Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

Wozza said:
It's easy like a Sunday [evening], so what to choose from the middle shelf of the Trophy Room..?

An Amelia Park Franklin River Reserve Shiraz 2012

And just like the song, this is big and classy and very, very smooth. I had been saving this. I only had the one - a Salvation Case special (most of the wines are okay, but you sometimes get a gem like this). I loved it, and knew if I failed temptation, it was going to be a winner.

On Vivino, I have just posted the following review:

View attachment 59032

http://www.vivino.com/wines/12440614

"Oh my. This is big and rich, but silky smooth and velvety, all at the same time. It's very Amelia Park. There's plums and cherries on the nose, with a dash of choc mint. The oh so smooth palate follows with the juicy plums and sweet cherries, and tops out with a dash of cassis and mint at the end. It's a touch green at the end, but it will only improve with age given that balance and precision. Amelia Park - you have won my wallet with your silky smooth wines. VinoMofo - bravo for bringing me this wine."

That's Vivino 4 stars from me.

What can I say? But I want more. mof_, pleeaase secure another twelve truck loads of this wine. It's oh so drinkable now, but will surely get better. I don't have any to tuck away, but if I come across them in the 20s for sale - it will be a BOOM from me. I know they are all gone, but at least I can look forward to the next vintage. And with all the near misses we have had recently, it will be wines like this that keep me coming back to the Fo for more ...
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Did you get any of the 2011 Wozza? I got a sixer of the 2011 (haven't tried it yet), think it was around $16-18 a bottle.....might have to crack one! 2011 was a decent vintage so I would think (hope) it would be nearly as good.
 
Rocket09 said:
Did you get any of the 2011 Wozza? I got a sixer of the 2011 (haven't tried it yet), think it was around $16-18 a bottle.....might have to crack one! 2011 was a decent vintage so I would think (hope) it would be nearly as good.
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Hi Rocket09. I didn't get the 2011 vintage, but heard the accolades were also good. I reckon you have done the right thing in cellaring them. They do drink really well now, but maybe have one of the six next year when they hit the 5 year mark. Hopefully they are just as good or better than the 2012s. Enjoy when you do open them (and please do report back) ...
 
Here's the official tasting note from the night...

Tolpuddle Pinot Noir 2013 (Tasmania). This vineyard was planted in 1988, and was acquired by Shaw and Smith a couple of years ago. Medium garnet in colour, with strawberry, raspberry and a fair amount of fruit sweetness. The palate shows juicy cherries, clean acid, and supporting super-fine tannins. The finish is reasonably long and linear. Descriptors like ‘ethereal’ and ‘delicate’ were used. The group agreed the wine is very young, and should develop well.
 
So I write this post with a bit of a sore head this morning after attending last night's The Penfolds Collection 2015 Member Tasting Event hosted by Penfolds Ambassador, Jason Barrette.

The setting was pretty impressive - the Cruise Bar Roof Top, with some lovely views of the Harbour:

FullSizeRender.jpg

I had my partner in crime for the night - Katy - who I can tell you drank two glasses of white wine, despite her only reds and bubbles policy! True to form, Katy described the first wine - a Riesling - as an "old pair of socks"! And you know what, she was right.

So first up, we were greeted with a glass of Penfolds Bin 51 Eden Valley Riesling 2015 $30. It was quite floral and citrusy, almost tasting like a Sauv Blanc. To me, it lacked any weight or complexity. It was bone dry, so dry Katy was right to describe it as an old pair of socks. That's a Vivino 2.5 stars from me. However, the Good Food Guide gave it 5 stars, so maybe we were not warmed up for this wine.

http://www.vivino.com/wines/22559755

And so with a furry mouth from the Riesling, we then got to try the Penfolds Bin 311 Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2014 $40. This was much nicer. It was light in body, with melons and citrus fruits, with a mid to end palate of subtle creaminess. It got a Vivino 3 stars from me.

http://www.vivino.com/wines/12246868

The rest of the night was a bit of a fight between securing a good feeding position, racing through the red wines, and enjoying some good company. They grouped the reds into threes and gave us 15 minutes to get through each group.

The Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz 2013 $40 was true to form from previous vintages. It was all blackberries and plums with a smooth finish. I found it a nicer wine to drink than the 128, but not as good as the 138. It was obviously young to drink now, which I wasn't expecting as I usually think of the Bin 28 as a drink now wine (although I know many do have them as keepers). Vivino 3.5 stars from me.

http://www.vivino.com/wines/2642644

The Penfolds Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz 2013 $40 was slightly sweet with bright berries on the nose. It had a silky, silky smooth finish. Again, young but very drinkable. Vivino 4 stars from me, and this was the pick of the first trio.

http://www.vivino.com/wines/2050748

The Penfolds Bin 138 Barossa Valley Shiraz Grenache Mataro 2013 $40 was full of dark plums and blackberries, with a hint of sweet vanilla, on the nose. The palate was smooth with lots of blackberries, but it finished sharp, leaving me with a dry bitter after taste. It was either not aired long enough (surely Penfolds wouldn't be that negligent) or the wine was seriously too young to savour at this point. Vivino 3 stars and from me.

http://www.vivino.com/wines/2362980

The next trio kicked off with the Penfolds Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz 2013 $80. It had a very alcoholic nose, but also sweet dark berries. It was all black forest fruits and plums on the smooth palate. This was very nice, but clearly very young. I would suggest at least 10 years before savouring this one. Vivino 4 stars from me.

http://www.vivino.com/wines/3834865

We then had the Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 $80. The 407 had a bright nose of red berries, but also a brambliness (or bitter chocolate) too. These flavours continued on the palate, and there was a long, long finish to this one with that sweet brambly / bitter chocolate lingering for quite some time. Again, very, very young, but you can tell this is going to be a fine wine in 10 plus years. Vivino 4 stars from me, and probably the best of this second trio.

http://www.vivino.com/wines/2805494

In the last of this trio was the big disappointment of the night - the Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2013 $80. This is usually so approachable, with the Grange'esk qualities shining through. But not this time, or at least not the glass I had on the night. It had a lovely nose of dark fruits and sweet vanilla. The palate was tight, but smooth, with lots of dark fruits, and it finished with a big green and dry after taste. This was almost embryonic early. I would suggest tucking this away for a long time to get the best out of it. Vivino 3 stars from me.

http://www.vivino.com/wines/2026019

The last trio of the night started with the Penfolds St Henri Shiraz 2012 $100. This got third place for me on the night. It had the best nose of the night with lots of red berries and that austere earthy, gamey quality I love. Very enticing. The palate was very smooth and sweet, almost light on its feet, with those red fruits and gamey characters dancing around your mouth for a considerable time. It was still very young, but pretty approachable. Loved it. Vivino 4.5 stars from me.

http://www.vivino.com/wines/2058324

Next up was the Penfolds RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz 2013 $175. This got second place for me on the night, purely on the taste stakes. But as a buyer and consumer, it would be my first choice, as the winner of the night - the Grange - is not 4 times better than the RWT. The nose was sensational, with sweet berries and mulberries, and that old leather chair peatiness RWTs are famous for. The palate was silky smooth, with stunning red berries and blueberries leading a strong and long finish. It was a little green at the end, but that may be because my palate was kaput by this point. Definitely very young, but this RWT is pure class. Vivino 4.5 stars from me, and the best of this last trio.

http://www.vivino.com/wines/2576120

The last of the trio was the Penfolds Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 $350. This had an enticing nose of blackberries and that leathery, gameiness. The palate was powerful and long, but I couldn't get past the mint that was very dominant. It was too green for me, but lovers of the choc mint / spearmint finish will love this wine. It was first class all the way, but not for me. I would suggest you cellar this 169 for at least 15 years and I suspect it will be a stunner. Vivino 4 stars from me, purely for its potential.

http://www.vivino.com/wines/5096506

So whilst I was trying to work out whether I loved or hated the 169, the Penfolds Grange 2011 $785 was getting the royal treatment with its own speech and introduction by Jason Barrette. Within 5 minutes of the speech, all of the bottles were gone. Did I get a glass? No - the other big disappointment of night.

Luckily Katy gave me the leftovers of her glass, which was very gracious of her. In the two mouthfuls I had, you could tell this was Grange. The nose was sweet and ethereal. There were so many flavours on the palate it was hard to pick them out in the small amount I had. It was quite light and not the bash your head off beast of some previous vintages. But you could tell this was going to develop into an amazing wine. Was is a 93 pointer? No way. It was way better than that - more 98, but just not yet. So it got a Vivino 4.5 stars from me.

http://www.vivino.com/wines/1572666

Sadly, there was no 707s or Magill Estates. I bet they are really good too, based on the expert reviews.

So it turned out to be a great night, drinking some lovely (young) age-worthy wines, with some very entertaining company.











 
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Wozza said:
So I write this post with a bit of a sore head this morning after attending last night's The Penfolds Collection 2015 Member Tasting Event hosted by Penfolds Ambassador, Jason Barrette.

The setting was pretty impressive - the Cruise Bar Roof Top, with some lovely views of the Harbour:

View attachment 59150

I had my partner in crime for the night - Katy - who I can tell you drank two glasses of white wine, despite her only reds and bubbles policy! True to form, Katy described the first wine - a Riesling - as an "old pair of socks"! And you know what, she was right.

So first up, we were greeted with a glass of Penfolds Bin 51 Eden Valley Riesling 2015 $30. It was quite floral and citrusy, almost tasting like a Sauv Blanc. To me, it lacked any weight or complexity. It was bone dry, so dry Katy was right to describe it as an old pair of socks. That's a Vivino 2.5 stars from me. However, the Good Food Guide gave it 5 stars, so maybe we were not warmed up for this wine.

And so with a furry mouth from the Riesling, we then got to try the Penfolds Bin 311 Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2014 $40. This was much nicer. It was light in body, with melons and citrus fruits, with a mid to end palate of subtle creaminess. It got a Vivino 3 stars from me.

The rest of the night was a bit of a fight between securing a good feeding position, racing through the red wines, and enjoying some good company. They grouped the reds into threes and gave us 15 minutes to get through each group.

The Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz 2013 $40 was true to form from previous vintages. It was all blackberries and plums with a smooth finish. I found it a nicer wine to drink than the 128, but not as good as the 138. It was obviously young to drink now, which I wasn't expecting as I usually think of the Bin 28 as a drink now wine (although I know many do have them as keepers). Vivino 3.5 stars from me.

The Penfolds Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz 2013 $40 was slightly sweet with bright berries on the nose. It had a silky, silky smooth finish. Again, young but very drinkable. Vivino 4 stars from me, and this was the pick of the first trio.

The Penfolds Bin 138 Barossa Valley Shiraz Grenache Mataro 2013 $40 was full of dark plums and blackberries, with a hint of sweet vanilla, on the nose. The palate was smooth was lots of blackberries, but it finished sharp, leaving me with a dry bitter after taste. It was either not aired long enough (surely Penfolds wouldn't be that negligent) or the wine was seriously too young to savour at this point. Vivino 3 stars and from me.

The next trio kicked off with the Penfolds Bin 150 Marananga Shiraz 2013 $80. It had a very alcoholic nose, but also sweet dark berries. It was all black forest fruits and plums on the smooth palate. This was very nice, but clearly very young. I would suggest at least 10 years before savouring this one. Vivino 4 stars from me.

We then had the Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 $80. The 407 had a bright nose of red berries, but also a brambliness (or bitter chocolate) too. These flavours continued on the palate, and there was a long, long finish to this one with that sweet brambly / bitter chocolate lingering for quite some time. Again, very, very young, but you can tell this is going to be a fine wine in 10 plus years. Vivino 4 stars from me, and probably the best of this second trio.

In the last of this trio was the big disappointment of the night - the Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Shiraz 2013 $80. This is usually so approachable, with the Grange'esk qualities shining through. But not this time, or at least not the glass I had on the night. It had a lovely nose of dark fruits and sweet vanilla. The palate was tight, but smooth, with lots of dark fruits, and it finished with a big green and dry after taste. This was almost embryonic early. I would suggest tucking this away for a long time to get the best out of it. Vivino 3 stars from me.

The last trio of the night started with the Penfolds St Henri Shiraz 2012 $100. This got third place for me on the night. It had the best nose of the night with lots of red berries and that austere earthy, gamey quality I love. Very enticing. The palate was very smooth and sweet, almost light on its feet, with those red fruits and gamey characters dancing around your mouth for a considerable time. It was still very young, but pretty approachable. Loved it. Vivino 4.5 stars from me.

Next up was the Penfolds RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz 2013 $175. This got second place for me on the night, purely on the taste stakes. But as a buyer and consumer, it would be my first choice, as the winner of the night - the Grange - is not 4 times better than the RWT. The nose was sensational, with sweet berries and mulberries, and that old leather chair peatiness RWTs are famous for. The palate was silky smooth, with stunning red berries and blueberries leading a strong and long finish. It was a little green at the end, but that may be because my palate was kaput by this point. Definitely very young, but this RWT is pure class. Vivino 4.5 stars from me, and the best of this last trio.

The last of the trio was the Penfolds Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 $350. This had an enticing nose of blackberries and that leathery, gameiness. The palate was powerful and long, but I couldn't get past the mint that was very dominant. It was too green for me, but lovers of the choc mint / spearmint finish will love this wine. It was first class all the way, but not for me. I would suggest you cellar this 169 for at least 15 years and I suspect it will be a stunner. Vivino 4 stars from me, purely for its potential.

So whilst I was trying to work out whether I loved or hated the 169, the Penfolds Grange 2011 $785 was getting the royal treatment with its own speech and introduction by Jason Barrette. Within 5 minutes of the speech, all of the bottles were gone. Did I get a glass? No - the other big disappointment of night.

Luckily Katy gave me the leftovers of her glass, which was very gracious of her. In the two mouthfuls I had, you could tell this was Grange. The nose was sweet and ethereal. There were so many flavours on the palate it was hard to pick them out in the small amount I had. It was quite light and not the bash your head off beast of some previous vintages. But you could tell this was going to develop into an amazing wine. Was is a 93 pointer? No way. It was way better than that - more 98, but just not yet. So it got a Vivino 4.5 stars from me.

Sadly, there was no 707s or Magill Estates. I bet they are really good too, based on the expert reviews.

So it turned out to be a great night, drinking some lovely (young) age-worthy wines, with some very entertaining company.
Click to expand...
Wozza...........Give Up Your Day Job.

You have a great knack for this sort of stuff.
 
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beefarmer said:
Wozza...........Give Up Your Day Job.

You have a great knack for this sort of stuff.
Click to expand...

Thanks Beefarmer. You are too kind. I write for a living - words are the tools of my lawyer trade. But wouldn't it be amazing if you could give up your day job and become a wine writer, like Sir Halliday, who went from Clutz to the Hunter to wine pioneer extraordinaire. Maybe one day, you never know ...

I did think of the wine critics last night. When you get to about your fifth or sixth wine to taste, your taste buds are completely done. I don't know how they get through so many wine reviews in such a short period of time.

I would love to hear Katy's review of the Penfolds wines. She was very knowledgable and very funny, and would cover the same ground in much less words than my verbage.
 
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image.jpg
Sideways wine Wednesday. Late harvest Viogner from St Hubert's in the Yarra Valley, matched with some homemade lemon tart.
 
Wozza said:
I did think of the wine critics last night. When you get to about your fifth or sixth wine to taste, your taste buds are completely done. I don't know how they get through so many wine reviews in such a short period of time.
.
Click to expand...

They spit. Plus 5 wines would take them 10 minutes if that :)
 
Partook of a few scraps at Post in PER over a, err, shall we say, extended :shock: period this afternoon with my elder son who was finally in town for my recent birthday.

Started with a Geoffroy Champagne - sensational IMHO - but hard to source. Stelzer gives it a big tick.

IMG_3056.jpg

IMG_3057.jpg
 
Forgot to get a pic of the Fume Blanc that went very nicely with three shared entrees.

IMG_3058.jpg

But remembered for the red with the steak and duck mains.

IMG_3059.jpg

IMG_3060.JPG
 

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