Had a dinner with another local restaurateur, us both having the night off, and it was his turn to raid his kitchen and pretend heÂ’d slaved over the meals for hours.
Some very good wine too.
Seppelt Â’04 Marsanne/Rousanne.
Now I had no idea Seppelt even produce either of these varieties, let alone a blend of
the two. And my thoughts are they should perhaps leave it alone. The fruit was sourced from the Pyrenees apparently, but it lacks any varietal definition. I love the Rhone blends, and to me, in a blind line up, youÂ’d pick it as a Sauv/Blanc.
Maybe it just needs time?
Â’98 Yarrabank Cuvee.
Love the Â’99 and this didnÂ’t disappoint. Still very youthful, slightly sweet, but well made.
Â’00 Grosset Picadilly Chardonnay.
Very elegant, very seamless wine that is not at itÂ’s peak yet, maybe another 3 years. Intense fruit, good structure, good length.
Â’03 Ata Rangi Pinot Gris.
Equal wine of the night. Beautifully made smooth effortless wine with very good mouth feel. Understated in some ways, but very classy nonetheless. Pear and minerality in harmony. Would be interesting to see this with age on it.
Â’97 Grosset Polish Hill Riesling.
After all the discussion I thought it time to make my own judgment, and there was definitely a bit of this and that. Yes, it has developed quite ahead of time (but it was a very hot vintage, so thatÂ’s expected) but the wine had power and richness, still some acid going and great length. If anything, the power of the wine was a little too much, elegant itÂ’s not, but very good it still is.
Â’96 Orlando Stiengarten Riesling.
Now this wine side by side to the Grosset was interesting. Far more youthful, still quite zesty, elegant quality fruit that has 3-5 years before it gets close to where the Grosset is now.
Â’04 Wislon Vineyard Gallery Riesling.
Another very good Riesling, obviously young and lively, but a wonderful floral nose and intense quality fruit on a lengthy palate. Will age well, if you can keep your hands off it!
Â’95 Elderton Shiraz.
Not a great vintage, not a great example of this wine. Too much alcohol showing above everything else, and lacking any finesse. Going nowhere.
Â’96 Melton Nine Popes.
Outstanding, excellent and a number of years off its best, equal wine of the night. Confirms in my mind the Â’96 vintage is the vintage of the decade, not the Â’90 nor Â’98, for S.A. And unfortunately, my last bottle.
Â’98 Trimbach Vendage Tardive Gewuztraminer.
Ahhh, all class, without peer in Oz, and a joy to drink with dessert (a mandarine sorbet).
Â’02 Cloudy Bay Late Picked Riesling.
Very nice, not cloyingly sweet, quite elegant and very drinkable.
Overall a great night.
Last nights wines.
Rory, nice line up except to many non reds!
I had a 95 Elderton about 12 months ago and it was still looking good without threatening to fall over so yours may have been a less than 100% good bottle, roll on screwcaps!
Careful with that "Vintage of the Decade" for SA stuff. The SA regions are sufficiently spread that it's unlikely they will all fire in the same year.
That said I do agree 96 is a cracking vintage in most SA areas including the distant Coonawarra.
I had a 95 Elderton about 12 months ago and it was still looking good without threatening to fall over so yours may have been a less than 100% good bottle, roll on screwcaps!
Careful with that "Vintage of the Decade" for SA stuff. The SA regions are sufficiently spread that it's unlikely they will all fire in the same year.
That said I do agree 96 is a cracking vintage in most SA areas including the distant Coonawarra.
Cheers - Steve
If you can see through it, it's not worth drinking!
If you can see through it, it's not worth drinking!