so it's time to tell us what you have all been drinking.
After writing that story on corks in Sparkling Shiraz, then the absolute stupidity of doing so, I guess I shouldn't have been surprised by the events of Friday night. I opened a bottle of 1994 Leasingham Classic Clare Sparkling Shiraz and as I poured the wine, it's stuck worse than Goofy when he is coming out of the rain and this had an hour to dry off. One of the worst bottles of corked wine I have never had the misfortune to smell.
I had a bottle of Buller's in the fridge so opened that instead. The aroma ...... what bloody aroma? The TCA had completely stripped the aroma and flavour out of the wine. It was like drinking soggy cardboard.
The only other bottle of FRS I had in the fridge I really didn't want to open as I was going to save it for a more auspicious occasion, but after having two bottles of corked wine at least one you that this one would not be corked because it was sealed with a crown.
The Seppelt's 1994 Show Reserve Sparkling Shiraz was glorious. It was as fresh as a daisy, the primary fruit flavours were jumping out of the glass and the raspberry spectrum fruit, chocolate and the slightest hint of Brett had magnificent complexity; what a stunning wine. Rated as Outstanding.
Last night I opened a bottle of Veritas 1999 Bulls Bloodand thoroughly enjoyed it too. It is now in the peak of its drinking window although it should last for quite some years. I just love the meaty flavours and aniseed that pervaded palate on this wine. Rated as Highly Recommended, the wine is consistently good year in and year out.
Now what have you been drinking?
Damn - It's Sunday again.....
2004 GRANT BURGE Miamba Shiraz-Barossa
Colour dark cherry red. Hugely fragrant blood plums, dark cherry nose. Gorgeously sweet and velvety palate. Good tannin structure and savoury finish with fine acid structure. A very pleasant and varietal Shiraz, good value at AU $17. Certainly better than it's pricetag. Drink now to 6 years.
Cheers,
Attila
Colour dark cherry red. Hugely fragrant blood plums, dark cherry nose. Gorgeously sweet and velvety palate. Good tannin structure and savoury finish with fine acid structure. A very pleasant and varietal Shiraz, good value at AU $17. Certainly better than it's pricetag. Drink now to 6 years.
Cheers,
Attila
A few AFD after the WA saga...
Also the last of the summer beers, 'cos Andrea needs the bottles for the passato made from our own tomato crop. A mix of Hahn Premium Light (why do I bother with insipid light beer?), Grolsch, Pilsner Urquell, James Squire Original Amber Ale and Golden Ale.
Monday tasting Group had pairs of 1996/2002 vintages of 3 reds, unfortunately 2 of the 96 vintages didn't show as well as previous bottles from the same source:
Charles Cimicky Signataire/Autograph Shiraz 1996 and 2002: The 1996 opened up with a lot of bottle stink that took a long time to blow off and wasn't as fresh as other examples from this batch, accordingly ranked last. The hedonistic, ripe, rich 2002 topped the rankings, initially looking almost over-ripe, it opened up in the glass to show balance and silky structure, one of those shiraz-marshmallow Barossa reds.
Metala Original Plantings (Black Label) Shiraz 1996 and 2002: In this case the 96 vintage was showing beautifully despite the colour starting to brown a little at the edges it was mellow without being tired and showing a hint of Langhorne mint. Smooth plums and licorice on the palate, long finish, my second rank, group third. The 2002 is showing some potential, but seems a little disjointed at present and probably won't quite have the potential of the 96. My rank 4 and the group also.
Saltram Mamre Brook Cabernet 1996 and 2002: I think this 96 was a left-over from the clear-out of Meta's passive Canberra cellar and was looking a bit tired. Ranked 5 of 6. The 2002 is still living up to it's early reputation with warmly varietal berry fruit and a fair dollop of nicely judged oak, good balance and long finish, will cellar well. My rank 3, group 2.
At the monthly tasting group Jack again tortured us with an opening bracket of young rieslings, in this case four Leo Buring from 2005 (Clare, Eden Valley, Leonay Eden Valley, Mt Barker WA). None of them held the slightest amount of attraction to my palate, the group voted the MT Barker top and the most expensive, the Leonay, last.
The second flight offered 4 mid-range Coonawarra cabernets from 2002, to me they all showed the effect of the tough vintage there and were not terribly exciting. In my order of preference:
Jacob's Creek St Hugo - Some reasonable varietal character on the nose, but a fair whack of oak too, palate has reasonable blackcurrant fruit, but is marred by slightly hard, chunky tannins and a bit too much oak. Group rank 1 too.
Parker Estate Terra Rossa - leafy, not unattractive, some nice fruit a bit subdued under oak at present. Group third.
Wynns Black Label - Varietal and quite well-made, but lacks soul and character. Group last.
Zema Estate - (one bottle showing a bit of cork taint despite vetting via double-decanting by the organiser). Some attractive blackcurrant fruit, but thinnish palate and a slightly hard green edge on the finish. Group rank second. (I thought it was the Wynns Black Label)
None of these made it to my cellar and won't on the basis of this tasting.
The last bracket presented the Tatiarra 2004 Shiraz reds promoted with ultr-high scores by Nicks, the sole distibuter as far as I can see. As hedonistic as some of them are, they didn't really live up to the hype. All the wines had impenetrable black/purple colour and all 15.5% alcohol. My rank order:
Tatiarra Trademark (Heathcote: McLarenVale 50:50) $60 - the synergy worked for me, this one seems a little less ripe than some of the others and is better for it, dark plums, licorice, spice with only a little of the ripe blackberry spectrum, a better tannin backbone than the others, nicely structured, flavoursome, long finish, hides the 15.5% a/v well. Group Rank 1 too.
Tatiarra Culled Barrel (Heathcote) $20 - If culled barrel means not over-ripe, not over-the-top then this fits the bill, a nice wine for the price and worth buying, a more balanced wine than the other two more expensive siblings. Not a long-term wine, the tannins are already soft and it would be best over the next few years. Group rank 3.
Tatiarra Caravan of Dreams Pressings (Heathcote) $50 Due to the firm tannin structure, I though the Trademark was the pressings wine. A Nicks 100 pointer and RPjr possibly "the finest Shiraz I have ever tsted from Heathcote." Well, it didn't quite do it for me, seeming a bit too much in the blackberry spectrum, soft and lacking the backbone I was expecting. Certainly a luscious, viscous mouthfeel, heaps of fruit/alcohol sweetness, definitely a Parker wine. The group liked it more, their rank 2.
Tatiara Cambrian (Heathcote) $40 - you can see this as a pair with the Culled Barrel, but I and the group preferred the cheaper one. The extra fruit ripeness and sweetness just make this one seem a bit flabbier and the tannins and acid aren't there to support the slightly over-ripe fruit.
Also the last of the summer beers, 'cos Andrea needs the bottles for the passato made from our own tomato crop. A mix of Hahn Premium Light (why do I bother with insipid light beer?), Grolsch, Pilsner Urquell, James Squire Original Amber Ale and Golden Ale.
Monday tasting Group had pairs of 1996/2002 vintages of 3 reds, unfortunately 2 of the 96 vintages didn't show as well as previous bottles from the same source:
Charles Cimicky Signataire/Autograph Shiraz 1996 and 2002: The 1996 opened up with a lot of bottle stink that took a long time to blow off and wasn't as fresh as other examples from this batch, accordingly ranked last. The hedonistic, ripe, rich 2002 topped the rankings, initially looking almost over-ripe, it opened up in the glass to show balance and silky structure, one of those shiraz-marshmallow Barossa reds.
Metala Original Plantings (Black Label) Shiraz 1996 and 2002: In this case the 96 vintage was showing beautifully despite the colour starting to brown a little at the edges it was mellow without being tired and showing a hint of Langhorne mint. Smooth plums and licorice on the palate, long finish, my second rank, group third. The 2002 is showing some potential, but seems a little disjointed at present and probably won't quite have the potential of the 96. My rank 4 and the group also.
Saltram Mamre Brook Cabernet 1996 and 2002: I think this 96 was a left-over from the clear-out of Meta's passive Canberra cellar and was looking a bit tired. Ranked 5 of 6. The 2002 is still living up to it's early reputation with warmly varietal berry fruit and a fair dollop of nicely judged oak, good balance and long finish, will cellar well. My rank 3, group 2.
At the monthly tasting group Jack again tortured us with an opening bracket of young rieslings, in this case four Leo Buring from 2005 (Clare, Eden Valley, Leonay Eden Valley, Mt Barker WA). None of them held the slightest amount of attraction to my palate, the group voted the MT Barker top and the most expensive, the Leonay, last.
The second flight offered 4 mid-range Coonawarra cabernets from 2002, to me they all showed the effect of the tough vintage there and were not terribly exciting. In my order of preference:
Jacob's Creek St Hugo - Some reasonable varietal character on the nose, but a fair whack of oak too, palate has reasonable blackcurrant fruit, but is marred by slightly hard, chunky tannins and a bit too much oak. Group rank 1 too.
Parker Estate Terra Rossa - leafy, not unattractive, some nice fruit a bit subdued under oak at present. Group third.
Wynns Black Label - Varietal and quite well-made, but lacks soul and character. Group last.
Zema Estate - (one bottle showing a bit of cork taint despite vetting via double-decanting by the organiser). Some attractive blackcurrant fruit, but thinnish palate and a slightly hard green edge on the finish. Group rank second. (I thought it was the Wynns Black Label)
None of these made it to my cellar and won't on the basis of this tasting.
The last bracket presented the Tatiarra 2004 Shiraz reds promoted with ultr-high scores by Nicks, the sole distibuter as far as I can see. As hedonistic as some of them are, they didn't really live up to the hype. All the wines had impenetrable black/purple colour and all 15.5% alcohol. My rank order:
Tatiarra Trademark (Heathcote: McLarenVale 50:50) $60 - the synergy worked for me, this one seems a little less ripe than some of the others and is better for it, dark plums, licorice, spice with only a little of the ripe blackberry spectrum, a better tannin backbone than the others, nicely structured, flavoursome, long finish, hides the 15.5% a/v well. Group Rank 1 too.
Tatiarra Culled Barrel (Heathcote) $20 - If culled barrel means not over-ripe, not over-the-top then this fits the bill, a nice wine for the price and worth buying, a more balanced wine than the other two more expensive siblings. Not a long-term wine, the tannins are already soft and it would be best over the next few years. Group rank 3.
Tatiarra Caravan of Dreams Pressings (Heathcote) $50 Due to the firm tannin structure, I though the Trademark was the pressings wine. A Nicks 100 pointer and RPjr possibly "the finest Shiraz I have ever tsted from Heathcote." Well, it didn't quite do it for me, seeming a bit too much in the blackberry spectrum, soft and lacking the backbone I was expecting. Certainly a luscious, viscous mouthfeel, heaps of fruit/alcohol sweetness, definitely a Parker wine. The group liked it more, their rank 2.
Tatiara Cambrian (Heathcote) $40 - you can see this as a pair with the Culled Barrel, but I and the group preferred the cheaper one. The extra fruit ripeness and sweetness just make this one seem a bit flabbier and the tannins and acid aren't there to support the slightly over-ripe fruit.
Last edited by Red Bigot on Sun Feb 26, 2006 11:09 am, edited 3 times in total.
Cheers
Brian
Life's too short to drink white wine and red wine is better for you too! :-)
Brian
Life's too short to drink white wine and red wine is better for you too! :-)
2004 Tim Adams Shiraz: A cracker for such a young wine. The heavy use of American oak is obvious but not offensive, there's beautiful fruit and tannin and acid and the whole thing works really well. Yum.
2003 Primo Estate Joseph Cabernet Merlot: Confirmed my previous tasting. Don't even think about opening this for a few years. It needs some time.
2004 Old Plains Shiraz: Had an interesting but unpleasant nose of cleaning fluid. Seemed to blow off after a while, but someone still drank the stuff 'cause there's none left now.
2004 Long Hop Old Vine Reserve: Yum. Took a while to open up but after leaving half the bottle sealed overnight and attacking it the next day, it was great. Loads of fruit and varietal bits and pieces, well managed oak and tannins. Might investigate a few more bottles.
1999 Temple Bruer Botrytis Riesling: Interesting... I can't remember much about this. Either the night was too big, or the wine wasn't terribly memorable. It wasn't hugely sweet, and there was something I couldn't put my finger on that I didn't like - stalks?
I *think* that's it.
2003 Primo Estate Joseph Cabernet Merlot: Confirmed my previous tasting. Don't even think about opening this for a few years. It needs some time.
2004 Old Plains Shiraz: Had an interesting but unpleasant nose of cleaning fluid. Seemed to blow off after a while, but someone still drank the stuff 'cause there's none left now.
2004 Long Hop Old Vine Reserve: Yum. Took a while to open up but after leaving half the bottle sealed overnight and attacking it the next day, it was great. Loads of fruit and varietal bits and pieces, well managed oak and tannins. Might investigate a few more bottles.
1999 Temple Bruer Botrytis Riesling: Interesting... I can't remember much about this. Either the night was too big, or the wine wasn't terribly memorable. It wasn't hugely sweet, and there was something I couldn't put my finger on that I didn't like - stalks?
I *think* that's it.
Went French this week:
Castapiane Doux sparkling red by St-Jean de Noviciat : curiosity over a french sparkling red. Sweet it was with ripe fruit. Non-vintage. Bit sweet for me. Sorry about the notes, wasn't paying attention too closely to it. Better value from OZ.
Castapiane Doux sparkling red by St-Jean de Noviciat : curiosity over a french sparkling red. Sweet it was with ripe fruit. Non-vintage. Bit sweet for me. Sorry about the notes, wasn't paying attention too closely to it. Better value from OZ.
Bartenders are supposed to have people skills. Or was it people are supposed to have bartending skills?
From the sublime to the brutal this week. Thursday night saw the sublime, a:-
Yalumba Signature 1990, drinking absolutely superbly. Browning at the rim but still ample fruit with added complexity from the secondary aged flavours. A truly lovely wine.
Then last night the brutal:-
Peel Estate 1999 Zinfandel, a take no prisoners wine that we had after dinner with Stilton. The palate was left in no doubt that this was a Zin, with gobs of wild cherry and bramble flavours. Sensational stuff.
Yalumba Signature 1990, drinking absolutely superbly. Browning at the rim but still ample fruit with added complexity from the secondary aged flavours. A truly lovely wine.
Then last night the brutal:-
Peel Estate 1999 Zinfandel, a take no prisoners wine that we had after dinner with Stilton. The palate was left in no doubt that this was a Zin, with gobs of wild cherry and bramble flavours. Sensational stuff.
camw wrote:On Friday night I had the Kooyong "Clonale" Chardonnay 2004 which kicks some ass for the price (around $22). Flint, toast, grapefruit, wholemeal bread and some subtle toasty oak. Palate is focused and balanced rather than broad. Length was very good.
I've had the 05 a week ago, its also killer value for that price. I had no idea it as priced so low!
AB
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Andrew Jordan
- Posts: 775
- Joined: Wed May 05, 2004 11:53 am
- Location: Sydney
2004 Red Nectar Wines Shiraz
Medium bodied, very fragrant shiraz with a definite fruit theme. The palate has plenty of up-front fruit that finishes with persistent, sandy tannins. Great oak use. Great mid priced Barossa shiraz from the much talked up 2004 vintage. Definitely worth some room in your cellar as this will improve once it fully integrates and softens. Looking forward to the 2005 releases after Gavin's note during the week.
1999 Turkey Flat Cabernet Sauvignon
Last bottle of this wine and I am glad it was. This wine is a shadow of its former self. Showing age on the palate, no fruit ... come to think of it not much of anything stood out, this wine is past it's prime. The wine got worse with more air and my wife commented it smelt and tasted like vomit! YUMMO.
Corked?? The rest was poured down the sink. If you have any of this vintage left I suggest you crack a bottle soon to see how yours are travelling ... hopefully better than my last couple of bottles.
2001 Turkey Flat Cabernet Sauvignon
After 2 very average bottles of the 1999 vintage of this wine, I thought I had better crack a bottle of this and see how it was going. Lots of fruity aromas on the nose with a bit of mint in the background, this wine exhibits a very fruit forward palate of ripe black fruit. Initially had a very grippy tannic finish but after 1 hour of air time this disappeared leaving a a very smooth, velvet like wine which was well balanced, and finishing with soft tannins. Definitely agree with Campbell on this wine that "you could pour this for just about anyone". No worries with this vintage. Drinking well now but should have a long life in front of it.
2004 Schubert Shiraz M.R.S. - Decent $20...ish Barossa shiraz that drinks way above it's price point. Initally has a very Torbreck taste about it. A wine you can open during the week with good food but doesn't break the bank. Not sure if Gavin has any of this left. This is one quaffer that has succeeded in climbing to the next rung in quality without bringing the $'s with it ... excellent value.
Medium bodied, very fragrant shiraz with a definite fruit theme. The palate has plenty of up-front fruit that finishes with persistent, sandy tannins. Great oak use. Great mid priced Barossa shiraz from the much talked up 2004 vintage. Definitely worth some room in your cellar as this will improve once it fully integrates and softens. Looking forward to the 2005 releases after Gavin's note during the week.
1999 Turkey Flat Cabernet Sauvignon
Last bottle of this wine and I am glad it was. This wine is a shadow of its former self. Showing age on the palate, no fruit ... come to think of it not much of anything stood out, this wine is past it's prime. The wine got worse with more air and my wife commented it smelt and tasted like vomit! YUMMO.
Corked?? The rest was poured down the sink. If you have any of this vintage left I suggest you crack a bottle soon to see how yours are travelling ... hopefully better than my last couple of bottles.
2001 Turkey Flat Cabernet Sauvignon
After 2 very average bottles of the 1999 vintage of this wine, I thought I had better crack a bottle of this and see how it was going. Lots of fruity aromas on the nose with a bit of mint in the background, this wine exhibits a very fruit forward palate of ripe black fruit. Initially had a very grippy tannic finish but after 1 hour of air time this disappeared leaving a a very smooth, velvet like wine which was well balanced, and finishing with soft tannins. Definitely agree with Campbell on this wine that "you could pour this for just about anyone". No worries with this vintage. Drinking well now but should have a long life in front of it.
2004 Schubert Shiraz M.R.S. - Decent $20...ish Barossa shiraz that drinks way above it's price point. Initally has a very Torbreck taste about it. A wine you can open during the week with good food but doesn't break the bank. Not sure if Gavin has any of this left. This is one quaffer that has succeeded in climbing to the next rung in quality without bringing the $'s with it ... excellent value.
Cheers
AJ
Cabernet is ... and will always be ... KING!
AJ
Cabernet is ... and will always be ... KING!
Turkey Flat Shiraz 2000 Nice drink, not showing much development but not sure if it will. excellent fruit. a little one dimensional but doesn't need to be more.
Penfolds Bin 389 1994This is the goods, well integrated components. Huge berry fruit nose, lovely loganberry fruit and anise on palate. Long palate, mouth filling flavour. very complex fruit and spice wine, very soft tannins. I think it will last a while but wouldn't let them go a long time between tastings, you would cry if if these went over the hill.
Voyager Estate Cabernet Merlot 2001 massive wine, fruit showing less on this tasting, tannins poking out a bit. Should be very long lived and a lovely wine when it reintegrates. Great with greek style butterfly lamb.
Penfolds Bin 389 1994This is the goods, well integrated components. Huge berry fruit nose, lovely loganberry fruit and anise on palate. Long palate, mouth filling flavour. very complex fruit and spice wine, very soft tannins. I think it will last a while but wouldn't let them go a long time between tastings, you would cry if if these went over the hill.
Voyager Estate Cabernet Merlot 2001 massive wine, fruit showing less on this tasting, tannins poking out a bit. Should be very long lived and a lovely wine when it reintegrates. Great with greek style butterfly lamb.
2000 Dominique Portet Heathcote Shiraz
Much better than the bottle we had last year - possibly bottle variation, possibly food, setting and mood - who knows. The same elements that were a bit one-dimensional last time may have been there still (the raspberry notes for instance). This time however, there was plenty of complexity (the type which gives you something different each sip and each sip flows through the flavours) . If anything the wine seemed to have gained a little body since last time (but still squarely in the medium bodied field). Drunk with and after Roast Leg of Lamb stuffed with plenty of fresh Rosemary, with roast spuds, carrots, broccoli and mushroom gravy.
If this bottle is representative, I'd crack a bottle soon if you have any, as this was really on form.
Ian
Much better than the bottle we had last year - possibly bottle variation, possibly food, setting and mood - who knows. The same elements that were a bit one-dimensional last time may have been there still (the raspberry notes for instance). This time however, there was plenty of complexity (the type which gives you something different each sip and each sip flows through the flavours) . If anything the wine seemed to have gained a little body since last time (but still squarely in the medium bodied field). Drunk with and after Roast Leg of Lamb stuffed with plenty of fresh Rosemary, with roast spuds, carrots, broccoli and mushroom gravy.
If this bottle is representative, I'd crack a bottle soon if you have any, as this was really on form.
Ian
2002 Penfold Kalimna Bin 28 First from a 6 pack and really enjoyed this wine. Starting to come into balance but this wine is still a baby. Reasonable level of complexity on both the nose and the palate. An enjoyable drink at the moment but I will probably leave the rest for a couple of years sleep before the next visit.
Glen
Glen
Winner of the inaugural RB cork-count competition
Runner up RB-NTDIR competition
Runner up TORB TN competition
Leave of absence second RB c-c competition
Runner up RB-NTDIR competition
Runner up TORB TN competition
Leave of absence second RB c-c competition
Briefest of TVs only, there's not been much 'thinking drinking' in this extremely silly Sydney heat lately...
The 2004 Majella Musician cabernet-shiraz (Coonawarra) is a faily simple yet honest mouthful of red-berry fruit, minimally tannic, ripe but not over-the-top, with a modest finish that stays clean. At the same large gathering (my wife's work crowd) the only other wine of note was a 2005 Cassegrain Tempranillo, an unusual licorice-like wine, again very soft of tannin with minimal (no?) oak, front palate fruit, and a reasonably dry finish. I made the mistake of pouring my wife 2 mouthfuls of some kind of Lindauer sparkling Strawberry and Cream thing, it fizzed wildly in the glass like a Soda Stream gone mad; she took one half mouthful and tipped the rest down the sink. Here's where the sugar cane surplus ended up - I took one sniff and nearly collapsed in a diabetic coma. A mouthful of current release Wolf Blass yellow label red something as we were leaving proved that not all the sugar in the country is going to Lindauer - this is virtually undrinkable it has so much RS and oak chip. Very nasty indeed.
My last 2004 Mr Riggs The Gaffer Shiraz (McLaren Vale) bit the dust on Saturday; it's a raisin-fruit affair, dark, rich and ripe with chocolate & raspberry flavours. Low acid and minimal tannins make it almost structureless for me; the 15% is carried quite well and truthfully it wasn't a bad match for strongly-flavoured bbq sausages, but not a cerebral wine, nor one for keeping.
And an 2002 Evans & Tate Botrytis Semillon - it had some proprietary name which I didn't note - was easy-sweet, darkish yellow, but with acid fading away. 375ml did 6 people easily; one mouthful's pleasant enough, but it gets a bit cloying after that.
Really, I hate the heat. February is the worst month of all in Sydney. Thank God it's nearly over. We did drink some rosés over summer, and they help. Bring on autumn, I say.
cheers,
Graeme
The 2004 Majella Musician cabernet-shiraz (Coonawarra) is a faily simple yet honest mouthful of red-berry fruit, minimally tannic, ripe but not over-the-top, with a modest finish that stays clean. At the same large gathering (my wife's work crowd) the only other wine of note was a 2005 Cassegrain Tempranillo, an unusual licorice-like wine, again very soft of tannin with minimal (no?) oak, front palate fruit, and a reasonably dry finish. I made the mistake of pouring my wife 2 mouthfuls of some kind of Lindauer sparkling Strawberry and Cream thing, it fizzed wildly in the glass like a Soda Stream gone mad; she took one half mouthful and tipped the rest down the sink. Here's where the sugar cane surplus ended up - I took one sniff and nearly collapsed in a diabetic coma. A mouthful of current release Wolf Blass yellow label red something as we were leaving proved that not all the sugar in the country is going to Lindauer - this is virtually undrinkable it has so much RS and oak chip. Very nasty indeed.
My last 2004 Mr Riggs The Gaffer Shiraz (McLaren Vale) bit the dust on Saturday; it's a raisin-fruit affair, dark, rich and ripe with chocolate & raspberry flavours. Low acid and minimal tannins make it almost structureless for me; the 15% is carried quite well and truthfully it wasn't a bad match for strongly-flavoured bbq sausages, but not a cerebral wine, nor one for keeping.
And an 2002 Evans & Tate Botrytis Semillon - it had some proprietary name which I didn't note - was easy-sweet, darkish yellow, but with acid fading away. 375ml did 6 people easily; one mouthful's pleasant enough, but it gets a bit cloying after that.
Really, I hate the heat. February is the worst month of all in Sydney. Thank God it's nearly over. We did drink some rosés over summer, and they help. Bring on autumn, I say.
cheers,
Graeme
-
Baby Chickpea
- Posts: 582
- Joined: Mon Feb 02, 2004 12:17 pm
Davo wrote:From the sublime to the brutal this week. Thursday night saw the sublime, a:-
Yalumba Signature 1990, drinking absolutely superbly. Browning at the rim but still ample fruit with added complexity from the secondary aged flavours. A truly lovely wine.
Yep, agree. Top drop that and one of best 1990s I have had!
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
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Gavin Trott
- Posts: 1860
- Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2003 5:01 pm
- Location: Adelaide
- Contact:
Steve wrote:2004 Tim Adams Shiraz: A cracker for such a young wine. The heavy use of American oak is obvious but not offensive, there's beautiful fruit and tannin and acid and the whole thing works really well. Yum.
2003 Primo Estate Joseph Cabernet Merlot: Confirmed my previous tasting. Don't even think about opening this for a few years. It needs some time.
2004 Old Plains Shiraz: Had an interesting but unpleasant nose of cleaning fluid. Seemed to blow off after a while, but someone still drank the stuff 'cause there's none left now.
2004 Long Hop Old Vine Reserve: Yum. Took a while to open up but after leaving half the bottle sealed overnight and attacking it the next day, it was great. Loads of fruit and varietal bits and pieces, well managed oak and tannins. Might investigate a few more bottles.
1999 Temple Bruer Botrytis Riesling: Interesting... I can't remember much about this. Either the night was too big, or the wine wasn't terribly memorable. It wasn't hugely sweet, and there was something I couldn't put my finger on that I didn't like - stalks?
I *think* that's it.
Steve
Your 'Old Plains' sounds like it was faulty to me, the nose on this is clean and pure.
regards
Gavin Trott
Gavin Trott
-
Gavin Trott
- Posts: 1860
- Joined: Mon Jul 28, 2003 5:01 pm
- Location: Adelaide
- Contact:
-
Andrew Jordan
- Posts: 775
- Joined: Wed May 05, 2004 11:53 am
- Location: Sydney
GrahamB wrote:Three nice 98's last night and probably in this order
98 Rockford Cabernet
98 Fox Creek J.S.M. Shiraz Cab Franc
98 Orlando Centenary Hill Shiraz
Graham
Graham,
Would appreciated any thought's, impressions, etc on the Centenary Hill. Has been a few differing opinions on it since release and wondered what you thought of it?
Thanks in advance.
Cheers
AJ
Cabernet is ... and will always be ... KING!
AJ
Cabernet is ... and will always be ... KING!
Andrew Jordan wrote:GrahamB wrote:98 Orlando Centenary Hill Shiraz
Graham
Graham,
Would appreciated any thought's, impressions, etc on the Centenary Hill. Has been a few differing opinions on it since release and wondered what you thought of it?
Thanks in advance.
Opinion around the table was that it was disappointing as we had tried the wine six months ago with a 96 Centenary Hill and it was much better then. The wine was throwing some residue but it was a nice enough wine but not up to expectations.
Graham
Chardonnay: A drink you have when there is no RED wine, the beer hasn't arrived and the water may be polluted
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Gianna
- Posts: 149
- Joined: Tue Jan 18, 2005 8:22 pm
- Location: The world's most liveable city - Melbourne
An amazing day at the races on Saturday,
( it rained so hard at Caulfield for the Blue Diamond they almost cancelled the races)
and then a not so smart decision to go to dinner after crownies all day.
So no real tasting notes, just a few impressions I think I remember.
1990 Wynns JR Sensational dusty tannins, cedar and leather and oozing class.
1997 Coriole Lloyd Shiraz Very fruity with lots of plums and spice, most enjoyable
2000 Craiglee Shiraz Lots of oak and pepper, very different from the Coriole, but also very elegant.
( it rained so hard at Caulfield for the Blue Diamond they almost cancelled the races)
and then a not so smart decision to go to dinner after crownies all day.
So no real tasting notes, just a few impressions I think I remember.
1990 Wynns JR Sensational dusty tannins, cedar and leather and oozing class.
1997 Coriole Lloyd Shiraz Very fruity with lots of plums and spice, most enjoyable
2000 Craiglee Shiraz Lots of oak and pepper, very different from the Coriole, but also very elegant.
At every turn, it pays to challenge orthodox ways of thinking
Saturday Night:
2005 Shaw and Smith Sav Blanc: good stuff. Passionfruit, lychee, slight grassiness and acidity
2004 Voyager Estate Chardonay: citrus, melon, slight tropical fruit notes, refreshing acidity. Best value chard from Aus IMO.
1999 Watirna Estate Lily Pinot Noir: Earthiness, sappy notes, intergrated tannin yet fruit past its best. Ashame, probably at its best a year or two ago.
1998 Rockford Baskett Press Shiraz: Great Barossa shiraz. Elegant with plum, dark berries, pepper, licorice and framed by sweet oak. Prisitnely focused fruit.
1996 Penfolds Bin 389: Gaining superb intergration of the dense fruit flavours, smokey oak and fine tannin. A great wine, in great style. What happend Penfolds??
1999 Bannockburn Shiraz: Did not like this at all. Green edged fruit, hard tannin. Quite hard and astringent.
2005 Shaw and Smith Sav Blanc: good stuff. Passionfruit, lychee, slight grassiness and acidity
2004 Voyager Estate Chardonay: citrus, melon, slight tropical fruit notes, refreshing acidity. Best value chard from Aus IMO.
1999 Watirna Estate Lily Pinot Noir: Earthiness, sappy notes, intergrated tannin yet fruit past its best. Ashame, probably at its best a year or two ago.
1998 Rockford Baskett Press Shiraz: Great Barossa shiraz. Elegant with plum, dark berries, pepper, licorice and framed by sweet oak. Prisitnely focused fruit.
1996 Penfolds Bin 389: Gaining superb intergration of the dense fruit flavours, smokey oak and fine tannin. A great wine, in great style. What happend Penfolds??
1999 Bannockburn Shiraz: Did not like this at all. Green edged fruit, hard tannin. Quite hard and astringent.
Premierships and great wine... that is what life is all about
Davo wrote:
Yes, both the Bigot Bros enjoyed this at CD. I can't recall seeing them spit this one.
Don't you cast nastursions upon my good bigoted name or else I will have the last laugh (at your expense) in the Tour Diary.
The reason you can't recall seeing us spitting was cause you had not been spitting and couldnt see anything.
Davo wrote:Jordan wrote:
2004 Voyager Estate Chardonay: citrus, melon, slight tropical fruit. Best value chard from Aus IMO
Yes, both the Bigot Bros enjoyed this at CD. I can't recall seeing them spit this one.
Yes, it was a good drop and a fair mouthwash before the reds.
Cheers
Brian
Life's too short to drink white wine and red wine is better for you too! :-)
Brian
Life's too short to drink white wine and red wine is better for you too! :-)
Gavin Trott wrote:Steve
Your 'Old Plains' sounds like it was faulty to me, the nose on this is clean and pure.
I agree - I've tasted it once before and from memory the nose... wasn't incredible, but certainly didn't smell like the stuff I clean my shower with. It tasted fairly good, though.
I'm going to have to investigate it again - the first time I tasted it I thought "phwoah" and the second time I tasted it I thought "yuck" - so I want to know where I was right!
Give me a few weeks to get some more funding together (I just spent my next month's wine funds on part ownership of a 16 foot racing catamaran...
) and I'll buy some more andyc wrote:1999 Bannockburn Shiraz: Did not like this at all. Green edged fruit, hard tannin. Quite hard and astringent.
Jordan,
One of the mysteries of wine. This was one of the best wines I've had in the past year...a truely beautiful cool climate shiraz.
Andy, that upsets me even more, was reallylooking forward to finshing off the night with a class shiraz. A little bit of an anticlimax
Premierships and great wine... that is what life is all about
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JamieBahrain
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Jordan wrote:andyc wrote:1999 Bannockburn Shiraz: Did not like this at all. Green edged fruit, hard tannin. Quite hard and astringent.
Jordan,
One of the mysteries of wine. This was one of the best wines I've had in the past year...a truely beautiful cool climate shiraz.
Andy, that upsets me even more, was reallylooking forward to finshing off the night with a class shiraz. A little bit of an anticlimax
Andy
I, like you, was surprised by peoples negative impressions of the wine. I had consumed two excellent bottles of the 99 Bannockburn shiraz last year.
A recent bottle was good, but did show a bit of brett people mentioned ( Brian I think ).