Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

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To "celebrate" another Trump victory on his way to make America great again (a great joke that is) I found this already great American Syrah in my dad's cellar.

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Full bodied drop, was perfect pair to bbq spare ribs.
 
Had a couple of spare hours so headed out to the Bickley Valley in the Perth Hills. Visited Cosham Winery. They are small. Very small. What you see is their entire vineyard.
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Their wines are incredibly good value for money in my opinion. They also release the wines with some serious bottle age. The youngest current release is 2009 and the older is their 100% PN sparkling which is 2006 and has eight years on lees.

My pick of the wines is the sparkling, the 2008 Chardonnay and 2008 Cab Merlot (which also has small quantities of Cab Franc and PV).
 
Found this in the cellar....Tait Basket Pressed Shiraz 2003...... medium to full body, liquorice allsorts ....plums ....last of the sweetness from the American oak. Belies it's age...nice drop.

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Jef6050 said:
AC - how was this? I received a couple bottles as a gift of an younger vintage. Yet to try.
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I gave it a 94 on CellarTracker (which I think is the highest score I've given anything I've rated there - only just started doing that this year though).

Paired with mushroom risotto, smoked herring croquets and some veal and rice dish, at pop-up restaurant down the street. It had a really nice balance of fruit and spice on the palate, with smooth, smooth tannins. It was an exquisite feeling tasting and drinking. I can't say the voignier played a big part in the experience, but it just had this great balance. I wish I could say more, but my sinuses were playing up a bit, limiting what I could smell. Lots of sediment though (luckily most of it stayed in the bottle), so just be aware if you get the same vintage.

Around the same price bracket in recent times I've also had a 2006 Clarendon Hills Australis, and both had this "wow" factor on the palate. I don't know if that's just some psychological trick my mind is playing on me because I "know" that the wine is supposed to be good, but I honestly think that both of these tastings have, in my mind, led me to understand why they are some of Australia's premier wines. Whether they are worth 3-4x a good $50/wine, I'm not sure - a step up, but not a 300% step up. But it's nice to be able to tap one of these one special occasions.
 
AnonymousCoward said:
I gave it a 94 on CellarTracker (which I think is the highest score I've given anything I've rated there - only just started doing that this year though).

Paired with mushroom risotto, smoked herring croquets and some veal and rice dish, at pop-up restaurant down the street. It had a really nice balance of fruit and spice on the palate, with smooth, smooth tannins. It was an exquisite feeling tasting and drinking. I can't say the voignier played a big part in the experience, but it just had this great balance. I wish I could say more, but my sinuses were playing up a bit, limiting what I could smell. Lots of sediment though (luckily most of it stayed in the bottle), so just be aware if you get the same vintage.

Around the same price bracket in recent times I've also had a 2006 Clarendon Hills Australis, and both had this "wow" factor on the palate. I don't know if that's just some psychological trick my mind is playing on me because I "know" that the wine is supposed to be good, but I honestly think that both of these tastings have, in my mind, led me to understand why they are some of Australia's premier wines. Whether they are worth 3-4x a good $50/wine, I'm not sure - a step up, but not a 300% step up. But it's nice to be able to tap one of these one special occasions.
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Great note, AC.

I get that wow factor you speak of. The last RunRig (2005) I tried, Christmas just gone, had 4 or 5 adults wowing over it, who were keen to know what they were drinking. I didn't say anything about the wine until that point. Few wines invoke that reaction, but the RunRig was certainly one of them (another Torbreck - the Les Amis 2009 had a similar reaction at a wine tasting event). I'm trying to find a good excuse to drink it! But at a knock-down $155 a bottle, I'm apprehensive about when to open it, as I want to ensure its drunk by people that will appreciate it! Maybe I'll organise a Friday lunch to share it. Watch this space Wine Lovers ...

Turning to a wine I tasted last night. I opened the:

Adelaide Winemakers Quorum Shiraz 2010

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I had low expectations based on reviews from last year. But it turned out to be a nice wine:

2010 Adelaide Winemakers Shiraz Quorum, Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale - CellarTracker

http://www.vivino.com/wines/23718875

"This is very French, and a 93+/100 (3.9/5.0) from me. This Shiraz hails from McLaren Vale, but it tastes like its from Bordeaux! This Nick Halesgrove wine is matured in American and French Oak for 26 months (20% new, 80% seasoned). Halliday gave it 93, noting in March 2015 that it needed "time for the various components to get to know one another".

That seems to have happened, as sweet blackberries and plums juxtapose against savoury rosemary, sage, lavender, peppermint and black pepper notes on the bright nose and medium-bodied palate. No great length, but very drinkable.

At just under $20 from VinoMofo ($50 Cellar Door) it's a great buy. I'll space the other 5 over the next 4 years and see if they develop any further. They are certainly in their drinking window now."
 
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Wozza said:
(another Torbreck - the Les Amis 2009 had a similar reaction at a wine tasting event). I'm trying to find a good excuse to drink it! But at a knock-down $155 a bottle, I'm apprehensive about when to open it, as I want to ensure its drunk by people that will appreciate it!
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Throw it in with the Run Rig at the after party in your office - I have no doubt it will be appreciated :lol:
 
Visits to Bolgeri today. First Ornellaia
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View of Ornellaia Cabernet vineyard with fortessa of Marchese Nicolo’ Incisa della Rocchetta( the owner of Tenuta San Guido) on the hill in background.
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Could not get a visit to Sassicaia but made it to Osteria San Guido for lunch and tastings.
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Apologies for not bringing some cases home for AFF WWs.
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Lovely piccione for secondo.
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