Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[TomVexille]

As 2016 was drawing in, our family were doing what we love best - sharing a great meal and some laughs, and letting the kids run riot with our nearest and dearest friends. And of course, we shared that wonderful experience with a nice bottle of wine. And the special wine for this special time of year was the:

Wynns Coonawarra Limited Release John Riddoch Cabernet Sauvignon 1999

Yes - that is a magnum! I picked this absolute classic up from a Grays auction for a complete steal, paying $135 plus buyers premium. That's not much over the price of a single bottle and this was one of the reverred vintages too.

The bottle and cork were in perfect condition - which I have come to expect from Grays Fine Wine auctions. And after a bit of air time, I took my first sniff to see if I had got lucky. I had. There was that distinctive old school lawyers office - filled with leather clad mahogany table and leather chairs - kind of smell. The sort of smell you only get from top quality, aged fine wines.

On Vivino I commented as follows:

http://www.vivino.com/wines/9235185

"A legendary 4.1 from me. This Wynns flagship wine is only made in exceptional years from the top 1% of Wynns Cab Sauv vines. It's one of the best Coonawarra Cabs I have tried. Surprisingly, it still packs a punch after 16+ years. The colour - dark burgundy. The nose and palate reveal rich, dark cherries and blackberries, old leather, and a touch of white pepper and violets from the oak. The tannins are still tight and concentrated, and as expected, a little powdery. In magnum form this was 5 yrs past its best for me. But I prefer my wines in that 6-9 year pocket. Glad we opened it on this fitting NYE night. Happy New Year all."

Now just like our friendships that have blossomed over time, so too has this Coonawarra classic. It is always a blessing sharing life's great moments with your nearest and dearest, and it is always that little bit better when you do so with a wonderful bottle of wine.

Happy New Year one and all ...


See blog: https://2blokesintrouble.wordpress.com/2015/12/31/happy-new-year/

I need to start coming over to your house...

New Year's Eve. Amazing how many bottles ....cough....six people can consume:shock:View attachment 61582Wishing all AFFers a happy, healthy and vinous 2016!

And yours :mrgreen:

How was the Clos Otto?

 

[TheRealTMA]

Did you run into Amaroo? I think the Amaroo-pack are in Venice...

No they left to make room for us some days ago I believe.

 

[Wozza]

I must admit, I have been drinking some seriously nice wine over the last few weeks. But tonight, I went back to the bottom shelf of my - drink now - cabinet, and tried an $8 purchase from VinoMofo. And what a lovely wine for such a ridiculous price. It was:

the Capel Vale Cellar Exclusive Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2013



On Vivino I posted the following tasting note:

http://www.vivino.com/wines/86832973

"A 'not bad' 3.5 from me, with a 0.2 nudge up for price versus experience. The label says this is a limited release when Capel Vale achieves an exceptional varietal wine from the Cool Climate vineyards of the Margaret River. For $8, VinoMofo have sourced and priced this exceptionally well. The nose is sweet and heady. But the palate is medium bodied and elegant - with mulberries, blackberries, a hint of bay leaf and cigar box, leading to a warm mouthfill of light white pepper that lingers nicely. Very nice."

​

Having been very fortunate to try some amazing wines from a 2005 Langtons 6 Pack I treated myself to at the end of this year, it was pleasantly surprising to find this really cheap wine delivering well above its price point. Well done VinoMofo - you have done it again - delivering a decent wine for an exceptional price.

It has left me feeling a little guilty for Capel Vale, as this wine is much better than $8 ...


See my blog titled: From the High Life to Hobo - https://2blokesintrouble.wordpress.com/2016/01/03/from-the-high-life-to-hobo/

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

I need to start coming over to your house...



And yours :mrgreen:

How was the Clos Otto?

Hey! Get in line
I've been asking for.. Years

 

[AnonymousCoward]

A few nice wines drunk over the holiday break (aside from champagne)

Firstly, a 2004 eponymous Yeringberg. Fantastic bordeaux style blend, with plummy/spice taste and great tannins - a very smooth, smooth drop right now.



In marked contrast to the Eileen Hardy 2004 Shiraz, which was full of immense fruits of all descriptions and huge grippy tannins. I'm guessing this will continue to age into the medium future:



One I thought had probably been ruined (cooked in the pre-Christmas heat) actually turned out just fine - Heathcoate Estate Shiraz 2002. A nice blend of restrained cherry-like fruit and similarly restrained tannins. Nothing jumped out when I had a small glass upon opening (aka, smooth, restrained, no astringency or alcohol heat, maybe a bit simple even), but when I turned around a short while later, our guests had guzzled the bottle! So I guess it was enjoyed.



And lastly, tonight's bottle to mark the end of the holiday season before a return to (formal) work: BVE E&E Black Pepper Shiraz 2005:



Cherries and other dark berries on the nose - that coupled with a hint of vanilla and a few other flavours (maybe licorice?) on the palete. Tannins are nicely in-balance with the fruity flavours. About half-way through the bottle, so hopefully it'll hold up for the rest of the evening. Salute!

PS It's taken a few years from moving back from overseas to build a decent collection of aged (and aging wine), to the point where I'm not afraid of drinking something because it's not going to be replaced. The last 4-5 months, we've started digging into the older stuff, without worrying we're going to run out (and also giving the age-worthy stuff time to age). I definitely think I'm being spoiled by some of the older stuff - whilst there are quite a few amazing deals on VM for good quality younger wines, the older stuff - particularly the cabernets, really do stand out.

PPS There was one other great wine we had - the Willoughby Park Kalgan Ironrock Chardonnay 2012 (the Shiraz is also great drinking). Halliday gave it 97, and, whilst I'm not a huge Chardonnay drinker (I just dip into what the SO is drinking), I really did enjoy this one. I don't know if it was the minerality, or it having more complex flavours, but it was a pleasure to drink IMHO.

 

[beefarmer]

I must say your blog is a ripper and provides such ease of reading. Just don't bring this cheap %$(&* next Wednesday. Of course, I jest. Yum, charred cigar box flavour. Perchance Romeo y juleita No1 or No2, or Vegueros in the small box. Then again, the beautiful but not made in Havana but in the you ess of a, the Hav-a-lampa Vanilla jewels. Probably the best allround cigar anyone can ever have with a lingering vanilla flavour reminiscent of some over done French barriques. Didn't think so !

 

[Wozza]

A few nice wines drunk over the holiday break (aside from champagne)

Firstly, a 2004 eponymous Yeringberg. Fantastic bordeaux style blend, with plummy/spice taste and great tannins - a very smooth, smooth drop right now.

View attachment 61803

In marked contrast to the Eileen Hardy 2004 Shiraz, which was full of immense fruits of all descriptions and huge grippy tannins. I'm guessing this will continue to age into the medium future:

View attachment 61804

One I thought had probably been ruined (cooked in the pre-Christmas heat) actually turned out just fine - Heathcoate Estate Shiraz 2002. A nice blend of restrained cherry-like fruit and similarly restrained tannins. Nothing jumped out when I had a small glass upon opening (aka, smooth, restrained, no astringency or alcohol heat, maybe a bit simple even), but when I turned around a short while later, our guests had guzzled the bottle! So I guess it was enjoyed.

View attachment 61806

And lastly, tonight's bottle to mark the end of the holiday season before a return to (formal) work: BVE E&E Black Pepper Shiraz 2005:

View attachment 61805

Cherries and other dark berries on the nose - that coupled with a hint of vanilla and a few other flavours (maybe licorice?) on the palete. Tannins are nicely in-balance with the fruity flavours. About half-way through the bottle, so hopefully it'll hold up for the rest of the evening. Salute!

PS It's taken a few years from moving back from overseas to build a decent collection of aged (and aging wine), to the point where I'm not afraid of drinking something because it's not going to be replaced. The last 4-5 months, we've started digging into the older stuff, without worrying we're going to run out (and also giving the age-worthy stuff time to age). I definitely think I'm being spoiled by some of the older stuff - whilst there are quite a few amazing deals on VM for good quality younger wines, the older stuff - particularly the cabernets, really do stand out.

PPS There was one other great wine we had - the Willoughby Park Kalgan Ironrock Chardonnay 2012 (the Shiraz is also great drinking). Halliday gave it 97, and, whilst I'm not a huge Chardonnay drinker (I just dip into what the SO is drinking), I really did enjoy this one. I don't know if it was the minerality, or it having more complex flavours, but it was a pleasure to drink IMHO.

Great TNs AC.

I too really enjoy the Willoughby Park Kalgan Ironrock Chardonnay 2012, and glad I have a fair few left.

Just checked back to my Vivino tasting note, and noted I really liked the fresh fruit flavours, the acid lift and the slightly minerally crisp finish: http://www.vivino.com/wines/31114067

Enjoy the rest of that E&E. Such a lovely wine.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Cafe Quadri Restaurant Piazza St Marco Venice.


And a lovely Giacomo Conterno Barbera.


And stroll after dinner

 

[ste667]

I must admit, I have been drinking some seriously nice wine over the last few weeks. But tonight, I went back to the bottom shelf of my - drink now - cabinet, and tried an $8 purchase from VinoMofo. And what a lovely wine for such a ridiculous price. It was:

the Capel Vale Cellar Exclusive Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2013



On Vivino I posted the following tasting note:

http://www.vivino.com/wines/86832973

"A 'not bad' 3.5 from me, with a 0.2 nudge up for price versus experience. The label says this is a limited release when Capel Vale achieves an exceptional varietal wine from the Cool Climate vineyards of the Margaret River. For $8, VinoMofo have sourced and priced this exceptionally well. The nose is sweet and heady. But the palate is medium bodied and elegant - with mulberries, blackberries, a hint of bay leaf and cigar box, leading to a warm mouthfill of light white pepper that lingers nicely. Very nice."

​

Having been very fortunate to try some amazing wines from a 2005 Langtons 6 Pack I treated myself to at the end of this year, it was pleasantly surprising to find this really cheap wine delivering well above its price point. Well done VinoMofo - you have done it again - delivering a decent wine for an exceptional price.

It has left me feeling a little guilty for Capel Vale, as this wine is much better than $8 ...


See my blog titled: From the High Life to Hobo - https://2blokesintrouble.wordpress.com/2016/01/03/from-the-high-life-to-hobo/

This has just been restocked in today's Black Market for those swayed by Wozza's review (as I was).

$10 this time round though..

 

[AnonymousCoward]

This has just been restocked in today's Black Market for those swayed by Wozza's review (as I was).

$10 this time round though..

Pretty sure it was $9.90 last time as well. May have been cheaper if it was offered before that...

Cabernet Sauvignon

Margaret River

2013

$33

$9.90

Capel Vale Cellar Exclusive Margaret River

#4120

WS93, Red 5 Star

 

[Rocket09]

Pretty sure that's what I paid for it also. It's 70% and rrp hasn't changed so Wozza may have had credit or just got the numbers wrong. Still good for under a tenner, think I only have a few left.

 

[Wozza]

Pretty sure that's what I paid for it also. It's 70% and rrp hasn't changed so Wozza may have had credit or just got the numbers wrong. Still good for under a tenner, think I only have a few left.

When I Google searched the Capel Vale, I came up with an old cached Black Market deal for the Cab Sauv that came in at $96 for 12.

I [most likely!!] got it wrong and will defer to the more accurate record keepers on here, like AC. At under or around $10 a bottle, it is a great price. I wouldn't feel hard done by paying more for that wine. It was a nice mid-week drinker.

 

[Sedimental]

How was the Clos Otto?

Apologies for the tardy TN, been busy entertaining house guests!

2008 Hentley Farm Clos Otto

A little like watching Spectre immediately after viewing Skyfall, I was concerned the Clos Otto would pale in comparison to the preceding Rockford Black Shiraz and '99 Eileen Hardy. Thankfully this wasn't the case, nor was opening it now infanticide. An impressive deep purple in the glass with a lifted nose of blackberries. The palate was plummy but not porty with chocolate and judicious lashings of vanillin oak, all intertwined with supple supportive tannins. The finish was long and strong, unlike the Chateau Margaux! Great now, or in a decade. A wonderfully subtle yet powerful wine.

 

[Wozza]

Apologies for the tardy TN, been busy entertaining house guests!

2008 Hentley Farm Clos Otto

A little like watching Spectre immediately after viewing Skyfall, I was concerned the Clos Otto would pale in comparison to the preceding Rockford Black Shiraz and '99 Eileen Hardy. Thankfully this wasn't the case, nor was opening it now infanticide. An impressive deep purple in the glass with a lifted nose of blackberries. The palate was plummy but not porty with chocolate and judicious lashings of vanillin oak, all intertwined with supple supportive tannins. The finish was long and strong, unlike the Chateau Margaux! Great now, or in a decade. A wonderfully subtle yet powerful wine.

Awesome TN, Sedimental. What lucky dinner guests!

 

[TheRealTMA]

Restaurant La Caravelle in Venice. Nice wines from FVG from Collio.
First a Sauvignon.

Then a very interesting 2011 Merlot.

 

[Wozza]

Spot the question mark?!

Anybody guess where I was today and can see the run-of-the-mill wine I was drinking this afternoon ...?

Clue: it was very wet - all day!!

 

[Sedimental]

Shock, horror! You weren't drinking pink blush?!

 

[amaroo]

Today was a gorgeous sunny day in Bergen

Enjoyed this 2010 Barolo with some lovely Reindeer fillet - both were excellent!

 

[blackcat20]

Today was a gorgeous sunny day in Bergen

Enjoyed this 2010 Barolo with some lovely Reindeer fillet - both were excellent!

You ate Rudolph?! :shock:

 

[TheRealTMA]

Very interesting Sardinian Cannonau in Venice tonight