KL Hilton wine dinner with Andrew Caillard
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2005 1:00 pm
These are my thoughts and tasting notes on the wine dinner titled "Vintage of the Decade" at the Kuala Lumpur Hilton on the 19th March 2005, Saturday with Andrew Caillard. The theme was a horizontal tasting of selected 1998 Australian wines, with an emphasis on Shiraz.
First Course: Roast Summer Peach & smoked Duck, shaved Fennel & baby Herb Salad
Craiglee Shiraz 1998: Craiglee was disappointing with unbalanced acidity and fading cherry accented fruit.
Bannockburn Shiraz 1998:Typical in its style, quite sappy with fine tannins but with a plum and cherry palate. This was the year that the vineyards were struck by hail and the grapes that made the wine were sourced from various vineyards all over Australia. A pleasant but unexceptional wine. I would suggest drinking over the next 2 years.
Second Course: Smoked & roasted Tasmanian Quail, Parsnip, Pear & Chicory
Parker Coonawarra Terra Rossa First Growth 1998 – Initially was hit by a whack of acidity but gradually fleshed out with typical mint and blackcurrant. Tried a second bottle with the same results. Wonder if anyone else has had this experience with this wine?
Yarra Yering Dry Red No.1 1998 – My first ever Yarra Yering wine. Typical cool climate cabernet with a greenish tinge on the palate with a medium weight palate and hints of capsicum, tobacco and cassis. Good.
Third Course: Roast Lamb Tenderloin, Truffled Potato puree, caramelized Shallots, seared Foie Gras & Jus
Cheese Course: Double Jindi Brie with Fig Jam
Coriole Lloyd Shiraz 1998 – Now were talking. When I first tried this wine upon released I was bowled over. Consistently one of my favourite McLaren Vale shirazes. I remembered there was a rich cascade of ripe plummy licorice fruit which soaked up the oak quite well. 3 years on, the wine is still a baby, big but less fruit forward. Only criticism is that the oak does tend to be a little more obvious than upon release. This may be a concern in the future as the fruit continues to fade but for now it is offering fine drinking for those looking for a classic McLaren Shiraz from 1998. Excellent but watch the oak.
Jasper Hill Georgia’s Paddock 1998 – On the nose this had it all, dark fruits, a dusty spice and pleasant musk laden bouquet. So different to when I first tried the wine a few years ago when the tannins were still aggressive and the fruit was pushed to the background. This baby is singing right now with the palate showing similar complexity and judiciously handled oak which perfectly frames the still substantial licorice, black fruit laden palate and a lingering spicy finish. The WOTN for me.
Dessert: Caramelized Passionfruit Cream, Berries & Toffee wafers
Mt. Horrocks Cordon Cut Riesling (1998?) – As the wines were flowing pretty much freely by now, I did not note down the vintage. A classy dessert wine a light amber brown colour tasting of apricots, orange peel and enough acidity to maintain a fresh zippy finish. Excellent!
All in all an enjoyable night which ended with Andrew auctioning some magnums the highlight which was a Rockford Basket Press Shiraz 1997.
First Course: Roast Summer Peach & smoked Duck, shaved Fennel & baby Herb Salad
Craiglee Shiraz 1998: Craiglee was disappointing with unbalanced acidity and fading cherry accented fruit.
Bannockburn Shiraz 1998:Typical in its style, quite sappy with fine tannins but with a plum and cherry palate. This was the year that the vineyards were struck by hail and the grapes that made the wine were sourced from various vineyards all over Australia. A pleasant but unexceptional wine. I would suggest drinking over the next 2 years.
Second Course: Smoked & roasted Tasmanian Quail, Parsnip, Pear & Chicory
Parker Coonawarra Terra Rossa First Growth 1998 – Initially was hit by a whack of acidity but gradually fleshed out with typical mint and blackcurrant. Tried a second bottle with the same results. Wonder if anyone else has had this experience with this wine?
Yarra Yering Dry Red No.1 1998 – My first ever Yarra Yering wine. Typical cool climate cabernet with a greenish tinge on the palate with a medium weight palate and hints of capsicum, tobacco and cassis. Good.
Third Course: Roast Lamb Tenderloin, Truffled Potato puree, caramelized Shallots, seared Foie Gras & Jus
Cheese Course: Double Jindi Brie with Fig Jam
Coriole Lloyd Shiraz 1998 – Now were talking. When I first tried this wine upon released I was bowled over. Consistently one of my favourite McLaren Vale shirazes. I remembered there was a rich cascade of ripe plummy licorice fruit which soaked up the oak quite well. 3 years on, the wine is still a baby, big but less fruit forward. Only criticism is that the oak does tend to be a little more obvious than upon release. This may be a concern in the future as the fruit continues to fade but for now it is offering fine drinking for those looking for a classic McLaren Shiraz from 1998. Excellent but watch the oak.
Jasper Hill Georgia’s Paddock 1998 – On the nose this had it all, dark fruits, a dusty spice and pleasant musk laden bouquet. So different to when I first tried the wine a few years ago when the tannins were still aggressive and the fruit was pushed to the background. This baby is singing right now with the palate showing similar complexity and judiciously handled oak which perfectly frames the still substantial licorice, black fruit laden palate and a lingering spicy finish. The WOTN for me.
Dessert: Caramelized Passionfruit Cream, Berries & Toffee wafers
Mt. Horrocks Cordon Cut Riesling (1998?) – As the wines were flowing pretty much freely by now, I did not note down the vintage. A classy dessert wine a light amber brown colour tasting of apricots, orange peel and enough acidity to maintain a fresh zippy finish. Excellent!
All in all an enjoyable night which ended with Andrew auctioning some magnums the highlight which was a Rockford Basket Press Shiraz 1997.
) It's a non-profitable event, I even lose money on some of those wines since I wont be able to open all the wines on my own. All the wines were fantastic except the Meshach which is declining.