The Auswine Forum

Hi Good Peoples,

A very quite week for me (in more ways than one) as I have not been well since I got back from SA. Last night I had a Katnook 1996 Cabernet Sauvignon and after drinking 3/4 of the bottle, I still can't make up my mind if I like it or not. The flavour profile is pleasent enough, nothing sweet about it at all, lots of leafy/cigar characters, attaractive fruit flavours and for the first time I found bubble gum flavour in a wine. The tannins and oak are where the wine got "interesting." Much of the remaining tannin that has not resolved seem to be oak derrived, possibly the wine has seen a little to much new oak. It was better with food.

Now what have you guys been drinking?

Polished off a 96 Elderton Shiraz on Friday night, very rich and chocolatey - good cold night wine but im not sure you would ever be in the mood for a glass if you lived in queensland. It is a low $20s wine I guess but I kinda expected a bit more. Its ready to drink now.

Last night as we watched the Crusaders tease the Warratahs downed a 02 Kumeu River Pinot. The last bottle we had was pretty aweful. This time I warmed it up significantly and it showed very well. Rhubarb and cranberry spectrum fruit with a smokey edge. Quite a tautly structured pinot, plenty of complexity and flavour with quite a lean texture.

Apart from the Barossa gear, only the 99 Primo Estate Jospeh Moda Amarone. Still quite dark. Showing some aged character already in the soy sauce, mushroom, earthy spectrum. There is a trace of mint underneath this to confirm the variety, but apart from that nothing varietal here except the cabernet tannin structure. Came around slowly after a couple of hours. If this is going to open up and show its stuff, it will need a long time to do it. 85/100 now, leave another two years to try again.

Had a great dinner last night with Jamie, Gavin, Steve, Ian, Gary etc., full notes to follow, but the lineup was:

1992 E&E Sparkling Shiraz
1990 St Henri
1993 Balnaves Cab Sav
1991 Wynns Centenary Shiraz Cab
1990 Jim Barry The Armargh
1994 Cyril Henschke
1997 Craiglee Shiraz
1998 Greg Norman Reserve Shiraz
1998 Wirra Wirra Chook Block
2002 Glaymond The Distinction Shiraz
2003 Kalleske Johan Georg Shiraz

Yummy wines, now all I need to do is find my camera, did anyone happen to pick it up ?

Whoops, oh yeas and a magnum of 1991 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz, and the steaks were excellent.

All,

Nothing new for us this week worth detailed TNs that I haven't otherwise already done to death. The problem with having a new cellar - not much choice. Hoping to rectify that with some auction purchases.

Did the Paul Osicka 2002 Cab Sav again which is a fine drink now and which I expect will be exceptional in a few years time. Also the huge Warrabilla 2004 Cab Sav. Knocked off a bottle of the Willows Vineyard 2002 Cab Sav which is a fabulous wine drinking well right now, particularly the next day after opening and rebottling (in one of those little bottles with the plastic/rubber stopper held on by steel wire).

In the quaffers: Knocked back a Fire Block Old Vine 2002 Grenache and a Shiraz during the week. The Grenache had some serious VA which we didn't really give a lot of time to blow off - 12 hours at work and I needed a freaking drink! Bit intense and not really enjoyable. Maybe I'll open some during the week before going to work. The Shiraz is a good house red for us, plenty of fruit and only $14.99 by the case - tannin was a bit strident in this bottle.

Had a Brown Brothers 2003 Shiraz in a pub restaurant on Friday night - not bad for a quaff - very light textured, fruit a bit light on, but then so were the tannins and the oak- gee, it could have been a pinot! Nothing to write home about.

Regards all,

Allan

I'm still doing too much night work but managed some bottles this week.

2000 Grant Burge Filsell

I bought and drank heaps of this when it was first released and then had a break with only three in reserve. Beautiful integration of fruit and oak and was Wine of the Night up against an 02 Bin 407 and some Wolf Blass Cabernet that I can't remember the details of. Had to keep the Filsell down my end of the table for my eemmm limited drinking.

1999 Bleasdale Frank Potts

Wouldn't you know it. I said only last week how lucky I had been with the number of corked wines I have had over the last few years. I was really looking forward to this one as I only had two left and had enjoyed the previous four so much. I told my lunch partners how much they were going to enjoy this wine. Corked. I ripped into the next door bottle shop and got a little froggie number I tried at the Negociants tasting in Brisbane...

2002 La Vieille Ferme 'LASIRA'

This is a great little quaffer. 75% Shiraz 25% Grenache 0% Cork (No problem here) Nice balance, good fruit and went a treat with the lunchtime open burgers.

Should put in a plug while I am at it for Brisbane eaters:

Caffe E on Latrobe Terrace. Great food and BYO. Closed Sunday night and Monday.

2002 St Hallett Blackwell Shiraz

Had this wine on release and loved it. Thought it faded some when left for two hours. This bottle was very nice particularly when alongside the Bleasdale but then replaced with the LASIRA. I will be trying the 03 Blackwell this week and that will be interesting.

Graham

Anonymous wrote:I'm still doing too much night work but managed some bottles this week.

2000 Grant Burge Filsell

I bought and drank heaps of this when it was first released and then had a break with only three in reserve. Beautiful integration of fruit and oak and was Wine of the Night up against an 02 Bin 407 and some Wolf Blass Cabernet that I can't remember the details of. Had to keep the Filsell down my end of the table for my eemmm limited drinking.

1999 Bleasdale Frank Potts

Wouldn't you know it. I said only last week how lucky I had been with the number of corked wines I have had over the last few years. I was really looking forward to this one as I only had two left and had enjoyed the previous four so much. I told my lunch partners how much they were going to enjoy this wine. Corked. I ripped into the next door bottle shop and got a little froggie number I tried at the Negociants tasting in Brisbane...

2002 La Vieille Ferme 'LASIRA'

This is a great little quaffer. 75% Shiraz 25% Grenache 0% Cork (No problem here) Nice balance, good fruit and went a treat with the lunchtime open burgers.

Should put in a plug while I am at it for Brisbane eaters:

Caffe E on Latrobe Terrace. Great food and BYO. Closed Sunday night and Monday.

2002 St Hallett Blackwell Shiraz

Had this wine on release and loved it. Thought it faded some when left for two hours. This bottle was very nice particularly when alongside the Bleasdale but then replaced with the LASIRA. I will be trying the 03 Blackwell this week and that will be interesting.

Graham

Telstra cable is giving me the s@#$s

Graham

GrahamB wrote:Telstra cable is giving me the s@#$s

Graham,

If you think Telstra cable is bad, perhaps you would like to try it combined with a Telstra satellite? If you did, you would really know all about a gigantic case of galloping diarrhoea; let alone the s@#$s.

On second thoughts, all you need to do is to say "BigPond" and most users will break out in a sweat and head for the toilet.

I was fortunate to score a miniature bottle of PIPER HEIDSIECK NV Champagne from Business Class on the way to Vienna. It was tasty, lovely and dry, for 3 years now this house is among my favourites. In the Air New Zeland Lounge I tasted the 2002 MONTANA Barrel Fermented Chardonnay that I found rich, sweet and quite commercial. However those new to wine would love an easy Chardonnay like this.
Now over in Europe, I'll start my cellar door tour in a couple of hours, first destination the legendary SOMLÓ HILL.
It's 32 C degrees over here, absolutely hot but I'm looking forward to some cool dry whites for lunch.
Cheers,
Attila

Well, I was at a wedding, so you know what that means.

It's always interesting, descending into the murky world of proprietal labels. The rule is, if you haven't heard of it, there's a reason! Anyway, I can report that de Bortoli make a range of wines called Willowglen. I have no idea of the price, but really, if you're going to water 150-odd people, its unreasonable to set expectations too high. I can say they were better than the Lindemans equivalents I've had on other occasions - and indeed better than some Tyrrells 'house brands' as well.

Interesting weekend wines were covered in the Cyril/Meyney thread elsewhere...

cheers,
Graeme

Marienberg Reserve Shiraz 1999 A lighter Mclearen Vale style, nice strawberry nose, strong aniseed and oak mid palate, firm dry tannin finish, good wine with a few good years left in it

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After the stirring JHK Offline last Saturday and the mandatory AFD, Sunday, Monday saw a bottle of Tyrrell's 1998 Futures Selection Semillon bite the dust. Still a healthy bright youthful colour this wine offers up good quantities of toasty melon and citrus fruit infused with nuts, hay and lanolin and reasonable acidity. Medium-bodied and finishes long and dry. Very Good Drink now - 2010.

Next cab off the rank was the 1997 Vosne-Romanee Grand Cru Echezeaux from Mugneret-Gibourg. Boldly oaked, this largish-framed Burgundy has sufficient fruit to carry the newish oak, but disappointed for being slightly monolithic and a little blowsy mid-palate. There's enough stuffing to please most crowds and the tannins are ripe and well-integrated with good acid levels on a medium-long finish. Time may help its cause. Rated as Very Good.

The 1998 Frederic Esmonin 1er Cru Estournelles-St.-Jacques (Gevrey-Chambertin) was quite smart but like the Mugneret was no better than Very Good. Plenty of extract and new wood but still to hit its' straps. Hold for a few years and then probably best drunk over the next decade.

I picked up a few bottles of 1994 Maximin Grunhauser Abstberg Auslese Riesling (fuder 219) from C. von Schubert'shen from the Mosel-Saar-Ruwer. These specially numbered (meaning best barrels and expensive) quite sweet whites are legendary for their keeping qualities and this beauty delivers on that promise. Still only a light straw/gold but extremely bright this exotic Riesling offers up flowers (apple blossoms), smoke, slate, lemon merangue, nectarine and white peaches in the bouquet and powerful flavours of glazed stonefruits, green apples, minerals and honey. Mouthfilling and with gorgeous viscosity the palate profile is tamed by profoundly well-judged natural acidity keeping everything in check and focussed on a long and memorable crisp finish. Rated as Excellent, this will improve greatly and last for several decades. Bravo! And only 8% A/V! This would pair nicely with ripe stonefruits, figs and nuts.

The Kuentz-Bas (Alsace) 1995 Pinot Gris Vendange Tardive displayed a light gold/brassy colour with an exuburent nose of overripe melons, figs, lychee and apricot followed by a rich and flavoursome sweet palate aka the nose with plenty of extract, relatively low acidity and powerful lychee-infused finish. Needs to be served with a rich foie gras or dessert to be fully appreciated. Rated as Very Good/Excellent this wine is ready to drink now and should be consumed over the next few years.

Last night, while preparing the family traditional Sunday roast dinner, we opened a .......

Domaine Pinson Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 1999 - infantile straw/green colour, beguiling creamy nose of meal, minerals, green melons and underripe white peach followed by a suprisingly rich, oaky palate, full of flavour and of decent weight, excellent green fruit (as per nose) with a similar minerally touch and an acid-rich/melony finish of some duration. Been waiting some time for this to come around .....and will have to wait some more for the "real thing" to emerge. Excellent now, with an Outstanding prediction with several years in a cool place.

With the marinated (onions, garlic, sesame oil and freshly ground black pepper) beef eye fillet (roasted in the new Weber Cool ) served with a thickened cream/white wine and beef stock reduction sauce (based off the marinade) and roast vegetables and greens ...... we cracked a .......

Seppelt Dorrien Cabernet 1992 - (Decanted some hours prior to consumption, the extra air provided the necessary stimulus for this brilliant wine to reveal its' true qualities) Still a very dark, healthy deep ruby with only a modicum of lightening in the edge. Penetrating bouquet of cedar, freshly-turned wet earth, savoury oak, provencal herbs, plums, saddle leather and bitter chocolate with the slightest twang of mint and lift at the death. Quite rivetting! The palate resembles an instant replay of the nose with a sexy, plush texture balanced by the savouriness of the oak, tremendous balancing acidity and delicious fine-grained tannins. To complete an almost perfect picture, this Outstanding red finishes with a touch of sweet plumminess amongst some wonderful grip that hovers in the mouth for almost a minute. No need to drink this cracker in the near-term. If we have consistency with these cork-sealed bottles, I predict a 10-15 year drinking window. I'm humbled by the experience. The first bottle of 6 purchased recently from auction at next to nothing for such outrageously high quality. Thank you Seppelt, once again!

Had a couple of wines from the cellar...

1995 BVE EBENEZER SHIRAZ
Still showing some lovely fruit, whilst plently of American oak on the nose and palate. Not an elegant wine, and still showing plently of life

1996 LEASINGHAM SHIRAZ
A bit of an anti climax - not sure why I kept it so long. The palate, whilst still showing fruit, was a bit out of balance with a fairly harsh finish.

1996 KILLAWARRA SPARKLING SHIRAZ
A great drink considering I only paid about $12 for it at the time. Good earthy. mushroom characters with a bit of sweetness. Went well with the duck cold rolls!

2003 FOX GORDON KING LOUIS CABERNET
A bit of bias here , but this is looking lovely. Thanks for the review Ric.

Cheers
David C

Saltram #1 Barossa Shiraz 1998
Dark chocolate and quite peppery. Muted nose. Could taste the heat of the alcohol. I really wanted to love this wine and I'm hoping it was just a "bad bottle." Am now concerned about my other 98 reds
I've got 1 bottle left and will open it before the end of winter - I paid $47.50pb and am now thinking there's better value elsewhere.

Seppelt Moyston Cabernet Merlot 2003
Really can't complain for the price but a bit thin and peppery for my taste.

Cheers,
Vickie

Hi Vickie,

Regarding your comments on 1998, it's not really rational to worry about a whole vintage based on a tasting of one wine, so I wouldn't be overly concerned about the rest of your collection of 98's. as far As the No1 goes in particular, many of the people who tried it shortly after release found it to be very oaky and this could be a factor in your thoughts.

SEPPELT DRUMBORG CABERNET SAUVIGNON 1994
After drinking three or four of these over the past few years , I was not expecting a great deal as I have always come away a bit dissaponted.However this time I decanted the wine for about three hours. before serving it up with lambs shanks, done osso bucco style, on a bed of couscous. The result was a very nice wine with lively dark fruit aromas and a wine that was creamy smooth in the mouth without the sweetness of over ripe fruit. The oak and fruit had combined beautifully and there was just a hint of capsicum on the nose which had been almost overpowering when tasted previously. A pretty good drink that went pretty well with the lamb.

Not much, but what I did I liked:

Dromana Estate '00 Shiraz.
This has developed well, and is drinking very well. It just seems to be going from strength to strength ( if the last 2 years of opening the same vintage is any indication). Good nose, very good fruit weight and mouthfeel, oak & tannins intergrating, very good length.
I'm beginning to believe there is a very healthy future for Shiraz on the Peninsula as the vines get older......... maybe even outclass the Pinots?

McLeans Farm '02 Trinity Corner Shiraz.

Is ther a dud '02 Barossa Shiraz around??

From what I understand, Bob McLean was the owner of St Hallet until it was purchased by Distinguished Vineyards, and he kept this block for himself.
Tight nose, a little VA that blew off, rich palate, some gamey notes that I'm trying not to put down to Brett (more at the level of adding complexity than distractive), lovely chewy tannins, a mouthfull of flavour and good length. Like it.

Pegasus Bay '02 Pinot.

Has beaten the Ata Rangi & Felton Road from the same vintage hands down - for a fraction of the price.

Rory

Rory wrote:Pegasus Bay '02 Pinot.

Has beaten the Ata Rangi & Felton Road from the same vintage hands down - for a fraction of the price.

Rory

Now that is a very, very big statement to make! I can't comment on the Ata Rangi, but Felton Road (and Herzog for that matter) are much better wines in my opinion. I've had the '02 Pegasus Bay on two occasions in the last six months and have found it heavy, hard, too tannic and too 'big' for a Pinot. It really is a rough looking, big gangster hiding in an alley, waiting to take you by surprise. It's not a bad wine, and I certainly think it needs to be put away for five years and approached then (maybe released on parole for good behaviour and tested in society), but I found the structure and varietal character of the aforementioned alternatives first rate in comparison.

Each to their own though! I've certainly heard glowing reports of the wine from other people. As a last note, I have preferred the wines from the much lower yielding '03 vintage and adore the '01 Peg Bay Prima Donna (only made in exceptional years - not made in'02).

Cheers,

A couple of old favourites this weekend:

Both wines decanted for about 2 hrs and served with charcoal meats.
(oh. and a few potatoes and string beans for color)

1998 St Hallet Old Block Shiraz
I really do like this wine.
A beautiful ruby color with the slightest of bricking at the edges. A glorious depth to the color.
The nose is blackberries and currants with a mild oak undertone.
The texture was smooth and coated the tongue and mouth with like silk. Very easy to drink, in fact a bit too easy.
The palate was well structured with vibrant fruits that had integrated well with the creamy vanilla oak. Only 9 left, I must go easy.

2000 Fox Creek Reserve Shiraz
JO doesn't rate this vintage too much and I tend to agree. It was a bit thin on the palate and didn't quite express enough of the big ripe fruit that Fox Creek normally shows. A good quaffer that should be drunk over the next year or two. Probably overshadowed by the Old Block, but it was a bit "syrypy".

2001 Killakanoon GSM
A good nose on opening that kept on improving, as did the taste.
Quite peppery and spicy with lovely black berries, forest floor and cedar.
Still a fair bit of tannins, but a tight and firm structure that I think could imporve for another year or two. Good stuff as our third bottle for the night.

Hi Max,

Interterstingly enough, I had the first bottle of the Pegasus with the Ata Rangi... in a restautant in Sumner (not far from Christchurch) in February.
I didn't see it as a "brute" at all. Big, yes, but not brutish.
And yes, I'd have to agree it's bigger than the Felton Rd, ut I feel the past few vintages of the Felton have not been up to scratch.
I didnt find any of the Pegasus hard or too tannic, but then again the bottles I have had had been opened for some time.
Variation or each to thier own?
Do you get down to Sumner?

Rory

Petros wrote:SEPPELT DRUMBORG CABERNET SAUVIGNON 1994
After drinking three or four of these over the past few years , I was not expecting a great deal as I have always come away a bit dissaponted.However this time I decanted the wine for about three hours. before serving it up with lambs shanks, done osso bucco style, on a bed of couscous. The result was a very nice wine with lively dark fruit aromas and a wine that was creamy smooth in the mouth without the sweetness of over ripe fruit. The oak and fruit had combined beautifully and there was just a hint of capsicum on the nose which had been almost overpowering when tasted previously. A pretty good drink that went pretty well with the lamb.

Wow, I just posted about this wine. Good to see you also enjoyed it. My bottle displayed the "almost overpowering capsicum" of your previous bottles but, in the context of my bottle, I loved it.

As well as this and other wines that I posted separately, I had the 2002 Taylors Cabernet Sauvignon over the past 2 nights. I found it had very pleasing ripe flavours but lacked depth, complexity and, above all, interest. I am happy that I only bought 1 bottle, even at $11.80. 15.5/20, 85/100.

Interestinly, I had a bottle of this under cork a month ago and remember it to be much better... and that is wine!

Adair

Rory wrote:Hi Max,

Interterstingly enough, I had the first bottle of the Pegasus with the Ata Rangi... in a restautant in Sumner (not far from Christchurch) in February.
I didn't see it as a "brute" at all. Big, yes, but not brutish.
And yes, I'd have to agree it's bigger than the Felton Rd, ut I feel the past few vintages of the Felton have not been up to scratch.
I didnt find any of the Pegasus hard or too tannic, but then again the bottles I have had had been opened for some time.
Variation or each to thier own?
Do you get down to Sumner?

Rory

Hey Rory,

Sumner is part of Christchurch isn't it? Just on the east side? Due to my transport issues right now (damn NZ and their wof), I haven't been out to Sumner of late but I was out there during the warmer months. I live in Lincoln (the styx) and work part time out of Riccarton, which isn't too far away.

I actually thought that the Main Divide Pinot from the same vintage - Pegasus Bay's second label - was more approachable. However, I'd still buy the likes of Mt Difficulty, Herzog, Felton Rd and Finla Mor for similar money over the Peg Bay (all $35-$45rrp). But like you say, bottle variation can play a hand and it's remarkable how quickly Pinot (as a comparatively lesser ageing potential red in the new world) can mellow and transform into something quite different with some air time (for better or for worse). I also find that there are two types of Pinotphiles; those that prefer the sweeter, heavier, bigger fruit styles and those that prefer the gamey, subtle, more elegant style. I am part of the latter group (though perhaps not strictly).

Are you in Christchurch?

Cheers,

[quote="Adair
As well as this and other wines that I posted separately, I had the 2002 Taylors Cabernet Sauvignon over the past 2 nights. I found it had very pleasing ripe flavours but lacked depth, complexity and, above all, interest. I am happy that I only bought 1 bottle, even at $11.80. 15.5/20, 85/100.

Interestinly, I had a bottle of this under cork a month ago and remember it to be much better... and that is wine!

Adair[/quote]

Adair,

I was also forced to imbibe the 2002 Taylors CS screwcap - but half a glass was more than sufficient for me, and I think you have been generous with points for it.

I agree that there is a place for a pleasant quaffer - but this was not it. In the 70s and early 80s the taylors Clare shiraz and CS was welllmade and rewarded cellaring as a decent quaffer (and came in styrofoam insulated and packed cases), but this is made in a much bigger mould - somewhat disjointed to my palate with no real expression of Clare (give me the Galah Hills instead).

Surprisingly disappointed by the wine.

fred

fred wrote:

Adair wrote:As well as this and other wines that I posted separately, I had the 2002 Taylors Cabernet Sauvignon over the past 2 nights. I found it had very pleasing ripe flavours but lacked depth, complexity and, above all, interest. I am happy that I only bought 1 bottle, even at $11.80. 15.5/20, 85/100.

Interestingly, I had a bottle of this under cork a month ago and remember it to be much better... and that is wine!

Adair

Adair,

I was also forced to imbibe the 2002 Taylors CS screwcap - but half a glass was more than sufficient for me, and I think you have been generous with points for it.

I agree that there is a place for a pleasant quaffer - but this was not it. In the 70s and early 80s the taylors Clare shiraz and CS was welllmade and rewarded cellaring as a decent quaffer (and came in styrofoam insulated and packed cases), but this is made in a much bigger mould - somewhat disjointed to my palate with no real expression of Clare (give me the Galah Hills instead).

Surprisingly disappointed by the wine.

fred

Fred,

Thanks for your thoughts. I think you are more harsh than I but we both agree that we don't want to drink it.

I presume the Galahs you mean are Stephen George's cleanskins? They are definitely in a more serious mould.

Guess what I have on the quaffer tasting bench for tonight... the 2003 Taylors Shiraz. I will report.
Adair

TORB wrote:Hi Vickie,

Regarding your comments on 1998, it's not really rational to worry about a whole vintage based on a tasting of one wine, so I wouldn't be overly concerned about the rest of your collection of 98's. as far As the No1 goes in particular, many of the people who tried it shortly after release found it to be very oaky and this could be a factor in your thoughts.

Hi Ric,

I thoroughly agree with your comment and apologise to all if I have caused any alarm.

I should have qualified myself by saying that after tasting this bottle of Saltram #1 Barossa Shiraz 1998, and having been disappointed (dare I use the term "underwhelmed?") by this bottle and several other 98 red wines which I have tasted this year, I'm starting to get just a little nervous about some of my 98's. I guess this nervousness also stems from what I have read and heard from others.

As a result, I've decided to begin tasting some of my 98s and started with my last bottle of the Saltram #1 Barossa Shiraz 1998 which I opened this lunchtime before reading your post.

Saltram #1 Barossa Shiraz 1998 - bottle # 2
Blackcurrant and dark chocolate with vanillian oak. Preferred this bottle to the previous but am beginning to think that this is just not my style.

Cheers,
Vickie

Memorial Day here yesterday (30th). Had the last bottle of Kim Crawford's 2004 Pansy Rose. It has a wonderful cherry soda color and is indeed a fruity little number, giving off aromas of strawberries and sweet candy. It has lost the hint of sweetness it had when we first tried it last November.

Then a bottle of Russian Hill 2002 Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir. Very passable little Pinot.

Mike

Hi all,

Did lunch yesterday (business) and today with Anne after updating my wardrobe.

Yesterday at Chesser Cellars (Adelaide) with aged Coorong Angus steak enjoyed a Grennock Creek '02 7 Acres Shiraz. Wonderful Barossa old vine fruit. Seriously good fruit and well balanced. A real treat.

Today, for Anne and my birthdays (1 day apart) at relatively new winebar/restaurant called Wine Underground (agian Adelaide). Buy wine at retail prices from the their interesting cellar (many unkown boutique wineries) and pay $9 corkage. Or many good wines by the glass. Eventually accepted Scott's advice (he knows his wines) and settled on a Cape Mentelle 2000 Cabernet decanted and seved in Reidel. A real treat on our budget. A wine you can happily enjoy just for the aromas. Got a bit carried away and took home a few bottles of Grennock Creek '02 Cabernet for another special occasion.

Scott regaled his Penfolds 60A story when some guys found unopened 1/2 dozen box in a pub cellar near McLaren Vale a few years ago. $200 pb.

Chuck

Back to the $15 wines.

Chuck

Caught up with a friend , originally from SA but now working and living in Petaluma in California. Back for some work and we headed to the Civic Hotel in Sydney for a few beers and eventually dinner.

Shared a bottle of 2003 Pedders Creek Shiraz. Hadn't heard of this before but it is the second label of Scarpantoni. The restaurant was too dark to see the colour but this was a very interesting wine. It initially came across quite sweet (maybe after the beer) and had distinct caramel on the back palate. A very full, round and warm feeling. Slightly salty aftertaste but not unpleasant at all. A very nice wine to go with a very nice steak and chips with bearnaise sauce. Definitely recommend as an early drinker. Exceedingly chuggable.

KMP wrote:Memorial Day here yesterday (30th). Had the last bottle of Kim Crawford's 2004 Pansy Rose. It has a wonderful cherry soda color and is indeed a fruity little number, giving off aromas of strawberries and sweet candy. It has lost the hint of sweetness it had when we first tried it last November.



Mike

Is there something you'd like to tell us?

Kieran