The Auswine Forum

Hi Good Peoples,

Put this up early as I will be in Sydney tomorrow and no position (in more ways then one) to post. A big night is planned with the Mad Hungarian, David Lole, Adair a couple of other reprobates.

I had a 98 Majella FRS last night, just beautiful and at its peak. Good complexity and it disappeared very quickly. Also had a Henschke 96 Keyneton, the first was corked and the second opened up very leathery and seem tires and old. Interesting, because with air time it blossomed and opened up nicely with chocolate and all sorts of other goodies.

So what have you guys been drinking over the past week?

Chalk Hill Blue 2003(South Eastern AUS) - simple quaffer. Couldnt complained given the $. The top end Chalk Hill fr McLaren r excellent stuff.

Tintara 1998(non-cellar) - Shed plenty of fruits and muscle. Better upon released.

Woody the Stocks 2001 - OK without being exciting, very synomynous with their previous offering. Despite of Ben Glatzer involvement he didnt leave any thumb print on it.

Maxwell 4 Roads Grn/Shz/Vio 2002 - Very fragrant, a feminine wine & well balance. If u find the Laughing Magpie too much in ur face, this might be answer.

A big night is planned with the Mad Hungarian, David Lole, Adair a couple of other reprobates

.

Can I guess you will put a couple on from S.A. Ric ?

Anyway, had a 1996 Blackjack Shiraz from Central Victoria. Colour ruby-red. Good meaty, spicy, savoury fruit, mid-weight, probably at its peak. Similar in style to Craiglee Shiraz.

regards
Chris

2001 Croser : I usually find this sparkling rather nondescript but this was quite good - did not seem as "minimal" as previous vintages.

2003 Pizzini Arneis , King Valley : I liked this. Sort of medium bodied , pear like fruit. I find Pizzini wines to be interesting and well made. Also had a nice Sangiovese which opened up to show nice cherry and chocolate fruit characters and got better as we finished the bottle.

2003 Pipers Brook Estate Pinot Noir : not bad match with a Rabbit dish. However had that lack of calmness you want in good pinot - is kind of "agitated " with a strong nose and fairly sweet and simple fruit I thought.

Steppingstone 2001 Cabernet

A well made wine and a real bargain.

Pepperjack 2002 Cabernet

Went to Barossa last weekend and ended up having lunch at Salters restaurant at SaltramÂ’s. Had never heard of this wine and recalled sitting at the PC one night in March 2002 with the ugh boots and tracky gear on. Normally stinking hot this and many other Summer nights were quite cool and I pondered the potential for good cabernet from Barossa. Well this Pepperjack Cabernet is a real stunner; not your cool climate style but a teeth stainer with huge fruit, ripe tannins and well intergrated oak. Lovely mouhtfeel this is one for the cellar and other Barossa and McLaren Vale cabernets to be investigated. 13.5%

NZ CatÂ’s Piss

Lolly water brought by some friends for a bouillabaisse. Reminds me of RTD's

Rockbare 2002 Shiraz

Lovely with the bouillabaisse.

2001 Metala White Label Blend

Drinking well now

PennyÂ’s Hill 2002 Malpas Rd Merlot

Just lovely.

Penfolds 2001 Koonunga Hill

Boring and clearly modelled on the new ownerÂ’s style.

Yalumba 1996 Black D

Nice without being great

Chuck

ChrisH wrote:

A big night is planned with the Mad Hungarian, David Lole, Adair a couple of other reprobates

.

Can I guess you will put a couple on from S.A. Ric ?

Not a good guess Chris. Got to keep the attendees guessing so SA is to obvious. At the dinner in April I took two Victorians and last night an 87 Seppelt Show Reserve SS and an 83 Taylors Port.

An AFD today.

An AFD today.

Well, I guess I'll look forward to reading somebody's notes on the evening ?!

regards
Chris

I'd like to report it to you Ric that I was drinking 22 bottles of wine with you and others last night and in fact, as I have leftovers, I'm still drinking. Currently I'm tossing up between the 1983 Moss Wood Cabernet and the 1985 Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande but one thing is for sure, my last glass will be the 1911 vintage Commandaria.
Cheers,
Attila
ps: Adair will write a detailed picture report on the night.

1996 Greenock Creek Creek Block Shiraz Was it on this forum someone suggest this as the ultimate Australian Shiraz? Where ever I saw that suggestion I thought wait on I have two of those I bought from cellar door in January 99 - @$35 I couldn't afford any more - openned and decanted about 2 hours before - THIS IS A FOOD WINE- big, closed and tannic without food. With food very pleasant lots too it - probably rates Excellent but don't bother touching for 5 to 10 years.

1994 Seppelt Vintage Touriga excellent vintage port in 375 ml. Touriga meant more spice and Oporto like than most Aussies - wish I'd bought more.

Mixed assortment the rest of the week
96 Brookland Valley Cab Merlot Recommended more tannin than this wine sometimes has - good food wine
96 Maxwell Limestone Cave Cab Sauv - no notes but must have been reasonable

I wish I knew what we'd drunk the week before so I could up date the cellar record but was way too busy at work last monday to think about posting - there was a Seppelt Millenium release Spark Shiraz which was excellent but what else ...?

David

Halliday rated this wine 93pts after it won best red pre-1993 vintage as well as a couple of trophies, including best red of show in 1998 at Melbourne. Drink 2001-2011, though the winery recommends within the next year - yep, before the oak takes over the fruit. And I thought Lindeman's Limestone Ridge 91 showed some American oak! Although there seems to be a general dislike of American oak, I don't mind it. But I agree with John Purbrick, this wine is at it's peak. If it was held until 2011 the oak would've killed the fruit that's comprised of 2/3s Coonawarra, 1/3 Goulburn Valley (read Nagambie Lakes). It seems that in 1991 American oak was de riguer in Oz.

The nose is dominated by the oak especially just after removing the cork, but there are hints of violets and cassis. The palate carries a panoply of flavours reflecting the nose but with dark cherry and ink/licorice. Tannins are fine, ripe and integrated, complemented by soft acid extending the finish.

Excellent/**** value @ $30

Wynns John Riddoch 1986 - corked

Tatachilla Foundation Shiraz 1998 - decanted for an hour and most of it was drunk before I got out of the kitchen so that must be a good sign. Beautifully balanced mid-weight wine, drinking well already.

Orlando St. Hugo Cabernet 1999 - quite a densely flavoured wine of good varietal definition as I recall but it should have been decanted and allowed to breath.

Grant Burge Reserve Barossa Cabernet 2002 - This is the second bottle of this I have tried and this time it came up much better. I gave it a fair chance by double decanting and allowing to sit while we went through others. There was cigar box coming out over chocolate and blackberries and cassis. Big end of town and may do even better with time. Might just buy some more at $18 or so.

Picardy Merlot Cabernet 1999 - Just the right wine at just the right time to show its completely different nature to the rest of the table. Everyone liked its earthy forest floor nose and flavours. I was right chuffed that this was such a delightful wine as I had been waiting for the guest who originally bought it for me to come back before I opened it.

Gramps Cabernet Merlot 2001 - Not bad squishy .

didn't try the whites:

Leo Buring Clare Riesling 2002
Skillagolee Riesling 2002
but they were, according to whose who did, bewwy noice.

cheers,

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Great report thanks Sean.

The new oak may have been partly as a result of a recent drive to rid any Brett from the winery (older barrels).


regards
Chris

Villa Loosen 2003 - Superb way to be introduced to the delights of the middle Mosel, and Doctor Loosen for that matter! Cheap German riesling can be very off putting. Not this one. Great with food, the residual sweetness balanced by acids, rounding off a simple, but pleasant wine. [/b]

d'Arenberg "Derelict Vineyard" Grenache 2002- Fans of the mid 90's Custodian ( prior to its contemporary diluted style ) will enjoy the Derelict. Dark red-purple with purple hues. The nose a little closed from the glass but the decanter offers plenty of meat, wet earth and dark cherry, blackberry aromas-new oak evident initially but blends into the background. Full bodied and mouthfilling grenache. Fruit flavours include plenty of McClaren Vale licorice and lovely ripe, raspberry( as opposed to the bane of the variety, the lolly & confectionary nuances ). Balance is there somewhat; powerful lingering tannins with good acid and alchohol integration. Good length and one to cellar confidently. A lazy 90pts from most commentators I'd suspect.

d'Arenberg Bonsai Vine GSM 2001- Meaty, blackberry and spice. Palate has ripe grenache variatal flavours with some spicey mouvedre. The tannins are coating and drying. Backpalate licorice persistance but the monster acid and heat difficult. Tips the balance scales here.

Thanks for the Craiglee report Sean.

The single wine event I miss the most since being abroad.

40 bucks though!!

Pat would have been in a great mood talking footy! Considering the Demons insipid weekend effort.

Does the wine still come in 12 packs or a new, strengthened six pack format? I have found the solution for the imploding Craiglee cardboard boxes- high speed, aluminium aircraft tape ( the stuff you patch up battle damage with ).

Anonymous wrote:Halliday rated this wine 93pts after it won best red pre-1993 vintage as well as a couple of trophies, including best red of show in 1998 at Melbourne. Drink 2001-2011, though the winery recommends within the next year - yep, before the oak takes over the fruit. And I thought Lindeman's Limestone Ridge 91 showed some American oak! Although there seems to be a general dislike of American oak, I don't mind it. But I agree with John Purbrick, this wine is at it's peak. If it was held until 2011 the oak would've killed the fruit that's comprised of 2/3s Coonawarra, 1/3 Goulburn Valley (read Nagambie Lakes). It seems that in 1991 American oak was de riguer in Oz.

The nose is dominated by the oak especially just after removing the cork, but there are hints of violets and cassis. The palate carries a panoply of flavours reflecting the nose but with dark cherry and ink/licorice. Tannins are fine, ripe and integrated, complemented by soft acid extending the finish.

Excellent/**** value @ $30

That was me.

daz

I know, 40 bucks for the 02 Craiglee is amazingly cheap considering the wine's standing, breeding, quality and style - considering the prices of so many other premiums, it's remarkable that this wine has stayed in the $30s for so long - $40 is still cheap all things considered. Clonakilla has an rrp of $65+, langi ghiran likewise, castagna $55, giaconda shiraz a touch more -- all wines of a similar style/target-audience to Craiglee. Craiglee is off vine now approaching 30 years old too. The vines, the maker and the wine's style itself are theoretically all at their peak now.

jeff.

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Drinking report;

1978 Kalleske single vintage tawny port
Pre-release sample. Lovely viscosity, concentration and complexity. Really delicious and wonderfully fresh. Bring it on!

2002 Turkey Flat Grenache
Typical 'Lush' style for this producer. Not as 'Hot' as some vintages, easy drinking early in fact. Good fun.

2002 Turkey Flay Shiraz
Many comments here about this wine recently. Whilst it offers very good concentration and depth, I find it still a little aggressive. Alcohol warth, oak tannins, just a little disjointed. Still will cellar a decade and give much enjoyment, but not in the class of other 2002 Barossa reds I have tasted. (Kalleske, Schuberts 'Goose Block', Glaetzer Nefertiti, Glatzer Amon-Ra etc)

1994 Majella Shiraz
Having distributored this wine in Sydney for it's first 7 years, I'm a huge fan. I did find this very simple though. Lots of mint coming through now, lovely freshness, but medium weight and a little simplistic.

2002 Yabby Lake Chardonnay
Rich, on the clean side of the border of oiliness. Loads of creamy malo and high toast new oak. Lovely, if you like this style.

2002 Yabby Lake Pinot Noir
Lots of strong press on this wine all around. Typical Dexter/McKenna 'High Toast Oak sweetness', good colour, depth and flavours. Just a little too much sweet oak sitting delicately, but definately on top of the fruit. I wasn't as blown away as some of our journalists have been. Would happily drink it again though, but not for $50.

1996 Pol Roger
Brilliant. Power, class, complexity, intensity, youth, it has it all.

2001 Whitehall Lane Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
(Decleration; I am importing this wine in September)
Outstanding. Pure, taut and concentrated, could be mistaken for young Bordeaux. Fine and taut palate, layered but far from wanting to play. Abundant acidity, very fine soft tannins, good harmony and length. Needs 5-10 years to show it's potential.

Burp! Oops, excuse me....

Hi Garry,

Agree that the Chardonnay is probably the better of the two from Yabby Creek, although I found it incredibly forward for an '02 vintage.
There seems to be some confusion due to to marketing in regards to the actual winemakers of the '02 Pinot, as Dexter was still winemaker at Stonier for the '02 vintage, and according to those in the know, didn't actually make the wine.
Some secret side venture perhaps, but he didn't officially join Yabby Creek until the making of the '03 vintage.

Rory