1994 Wendouree Shiraz - Crumbly cork but no harm done to the wine. Drunk best in between 30-60mins from opening. Fruit still there, although the finish was only medium length. Having said that it's pretty good for its age, enjoyable but probably on it's last legs. Drink up.
2003 Rockford Basket Press - Cork was more or less fine. Kept getting better the more air it got, was singing after an hour or so in the decanter. Very good for the vintage, definitely put the Wendouree in the shadows. Great nose, generous palate of developed shiraz with still plenty of fruit there and a decent finish. Very very good. Has a few years left in it for sure.
1997 Tahbilk Cabernet Sauvignon - Decanted for a couple of hours prior to drinking. Was a bit worries as the cork showed signs of seepage, and when pulled it looked fairly recent. Lots of sediment on the cork and in the bottle.
Initially had very faint earthy smell, but developed more over the decant time. Fruit aromas returned with a bang and was just very nice. This is the bit where my technical ability wanes but there were tastes of chocolate, black fruit and still had that pucker factor across the tongue (?).
Cracked one of these last night. Only decanted half an hour and probably could have used a little more. Seemed to open up a bit as we drank it. Lovely nose showing red fruit and musky spice. A lot of soft, juicy red fruit on the palate still but also a little mint and spice. A little hollow on the mid palate but good long finish. Still quite tannic and I felt a little palate fatigue by the end of the bottle (I drank most of it). Maybe the 15% alcohol level wore me down? Don't know. All in all quite enjoyable and still has plenty of time in it.
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Some nice wines recently: 2008 Marius 'End Play' - Chock full of interest. Length to burn. In a good space but no rush. 2006 Kabminye Schliebs' Block - Beautiful drinking 2004 Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz - Thought this would be good, but it was really very good. 2006 Marius Simpatico Shiraz - Reliable excellence 2008 Burge Family Winemakers Clochemerle - Slightly fruit sweet, but enough complexity and seriousness to pull it off.
First vintage of their shiraz that has ever gone onto the market. I've got to say, so far it seems a strange wine. Decanted it an hour and a half. At first it had a nice aroma of earth, spice, white pepper and red fruit all merged into a smooth and sophisticated bouquet. On first tasting had some light red fruit, some more of that white pepper/spice, a little meat, lighter bodied and medium to long finish. Light, smooth tannins. Thought it was some interesting, light cool climate shiraz.
However, now, some 3 1/2 hours out of the bottle (and for some time now) it has smelled and tasted like a really vegetal Pinot. Damp mulch/vegetation on the Jose work just a hint of red fruit. Very much the same in the mouth with some background spice and a medium to long finish.
The vegetation was not there at all for the first 2 hours or so.
Very odd. When I first tasted it I was ready to go buy a 6 pack. Now it tastes like a fuller bodied Pinot from a sub par vintage.
Really got me scratching my head.
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First vintage of their shiraz that has ever gone onto the market. I've got to say, so far it seems a strange wine. Decanted it an hour and a half. At first it had a nice aroma of earth, spice, white pepper and red fruit all merged into a smooth and sophisticated bouquet. On first tasting had some light red fruit, some more of that white pepper/spice, a little meat, lighter bodied and medium to long finish. Light, smooth tannins. Thought it was some interesting, light cool climate shiraz.
However, now, some 3 1/2 hours out of the bottle (and for some time now) it has smelled and tasted like a really vegetal Pinot. Damp mulch/vegetation on the Jose work just a hint of red fruit. Very much the same in the mouth with some background spice and a medium to long finish.
The vegetation was not there at all for the first 2 hours or so.
Very odd. When I first tasted it I was ready to go buy a 6 pack. Now it tastes like a fuller bodied Pinot from a sub par vintage.
Really got me scratching my head.
The downside of not destemming, ie. the wine is 100% stalk or whole bunch.
The winemaker, Keppell Smith, who takes a "natural" approach I suppose does the same with his pinot. Gives the wine extra flavour complexity, but with a bit of herbal or vegetative character thrown into it and sometimes greener tannins. Also the result of Beechworth's altitude (the shiraz just ripening enough), the moderate alcohol level, wild yeast and natural fermentation and the finished wine is unfiltered - so this shiraz is going to be a little funky, savoury, earthy/herbal and unfamiliar (comparing it with the cleaner, warmer shiraz style we drink most of the time) probably.
I thought your likening it to a pinot was interesting too. A few genuinely cool-climate shiraz often have an eery similarity to the pinot from the same winery, Seville Estate (in Yarra Valley) and Paringa Estate, Red Hill Estate and Merricks Estate (in Mornington Peninsula) come to mind for example.
This story on Savaterre by Joe Roberts (an American blogger) is a couple of years old, but gives a bit of an insight into Keppell Smith's credo or what he's on about with his wines.
Thanks for the info Sean. I had not tried a shiraz quite like it before. I actually went and checked the bottle to make sure I hadn ot accidentally cracked a pinot haha. It was interesting how much it changed/opened up in different ways. I really like the chardonnay and don't mind the pinot. I suspect the shiraz may end up going ok too, but maybe it needs time to settle down and develop a bit. There was definitely structure there, and good length, and plenty of nose and flavour. It was actually a really interesting wine to drink and not unpleasant at all, just took me by surprise. I also am not sure it offers great VFM at the moment, when I compare it to say a Dalwhinnie shiraz at the same price point, or a Freycinet Pinot, but I don't know if you like drinking interesting wine that makes you think, it probably isn't bad value. It has me quite intrigued. I am almost tempted to crack another bottle later this week, give it another go and decide if I want to get a few more to lay down and experiment with over time.
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2009 Wynns V&A Cab shiraz. A bit of a brooding one this, almost black in colour, not giving much away on the nose and medium body in the mouth. An awkward phase perhaps...but did not have the wow.
2003 E&E Black Pepper shiraz No black pepper here, more like white. Really good wine though, has years and years to go.
Sean wrote:I thought your likening it to a pinot was interesting too. A few genuinely cool-climate shiraz often have an eery similarity to the pinot from the same winery, Seville Estate (in Yarra Valley) and Paringa Estate, Red Hill Estate and Merricks Estate (in Mornington Peninsula) come to mind for example.
Is it their Shiraz is like a Pinot or their Pinot is like a Shiraz? ..sorry..couldn't help myself...
2006 Kalleske Pirathon First one of these that I have had. 2005 seems to have longer legs than this. This was rather muted and subdued. Still a good drink 2006 Frogmore Creek Pinot Noir - Cherries, gruntier and very powerful nose. Dark in colour very good.
Not so much formal tasting notes, but the wine maker for Landhaus popped in to work today and had almost the entire line up for us to try. Highlights were:
2014 Sauvignon Blanc - Crisp, fruity, minerally. Everything you want from a Sav Blanc.
2012 'The Sinner' GSM - Very smooth and easy to drink. Great quoffing wine for sure.
2010 'Classics' Shiraz Cab - My favourite of the line up. Already developed a bit. Very moorish. Great length and structure. Would go great with Italian/Mediterranean food.
Other worthy mentions are the 2008 'Rare' Shiraz, 2010 'Classics' Shiraz Mourvedre and 2012 'The Saint' Shiraz. The Pinot Noir was pretty good too. Others were kind of forgettable, albeit not bad. Stay away from the Arneis, though, not impressed by that one, the only dud of the line up.
catchnrelease wrote:Not so much formal tasting notes, but the wine maker for Landhaus popped in to work today and had almost the entire line up for us to try. Highlights were:
2014 Sauvignon Blanc - Crisp, fruity, minerally. Everything you want from a Sav Blanc.
2012 'The Sinner' GSM - Very smooth and easy to drink. Great quoffing wine for sure.
2010 'Classics' Shiraz Cab - My favourite of the line up. Already developed a bit. Very moorish. Great length and structure. Would go great with Italian/Mediterranean food.
Other worthy mentions are the 2008 'Rare' Shiraz, 2010 'Classics' Shiraz Mourvedre and 2012 'The Saint' Shiraz. The Pinot Noir was pretty good too. Others were kind of forgettable, albeit not bad. Stay away from the Arneis, though, not impressed by that one, the only dud of the line up.
catchnrelease wrote:Not so much formal tasting notes, but the wine maker for Landhaus popped in to work today and had almost the entire line up for us to try. Highlights were:
2014 Sauvignon Blanc - Crisp, fruity, minerally. Everything you want from a Sav Blanc.
2012 'The Sinner' GSM - Very smooth and easy to drink. Great quoffing wine for sure.
2010 'Classics' Shiraz Cab - My favourite of the line up. Already developed a bit. Very moorish. Great length and structure. Would go great with Italian/Mediterranean food.
Other worthy mentions are the 2008 'Rare' Shiraz, 2010 'Classics' Shiraz Mourvedre and 2012 'The Saint' Shiraz. The Pinot Noir was pretty good too. Others were kind of forgettable, albeit not bad. Stay away from the Arneis, though, not impressed by that one, the only dud of the line up.
and how was Kane, in good form, as usual?
.
First time I had met the guy, seemed like a nice bloke. Generous with his pours which was good to see.
1998 bin 28 - good but on the downward slope. 1998 mamre brook shiraz superb 1999 basket press very good 1999 mesach grant burge very good 02 Oliver's taranga hj reserve best wine of the year. Awesome. 02 Marius Shiraz almost as good as the hj reserve 02 grange ok but too showy? 12 dexter Pinot. Best Pinot of the year by a long way super silky. 12 l enfant Jesus. Restaurant buy ok but the dexter was better for me. Obviously my philistine tongue as I was the only other diner who agreed.
2012 k1 Pinot good 2005 undercover Shiraz from pertaringa great wine from magnum 2010 pertaringa yeoman great wine but not worth 150 2010 Kay brothers hillside - showing much better than six months ago will be a good wine.
2010 Penfolds Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz - love this wine. Great nose and mouthfeel. Only thing lacking is a touch more length, but this is nit-picking.
2001 LEAS Chardonnay. A rockstar. Drinking magnificently now. Probably has 2 or 3 years of peak drinking left.
2002 Pierre Peters Les Chetillons. As good as the LEAS was, this was even better. It will be at its peak in 8 or so years for my palate. I have a feeling this is a Champagne label that will double in price in a few years, such is the demand and the quality. The 2008 release at the end of the year should sell out in a day or two.
1990 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz - in top form. I tend to prefer the 91, but on this showing, I'm not so sure. You really can't go wrong with a well cellared bottle of either.
1990 Henschke Mt Edelstone - qualitatively on par with the Rockford, but just a tad more elegant.
1999 Pegau CNdP - another wine in a great place right now.
2009 Penfolds Grange - ok, its too young, but if someone else is paying, you don't say no. I saw criticisms of this wine on this forum, but I have to say, it has the making of a fantastic wine. It is really tight and shy, and doesn't provide immediate enjoyment - and for reasons I can't explain, reminded me of the 2002 at release. But knowing the lineage, I have no doubts it will become a swan one day.
2004 Mailly Echansons - one of the bigger co-ops in Champagne and this is their tete-du-cuvee. On day one, it really did nothing for me, but by the second day it had fattened up and revealed lots of minerality and lemon-lime acidity. Good wine, but at the price, there are much better.
2003 Chateau Leoville Barton - ripe vintage and this reminds me of some of the top Californian reds. Fantastic with medium - rare rack of lamb.
2003 Chateau Rieussec - lush & mellifluous and while lacking the acidity of the great vintages, I loved this. Not the most cerebral experience, rather, it's more hedonistic.
2010 Penfolds Cellar Reserve Mataro - one of the only times I've had a straight mataro. Really enjoyable.
1993 Dom Perignon Oenotheque - not really sure why I bought this. Its an acceptable champagne, but on this showing, should have been 20% of the price.
2003 Dom Perignon - I've trashed this wine in the past (as have numerous others), but perhaps its coming around slowly. Time will tell. Anyway, I opened it to celebrate a mate's engagement, and he and his fiancee thought it was the bees knees.
1988 Dom Perignon - while this is a really good DP, it doesn't quite hit the heights of the best wines from this vintage, which are simply stupendous. Still, I really enjoyed it.
Mike Hawkins wrote:Chillwrx - I've had quite a bit of the 98 Bin 28, and for my tastes, it's still on the way up.
Surprised by Chillwrx's observations, my experience is similar to yours Mike. My 96's likewise still have plenty of life. 2006 Five Vignerons (Kim Tuesner made for Wine Club- Cellarmasters?) - what a little beauty. Kim is a legend at making delightful wine that kicks way above its weight in terms of bang for its buck. This number reminded me of an older Riebke and delivered delectable blackberry fruits in a harmony with fine grainy tannins and a nose that accurately predicted the delight to come (and I was told for about $12!).
If you can remember what a wine is like the next day you didn't drink enough of it Peynaud
2008 Majella Musician Cabernet Shiraz - I typically buy a few of these in most vintages and drink over 3-5 years. When I first opened this it smelled a little porty and I thought may have been a bit too developed - but gave it a little time and presented ok. Mainly blackcurrant fruit, not much oak impact, round soft texture with tannin nicely resolved. The storage on this probably hasn't been ideal but I would drink them up if I had any left (which I don't).
2012 Hillcrest Village Cabernet Sauvignon - Drank this over 2 nights and didn't move much. Opened up with a fairly subdued nose - blackberry and blackcurrant and graphite. Palate has that lovely medium weight and fine mouthfeel which I enjoy in Yarra Valley cabernet. Black fruits on the palate too; but it's the mineral edge, balanced acidity and fine tannin that draw out the length of the finish. Classy and very good - I'll wait at least 5 years before opening another out of the 6-pack.
2006 McWilliams Mt Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon - Got a dozen at a ridiculous low price from a clearance place. Lemony drive with honeyed toasty palate, still fresh acidity. Right in the drinking window for me, it's ok but not top shelf Hunter Semillon, will drink nicely as a mid-weeker over the next couple of years. I've probably preferred 2005 Elizabeth over 2006, though 2006 was a terrific Hunter Semillon vintage.
Quite a rich red colour with no significantly noticeable bricking. Nose is worn in leather and spice and the palate carries that through along with a touch of dried red fruit. Fine but prominent tannins and well balanced acidity. Medium bodied and medium length finish. An enjoyable wine with mostly secondary flavours and an enjoyable mouth feel. Matched very nicely with slow braised beef cheeks cooked in pedro ximinez and red wine.
2013 Felton Road Bannockburn Pinot Noir
Sitting between ruby and garnet in colour. Looks the part. On the nose already sophisticated and medium bodied. Clear cherry and floral notes on the nose. The palate is well rounded with strong juicy cherry fruit, a hint of spice and noticeable but well balanced tannins. Slight gamey follow through. Medium, smooth finish. A lovely young wine and has potential to develop nicely.
2004 Jim Barry Riesling The Florita
Strong kero nose and sharp acid, both of which settled down after 10-15 minutes or so. Very strong lime aromas with some floral notes. Strong lime with toast and honey on the palate. Slightly unctuous and enjoyable mouth feel. Medium finish with good acid, maybe slightly out of balance though. Overall a very enjoyable and moreish wine after it settled down with 10-15 minutes of air.
You can find me on Instagram at oz_oenophile Follow for my little wine journey.
Mike Hawkins wrote:Chillwrx - I've had quite a bit of the 98 Bin 28, and for my tastes, it's still on the way up.
Surprised by Chillwrx's observations, my experience is similar to yours Mike. My 96's likewise still have plenty of life. 2006 Five Vignerons (Kim Tuesner made for Wine Club- Cellarmasters?) - what a little beauty. Kim is a legend at making delightful wine that kicks way above its weight in terms of bang for its buck. This number reminded me of an older Riebke and delivered delectable blackberry fruits in a harmony with fine grainy tannins and a nose that accurately predicted the delight to come (and I was told for about $12!).
I am quite happy to leave these "mature" wines for you gentleman. The wine was definitely drinkable with plenty of interesting things about it but it was showing its age.
I considered the wine a cougar - on a good night I would drink (or do) it but why bother when there are so many younger wines that are more to my taste......
2003 Chateau Leoville Barton - ripe vintage and this reminds me of some of the top Californian reds. Fantastic with medium - rare rack of lamb.
Mike
I am surprised to hear this appears to be so approachable now, notwithstanding it was a hot year. I have a bit of the 2005 tucked away which I am dying to try but everything I have read about the Leoville Barton is that they take decades to come into their own. Do you think this was so good now because of the hotter vintage?
Luke W wrote:Mike Hawkins wrote: Chillwrx - I've had quite a bit of the 98 Bin 28, and for my tastes, it's still on the way up.
Surprised by Chillwrx's observations, my experience is similar to yours Mike. My 96's likewise still have plenty of life.
For my tastes the 98 Bin 28's have peaked. Don't know what the upside for this wine at this stage would look like Although I have to say that the bottle I consumed definitely didn't seem to be going south in a hurry in the hour or so that we had it open. I reckon well cellared bottles are good for another 3 years at most.
A mate pulled recently one of these out his cellar for breakfast for $hits and giggles Black licorice, black plum fruit, perhaps a touch of olive, practically no or very fine little tannins left, integrated chocolate and mocha. What's not to like about a wine consumed at breakfast? 91pts.
Domaine A Cabernet 2004... Delicious, serious wine. Deeply fruited, lovely medium bodied weight and long, even finish with genteel but recognisable tannins. Drinking superbly, with a long plateau ahead of it. Notes realtively unchanged from the last bottle 3 or 4 months ago.
2012 Dutschke St Jakobi had a couple at a dinner last week and will be a good wine with a few more years on it. 2001 Domaine Lucci Mere Syrah at the same dinner. Softer wine but a lot of pepper again. Good food wine 2006 Charles Melton 9Popes- starting to turn into something very good. Just very well balanced 2010 Kurtz Seven Sleepers Shiraz- again starting to turn into something very good for $12 a bottle. Drunk over two nights and didn't really budge a lot from the first night.
2003 Chateau Leoville Barton - ripe vintage and this reminds me of some of the top Californian reds. Fantastic with medium - rare rack of lamb.
Mike
I am surprised to hear this appears to be so approachable now, notwithstanding it was a hot year. I have a bit of the 2005 tucked away which I am dying to try but everything I have read about the Leoville Barton is that they take decades to come into their own. Do you think this was so good now because of the hotter vintage?
Mark
I mistakenly opened a bottle of the 2005 earlier this year and it was like drinking tannin mouthwash. It is decades away from being ready and I'd strongly recommend staying away from it ! The 2003 is very atypical as the fruit seems much more lush than LB is known for, hence its approachability. That said, it will last for plenty more years yet.
Scratched a chardonnay itch at the weekend with mixed results
2009 Main Ridge Estate Chardonnay started off well, quite lush, stone fruit, figs. Medium bodied with a creamy texture - good intensity but then loses persistence on the finish and really lacks any acidity. A bit disappointing.
2009 Olivier Leflaive Saint-Aubin 1er Cru Le Charmois a little concern that this might be a bit fat coming from '09 but over delivered. Plenty of fruit (pears), has some savoury nutty flavours, some citrus - plenty going on. Nice long, clean finish.
..sorry..couldn't help myself...
Black licorice, black plum fruit, perhaps a touch of olive, practically no or very fine little tannins left, integrated chocolate and mocha. What's not to like about a wine consumed at breakfast? 91pts.