Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[AnonymousCoward]

An old shiraz and a Bordeaux/St Estephe Cru Bourgeois Superior from Chateau Beau-Site (before that classification system was annulled) Nice enough but nothing spectacular - would drink these now if you have any.

 

[cove]

Has anyone tried the Cullen's Vanya? I bought three and maybe someone has been an early tester.

 

[Daver6]

How was the Lovedale?

Tasting note for it from the group...

Mount Pleasant Lovedale 1996 (Hunter Valley, 10.5% alcohol): Deep gold bordering on orange. The first impression on the nose was (surprisingly) kole beer, followed by boiled lollies, candied lime, honey, toast – a very intense and complex nose. The palate shows sour lemon, a slight oiliness, and I felt the palate faded slightly and was slightly rounded. There’s still cleansing acid leading to a medium length finish. Overall, very well balanced. Unfortunately, not in as good condition as the magnum of 1996 Elizabeth (the wine’s little sister) that I opened earlier this month, and this just may be a function of bottle age and cork, not the initial wine quality.

 

[Wozza]

Has anyone tried the Cullen's Vanya? I bought three and maybe someone has been an early tester.

I remember getting the member email and really wanting to get some of the Vanya Cab Sauv 12. But it was way beyond my budget. So I haven't tried it. But it's near the top of my bucket list.

Just checking Vivino, there are 6 reviews with a staggering average score of 4.9 out of 5! Kind of endorses the 99 points Halliday gave it. There are no Cellar Tracker reviews. With a Halliday drinking window of up to 45 years, it must have some serious horsepower under that cork. Maybe all this means it's drinking well at this very early stage, but no doubt it will develop even more over time.

If I was in your (enviable) position, I would drink the three at 10 years, 15 years and 20 years. I'm not a huge fan of the super aged wines, but it sounds like you could easily do every 10 or 15 years for your three bottles, depending on your own taste preferences.

Can't wait to see your review when you do open them. GREEN WITH ENVY!!

 

[Steady]

The afternoon started with an 08 Noble Mud Pie I picked up from the Cellar door. It was a joy to drink while doing some bread baking and roasting dinner

I moved onto an 02 Pyrenees Shiraz with dinner - it is a peppery Shiraz with a little more drying tannin than I prefer and next to no fruit. It is is a very deep dark red in colour and has a lovely nose.

 

[cove]

45 years is past my use by date so I now have to think what do I need to drink sooner rather than later. It is ok for me to make wines rarer by drinking some now. I love Silver Oak in California and 707 and Diana in Australia. My cardiologist approves.

 

[Kohen]

Stag Night Line Up

Highlights where: 04 Basket Press, 06 Torbreck The Struie, Sami Odi Little Wine 5, Biondi Santi Sassaoalloro 10, Rudderless Graciano Malbec 12

Disappointment was the Greenock Creek 05 Cabernet, long decant, no benefit, such an unyielding wine - no more GC for me!

 

[TheRealTMA]

Sunday night Pinots: shipment from Pisa Range arrived this week. First pick is brilliant wine. Lovely floral nose with forest floor characters. Bright chewy tannins with long finish.


Get some if you can.
Ref:http://www.pisarangeestate.co.nz/our-wines-pdfs/Black-Poplar-Block-Pinot-Noir-2012.pdf

 

[Steady]

After all the talk about the 14 Maverick Twins GSM I decided I should try one for myself.

I wish it was more like the 13 - I get white pepper and not enough fruit. While I don't find the White pepper too much I'm disappointed and it is not what I like from a GSM. I have lots of quaffers I love, while this is is ok I am leaning towards returning - I will try another in a few months and decide then

 

[penegal]

Get some if you can.
Ref:http://www.pisarangeestate.co.nz/our-wines-pdfs/Black-Poplar-Block-Pinot-Noir-2012.pdf

Central Otago Pinot really does impress.

I think I need to organise another visit.

 

[Steady]

Sunday night Pinots: shipment from Pisa Range arrived this week. First pick is brilliant wine. Lovely floral nose with forest floor characters. Bright chewy tannins with long finish.

Get some if you can.
Ref:http://www.pisarangeestate.co.nz/our-wines-pdfs/Black-Poplar-Block-Pinot-Noir-2012.pdf

Central Otago Pinot really does impress.

I think I need to organise another visit.

Someone say they are organising a 3 day NZ wine tour?

 

[beefarmer]

After all the talk about the 14 Maverick Twins GSM I decided I should try one for myself.
View attachment 66988
I wish it was more like the 13 - I get white pepper and not enough fruit. While I don't find the White pepper too much I'm disappointed and it is not what I like from a GSM. I have lots of quaffers I love, while this is is ok I am leaning towards returning - I will try another in a few months and decide then

SO YU CANNNT HANDLE THE TRUTH
YU CANT HANDLE THE PEPPER EITHER
JUST RETURN THE DAMN THING STEADY
ANOTHER ONE WILL ALWAYS BE READY !


Just enjoying myself this very pleasant Melbourne Autumn evening with a couple of nice ones.

We all know these types....the ones that on the first bottle we are truly enamoured, enchanted and thoroughly wowed with. So when we get back to the same one weeks, months, maybe years later, we have this retrograde memory for them. We have this ability to remember a wine that really impresses us from a while back. Bottle numero uno, 2012 Briarose Merlot. I had this a year ago and thought it tasted purple. This afternoon, I looked purple. It is truly wonderful. A Grays wine I think about 19 months ago, this West Oz wine is simply divine. It just hits the straps beautifully.

The second, another Grays from the same era is the Gilded Lily Grenache 2012. I think it's a Pirraminna. As the Weber was doing its thing with the lamb shoulder, I snook off and indulged again with a second. This Grenache. Bloody lovely it was, full of density, full of flavour, a hint of pepper on the palate but just loved it. I was just thinking that it was a fantastic wine for the bugger all that I paid for it. So much personal enjoyment from a wine that provides so much satisfaction, so little in the way of anything lacking that it's a beautiful wine. Sometimes you don't need words !

 

[Steady]

SO YU CANNNT HANDLE THE TRUTH
YU CANT HANDLE THE PEPPER EITHER
JUST RETURN THE DAMN THING STEADY
ANOTHER ONE WILL ALWAYS BE READY

No need to yell at me beefarmer :shock: I will likely take your advice

 

[TheRealTMA]

Central Otago Pinot really does impress.

I think I need to organise another visit.

Seems only fair! Do visit Pisa Range and Mt Edward. Most interesting and amusing smaller wine makers who produce exceptional Pinots. (Advance booking required.)

Let me know when your going!

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Another couple of oldies: Petaluma Merlot 1999 and Mollydooker Enchanted Path Shiraz/Cab Sauv 2006



Wasn't sure the Petaluma was going to be any good on opening, but the cork was good, so left it for an hour, and it turned out to be OK. Good floral/fruity flavours on the nose and palate.

The Mollydooker Enchanted Path was good drinking. Huge 16% alcohol, but drinking quite smoothly. More cabernet than shiraz IMHO, with herbal and spicey notes complementing the fruit. Tannins well integrated.

 

[penegal]

Someone say they are organising a 3 day NZ wine tour?

Seems only fair! Do visit Pisa Range and Mt Edward. Most interesting and amusing smaller wine makers who produce exceptional Pinots. (Advance booking required.)

Let me know when your going!

haha, It won't be until after I move house, but I will make note of it and let people know once planning is properly underway. Probably a bit harder to co-ordinate a big group, but we might be able to do a mini-bus size if there is enough interest.

 

[Steady]

haha, It won't be until after I move house, but I will make note of it and let people know once planning is properly underway. Probably a bit harder to co-ordinate a big group, but we might be able to do a mini-bus size if there is enough interest.

Keep me in mind if you do

 

[Wozza]

I know there are some big Pinot Noir fans on here, so you may appreciate my little note on the so well made:

Hoddles Creek 1er Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2014



I have just posted the following tasting note on Vivino and Cellar Tracker:

2014 Hoddles Creek Pinot Noir 1er, Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley - CellarTracker

http://www.vivino.com/users/8818052/activities/92041699

"Wow. A military precision 4.2 (C.T. 95) from me. 1er stands for Premier and denotes the reserve level of wines for this multi award winning Yarra Valley winery. Gary Walsh at Winefront gave this Pinot Noir a deserved 95. On the nose, intense cherries, mulberries and a touch of white pepper. The palate is super smooth and so well put together, as fine cherries, mulberries, earth and a touch of spice flow seamlessly through the mouth. Military precision here. It's well worth a try if you enjoy your Pinot Noir."

At $49 cellar door, it's about right for this excellent wine. Certainly well recommended by me if you haven't tried it.


Note: C.T. stands for Cellar Tracker score out of 100.

 

[Steady]

Sunday night Pinots: shipment from Pisa Range arrived this week. First pick is brilliant wine. Lovely floral nose with forest floor characters. Bright chewy tannins with long finish.
Get some if you can.
Ref:http://www.pisarangeestate.co.nz/our-wines-pdfs/Black-Poplar-Block-Pinot-Noir-2012.pdf

What is the going rate on wine deliveries into Oz from NZ?

 

[penegal]

What is the going rate on wine deliveries into Oz from NZ?

No idea, but you will need to pay duty/tax on top of the delivery fee.

FWIW, when buying international wine it is usually best to go through an importer or retailer in Australia. Whilst you are obviously paying a margin to them, they take care of all the BS getting the product into the country and to you.

Alternatively visit the region and bring it in yourself and declare it. Most personal quantities of wine (e.g. lower alcohol than straight spirits) tend to get waved through upon declaration. e.g. Declare, "do the right thing". The duty would be a few bucks and generally more manpower is used calculating and collecting it, than the duty is worth, so they just wave you through. Worst case you pay your $10 in duty, but avoid being on TV as an evil drug importer.


Edit - Quick google indicates you may need to pay WET on imports, even if the wine is for your own private consumption.