The Auswine Forum

The quality of the wines at this ‘offline’ aka 'Mels 30th birthday night', were exceptional. No ‘lesser’ vintages and most showed to their full potential. Perhaps the Coleraine and the Wendoree could have been better served in 5-10 years time, but part of this experience was to showcase and to learn from the other side of the tasman for both of us. Wendoree is a label not seen in NZ and the 1998 Hawkes Bay reds are a part of folk lore already

2004 Pegasus Bay Riesling – I was a little worried this might be a bit young, but this wine really delivered. Racy, enticing and lively, fresh grapefuit skins, citrus ripples through the palate, exceptionally clean and well balanced. Still young but very drinkable, this was a fantastic start showcasing one of the best new world off dry Rieslings in the business. I love this wine - it is special 17.75/20

1996 Mount Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon. A spellbinding wine for one reason. At nine years old it looked around 2-3 years of age. Very little colour, tell tale butteriness gave away it identity immediately as hunter Semillon but its age was as allusive as a teenager trying to buy alco pops under age. Techinically yoi could say it was a little short on the back, but its still a super wine 16.75/20

2002 Dry River Estate Gewürztraminer. Icon NZ white. This too impressed within a challenging line up. So pure and balanced. Alsace on the nose displaying ginger and lychee. The palate showed deft balance, optimum richness and a long finish. Opulent and hedonistic, a pure treat. I really really love this wine. With scallops it was divine - heaven. 17.75/20

2002 Unison Selection. Merlot Cab Syrah. Thanks Rawnsley for this contribution. I cant understate the mana of this label. Amongst some of the best wines you could imagine, this pushed its nose out for serious consideration for wine of the night (an earlier peaker than the other reds). The tannins are so sleek and fine, the length endless. Beautifully handled fruit, fantastic complexity, absolute class. Super super wine. Give me some more. The only bottle we emptied tonight! 18.5/20

1998 Te Mata Estate Coleraine Cabernet Merlot. I knew this wine hadnÂ’t yet reached its drinking window but we did out best to coax it out of its shell. A legend in NZ wine making, this wine didnÂ’t disappoint. Dark and fine, sleek and backward, once it came out of its shell it displayed beautiful black fruits, tight and very fine tannins. Fantastic balance. It really looks like a genuine 15-20 year wine, plenty of fruit depth and its all quality. Not a hint of anything unripe, green or even leafy, beautiful poise and an ascending future in front of it that may see it as one of the all time great NZ Bordeaux blends 18.5+/20

2002 Wendoree Shiraz Malbec. My first experience with this label. A huge wine that some how retains some restraint and poise. Almost powdery tannins, massive length and proportions. Huge amount of stuffing announces a wine that isnÂ’t going to fade anytime this generation. A thoroughly impressive wine that demands a big hunk of meat. Masculine, but with fine tannins and a restrained personality. Also an interesting wine that wont bore after a couple of glasses 17.75+/20

1995 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz. I have a big soft spot for this wine. It is the shiraz equivalent of a Pegasus Bay Riesling. Engages your palate at 120%. Opulent and rich, red fruited showing confection notes undercurrent, smoker lollies among a serious structure of blackberry. Beautifully complex and opulent, it is a very compelling wine which I really really enjoyed. More seductive than the Wendoree, if not as intellectual. Hedonistic and luxurious 18/20

2002 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier. I actually picked this as an atypical Pinot Noir.!!! (although Adair said there is a bit of pinot in it!!!) How very wrong I was. In the scheme of things it wasnÂ’t the classiest wine here, nor the most complex, but still very interesting with black fruit, expressive aromatics and dark fruit. 16.75/20

Thankyou has to go to Adair for the suggestion of a get together, I had a fantastic night, so did we all



Craig

Thanks for the notes Craig and thanks for cracking a Coleraine- I have a case in the cellar.

Did you find any mint nuances in the Wendouree?

No mint at all.

Rockford was 1998

Wendouree was 2001.

Adair

What was the general consensus regarding the '04 Peg Bay Riesling, and especially yours as an Australian Adair? First time I tried it I didn't rate it at all, stating the sweetness was a little yucky and the whole wine boring, made enmasse for a sweet-tooth NZ market... was I too harsh?

Cheers,

Hi Adair

Only 2 mistakes - not bad after that many wines. I realised i made the mistake with the rockford but the forum went down so couldnt fix it this morning!!

Max

The 04 Peg Bay has taken a year to really start to come together, it is just getting there now and last night it showed really well.

Adair, make sure you post your impressions too

C.

1) Craig, please learn to log in and not just put a full stop after your tag.

2) I will post my full impressions of all wines when I am not paying internet cafe prices for internet connection.

3) With regard to the:

2004 Pegasus Bay Riesling - Waipara, Canterbury, NZ - 11%

I have the pleasure of drinking the remanents of this wine as I write this note. Sweet lime, mango, honey, florals especially rose petals and hints if lychee. Yes, this is nearly Gewurztraminer. There is a small yet obvious amount of sweet petroleum product and toasty complexity. As indicated on the nose, the palate is off-dry. The wine fills the mouth with richness. The acid backbone was stronger last night but even 24 hours later controls the sweetness/fatness excellently and takes the flavours to a very harmonious and reasonably long finish. This is a classy wine whose structure will enable it to build in complexity over the next decade despite drinking so well now. Lovely. 18/20. Drink over the next decade whenever you feel like it.

So Maximus, I think that answers your question.

Kind regards,
Adair

P.S. Just came back from a tasting at First Glass Wines (north side of the Auckland harbour) that conisted of a number of similarly styled whites and this still stands out.

Also:

1) Craig, I agreed with your notes on the Clonakilla last night. As you know, I took the remaining half bottle (and a little more) last night. Tonight it is truly wonderful. 18.3/20. Maybe more.

2) I got a bottle of the 2002 Unison. Also bought 2 half bottles of the Kumeu River Mate's Chardonnay. Wonderful wine. For everyone else reading this, the Clonakilla SV was opened at the table whilst the Wendouree was opened and double decanted 24 hours before and the Rockford 12 hours before.

Adair

Adair

The Wendouree also was a lot better a day later, a lot more integrated and classy. Exceptional

The Rockford perhaps was a little better the night we had it but still a great drink to come home to after a long boring day at work!!

The Semillion had fallen over. Even the colour a day later was a lot darker! it had fattenned out and completely lost its acid structure.

Rawnsley just didnt go to work, he was sleeping at 11am - much better idea!!

All I can say that I just purchased the 1996 ELIZABETH Semillon (I found it in a liquor store corner) and I'm happy that it is a very good wine according to you.
Cheers,
Attila
Ps:Any wool fat noticable on the nose,Adair?

2004 Pegasus Bay Riesling - Waipara, Canterbury, NZ - 11%

I had the pleasure of drinking the remanent of this wine as I wrote this tasting note (24 hours after opening). Sweet lime, mango, honey, florals especially rose petals and hints if lychee. Yes, this is nearly Gewurztraminer. There is a small yet obvious amount of sweet petroleum product and toasty complexity. As indicated on the nose, the palate is off-dry. The wine fills the mouth with richness. The acid backbone was stronger last night but even 24 hours later controls the sweetness/fatness excellently and takes the flavours to a very harmonious and reasonably long finish. This is a classy wine whose structure will enable it to build in complexity over the next decade despite drinking so well now. Lovely. 18/20, 93/100. Drink over the next decade whenever you feel like it.


1996 Mount Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon - 10.5%

I have written about this time a number of times. Lovely aged Hunter Semillon. Complex with toast, lemon butter and waxiness on a smooth palate with beautiful fine acid. However, it does not have the power on the back. Nonetheless, it was great to offer this wine to some Kiwis who really appreciated it, especially David who had never tasted aged Hunter Semillon and was quite spell-bound, his 2ndplaced wine of the night! To Craig's credit, he picked the wine spot-on although thought it was a number of years younger given its youthful colour. 17.3/20, 90/100.


2002 Dry River Estate Gewürztraminer - Martinborough, NZ

A powerful and splendidly pure Gewurztraminer nose of lychee and heaps of rose perfume. The palate is very rich and smooth yet does not cloy in the slightest. The residual is perfectly judged, something I have yet to find in an Australian example, with the acidity similarly marvellous. Definitely more Alsace than Australia. My only question mark was that the back palate did not offer a great deal and I actually preferred the Pagasus on this area of my palate. The length was good but just ended a little boring. Nonetheless, this wine is wonderfully hedonistic but pleases the intellect as well. 17.6/20, 91/100.


2002 Unison "Selection" Merlot/Cabernet/Syrah - Hawke's Bay, NZ

This wine screamed to me "Wake up to what this country can do with Merlot", something I followed up with much vigour in my remaining 2 days in the country. This particular wine was aged for some time in big wooden casks after around 2 years in barriques, a total of 25 months in wood.

A nose of ripe cherries, dark plums and background spice and caramel from fine, French oak. Medium/full bodied, the front palate was quite shy for the hour after opening but the quality of the wine showed even at this early stage by the way it opened up on the full breadth of my middle and back palate. The tannins were very fine, long, ripe, slightly grainy, young but oh so enjoyable. Darker fruit hid in the wine's depths, being revealed as the night continued. By the end of the evening this was my wine of the night. 18.6/20, 95/100. It will be at its best in 5 years.

I brought 2 bottles of this back to Australia, as well as a bottle of Unison's straight 2002 Syrah.


1998 Te Mata Estate "Coleraine" Cabernet/Merlot - Hawke's Bay, NZ

Definitely needs another 5 years minimum but probably another 10 to reach the start of its peak drinking window, it too was a privilege to taste and savour this wine, probably more so given its current $100+ pricetag.

A massive core of blackcurrants and blackberries fully restrained throughout the wine's length by impeccable, tight structure, especially the abundance of very fine, chalky tannins. Wonderful balance, line and power. Long. I would have loved to have sampled this the next day. 18.5/20, 94/100 taking into account some of its potential.


2001 Wendouree Shiraz Malbec - Clare Valley, SA

Like the 1996 Elizabeth, I enjoyed serving this wine to the wine loving Kiwis who had never experienced this wine before. More importantly they loved it even before the label was revealed. I too thoroughly enjoyed this young Wendouree. I doubled decanted the previous evening and consumed a glass for my own enjoyment and to allow the wine to breathe more over the 24 hours before serving. It did the trick perfectly and encourage others to do so before serving a young Wendouree.

A massive wine but an example of great restraint with nothing overripe, or even dark, and without any glycerine mouthfeel aspects. Core of rich, red berries with toast, dry yeast nuances (David said "marmite") underpinned by a huge amount of extremely fine, powdery (thanks Craig), slightly grainy and amazingly soft and enjoyable tannins that are in harmony with the fruit. The flavours of this wine need time to develop but they undoubtedly will do so. 18.2/20, 93/100.


1998 Rockford Basket Press Shiraz

Not really my cup of tea but I knew the evening's participants would enjoy the wine and the label once revealed. Deep, dark, rich and full of fruitcake spices and cherry liquor highlights. Extremely long and soft structure but with good presence. 17.5/20, 91/100, but I am sure others would rate it higher. I suspect I will enjoy it much more in 5 years and will not open another bottle in the meantime unless in the presence of one that I believe would enjoy it more than I.

A important note about this wine is that I believe that it should not be decanted for too long before serving. I doubled decanted it 12 hours before serving and I think this was way too long.


2002 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier - Canberra region, NSW

I really should not have opened this wine as it needed a longer than a 5 minute decant, but did so as I brought it along as a spare and was having a good night. I also wanted to open it to see whether the reports of brett were correct. Fortunately, there were no hints of brett.

I had a lot of fun with this wine. On the evening it was most amusing watching everyone discuss this wine and subsequently playing options. It is definitely a hard wine to identify if you had not had it before, especially knowing that it was most probably from Australia given I was serving it. On the following night, after it had opened up, I went to a retail wine store's tasting and offered it to a few afterwards including Sue. Even (maybe "especially") after tasting a number of South Australian Shiraz and Shiraz/Grenache blends, it looked fantastic.

On the evening it was quite delicate and beautiful with floral aromatics but holding back much flavour and seemed a little underpowered with Pinot Noir-like red berries, forest floor and gaminess (although some might consider this brett... but nice brett ). Upon opening, its core of quite reductive, dark berries was revealed with layers of red berry, almond nuttiness from the Viognier, savoury Rhone-like spice and still with some game nuances. The nose was still quite aromatically marvellous. The whole palate is filled with flavour and soft, slightly chalky tannins. Hedonistic but not at all flabby. A beautiful balance between mouthfilling ripeness and flavour with structural control. 18.5/20, 94/100 on its second night showing.

Thank you Craig for arranging this dinner, and to all for your generosity and good nature... after all the Aussie jokes finished.

Kind regards,
Adair

Adair wrote:
[u][b]2002 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier - Canberra region, NSW

I really should not have opened this wine as it needed a longer than a 5 minute decant, but did so as I brought it along as a spare and was having a good night. I also wanted to open it to see whether the reports of brett were correct. Fortunately, there were no hints of brett.

I had a lot of fun with this wine. On the evening it was most amusing watching everyone discuss this wine and subsequently playing options. It is definitely a hard wine to identify if you had not had it before, especially knowing that it was most probably from Australia given I was serving it. On the following night, after it had opened up, I went to a retail wine store's tasting and offered it to a few afterwards including Sue. Even (maybe "especially") after tasting a number of South Australian Shiraz and Shiraz/Grenache blends, it looked fantastic.

On the evening it was quite delicate and beautiful with floral aromatics but holding back much flavour and seemed a little underpowered with Pinot Noir-like red berries, forest floor and gaminess (although some might consider this brett... but nice brett ). Upon opening, its core of quite reductive, dark berries was revealed with layers of red berry, almond nuttiness from the Viognier, savoury Rhone-like spice and still with some game nuances. The nose was still quite aromatically marvellous. The whole palate is filled with flavour and soft, slightly chalky tannins. Hedonistic but not at all flabby. A beautiful balance between mouthfilling ripeness and flavour with structural control. 18.5/20, 94/100 on its second night showing.

Thank you Craig for arranging this dinner, and to all for your generosity and good nature... after all the Aussie jokes finished.

Kind regards,
Adair

Adair,

Nice notes & good on you for showing the Kiwis some decent plonk, especially with the Rockford & Clonakilla. When do you think the Clonakilla 2002 will be hitting it's straps? I have 3 bottles in the cellar so don't want to waste any of them.

Thanks lantana

Plenty of decent plonk both sides of the Tasman Lantana, im sure Adair would agree.

Adair it was great to meet you and we had a great night. Im sometimes a little hesitant to do the 'offline' thing but you really restored my faith. Got a few comments along the lines of 'that confident little aussie is real good value' etc etc

Re-reading my notes I would have reversed my Rockford/ Wendouree scores the next day, obviously the Wendouree has more legs and a bit more 'class' - it was notably the better. Mind you my notes arent to incoherant considering I was writing under the influence

I enjoyed the Rockford on the night very much, obviously the Clonakilla was judged after smacking back 7 other wines, so shame perhaps I didnt try it next day. My usually questionable judgement would have been further eroded. On the night it showed a little too much of that Australian Shiraz 'lack of anything interesting'. Not that it was in any way a bad wine - just a bit shy to me that night.

The Dry River was perhaps a little shy on the night too. I cant say it disappointed me but it is a 'religious conversion' wine - a true kiwi cult. When it sings the world stops. Maybe it was lost among so many fantastic wines but thinking about it, it was just a tad shy. It is a good wine for an aussie to put on the 'have tried list'. Its still fairly rare.

It was a good natured night all round. Nothing pretentious and it was so good that so many of the wines really excelled, excited and met expectation. The Peg bay ive tried countless times and the night we had it was the best it has been. Ditto the Unison Selection, it was humming.

So im all up for a away game in sydney next time im over!

C

lantana wrote:Adair,
Nice notes & good on you for showing the Kiwis some decent plonk, especially with the Rockford & Clonakilla.

...and the Wendouree!

lantana wrote:When do you think the Clonakilla 2002 will be hitting it's straps? I have 3 bottles in the cellar so don't want to waste any of them.

If I had 3 bottles (incidentially I have a number more), I would open one very soon to enjoy over a long night alone or with one other, and not open another until at least 2008 and consume all by 2010/2011.

Kind regards,
Adair

Thanks Adair, sounds like we'll give one a run this Saturday night after 2-3 hours in the decanter, paired with some slow cooked rich & hearty shanks or the like.

Craig no offense was intended with the "Nice notes & good on you for showing the Kiwis some decent plonk, especially with the Rockford & Clonakilla" comment, it's just that I am more familiar with Rockford & Clonakilla than the Kiwi wines, also haven't done the Wendourees, yet either.

lantana

lantana wrote:Good on you for showing the Kiwis some decent plonk, especially with the Rockford & Clonakilla.

No point traveling a couple thousand kilometres only to represent your country with something other than the good stuff!

lantana wrote:Thanks Adair, sounds like we'll give one a run this Saturday night after 2-3 hours in the decanter, paired with some slow cooked rich & hearty shanks or the like.

Sounds like a great night. 3 hours in the decanter should do the trick.

Adair

Craig(NZ) wrote:Plenty of decent plonk both sides of the Tasman Lantana, im sure Adair would agree.

Absolutely. In fact, I focussed as much as I could on consuming as much Kiwi wines of the Bordeaux varieties as possible, especially the Merlot-based wines, in my remaining days.

Craig(NZ) wrote:Got a few comments along the lines of 'that confident little aussie is real good value' etc etc

I have found that this is more of a Sydney thing, and probably Melbourne, that is sometime misread, but most people are usually able get over it. Mind you, meeting a whole new bunch of people in another country, including one whose 30th burthday it was, needed a little confidence. Slightly on the topic, a few years ago, a friend of mine's father observed me for the first few minutes after I first met him and first visited his house. He asked me whether I was a "Leo" as I had quickly sat comfortably on the lounge and taken the TV remote control (not that anyone else was using it). Now I don't believe in any of the astro-superstitious rubbish, but he was spot on so maybe there is something in it!

Craig(NZ) wrote:Mind you my notes arent to incoherant considering I was writing under the influence

I was most impressed to get back to my hotel, log on and see your notes. I definitely was not going to reply then. Bed time!

Craig(NZ) wrote:The Dry River was perhaps a little shy on the night too. I cant say it disappointed me but it is a 'religious conversion' wine - a true kiwi cult. When it sings the world stops. Maybe it was lost among so many fantastic wines but thinking about it, it was just a tad shy. It is a good wine for an aussie to put on the 'have tried list'. Its still fairly rare.

Whether it is rare or not, the important part is whether it has magic within, and this wine definitely did and I thank you for sharing it. Sometimes points don't do a wine justice and it is the note that needs to be considered. I loved it. Interestingly, I have read a number of reviews on this wine and they all mention great length. Maybe I didn't "get it" as I have not had many good wines in this style as Australia simply is hopeless at it.

Craig(NZ) wrote:So im all up for a away game in sydney next time im over!

I am looking forward to it!

Adair