Hi Good Peoples,
A quiet week for me as I was running out of wine (at home) and just had a few bottles of the same old same old there. At last, yesterday I finally got round to digging out a few dozen from the cellar to take home.
Fox Creek 1997 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Not exactly a great varietal cabernet, this is a big, brawn wine that still has loads of powdery tannins that need another few years to integrate. The fruit seems to have enough oomph to kick through the tannins and show itself so it should eventually become harmonious; I hope! Blackcurrant, liquorice, pepper and a hint of mint is very pleasant but you really do need a knife and fork to get through this wine. Try again in 3 years. Rated as Highly Recommended.
Whacha bee' drink'in?
Its Sunday again....
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JamieBahrain
- Posts: 3754
- Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2003 7:40 am
- Location: Fragrant Harbour.
Nobody drinking this week but me and TORB?
Quiet and uninspiring week of wine as study commitments.
Turkey Flat Butcher's Block 1998- 2nd vintage of this GSM. I expected a bit more and I don't know if you should wait for the 10 years proposed on the bottle's back label. A touch of complexity, good depth and weight and would pair well and unassumingly with suitable food. Drink up. 84pts.
Gosset Grande Reserve ( red label )- Grey/gold. Lively. Intense dried hazelnuts and freshly baked brioche. Opulent with a creamy texture and choc-hazelnut flavours finish clean with good persistance of flavour. Epicurean style of champagne. Hedonistic aperitif. 90 pts.
Wolf Blass President's Selection Shiraz 2000- Multi-regional SA shiraz. A bit bleek and thin. Chocolatey blackfruits, euculyptus & charry oak. Menthol/alcohol dominated finish with a hint of grip. 82pts
A few bottles of Fox Creek JSM 2002 and a bottle of Fox Creek Shadow's Run 2002 shared over dinner. JSM is a hard drinking, ripe fruit bomb but settles considerably with air with ripe blackfruits, cedary oak and a smooth texture with light on tannins and a big, warm finish. I think I preferred the disjointed JSM style of old. God help those who invested in this wine through the now bust wine schemes! I vaguely recall the 02 JSM being mentioned. Shadow's Run is very good value as a quaffer, with the ability to hold and improve over a few days after bottles opening.
Quiet and uninspiring week of wine as study commitments.
Turkey Flat Butcher's Block 1998- 2nd vintage of this GSM. I expected a bit more and I don't know if you should wait for the 10 years proposed on the bottle's back label. A touch of complexity, good depth and weight and would pair well and unassumingly with suitable food. Drink up. 84pts.
Gosset Grande Reserve ( red label )- Grey/gold. Lively. Intense dried hazelnuts and freshly baked brioche. Opulent with a creamy texture and choc-hazelnut flavours finish clean with good persistance of flavour. Epicurean style of champagne. Hedonistic aperitif. 90 pts.
Wolf Blass President's Selection Shiraz 2000- Multi-regional SA shiraz. A bit bleek and thin. Chocolatey blackfruits, euculyptus & charry oak. Menthol/alcohol dominated finish with a hint of grip. 82pts
A few bottles of Fox Creek JSM 2002 and a bottle of Fox Creek Shadow's Run 2002 shared over dinner. JSM is a hard drinking, ripe fruit bomb but settles considerably with air with ripe blackfruits, cedary oak and a smooth texture with light on tannins and a big, warm finish. I think I preferred the disjointed JSM style of old. God help those who invested in this wine through the now bust wine schemes! I vaguely recall the 02 JSM being mentioned. Shadow's Run is very good value as a quaffer, with the ability to hold and improve over a few days after bottles opening.
Hi you 2,
My week about the same as yours. (Saltrams) Pepperjack '02 Cabernet was the highlight of a slow week. Lovely fruit from a warm area in a cool year. Shows you just how good a non-cool climate cabernet can get. Completely different to say Coonawarra but right up there in terms of style and quality. Will improve up to 5 years. I keep buying '02 wines but still feel in a few years I will regret not buying more. Best QPR year in my drinking history.
Recently have been enjoying some very old vintage and tawn ports from lucky dip auction. Who says tawnys don't improve with age? One Yalumba Galway from fl oz era (must be 60's) was slow on night one but really impressed over the next week. A pleasant surprise.
Chuck
My week about the same as yours. (Saltrams) Pepperjack '02 Cabernet was the highlight of a slow week. Lovely fruit from a warm area in a cool year. Shows you just how good a non-cool climate cabernet can get. Completely different to say Coonawarra but right up there in terms of style and quality. Will improve up to 5 years. I keep buying '02 wines but still feel in a few years I will regret not buying more. Best QPR year in my drinking history.
Recently have been enjoying some very old vintage and tawn ports from lucky dip auction. Who says tawnys don't improve with age? One Yalumba Galway from fl oz era (must be 60's) was slow on night one but really impressed over the next week. A pleasant surprise.
Chuck
2002 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz - So smooth and silky now, not very complex (it is only 3 years old), lots of baby fat and quite clumsy at the moment. Needs a number of years in the cellar. Could be great.
2002 Rod & Spur - Ripe, balanced and structured. Enjoyed more than the BP. Fantastic. 18/20.
2000 Arakoon Doyen Shiraz - McLaren Vale - BIG
1996 Elizabeth - Very good. Drinking well now.
More to come...
Adair
2002 Rod & Spur - Ripe, balanced and structured. Enjoyed more than the BP. Fantastic. 18/20.
2000 Arakoon Doyen Shiraz - McLaren Vale - BIG
1996 Elizabeth - Very good. Drinking well now.
More to come...
Adair
Adair wrote:
2000 Arakoon Doyen Shiraz - McLaren Vale - BIG
Adair
So what do you expect, delicate and subtle?
What about the others you said you were planning to drink?
It was good to see you on Saturday morning, just as well you didn't come half an hour later, we were flat chat for the rest of the day. Had people queing up to buy pups.
(I can afford to buy another case of wine now. 
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action2096
- Posts: 59
- Joined: Mon Mar 28, 2005 9:00 am
- Location: Sydney - Australia
Wirra Wirra RSW Shiraz 2002
Bought on a reccomendation from a friend. A rich opulent wine. On the nose black fruits but i picked up more chocolate than anything else. Smooth tannins and very moorish... it wasn't long before we were looking at the bottom of the bottle.
Mcwilliams Phillip Shiraz 2000
Drank a fair bit of the 1999 over the last 12 months and at $12 a bottle a decent enough quaffer if you like Hunter Shiraz. Was interested to try the 2000 as i recently tried the rosehill 2000 and really enjoyed it compared to the 1999.
Plenty of plums & cherries on the nose and palate with a touch of that hunter leather which people seem to either love or hate.. A better wine than the 2000 in my opinion and i'll be picking up a few more for mid week drinking. Interestingly looking at the label on the bottle suggested that the wine could be enjoyed over the next 10 years whereas the 99 reccomended immediate consumption... Might be intersting to pick up a few and come back to them in a a couple of years.
Bought on a reccomendation from a friend. A rich opulent wine. On the nose black fruits but i picked up more chocolate than anything else. Smooth tannins and very moorish... it wasn't long before we were looking at the bottom of the bottle.
Mcwilliams Phillip Shiraz 2000
Drank a fair bit of the 1999 over the last 12 months and at $12 a bottle a decent enough quaffer if you like Hunter Shiraz. Was interested to try the 2000 as i recently tried the rosehill 2000 and really enjoyed it compared to the 1999.
Plenty of plums & cherries on the nose and palate with a touch of that hunter leather which people seem to either love or hate.. A better wine than the 2000 in my opinion and i'll be picking up a few more for mid week drinking. Interestingly looking at the label on the bottle suggested that the wine could be enjoyed over the next 10 years whereas the 99 reccomended immediate consumption... Might be intersting to pick up a few and come back to them in a a couple of years.
These are actually from last week, but I hadn't written them up. Besides, after Rousssane & Pinot last week, I had to redeem myself... 
2001 Coldstream Hills Merlot (Yarra Valley)
Dusty mulberry and mild plums, soft tannins and attractively faded red fruits. Faintly coconut oak is discreet. Mid weight, yet beautifully balanced. Needs no apologies. From a wine list, and prompted by Stuart Gregor's comment in the Murdoch press in May. A very good wine, and indeed not requiring the "for a merlot" postscript to any compliments. Will live longer, but at peak now, I think. Much more satisfactory than a rather charry and hot 2003 d'Arenberg Footbolt Shiraz consumed afterwards, which was crude and simple in comparison.
1994 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz (Eden Valley) Brick red with a slight fading. Lifted nose of eucalypt, soft spearmint/menthol and ripe aged raspberry fruits. There's just enough brett/VA to give an interesting lift without tipping into faultiness. The palate is long and balanced; the finest chalky tannins retain some astringency. Earthy, forest floor flavours add to the picture. First class, and welcome after recent disappointing examples of the 90 and 92 vintages. Perhaps approaching its peak - there's still fruit left to fade before it becomes 'too old', so there's no desperate hurry either.
cheers,
Graeme
2001 Coldstream Hills Merlot (Yarra Valley)
Dusty mulberry and mild plums, soft tannins and attractively faded red fruits. Faintly coconut oak is discreet. Mid weight, yet beautifully balanced. Needs no apologies. From a wine list, and prompted by Stuart Gregor's comment in the Murdoch press in May. A very good wine, and indeed not requiring the "for a merlot" postscript to any compliments. Will live longer, but at peak now, I think. Much more satisfactory than a rather charry and hot 2003 d'Arenberg Footbolt Shiraz consumed afterwards, which was crude and simple in comparison.
1994 Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz (Eden Valley) Brick red with a slight fading. Lifted nose of eucalypt, soft spearmint/menthol and ripe aged raspberry fruits. There's just enough brett/VA to give an interesting lift without tipping into faultiness. The palate is long and balanced; the finest chalky tannins retain some astringency. Earthy, forest floor flavours add to the picture. First class, and welcome after recent disappointing examples of the 90 and 92 vintages. Perhaps approaching its peak - there's still fruit left to fade before it becomes 'too old', so there's no desperate hurry either.
cheers,
Graeme
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Guest
Adair wrote:
2002 Rod & Spur - Ripe, balanced and structured. Enjoyed more than the BP. Fantastic. 18/20.
Adair
Agree with this. Rod and Spur was my pick easily of the Rockford 02's during a trip there early in the year. I dont feel too strange after reading your comments as I normally only ever hear about BP and Rifle Range and less about this one. Its a great wine and glad I have some put away.
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Guest
Alas, 'twas also an uninspiring week on the sauce for me..
2001 Nederburg Pinotage
Interesting and moderately complex. A sort of sweet and sour nose, and earthy palate. Better with food and not bad value at $12.
2003 Jim Barry "Cover Drive"
Strange, given the warmer year I expected it to be more forward than the 02, but not the case. Pretty reserved at this stage, with some nice brambly fruit and powdery tannins. Again good value at $18
2004 Mr Riggs Shiraz Viognier
Not a bad effort here. None of that overripe apricot jam on the nose, but some delicate floral aromatics, and some apricot/peach kernel. No profound depth of fruit, but well balanced and structured. Slightly grippy tannins and a little short at this early stage. Pushes the friendship beyond $25.
2002 Domaine Machard de Gramont Bourgogne
I had a gamble on this one, and if this bloody thing was a horse it would be on its way to the glue factory by now. No apparent faults, just simply no attributes either. Some faint menthol on the nose, and weedy fruit in the red currant/cranberry spectrum. An impossibly thin palate, which builds to a watery finish. I've had good Burgundy, and I know that $28 does not buy good Burgundy, however this was reccomended by a fine wine retailer, so I thought id give it a go. Highlights the constant problem with olde worlde wines; reasonable money does not always equate to reasonable wines.
2001 Nederburg Pinotage
Interesting and moderately complex. A sort of sweet and sour nose, and earthy palate. Better with food and not bad value at $12.
2003 Jim Barry "Cover Drive"
Strange, given the warmer year I expected it to be more forward than the 02, but not the case. Pretty reserved at this stage, with some nice brambly fruit and powdery tannins. Again good value at $18
2004 Mr Riggs Shiraz Viognier
Not a bad effort here. None of that overripe apricot jam on the nose, but some delicate floral aromatics, and some apricot/peach kernel. No profound depth of fruit, but well balanced and structured. Slightly grippy tannins and a little short at this early stage. Pushes the friendship beyond $25.
2002 Domaine Machard de Gramont Bourgogne
I had a gamble on this one, and if this bloody thing was a horse it would be on its way to the glue factory by now. No apparent faults, just simply no attributes either. Some faint menthol on the nose, and weedy fruit in the red currant/cranberry spectrum. An impossibly thin palate, which builds to a watery finish. I've had good Burgundy, and I know that $28 does not buy good Burgundy, however this was reccomended by a fine wine retailer, so I thought id give it a go. Highlights the constant problem with olde worlde wines; reasonable money does not always equate to reasonable wines.
up canning that #*@$# Burgundy that I forgot to log in 
.
2002 Howard Park "Leston", very nice for the price
2002 Rockford "Rod & Spur", agree with the comments above and only wish I had more.
1998 Yalumba "Signature", fan-bloody-tastic
1998 Saltram Stoneyfell Metala Original, better than fan-bloody-tastic. this was sen-bloody-sational.
2001 Vasse Felix Shiraz, coming along very nicely, thankyou very much.
1993 Wignalls Pinot Noir, a touch on the sweet side but went very well with the Osso Bucco Milanese, and holding it's age very well.
2002 St Peters, Yeah, but I had to try just 1. The other 6 can look forward to a long lie down.
2002 Sal;tram Mamre Brook Shiraz, enough said previously. Best value shiraz from 02 for my money.
2002 Rockford "Rod & Spur", agree with the comments above and only wish I had more.
1998 Yalumba "Signature", fan-bloody-tastic
1998 Saltram Stoneyfell Metala Original, better than fan-bloody-tastic. this was sen-bloody-sational.
2001 Vasse Felix Shiraz, coming along very nicely, thankyou very much.
1993 Wignalls Pinot Noir, a touch on the sweet side but went very well with the Osso Bucco Milanese, and holding it's age very well.
2002 St Peters, Yeah, but I had to try just 1. The other 6 can look forward to a long lie down.
2002 Sal;tram Mamre Brook Shiraz, enough said previously. Best value shiraz from 02 for my money.
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KMP
- Posts: 1246
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- Location: Expat, now in San Diego, California
- Contact:
My favorite wine shop tried something different and based a tasting around folks bringing a bottle to share with others. I wasn't too sure who would be there but thought I'd be generous and took a 2002 Kalleske Greenock Shiraz to the tasting. Some of the other serious wines there included a 2000 E&E Black Pepper Shiraz and a 1997 Beringer Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve. There was also a very interesting and extremely ripe Spanish Grenache/Carignan blend brought by the host. This wine changed continually throughout the night.
The other wines were also interesting! The majority of the other folks included a Wine and Food Appreciation society and a 30-Something club; the members of these two groups overlapped. But it was pretty obvious that the level of knowledge of wine was not all that extensive, although they seemed quite interested in wine - and certainly each other!
I didn't take any serious notes. This was mainly because one guy brought in a bottle of Charles Shaw Shiraz (AKA Two Buck Chuck, because it costs $1.99). He wasn't very convincing when he said that he brought it as a joke because they had been told by the Founder of the W&FA society not to bring the wine. I think the apology was more to do with the couple at my table who immediately said that they don't share with $2. That meant that this guy and his lady friend only had one bottle between the two of them, hmmm! I thought the idea was one wine per person.
Anyhow it was worthwhile speaking with the few real wine geeks and sampling their wines and then doing the rounds of the other wines. There were some clearly quaffable wines but nothing of the quality of the wines mentioned above.
What was the most memorable moment? It was when one of the 30-something women come over to our table to try our wines. The rest of us were standing in a group talking and tasting and watching this lady move from wine to wine. She would pour a fairly healthy glass and slug a mouthful back. Not even a rudimentary analysis of color or aroma, and I doubt that her palate experienced much of the wine either! If she didn't like it she would dump the rest into the spit bucket. It would have been OK if she had poured something reasonable, considering that there were about 20 people there. Cleary there is opportunity for a 30 something wine geek to give some lessons!
Oh, the Kalleske blew the geeks away. And I decided after two and half hours of wine talk to take the rest of the bottle home.
Mike
The other wines were also interesting! The majority of the other folks included a Wine and Food Appreciation society and a 30-Something club; the members of these two groups overlapped. But it was pretty obvious that the level of knowledge of wine was not all that extensive, although they seemed quite interested in wine - and certainly each other!
I didn't take any serious notes. This was mainly because one guy brought in a bottle of Charles Shaw Shiraz (AKA Two Buck Chuck, because it costs $1.99). He wasn't very convincing when he said that he brought it as a joke because they had been told by the Founder of the W&FA society not to bring the wine. I think the apology was more to do with the couple at my table who immediately said that they don't share with $2. That meant that this guy and his lady friend only had one bottle between the two of them, hmmm! I thought the idea was one wine per person.
Anyhow it was worthwhile speaking with the few real wine geeks and sampling their wines and then doing the rounds of the other wines. There were some clearly quaffable wines but nothing of the quality of the wines mentioned above.
What was the most memorable moment? It was when one of the 30-something women come over to our table to try our wines. The rest of us were standing in a group talking and tasting and watching this lady move from wine to wine. She would pour a fairly healthy glass and slug a mouthful back. Not even a rudimentary analysis of color or aroma, and I doubt that her palate experienced much of the wine either! If she didn't like it she would dump the rest into the spit bucket. It would have been OK if she had poured something reasonable, considering that there were about 20 people there. Cleary there is opportunity for a 30 something wine geek to give some lessons!
Oh, the Kalleske blew the geeks away. And I decided after two and half hours of wine talk to take the rest of the bottle home.
Mike
2004 Paracombe Riesling - Adelaide Hills, SA: Powerful fruit with excellent acidity but lacked definition. I have never really had a great SA Riesling except from Clare or Eden. 16.5/20, 88/100.
2003 Centennial Vineyards Reserve Chardonnay - Southern Highlands, NSW: Fruit from Orange. A very classy Chardonnay true to its cool-climate. Power, balance, length, and excellent oak and winemaker handling. The only wine from the winery worth more than $10. 17.7.20, 92/100.
Other bottles opened and consumed over the weekend:
2002 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz - 15% - So smooth and silky now, not very complex (it is only 3 years old), lots of baby fat and quite clumsy at the moment. Needs a number of years in the cellar. Could be great.
2002 Rockford "Rod & Spur" Cabernet Sauvignon / Shiraz - 15%: Ripe, balanced and structured. Some of the Shiraz flavours in the Basket Press are present on the front but this seemed to be longer andj more definited than the BP and enjoyed more than the BP. Fantastic wine and the bargain of the Rockford reds at the moment. The best Rod & Spur so far. 18/20, 93/100 - maybe more. I will get more.
2000 Gartner Shiraz - Padthaway, SA: Held its own being open next to the above 2 Rockford wines on Friday night. More elegant but shows its class and power after 2 hours (Needs decanting). Excellent savoury oak on deep, bright dark fruits, spices and cherries. 17.7/20, 92/100.
2000 Arakoon Doyen Shiraz - McLaren Vale - 14.5%: Big - a monster. Seemed bigger than its stated alcohol level although holds its alcohol exceptionally well. Packed with dark fruits and prunes. High extract with very fine tannins. Very long. Easy, easy drinking dry port that is a little unstructred/definited and is very slightly cloying. I will drink the remainer of my bottles of the next 6 months in the company of those that I know will enjoy the size of this wine. 17.3/20, 90/100.
1996 Mount Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon- Hunter Valley, NSW: I am going to start to slowly drink this case over the next 2 years as this is now drinking well now. As well as its lemon butter and toast components, this wine also displays a pumice/nuttiness. I find that the best aged Hunter Semillon display some Burgundy characters, however this does not have the power of a, say, great Vat 1. 17.5/20, 91/100.
As mentioned above, I went to the Centennial Vineyards cellar door in the Southern Highlands (Bowral) due to James Halliday rating a few of their wines, including reds, above 90. I mentioned this to TORB a few hours beforehand and he questioned JH's mental health at the time of writing the article. Unfortunately, it seems TORB is right. The whites were short and uninteresting although did display varietal characteristisc and were obviously made by skilled winemakers, while the reds simply did not have the fruit depth or power and in some cases ripeness to make high quality table wines. The only exception to these wines being the 2003 Reserve Chardonnay, of which I bought a bottle for the evening and it showed well at home too. Wines tasted:
2004 Bong Bong White (SB predominent) (Drinkable).
Woodside Range (from Southern Highlands fruit):
2002 Unwooded Chardonnay (Drinkable)
2004 Sauvignon Blanc (Drinkable)
2004 Riesling Late Picked (sort of
) (Just Drinkable)
2004 Verdelho (just Drinkable)
2002 Chardonnay (Drinkable)
2001 Cabernet Sauvignon (not bad, good complexity but light. Very Drinkable)
2002 Shiraz/Cabernet (Drinkable)
2004 Pinot Noir (Had Pinosity at least - I could enjoy drinking this wine at home. Very Drinkable).
Reseve Range (from Orange fruit)
2003 Chardonnay (as mentioned, Excellent)
2002 Merlot (Trophy! - very thin with very fine tannin tannin. No holes at least. Drinkable)
2002 Shiraz (as Merlot but with darker fruit. Just Drinkable)
2002 Cabernet Merlot (as above but with notivecale unripe fruit. Just Drinkable)
2002 Cabernet Sauvignon (less unripeness than the above and with more stuffing. Best of the reds but not much comparison. Very Drinkable).
Unfortunatley, the cellar door staff were only just agreeable.
Great weekend though.
Kind regards,
Adair
2003 Centennial Vineyards Reserve Chardonnay - Southern Highlands, NSW: Fruit from Orange. A very classy Chardonnay true to its cool-climate. Power, balance, length, and excellent oak and winemaker handling. The only wine from the winery worth more than $10. 17.7.20, 92/100.
Other bottles opened and consumed over the weekend:
2002 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz - 15% - So smooth and silky now, not very complex (it is only 3 years old), lots of baby fat and quite clumsy at the moment. Needs a number of years in the cellar. Could be great.
2002 Rockford "Rod & Spur" Cabernet Sauvignon / Shiraz - 15%: Ripe, balanced and structured. Some of the Shiraz flavours in the Basket Press are present on the front but this seemed to be longer andj more definited than the BP and enjoyed more than the BP. Fantastic wine and the bargain of the Rockford reds at the moment. The best Rod & Spur so far. 18/20, 93/100 - maybe more. I will get more.
2000 Gartner Shiraz - Padthaway, SA: Held its own being open next to the above 2 Rockford wines on Friday night. More elegant but shows its class and power after 2 hours (Needs decanting). Excellent savoury oak on deep, bright dark fruits, spices and cherries. 17.7/20, 92/100.
2000 Arakoon Doyen Shiraz - McLaren Vale - 14.5%: Big - a monster. Seemed bigger than its stated alcohol level although holds its alcohol exceptionally well. Packed with dark fruits and prunes. High extract with very fine tannins. Very long. Easy, easy drinking dry port that is a little unstructred/definited and is very slightly cloying. I will drink the remainer of my bottles of the next 6 months in the company of those that I know will enjoy the size of this wine. 17.3/20, 90/100.
1996 Mount Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon- Hunter Valley, NSW: I am going to start to slowly drink this case over the next 2 years as this is now drinking well now. As well as its lemon butter and toast components, this wine also displays a pumice/nuttiness. I find that the best aged Hunter Semillon display some Burgundy characters, however this does not have the power of a, say, great Vat 1. 17.5/20, 91/100.
As mentioned above, I went to the Centennial Vineyards cellar door in the Southern Highlands (Bowral) due to James Halliday rating a few of their wines, including reds, above 90. I mentioned this to TORB a few hours beforehand and he questioned JH's mental health at the time of writing the article. Unfortunately, it seems TORB is right. The whites were short and uninteresting although did display varietal characteristisc and were obviously made by skilled winemakers, while the reds simply did not have the fruit depth or power and in some cases ripeness to make high quality table wines. The only exception to these wines being the 2003 Reserve Chardonnay, of which I bought a bottle for the evening and it showed well at home too. Wines tasted:
2004 Bong Bong White (SB predominent) (Drinkable).
Woodside Range (from Southern Highlands fruit):
2002 Unwooded Chardonnay (Drinkable)
2004 Sauvignon Blanc (Drinkable)
2004 Riesling Late Picked (sort of
) (Just Drinkable)
2004 Verdelho (just Drinkable)
2002 Chardonnay (Drinkable)
2001 Cabernet Sauvignon (not bad, good complexity but light. Very Drinkable)
2002 Shiraz/Cabernet (Drinkable)
2004 Pinot Noir (Had Pinosity at least - I could enjoy drinking this wine at home. Very Drinkable).
Reseve Range (from Orange fruit)
2003 Chardonnay (as mentioned, Excellent)
2002 Merlot (Trophy!
- very thin with very fine tannin tannin. No holes at least. Drinkable)
2002 Shiraz (as Merlot but with darker fruit. Just Drinkable)
2002 Cabernet Merlot (as above but with notivecale unripe fruit. Just Drinkable)
2002 Cabernet Sauvignon (less unripeness than the above and with more stuffing. Best of the reds but not much comparison. Very Drinkable).
Unfortunatley, the cellar door staff were only just agreeable.
Great weekend though.
Kind regards,
Adair
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Baby Chickpea
- Posts: 582
- Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2004 12:17 pm
Re: Its Sunday again....
TORB wrote:Hi Good Peoples,
A quiet week for me as I was running out of wine (at home) and just had a few bottles of the same old same old there. At last, yesterday I finally got round to digging out a few dozen from the cellar to take home.
Fox Creek 1997 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Not exactly a great varietal cabernet, this is a big, brawn wine that still has loads of powdery tannins that need another few years to integrate. The fruit seems to have enough oomph to kick through the tannins and show itself so it should eventually become harmonious; I hope! Blackcurrant, liquorice, pepper and a hint of mint is very pleasant but you really do need a knife and fork to get through this wine. Try again in 3 years. Rated as Highly Recommended.
Whacha bee' drink'in?
Good timing. Was in the cellar on Saturday thinking what else could I flog off at auction to reduce my inventory. Thought about selling this one but looks like I should hold. Um, OK ... (would have preferred a negative TN to increase space!)
Danny
The voyage of discovery lies not in finding new landscapes but in having new eyes. We must never be afraid to go too far, for success lies just beyond - Marcel Proust
The voyage of discovery lies not in finding new landscapes but in having new eyes. We must never be afraid to go too far, for success lies just beyond - Marcel Proust
TORB wrote:Interesting new rating system you used; "drinkable" - on many of the wines. IMHbigotedO you are a pretty generous fellow.
Adair's Drinkable Usage
Ric,
My use of the term "drinkable" is to be seen/read as being relative to a wine that is undrinkable under any circumstances - such as spending a long weekend, in a tent, with my in-laws, in the middle of nowhere, and it is raining outside and there is a heaps of lightning but there is a bottle of Wine X in the tent.
Under these circumstances, if I don't want to put Wine X in my mouth, it is "Undrinkable". Now, there were a couple that were very close to this (Just Drinkable), and many that I might finish the glass (Drinkable) and a few that I might drink a second glass (Very Drinkable). However, no wines in the "Drinkable" scale would not rate anymore than 14.5/20, 80/100 and would go as low as 13.5/20, 75/100, after which I would consider then "Undrinkable".
I hope this clarifies things for you.
Kind regards,
Adair
Wines that I opened and drank the 2 weeks before last week:
2003 Taylor’s Shiraz – Much better than 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon. Big with some complexity and character. 16.4/20, 88/100.
2002 Seppelt “Victorian†Shiraz – Needs time for its components to meld. Has everything for a $15 wine. 16.9/20, 89/100.
2001 Voyager Estate Cabernet Merlot - 14.5% – Excellent power and complexity. Unmistakeably cool climate Cabernet with blackcurrant, dry herbs and serious structure. Just lacks the layering/extra depth of the truly great Australian Cabernets. 18.3/20, 94/100.
2000 Petaluma Chardonnay – Powerful and restrained. Great oak handling. Lovely back palate. Very enjoyable drinking now. 17.8/20, 92/100.
2001 Green Valley Shiraz – Very savoury and very harmonious. Red fruit driven with back fruit in the back. Would have picked it as Hunter Valley if served blind. 16/20, 87/100.
1997 Leasingham Classic Clare Riesling – Not getting any better. Despite acid to age, this wine is getting disjoined although good bottles are still lovely with mellow aged complexity. 16.6/20, 88/100.
1999 McWilliam’s Mount Pleasant Philip Shiraz – I like the style but this does not have the depth and class of the 1998. 15.9/20, 86/100.
1998 Rosemount Show Reserve Shiraz McLaren Vale/Langhorne Creek – Great front and middle, full of fruit, depth and harmonious tannin, but starts lose depth on the back. 16.8/20, 89/100.
1993 Eileen Hardy Shiraz – A high quality wine but starting to get over the hill as its acid is just starting to fall out. Very enjoyable but drink soon/now/yesterday. 16.8/20, 89/100.
2002 Paringa Individual Vineyard Shiraz – Good depth but simple and boring at the moment. A few years will be of benefit. 15.8/20, 86/100.
2002 Rockford "Rifle Range" Cabernet Sauvignon – A lovely wine, full of structure and promise. I think it will deliver with 5 years more bottle age. 17.9/20, 92/100.
1977 McWilliam’s Centenary Vintage Port – Great depth and controlled power just losing a bit on the finish though. Drink up. 16.5/20, 88/100.
2001 Wendouree Muscat of Alexandria – I really enjoy this wine. Unusual style that I enjoy drinking at room temperature. 17/20, 90/100.
2001 Heritage Rossco’s Shiraz – Deep, dark and controlled. Excellent, smooth structure. 17.8/20, 92/100.
2003(?) Road to Robe Merlot – Surprising enjoyable with BBQ. Smooth and long although simple and lacking much stuffing. 15.8/20, 86/100.
Kind regards,
Adair
2003 Taylor’s Shiraz – Much better than 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon. Big with some complexity and character. 16.4/20, 88/100.
2002 Seppelt “Victorian†Shiraz – Needs time for its components to meld. Has everything for a $15 wine. 16.9/20, 89/100.
2001 Voyager Estate Cabernet Merlot - 14.5% – Excellent power and complexity. Unmistakeably cool climate Cabernet with blackcurrant, dry herbs and serious structure. Just lacks the layering/extra depth of the truly great Australian Cabernets. 18.3/20, 94/100.
2000 Petaluma Chardonnay – Powerful and restrained. Great oak handling. Lovely back palate. Very enjoyable drinking now. 17.8/20, 92/100.
2001 Green Valley Shiraz – Very savoury and very harmonious. Red fruit driven with back fruit in the back. Would have picked it as Hunter Valley if served blind. 16/20, 87/100.
1997 Leasingham Classic Clare Riesling – Not getting any better. Despite acid to age, this wine is getting disjoined although good bottles are still lovely with mellow aged complexity. 16.6/20, 88/100.
1999 McWilliam’s Mount Pleasant Philip Shiraz – I like the style but this does not have the depth and class of the 1998. 15.9/20, 86/100.
1998 Rosemount Show Reserve Shiraz McLaren Vale/Langhorne Creek – Great front and middle, full of fruit, depth and harmonious tannin, but starts lose depth on the back. 16.8/20, 89/100.
1993 Eileen Hardy Shiraz – A high quality wine but starting to get over the hill as its acid is just starting to fall out. Very enjoyable but drink soon/now/yesterday. 16.8/20, 89/100.
2002 Paringa Individual Vineyard Shiraz – Good depth but simple and boring at the moment. A few years will be of benefit. 15.8/20, 86/100.
2002 Rockford "Rifle Range" Cabernet Sauvignon – A lovely wine, full of structure and promise. I think it will deliver with 5 years more bottle age. 17.9/20, 92/100.
1977 McWilliam’s Centenary Vintage Port – Great depth and controlled power just losing a bit on the finish though. Drink up. 16.5/20, 88/100.
2001 Wendouree Muscat of Alexandria – I really enjoy this wine. Unusual style that I enjoy drinking at room temperature. 17/20, 90/100.
2001 Heritage Rossco’s Shiraz – Deep, dark and controlled. Excellent, smooth structure. 17.8/20, 92/100.
2003(?) Road to Robe Merlot – Surprising enjoyable with BBQ. Smooth and long although simple and lacking much stuffing. 15.8/20, 86/100.
Kind regards,
Adair
Wines I opened and drank the few weeks before the two weeks before:
2002 Wirra Wirra RSW Shiraz – 14.5%: Sumptuous and controlled. Great depth. Not greatly complex yet but will be in 5-10 years. 18.5/20, 94/100.
1999 Warramate Cabernet Merlot – 12.6% - Yarra Valley: Cold climate Cabernet with heaps of green herbs on a long palate. I loved it but realise it is not for everyone. 17.6/20, 91/100.
1996 Penfolds St.Henri – Packed with dark fruits on a long a deep palate with Chinese five spices and hints of ginger. 18.6/20, 95/100.
2001 Toolangi Pinot Noir – Not a great drinking experience due to the thin palate. 15/20, 82/100.
2001 Pettavel Platina Pinot Noir – Ripe and powerful but it left a disjoined feeling between the fruit and structure. Good. 16/20, 87/100.
2003 Silk Hill Pinot Noir (Tas) – Too acidic. Avoid. 14.5/20, 80/100.
Adair
2002 Wirra Wirra RSW Shiraz – 14.5%: Sumptuous and controlled. Great depth. Not greatly complex yet but will be in 5-10 years. 18.5/20, 94/100.
1999 Warramate Cabernet Merlot – 12.6% - Yarra Valley: Cold climate Cabernet with heaps of green herbs on a long palate. I loved it but realise it is not for everyone. 17.6/20, 91/100.
1996 Penfolds St.Henri – Packed with dark fruits on a long a deep palate with Chinese five spices and hints of ginger. 18.6/20, 95/100.
2001 Toolangi Pinot Noir – Not a great drinking experience due to the thin palate. 15/20, 82/100.
2001 Pettavel Platina Pinot Noir – Ripe and powerful but it left a disjoined feeling between the fruit and structure. Good. 16/20, 87/100.
2003 Silk Hill Pinot Noir (Tas) – Too acidic. Avoid. 14.5/20, 80/100.
Adair
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Guest
The only wine tried during the week that I haven't already done to death was a 1996 Taltarni Shiraz. I was expecting something reasonably special - JO rates it as a 95 and in its prime drinking window. Bit of a let down really. It was light bodied, something like a pinot. Very little non-descript fruit on the nose with a smoky flavor dominating. Some olives and black pepper on the palate but also some bitterness and no fruit to speak of. Any flavour that was present dissappeared immediately after the wine left the mouth. Drinkable, but only just, and then only after consuming 2/3rds of a bottle of The Willows 2002 Cab Sav that had been opened 3 days earlier. I suspect a minor case of corking. I do hope so as I have another 5 bottles.
Regards,
Allan
Regards,
Allan
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Andrew Jordan
- Posts: 776
- Joined: Wed May 05, 2004 11:53 am
- Location: Sydney
Had a few friends over for dinner Sunday night so broke out a few bottles from the cellar:
1994 Leasingham Classic Clare Shiraz - good way to start the evening. Very nice but didn't seem to be have as much life as previous bottles. Hopefully an off bottle as I still have a few of these in the cellar! The 1996 must soon be coming out????
1998 Voyager Cab Merlot - Took it's time to open up but when it did, it was sensational. Plenty of life still in this wine. Great example of Margaret River Cabernet.
2002 Dutschke St Jak's - To young to really be drinking this wine, and was on the sweet side after the Voyager. But still a very well structured wine and will be much better with some more bottle age. Will put the rest away and try another one in a few years.
Also had a bottle of the 2002 Peter Lehmann Cab over the weekend. Currently the house quaffer, and is a wonderful wine at it's price point.
AJ
1994 Leasingham Classic Clare Shiraz - good way to start the evening. Very nice but didn't seem to be have as much life as previous bottles. Hopefully an off bottle as I still have a few of these in the cellar! The 1996 must soon be coming out????
1998 Voyager Cab Merlot - Took it's time to open up but when it did, it was sensational. Plenty of life still in this wine. Great example of Margaret River Cabernet.
2002 Dutschke St Jak's - To young to really be drinking this wine, and was on the sweet side after the Voyager. But still a very well structured wine and will be much better with some more bottle age. Will put the rest away and try another one in a few years.
Also had a bottle of the 2002 Peter Lehmann Cab over the weekend. Currently the house quaffer, and is a wonderful wine at it's price point.
AJ
Wine rating
Adair
Kiwiwinefanclub is undergoing discussions at the moment re moving to a 10000 point system to enable greater accuracy in wine rankings and enable greater deliniation of points.
How frustrating will it be when Parker rates Cheval Blanc and Margaux of vintage 2006 100 points each?? How will the wine public know which one to scramble for first??
The solution is simple Cheval Blanc 9986, Margaux 9978.
This also will enable wine x in tent with in laws 1021. Wine x in tent with complaining in laws 1019
Kiwiwinefanclub is undergoing discussions at the moment re moving to a 10000 point system to enable greater accuracy in wine rankings and enable greater deliniation of points.
How frustrating will it be when Parker rates Cheval Blanc and Margaux of vintage 2006 100 points each?? How will the wine public know which one to scramble for first??
The solution is simple Cheval Blanc 9986, Margaux 9978.
This also will enable wine x in tent with in laws 1021. Wine x in tent with complaining in laws 1019
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bacchaebabe
- Posts: 1222
- Joined: Fri Aug 15, 2003 5:04 pm
- Location: Sydney
On saturday night with a roast
2000 Torbreck Steading
Lovely stuff. Colour dark red. Lots going on with a blackcurrent finish. Very tidy wine indeed and showing very well. No great rush to drink it but also no worries re vinfanticide.
2000 Tempus Two Shiraz
My second one in a couple of weeks thanks to a friend. Looked much younger in the glass than the steading with a much more purple colour. Tasted much sweeter after the steading with lots of coconut vanilla oak. I've never detected this much before but it was very strong on the coconut flavour spectrum and it really jumped out at me with this wine.
The steading was probably a tad more complex but both were drinking extremely well and two bottles between three were gone before we knew it.
2000 Torbreck Steading
Lovely stuff. Colour dark red. Lots going on with a blackcurrent finish. Very tidy wine indeed and showing very well. No great rush to drink it but also no worries re vinfanticide.
2000 Tempus Two Shiraz
My second one in a couple of weeks thanks to a friend. Looked much younger in the glass than the steading with a much more purple colour. Tasted much sweeter after the steading with lots of coconut vanilla oak. I've never detected this much before but it was very strong on the coconut flavour spectrum and it really jumped out at me with this wine.
The steading was probably a tad more complex but both were drinking extremely well and two bottles between three were gone before we knew it.
Cheers,
Kris
There's a fine wine between pleasure and pain
(Stolen from the graffiti in the ladies loos at Pegasus Bay winery)
Kris
There's a fine wine between pleasure and pain
(Stolen from the graffiti in the ladies loos at Pegasus Bay winery)
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prester john
Alvear Pedro Ximenez 1927 Dulce Viejo. I guess that this is a blend of younger and older material, some of which dates back to 1927, hence the reference to 1927. This wine pours unctuously and carries a deep, dark, beautiful bronze colour. On the nose there is a slight but fairly obvious rancio note, and a far too palpable and almost sickly sweet scent which I often find emitting from other wines featuring this Spanish grape variety. Nevertheless, this characteristic dissipated quite a lot after some exposure to the air.
This is rich but -- despite my earlier statement -- quite well balanced and redolent of sticky date pudding and raisins with faint features of tea leaves and dried figs. I have tasted this over the last 3 days and it simply gets better. The 16% alcohol is completely subsumed by the strength of this grape variety; and the relative dearth of alcohol is also attested to by the paucity of legs streaming down the glass.
Eventhough I would relegate this to an obvious second place after the Lustau version of this variety, this is indeed an excellent drink which one should drink on its own in order to savour it's attractions in an unadulterated form and because it is quite simply a good enough dessert on its own.
Well worth the AUD$38 paid.
PJ. [/b]
This is rich but -- despite my earlier statement -- quite well balanced and redolent of sticky date pudding and raisins with faint features of tea leaves and dried figs. I have tasted this over the last 3 days and it simply gets better. The 16% alcohol is completely subsumed by the strength of this grape variety; and the relative dearth of alcohol is also attested to by the paucity of legs streaming down the glass.
Eventhough I would relegate this to an obvious second place after the Lustau version of this variety, this is indeed an excellent drink which one should drink on its own in order to savour it's attractions in an unadulterated form and because it is quite simply a good enough dessert on its own.
Well worth the AUD$38 paid.
PJ. [/b]