Tasting Notes - Brisbane Offline 21st June @ Sprout Cafe

[ticklenow1]

I didn't take any notes, so once again just very brief memories which I'm sure others (step up Michael) can improve upon.

2000 Tyrrell's Vat 1 Semillon. Hunter Valley. A decent start to the night. Not really a huge lover of Hunter Sem's, but this was enjoyable enough. To me it needed more time. 3/5
2007 Devil's Lair Chardonnay. Margaret River. Loved this. Everything I expect from a good MR Chardy. Creamy, biscuity oak. Cashew nuts and some buttery flavours. Very Good. 4/5
1994 Wirra Wirra The Angelus Cabernet. McLaren Vale. I see Brett has stated above that it has some Coonawarra fruit in it. Explains the slightly minty nose. Cracking wine that was my WOTN by some margin. 4.5/5
2005 John Forrest Collection. Cabernet Sauvingnon. Hawkes Bay. Really suffered being served after the Wirra Wirra. But in fairness, anything would have. Not my thing and I thought it had a hole in the mid palate. 3/5
2007 & 2008 Fraser Gallop Cabernet Sauvingnon. Margaret River. Served together and very interesting. The 2008 was the better wine as it seemed to have more body. The 2007 is still a decent drop, it was just outclassed by the 2008. 3/5 & 3.5/5
2004 Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet. Barossa Valley As many know, I love Rockford wines, particularly this one. This bottle actually was a little better than the last bottle I tried late last year. Going along very nicely indeed and should hold and improve for many more years. 4/5
2006 Katnook Odyssey Cabernet Sauvingnon. Coonawarra Like a 2004 that we had at an offline a couple of years back, this is a very good wine. Built for the long haul, but more than drinkable now. It's big, but has exceptional balance and superb tannin structure which in tandem with the massive fruit, should provide for a great wine in about 10-15 years. 4/5
2004 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet. Margaret River. My pick of the "Westies" by some margin. Excellent wine that will develop into something exceptional. Medium bodied and amazing balance. Needs time (as almost all the wines did). 4/5
2006 Clarendon Hills Sandown Cabernet Sauvingnon. McLaren Vale. Big wine which was paired with the Noon. Not quite as big as the Noon but still right up my alley. Just lacked a bit of length. 4/5
2006 Noon Reserve Cabernet Sauvingnon. Langhorne Creek. Massive wine which probably gets the gong for biggest of the night. Just a touch of sweetness, which I really like. Michael is right, neither of the Noon or Clarendon Hills were very varietal. Just big fruit monsters. Having said that, I really enjoyed both and neither showed any alcohol heat at all. 4/5
2007 & 2008 Forest Hill Estate Cabernet Sauvingnon. Great Southern. As with the Fraser Gallops, these were served together and the '08 was the pick. The '07 may be the better cellaring wine. Both were only medium bodied at best and being served after the two fruit bombs before it really didn't help their cause. How Halliday gave the '07 97pts is quite beyond me. 3.5/5 & 3.5/5
2010 Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvingnon. Margaret River. Very hard to get anything out of this wine. It was wound very tightly and might be approachable probably by tomorrow if left in the decanter. You could sense that it will be an epic wine.....in about 20 years! 3/5

Rens summed it up best with his "infanticide" comment. Many very young wines on show but still a very interesting exercise. I'd love to try the same line up in about 10 years time.

It was another great night and welcome to Cesar (even if you have no clue about English Football ). Hope to see you again at the next one. The food was excellent, as was the company. Cabernet is not normally my go to wine but I thoroughly enjoyed the lineup. Many different styles of wines and opinions on them. I always find that fascinating. Looking forward to the next Brisbane Offline. I guess the biggest wrap I can give the group is my friend Mark who came along as my +1, really enjoyed the night and the company and is keen to have another go. He's not a massive wine drinker but said that he enjoyed listening to our banter.

Cheers
Ian

[rens]

Thanks for the write up Ian.
Great summation of the night.

[Cesar]

I had an awesome time, it was great to meet a group of people who love wine and football as much as I do(Even if epl isn't my forte!) Like Mark I enjoyed the banter as well and am looking forward to next time.

Thanks for the write up Ian it sums it up nicely, I thought the John Forresters would have been a different wine if the were a bit cooler as all I got was heat. A great line up and great to meet everyone!

Also after Argentina vs Iran does anyone still sees them as clear favorites?

[Michael McNally]

Thanks for the notes Ian. Great summary of the wines.

An excellent night at Sprout. Good company - welcome Cesar! - pretty good food and great wines.

Unfortunately despite the time of year the venue was hot and the wines were often too warm which may have accentuated some flaws. Very noisy space as well. The glassware was an issue and we were rationed to two glasses each. They didn't have any ice buckets so the spit/tip bucket was a huge stainless punch bowl /champagne cooler. Mind you, food was solid and the cost was $90 for three courses including corkage.

My take on the wines.

2000 Tyrrell's Vat 1 Semillon. Hunter Valley. Shy nose. Light across the palate. Nice texture, but not enough oomph to excite my senses. Pleasant start. Thanks Brett.

2007 Devil's Lair Chardonnay. Margaret River. Classic Margaret River chardonnay. Nectarines and cashew nut. Lovely acid. Could drink an awful lot of this. Thanks Ian.

A brief discussion of tasting order came up with the idea of not leaving the best wines to last (as we tend to do).
1994 Wirra Wirra The Angelus Cabernet. McLaren Vale. Great colour for a 20-year-old wine. Still plenty of fruit. Medium bodied. Great tannin and complex flaours of blackcurrant, (rens got some formic acid "crushed ant"), cassis and some tobacco and old wood. Ian said from the get go that this would be difficult to top as WOTN and we raised a glass to the person who had stored it so well and foolishly sold it at auction!

2005 John Forrest Collection. Cabernet Sauvingnon. Hawkes Bay. This was clearly a good wine and quite varietal and in good balance, but lacked any real wow factor, though others suggested it was simply too young. Thanks Rens.

2007 & 2008 Fraser Gallop Cabernet Sauvingnon. Margaret River. Agree that the 2008 was the better wine as it was more fruit forward and fuller on the palate, but I think the 2007 might just prove the better wine in the long run due to its restraint and better balance. Again, thanks Rens.

2004 Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet. Barossa Valley. Top notch Cabernet from a good year. Alcohol in no way OTT, but opulent and powerful. My only (petty) criticism would be that for such a big wine the length wasn't there but this was in the top 5, maybe top 3, behind the Wirra Wirra and the Leeuwin. Thanks Ian.

2006 Katnook Odyssey Cabernet Sauvingnon. Coonawarra. Massive wine. Maintains its varietal integrity. Mint choc, dark fruit. Nice oak (though a tad prominent). This had length. Good drinking but its best years are well ahead of it. Thanks Cesar.

2004 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet. Margaret River. Quite tight on first look this relaxed in the glass and took on power and length with some gravelly notes, eucalypt and tar. Beautiful tannin. The last taste of this went on and on. I would wait for another few years if I only had one or two left (unfortunately I have none!). Beautiful wine thanks Nick

2006 Clarendon Hills Sandown Cabernet Sauvingnon. McLaren Vale. This was Godzilla to the Noon's King Kong. Huge impressive wine that could have been a Shiraz. Very nice if you like that sort of thing. I prefer my wines to taste a bit more of the grapes they come from. Thanks Cesar.

2006 Noon Reserve Cabernet Sauvingnon. Langhorne Creek. Godzilla strolling like a wrecking ball across the taste buds. Again, for me the varietal characters sacrificed for pure power. This had some Grenache-like confectionary notes to boot. Again, one for the hedonists. Thanks Ian.

2007 & 2008 Forest Hill Estate Cabernet Sauvingnon. Great Southern. As Ian says these were quite similar to the Fraser Gallops though I had the feeling the 08 would triumph over time. Although bigger and more fruit forward than its 07 counterpart this had better balance overall. Thanks Ian.

2010 Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvingnon. Margaret River. This was way too tight, or possibly heat affected. Or I was pissed. Or all three. I would have to see a bottle that had been opened the night before to really tell. If it is sound then leave for 5 years at least. Thanks Brett.

The wine of the night vote was close with the Wirra Wirra just pipping the Leeuwin Estate (I think 4-3) with other votes going to the Katnook and (I think) the Noon? Or the Clarendon. This is why you don’t leave your notebook at the restaurant.

Another great Brisbane offline

We will be at it again in July when regular out of towner Luke is down. Would be great to see some more new faces (no offence to the old faces among us!)

Cheers

Michael