TN: The Melbourne Wine Group Drink Too Much (again)
Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2023 7:40 pm
The last tasting we had at Bar Romanee went well with just the right amount of wine for the number of people - 8 bottles + a port for 7.
This time I was hosting and it went wrong. The theme was meant to be Granite Hills V Seppelt Drumbourg Riesling, with the 00, 04, 08 and 13 down to taste. With a bottle of bubbles to start and finish that would mean not room for a red, so we altered the tasting to be a few 2004 Rieslings and a few reds.
I ended up far too drunk to take any notes (my fault for making the first pours a bit too large), so these are just some reflections.
We started with a lovely Sparkler from Granite Hills. We reckon it was the 09 Vintage (L009 on the label) and it had all the complexity you get from bubbles, with a gentle fizz. The only downside for me was that the mid palate was a bit rich and oily. Just missed a bit of tension. I hope they decide to make some more
There were 5 rieslings, to try - Seppelt Drumbourg (5*), Granite Hills(4*), Grosset Watervale(3.5), Mcwilliams Eden Valley (3*) and Barwite (3*). Different regions and price points, but as I said to the boys, I think Riesling is the kindest grape and its very hard to make a bad one. That was clear here. What was also clear was just how good the Drumbourg was. This was the only 1 where the acidity was still dominating and the tension, the fruit and the complexity were all tightly coiled together, Stunning stuff, It reminded me of my previous bottle of the Granite Hills, but this bottle was a bit fatter and more rounded than I remembered and did not have the zing nor the life of the Drumbourg. Still great to drink though. The other 3 were all similar. There was plenty of petrol and the fruit had filled out and was starting to dominate the acidity, Fat, but not quite in a Chardonnay way. I think this is the end point for a lot of dry Rieslings, but the fatness of the fruit comes with a lot of power, especially on the Polish Hill. These would all be fine for me sitting out in the garden tomorrow in 30 degrees weather.
Up next were 4 Shiraz - a 99 from Granite Hills (1.5*), an 01 St Peters (4*), a 98 Great Western Reserve (3.5*) and a 91 Great Western (4*). the GH came with 15% alcohol and was very much in the old "make em big" style. We left it alone and opened the Cab from the same vintage. It was a lot better, but on this evidence stick to the younger vintages as the wines have a lot more balance. As for the Seppelt, well they were great, Classy is my abiding memory. There are not powerhouse wines, but well crafted age worth reds. The 91 was the pick of the bunch as it had those extra flavours that cellaring brings, but the other 2 may be just as good in time, I think the majority favoured the St Peters, but for me it was just a bit too polished.
By this time we were all happy and had enjoyed a couple of courses of food, but we were in the mood for extras and so we continued with
1963 Chalambar Burgundy 4+*
1971 Hardys Reserve Bin Sauternes ( which was planned for) 3.5* +
An Unlabeled off dry Sparkler from Granite Hills 2.5*
1979 Ausbruch Somlo Muskat-Ottonel, Pieroth (Hungary) 3*
2017 Jurasaique Blanc, Latta Vino ??
2015 Yellow, Dentons ??
The star was the half bottle of Chalambar that defied its age. As with the a lot of these older Aus wines, there is an enormous streak of vanilla in the wine (the Sauterne had it as well), but around it there was still plenty if red fruit. The dregs were still drinkable 24 hours later, but my memory of the actual wine is too hazy, so I stick to 4*. The Sauternes was opened as it seemed to be leaking, Colour was very dark, but as usual sugar is your friend and this was another lovely Aus desert wine. Not up to the level of Cons 62 Porphyry though from a previous tasting.
The unmarked dry sparkler was given to me to try from the owner on the last visit to GH. No idea of the vintage, but it tasted like it might have been an early attempt at Sekt. Slightly gloopy, it didn't quite go with desert. Up next was the Pieroth - famous for being sold by door to door salesmen in the UK. Everything was done to the label to make you think you were buying a German wine and actually it did taste like a Tokaij in a German style. Lots of stewed red berries for me on the nose, with a dark colour, a lot of sweetness in the mid palate and a bit of bitterness on the finish.
By this time the extra cheese course had come out and we were talking about the best Aus Vin Jaune, Andrew had not tried the Denton, so I pulled a bottle out and a Latta to go with it. I do remember the Denton not being as good as a previous bottle, but there were 2 releases and maybe it was not quite the same wine. Could also, have been palate fatigue, No memory at all of the Latta - its in an oxidised style, but not with flor, so not really a fair comparison.
And that was that. Typical lunch for 6. Loads left over of course and miraculously no hangover the next day.
Next event will be the Xmas-bring-a-special-bottle lunch in Dec, and as that will be held in a restaurant, we will hopefully be a bit more restrained.
This time I was hosting and it went wrong. The theme was meant to be Granite Hills V Seppelt Drumbourg Riesling, with the 00, 04, 08 and 13 down to taste. With a bottle of bubbles to start and finish that would mean not room for a red, so we altered the tasting to be a few 2004 Rieslings and a few reds.
I ended up far too drunk to take any notes (my fault for making the first pours a bit too large), so these are just some reflections.
We started with a lovely Sparkler from Granite Hills. We reckon it was the 09 Vintage (L009 on the label) and it had all the complexity you get from bubbles, with a gentle fizz. The only downside for me was that the mid palate was a bit rich and oily. Just missed a bit of tension. I hope they decide to make some more
There were 5 rieslings, to try - Seppelt Drumbourg (5*), Granite Hills(4*), Grosset Watervale(3.5), Mcwilliams Eden Valley (3*) and Barwite (3*). Different regions and price points, but as I said to the boys, I think Riesling is the kindest grape and its very hard to make a bad one. That was clear here. What was also clear was just how good the Drumbourg was. This was the only 1 where the acidity was still dominating and the tension, the fruit and the complexity were all tightly coiled together, Stunning stuff, It reminded me of my previous bottle of the Granite Hills, but this bottle was a bit fatter and more rounded than I remembered and did not have the zing nor the life of the Drumbourg. Still great to drink though. The other 3 were all similar. There was plenty of petrol and the fruit had filled out and was starting to dominate the acidity, Fat, but not quite in a Chardonnay way. I think this is the end point for a lot of dry Rieslings, but the fatness of the fruit comes with a lot of power, especially on the Polish Hill. These would all be fine for me sitting out in the garden tomorrow in 30 degrees weather.
Up next were 4 Shiraz - a 99 from Granite Hills (1.5*), an 01 St Peters (4*), a 98 Great Western Reserve (3.5*) and a 91 Great Western (4*). the GH came with 15% alcohol and was very much in the old "make em big" style. We left it alone and opened the Cab from the same vintage. It was a lot better, but on this evidence stick to the younger vintages as the wines have a lot more balance. As for the Seppelt, well they were great, Classy is my abiding memory. There are not powerhouse wines, but well crafted age worth reds. The 91 was the pick of the bunch as it had those extra flavours that cellaring brings, but the other 2 may be just as good in time, I think the majority favoured the St Peters, but for me it was just a bit too polished.
By this time we were all happy and had enjoyed a couple of courses of food, but we were in the mood for extras and so we continued with
1963 Chalambar Burgundy 4+*
1971 Hardys Reserve Bin Sauternes ( which was planned for) 3.5* +
An Unlabeled off dry Sparkler from Granite Hills 2.5*
1979 Ausbruch Somlo Muskat-Ottonel, Pieroth (Hungary) 3*
2017 Jurasaique Blanc, Latta Vino ??
2015 Yellow, Dentons ??
The star was the half bottle of Chalambar that defied its age. As with the a lot of these older Aus wines, there is an enormous streak of vanilla in the wine (the Sauterne had it as well), but around it there was still plenty if red fruit. The dregs were still drinkable 24 hours later, but my memory of the actual wine is too hazy, so I stick to 4*. The Sauternes was opened as it seemed to be leaking, Colour was very dark, but as usual sugar is your friend and this was another lovely Aus desert wine. Not up to the level of Cons 62 Porphyry though from a previous tasting.
The unmarked dry sparkler was given to me to try from the owner on the last visit to GH. No idea of the vintage, but it tasted like it might have been an early attempt at Sekt. Slightly gloopy, it didn't quite go with desert. Up next was the Pieroth - famous for being sold by door to door salesmen in the UK. Everything was done to the label to make you think you were buying a German wine and actually it did taste like a Tokaij in a German style. Lots of stewed red berries for me on the nose, with a dark colour, a lot of sweetness in the mid palate and a bit of bitterness on the finish.
By this time the extra cheese course had come out and we were talking about the best Aus Vin Jaune, Andrew had not tried the Denton, so I pulled a bottle out and a Latta to go with it. I do remember the Denton not being as good as a previous bottle, but there were 2 releases and maybe it was not quite the same wine. Could also, have been palate fatigue, No memory at all of the Latta - its in an oxidised style, but not with flor, so not really a fair comparison.
And that was that. Typical lunch for 6. Loads left over of course and miraculously no hangover the next day.
Next event will be the Xmas-bring-a-special-bottle lunch in Dec, and as that will be held in a restaurant, we will hopefully be a bit more restrained.