Rossi, Rawnsley and partners together for a night of indulgence. Celebrating Christmas and me signing up for a new job. It was a night where we pulled out all the stops with several icon bottles. Rawnsley and myself were a bit seedy this morning. Ross was proud he didnt go overboard but I bit he had some misgvings this morning!!
2005 Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc. This is a wine drinking tradition among my family. Chilled and cracked on a hot summers afternoon. This icon wine really hit the spot with crisp and clean flavours. Zany but restrained. Limes and gooseberries predominate on the palate. The wine shows great balance between concentration and restraint and between drinkability and aggressiveness. As with many 2005 sauvignons, this seems to show just a bit more style and elegance than usual and is a wine where a second glass is as good as the first. Drank fantastically with dried pineapple 17.25/20 Drink now
1996 Dry River Pinot Noir. When discussion in New Zealand turns to the best ever NZ Pinot Noir, this is one wine that is often talked about. This is and always was an atypical pinot noir, bold, black, concentrated and silky. Tonight this 9 year old pinot was just starting to brick out, in its drinking window but in no way past it. On the nose we detected blackcurrant and a very distinctive sweet spice tone – cinnamon, mixed spice and even anise. The palate was heavily concentrated. The flavours pulled many descriptors from the team; sherbert twist, bay leaf, raspberry and red plum. Also hints of ripe tamarillo. Warmly and broadly structured, chunky and long. Compared to the 1996 Martinborough Reserve Pinot Noir we had earlier in the year – Its not quite in the same league, it lacks a bit of the elegance, texture, exactness, breed and class. However still an outstanding wine and long lived. Served with Venison with blueberry jus 17.75/20 Drink now - 2007
1992 Penfolds Grange. Just starting to brick. Nose was very creamy with hints of boysenberry and faint plum. Very integrated. The palate is very fine showing very fine dusty tannins along the lines of the Ch Angleus I at the recent Sydney offline. The palate is very refined, detailed and pretty with perfectly weighted structure. Beautifully textured with concentrated fruit that managed to keep itself understated. It wasn’t what most of us were expecting and it was not a “wow†wine, but the following 98 Ebenezer certainly highlighted the areas of strength that this Grange has, and in fact the qualities you get for wines with 3 figure price tags. A fine wine but not a great wine. Served with scotch fillet and mushrooms 18.25/20 Drink now – 2015
1998 Barossa Valley Estate Ebenezer Shiraz. Very dark and primary, nose of blackberry, char and smoke. Palate is very rich and forward still showing obvious charry oak. This had a big act to follow and I think it ended up having its weaknesses identified almost unfairly following the Grange, but at the end of the day it probably did more towards us appreciating the Grange, than the actual Grange did on its own back Still young and needs some time to integrate further, but I feel the oak will always dominate this wine. Today the wine is difficult to drink still showing out of balance charry oak. Give it some time and hope for the best? 16.5/20 Drink 2010-2015
1995 Kay Brothers Block 6 Shiraz. This is a monster wine before its prime. Nose is full of dark fruits, focussed and aromatic without any obvious oak play. The palate is gorgeously structured with fine and obvious tannins wrapping dark and perfectly ripened fruit. To me this is a superior wine to the 1998 vintage. I feel it will not peak for another decade and will easily last a decade past that making this a genuine 30 year wine. Has the potential to be great, very impressive and will improve. 18.25+/20 Drink 2015-2025
2005 Longview White Diamond. This could well be considered the most unique, left field wine in New Zealand. It has a cult following but remains firmly under the radar scope. This vintage brings it past the novelty stage and seriously into real wine category. This wine is made from a table grape that was very common in New Zealand gardens 20 years ago, and it is just a trip back down memory lane as the exotic aroma transports you back to hot summer holidays. The palate is gorgeously balanced, lively primary. Zany but shows enough restraint to show some class. It is difficult to score this as I have nothing similar to compare it to, but it was as enjoyable as anything we had tonight. Table grapes in liquid form. Sensational with gouda, havarti, and would match thai or chinese food very well. 17.5/20 Drink now
TN: Kiwi Wine Fan Club - "writers" xmas drinkies n
Hello to all 
.
I havent posted in a long long while, but felt I had to reply to Craigs post.
Thankyou so much to you and Mel for your outstanding generosity at last nights wee bash. Great to catch up with the one and only "Rawnsley" again as well!! Great company, and excellent "Grange" friendly food.
I actually was a box o birds this morning and was up early for the Aussie/Pommie league match, followed by the All Black/England clash.
Entertaining little encounters they were as well. I even followed this with a visit to an exhibition of third year AUT Graphic Design students in town, where my lad will start a three year course in Feb 06..mind blowing stuff, and very exciting in the knowledge that he was chosen in such fierce competition, so I was pleased the head was clear!!
I totally agree with all your notes Craig, and am still trying to get my head around my very first tasting of Penfolds Grange.
I guess I had built up something in my head quite different to what I actually felt when drinking it for the first time..On reflection, it was a bit how I felt when we went to the Bordeaux 2000 tasting monsters..a tad underwhelmed..In saying that, the Grange more than held its head up against the Haut Brions, Cheval, Lafittes, etc etc, and Mr Schubert was on the right track for sure. Could I ask any other members for their thoughts on their first sampling of Grange?? I would really appreciate any thoughts, and thanks in advance for any replies.
Once again, many thanks Craig, until our next one..
Cheers,
Rossi.
.
I havent posted in a long long while, but felt I had to reply to Craigs post.
Thankyou so much to you and Mel for your outstanding generosity at last nights wee bash. Great to catch up with the one and only "Rawnsley" again as well!! Great company, and excellent "Grange" friendly food.
I actually was a box o birds this morning and was up early for the Aussie/Pommie league match, followed by the All Black/England clash.
Entertaining little encounters they were as well. I even followed this with a visit to an exhibition of third year AUT Graphic Design students in town, where my lad will start a three year course in Feb 06..mind blowing stuff, and very exciting in the knowledge that he was chosen in such fierce competition, so I was pleased the head was clear!!
I totally agree with all your notes Craig, and am still trying to get my head around my very first tasting of Penfolds Grange.
I guess I had built up something in my head quite different to what I actually felt when drinking it for the first time..On reflection, it was a bit how I felt when we went to the Bordeaux 2000 tasting monsters..a tad underwhelmed..In saying that, the Grange more than held its head up against the Haut Brions, Cheval, Lafittes, etc etc, and Mr Schubert was on the right track for sure. Could I ask any other members for their thoughts on their first sampling of Grange?? I would really appreciate any thoughts, and thanks in advance for any replies.
Once again, many thanks Craig, until our next one..
Cheers,
Rossi.
"Have a good time, all the time".