The Auswine Forum

and yippee I can drink wine again and my alcohol free weeks are over.

I had two bottles during the week. The first was a BVE 1998 Black Pepper Shiraz - the first from a six pack. GW would have loved it! It was very 'coconut oak" but still enjoyable but there is no doubt it would have been a lot better with less oak.

The second wine was a Saltrams 1998 Number 1 and it was very oaky too, but not quite as oak dominant as the Black Pepper. However on the second night, the wine had smoothed out beautifully and whilst the oak was still noticeable, it had receded so its possible this one may have enough fruit to eventually absorb most of the oak.

Now what have you guys been drinking? Full TN, impressions or vibes welcome.

Hi people's
After watching so much football this weekend and luving it!!!
am tasting Saltrams No1 2000 and yes it's oaky but this is a great wine with heaps of fruit underneath and the fruit will easliy overtake the oak in a few years At the moment it's showing vanillia and Liquorice but the structure and finish is easily long term.
hope everyone is enjoying the Soccer!!!!

2004 Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon. I like this wine, it is very variatal, shows heaps of bark blackberry fruit, cassis and a hint of cabernet leafiness. Restrained and shows a little sophistication. Oak isnt crap like most cheap aussie reds and the alcohol level is more classical. 95 Points

2004 Craggy Range Sophia Merlot Syrah Cab?. Second time ive tried this wine. It simply is a must buy. Super stuff. Showed a little more structure today than last time I tried it. Black and spicy, very finely boned structure. Super impressive, will buy more when im in the Hawkes Bay this weekend. 102 Points

2004 Craggy Range "The Quarry" Cabernet Sauvignon. The super premium Cabernet. This is an excellent wine as well. Very heavy dusty tannins seem to dominate and the question is whether they will ever resolve while the fruit is still alive but there is no doubt this is a very impressive wine. Dark and deep, not overblown, perfect ripeness. Not really approachable at the moment without a big rare steak. A very serious wine, will be very long lived 101+ points

2005 Johanneshof Marlborough Gewurztraminer. Did I spell that right?? One of NZ's best. It isnt quite as big and rich as say a Dry River, just gas off the peddle a bit. Still manages a rampant aromatic nose reeking of turkish delight/ rose water. The palate is medium dry, very silky and restrained, good mouth feel and just a hint of more edgy crystalised ginger or candied peel. Textbook is a word that comes to mind. 99 Points

2005 Morton Estate Sauvignon Blanc. A bottle given to me, not a front rank Sauvignon, but I think this demonstrates the class of the 05 vintage with huge concentration and intensity and a finely boned palate. Very acceptable with Roast Chicken. 90 Points

2005 Stonecroft Old Vines Chardonnay. A sophisticated and complex chardonnay with plenty of layoured nectarine fruit, juicy and well handled oak. Its always a case for me to compare against Te Mata Elston. It failed to win the comparison but not by a huge margin. Good stuff. 97 Points

TORB wrote:and yippee I can drink wine again and my alcohol free weeks are over.

I had two bottles during the week. The first was a BVE 1998 Black Pepper Shiraz - the first from a six pack. GW would have loved it! It was very 'coconut oak" but still enjoyable but there is no doubt it would have been a lot better with less oak.

Don't overdo it by trying to make up for lost time.

Now you'll know to leave the rest of the E&E for about another 4-5 years, the 90 vintage has only just gone into decline a year or so ago and the 91 is drinking nicely now thank you. Both these were very oaky in the early years, the fruit eventually wins. I'm sure you remember how sublime the 90 was at it's peak 2-3 years ago. In a turnabout for the 96/98 debate, the 96 E&E will probably peak earlier than the 98, the 96 I had earlier this year was very good, the oak starting to move into the background and the fruit re-assert itself.

A few odds and sods this week:

Ross Estate Shiraz 1999 - Soft and understated, nice spicy undertones, no sign of oak, ready to drink now, lovely wine.

Jacobs Creek Limited Release Cabernet 1998 - seems to have been a one-off, a $20+ wine rather than the normal $40+ for the Limited Release series. I've had a bit of variation with this one, some seeming a bit forward, but this one was right in the groove, still fresh and firm, but hints of approaching maturity, good varietal cabernet character in the Barossa style, maybe they were trying to resurrect the old Orlando Barossa Cabernet of fond memory from the 60's and 70's.

Koonunga Hill Shiraz-Cabernet 1998 - still hanging in there, but only just, still nice drinking, but finish them soon if you have any left. Probably the last really good and cellarable Koonunga Hill.

Tintara Shiraz 1997 - a bit of bottle stink took time to blow off, revealing a pretty smooth and nearly mature medium-weight palate that just got better in the glass. Probably drink up soon, but will hold a while.

Jim Barry McRae Wood Shiraz 1995 - the last of 9 I bought, this was marked in my cellar database as past it's drinking window, but turned out to be a very pleasant surprise, obviously mature. but no signs of fading at all, lovely soft Clare shiraz with unexpected spiciness and a small remnant of menthol/mint.

At my Monday tasting group, my preferred order:

Marius Simpatico Shiraz 2004 (McLarenVale) - immediately fragrant in the glass, lovely black cherry fruit, neglible oak evident, soft lush palate with just enough backbone to cellar for a few years if you can keep your hands off it.

Killibinbin Sandtrap Shiraz 2004 (McLarenVale) - a surprise packet at $15, more restrained, plummy and earthy than the Marius, but chock full of flavour and a firmer tannic backbone. The group was impressed, they ordered 4 cases of this.

Shaw & Smith Shiraz 2004 (Adelaide Hills) - I liked and bought the 2002 of this, I bought the 2004 to try based on good reviews by Huon Hooke etc. The nose was the best feature of this at present, attractive spicy cool-climate shiraz leaping out of the glass, the same flavours appear in the palate, but it was too light, felt thin in the mouth and finished a bit short. I took the remaining third home, but it didn't seem to open up or develop weight over the next few hours. Maybe a reminder of why I don't follow Huon Hooke that much, his palate seems to tend to elegant light-weight wines.

Coriole Sangiovese 2004 (McLaren Vale) - A nice attempt with a bit of structure and good palate weight, probably Ok value around the $17 street price.

Taylors Shiraz 2004 (Clare) - cedary oak on the nose, nice fruit, but a simple oak/fruit palate in comparison to the Marius and Killibinbin, will probably improve with a few years cellaring though.

Hamilton Gumprs Shiraz 2004 (McLarenVale) - pretty ordinary even at the new reduced price ($14), should have done a lot better from the 2004 vintage in McLarenVale.

And last, but definitely not least, I pulled the Diam cork from a bottle of the Warrabilla Wine Club cleanskin Durif 2005, this is seriously good value for $120/case, it's nearly as good as the $20+ Reserve Durif. Like all Warrabilla reds the fruit does the talking rather than the oak, it's nicely balanced and I don't perceive any alcohol heat. Perfectly drinkable now if you like big reds rather than the sweet simple wimpy reds generally at this price point, but will undoubtably cellar for a few years. We drank it and enjoyed it with bbq-grilled salt-water barramundi and double-fried potato-chips done the way demonstrated on the ABC program The Cook and the Chef this week. http://www.abc.net.au/tv/cookandchef/txt/s1657536.htm

2005 Grosset Semillon Sauvignon Blanc : high quality dry white wine , the Semillon from Clare the SB from the Adelaide Hills. Based on past vintages of this wine I reckon this could gain a bit of " calmness " from being in a good cellar for a couple of years. It has the balance. I reckon this wine is best from 3-5 years if well cellared.

2003 Torres Vina Esmeralda Moscatel Gerwurtraminer Spain ( stelvin ) $14 : a good example of a grapey white wine. Would be good picnic wine - say with a nice pork terrine. Sweetish but not in a sickly way.

....and a couple of 2006 wines already ! A Paracombe Sauvignon Blanc Adelaide Hills which was lemony fresh and an O'Leary Walker Watervale Riesling which was also bursting with freshness.

and a dry Red...

1997 Chateau Langoa Barton St-Julien Bordeaux : These classed growth Bordeaux rarely disappoint me. It is just so reliable - lovely weight , decent fruit without being too fruity. Now has secondary characters. Perhaps a tad short but so what - it was such a pleasure to drink - no problems here finishing this bottle.

looking forward to a 1981 Bin 389 with a Rabbit Pie this evening.

D'Arenberg High Trellis Cab Sav 2004 - Really impressed (finally). I have drunk a few D’Arries wines in the past but didn’t know what the hype was about in regards to great reviews. I found them confused on the palette in regards to varietal expression (must have been average vintages) but this vintage is a beauty. Medium to full with great overall strength in fruit and balance. Blackcurrant with a hint of green herb on the finish lasts and ends with elegance. Will definitely go back and buy a few at $15 (vintage cellars) for setting down.

2003 Hazard Hill Shiraz Grenache - Sorry, it was a cheap buy and cheap flavour. Couldn't drink the rest after first glass.

Very average drinking this weekend, but off to Margaret River coming weekend and heaps to try, buy and talk about (2004 vintages being released like Cullen Diana Madelline)

tasting Saltrams No1 2000

I also had one of these on the wekend - thoroughly enjoyable the Oak was strong but well held by berry fruits. Very nice drinking and years left 93 pts

On another night tried the Henschke Henry's Seven - blend of Shiraz 60%, Grenache 30%, Mouverdre 5% and Viognier 5%. Initially could smell the apricot from the viognier but after a few hours it was more the cassis and chocolate on the nose - and even a touch of mint. A bit too much VA which also showed up as alcohol heat on the palate. THe palate had nice fine tannins and strong fruit making a nice drink, but with a little too much alcohol - 87pts.

Red Bigot wrote:

TORB wrote:[color=red][size=18]

Shaw & Smith Shiraz 2004 (Adelaide Hills)his palate seems to tend to elegant light-weight wines.

bigot, this is the Rhone style they are trying to achieve, wines of 'big' pepper and excess oak appeal invariably don't come from the adelaide hills wine region.

i'd say the the 2004 (whilst a perfect climatical and viticultural vintage) was not the best example of this wine, the 2002 was far better, however insignificant to other similar wines from the same region.

1989 Brainaire Ducru
At its peak. 90pts.

1981 Baileys Hermitage
Fruit never overcame horrible new oak. No good. 70pts

1996 Baileys 1920 Block Shiraz
Not as good as last bottle. No hurry. 86pts

1996 JJ Confuron Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru
Not corked, just horrible. Poor winemaking. 70pts

1996 Wirra Wirra RSW Shiraz
No hurry, but simple and disappointing 85pts.

2002 Elderton Command Shiraz
Again amazing. Top shelf, leave a decade 95pts

1998 Yalumba The Reserve
Superb. Needs 20 years. JO is losing it big time. 95pts

1994 Howard Park Cabernet
What a wine!! Marg River's best-ever. Needs 10+ 96pts

Aussie John wrote:1994 Howard Park Cabernet
What a wine!! Marg River's best-ever. Needs 10+ 96pts

Agree, beats anything I have ever tasted from Moss Wood and Cullen (and that's most since 1983). Strangely, goes cheaply at auction?

Aussie John wrote:

1996 Baileys 1920 Block Shiraz
Not as good as last bottle. No hurry. 86pts

I have had 4 out of a box so far over the past 2 months. Each has been different, none bad but one superb. Just gotta love bottle variation.

Baby Chickpea wrote:

Aussie John wrote:1994 Howard Park Cabernet
What a wine!! Marg River's best-ever. Needs 10+ 96pts

Agree, beats anything I have ever tasted from Moss Wood and Cullen (and that's most since 1983). Strangely, goes cheaply at auction?

Is great southern - not Margaret but. Plantagenet very very good from same year too.
GW

2003 Wynns Black Label Cab

Cracker, beautiful cabernet for the price. Beautifully smooth and restrained at such a young age, perhaps the leaky cork and long decant helped. 92pts ($16)

2002 BVE Ebenezer Shiraz

Sweet, fruity shiraz with smooth tannins, vanillin oak and hint of acid to clean the palate. Well integrated. A nice shiraz. 90pts ($24)

It seemed to be a 2002 festival, in retrospect. Not planned as such.
Heritage Road Chardonnay 2002
This is a McGuigan Simeon export label picked up as a quaffer. Too acidic when young, has turned into a lovely complex wine with honey and melon characters- very satisfying quaff. The acid is now supportive, not unpleaasant.
McWilliams Hanwood Shirax 2002
Not terribly refined, but heaps of ripe shiraz flavour and a pleasing finish. Good quaffing
Taylors Shiraz 2002
A bigger wine than the McWilliams, with a richer, more refined midpalate, a little spoilt by too much heat on the finish. Very good quaffing.
Rosemount Show Reserve Coonawarra Cab 1996
Medium bodied, very typical with cassis, cedar, herbs and leaf. Lacked a little in intensity and length but a nice drink. This bottle suggests it's time to drink up.
Chapel Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2002
Unlike the 98 I had recently, this wine seems to show its McLaren Vale heritage more than Coonawarra. Chocolate, plum, cherry and berry characters predominate with cassis in the background. Almost like a cherry ripe- a touch confected. This wine seems to lack a little focus, but it has decent structure. I see it continuing to be a good to very good wine for quite a few years without ever scaling great heights.

Willows Cab Sav 2001
Not as minty as some earlier Willows Cab that I have tried but it is still there in the background. Definately not a Coonawarra or Margaret river wine but very enjoyable none the less. Some lovely fruit at play here and chased down Sunday night Pizza very well.

Rouge Homme Limestone Coast Cab Shiraz 2002
Good value quaffer some nice fruit in here, drinking well at the moment but not getting any better. Drink up.

Marius Symphony 2004
Lived up to expectations well, have not tried the Simpatico yet but if the fruit in this is anything to go by it should be fantastic. Lovely silky smooth mouth feel with nice complexity and length. There is some oak here but I have no doubt the fruit will outshine it in time. Glad I have some in the cellar the only problem is do I have enough.

Winter Creek Shiraz 2004
Tried alongside the Marius and what a lovely contrast in styles, a more balanced and slightly lighter bodied wine. This wine is teriffic stuff as well the acid makes this wine cleaner across the palate and the fruit really shines through. I have a few more in the cellar and I don't think it is enough, looks like the credit card is in trouble in the near future.

Glad I don't know how to score wines because it would be pointless to rate which was better of the 2 above they are so different in style and equally enjoyable but from completely different angles . Well done to our fellow forumites for their efforts here.

Glen

Baby Chickpea wrote:

Aussie John wrote:1994 Howard Park Cabernet
What a wine!! Marg River's best-ever. Needs 10+ 96pts

Agree, beats anything I have ever tasted from Moss Wood and Cullen (and that's most since 1983). Strangely, goes cheaply at auction?

This is still the greatest WA Cabernet I have ever had too. However, I have had bottles that were good not great... but I did not cellar these myself and really am not certain where they had been.

Adair

Jansz NV[b]
Ullage level was quite big due to a leaky cork and subsequently the wine had lost a few atmospheres of pressure. Base wine was quite nice with some yeasty autolysis characters nothing to complex but quite pleasent. Always one of my favourite NV Aussie sparklers.

[b]2005 Two Hands Brilliant Disguise Moscato
Another dissapointment as the wine had lost it's gentle Frizzante. Always like this wine and is my favourite of the Australian moscatos but not a patch on the Italian d"Astis'

2005 David Franz Eden Valley Riesling
Nose was very shy only giving off gentle aromas of mineral bath salts which were quite pleasent, but this is where the enjoyment stops. In the mouth this wine was quite course as if the juice had been left on skins for an extended period, The palate weight and texture was more Gruner Veltliner than riesling and the finish was devoid of any cleansing acidity. I have enjoyed David's wines on previous occasions but this was my first bottle of his Riesling and I can't help but think that this was a bad bottle.

2004 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Riesling
I have always enjoyed this rizza and the 04 is no exception. Fresh lime juice greets the nose straight up followed by a very faint honey aroma which is no doubt the reason this Riesling is held in bottle for a year before release. The palate is tightly focused and guided through by mineral acids which are both clean and refreshing.

2003 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay
My first try of LEAS chardonnay and definately wont be my last. Whilst never being a great Chardonnay lover or consumer this style has me converted. The first thing I noticed when I put my nose to the glass was the sheer power. Lots of quality french forest but the thing that impressed me was the fruit was never caught short. So many layers and great length. As an oenology student this is the stuff that really gets me going. Now for some Montrachets.

2001 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon
Loved it and even though it is not held in the same regard as your Cullens or Moss Woods it left me with no doubt that this is the place to grow Cab.
Nothing overly complex but should have a fairly lengthy life. Fairly rich style but not without some elegance.

1992 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Cabernet Sauvignon
Brilliant!! Loved it drinking perfectly now and at its peak. Oliver said it was finished by 2004, what a goose. Lovely mellow Aged Cabernet characters with a beautiful cigarbox ( Romeo Y Julieta Churchills I believe) aroma banging into the Olfactory bulb. Fruit hanging in there. The tannins had resloved with palate defined by its excellent length.

2001 Rosemount GSM
Lovely Grenache dominant nose, rich without being jammy. Palate weight and depth provided by the Syrah. Excellent structure with a long perfumed finish. Soft fine grained tannins complete the picture. (healthy dose of oak but fruit weight handles it with ease, Hides the 15% alcohol well)

That was 2-3 weeks ago; now this week

1997 JL Wolf Forster Stift Riesling Kabinett
Could hardly tell this was 9 years old. Any trace of age blew off quite quickly. For $17 this was a steal. Simple yet so delicous, granny smiths and floral bouquets are the order of the day. Palate has a good dose of RS but is cut in half by crisp lingering acidity.

1998 Woodstock The Stocks Shiraz
Soft, smooth, rich Mclaren Vale Shiraz. Great nose great palate and excellent structure. Good value at $28 at the time of release. Shining beacon of an otherwise dissapointing winery. Can't remember much more because it was followed by a wee dram of Highland Park 18 year old. [/b]