The Auswine Forum

Starting this thread again... I would call this "summer" tasting notes but that might be unkind to people shivering in what passes for winter in Australia!

A shorter list for me, as a busy July and a heat wave in August meant less overall consumption and more beer/cheap and very cold but unremarkable rose.

• 2017 La Source du Ruault Saumur La Coulée D'Aunis - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur (8/20/2020)
  Quite rich nose. Ripe apricot. Just a touch of oak character but there is a certain litheness as well (it seems this sees only six months of wooden vats which I assume is larger and older oak). Slightly unctuous on the palate but with good balance and a driving acidity which keeps it fresh. This is really rather good and splendid with local chicken paired with forestier sauce and stupidly rich mash. (91 pts.)
• 2018 Le Fief Noir Anjou L'Âme de Fond - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Anjou (8/18/2020)
  Serious packaging, pretty label. Mid yellow, flecked with green in the glass. This has an immediately "serious" nose. The 15 months it got in oak are obvious to sense. The palate shows a touch of apricot, a touch of nuttiness. There is a creaminess to the finish as well. Blind I think I would mistake this for Chardonnay, which I see as a compliment for a Chenin Blanc. Absolutely unchanged on the second day, which supports the producers view this can age for at least a few years. (91 pts.)
• 2016 Château de Targe Saumur-Champigny - France, Loire Valley, Anjou-Saumur, Saumur-Champigny (8/18/2020)
  Sweet brambly fruit with the characteristic cab franc green notes but also good depth of flavor. Totally disagree with the last taster (also I haven’t seen any beef saucisson in this region). There is certainly a bit of barnyard or maybe Brett which might put some people off but this is quite nice. Drink now. (88 pts.)
• 2016 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Cèdres - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (8/11/2020)
  Quite rich and opulent, with layers of velvet plum notes. Perhaps a bit monolithic, and a touch warm (fifteen % ABV) but rather good. I think one for medium term drinking rather than the long haul. (90 pts.)
• 2018 Domaine Yves Cuilleron Condrieu La Petite Cote - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Condrieu (7/26/2020)
  Pale yellow. Classic nose, with ripe apricot and pleasing purity. Balanced with good depth and persistence on the palate. Open overnight, this fell away a bit on day 2. (91 pts.)
• 2015 Lyrarakis Okto red. - Greece, Crete, Peza-Iraklion (7/22/2020)
  A gift from my father maybe two years ago, I finally got around to opening this to celebrate a different milestone. This is a blend of Kotsifali, Mandilari, and Syrah. I will admit I am not at all familiar with the wines of Crete. Good, bright garnet colour. The Syrah is noticeable on the nose- there is fresh and preserved plums, and a certain herbal or even medicinal character (although I don't imply a fault). The palate is quite juicy up front, finishing with medium length and rustic but fading tannins. Maybe it finishes a bit short, but this is pretty decent. (87 pts.)
• 2018 Domaine Yves Cuilleron Roussanne Les Vignes d'à Côté - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Vin de Pays des Collines Rhodaniennes (7/19/2020)
  Bright yellow. Waxy citrus and honeysuckle character on the nose, which carries through on the palate. Slightly clipped finish, maybe the acid just pokes out a bit? Would like to see this in a year or two, I think it might resolve into something that would score higher. (87 pts.)
• 2016 Château Vieux Maillet - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol (7/18/2020)
  Bright garnet red. Intense and fruit driven nose. Purple fruit, blackberry, cassis, graphite and cedar. Quite flamboyant. Sweet red fruit on the palate. Very approachable now, but there is a decent balance and still firm, gritty tannins to provide structure - so I expect this to evolve nicely over at least 5 years. (92 pts.)
• 2019 Cheval Quancard Cuvée Hortense - France, Bordeaux, Entre-Deux-Mers (7/17/2020)
  Rather pleasant wine. Quite light, with spritzy lemon and a gentle grapey character. Unsurprising this has Muscadelle in the blend. Available for under €4 this is remarkably decent for the price. (86 pts.)
• 2015 Les Charmes de Kirwan - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux (7/13/2020)
  Mid red. Takes a long time to unwind on the nose, so if drinking now give it a good decant. At first, this seems a bit flat, almost with a sour note. With air it shows cool red fruits and cedar undertones. Juicy cassis as well. Fleshy, medium bodied palate with red fruit and sweet cola. From a supermarket shelf this might be a slightly bad bottle or could this be in a bit of a dumb phase? Could score higher in time if it’s the latter. (87 pts.)
• 2015 Marqués de Murrieta Rioja Capellanía - Spain, La Rioja, La Rioja Alta, Rioja (7/12/2020)
  Pale yellow. A bit subdued at first. With air, this shows a sort of oily citrus character. Quite rich on the palate. Good length. Just a shade one dimensional. Be interesting to see it in a couple more years. (88 pts.)
• 2010 Bodegas Beronia Rioja Reserva 198 Barricas - Spain, La Rioja, Rioja (7/11/2020)
  Always a reliable house, this is an excellent vintage for one of their reserve wines. Deep red still, very youthful color. Intense nose. Lots of blood plums, almost black fruit but not at all over ripe. Some vanillin oak as well, but really it’s the fruit that shines through. Smooth and balanced on the palate, with excellent length. For the price, highly recommended. Will look better in at least 5 years and live for at least 20. (93 pts.)
• 2017 Domaine Belle Crozes-Hermitage Rouge Carmin - France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Crozes-Hermitage (7/8/2020)
  Bright purple red. Intense and pure fruit driven nose of crushed purple fruit and violets. Classic easy drinking Crozes, with a rich/ripe but balanced mouth feel, and plush, gentle tannins. Excellent value. (89 pts.)
• 2012 Château Puy Razac - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (7/2/2020)
  Mid red. Soft plummy fruit on the nose. Mulberry, a touch of leafiness. Nice freshness and purity. Soft and fleshy on the palate. Smooth and round. Pretty decent but lacks a certain definition to score higher. (88 pts.)
• 2012 Château Yon-Figeac - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (6/30/2020)
  Plum red. Very impressive on first opening. Elegant, comforting nose. Soft red fruits, spice, a touch of cedar as well. Smells serious but yielding. No real “green” character, and a lovely plummy palate with still quite furry tannins. Left open (in the fridge), on day two, a distinct herbal note had appeared and the conclusion the wine was tipping over was inescapable. I wouldn’t be worried about this falling over in the next couple of years but if I had a case I might well start cracking them to make up my own mind, as this certainly drinks well now. (90 pts.)
• 2019 Château Ferry Lacombe Côtes de Provence Rosé - France, Provence, Côtes de Provence (6/30/2020)
  Very pale pink. At first it seems quite dry and reserved on the nose, with cool strawberry, but some musk lolly notes appear with air. The palate is a bit broad, with just a touch too much apparent sweetness but it’s quite drinkable as a light aperitif. (85 pts.)

Posted from [url=https://www.cellartracker.com/]CellarTracker[/url]

It's been quite a good month.

Bannockburn De La Terre Pinot Noir 2012 - Geelong. My search for the perfect pinot ends, this is the best one I've ever had. Very gamey, funky, sour, stalk, hint of smoke and mashed up leaves and twigs on the nose. Mustard seeds? Terrific texture, weight, flavour, and residual oak. Acid creating a very long, mouthwatering finish. Dregs next day had become more 'ripe' and nose more feral but still excellent. The sediment in this wine changes the way it tastes, which I thought was interesting. Tasted 10 days later from half bottle and it is still just as powerful with intense dark plum at the back and length acidity. Blew a Auntsfield heritage pinot 2012 out of water (both in taste and colour, bannockburn much darker!). 5/5.

Domenica Nebbiolo 2013 - Bright red. Hardly any sediment. 14%. Love the smell of this, mint, eucalypt, some lift, twigs and dried herbs in background. Palate is quite taut with acidity at first and very fine, supporting and present tannins, a little bit of bitter amaro. very nice. With breathing/warming wine becomes very fruity, in a strawberry and cream way. Not sure what the oak regime is but it almost tastes like vanilla. Not that I have any experience with nebbiolo but this seems a touch rich. Nonetheless, a complete, delicious, lengthy wine. 4.5/5

Moppity Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 - Hilltops. A wonderful wine. Dark fruited. Olive. Lengthy cassis finish. No holes. Expect this to hit top score with 5-10 years more development.

Blue Poles Reserve Merlot 2018 - Stelvin Lux type seal. A waste to drink now, hold till 2028 if you have any. Pop and poured, super tannic and closed but fruit weight through the mid-palate is already very good. A day latter the mouth puckering tannins have receded somewhat and an amazingly concentrated, lengthly wine emerges. 4.5/5. Cannot wait to try the reserve Allouran.

McLeish Estate Semillon 2007 - Hunter Valley. Won heaps of medals trophies etc and price keeps increasing. A laughable $220 from cellar door now. I think it's worth about $60. Intense wine, lots of citrus backbone, mineral, developing toast and honey notes. Golden green. Seems midway through its development, needs more time. Should become great, not sure whether it will pick up more complexity. 4.5/5

De Bortoli Reserve Syrah - Yarra Valley. Terrific. Well integrated. Silky mouthfeel. Quite pinot noir like in stature, gamey, sour cherry, plum, but with more fruit weight. Probably at its peak now. 4.5/5

La Tour Blanche Sauternes 2010 - Smells quite alcoholic on nose (14%); Muscat de Beune like. Amazingly weighty wine with a lovely syrupy mouthfeel throughout, not heavy like a fortified. Starting to develop bitter notes, cumquat, marmalade etc, finishing very savoury and fairly long. My first sauternes, did not really get any of the famed acidity but this was good and definitely a cut above all the Australian botrytis I've had. 4.5/5

2004 Charlemagne Mesnillesime .... better than the last bottle. Lots of lemons and chalkiness. Medium length. Should have another 5+ years of good drinking

2002 Grosset Polish Hill. Smells like The old Coola cordial with a hint of lemon thrown in for good measure. Just coming into its peak drinking window. Lovely, long acid finish. Outstanding.

2005 Jim Barry Florita... more lemon notes than the PH, with slightly softer acid. In a really good spot. Excellent.

1991 Wynn’s Centenary... possibly the best bottle of 20 or so to date. Magnificent nose of cedar, chocolate and violets. Velvety mouthfeel with a finish that lasted for minutes. The last 2 bottles were duds, but when this is on song, it rivals anything made in SA in 91.

1991 Rockford Basket Press... qualitatively beaten in a photo finish by the Wynn’s. This is a fantastic wine and is why we buy and the cellar for extended periods (in the great vintages). It had a few Cabernet-like notes In addition to choco-plumminess. Magnificent.

1999 Dom Perignon... pretty average for the label. Some complexity, medium length and essentially what one should expect for the vintage.

1998 Tyrrells Vat 1 Semillon. The most youthful of the last case. Notes of straw and bees wax as well as a lemony finish. Really excellent wine and went a treat with scallops and halibut.

Mike thanks the note on the BP and Centenary... fortunate to have about a half dozen left of each. I have had about 8 bottles of Centenary and yes always expect really big things... nearly all have delivered. It was probably the best wine in Oz that year.
Funny to think l have about 10 '91 JRs and a sealed dozen of the Michael... should line the 3 up together.
Cheers Craig
Ps. Saving the BP for a 30 year vertical.

phillisc wrote:Mike thanks the note on the BP and Centenary... fortunate to have about a half dozen left of each. I have had about 8 bottles of Centenary and yes always expect really big things... nearly all have delivered. It was probably the best wine in Oz that year.
Funny to think l have about 10 '91 JRs and a sealed dozen of the Michael... should line the 3 up together.
Cheers Craig
Ps. Saving the BP for a 30 year vertical.

I’m down to my last 6 pack of both 91s sadly... and to think friends at the time told me I was crazy buying more than 12 bottles of any wine

Mike Hawkins wrote:

phillisc wrote:Mike thanks the note on the BP and Centenary... fortunate to have about a half dozen left of each. I have had about 8 bottles of Centenary and yes always expect really big things... nearly all have delivered. It was probably the best wine in Oz that year.
Funny to think l have about 10 '91 JRs and a sealed dozen of the Michael... should line the 3 up together.
Cheers Craig
Ps. Saving the BP for a 30 year vertical.

I’m down to my last 6 pack of both 91s sadly... and to think friends at the time told me I was crazy buying more than 12 bottles of any wine

out of interest, what are the fill levels like? there are some examples are going through auction at the moment, one noted at BON and the other VVHS.

Mike Hawkins wrote:

phillisc wrote:Mike thanks the note on the BP and Centenary... fortunate to have about a half dozen left of each. I have had about 8 bottles of Centenary and yes always expect really big things... nearly all have delivered. It was probably the best wine in Oz that year.
Funny to think l have about 10 '91 JRs and a sealed dozen of the Michael... should line the 3 up together.
Cheers Craig
Ps. Saving the BP for a 30 year vertical.

I’m down to my last 6 pack of both 91s sadly... and to think friends at the time told me I was crazy buying more than 12 bottles of any wine

Yes Mike, think I paid $30 for the Wynns, it was a bloody expensive Wynnsday lunch, but a great one...a dozen JR and Michael plus about 14-15 bottles of the Centenary and a couple of magnums...sadly the large format bottles were drunk way too early, a rush of blood IIRC at a 40th birthday. Should have purchased multiple dozens of the Centenary at least. Still irks me no end that David Jones Food Hall in Adelaide had several magnums that I walked past many times and was too tight to buy...big mistake!! Yep, never understood why anyone would buy a just 2-3 bottles of something, other than a ridiculously overpriced trophy wine, when they would have been far better to get a sixer/dozen of the next tier. $30 a bottle was expensive for me in 1995 (on very humble income) but had great confidence that these wines would be classics. As you have previously mentioned, my preference is still to go 6-12 on purchases.
Matt I opened a sealed Centenary carton last year in the cellar move...all good levels, with 2 being mid neck...hopefully not corked...should go another two decades.
Cheers Craig

Matt@5453 wrote:

Mike Hawkins wrote:

phillisc wrote:Mike thanks the note on the BP and Centenary... fortunate to have about a half dozen left of each. I have had about 8 bottles of Centenary and yes always expect really big things... nearly all have delivered. It was probably the best wine in Oz that year.
Funny to think l have about 10 '91 JRs and a sealed dozen of the Michael... should line the 3 up together.
Cheers Craig
Ps. Saving the BP for a 30 year vertical.

I’m down to my last 6 pack of both 91s sadly... and to think friends at the time told me I was crazy buying more than 12 bottles of any wine

out of interest, what are the fill levels like? there are some examples are going through auction at the moment, one noted at BON and the other VVHS.

The fill levels were excellent. All in the neck still. They’ve been kept in perfect conditions most of their lives save for some trans-Pacific fights. In my experience, lots of stuff available in the Aussie wine auctions have been kept sub-optimally

Craig, I too couldn’t afford the magnums. I missed out on the Michael save for a couple of bottles given the hype around the previous release. So Centenary became the default purchase...initially almost by accident until I tasted it and went back to the trough.

phillisc wrote:

Mike Hawkins wrote:

phillisc wrote:Mike thanks the note on the BP and Centenary... fortunate to have about a half dozen left of each. I have had about 8 bottles of Centenary and yes always expect really big things... nearly all have delivered. It was probably the best wine in Oz that year.
Funny to think l have about 10 '91 JRs and a sealed dozen of the Michael... should line the 3 up together.
Cheers Craig
Ps. Saving the BP for a 30 year vertical.

I’m down to my last 6 pack of both 91s sadly... and to think friends at the time told me I was crazy buying more than 12 bottles of any wine

Yes Mike, think I paid $30 for the Wynns, it was a bloody expensive Wynnsday lunch, but a great one...a dozen JR and Michael plus about 14-15 bottles of the Centenary and a couple of magnums...sadly the large format bottles were drunk way too early, a rush of blood IIRC at a 40th birthday. Should have purchased multiple dozens of the Centenary at least. Still irks me no end that David Jones Food Hall in Adelaide had several magnums that I walked past many times and was too tight to buy...big mistake!! Yep, never understood why anyone would buy a just 2-3 bottles of something, other than a ridiculously overpriced trophy wine, when they would have been far better to get a sixer/dozen of the next tier. $30 a bottle was expensive for me in 1995 (on very humble income) but had great confidence that these wines would be classics. As you have previously mentioned, my preference is still to go 6-12 on purchases.
Matt I opened a sealed Centenary carton last year in the cellar move...all good levels, with 2 being mid neck...hopefully not corked...should go another two decades.
Cheers Craig

Wow, if only we could have our time again!

I lashed out $350 for a magnum of the Centenary straight from Wynn's a couple of years back to drink on my 50th. Makes me cry seeing how cheap they were on release. I've had the Centenary 5 or 6 times now and it's still my favourite Aussie wine of all time. I know there are better wines, but for my tastes, a good bottle is just a sublime experience.

Cheers
Ian

phillisc wrote:Mike thanks the note on the BP and Centenary... fortunate to have about a half dozen left of each. I have had about 8 bottles of Centenary and yes always expect really big things... nearly all have delivered. It was probably the best wine in Oz that year.
Funny to think l have about 10 '91 JRs and a sealed dozen of the Michael... should line the 3 up together.
Cheers Craig
Ps. Saving the BP for a 30 year vertical.

I was introduced to this wine soon after we arrived in Adelaide in the 90s and thought it was pretty smart. Bought a few cases and due to it's relatively great value drank all of it within a few years. On the subject of Adelaide after 30 years in this wonderful city bringing up a family we have sold our home and will be moving back to Sydney. A city and state we will miss a lot with its convenience, great food and wine and climate. Not sure what's going to happen with our wines but in the interim it's going to be stored at The Tunnels wine storage facility in Panorama. An amazing facility that charges a mere $11 per month for a pallet of wine. A constant 17C all year round which is not too bad. See link below for those who are interested.

http://www.thetunnels.com.au