15 June 2012 weekend drinking reports

[LawrenceM]

A couple of us got a head start on the weekend last night with three bottles of red that I've had earmarked for opening.

Torbreck The Struie 2002 shiraz: Deep purple with slightly perceptible bricking. Aromas of well balanced vanillin oak, dark cherries and hints of leather and spice sitting in the background. Nicely integrated tannins, and a medium-long finish. A thoroughly enjoyable wine. As an observation (rather than a criticism) I should mention that I couldn't help but think that there was something slightly strange in the taste and smell of the wine. I'm not going to say that it was bretty - it wasn't - but it did have a slightly peaty taste and smell and lacked the vibrant smells and flavours of other Struie's that I have had. I'll put this down to bottle variation until I've opened the other bottle that I have sitting in the cellar. Didn't detract significantly from the enjoyment that I had drinking this wine.

D'Arenberg Laughing Magpie 2002 shiraz viognier: Cork disintegrated on opening and so the wine had to be thoroughly decanted. Came with the expected aromas of dark fruits and chocolate with prominent vanilla/oak. Surprisingly full-bodied. Still has plenty of fruit but I cannot see it getting any better from here. Based on this bottle I would look to drink this wine within the next 2 years.

Kaesler Old Vine Shiraz 2004: Inky purple-black. Lifted bouquet of chocolately oak, blackcurrant, liquorice, tar and a hint of mint. Still very fresh. Great mouthfeel, soft tannins and a long, fruity finish. A heavy yet refined wine and the clear winner on the night. Will sit comfortably for another 5+ years in the bottle.

[TiggerK]

Very little wine of late, an issue I plan to correct tomorrow

Jim Barry Watervale Riesling 2012 - wife opened this tonight, was interested to try it.... For me it was more like a kiwi Savvy than a Riesling. Hint of cat pee, gooseberry and so on. Not very Rieslingy I thought and I don't like Savvy so no.

Sierra Nevada 'Hoptimum' (Beer) - 100IBU's !! , Whole cone hops by the ton, 10.4% alc. Wow that's a big beer, but surprisingly balanced without the expected heat of the 10.4%. A very well made beer, great flavour impact but I had to stop at one!
Sierra Nevada "Ruthless Rye" (Beer) - Taken over the mantle of 'My Favourite Beer', pity it's so expensive (typical). Great in so many ways, flavour, character, malt, hop intensity and bitterness all just in the zone for my taste. Hard to find, but if you're an IPA beer lover, you must try this.

Cheers
Tim

[odyssey]

2009 Hautes Vallees Chant du Midi Pinot Noir (south france) - Bright red cherry and a little too alcoholic. Tastes a little bit too cheap. Average.

2008 Chiroubles Metrat Beaujolais - Mostly dark profile, some dark red cherry, hint of game meatiness on the nose, a tiny dash of oak. Maybe could be more interesting but went surprisingly well with a gnocci parisienne mornay. Not bad.

2009 Saint-Chinian Clos Bagatelle - Mourvèdre Grenache Syrah Languedoc - This is really familiar GSM territory, a lovely savoury profile with a hint of pepper and herb on a bed of cherry. Very good.

2008 Croser - A hint of biscuity lees on the nose, very crisp acidity, decent finish. Markedly better than the NVs. Good.

2008 Henry's Drive Reserve Shiraz Padthaway - Oak and dark plum nose. This has some seriously good quality fruit in it, although the american oak is more than noticable it is well balanced and slightly brooding. Good.

[LawrenceM]

Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2009: Rich and brooding cab sauv. Rich berries/plums, spice and a bit of vanilla. Firm tannins but this is balanced by plenty of fruit and tasty oak. Great drop - I will be laying a couple down in the cellar.

[Sean]

deleted

[Mike Hawkins]

1986 Yalumba The Signature - no nose whatsoever for the first hour, so I assumed it was dead. It progressively sprung to life and after another 90 mins, it was singing. Beautiful, lifted perfumed aromas of violets, earth, leather and chocolate. If there is any criticism of this wine is that the palate just lacked some fruit sweetness (compared to other 86s I've had in the past year). I'll try a couple more of these in the next few months to see how the rest are travelling. Nevertheless, a really good wine from one of the all-time-great SA vintages.

Mike

[Teisto]

2004 D'Arenberg Footbolt Shiraz Inoffensive and a pleasant drink. Not getting any better

1998 Willespie Shiraz Who says Margaret River can't do Shiraz. Beautiful drop and drinking really well

2005 Mt Pleasant Philip Starting to hit its straps - great drink for very little cost

Glenguin Estate 1998 Merlot MagnumFrom their Orange vineyard. Once again pleasant but not setting the world on fire.

2005 Kalleske Pirathon Needed a good breathe as quite a bit of heat initially. Gave it an hour or so and was beautiful. Holding very well with both colour and fruit. No rush on this currently.

[dave vino]

Quiet weekend...

Dinner with some good friends. (long story, no names to protect the innocent, unless they pipe up ), started off with some pikelets/creme fraiche/roe with a nice 2000 Philipponnat - lots of acidity, lemon
Then we had a truffle custard, crab and caviar entree matched with a 1975 Trimbach Clos St Hune which was fantastic, showing beautifully with the age bringing out secondary flavours like a good Semillon. A privilege to drink this.
Followed by Smoked Cod, Potato and Leek soup with a nicely balanced 2004 John Forest Chardonnay
This segued into the reds with a very youthful 1993 Seppelt Show Sparkling Shiraz which had lots of flavour and depth
Then onto a CdP in the 1990 Vieux Telegraph this was sublime, beautiful aromas and palate. (WOTN) I believe.
Then the Beef Cheeks came out (cooked for like 8 hours) which only needed a fork to cut, with lots of gravy to soak up with the bread, this was partnered by a 1993 Lakes Folly Cabernets and a 1985 Ch. Trotanoy both very different beasts with differing qualities and both a joy to drink.
and then because we could...we finished off with a 1999 Yeringberg and a 1999 Rockford SVS Pressings Shiraz, both monster wines with gobs of flavour, fine tannins and length.
Then on to dessert, persimmon cream and something, I forgot, tasted great... with a 1976 Reiler Sorentberg TBA which was very delicate and ethereal, almost orange cordial like on the nose.
We then finished off with a Diplomatico Ambassador (forgot to take a photo, so took one the next day and gave me an excuse to have a glass) the rum is rich and decadent.

[Mike Hawkins]

Great colour on the CSH Dave. One of the great wines of the world.

[Michael R]

Great line up Dave, thanks for the pics and notes.....i'm no sherlock holmes, but that Riesling has the hallmarks of a certain forumite beginning with r and ending in edvelvet

For me, a 91 John Riddoch, decanted for 4 hours. Cork was a shambles, didn't have ah-so prongs so took about 20 mins of prodding, coaxing and straining to resolve. There was staining close to the top also.
Wine was superb however, still tasted quite young, tannins had some gentle grit on the finish, which I enjoyed. The typical tobacco box, cedar elements were there but not dominating the black fruit, which showed plenty of freshness. Finish wasn't mind blowing but overall this was one of the best wines I've had in a while. Would strongly recommend this wine would last and improve another 10 years easy, but can't say the same for the cork.

Cheers
Michael

[odyssey]

Great photos as always Dave and a really great lineup!

Would love to see more TNs especially for the '90 Vieux Telegraph (although I can probably ask its likely owner in person, I suspect ).

Tonight a non-Cru Chablis from the same maker as last week's Cru:
2010 Domaine de Vauroux Chablis - Decent enough wine, nose of pineapple and banana lolly with a hint of petrol. Fairly crisp palate with some spiciness and petrol, surprisingly not much Chablis character (flint or minerality). Still, at $18-odd it was not too shabby for a cheapie Chablis (say that 3 times fast).

[ticklenow1]

2005 McLeish Estate Shiraz. Hunter Valley. 14.3%. Cork: Hunter Reds are not normally my thing but I did enjoy this bottle, more for the change of scenery than anything I think. It was typical Hunter, lots of earthy savouriness and leather with the fruit not in your face and the oak quite subtle, if at all. Drink now as it had fallen over quite a bit on the second night. 3/5

Cheers
Ian

[Red Smurf]

Would love to see more TNs especially for the '90 Vieux Telegraph

Unfortunately not a pen was raised but from memory.
1990 Domaine Du Vieux Telegraphe popped and poured. Opened with a huge, almost pungent truffel oil like, nose with all those infamous aromas in check and adding complexity. Beautiful florals, rich and deep set plum with some sweet red berrys lying underneath but not at all confected. All mingling with that dried herb and earth character. Palate was just as good, sat well in the mouth with nice plums again and cherries, spice and pepper, earth and old wood taken through to a well balanced acid and tannin long finish that filled the mouth and left you wanting more. Couldn't ask for much better for CdP I'd say.

Great colour on the CSH Dave. One of the great wines of the world.

This had spent most of its time sleeping in Trimbach's cellars until recently and it showed.

What I am loving at the moment is the Rockfords I have been getting to taste. Something I have none of in the cellar but plan to correct. The 99 SVS was very good indeed.

Cheers
Smurf