencil shaving dominating with notes of wet stone and above these base notes are sweet plum fruit.
I must save a bottle of this to slip into a night blind with some top bordeaux. At its price point of $30 a bottle, I can't think of anything released in the last decade from NZ that would top this. Pure class, a wine drinkers wine, and great buying. No hurry on this one, I think it easily has another decade of life in it.
Without question in my my mind the greatest ever vintage of Awatea. I even think it is a better wine than lesser Coleraine vintages even though it is slightly more open knit in style. I love it so much that the substantial stocks that I collected on, and after release, are nearly all gone! I think I only have three bottles left. I fear I may drink my last bottle before it even peaks.
This is a very serious bordeaux styled wine with a nose chock full of iodine, black olive, cedar and graphite. The palate is very concentrated and serious again with black olive, liquorice and pencil shaving dominating with notes of wet stone and above these base notes are sweet plum fruit.
I must save a bottle of this to slip into a night blind with some top bordeaux. At its price point of $30 a bottle, I can't think of anything released in the last decade from NZ that would top this. Pure class, a wine drinkers wine, and great buying. No hurry on this one, I think it easily has another decade of life in it.
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ticklenow1
- Posts: 1147
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Re: Weekly drinking, w/c 12th August
Thanks Craig. I have a couple of bottles of this and on your review I'll leave them for another 5 or so. I've never actually tried any Kiwi Bordeaux blends so I look forward to it.
Cheers
Ian
Cheers
Ian
If you had to choose between drinking great wine or winning Lotto, which would you choose - Red or White?
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via collins
- Posts: 727
- Joined: Mon Apr 13, 2009 4:16 pm
Re: Weekly drinking, w/c 12th August
Great love letter to the 07 Awatea Craig. "You say tomato, I say Te Mata" says Al Brown in hi recent terrific book.
If push comes to shove, I'd say I probably enjoy this label more than any other.
It was the 05 Coleraine that first floored me, and I' be been buying it annually since.
Then the 08 Elston Chardonnay showed me there's little these guys can't do well, a simply stunning wine.
Ironically, I've just ended a nasty flu opening Oz version if the Awatea, the Voyager Estate 08 Girt by Sea. Very nice it is too, but then I read your note on the Awatea, and perspective kicks in! Glad I have a few put away.
If push comes to shove, I'd say I probably enjoy this label more than any other.
It was the 05 Coleraine that first floored me, and I' be been buying it annually since.
Then the 08 Elston Chardonnay showed me there's little these guys can't do well, a simply stunning wine.
Ironically, I've just ended a nasty flu opening Oz version if the Awatea, the Voyager Estate 08 Girt by Sea. Very nice it is too, but then I read your note on the Awatea, and perspective kicks in! Glad I have a few put away.
Re: Weekly drinking, w/c 12th August
grb2001 wrote:Nice bottle for lunch today at Le Chassagne in Chassagne-Montrachet.
In keeping with our goal of thinking globally but drinking locally, we had a 2007 Premier Cru, "Clos Saint-Jean" from Domaine Ramonet which went down very well with the 5-course lunch menu, after a glass of "Les Chenevottes" from Phillipe Colin. It was a really well balanced wine with everything we like about Burgundy - complex with lots of very attractive, spicy, cherry fruit and a huge finish. Went particularly well with the beef and with the extremely smelly d'Epoisses.
Lucky it was only a short drive home after nearly 3 hours at the restaurant - and come to think of it, it wasn't that expensive if you work it out as a per minute rate!
Sounds great, would appreciate further trip updates if possible.