The Auswine Forum

No, this cannot be true 7 days into the new month and no-one has started the thread!! Given my very occasional purchases these days, it's even more remarkable that I'm the one to post it, but I shall enjoy the honour This order perhaps one last Italian hurrah before Brexit restricts choice again:

2009 Drei Dona Magnificat (Bdx blend)
2010 Drei Dona Magnificat (Bdx blend)
2x 2012 Drei Dona Pruno Noir (Sangiovese)
2012 Mastroberardino Taurasi Radici Riserva (Aglianico)
2x 2011 Mastroberardino Sannio Falanghina (halves)
2007 San Patrignano Montepirolo (Bdx blend)
2016 San Patrignano Avi (Sangiovese)
2019 Braida Brachetto d'Acqui
2018 Massa Piccolo Derthona (Timorasso)
2017 Massa Derthona (Timorasso)
2012 Cuomo Ravello Rosso Riserva (local red blend)
2006 Isole e Olena Collezione di Marchi Syrah
2011 Masi Recioto della Valpolicella 'Angelorum' (half)
2017 Hauner Hiera

Mostly old favourites, after a period of exploring more. Who would have though Emilia-Romagna would have made up a third of an order... and it would have been more but they'd run out of halves of Otello Nero Lambrusco - a shame as that might be ever so convenient in that format.

Continuing the Italian theme:

3 x 2017 Monchiero Langhe Nebbiolo
3 x 2018 Paitin 'Starda' Langhe Nebbiolo
3 x 2018 Platinetti Guido Colline Novaresi Vespolina
3 x 2019 Giacomo Boveri Piccolo Derthona
2 x 2015 La Palazzina Bramaterra Riserva

Mixed 18 of Spanish wines...

Alma de Magno 70cl
Juegabolos 2016
Malleolus 2018
Corimbo I 2014
Pago de los Capellanes Reserva 2016
Pícaro del Águila 2018
Astrales 2016
Valdespino Fino Inocente
Viña Ardanza Selección Especial 2010
Tentenublo Custero 2018
Terras Gauda 2019 x2
Soalheiro Alvarinho 2019
La Montesa 2017
Izar-Leku Brut Vintage 2016
Viña Alberdi 2015
Martín Códax Albariño 2019
Terras Gauda La Mar 2018

La Ca'Nova Barbaresco vigna Bric Mentina Montefico 2017 X 6

Re-stocking post the summer break

6x Two Hands The Wolf Riesling 2018
3x Domaine de Bellene Beaune 1er Cru
6x Domaine Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage
3x Domaine de la Charbonnière Châteauneuf-du-Pape

Rossco wrote:Continuing the Italian theme:

3 x 2017 Monchiero Langhe Nebbiolo
3 x 2018 Paitin 'Starda' Langhe Nebbiolo
3 x 2018 Platinetti Guido Colline Novaresi Vespolina
3 x 2019 Giacomo Boveri Piccolo Derthona
2 x 2015 La Palazzina Bramaterra Riserva

I salute you sir - a selection that would very much appeal to me.

I'd not noticed the new 'piccolo Derthona' designation before my order. It will be interesting to try the Massa one and ditto Boveri are a respected yet under the radar producer (my only criticism IIRC being concerns about the 'corks').

Vespolina also a personal favourite - fine value, yet can age as well, with persistent but not aggressive tannins.

I've not tried that Bramaterra, but do still enjoy trying out different wineries in the area.

Finally two Langhe Nebbiolos, something that I swear used to be a minefield of mediocrity and cast-offs, but so often seems to offer great value now. The only iffy one I had recently was a 2017 (from a producer I like), which I'd put down to the vintage, so keen to see what you make of the Monchiero.

annual Dujac purchase. for the last 3 years I have "this is the last year I am buying" . The problem this year was simple, after getting the offer, I opened a bottle of the 2012 Dujac MSD villages and it was just absolutely lovely and that was that for saying no this year......

4x 2018 Dujac Morey St Denis villages
2x 2016 Dujac Clos de la Roche

Ian S wrote: I salute you sir - a selection that would very much appeal to me.

I'd not noticed the new 'piccolo Derthona' designation before my order. It will be interesting to try the Massa one and ditto Boveri are a respected yet under the radar producer (my only criticism IIRC being concerns about the 'corks').

Vespolina also a personal favourite - fine value, yet can age as well, with persistent but not aggressive tannins.

I've not tried that Bramaterra, but do still enjoy trying out different wineries in the area.

Finally two Langhe Nebbiolos, something that I swear used to be a minefield of mediocrity and cast-offs, but so often seems to offer great value now. The only iffy one I had recently was a 2017 (from a producer I like), which I'd put down to the vintage, so keen to see what you make of the Monchiero.

All were bought for immediate drinking with the exception of the Bramaterra.

I have some very good news that the 2019 Giacomo Boveri was screwcap/stelvin. No Cork or Diam. Not sure if thats an Australian Release thing or worldwide, but was a very nice surprise. No more cork issues.

Vespolina was sensational for the $$. I am really enjoying a lot of the Platinetti offerings and this was another solid one. I can definately see
it will improve with age as well, but it wont last that long. Their ghemme for the $$ is better again, and I have 6 in the cellar biding their time.

Havent tried this Bramaterra Riserva at all, and bought it solely on the back of how good their 2015 Balmi Bioti was in 2015.
So will be interesting to see, but they are put away for a good 5 - 10 years now.

Likewise the Monchiero. I bought it just for drinking now and again solely on the back of how good their 2016 was. I know its
a different vintage, but their style of neb is appealing to me, so we will see how it goes.

Great news about Boveri - definitely a good move going to screwcaps IMO (IIRC their corks weren't great). Tortona is one of the places on our travelling horizon whenever safe travel returns. Ghemme (and Il Cavenago agriturismo) meanwhile highly likely to get a return visit

6 x Stage Door Wine Co 2015 Eden Valley Shiraz

2018 Blue Poles Deux Ecus Reserve Allouran (I suppose, seeing as it arrived in September)
2018 Clonakilla SV magnum
2018 Clonakilla Murrumbateman Syrah
2018 Marius Symphony
2018 Marius Symposium
2018 Marius Simpatico
1972 Wynns Black Label cabernet sauvignon
1996 Yarra Yering Dry Red #1

12 x 2018 Tahbilk Winemaker's Selection Shiraz - nice sounding blend. From the notes: 38% of the Shiraz fruit was sourced from our Hendy Block (planted 1996), 22% Bryants (1966), 15% Shed (1954) and 15% Cellar (planted in 2011 from‘1860 Vines’ Shiraz cuttings). 10% Cabernet Sauvignon from our Plains South vineyard (1987) was also included. An interesting mix of some very old Blocks plus our emerging new plantings which are now mature and showing bright fruit characters. After fermentation the wines spent 18 months in small and large oak casks before the final blending, bottling and further aging for 12 months prior to release in late August September 2020.
Actually half are for a friend who I cannot see at the moment, so I'm pretending they are all mine!

Dropped into the Cellar Door briefly, did not try the wines but grabbed

2020 Grosset Polish Hill Riesling
2017 Grosset Gaia
2018 Grosset Pinot Noir

Matt@5453 wrote:Dropped into the Cellar Door briefly, did not try the wines but grabbed

2020 Grosset Polish Hill Riesling
2017 Grosset Gaia
2018 Grosset Pinot Noir

Had the Grosset Gaia 2016 the other day...first time I've had this wine but wow, stunner. There's a not I have trouble defining but it's unique. I love the balance on fruit (lots of blue) and acidity here plus the creaminess. There's nothing hugely complex but what a well crafted wine.

I've been eyeing a 2012 Gaia but have so far resisted. I know it's a good wine but and I can't help but think it will need plenty of time, and since I already have a bunch of upper tier wines Australian wines already aging I am trying to resist.

However I could not resist picking up a six-pack of Fontanafredda Barolo from the 2015 vintage, a very good vintage but apparently one that can be enjoyed now and in the medium term. A review of a number of Barolos from the '15 and '16 vintage had the following to say about the Fontanafredda:

"One of the best value Barolo’s you will ever find and one which mandates a multiple bottle purchase for the cellar! Without a doubt it benefited from the warmth of the 2015 vintage. Medium plus body with cherry, floral, plum, tobacco, spice, cola and humus qualities. Excellent length. Drink over the next 5 to 7 years."

Dragzworthy wrote:

Matt@5453 wrote:Dropped into the Cellar Door briefly, did not try the wines but grabbed

2020 Grosset Polish Hill Riesling
2017 Grosset Gaia
2018 Grosset Pinot Noir

Had the Grosset Gaia 2016 the other day...first time I've had this wine but wow, stunner. There's a not I have trouble defining but it's unique. I love the balance on fruit (lots of blue) and acidity here plus the creaminess. There's nothing hugely complex but what a well crafted wine.

Grosset Gaia a good candidate for Australia's most under-rated wine. In good years, very hard to tell apart from decent Right Bank Bordeaux. Fantastic value.

felixp21 wrote:Grosset Gaia a good candidate for Australia's most under-rated wine. In good years, very hard to tell apart from decent Right Bank Bordeaux. Fantastic value.

I'm trying to resist buying the 2012 Gaia and you're not helping. It's like you're one of the Borg: "Resistance is futile".

felixp21 wrote: Grosset Gaia a good candidate for Australia's most under-rated wine. In good years, very hard to tell apart from decent Right Bank Bordeaux. Fantastic value.

Which vintages do you consider to be "good years"?

felixp21 wrote:

Dragzworthy wrote:

Matt@5453 wrote:Dropped into the Cellar Door briefly, did not try the wines but grabbed

2020 Grosset Polish Hill Riesling
2017 Grosset Gaia
2018 Grosset Pinot Noir

Had the Grosset Gaia 2016 the other day...first time I've had this wine but wow, stunner. There's a not I have trouble defining but it's unique. I love the balance on fruit (lots of blue) and acidity here plus the creaminess. There's nothing hugely complex but what a well crafted wine.

Grosset Gaia a good candidate for Australia's most under-rated wine. In good years, very hard to tell apart from decent Right Bank Bordeaux. Fantastic value.

In conversations with Matthew Jukes in London he pretty much said the same thing

Notification from Australia Post saying my Marius wine order is on its way - not sure what's in it and can't tell from the credit card bill due to the exchange rate complications...fingers crossed! Ordered some from Gavin too just in case...
Luckily I was in the office in Yokohama (rare due to COVID these days), and had access to a scanner and printer - managed to respond within an hour.
Really looking forward to trying Roger's 2018s - I have been backfilling vintages where I can and was surprised to see that Marius now comprises the largest amount of a single producer in my cellar by a factor of 8 or 9.

6 bottles of Edenflo Lemon Krush 2020.

Mike Bennie gave it a glowing review - ‘Unique’ - but I presume it’s a bit like Jamsheeds Lemon Haze.

Mike Hawkins wrote:

felixp21 wrote:

Dragzworthy wrote:
Had the Grosset Gaia 2016 the other day...first time I've had this wine but wow, stunner. There's a not I have trouble defining but it's unique. I love the balance on fruit (lots of blue) and acidity here plus the creaminess. There's nothing hugely complex but what a well crafted wine.

Grosset Gaia a good candidate for Australia's most under-rated wine. In good years, very hard to tell apart from decent Right Bank Bordeaux. Fantastic value.

In conversations with Matthew Jukes in London he pretty much said the same thing

Hmm interesting. That was my first bottle but I didn't get that dark fruited plum note that would make me think Bordeaux right bank merlot. I think I'd be in more danger of confusing this with something from Graves...?

Dragzworthy wrote:

Mike Hawkins wrote:

felixp21 wrote:

Grosset Gaia a good candidate for Australia's most under-rated wine. In good years, very hard to tell apart from decent Right Bank Bordeaux. Fantastic value.

In conversations with Matthew Jukes in London he pretty much said the same thing

Hmm interesting. That was my first bottle but I didn't get that dark fruited plum note that would make me think Bordeaux right bank merlot. I think I'd be in more danger of confusing this with something from Graves...?

I wonder if it is the Cabernet Franc, about 25% of the blend, that leads people to think of right bank Bordeaux?

Mahmoud Ali wrote:

Dragzworthy wrote:

Mike Hawkins wrote:
In conversations with Matthew Jukes in London he pretty much said the same thing

Hmm interesting. That was my first bottle but I didn't get that dark fruited plum note that would make me think Bordeaux right bank merlot. I think I'd be in more danger of confusing this with something from Graves...?

I wonder if it is the Cabernet Franc, about 25% of the blend, that leads people to think of right bank Bordeaux?

Could well be but even then the cabernet Franc isn't the dominant grape in most right bank wines (?) Actually it's interesting as I tend to like cabernet Franc and it does seem to be a somewhat underappreciated grape relative to the other accepted Bordeaux ingredients. Loire is doing some great 100pct cabernet Franc wines these days, I had a great Saumur Champigny the other day (far left in the photo below!)

1 x Granite Hills Riesling 2019
1 x Cave De Tain Crozes Hermitage
1 x Tahbilk Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
1 x Castello Di Albola Chianti Classico 2016
2 x Tenuta Sassoregale Maremma Sangiovese 2018
1 x Tenuta Sassoregale Poderalta Maremma Toscana (Super Tuscan) 2016

Dragzworthy wrote:

Mahmoud Ali wrote:

Dragzworthy wrote:
Hmm interesting. That was my first bottle but I didn't get that dark fruited plum note that would make me think Bordeaux right bank merlot. I think I'd be in more danger of confusing this with something from Graves...?

I wonder if it is the Cabernet Franc, about 25% of the blend, that leads people to think of right bank Bordeaux?

Could well be but even then the cabernet Franc isn't the dominant grape in most right bank wines (?) Actually it's interesting as I tend to like cabernet Franc and it does seem to be a somewhat underappreciated grape relative to the other accepted Bordeaux ingredients. Loire is doing some great 100pct cabernet Franc wines these days, I had a great Saumur Champigny the other day (far left in the photo below!)

20200916_180431.jpg

Nice linup there Dragzworthy. Robert Parker notoriously did not like Loire reds because of the "greenness" of cool climate Cabernet Franc. I presume the Lake's Folly 'Cabernets' includes Cabernet Franc.

How were the Tiofilo Reyes and Stag's Leap? Not many Ribera del Duero wines around back in 1995 when Pesquera was all the rage, Parker having once said it was the Petrus of Spain. I can't make out the vintage of the Stag's Leap in the photo. For trivia buffs it was a Stag's Leap (Cask 23?) that came out on top in the 1976 Judgement of Paris tasting of California versus France.

Mahmoud.

12 X 2018 Marius mix of Symphony, Simpatico and Symposium. Helped pick this one
12 X 2020 RieslingFreak no.3.

Mahmoud Ali wrote:

Dragzworthy wrote:

Mahmoud Ali wrote: I wonder if it is the Cabernet Franc, about 25% of the blend, that leads people to think of right bank Bordeaux?

Could well be but even then the cabernet Franc isn't the dominant grape in most right bank wines (?) Actually it's interesting as I tend to like cabernet Franc and it does seem to be a somewhat underappreciated grape relative to the other accepted Bordeaux ingredients. Loire is doing some great 100pct cabernet Franc wines these days, I had a great Saumur Champigny the other day (far left in the photo below!)

20200916_180431.jpg

Nice linup there Dragzworthy. Robert Parker notoriously did not like Loire reds because of the "greenness" of cool climate Cabernet Franc. I presume the Lake's Folly 'Cabernets' includes Cabernet Franc.

How were the Tiofilo Reyes and Stag's Leap? Not many Ribera del Duero wines around back in 1995 when Pesquera was all the rage, Parker having once said it was the Petrus of Spain. I can't make out the vintage of the Stag's Leap in the photo. For trivia buffs it was a Stag's Leap (Cask 23?) that came out on top in the 1976 Judgement of Paris tasting of California versus France.

Mahmoud.

For my mind, the lakes folly (09) was wine of the night. The stags leap was a 1989 but I thought it was a tad past it due to the raisin notes - pleasant but nothing as wonderous as I had anticipated. The Teofilo Reyes was very nice - the tannins has softened but it still had a heavy presence for such an aged wine, no danger of falling over.very pleasant cherry, touch of smoked meat and some white pepper with a long finish.

There seem to be a lot more higher scores on WineFront this year. Hopefully it’s just a sign of increased quality. Anyway as a result of a stellar 98 point review

3* 05 Bream Creek Late Disgorged Sprarkling
3* 19 Bream Creek Schonburger

Philippe Roty Marsannay Quartier 2005 X 1
La Pousse d'Or Santenay 1er Cru Clos Tavannes 2014 X 1