The Auswine Forum

No I have not taken leave of my senses. It may be the middle of November, but it was four degrees this morning, with 44 k/h winds, gusting up to 65 k. The wind chill factor puts it into minus. So much for summer!

But that means it good red wine weather.

After seeing a post on the 96 Eileen Hardy in last weeks thread and it starting to dry out, I decided to open a bottle on Wednesday night. Mine was glorious and had many years ahead of itself and in no danger of going south any time soon, so put that one down to bottle variation.

Now what have you good peoples been drinking over the past week?

BTW, I have posted quite a few tasting notes on recently released wines on TORBWine last week and there are some crackers amongst them.

Two terrific little bantamweights:

Spinifex Esprit 2005
Blend of Grenache, Shiraz, Matara, Cinsault and Carignan (I think). Terrific style, very vinous and honest expression of grape. Nice tannins, some puckery lift and a good confectionery Grenach component that presents well. I like this a whole lot and am fast becoming a fan of these guys. I understand the 06 of this is being talked up as well.

Bests Dolcetto 2004
Lowish in alcohol, 6.8 standard drinks, this is a terrific luncheon red. Light style, some beetroot and dried herbs with a savoury, Italianate quality about it. Yum.

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Only two opened this week.

Crabtree Watervale Riesling 2001

This particular bottle was far more advanced than Robert Crabtree probably would want; golden colour, full of lime, apples, honey and toast and perhaps offering a modicum of drinking enjoyment today, if it wasn't mildly corked! NR.

Petaluma Hanlin Hill Riesling 2002

This bottle boasts a youthful bright straw colour, a bouquet revealing a little awkwardness at first with slightly offputting green pineapple and herbal notes but with an extended breathe, came into its own showing the greatness of this label and the vintage, throwing off this typical "Aussie Riesling" transitional malaise, with penetrating musky aromas and flavours of slate and chalky minerals over a tight core of lime, apple and pithy citrus fruit. The tightness of structure on the palate is braced by perky, crystalline acidity providing freshness and focus on a long, razor-sharp, citrus-infused finish. This is superior Australian Riesling and, without a doubt, destined to be long-lived developing more toast and honeyed characters as it ages effortlessly for another eight to ten years and, quite possibly, some years longer. 93 points. 12.8% A/V. Cork closure.

Sean wrote:
2007 Thorn-Clarke Sandpiper Shiraz - The rich, intense flavours in this shiraz are a bit of a surprise, with plums, small dark berries, but nothing is over the top, because the oak is well handled and the tannins slowly emerge in the mouth, and it’s very good drinking now.

Sean, I had this a few weeks ago, and quite agree.
A quiet week for me. Not feeling too well. It could have been the Windy Peak Pinot.

TORB wrote:
But that means it good red wine weather.

Isn't all weather good red wine weather (provided you can keep the wine at the right temp)?
Perhaps today is extra good.

dlo wrote: Petaluma Hanlin Hill Riesling 2002

This bottle boasts a youthful bright straw colour, a bouquet revealing a little awkwardness at first with slightly offputting green pineapple and herbal notes but with an extended breathe, came into its own showing the greatness of this label and the the vintage, throwing off this typical "Aussie Riesling" transitional malaise, with penetrating musky aromas and flavours of slate and chalky minerals over a tight core of lime, apple and pithy citrus fruit. The tightness of structure on the palate is braced by perky, crystalline acidity providing freshness and focus on a long, razor-sharp, citrus-infused finish. This is superior Australian Riesling and, without a doubt, destined to be long-lived developing more toast and honeyed characters as it ages effortlessly for another eight to ten years and, quite possibly, some years longer. 93 points. 12.8% A/V. Cork closure.

This has been my favourite riesling this year. Excellent value still on line at the auctions at around $25pb. I think I am onto my second case since xmas. now you are suggesting i should hold onto some, boy that will be hard.

A list more than a set of TN's

Primo Estate Joseph Sparkling Red 07 Disg: THis bottle the last of a sixpack, quite metallic and bretty. Didn't notice it so much inprevious bottles.

At an instore on Sat morning:

Felton Road Dry Riesling 2008: Super sharp, bracingly acidic, bright fresh florals and limey fruit

Felton Road Dry Riesling 2008: Similar to the dry, but with about 40g/l RS at a guess, and it carries the flavour a bit better.

Felton Road Chardonnay 2006: Very cool fruit, lots of winemaking tricks. Not my cup of tea

Felton Road Pinot Noir 2007: Well written up in some quarters. An exuberant mouthful of sappy pinosity, in the CO blackfruit kind of way. Nice but quite in your face at the moment. Oddly a single bottle only was provided for the tasting, but the shop in question had stock of the Block 5, in bottle and magnum!

Bought some of the Riesling and had it at dinner with:

Saltram Mamre Brook Cabernet 2001: Quite advanced, pleasant enough. Others at the table were less enamoured.

Tim Adams Aberfeldy (Magnum) 2002: Entering a nice phase in its life, still with primary, plummy and black berry fruit, along with milk chocolate and some darker choc and vanilla oak. Tasty, the crowd were happy.

Cheers

Andrew

2005 Viottolo Nebbiolo - a really pleasant surprise, typical Neb tannins but more full-fruited and approachable than most Italians at this stage in its life. Lots of McLaren Vale to it, maybe not a Neb for traditionalists, but a really enjoyable drink.
2004 Torbreck The Steading - DNPIM, horrible nail polish removal on the nose, some nice fruit hiding in there but couldn't get past the nose. Big thanks to Torbreck for prompt replacement offer.
2005 Dalwhinnie Shiraz - smashing purity of fruit, obviously too young but that didn't stop it being enjoyed and finished quite quickly.
2002 Hahn Catharina Shiraz - my last of these, oak has now integrated quite nicely, nice plum and blackberry fruit flavours with a little (not unpleasant) furniture polish and plenty of vanilla. Should have kept the rest until now, lovely drink.

Cheers
Nick

Mesh Riesling 2008
Lipsmacking, vibrant winey Riesling goodness. Limey, touch of slate, citrus rind, fresh and lifted. The Official Summer of Riesling off to a fine start.

Wood Park Meadow Creek Chardonnay 2005: Lovely pale yellow, with a tinge of green in the glass. Obvious spiced notes of french oak with melon and lemon butter on the nose. The palate is full with a slight sweetness from the fruit and nuttiness from the oak. Very clean and fresh finish with tight acidity binding it all together. A long finish, still oak dominant, but with plenty of fruit there for the future. Should be a much better wine in 3-5 years.

TORB,

I can't imagine the '96 Eileen Hardy drying out and I'm glad to see your experience bears this out. About a month ago I tried a '90 Eileen Hardy Shiraz and it was drinking very nicely thank you very much. A touch sweet, but of the ripe fruity kind, and still a bit of tannins to keep it going. Not touching another bottle for a few years.

Sean, when I was in Sydney one of my favourite everyday wine was the Dalfarras Cabernet Sangiovese. A beautiful medium-bodied wine with some character a-la Super Tuscan, though on a very minor scale. I really miss that wine.

Cheers.....Mahmoud

Wizz wrote:A list more than a set of TN's

Primo Estate Joseph Sparkling Red 07 Disg: THis bottle the last of a sixpack, quite metallic and bretty. Didn't notice it so much inprevious bottles.

At an instore on Sat morning:

Felton Road Dry Riesling 2008: Super sharp, bracingly acidic, bright fresh florals and limey fruit

Felton Road Dry Riesling 2008: Similar to the dry, but with about 40g/l RS at a guess, and it carries the flavour a bit better.

Felton Road Chardonnay 2006: Very cool fruit, lots of winemaking tricks. Not my cup of tea

Felton Road Pinot Noir 2007: Well written up in some quarters. An exuberant mouthful of sappy pinosity, in the CO blackfruit kind of way. Nice but quite in your face at the moment. Oddly a single bottle only was provided for the tasting, but the shop in question had stock of the Block 5, in bottle and magnum!

Bought some of the Riesling and had it at dinner with:

Saltram Mamre Brook Cabernet 2001: Quite advanced, pleasant enough. Others at the table were less enamoured.

Tim Adams Aberfeldy (Magnum) 2002: Entering a nice phase in its life, still with primary, plummy and black berry fruit, along with milk chocolate and some darker choc and vanilla oak. Tasty, the crowd were happy.

Cheers

Andrew

There is always a tasting in town the weekend I leave

I am just happy you didnt get the block Pinots

We must get together soon for Bookclub

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Four degrees Ric? Positively summery! I was in Jindabyne over the weekend and it was snowing - quite heavily too. I own an apartment in a resort there and despite going up there for many years, I have never seen it snow in Jindy, not even in winter. So to see it bucketing down was quite unusal to say the least, particularly one week out from summer. The cars coming back from Thredbo were positively covered in the stuff - even the next day.

Anyhoo, re wine:
07 Kalleske Clarry's red Have posted on this a few times before and more of the same. Juicy complex savoury characters that make drinking it all too easy. Good medium body and an excellent match for pizza.

98 BVE Ebenezer Cab blend Drinking perfectly for my mind. Still some gorgeous blackcurrent fruit apparent but tannins fully integrated and smooth as a baby's bum. Very good drinking indeed.

And we took down some of the muscat from barrel. This is changing even over a short period of time and is getting better and better. Perfect for the weather.

2005 Chard Farm Finla Mor Pinot Noir
I'm going to allow the possibility that this hasn't been stored very well (I forgot we had it after it came back from NZ about a year ago) because I really wasn't a fan at all. Lots of orange peel on the front - dull fruitiness and slightly bitter - then very little length at all.

2003 Pisa Moorings Pinot Noir
Much happier with this. Nice spicy fruit without being overpoweringly fronty. Well-balanced all round and one I would revisit. We drank it with a very nice Bouillabaisse and it seemed a good accompaniment to a hearty fish dish.

In -Laws(or is that Outlaws?) visiting - so have consumed a few but the standout for me was:
Turkey Flat 03 shiraz - first response when tasing was chocolate both dark and milk, then the plums and berry flavours - noice wine

cheers
Seddo

1996 Wynns Michael Coonawarra Shiraz
Looked 2yo rather than 12yo but very closed after half an hour in the decanter so left to have a good long hard look at itself for another hour and it started to sing. Seemlessly integrated tannin-acid-fruit, flavours of mint, pepper, dark chocolate with some subtle earthy undertones. A very fine drink and not reall sure why you'd wait any longer but I am sure it will drink well for years to come.

2003 Woodside Valley "Baudin" Cabernet
A very good wine from a difficult vintage. If I was being critical it may have had a slight bitter green edge to begin with. Lovely Margs varietal fruit - earthy, eucalypt, bit of spice... very concentrated. Perfect with the bbq steak for dinner. Classy wine and must buy some more from good MR vintages.

A few young ones this week...

2005 Penfolds Cabernet Shiraz Cellar Reserve (x2) under screwcap. Not sure that it is worth the $250 price at CD, but is not that expensive here. Outstanding wine with a nice mix of power and elegance, though not quite in the league of the 2004 Bin 60a. Needs time. Definitely in the top 15 wines I've had in 2008.

2005 Chateau Lascombes (Margaux). This could be the best Lascombes I've ever had. Awesome nose, good length. Will be a real winner in 2025.

2004 Penfolds Bin 28 shiraz - has become the house quaffer. Super wine for the price.

It was Grey Cup Sunday here in Canada, the final of the Canadian Football League (think American Football but faster; wider and longer field, 12 players instead of 11). It was the Calgary Stampeders against the Montreal Alouettes. Like the Melbourne Cup people gather at friend's home and bars to watch the game and, perhaps more importantly to party.

As you can imagine it's more about beer than anything else. After a few Guiness' I opened a 2003 Domini, Douro, an inexpensive Portuguese red. Despite the party atmosphere I noted that the wine exhibited considerable structure and elegance for a C$13 red. Black fruit, minerality and ripe tannins were the hallmarks.

The Stampeders beat the Alouettes 22-14.

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

2006 Velo Riesling - Tamar Valley, Tasmania: Deep and rich with German-like ripe red apples, mango and florals and gentle slately minerality with integrated smooth acid and Alsace-like cheesiness complexity on the finish. Sensational wine. 94/100.

2006 Jacob's Creek Orlando Steingarten Riesling: I loved the talc-like phenolic acid and finish, but the depth and power of the above wine overshadowed it. I should have this wine first. 92/100.

2007 Bay of Fires Pinot Noir: Disappointed after the 2006 effort with its lack of focus. Also a charcoal oak character that never pleased. Yes, I would rather the 2008 Windy Peak. 87/100.

Orlando Trilogy Sparkling from magnum: Exceeded expectations. The girls also loved it with guava juice! 88/100.

Adair

1998 Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon

Smooth, fruity with hints of liquorice and spices. Not too shabby.

2003 Kay Bros Amery Block 6 Shiraz

Well balanced, full of flavour and opened up in the decanter. Lots of plum and liquorice, very nice.

2006 Kay Bros Hillside Shiraz

This wine in my opinion was almost if not better than its big brother above. Lovely balance and full flavoured. A real surprise package.