Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[TomVexille]

The Takveri

 

[TomVexille]

And now for a Kisi

 

[Sedimental]

2002 Charles Melton Shiraz. Visited the cellar door in 2005 when the much lauded 2002 reds were released. They were all demolished! Bought another dozen from cellarlink recently, albeit with trepidation of the cork closure. At a smidge over $35 this is drinking very well now!
~

 

[blackcat20]

And now for a Kisi

View attachment 59651

Definitely not a fan of this one. It's like having the lining stripped out of my mouth...

 

[blackcat20]

2007 Saperavi

 

[beefarmer]

View attachment 59662
2007 Saperavi

So a nice night own with mr tommy....a little bit or Armenian if you don't mind. Cultural diversity, great food, great wine, what more could you ask for ? A little bit of leather under yer butt, so log as the vino don't taste that way. Bastourma with the egg never tasted better.

 

[Wozza]

It's apt that Sedimental mentions Cellar Link, because I have just come back from a great wine tasting night at Cellar Link they titled: Back Vintage Wine Tasting (2015).

Now I think I have come away from that night having tasted the best wine I have had of 2015. That's a big claim, having had some seriously nice wines in 2015. What was it - I hear you ask:

the Torbreck Les Amis 2009

http://www.vivino.com/users/8818052/activities/66832087



It was other worldly good, almost exotic, with a super interesting nose that led to a complex and perfect palate that didn't match. It was like tasting a meal from a Michelin Starred restaurant, as layer upon layer and sensation worked seemlesy to produce an epic result. It led you on a journey of contrasting sensations and pure indulgence. My heart sank a little when I uploaded my review to Vivino and saw it was a very respectable $176.32 a bottle (on average - ON AVERAGE?!). But at least others agreed that this was off the hook good, with an average rating of 4.8 from over 20 reviews - that's seriously impressive stats.

It wasn't for sale, officially, but I managed to get a shared order for 3 bottles. It's incredibly expensive for my budget, but it was in another league to many of the super premium wine experiences I have had. If you have struck gold,
own a waterfront property, are an investment banker, or have 3 wines cellars, then this should be on your Christmas list. It's that good.

On a different note, the wine tasting room and dining room at Artisan Wines (Lane Cove, Sydney) (Cellar Link is part of Artisan Wines) were fabulous, as were the storage vaults and warehouse. The warehouse had me drooling with the seemingly endless collections of fine (ageing) wines for the super funds, private collectors and everybody else in between. Eamonn Egan (CEO of Artisan Wines) did an amazing job, as did Clio his very French wine host / professional sommelier, and assistant, Amanda. Great night, with some great wines.


Source: http://www.artisanwinestorage.com.au/tasting-lounge/photo-gallery#!hunter_valley_wines__judging

If you would like the low down on the wines and prices, then please let me know. There were some pretty impressive stuff out of the 10 wines tried.

The dining room could also be an excellent choice for a Meet Up. They use an amazing French chef, and you are surrounded by some pretty ridiculous wines, including a Grange collection that included a $65,000 bottle.


Source: http://www.artisanwinestorage.com.au/methuselahs/photo-gallery#!methuselahs_cellar__dinner_for_12

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

It's apt that Sedimental mentions Cellar Link, because I have just come back from a great wine tasting night at Cellar Link they titled: Back Vintage Wine Tasting (2015).

Really hope that Sedimental manages to join the "room" (http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ne-lovers/aff-wine-lover-meet-up-71204-8.html )
... think you might have a lot in common

 

[penegal]

Menu for tonight's dinner with matched Georgian wines from Pheasants Tears.

Looks good.

But glad I didn't agree to come as I was otherwise engaged yesterday / last night, and only landed this afternoon.

 

[penegal]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

Mama-Mia - this is good!

$42 from Fo last week - might call up morrow and grab nother 1/2 dos - very drinkable now - very drinkable!

Worth it for $42 then?

Seemed a bit pricey for something I hadn't heard of or tried before.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

This took my fancy tonight. Smooth and well rounded. If I'd put more thought into it I would have opened it early to let it breathe. Still, a lovely drop. I don't remember was 2004 vintage was like, but if this is a guide it must have been quite good.



It's been a while since I've opened anything with a cork!

 

[JessicaTam]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

<snip>

It's been a while since I've opened anything with a cork!

Does that mean you don't drink champagne?

 

[Captain Halliday]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

Does that mean you don't drink champagne?

They open it for you in the lounge.

But no, very infrequently. Prior to tonight the last cork would have been bubbles I opened for Mrs H and the book club girls that never read or discuss any books.

 

[Sedimental]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

Fifty Shades of Red?

 

[JohnM]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

A few recent scraps.

The Main Ridge is still drinking extremely well. The No. 1 was utterly sensational .

The Tyrrells Semillon was perfect with the Western Rock Lobsters freshly caught by my younger son yesterday - and it still has decades left in it.

 

[Wozza]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

I dared to open the Hemera Tier 1 Barossa Shiraz 2008 that I had been holding most of this year.

It was our neighbourly street Christmas shindig. We had already dispatched a few nice wines, including lots of Champagne, a (young) Black Label and a Yering Station Pinot Noir. As we were finishing the last of the wines we had collectively brought around, my emboldened, tipsy neighbours started to ask for a Barossa Shiraz and something a bit different. And so, duly challenged, I popped back home to get this:



What a lovely wine. On Vivino I posted the following review:

http://www.vivino.com/wines/8523109

"Absolutely stunning. This is ALL about the fruit. It's Tier 1, and Tier 1 for a reason. There's an intensity and richness to the nose and the palate that indicates the use of premium fruit from the best of vintages. The nose is so sweet, and so alluring, with intense aromas of dark cherries. It has a rich and smooth palate of cherries to match, with a touch of white pepper that finishes of an elegant end. This is premium stuff. And another Vino mof_ bargain. It's drinking so well now, but will no doubt continue to develop nicely in the next 10 years, hopefully with some additional ageing characteristics."

4.5 stars out of 5 from me.

I can't remember exactly what I paid for it, but I recall it was around the $40-$50 a bottle mark. Whatever it was, it was seriously cheap for the drinking experience, and another great mof_ bargain. Glad I dared open it. And glad I have another 5 to try over the years to come, God willing.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

Seppelt Benno 2006 - Dark fruits, oak and decent tannins - holding up well after 10 years - though a tarty/astringent aftertaste detracts a bit. That said, it was a "pour and drink", so some more breathing time may have mellowed the aftertaste.

 

[Wozza]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

A few recent scraps.

The Main Ridge is still drinking extremely well. The No. 1 was utterly sensational .

The Tyrrells Semillon was perfect with the Western Rock Lobsters freshly caught by my younger son yesterday - and it still has decades left in it.

View attachment 59742

What a stunning trio, JohnM.

I went to a completion dinner following a great deal for the client - you bring 3/4 of your best and I'll do likewise, was the call from two serious wine collectors. We must have tasted $6,000 plus worth of wine that night. And for most of us, the winner was the 1997 Vat 1. It's the best White I have had. And you know what ... ? It was the cheapest wine of the night, even in magnum format. Hopefully you have a few more tucked away, so you get to try it with even more bottle ageing.

Thanks for sharing - very jealous!

 

[JohnM]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

What a stunning trio, JohnM.

I went to a completion dinner following a great deal for the client - you bring 3/4 of your best and I'll do likewise, was the call from two serious wine collectors. We must have tasted $6,000 plus worth of wine that night. And for most of us, the winner was the 1997 Vat 1. It's the best White I have had. And you know what ... ? It was the cheapest wine of the night, even in magnum format. Hopefully you have a few more tucked away, so you get to try it with even more bottle ageing.

Thanks for sharing - very jealous!

Unfortunately, that was the last of the Vat1s I had. The others I had clearly drunk far too young. The 2005 was just in the process of changing into a more aged Hunter Semillon and was perfect simply because of being in that intermediate stage.

Just had the first half of a 2006 Main Ridge Estate The Half Acre tonight. It was even better than the 2006 The Acre in the sense of being a little more gutsy. That was the end of my 2006 MRE Pinots .

 

[Wozza]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

I promised to give my review of the Parous Barossa Valley Shiraz 2012.



Unfortunately for me, this is a work in progress that I am not willing to be patient over. On Vivino I just posted the following review:

http://www.vivino.com/wines/65369682

"I had high hopes for this after the Mclaren Vale 2010 had got such acclaim. My fault - I purchased thinking it would be the next incarnation from the Vale, and I failed to spot it had shifted providence to the Barossa. At present, this is just too young for me. It has a heady, alcoholic nose, with a mix of dark fruits and oaky-woodiness. The palate is lovely, with fine cherries and blackberries. But the oak is just too dominant at this young stage. For the patient, this will no doubt evolve into a nice wine."

For the (under $20) price, this is a lovely wine. It's just not for me, and doesn't seem to match the higher heights of the Parous McLaren Vale 2010. My mistake - I saw Parous and pulled the BOOM one click trigger, thinking it was going to be of the same ilk.

Does anybody in Sydney want to buy the remaining 5 bottles before they end up in the next Salvation Case? It would be ashame if they did, as they are pretty nice wines, and have fallen foul to my lack of due diligence.