The Auswine Forum

Quiet Month for me....

06 Te Mata Coleraine
07 Te Mata Elston
07 Te Mata Cape Crest
07 Villa Maria Reserve Riesling
05 Villa Maria Taylors Pass Riesling
05 Villa Maria Noble Riesling (again)

how bout you guys, whats hot enough to part with your cold hard cash this month??

Some of these would have been from Feb, but only recently reached the cellar

2 x 1988 Taltarni Merlot / Cab Franc
2 x 1988 Taltarni Shiraz
1 x 1985 Taltarni Cab Sav
1 x 1984 Taltarni Cab Sav Reserve
1 x 2003 Nepenthe Good Doctor Pinot Noir
3 x 2002 Penley Reserve Cab Sav
1 x 2002 Petaluma Coonawarra
1 x 2001 TK Palatine
1 x 2001 Primo Joseph Moda
3 x 1992 Primo Joseph Moda
4 x 1998 Jean Leon Cab Sav Riserva
4 x 2004 Te Kairanga Chard Reserve
2 x 2000 D'Arenberg Noble Riesling
2 x NV Prosecco Crede Bisol

Cracked one of the 1992 Primo Moda's and it's still a big b*stard - not sure about it. The other opened so far is a 1988 Taltarni Merlot/Cab Franc which was very good.

On the horizon, looking to top up with some Barolo, Boca & a few others, but nothing much else.

Have too much that needs another 10 years so am back-buying wines if it comes up at okayish prices. Problem in UK is that older vintages can be very well priced via merchants but mainly by the case ...

12 x Henschke Mt. Edelstone 1994
12 x Annies Lane Contour Shiraz 1996
4 x Wynns Centenary Cab-Shiraz 1991

The Mt. Edelestone was about the same price as 2004 is now in the UK so a bit of a no-brainer.

Ian - where did you get the Taltarnis? Those mid-eighties wines were good and the tannins on the 1988s might just about have softened by now.

Jay

Jay
An auction lot. Normally I don't like to mention auction houses as there is one auction house the UK wine pages forumites have latched onto that has significantly driven up the number of bidders (and hence prices). However as this came from precisely that auction house - Strakers - there's no great issue in mentioning them these days.

The Taltarni was just over £80 all in for the mixed half doz and based on the performance of the Merlot / Cab Franc would be happy with the price. The tannins were still lurking, but very much in the background. Not obviously Australian IMO.

FWIW I plonked a note on Cellartracker:
1988 Taltarni Cabernet-Merlot - Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Pyrenees (3/19/2008)
Recently bought, but level well into the neck and the wine was a fine rich, vaguely cloudy, claret colour, with appropriate (for it's age) browning at the rim.
Initially perhaps a bit volatile, this one settled down over an hour or two. There's some maturing oakiness giving a slightly austere impression, together with a firm, albeit faintly herbal, body of what seemed relatively typical Cabernet Sauvignon fruit (except the Cabernet in this instance is Cabernet Franc!). However there is a vaguely floral touch still, so perhaps that's the giveaway. As the dominantly declared grape variety in this blend, I find the merlot playing the supporting act rather than the lead - or maybe this is how merlot is supposed to taste ;¬)

On the palate this wine is mature, but far from croaking. There's still a grip to it (to be expected with old school Taltarni), but the fruit is travelling well. There's good depth and complexity, though whilst the acidity is nicely refreshing, there's something slightly 'not right' about it and on the finish the wine seems to lose a little composure.

Will enjoy sharing my other bottle of this with francophile friends, who I suspect may appreaciate the charm of this wine. By way of a back-handed compliment I'd expect them to liken it to a decent mature Cru Bourgeois Bordeaux.

regards

Ian

Thanks Ian. Nice find on those ... think Strakers is no secret these days. I have a look but haven't bought anything there ... prices are good but not great.

I remember buying the odd Taltarni '88s Glengarry's in Auckland when a student. Iron like tannins, and I always wondered if the fruit would ever win out. My dad drank the last and enjoyed it 5 years back ... he likes them tannic and underfruited (in his view that's what classic Bordeaux is all about).

Jay

big month so far, march sees the bi-annual delivery of the Bremerton's mixed red dozen, also got -
2x Bremerton Old Adams Shiraz 2005
1x Bremerton Reserve Cabernet 2004
1x WolfBlass Platinum Shiraz 2001
1x WolfBlass Platinum Shiraz 1999
1x WolfBlass Platinum Shiraz 1998
3x Two Hands Ares Shiraz 2005
2x Penfolds Bin 389 2002
2x Penfolds Bin 389 2004
2x Penfolds Bin 389 2005

VINH NGUYEN wrote:big month so far, march sees the bi-annual delivery of the Bremerton's mixed red dozen, also got -
2x Bremerton Old Adams Shiraz 2005
1x Bremerton Reserve Cabernet 2004
1x WolfBlass Platinum Shiraz 2001
1x WolfBlass Platinum Shiraz 1999
1x WolfBlass Platinum Shiraz 1998
3x Two Hands Ares Shiraz 2005
2x Penfolds Bin 389 2002
2x Penfolds Bin 389 2004
2x Penfolds Bin 389 2005

Should make for some interesting verticals, assuming you also have some of the Bremerton stacked up.

2 x Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2006
2 x Chard Farm "The Viper" Pinot Noir 2006
2 x Margrain Home Block Pinot Noir 2006
2 x Huet Clos du Bourg Premier Moulleux 2005
2 x Neudorf Moutere Chardonnay 2006
6 x Penfolds Bin 389 2005
6 x Unison Syrah 2006

Cheers
Peter

Bugger all, a bit of 389 05 and some 06 Annaperenna early on but that's about it. Freshly born child, need to wade in the wallet for awhile.

Refreshing really and nice to just drink the stuff.

4xVoyager Cab Merl 04
4xPL Eden Valley Riesling 07
4xHoddles Creek Chard 06

Sundry others from the run-out shelves at the barn - Forest Hill Cab Merl 04 and Madfish Chard 05 come to mind.


Cheers

daz

Jay60A wrote:Have too much that needs another 10 years so am back-buying wines if it comes up at okayish prices. Problem in UK is that older vintages can be very well priced via merchants but mainly by the case ...

12 x Henschke Mt. Edelstone 1994
12 x Annies Lane Contour Shiraz 1996
4 x Wynns Centenary Cab-Shiraz 1991

The Mt. Edelestone was about the same price as 2004 is now in the UK so a bit of a no-brainer.

Ian - where did you get the Taltarnis? Those mid-eighties wines were good and the tannins on the 1988s might just about have softened by now.

Jay

Hi Jay,

I wonder if you would let me know how the Edelstone is travelling - have one sitting in the cellar.

Brett

Hi Jay,

I wonder if you would let me know how the Edelstone is travelling - have one sitting in the cellar.

had the 94 at the end of last year. its looking very good now - great year for henschke. unsure how long it will last or if it will get better but certainly nothing to stop you from cracking it ffor any special occassion from now on

Chateau D'Yquem 1970 x 2
Chateau D'Yquem 1983 x 1
Chateau Sudiraut 2001 x 2
Krug 1990 x 1
Krug MV x 2
Francois Lamarche Echezeaux 1997 x 3
Billecart Cuvee Nicolas Francois 1996 x 2
Artadi Vinas de Gain 2004 x 3
Ampelaia IGT 2003 x 6
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico 2005 x 3
Carpinetto Brunello di Montalcino 1988 x 1
Francois Chidaine Les Argiles Vouvray 2005 x 2

Chateau D'Yquem 1970 x 2
Chateau D'Yquem 1983 x 1
Chateau Sudiraut 2001 x 2
Krug 1990 x 1
Krug MV x 2
Francois Lamarche Echezeaux 1997 x 3
Billecart Cuvee Nicolas Francois 1996 x 2
Artadi Vinas de Gain 2004 x 3
Ampelaia IGT 2003 x 6
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico 2005 x 3
Carpinetto Brunello di Montalcino 1988 x 1
Francois Chidaine Les Argiles Vouvray 2005 x 2

what's your secret? no kids? no wife? no mortgage? no earning kiwi paso??

Just...

Lots of money I'd suggest.

Just...

Lots of money I'd suggest.

nothing wrong with that!! wish i could find some more under a rock somewhere hehe

Craig(NZ) wrote:

Hi Jay,

I wonder if you would let me know how the Edelstone is travelling - have one sitting in the cellar.

had the 94 at the end of last year. its looking very good now - great year for henschke. unsure how long it will last or if it will get better but certainly nothing to stop you from cracking it ffor any special occassion from now on

Thanks Craig - will get stuck in soon...

Brett

Craig(NZ) wrote:

Just...

Lots of money I'd suggest.

nothing wrong with that!! wish i could find some more under a rock somewhere hehe

Yup, I agree (on both counts).

Wayno wrote:Just...

Lots of money I'd suggest.

Far from it.....you buy some, you sell some...I think the buddhists call it Samsara...."the endless cycle of suffering"

A lot were very affordable the Carpinetto Brunello was $30, The Ampelaia IGT's were $19 a bottle, the Francois Lamarche Echezeaux were $50.

But yes....I have been told to cease and desist spending by SWMBO

I'm in the same situation sadly.

This has been a strange month for me, been stocking up quite unknowingly on Noon Reserve shiraz and CS from various auctions. Bought a few bottles of frenchies for casual drinking, various Villa Maria stuff and single bottles of most rieslings (mainly during the initial bouts of warm weather)

Craig(NZ) wrote:no kids? no wife? no mortgage? no earning kiwi paso??

I answer yes to all the above and they are all reasons I've bought very little this month! Single bottles of a few rieslings, a Bin 407 to try, and a Clearview Old Olive Block 05 (not at all bad). All drunk within days of purchase. I'm hoping next month to get some Te Mata, Stonecroft and Carrick wines in the cellar though.

Edit - oh yeah I did get an 06 Dog Point Section 94 as well.

1 x Penfolds Bin 389 2005
3 x Penfolds Bin 138 2006
3 x Penfolds Bin 407 2005
2 x Bowen Cab Sav 2004
1 x St Hugo Cab Sav 2004
3 x Majella Cab Sav 2005
2 x Dog Point Section 94 2006
1 x St Clair Block 2 SB 2007
1 x St Clair Blcok 3 SB 2007

Cheers

Nick

Yes, I currently have the wife, kids, no wine budget at the moment but was lucky to pick up a couple lately.

Finally have 3 btls of 1994 Howard park Cab/Merl. Heard so much about this wine but haven’t yet sunk my teeth into any. Will very soon.

Also 1999 Penfolds Magill estate, which I hear is a good vintage for that wine.

Folks,

I love to know (by PM of course) where you get your bin 389 from. I live in Melbourne metro.

Danke.

Picked up a couple of bottles of Mesh Riesling 06 from the barn today for $12, the remaining bottle will be allowed to sleep for another year or two - the bottle opened tonight is OK but the wine seems to be in somewhere land at present.

The runout shelves are definitely running out but there were still some bottles of Kilikanoon Oracle 04 for $50 - I'll see if I can get a further discount for those remaining.

Couldn't say I rated the 06 Mesh much and don't know that it's destined for greatness either but for a twelver it's a pretty handy price!

I agree the 06 Mesh wasn't a favourite. i might buy it for $12, but not at the price it was originally retailing at (much higher).

I bought a bunch of 02 Penfolds Bin 128s & 389s from our staff club, and best of all they were cheaper than the current releases!

Cabernet seems to be the go for me at the moment.

3 x Vasse Felix Cab Sav 2005
3 x Majella Cab Sav 2005
3 x Petaluma Coonawarra 2004
1 x Saltram No 1 Shiraz 2004
1 x Howard Park Riesling 2007
1 x Charles Sturt University Chardonnay 2007

3 x Kilikanoon Oracle 04 ($50/btl)

1 x Howard Park Riesling 06 ($12)

1 x mixed case current release Forest Hill Block Series (reds and whites).