Last Sunday in April....

[TORB]

Hi Good Peoples,

No one is up early enough to kick the sparrows out of bed so its up to me again to get things started.

Unfortunately I have had an alcohol free week as I have been stuck in hospital whilst they play around with some of the medications I have been taking and play vampire with my arm. Good news is that I get to go home tomorrow, so I will be salivating whilst I read what you guys have been knocking back over the last week.

As usual, lists, vibes and impressions all welcome. Don't think I will bother to boar you with details of hospital apple juice and Pepsi Max from the vending machine.

Actually I exaggerated about it being an AFW - I did have two beers, which I enjoyed, but then they were made at Knapsteins, so its almost wine.

[dlo]

Sorry to hear you're in hospital, Ric. Hope things with your meds get sorted quickly and all is good again, mate. I, too, am taking it very easy on the grog these days (diabetes/reducing weight).

With this new low alcohol intake regime in place, I just finished off a bottle of Dominique Laurent 1996 Serie Rare Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Corbeaux, opened earlier in the week (half poured off into a 375ml screwcap) and drunk over several days.

Very solid wine with intense sappy aromatics rife with beetroot, morello cherry, well-hung game, freshly-picked field mushroom, cardamon and plenty of savoury oak. The palate reveals a similar but slightly more savoury fruit profile, juicy acidity, relatively fine but firmish integrated tannins, plenty of sous bois, good balance and a harmonious departure of some considerable duration. All up an excellent savoury, masculine Burgundy with quite a few years development ahead of it. 89 points. Drink now - 2016. 13% A/V.

[jeremy]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery Ric.

Blue Poles "Hopping Stone" Tempranillo 2007- Cherries and red fruit, nice touch of spice and some good acidity on impact. Some plum interacting beneath, with chocolate oak and savoury tannins riding it out on an excellent finish. Rounded fruit and lovely mouthfeel. Saved two glasses to have following night, got further fruit and oak intergration and the chocolate and pencil oak became more prevelant in a good way. Excellent. One bottle left unfortunately and I'm going to try and sit on it for awhile to see what happens.

Curly Flat Pinot Grigio 2008- a slight let down after a superb 2007. Spicy stone fruits, melon (rockmelon?), white peach, hint of sea spray on finish. Lacks a little focus and drive through mid palate and finish and would have expected/liked a bit more acidity. Revisit in a year from experience with previous vintage.

Blue Poles Viognier 2007- this was fantastic. An exercise in delicacy and restraint whilst being very complex (ie, lots happening, keep going back for more due to its level of interest). No fat or oiliness. Soft creamy mouthfeel replaces that. Reminded me a bit of an 06 Petaluma from memory, but better and half the price. Lemon honey, white flowers with varietal apricot sitting nicely underneath and in the background alongside ginger and spice. The french oak is there and it may be providing the good touch of complex funk on the nose although this is a clean wine to drink. I doubt you'd guess it sat at 14% either, which is to say no excess alcohol warmth.

[Red Bigot]

Actually I exaggerated about it being an AFW - I did have two beers, which I enjoyed, but then they were made at Knapsteins, so its almost wine.

Two beers? You must be sick.

Last night at a friend's 50th Birthday party, a glass of the provided red wine was used to water the garden at the venue and I surreptitiously brought in and opened a Classic McLaren La Testa Shiraz 1999, lovely balanced wine, about at it's peak now I think. That didn't last too long as I shared it with a few others, the second bottle I'd brought was an Annies Lane Coppertrail Shiraz 1999, but unfortunately it was corked so I had to resort to buying a bottle of 2005 Bin 389 at the bar for $65. Oddly they had Bin 138 next on the list for $95, so maybe it was a mistaken price.
The barman tried to tell me the 389 was made from the barrels that didn't quite make the grade for Grange (I think he actually said "cleanskin Grange"). I'm not sure he was convinced when I told him the true story.

I also had during the week a couple of Hanging Rock Heathcote Shiraz, a 2000 and a 2002, to see how they are going as there is still a fair bit of these around ex-HFW for around $20pb. The 2002 (Diam) seems to be a bit "in-between" at the moment, a bit subdued and clumsy the first night, it was much more together and open the next night, still needs time in the cellar. The 2000 (cork) was a bit more advanced, getting into peak drinking for my tastes, but will hold for years and develop more secondary characters, so hold on or buy some if you like the more mature flavours.

[pstarr]

Not much recently:
- 1997 Primo Estate Joseph moda cabernet merlot. Excellent.
- 2007 Clonakilla O'Riada shiraz. After 5 hours in the decanter, still opening up. Looked the goods, but give it time.
- 2004 Jeir Creek botrytised sauvignon blanc semillon. Good. Went well with an almond and apricot tart.

Probably the highlight was a bottle of the 2005 Castagna Sparkling Genesis Syrah (the second disgorgement), taken to dinner at Anise on Friday night. Stunning.

[qwertt]

In the last couple of weeks .......

Brindabella Hills Shiraz 2001 - wonderful wine. Superb nose, with a bit of development yet.

Saltram Metala Black Label Shiraz 2001 - another wonderful shiraz from 2001. Drunk over two nights. Possibly more advanced than the Brindabella Hills and, surprisingly, more elegant. [/b]

Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz 2003 - Quite dry and somewhat closed. A bit disappointing.

Tahbilk Shiraz 2001 - a bit porty and dry at the same time. Better with food than by itself, but not all that enjoyable. I expected a bit more.

Yalumba Barossa Shiraz + Viognier 2002 (the beautiful bottle with the etched vine) - Viognier made it a crowd pleaser of sorts. Good weight, nose and palate. Thoroughly enjoyed, but could be drying out a little. I think one that will not improve any further.

[Softie]

"Excess" on a Friday night:

95 Xanadu was lovely: soft, fragrant (dried berries, violets, plum) medium bodied, with fine tannins. 30% Cab Franc. No signs of decline, indeed tasted like 6-8 YO wine. Purchased ex-CD in last month. Good value.

[Interval: 05 Seppelt Original Sparkling Shiraz - soft, subtle, delicious.]

Followed this with 03 StG: bigger, courser tannins, similar mocha, chocolate on the palate. I preferred the Xanadu; other wine nut present preferred St.G.

(Also bought 94 & 96 Reserves ex-CD [12 in total] & will keep you posted on them as the set is looking to be what I hoped: unusually good opportunity for buying well cellared, museum MR CS.)

[monghead]

2006 Ten Minutes by Tractor Temperanillo- Medium bodied, savoury but simple, quaffable.
2004 Mount Pleasant Elizabeth- Still don't get this wine. Dark yellow, ? over-developed for a young semillon? Acidic, one-dimensional, ? oxidised.
2005 Primo Estate Il Briccone Shiraz Sangiovese- Full, meaty, spicy blend, and a treat to drink. Great QPR.

Cheers

Monghead

[Steve]

Lots of Primo Estate this week! I've been reticent with my reporting lately, so here are a couple from yesterday.

I opened a 2005 Primo Estate Joseph Nebbiolo last night. It was good... had a great nose though a fairly disappointing lightweight, boring palate. It did open up with time but I can't see the value at $80 retail.

I also investigated a 2006 Kilikanoon Sparkling Vouvray (yep, that's right). It's an interesting wine... obviously good quality chenin blanc with a lot of yeastiness. Complex palate but not particularly long. It's a very pleasant wine but nowhere near the greatness of a good Champagne, but at $26 retail it's also nowhere near the expense of a good Champagne, either. An interesting an delicious experiment.

[rooman]

Not the most appropriate but lovely nevertheless, an Austrian Hiedler Gruner Vetliner Spiegel 2006. Organically produced, quite a developed golden hue, good depth of flavour with stone fruit, melons and apples. Lively length and acidity. Excellent with another blue cod dish adapted from the Pier Cookbook. This book should be a must purchase for anyone looking for a top fish cook book. Some of the best fish dishes I have cooked recently.

[TORB]

Actually I exaggerated about it being an AFW - I did have two beers, which I enjoyed, but then they were made at Knapsteins, so its almost wine.

Two beers? You must be sick.

You must be right, but it gets worse. I had another Knapsteins beer at lunch with Marion today. I really must be sick!

[Craig(NZ)]

A good stack of Waiheke Wines.

We visited Waiheke for tasting for the first time in 3 years and for the first time I was pleasantly surprised. Waiheke is certainly and expensive place to visit especially on a public holiday where you are stung 20% surcharge everywhere you set foot. But we were aware this was the case before we left no no point complaining.

The weather also was not the best which dulled the scenic attractions a little. However it was good to see wineries a little more approachable, a little more human and down to earth. We visited Passage Rock, Stonyridge, Cable Bay, Goldwater and Te Whau. Lunch at Te Whau was a real treat. Fantastic restaurant/ food/ setting with a wine list dripping in $3000 dream wines to entertain the rich and famous. Best wines from the weekends tasting:

2007 Passage Rock Reserve Syrah
2006 Passage Rock Reserve Merlot Cab
2007 Stonyridge Larose
2007 Goldwater Zell Chardonnay
2004 Goldwater Goldie
2006 Goldwater Esslin Merlot
2006 Te Whau The Point Cabernet Merlot
2007 Te Whau The Point Cabernet Merlot

Notes to follow in a day or so, you know where. A central theme of the trip was the fact that everyone is very excited about the quality of the 2008 reds. I think a trip in about a years time will have to be scheduled

[Peter NZ]

2006 Gibbston Valley Reserve Pinot Noir Drinkable, but nothing special.

2004 Vidals Reserve Syrah Lighter bodied, & more fully developed than I was expecting, but plenty happening & lots of class -- quite floral on both nose & palate. I've got 6 of these, & won't leave them as long as I'd been planning.

2002 Sacred Hill Brokenstone Merlot Another wine that's ready to drink, having softened out a lot since last tasting a couple of years back. Very good.

1996 Wynns Black Label CS Seems fully mature to me, but didn't deteriorate over 2 nights.

Cheers
Peter

[Craig(NZ)]

2004 Vidals Reserve Syrah Lighter bodied, & more fully developed than I was expecting, but plenty happening & lots of class -- quite floral on both nose & palate. I've got 6 of these, & won't leave them as long as I'd been planning.

agree. this looked like an almost immortal wine on release. i remember thougha year after this came out we tried it blind against the 05 passage rock reserve syrah. i picked them the wrong way round. the vidals was almost shy against the monstorous passage rock. surprsing

i didnt think much of the 05 version of the vidals reserve. seemed a buit wishy washy alcoholic berry soup in comparison to the 04

[bacchaebabe]

Actually I exaggerated about it being an AFW - I did have two beers, which I enjoyed, but then they were made at Knapsteins, so its almost wine.

Two beers? You must be sick.

You must be right, but it gets worse. I had another Knapsteins beer at lunch with Marion today. I really must be sick!

I've tried that Knappstein's beer and thought it was pretty smart actually. Not surprised you've been enjoying it. Hope things get sorted soon Ric and you're back on the reds, regardless of how good the beer is.

[bacchaebabe]

Just a couple this week:

94 Chateau Tahbilk Shiraz Who put the rubber ducky in my wine? And then covered it in band aids? Undrinkably bretty - even for me. very disappointing.

Popped back downstairs to bring up an 03 Marius Shiraz. Now this is more like it. Deep dark red with no bricking. Nose of caramel and toasty oak. Licorice flavours with a core of dark chocolate. Bold and big at 15%. This smoothed out a little with some air time but would have no problems with a few more years. A very tasty wine perfect for the cooler months. Nice one, Roger.

98 Mount Langi Ghiran Billi Billi Creek Deep red and red rim. Savoury and smooth through the middle palate but with a strange slightly bitter finish. No real fruit to speak of. Label says best drunk at 5-8 years of age and that's probably pretty accurate. Would have been better 2-3 years ago, I would think. I've two more bottles which I'll drink up soon.

[Sean]

deleted

[dazza1968]

00 Mt Langi Billi Billi Creek,
Took a while to open , Better drink today than 3 years ago , Losing fruit so drink up 89 points
99 Penfolds bin 389 , excellent balance this wine is really drinking well, silky smooth 91 points

Regards Dazza

[Anonymous]

Have been drinking a lot of quaffers looking for some that would benifit from short term cellaring Hovever did manage to pull one from the cellar and give it a go:
2004 Peel Estate Zinfadel: First and only bottle. The 750ml bottle has enough glass to make a magnum, heavy little sucker. I figure it's needed to keep this bad boy in the bottle-it's big! Initially very closed mixed berry nose, big depth of flavour- wild straw berry and cherry lifesaver's punch the palate with an long earthy finish. Good use of oak and nicely intigrated tanins. 16.5% alcohol but you can't tase it through the weighty depth of flavour. As the lable says 'it is obviously a wine for eccentrics. I can be eccentric. Just wish I had a few more to drink over the next 5-6 years.

[jeremy]

Sean wrote

Bridgewater Mill Pinot Chardonnay NV - This was citrusy and quite yeasty at the same time, a good bead and rather spicy and dry on the palate.

Thanks for that Sean, its proverbially as cheap as chips and I'm always somewhat on the lookout for a Pinot Chardonnay of some worth that is. Often looked at it and wondered. Just needed a nudge.

[Rawshack]

I had a Tahbilk Shiraz 2005 that frankly, was disappointing.

It wasn't a terrible wine, and for a Central Vic shiraz it had all the bits in the right places (some nice red and black fruit and classic white pepper), but apart from being a little rough around the edges (overly firm tannins and acidity) it just wasn't particularly exciting. Maybe it's because I've got a soft spot for Tahbilk that I had higher hopes for this.

It's at Dans for $10.50 a bottle, but I won't be going back for any more.

[wolf]

2006 Penfolds Koonunga Hill '76 Cabernet Shiraz: This one has settled down quite nicely after a year or so. Nose opened up, and the acidity and tannins have softened up a little. Perhaps just a touch of oak, but nicely balanced. Quite enjoyed it.

[Mandingo]

I shared a 2002 Hewitson Old Garden Mourvedre with Roger Pike - he brought the wine, big ups to him, and made up for the pretty average company! - one of the best wines I have tried for a long time. Rushed out and grabbed a six pack of the 2006 of this one. We had a bottle of something that I brought out but I cant for the life of me remember what it was - suffice to say, not so memorable.

Another mate dropped around out of the blue on Thursday and I opened a 2002 Cimicky Reserve Shiraz . This one still has a long way to go til its drinking window - still a bit closed and brooding. great wine.

Last night I tried a 2002 Elderton Ode To Lorraine Blend. Another good wine, with a lot to go. We also had a 2001 Greenock Creek Seven Acres Shiraz. I was wondering how it was travelling thinking, based on recent vintage tastings that this one would not be holding together and I should consider auctioning the rest off. I was very wrong - it was stunning and in its drinking window. I will be holding on to the rest.

Cheers,
John

[Craig(NZ)]

Also drank a bottle of 1998 Primo Estate Joseph Cabernet Moda Amarone which was pretty good. Kept away from being pruney, still nicely fresh, powdery tannins and nice structure

No rush on this one though its drinking fine now for my tastes

[griff]

Should whip up quick notes for the following:

2007 Yalumba FDW7c Chardonnay
see PaulG's post on $60 for two wines.

Geoff Hardy 'hand crafted' sparkling red NV
Well it has the fruit weight but has a curious citric acid character that is disconcerting.

2005 St Clair Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
What the! I have to say there are some SBs that are really nice. This one had weight on the palate and lovely texture. Tasted like a passionfruit souffle that I had at Peter EDIT: Doyle's Cicada restaurant all those years ago. While it didn't change in the glass it was an Excellent wine.

2007 Teusner The Riebke Ebenezer Rd Shiraz
I think that the big boys trademarking placenames despicable. This small maker's wine is very nice. Doesn't pretend to be anything it isn't. Less interest than the Pirathon by Kalleske at this price range but a lot more enjoyable. As the better half said "It's like licking a chocolate paddlepop stick when you finish. Wood and chocolate." But it is the ripe but not heavy fruit character that is most impressive. Dangerous wine.

cheers

Carl

Edit: a few more

2007 Blue Poles Tempranillo
Started off a little acidic but the next night it blossomed into a lithe cherry infused slurp with oak welded on. Nice Temp and very fresh. Needs a few years I think. Very Good now with potential. Smacked the Peter Lehmann 2006 Tempranillo (which was more chocolate and anise than Tempranillo)

2002 Brookland Valley Reserve Chardonnay
Beautiful Margaret River melon character and quite lean which suited the year. The thing is, this was a little bit of old school Australian chardonnay with a huge amount of (quality) oak that wasn't able to integrate with the rest of the wine. Would of been an Excellent wine but turned into Very Good.

[Daryl Douglas]

[quote="griff"]2007 Blue Poles Tempranillo
Started off a little acidic but the next night it blossomed into a lithe cherry infused slurp with oak welded on. Nice Temp and very fresh. Needs a few years I think. Very Good now with potential. Smacked the Peter Lehmann 2006 Tempranillo (which was more chocolate and anise than Tempranillo)
quote]

I get some distinct ripe plum character character on the front-mid palate before the cherries become apparent Carl. I've only compared it to Tahbilk Tempranillo 07(?) that was rather more simple on the palate than the BP though possibly more varietal than the PL I've not tried. Perhaps the latter has up to 15% shiraz? I've not checked so that's mere speculation.

Cheers

daz

[griff]

2007 Blue Poles Tempranillo
Started off a little acidic but the next night it blossomed into a lithe cherry infused slurp with oak welded on. Nice Temp and very fresh. Needs a few years I think. Very Good now with potential. Smacked the Peter Lehmann 2006 Tempranillo (which was more chocolate and anise than Tempranillo)
quote]

I get some distinct ripe plum character character on the front-mid palate before the cherries become apparent Carl. I've only compared it to Tahbilk Tempranillo 07(?) that was rather more simple on the palate than the BP though possibly more varietal than the PL I've not tried. Perhaps the latter has up to 15% shiraz? I've not checked so that's mere speculation.

Cheers

daz

Plums are present but I get that even more on the Blue Poles Cab Franc/Merlot so plumped for cherries

No idea how much tempranillo is in the Peter Lehmann version but it isn't varietal in my mind. Doesn't mean it isn't a good drink though. A bit like the Thorn Clarke Quartet which is more Barossa than anything else.

cheers

Carl

[Mike Hawkins]

Hi Good Peoples,

Unfortunately I have had an alcohol free week )

I haven't had a drink since March 7, so I read these posts with even greater envy. Mind you, things will pick up this Friday...

[rooman]

A good stack of Waiheke Wines.

Best wines from the weekends tasting:

2007 Stonyridge Larose
2007 Goldwater Zell Chardonnay
2004 Goldwater Goldie
2006 Goldwater Esslin Merlot

Craig

I would be interested in the notes on the above. I have the Larose and the Goldwaters are old family friends. I know they sold out but remain involved so I keen to hear what you think of their wines.

Mark

[jeremy]

Griff wrote

griff wrote:
2007 Blue Poles Tempranillo
Started off a little acidic but the next night it blossomed into a lithe cherry infused slurp with oak welded on. Nice Temp and very fresh. Needs a few years I think. Very Good now with potential. Smacked the Peter Lehmann 2006 Tempranillo (which was more chocolate and anise than Tempranillo)
quote]

I get some distinct ripe plum character character on the front-mid palate before the cherries become apparent Carl. I've only compared it to Tahbilk Tempranillo 07(?) that was rather more simple on the palate than the BP though possibly more varietal than the PL I've not tried. Perhaps the latter has up to 15% shiraz? I've not checked so that's mere speculation.

Cheers

daz


Plums are present but I get that even more on the Blue Poles Cab Franc/Merlot so plumped for cherries

No idea how much tempranillo is in the Peter Lehmann version but it isn't varietal in my mind. Doesn't mean it isn't a good drink though. A bit like the Thorn Clarke Quartet which is more Barossa than anything else.

cheers

Carl

My TNs for the 06 Peter Lehmann are that it isn't very varietal and the oak is out of balance, and I generally like Lehmann wines. The Blue Poles would've smashed it like my Lions got mashed by Geelong on the weekend, cherry or plum