The Auswine Forum

Hi all,

Since wifey and I became a couple, we have been enjoying a particular vinous tradition. We share a bottle of 1996 something or rather on the anniversary of every month. In a way, this has fuelled our passion for wine, as with the advancing years, the 1996's we consumed had to be of a better quality, and it thought us the values and pitfalls of cellering wine (optimal cellering vs suboptimal ie. under the bed cellering respectively).

I thought I'd post our monthly occassion wines here.

Cheers,

Monghead.

Though I was keen to go with the Cullen, in the end, the better half asserted the right to pick the wine this time, as she claims she hardly ever has the chance to do so. Since she was going to deliver the wine to the restaurant prior to service, I kinda had no choice.

1996 Chateau Haut Brion

I must admit, I had wanted to try this wine for a long time now (of the first growths, this is one I had not tasted ever before), but had held off as all reports point to it being one for the long haul. I was pleasantly surprised when the sommelier brought the bottle to the table, as wifey threatened all week that she was going to bring the Jim Barry Armargh (a wine I don’t really enjoy at all), unless I behaved myself.

Resonantly old world on the nose. Savoury, earthy, smoky aromas blended with currant, plum-like fruits. Deeply concentrated palate with blackcurrants, figs, cigar smoke, leather, and hints of herbs de provence. Great persistence and length, with fine integrated tannins and a finish of up to a minute. Certainly in it’s infancy at present, I hope this wine will reach the heights of the 1986 Las Casses.

Cheers,

Monghead

Do you guys do this EVERY month or just once a year on your anniversary? You must spend a fortune on 96 wines if it's every month.

bacchaebabe, indeed, and indeed.....

Yeah, we do this every month, but on the yearly one, it tends to be a flagship wine. Other months see us consuming things in the 30 to 80 dollar range on release. Currently, we have a healthy stock of '96s in the cellar for this reason.

Cheers

Monghead

Interesting. Our anniversary is 1986. Whilst a good year, it's getting more difficult to find good examples but we only do it on a yearly basis and even then we don't insist on anniversary year wines every time. Just something nice is good enough.

Good idea to get a healthy stock in early though.

Kris,

The 1986 Chateau Leoville Las Casses is still among the best 5 wines, if not the best wine I have enjoyed thus far. Well worth sourcing for the next anniversary, if you have not tried it!!

Cheers,

Monghead

Thanks for the note. Sounds like it was singing What food do you have with it?

cheers

Carl

Nice idea Monghead. I like the idea of the anniversary year wines - I might start doing that... but only annually! I'm extremely lucky on this front - I got married in 2005 - an excellent vintage just about everywhere.

Any recommendations for a top bottle that's already drinking well this year? Any country or colour.

Heya Carl,

Enjoyed this lovely wine at Vue de Monde in Melbourne. By then, we had it with a pork belly with crackling, then a venison dish, then the cheese.

Would have loved to have this with one of the earlier dishes of truffle risotto though.

monghead.

Nice idea Monghead. I like the idea of the anniversary year wines - I might start doing that... but only annually! I'm extremely lucky on this front - I got married in 2005 - an excellent vintage just about everywhere.

Any recommendations for a top bottle that's already drinking well this year? Any country or colour.

Heya Mike,

From what I hear, 2005 was a stellar year in many regions. You are very lucky, but from what I see from the pricing in Bordeaux and Burgundy, this is indeed a two edged sword. Good luck with that!

In terms of solid 2005's to stock up on, others on the forum with more tasting experience would be better advisors, but I can recommend the voluptuous Clonakilla SV for consumption as early as now. This is a wine that is always irresistable, even in it's youth.

Cheers,

Monghead.

monghead wrote:

Nice idea Monghead. I like the idea of the anniversary year wines - I might start doing that... but only annually! I'm extremely lucky on this front - I got married in 2005 - an excellent vintage just about everywhere.

Any recommendations for a top bottle that's already drinking well this year? Any country or colour.

Heya Mike,

From what I hear, 2005 was a stellar year in many regions. You are very lucky, but from what I see from the pricing in Bordeaux and Burgundy, this is indeed a two edged sword. Good luck with that!

In terms of solid 2005's to stock up on, others on the forum with more tasting experience would be better advisors, but I can recommend the voluptuous Clonakilla SV for consumption as early as now. This is a wine that is always irresistable, even in it's youth.

Cheers,

Monghead.

I would love to Know myself as we got married in 05 and have been looking for great 05's to cellar

Regards Dazza

dazza1968 wrote:I would love to Know myself as we got married in 05 and have been looking for great 05's to cellar

Regards Dazza

These threads could be a start:
http://forum.auswine.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=6662
http://forum.auswine.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=8302


Cheers,
Ian

n4sir wrote:

dazza1968 wrote:I would love to Know myself as we got married in 05 and have been looking for great 05's to cellar

Regards Dazza

These threads could be a start:
http://forum.auswine.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=6662
http://forum.auswine.com.au/viewtopic.php?t=8302


Cheers,
Ian

thanks Certainly gave me a few ideas

Regards Dazza

monghead wrote:Heya Carl,

Enjoyed this lovely wine at Vue de Monde in Melbourne. By then, we had it with a pork belly with crackling, then a venison dish, then the cheese.

Would have loved to have this with one of the earlier dishes of truffle risotto though.

monghead.

Ooo...jealous. Just been there the once and I would say that it was the best food in Australia that we have had. Mixes it up more than Tet's I reckon. Glad you had a nice night.

cheers

Carl

1996 Peter Lehmann Eight Songs Shiraz

Still with a deep purple hue, though bricking at the edges noted on swirling. Perfumed nose of menthol, with masses of ripe berries, and hints of cigars and leather. On the palate, this wine was less interesting though, being slightly jammy, with a fair whack of chocolate/vanilla oak and a one dimensionality. Don't think this will improve any, and glad this was the last bottle in the cellar.

Monghead.

Any recommendations for a top bottle that's already drinking well this year? Any country or colour.[/quote]

2005 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay .... Stunning

Still haven't worked out the quote thing

Irregular wrote:Any recommendations for a top bottle that's already drinking well this year? Any country or colour.

2005 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay .... Stunning

Still haven't worked out the quote thing

Thanks Irregular. My better half would approve as its c-through, to use the TORB/RB lingo. I may splash out - I like a top chard myself and have never tried a really top Aussie chard, other than Voyager (hangs head in shame, blames thinness of wallet). Voyager was bloody good tho.

As for quoting - err - you hit the "quote" button on the right-hand-side of the post you want quote and it does it for you. Go on, give it another go

Bick wrote:

Irregular wrote:Any recommendations for a top bottle that's already drinking well this year? Any country or colour.

2005 Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay .... Stunning

Still haven't worked out the quote thing

Thanks Irregular. My better half would approve as its c-through, to use the TORB/RB lingo. I may splash out - I like a top chard myself and have never tried a really top Aussie chard, other than Voyager (hangs head in shame, blames thinness of wallet). Voyager was bloody good tho.

As for quoting - err - you hit the "quote" button on the right-hand-side of the post you want quote and it does it for you. Go on, give it another go

Oh and just to give Craig a bit of a poke I had my own chardonnay tasting on my birthday a couple of weeks ago. The 05 Leewin kicked the 05 Mates

cheers

Carl

Well, it was that time again.

1996 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir
A see through crimson with bricking on swirling. Usually, if a wine is good, I don't taste the little pour the waiter/sommelier offers. The nose offerred a muted, sour cherry aroma, with a finish of sweat. ? corked ? brett. I tasted... (usually a poor prognosis for me, and as it turned out, it was again...) The palate was thin, un-yielding, spirity, with a sour cherry/plum taste. Alas. Was it Brett or a corkie (not overtly hessian sack stuff)...

My only bottle unfortunately, but is this '96 worth pursuing for another occassion?

Anyways, wifey and I kicked on with a couple of half bottles of Krug MV.

Hopefully, we would have better luck next month.

monghead wrote:

Nice idea Monghead. I like the idea of the anniversary year wines - I might start doing that... but only annually! I'm extremely lucky on this front - I got married in 2005 - an excellent vintage just about everywhere.

Any recommendations for a top bottle that's already drinking well this year? Any country or colour.

Heya Mike,

From what I hear, 2005 was a stellar year in many regions. You are very lucky, but from what I see from the pricing in Bordeaux and Burgundy, this is indeed a two edged sword. Good luck with that!

In terms of solid 2005's to stock up on, others on the forum with more tasting experience would be better advisors, but I can recommend the voluptuous Clonakilla SV for consumption as early as now. This is a wine that is always irresistable, even in it's youth.

Cheers,

Monghead.

My first son was born in 2005. I have therefore used it as an excuse with the wife to stock the cellar with wines from Margaret River, Bordeaux, Coonawarra, Burgundy, Port, Rhone, Claire rieslings and Hunter Semillon. Ah the sacrifice of being a parent.

PS I picked up a case of 96 Ch Beychevelle which is drinking beautifully now. If you have a 07 Clonakilla SV, I am happy to swap a bottle.

1996 Hardy's Eileen Hardy Shiraz

Dense, dark purple, almost inky. Rich aromas of ripe dark berries, tar, and candy. Broad, expansive, mouth-coating palate of jammy port-like fruit, but only moderate length. Fruit falling off particularly quickly to reveal heavy oaky/chocolate/vanilla taste. Not much in terms aged characters.

Did not enjoy this wine much. Will have to make up for it next month.

If you have any more of this wine, I suggest it is starting to fall apart, and drinking it or un-loading it off will be wise.

Cheers,

Monghead.

Bick wrote:Nice idea Monghead. I like the idea of the anniversary year wines - I might start doing that... but only annually! I'm extremely lucky on this front - I got married in 2005 - an excellent vintage just about everywhere.

Any recommendations for a top bottle that's already drinking well this year? Any country or colour.

05 Haan Wilhelmus Barossa red drinking great !! And i mean Awesome Regards Dazza

dazza1968 wrote:05 Haan Wilhelmus Barossa red drinking great !! And i mean Awesome Regards Dazza

Many thanks for the heads up Dazza.
We actually had our anniversary last month and ate out (French Café), so I was limited to the wine list on the day this year... we had a btl of 05 Te Mata Coleraine, which we enjoyed very much. I'm keen to try some Haan wine though, I'm sure RB has sung its praises before as well. Will keep a look out.

A quiet one this month, dinner out a one of our fave BYO's, Bird Cow Fish.

1996 Wynns John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon

Deep dark purple. Quite alot of fine sediment which decanting reduced significantly. The wine threw up rich aromas of earthy dark berries, capsicum and tobacco as it was being poured. There was a subtle waft of cumin as well, which was interesting. The palate was full, rich, and long, though I suspect those averse to over-oaking will strugle with this. For us though, there was just enough fruit to complement the cedary oak. There was a fair whack of tannins, but it was pleasantly fine. Overall, quite an enjoyable drink.

Cheers,

Monghead.

I've got a couple of these and was waiting a bit longer to try them. How do you think they are tracking and how much longer do you think they will hold.

Fred swears by the 'drink the riddochs as the black labels are starting to fade' rule and the 96 black labels are still going pretty strong.

In fact I haven't started on my 92 riddochs yet but have long finished the 87s. Probably time to look at the 92s thinking about it.

Bacchaebabe,

Have heard that adage too and on the taste of one of my 96 BL's in the middle of this year I'm not going to look at my 96 JR's for a few years yet.

I also have a couple of 92's and last had one about two years ago. Didn't take any notes on that occasion but recall loving it and obviously felt no urgency to knock off the remaining bottles as they are still in the cellar. That being said, I do recall that the tannins were soft and the wine was all about the fruit. I'm going to have a look at one in the next year or so I reckon. Let me know what you think if you open one before me.

Matt.

Will do.

Monghead,

Your description of the '96 Eileen Hardy Shiraz resembles my recollection of what the '90 Eileen Hardy was like in 2002/3. It too was clumsy, sweet and jammy, with little or no mature elements. Last month I had another bottle of the '90 and found it to be quite enjoyable, now only slightly sweet, it was better balanced and showed every sign of further evolution. May I suggest patience for the '96 Eileen Hardy.

bacchaebabe, I tasted the '94 John Riddoch in 2004 and thought it was nowhere near ready, it had at least another 10 years ahead of it. So I reckon your '96s are far from ready.

Mattwine, I haven't tried my '96 Black Label but based on your comment I will keep away from them a while longer. Do you have any thoughts on the drinking window of the '96 Wynns Cab/Shiraz/Merlot?

Cheers..............Mahmoud

The Riddoch's are definitely 20+ year propositions. I've puchased a number of bottles from the eighties this year - a few each from '82, '84 ,'86 and '88 and only one '88 been less than excellent (and in no way was it senile - just fruit-stripped - may have been from low level cork taint). The Black Label's are generally good for 15-20 sometimes longer if you're lucky. In some years they don't have the legs but in years like '76, '82 '86, '88, '90, '91, '96 and '98 they lasted/should last very well indeed.

With the 2004 vintage, Sue Hodder kicked backside with the two labels. 2005 may not be not quite so good for the Black. The Riddoch seemed right up there, though, but take my comments on the 2005's with a few grains of salt - they are based on brief in-store tastings. I just had to buy 2 dozen bottles of that 2004 Black at a ridiculous $15.95 a bottle!

Mahmoud,

Sorry can't give any feedback on the 96 Cab Shiraz Merlot. Only recall them from 97 and I just never have any luck with them... Have tried them all the way from 97 to 03 and not really had a very enjoyable one. I've sworn off buying them (just have a few 00's and 03's left) as the red stripes I've had always seem tannic and green to me.

96 black label still tasted like a young wine to me. Perhaps the red stripe of that year was a better wine than the later ones from the label.

Keen to hear about others experiences with the 96 Eileen Hardy, seems like there are some differing views about this one. I haven't yet had one of mine but was somewhat under-awed (can you be that?) with the 95 I had a little while ago. Was ok but I thought the oak was winning the battle.

Matt.