It's Sunday for the third time in 2009.....

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 7:37 am

Hi Good Peoples,

Sunday drinkin' reports are now officially due. Please let us know what you have been tasting, guzzling, sipping or drinking. As usual, notes, vibes, impressions or lists welcome.

dlo · Post by **dlo** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 9:32 am

One bottle this week but a goodun'. The Wynn's 1988 John Riddoch drank superbly over two nights suffering only the most meagre degradation in quality on night 2 and still worthy of the gold medal I awarded it on night one. This is what cellaring wine is all about. I just want to thank the kind person who let me buy it from them for 40 bills at auction last year. Cheers.

Pelican · Post by **Pelican** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:42 am

1998 Hamilton Marion Vineyard Adelaide Grenache Shiraz

Was kindly invited to dinner last night by some old friends who happen to live just a few blocks away from the suburban vineyard where the grapes for this wine were grown so I brought this along.

Mature. Gently spicy and earthy. A bit of brett but did not bother me too much. An auction purchase last year for about $20. Perhaps a tad disappointing in the sense that 1998 is supposedly a great SA vintage and this wine has pretty much done all it can do. A nice enough match with goat kebabs !

dlo · Post by **dlo** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:48 am

Pelican wrote:1998 Hamilton Marion Vineyard Adelaide Grenache Shiraz A nice enough match with goat kebabs!

Try posting this bit on that "other" forum! There "was" a "No Goats Permitted Past This Point" sign hanging on their front door. The notice has been shifted to the lounge, I see. ROTFPML

Just if you're not in the loop -

http://www.winestar.com.au/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19949

Nayan · Post by **Nayan** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 11:13 am

1971 Cos d'Estournel - fully mature (as expected), bright acidity, dried blackcurrants, raspberry, tobacconist and old hymn book. Still enough tannin to cleanse. A lovely old girl.

Wayno · Post by **Wayno** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 12:00 pm

Carpineto Chianti Classico 2006
Nice, creamy oak, savoury, Italianate. Very good for the price.

Cape Mentelle SSB 2008
Good but is this the wine it once was? Grassy, herbal, good length, a touch sweet though in the wrong sort of way. Good enough though. EDIT: A lot better on Night 2...

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 8:34 pm

05 Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon. Pleasingly varietal and for $11 this is good stuff. Perhaps not quite as serious as the 2004 version though. Its a bit lighter

04 Wynns Cabernet Sauvignon. Nicely mellowed wine, varietal, perfect ripeness, quite classy

05 Chateau La Bienfaisance. St Emillion Grand Cru Outstanding wine drinking well now but 5-10 years in this. Lovely dusty tannins and layered fruit. Super complex and long. Best of the reds. The style I love.

02 Grant Burge Filsel Shiraz. A big wine nicely integrated with classic plum pud. Dark and only just out of irts youth. No rush. Stylistically im a bit over this type of wine but enjoyed a couple of glasses

08 Mt Difficulty Target Gully Medium Riesling. Despite the label this is really just an off dry wine. Fantastic freshness with tangelo and citrus zest. Clean as a mountain stream

06 Fromm Spatlese Riesling. Gorgeous wine, exacting, pure, alive with stunning texture. Precision in a glass. This is probably even better than the 05 or 07 at the moment!

I think half my wine spend this year will be on spatlese styled nz riesling from Marlborough, Waipara and Central otago. it just is so so good.

Wayno · Post by **Wayno** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 9:51 pm

Grant Burge Merlot Hillcot 1997
Essence of oaky blackcurrant, actually quite light and with surprisingly little in the way of secondary development although there was a distinct salami meatiness, the texture of which extended through to mouthfeel. Doing well.

Jeanerret Grenache Shiraz 2002
Plummy, lifted, doing quite well still.

Torbreck The Steading 2003
Essence of Barossa, rather jammy and fruitful, showing little signs of age, surprising as I'm pretty sure this has sat in a hot shop for a good couple of years. Rather decent.

dlo · Post by **dlo** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:11 pm

Craig(NZ) wrote:05 Wolf Blass Yellow Label Cabernet Sauvignon. Pleasingly varietal and for $11 this is good stuff. Perhaps not quite as serious as the 2004 version though. Its a bit lighter

04 Wynns Cabernet Sauvignon. Nicely mellowed wine, varietal, perfect ripeness, quite classy

05 Chateau La Bienfaisance. St Emillion Grand Cru Outstanding wine drinking well now but 5-10 years in this. Lovely dusty tannins and layered fruit. Super complex and long. Best of the reds. The style I love.

02 Grant Burge Filsel Shiraz. A big wine nicely integrated with classic plum pud. Dark and only just out of irts youth. No rush. Stylistically im a bit over this type of wine but enjoyed a couple of glasses

08 Mt Difficulty Target Gully Medium Riesling. Despite the label this is really just an off dry wine. Fantastic freshness with tangelo and citrus zest. Clean as a mountain stream

06 Fromm Spatlese Riesling. Gorgeous wine, exacting, pure, alive with stunning texture. Precision in a glass. This is probably even better than the 05 or 07 at the moment!

I think half my wine spend this year will be on spatlese styled nz riesling from Marlborough, Waipara and Central otago. it just is so so good.

Craig,

I share the same thoughts on that 2004 Wynn's. Ripper wine I paid 16 bucks a bottle for. Bought 2 cases. Should have bought a pallet.

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 10:18 pm

Wish I could've afforded a pallet of the Wynns cab 04 but I've only two left for later. Limited wine cooler space doesn't help.

daz

Waiters Friend · Post by **Waiters Friend** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 11:19 pm

Daryl Douglas wrote:Wish I could've afforded a pallet of the Wynns cab 04 but I've only two left for later. Limited wine cooler space doesn't help.

daz

I'm fortunate that I still have a six-pack of this wine, and quite a few previous vintages, so won't be attacking them for a while.

Waiters Friend · Post by **Waiters Friend** » Sun Jan 18, 2009 11:34 pm

G'day

Last Friday night saw the first BBQ at my house for 2009. So, what else do you do for your esteemed guests? You pull out a few ten-year-olds.... bu the guests didn't know about this, so there was quite a mixture:

T'Gallant 'Grace' Pinot Grigio - a fraction too savoury and lacking in fruit for my palate - but I suspect that's what the winemaker intended with the style.

Tolley Cellar Reserve Riesling 2002 - under cork, and past it.

Mt Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon 1999 - glorious yellow - gold in colour, and everything that you would expect from a 10-year old Elizabeth - still some citrus and acidity and just a touch of lanolin. Beautiful.

Richmond Grove Watervale Riesling 1999. Who says Watervales don't age as well as Polish Hill Rivers? This was still young at 10 years old, and could have gone another 10. Yellow but not gold, with a hint of kero and superbly balanced acidity and fruit. Fabulous.

Penfolds Kalimna Bin 28 1999: A very good Penfolds Shiraz. Good balance between vanillan oak and stonefruit flavours, and was looking like WOTN for a while there. I'm glad I still have a couple more bottles of this, and we may be drinking it a fraction early.

Seppelts Chalambar Shiraz 1999: The surprise packet, and dragged out later in the evening and given a quick decant. Still overflowing with fruit but ably supported by some firm oak and tannins, this was better than the Penfolds. I wish I had some more....WOTN

Tucks Ridge Chardonnay 2007 Grapefruit and quite a bit of restraint for a wine that should get better over the next year or so. Lots of hints as to what is to come (and I think this will be a very good Chardonnay in time), and, if you must drink it now, drink it at a cool room temperature, otherwise you'll miss most of what it has to offer.

One more today:

Teusner 'Salsa' Rose` 2008 A GSM blend. Fairly purple (rather than pink) in colour, and showed a promising mix of fruit without being very sweet at all, and went really well with a lunchtime antipasto platter. I suggest food is a good accompaniment, as it may be a tad too savoury to drink lots of it on its own.

Cheers

Allan

Bick · Post by **Bick** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 8:45 am

A few that were ok, without being special: Taltarni T Series Shiraz 05 and D'Arenberg Footbolt Shiraz 05 - both nice enough. The Taltarni had more character, but its tannins were a touch chunky.

A few that were very pleasing: Tahbilk Marsanne 07 (lovely wine, thanks for those on the forum who passed on recommendations), Alluviale 06 (good merlot / cab franc blend, well made), Puriri Hills Rose 07 and Puriri Hills Estate 04. These Puriri Hills wines are good. I'm not a Rose fan typically, but it's dry, tasty and longer than most. The 'Estate' bdx blend has a super aroma and is drinking very well.

And one wine that blew me away and reminded me why I spend so much time, effort and money on wine: Puriri Hills Reserve 04. I visited the winery over the w/e and Judy Fowler was kind enough to show me round the winery and barrel room and talk at length about her wines. Very accomodating and friendly. The Reserve 04 is a great wine. Rich, deep, super smooth, beautifully ripe fruit, chocolate character, all bound up in exactly the right amount of lovely French oak. Very complex. I savoured the tasting glass sip by sip. (She said hi, by the way, Craig - you've clearly made a friend there with your reviews!).

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 1:09 pm

Pururi Hills Rose 07 and Pururi Hills Estate 04. These Pururi Hills wines are good. I'm not a Rose fan typically, but it's dry, tasty and longer than most. The 'Estate' bdx blend has a super aroma and is drinking very well.

And one wine that blew me away and reminded me why I spend so much time, effort and money on wine: Pururi Hills Reserve 04. I visited the winery over the w/e and Judy Fowler was kind enough to show me round the winery and barrel room and talk at length about her wines. Very accomodating and friendly. The Reserve 04 is a great wine. Rich, deep, super smooth, beautifully ripe fruit, chocolate character, all bound up in exactly the right amount of lovely French oak. Very complex. I savoured the tasting glass sip by sip. (She said hi, by the way, Craig - you've clearly made a friend there with your reviews!).

The Reserve is one that really unfolds with time in the glass or decanter. Stunning wine. 04 is all class. Had an 05 in November but way too young. Needs a real heavy decant to unfold, its a bit stinky and disjointed at the mo when first opened (slightly bretty) but it really transforms into a magical wine after a good slosh and wait in the decanter. They are fantastic performers in the cellar. The 03 estate is just magic at the mo. Patience. I must get out and see Judy soon. She offered to let me taste the 08 in barrel. Should be another vintage to rival or even beat 05

Alluviale 06 (good merlot / cab franc blend, well made)

Needs some time. Its a very modern style. Good but didnt light my fires as much as it did for GK. Oak still needs to meld away. I tried the 04 redd gravels last month too. similar feelings...very modern and i wasnt so taken even though its clearly a slick wine.

Partagas · Post by **Partagas** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 1:49 pm

Petaluma Coonawarra 2005 - very good depth, very tannic and should be great with a lot of time. But it definitely needs the time so not touching again for quite a while.

Petaluma Shiraz 1999 - outstanding drinking. If you have them, drink em up. This was right on the money with a touch of liquorice apple and black berries.

Xanadu reserve cab sav 1996 - have had more than a dozen of these in the past three years and it has become my default aged drinker. This example was great as per usual with rich ripe blueberries the dominant flavour.

Tucker Wine Studios · Post by **Tucker Wine Studios** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 9:08 pm

Pewsey Vale Eden Valley Prima Riesling 2008: Actually a very good wine, lighter and off-dry in style, with mouth watering and thirst quenching crisp acidity, limey fruit flavours and a somewhat Ã¢â‚¬Ëœicy touchÃ¢â‚¬â„¢. Highly recommended.

Lawnbrook Vineyard Bickley Valley Pinot Noir 2002: Very ripe and warm plummy-pruny with lots of spicy notes, leaning towards shiraz-like flavours, also secondary biscuity flavours. Probably not convincing to true PN aficionados but nevertheless highly enjoyable for me. Try yourself. Available at the Packing Shed in the Perth Hills (Bickley Valley, Kalamunda area).

Myattsfield Muscat Pedro Ximinez Fortified: Butter cookies, vanilla, rum raisinsÃ¢â‚¬Â¦very opulent and sweet, just gorgeous.

Cheers,
Mario

Wayno · Post by **Wayno** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:00 pm

Tucker Wine Studios wrote:Pewsey Vale Eden Valley Prima Riesling 2008: Actually a very good wine, lighter and off-dry in style, with mouth watering and thirst quenching crisp acidity, limey fruit flavours and a somewhat Ã¢â‚¬Ëœicy touchÃ¢â‚¬â„¢. Highly recommended.

Bought a few of these rather cheaply after enjoying the 07 and have yet to try one. Must slot one into the list soon.

Steve · Post by **Steve** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:35 pm

I've been totally slack and haven't taken any tasting notes for months and months and months.

That changed the other day when I tried something I hadn't encountered before.

2008 Coriole Fiano

Pale straw, hints of green.

Apricot, peach, lemon, slight hints of anise, mint, and almonds. Kind of like viognier, kind of like a strange pinot gris. Moderately intense.

Dry, acidic, apricots, melons, pears, colombard like greasiness, lemon, nuts, good alcohol/acid/sugar balance, long and intense. Ever so slightly perfumed finish.

Good wine, well made, interesting variety, good value. I've no other wines of the same variety to compare with this, so I guess it's alright!

Daryl Douglas · Post by **Daryl Douglas** » Mon Jan 19, 2009 10:46 pm

O'Leary Walker Shiraz (Clare Valley/McLaren Vale) 05 and Thorn-Clarke Quartage 06 the only wines of any note. Both pretty good though not table-lifters.

daz

Peter NZ · Post by **Peter NZ** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:18 pm

Craig(NZ) wrote:I think half my wine spend this year will be on spatlese styled nz riesling from Marlborough, Waipara and Central otago. it just is so so good.

Fully agree on quality / drinkability -- added advantage is that it's a style you can drink it any time without kicking yourself for opening too early -- though I don't think it'll quite take up 50% of my spend for the year ... reading this reminded me I'd meant to pick up some of the Le Fou, solely on your recommendation, which I've just done ... amazed to see Gibbston's not sold out after your riesling of the year award!!

Cheers
Peter

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:15 am

Fully agree on quality / drinkability -- added advantage is that it's a style you can drink it any time without kicking yourself for opening too early -- though I don't think it'll quite take up 50% of my spend for the year ... reading this reminded me I'd meant to pick up some of the Le Fou, solely on your recommendation, which I've just done ... amazed to see Gibbston's not sold out after your riesling of the year award!!

$35 "sweet" riesling not the trendiest wine in the country me thinks. those plonkers that say things like "eww i dont like riesling" or "eww its sweet" need their heads read. all the more for us. if you don't like the first bottle I will buy the rest off you!

Reminds me I was going shares with Dave in another 6 pack...need to follow that up

orpheus · Post by **orpheus** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 9:50 am

Wynns BL Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 - drinking superbly now, tannins have softened, wine has lovely, slightly silty mouth-feel, good, restrained berry fruit, excellent and long finish, illustrates why this label has such a great reputation.

Leasingham Bin 56 Cabernet Malbec 2000 - another excellent wine, drinking very well now. Lovely, rich red colour, vanilla oak and violets on the nose, still plenty of generous, soft berry fruit on the palate, and good, long finish.

Wayno · Post by **Wayno** » Sat Jan 24, 2009 10:36 am

orpheus wrote:Wynns BL Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 - drinking superbly now, tannins have softened, wine has lovely, slightly silty mouth-feel, good, restrained berry fruit, excellent and long finish, illustrates why this label has such a great reputation.

Agreed, an 'underrated' vintage of this wine, in my opinion. Very decent.