Sunday - its weekly drinking report time

[TORB]

Hi Good Peoples,

Time for your weekly what have i been drinking reports please.

I had a beauty last night, a Tarchalice 1998 Blackstone Shiraz. Liquorice, aniseed, blackberry, plums, cloves and a hint of prune; excellent flavour complexity. A full bodied wine with tannins that are ripe, mouth filling flavour and a moderate duration finish. French oak was pretty obvious too. Rated as Excellent.

Now waht have you guys been drinking over the last week?

[Anthony]

I have had my southcorp hat on the last few days.

93 Penfolds Bin 407: just an average year but this wine is (surprisingly) holding up very well after ten years. Nicely balanced fruit has perfectly intergrated with it's tannins, and I think this wine will drink well for at least another 2-3 years.

93 Wynns Shiraz: For value-for-money this for me was the WOTN. Sensational, seamless palate, wonderfruit.

96 Penfolds Bin 407: Still a touch young (for my liking) this should develop along the lines of the 93. I never have been a big 407 fan (found them a bit green) but after these 2 wines I am starting re-assess this.

01 Penfolds Bin 389: just poured this out and going to come back to it later in the day. Deep purple in colour, and the nose is full of lovely black fruits. Looks promising!!

cheers
anthony

[Paul]

Rockford Sparkling Shiraz (I think disgorged 1998)-
No sparkles. Wine totally flat. I assume bottle was faulty.

Rockford Shiraz 1997 (1st bottle)-
Having had a 96 recently, we didn't know what was going on with this wine initially... yuk, tainted! Not having a good run at this stage.

Rockford Shiraz 1997 (2nd bottle)-
So very different from the 96.
I totally agree with Ric's recent notes on this wine... the wine has been well made with good structure, respectable finish, and savoury flavour profile. However we didn't really like it... must be a first with the basket press.

[Wizz]

01 Penfolds Bin 389: just poured this out and going to come back to it later in the day. Deep purple in colour, and the nose is full of lovely black fruits. Looks promising!!

cheers
anthony

Anthony is this released already, or just a prerelease sample? Theres usualy a huge hullaballoo...

cheers

Andrew

[radioactiveman]

01 Penfolds Bin 389: just poured this out and going to come back to it later in the day. Deep purple in colour, and the nose is full of lovely black fruits. Looks promising!!

cheers
anthony

Anthony,
Is this released already, or just a prerelease sample? Theres usualy a huge hullaballoo...

cheers

Andrew

Yes, I'm also curious.I would have expected the usual March release date for this one.

Jamie

[Anthony]

Hi guys,
it is a pre-release sample. They will be released on the 1st of March. I have all the 01 bin range to look at this week.

Poured it out this morning before I went to work and basically just sniffed it (I am eager but don't like trying wines at 7.30am!) and it seems really impressive. Proof will be in the pudding tonight and over the next few days when I sit down and try it.

They sent me along some info (or propaganda) with Peter GAGO saying it is a 'candidate for classic Bin 389 status and long term development in the bottle' so interesting to see how it develops over the next few days.

cheers
anthony

[Red Bigot]

I had a beauty last night, a Tarchalice 1998 Blackstone Shiraz. Liquorice, aniseed, blackberry, plums, cloves and a hint of prune; excellent flavour complexity. A full bodied wine with tannins that are ripe, mouth filling flavour and a moderate duration finish. French oak was pretty obvious too. Rated as Excellent.

Noticed this one still in stock in a Swanston St Store of a certain wine merchant, $54.99 though. It's been there a year or 3, so they may be willing to negotiate.

Finally got to try a Castagna Genesis Syrah, the 2000 vintage off the verrrry extensive wine list at Asiana in South Melbourne. This is a brilliant restaurant and the wine list ranges from under $30 to over $3000 / bottle. After watching through the glass cellar wall as one of the staff searched for a wine off the list I thought they could do with a decent cellar database system to keep track of things.

The Genesis Syrah is a pretty special wine, classy cool climate shiraz with delicate but persistent fruit, very refined and great structure, long finish, a great variation on the Victorian Shiraz theme that so far is represented mainly by Gt Western, Pyrenees, Heathcote and Nagambie in my cellar. It's worth the $50 asking price at CD and my order for some 2001 and 2002 is on the way.

[Sean]

deleted

[David Lole]

Hello Ric,

Hope things are OK?

Just got home from a fantastic afternoon and evening with the regular wine group (and partners) in attendance. A very special occasion with one of our foundation members returning from several bouts of chemotherapy (after many months not being able to attend due to illness).

Tyrell's 1995 HVD Semillon - Highly Recommended. Intense, complex wine with some drying astringency the only concern.

Moet 1990 Dom - just getting better with age - Outstanding.

LEAS 1999 Chardonnay - How this holds (disguises) the 14.5% A/V stuffs me. Excellent.

McWilliams 1993 Lizzy - Excellent aged HV Sem. approaching its' apogee.

Leasingham 1991 CC Sparkling Shiraz - disappointing, some mousey, foxy brett lingering on bouquet and palate. Agreeable.

Penfolds 1982 Bin 820 - DMS affected wine, but Excellent all the same. Finally losing some of its' awkwardness and delivering the goods IMO. Huge cassis on both nose and palate. Was starting to fall apart after half an hour in the glass, unfortunately.

Chave 1982 Hermitage Rouge (Magnum) Awesome. Can't say much more having tried this immediatley after the 820. Shows why we need to raise the bar across the board to rival the French at the higher levels. Such a complex, satisfying wine with so many nuances, textural complexities and palate sensations, I don't know where to start and stop. Outstanding.

Grant Burge 1991 Meshach - all class with many secondary nuances; good body, very complex and approaching its' peak drinking window. US oak noticeable but in balance with all other components. Rated Excellent.

Climens 1979 Barsac -not a notable year, yet this wine gets the nod from me. No overt sweetness - just lots of complexity, quite reserved but with fine stature and some time to go. Highly Recommended.

Seppelt GR 113 Rare Muscat (500 ml) - intensity plus. One small glass was enough. Outstanding

I'm going to bed. Please excuse the brevity of some of the notes, I'm ......

[Justin B.]

Woolshed Shiraz Coonawarra 2001 ($15ish I think) - Nice berry aromas. Good varietal definition, cooler climate shiraz for sure. I was not expecting much as a friend had bought them from a mail order wine club but i was very impressed. Nice balance and not too heavy for mid summer drinking. Drank chilled and all the better for it.

Xanadu semillon 1998 - Interestingly with Xanadu on the label but with a Chateau Xanadu cork. Must have been corked before it was labeled, and with a name change in between. First tried quite cold and seemed to be lacking fruit. On warming up the wine improved dramatically. Fruit seemed to come from nowhere. Great balance and in the prime of its life. I'd say drink up but may hold for another couple of years.

Voyager shiraz 2000 - I always regret opening wines like this in mid-summer (it was a 36 degree Perth day). Good wine but just needing more time and cooler drinking conditions. Opened up in the glass a little. Seemed very meaty. Tried alongside the Pirramimma Petit Verdot 1997 and were neck and neck for pleasure derived. Quite different wines but both good in their own ways.

Wise rose (not sure what vintage because drank in the dark while picnicking at night while looking over the city from Kings Park. Great picnic wine and just got better and better without thinking about it too much.

Wine club starts tastings again soon. Can't wait. I'm almost back 100% blood in my viens.

[Anthony]

After pulling the cork on the 01 Penfolds Bin 389 and just smelling it before work,

Well, I can safely say that Penfolds have returned to form and this is the best 389 since the 98 vintage. If I was comparing it to other bin 389's, I would say that it is a fraction behind the 98 and 96 wines at the same stage of development.

Great nose, full of lovely dark fruits and heaps of sweet fruit. The palate has great length and intensity and there is heaps and heaps of sweet fruit.
At the moment I would say that the Shiraz component is really dominating this wine and giving it a real lift. Over the next few years I can see this dropping back with the Cabernet component showing through and giving it that real backbone to age gracefully over the next ten years. A great wine. Using the TORB system it would be
highly recommended with four stars for value

cheers
anthony

[DJ]

1991 Tyrrells Vat 9 Shiraz briary and tarry notes with good fruit - highly recommended. Given a few people here had made comments that they thought this had fallen over I was a bit worried - I had relatively high stock levels (7bottles). This is an unusual wine - the Old Winery of this year (still 100% Hunter, Kelman Trophy winner) has been more immediately approachable in the last few years. In 1993 I conducted a Vat 9 retrospective from memory it was 1983 to 1991 and the 91 stood out as brilliant - and not just because of its youth - which convinced me and others at the tasting to buy up on the 1991. I'm inclined to say it has been through a rough patch and is finally coming together - says he hopefully - certainly the last bottle I had was not as well balanced, showing too much acid.

1994 E&E Sparkling Shiraz - Outstanding rich long, chocolate, berries. Oak well balanced (a relief because can overwhelm in E&E)

2001 Magaleri Shiraz - Highly recommended. Bought 2 of these in a mix of 01's. Six months later tanins better integrated and looking very promising.

2002 Houghton White Burgundy - Highly recommended - Almost always have some of this on had, constantly reliable

[GraemeG]

The last wine from the ‘crappy wine’ thread:

1999 Lindemans Cawarra Merlot
Picking up a distinct onion-brown hue at its edge, this wine presents very little nose at all – perhaps a hint of dead leaves at best. The palate is light, there is no fruit to speak of. The wine is devoid of acid – there’s just a little bitter harshness on the midpalate. There is nothing in the finish. 3 years in the cellar has done nothing for this wine whatsoever. My wife and I had a sip each, and the rest went down the sink.

On to other wines:

2001 Sandalford Classic Dry Red Cabernet Sauvignon (WA)
Although the price I paid for this (all of $11) indicated it should be judged by quaffing standards, somehow I was expecting more – maybe because it it’s from WA, and I somehow imagine that because there’s no ‘Riverland’ there the standard of wine will be higher. Of course, they have the Swan Valley…
It’s a bright crimson-purple, and has a somewhat confected nose of red & black berries. It’s a bit harsh on the palate – not overly so, and certainly picks up with food. Just enough presence of acid & tannin to keep it from losing interest, I imagine it’ll be OK for another year or two and provide satisfying, if unsophisticated, drinking.

2003 Stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc (Marlborough)
Tasted blind by me at in-laws, it was gratifying to identify the variety and region of the worldÂ’s most distinctive wine! A touch of the famed gooseberries overlaid with passionfruit. Gloriously fresh, the acid positively danced across the middle palate, yet remained warm and attractive. Very good wine indeed, and under screwcap, thereby contrasting with:

1999 Blue Pyrenees Estate Reserve Red Blend
Even as I took one sniff from the decanter when it arrived on the table, I feared the worst. Sure enough, corked. Dead. One day I’ll learn to bring along back-up bottles. BPE want the entire lot back – bottle, cork, everything - will report results.

2000 Penfolds Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz
Crimson-purple red, this showed lots of spice aromas, with understated oak. On the palate it lacked a certain dimension of interest, and suggested that Penfolds had to work very hard with the offerings of the 2000 vintage. It tasted a bitÂ…industrial, I suppose. Young, and a little raw, but somehow lacking the magic ingredient that suggests it will continue to improve much.

Cheers,
Graeme

[peterk]

Hi All.
Ive had a few wines over the week,no standouts or real notes as such.
Leo Buring Leonay 95
Slightly floral nose some talcum powder. nice wine

98 Blackjack drinking well
98 Bowen Shiraz I was a bit dissapointed with this one.
98 Kalimna not bad for the price and occasion
02 Petaluma riesling drinking a treat good wine
97 noble one (think it was ok)
2000 Coldstream hills Reserve pinot Its been as hot as in Brisbane so I put it in the freezer and yep pinot slurply. Drank the bottle late in the night and it was a nice wine but couldnt justify the price point.
97 Penfolds G.S.M well made but lots of oak and a tad sweet
Chambers rare muscat beautifull as per usuall

Cheers
Peterk

[GrahamB]

Back to work and too darn hot in Brisbane.

Newton Forrest Estate Cornerstone Cabernet Merlot Malbec 1999

Another recommended to try

The label says Cab Sauv 61%, Merlot 25%, Malbec 14%, but the winery notes break it down to Cab Sauv 50%, Cab Franc 11%, Merlot 25%, Malbec 14%

A New Zealand red that is similar to the savoury style of some European wines. Nice colour with a reserved nose. The oak (French and American) used complements the fruit, and the tannin is fine and soft. The savoury spice and tobacco mingled with chocolate on the palate make this a very enjoyable wine. Excellent structure. If you see one, try it. You will not be disappointed.

Cost:: Shelf $42 Paid $32


Moondah Brook Shiraz 1998

Only seven left of this great quaffer. I wish that I had kept my notes for this wine after each bottle was opened but I didnÂ’t. I bought it as a quaffer for $14 pb probably about 99/2000 intending just to drink it, enjoy it and not try to over analyse itÂ’s structure and balance. It has far outperformed most other wines of similar value that I purchased at the time.

Great fruit, structure and balance that still shows freshness and life.

Graham

[simm]

Hi Everyone!

Haven't found my Burgogne notes yet, so here's my Friday tast (can't remember Saturday night).

Balnaves The Blend 2000

Colour: A slight dustiness moving around in a deep ripe red plum inkiness.

Nose: Initial red cherry acidity quickly overshadowed by a magnificent black cherry and Ribena to plummy richness. There is an earthy moodiness settled in amidst lifted floral notes, a gentle cigar box background not invading the fruit, and something warm like thyme (not quite mint) in a thin layer across the other aromaÂ’s. CouldnÂ’t quite see a strong Cassis that was implied on the label. The alcohol is only 13% but the aromaÂ’s lift out of the glass and knock your head back as if it were 14.5% or more. Took me some time to get past the beautiful aromas and remember to try theÂ…

Palate: Astonishing to find the palate tracking the Nose at every turn.. Almost indistinguishable to my palate. With 35% of Cab Franc giving it a wonderful floral elegance, 35% Merlot giving a very subtle earthy pulp, 35% Cab Sav holding it all in a tight bundle, and a mere 1% Petit Verdot definitely standing up for what I think may be itÂ’s inky flavours, this is a real treat. Cigar boxy and warm spice nuances play in a dense texture across the palate and right near the end sprigs of mint pop up shyly through the soil along with gentle, if slightly dusty tannins lifting all the rich flavours onto a long and easy winding path. The use of oak is balanced well with all the rich flavours, and although richin both texture and flavour, the palate is not overplayed as I thought it might be at first, and became a lovely stand alone drink (without food).

Sorry, just remembered the liquorice


After a couple of hours it settles down a bit loosing a tad of its weight so I doubt it will be a wine for the shelf, but I could have been getting more used to it (and then there is the odd cigarette). Regardless, at under $18 a bottle IÂ’m going out to get me some more. There are wines out there asking $10 more and not delivering the goods like this one! Lovely!!!

all the best,

[lantana]

Just some brief notes:

Leo Buring Clare Riesling 2002 - this is a cracker, we had 2 bottles of this last week, in the heat & it acted as a real tonic. It is freshness in a glass, a beautiful balance of citrus, florals, bath salts, minerals, but without the searing acidity, just a beautiful backbone to support & lift the wonderful flavours. For under $18.00 what more could you ask for!?

Stepping Stone Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 - this is a regular for us, especially since the post Christmas bills have started coming in, it has to be the best QPR red wine around at the moment, especially when you can still buy it for $10-$11 at some places. It's not so complex as to deserve an extensive note, suffice to say it's a great little quaffer. Nice ripe, cabernet characteristics, ripe round tannins, you know the rest! Try some with BBQ'd lamb.

Ten Minutes by Tractor 2001 Pinot Noir - slightly disappointed with this, as I tried the reserve late last year & was totally blown away, great wine, at a big price (near $60 I think) This is the standard bottling at about $30 , it opened with some volatility & tasted a bit cooked. Oops, I think I've just realised it may have been my fault, storage wise...... but geez it was hot last week. Just goes to show how little heat you need to stuff up these delicate pinot creatures! I think it copped a blast in the kitchen on Saturday, before being drunk on Sunday. I'm going to keep everything in the cellar until I'm ready to open it, from now on. Looks like I'll have to open another one, I'll report in next week hopefully.
All the best,
lantana

[KevinT]

Need to be quick with this one....

Friday
McGuigan Genesis Shiraz 2000 - Very good. Full and rich
Salitage “Pemberton” 1999 - drinking well now

Sat
Houghton Jack Mann 95 - Fab. Spicy. Plently of legs to last many years.
Houghton Jack Mann 94 - not as good as the 95. Far more "sharp"
Antinori Pian delle Vigne Brunello 1997 - Brilliant
Rockford Rod & Spur Cab Sauv Shiraz 2001 - Others thought this was good. I thought it was okay
Penfolds 389 1975 - Down the sink
Vasse Felix “Heytesbury” Cabernet 1997 - Very good, typical MR Cab. Lots of herbs
Lindemans Museum Release 1986 Shirz - Ordinary.

Sun
Rockfords Riesling 2000 at 10.7% - Refreshing, dry and light style. Alcohol was all I could handle after Friday and Saturday night's efforts

[Daryl Douglas]

Hi Everyone!

Haven't found my Burgogne notes yet, so here's my Friday tast (can't remember Saturday night).

Balnaves The Blend 2000

Colour: A slight dustiness moving around in a deep ripe red plum inkiness.

Nose: Initial red cherry acidity quickly overshadowed by a magnificent black cherry and Ribena to plummy richness. There is an earthy moodiness settled in amidst lifted floral notes, a gentle cigar box background not invading the fruit, and something warm like thyme (not quite mint) in a thin layer across the other aroma’s. Couldn’t quite see a strong Cassis that was implied on the label. The alcohol is only 13% but the aroma’s lift out of the glass and knock your head back as if it were 14.5% or more. Took me some time to get past the beautiful aromas and remember to try the…

Palate: Astonishing to find the palate tracking the Nose at every turn.. Almost indistinguishable to my palate. With 35% of Cab Franc giving it a wonderful floral elegance, 35% Merlot giving a very subtle earthy pulp, 35% Cab Sav holding it all in a tight bundle, and a mere 1% Petit Verdot definitely standing up for what I think may be it’s inky flavours, this is a real treat. Cigar boxy and warm spice nuances play in a dense texture across the palate and right near the end sprigs of mint pop up shyly through the soil along with gentle, if slightly dusty tannins lifting all the rich flavours onto a long and easy winding path. The use of oak is balanced well with all the rich flavours, and although richin both texture and flavour, the palate is not overplayed as I thought it might be at first, and became a lovely stand alone drink (without food).


After a couple of hours it settles down a bit loosing a tad of its weight so I doubt it will be a wine for the shelf, but I could have been getting more used to it (and then there is the odd cigarette). Regardless, at under $18 a bottle I’m going out to get me some more. There are wines out there asking $10 more and not delivering the goods like this one! Lovely!!!

all the best,

Simm, your TN of this wine just about makes me want to rush out and buy a bottle to try it! Almost made me think I was drinking it myself. Great TN, very emotive.

Cheers

daz

[Daryl Douglas]

Just some brief notes:

Stepping Stone Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 - this is a regular for us, especially since the post Christmas bills have started coming in, it has to be the best QPR red wine around at the moment, especially when you can still buy it for $10-$11 at some places. It's not so complex as to deserve an extensive note, suffice to say it's a great little quaffer. Nice ripe, cabernet characteristics, ripe round tannins, you know the rest! Try some with BBQ'd lamb.

Hi Lantana

Tried the Stepping Stone Shiraz 01 (Padthaway) recently @ $11. Was extremely disappointed. At first taste thought "Geez, this is sh##, where's the fruit? ". Shoved the cork back in and put it in the fridge. Came back to it a day later and it had improved, at least there was some nice plummy fruit there but the bitterness on the finish, although it had softened, was still there. Your point about heat stressed pinot may apply to the bottle I tried, so will try another bottle from one of the chain's stores that's aircon'd.

Had the cab at a mate's 50th last June and found it to be much as you describe so will get some as well as another shiraz. Blackwood Park Riesling's presently available on discount too for $12/btl, another good quaffer.

Cheers

daz

[TORB]

The alcohol is only 13% but the aromaÂ’s lift out of the glass and knock your head back as if it were 14.5% or more.

Simm,


Great TN and I agree, a terrific wine for the price. Re your comment above, often that big lift to the nose is provided by a bit of VA.

[simm]

Simm, your TN of this wine just about makes me want to rush out and buy a bottle to try it! Almost made me think I was drinking it myself. Great TN, very emotive.

Cheers

daz

Hi Daz,

Actually, looking back on it now it seems somewhat overdone. I have been having a run of bad luck with keeping notes, and this one was, stupidly, on the back of an outdated carpenter contact sheet which was thrown out the next day. All I hope is that my memory serves me well. I can say that I was truly astonished. Let me know if you get one.

And must look out for some of that Blackwood Park...

with thanks,

[simm]

The alcohol is only 13% but the aromaÂ’s lift out of the glass and knock your head back as if it were 14.5% or more.

Simm,


Great TN and I agree, a terrific wine for the price. Re your comment above, often that big lift to the nose is provided by a bit of VA.

Thanks Ric (sorry, hadn't seen your reply when I replied to Daz),

Now it's about time! So many peole have mentioned the big VA lift, and I've never really been quite sure what they were talking about. This makes sense considering it seemed to settle after a while. It didn't really seem to me to be something really wrong with the wine. Do you have any more info re V.A. on your site, or know of any elsewhere? Anyone? Did have it explained to me a couple of years ago but all I can remember is that this is essentially considered a winemaking fault. Is this the case?

cheers,

[simm]

Just some brief notes:

Leo Buring Clare Riesling 2002 - this is a cracker, we had 2 bottles of this last week, in the heat & it acted as a real tonic. It is freshness in a glass, a beautiful balance of citrus, florals, bath salts, minerals, but without the searing acidity, just a beautiful backbone to support & lift the wonderful flavours. For under $18.00 what more could you ask for!?


All the best,
lantana

Missed out on the 2002, but have heard the 2003 is just as good! come to think of it, probably missed out on the 2003 as well...

regards,

[lantana]

Just some brief notes:

Stepping Stone Cabernet Sauvignon 2001 - this is a regular for us, especially since the post Christmas bills have started coming in, it has to be the best QPR red wine around at the moment, especially when you can still buy it for $10-$11 at some places. It's not so complex as to deserve an extensive note, suffice to say it's a great little quaffer. Nice ripe, cabernet characteristics, ripe round tannins, you know the rest! Try some with BBQ'd lamb.

Hi Lantana

Tried the Stepping Stone Shiraz 01 (Padthaway) recently @ $11. Was extremely disappointed. At first taste thought "Geez, this is sh##, where's the fruit? ". Shoved the cork back in and put it in the fridge. Came back to it a day later and it had improved, at least there was some nice plummy fruit there but the bitterness on the finish, although it had softened, was still there. Your point about heat stressed pinot may apply to the bottle I tried, so will try another bottle from one of the chain's stores that's aircon'd.

Hi Daz,
I have tried the Stepping Stone Shiraz 2001 (I think it was 2001?) & was not taken by it at all. I couldn't get past the big, coconutty, oak (American?) which immediately turns me off, (why do some winemakers think Shiraz needs this sort of oak treatment?!) so I couldn't really tell you my impressions of the fruit! But I had another glass of the Cab last night & will reiterate my previous thoughts, a good quaffer with some nice varietal character. Or a good Monday night wine with a Bolognese!
lantana

[TORB]

Simm,

Max Shubert was the first person recognised to put VA to good use. In small amounts it will provide a lift to the wines aroma which will make it easier to appreciate the bouquet.

In moderate amounts it can be OK and sometimes when a wine is first opened it has a fair amount of VA but it blows off leaving the wine with a pleasant lifted aroma. If there is too much it is considered a fault. My snozz is very sensitive to it and even moderately high amounts causes me to sneeze intensely.

This is the short answer, hope its enough.

[Phil Shorten]

1990 Orlando St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon

Picked up for £15 from a local wine shop.

Nice garnet colour, showing distinct bricking at the rim. An alluring nose of cedar, blackcurrant, blackberry and menthol. Initially the wine was disappointing - sickly sweet fruit and quite angular acidity. However, with a bit of gentle coaxing and some airing, it opened up superbly and evolved into a beautiful medium-full bodied dry red - very nice smooth savoury blackcurrant fruit together with dark chocolate and touches of mint leading to a long finish.

This is a great wine drinking well now. It shows mature Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon at its best - a match for Medoc wines at 3+ times the price. Still primary fruit driven, albeit tannins are fully integrated, I think this wine will hold for 3-5 years more, and will still hold some interest thereafter.

Cheers
Phil

[simm]

Simm,

Max Shubert was the first person recognised to put VA to good use. In small amounts it will provide a lift to the wines aroma which will make it easier to appreciate the bouquet.

In moderate amounts it can be OK and sometimes when a wine is first opened it has a fair amount of VA but it blows off leaving the wine with a pleasant lifted aroma. If there is too much it is considered a fault. My snozz is very sensitive to it and even moderately high amounts causes me to sneeze intensely.

This is the short answer, hope its enough.

Thanks Ric,

[Paul T]

Lantana..i agree with you on both the Stepping Stone wines..the Cab is easily the best value cab i've seen for some time..excellent value at around $12. The shiraz did nothing for me but was not offensive.

My wines for the week were a Rockfords BP 1999 - always a cracker.
A few bottles of Preece Pinot Noir 2001 - a great quaffer at $11.
A Stoniers Reserve Pinot Noir 1997 - the best aussie pinot i've tried.
And the chard farm range which i tried at a tasting and enjoyed across the board.

Cheers

Paul

[Guest]

Simm,

Max Shubert was the first person recognised to put VA to good use. .

?????
perhaps in Oz.