Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[blackcat20]

Some of the tasty morsels that disappeared from my cellar during the last week

Looks like youve had a lovely weekend!

 

[beefarmer]

[h=3]Huon Hooke[/h]

Prolific Australian wine reviewer for Fairfax Media and huonhooke.com

More about Huon Hooke
[h=3]Vintage 2014[/h]Ranked 3 of 51 2014 Shiraz tasted from Barossa Valley
The colour is deep, dense glowing purple-red, the bouquet is loaded with dark chocolate, mocha, espresso coffee and vanilla, while the palate is full-bodied and bold, bright and fresh, but also fleshy and smooth as satin. The depth of flavour achieved with such an abundance of soft tannins is truly extraordinary. A quite amazing wine.

Now the wine above is one that was had at an AFF dinner but a different year I think. It refers to a wine I had never heard of before, so I like to do a bit of digging and the above came up from the Dan Murphys website.

My thoughts on this relate to the wine critic Hookey. Most of us would probably think that he does a good job, is fair and reasonable and probably does not score as highly as Halliday. Or the Dan Murphy's wine panel, although to be fair, The panel has ranked wines lower. When you are dealing with thousands of wines, this is going to happen. Hookey scored this shiraz 94 points, the Gibson the dirtman 2014. It ranked 3rd best barossan out of 51 yet he scored it a 94.

Two other wines may have scored 94 as well, Maybe 95 and 96. maybe 96 99. Dunno, but my query relates to peoples' confidence with a hookey 94 pointer.

Slap a halliday 96 points on a fo special and off it sells. What would a hookey number be for a halliday 96er?

Many stunning wines have clearly been enjoyed by members.

 

[Buzzard]

Looks like youve had a lovely weekend!

Consumed during the last week, most were 375ml bottles

 

[ste667]

View attachment 75332

Definite points for artistic impression!

 

[AnonymousCoward]

but my query relates to peoples' confidence with a hookey 94 pointer.

My only issue with Huon is sometimes he reviews are way of out of whack with everyone else's. Nothing wrong with that - it just reflects his tastes. You just need to see if you align to those tastes or not.

DM wine panel ratings are worthless IMHO - there's no real way to understand what their rating scale is, or compare their scores en-mass to anyone else's.

The www.wine-searcher.com is probably a good aggregation site, as it gives you ratings from a wide variety of reviewers, plus the crowd-sourced CellarTracker scores. If 500+ people have reviewed something on CT, then you can have a high degree of confidence as to what the wine's going to be like.

 

[Rug]

My only issue with Huon is sometimes he reviews are way of out of whack with everyone else's. Nothing wrong with that - it just reflects his tastes. You just need to see if you align to those tastes or not.

DM wine panel ratings are worthless IMHO - there's no real way to understand what their rating scale is, or compare their scores en-mass to anyone else's.

The www.wine-searcher.com is probably a good aggregation site, as it gives you ratings from a wide variety of reviewers, plus the crowd-sourced CellarTracker scores. If 500+ people have reviewed something on CT, then you can have a high degree of confidence as to what the wine's going to be like.

Agreed. Its easier when there are more than one review such as JH;CM;RJ to compare or average out.

 

[Steady]

Some of the tasty morsels that disappeared from my cellar during the last week

I enjoyed a 2011 St Halletts Blackwell Shiraz on Friday night - drinking very nicely for an '11

 

[TheRealTMA]

Huon Hooke

Prolific Australian wine reviewer for Fairfax Media and huonhooke.com

More about Huon Hooke
Vintage 2014

Ranked 3 of 51 2014 Shiraz tasted from Barossa Valley
The colour is deep, dense glowing purple-red, the bouquet is loaded with dark chocolate, mocha, espresso coffee and vanilla, while the palate is full-bodied and bold, bright and fresh, but also fleshy and smooth as satin. The depth of flavour achieved with such an abundance of soft tannins is truly extraordinary. A quite amazing wine.

Now the wine above is one that was had at an AFF dinner but a different year I think. It refers to a wine I had never heard of before, so I like to do a bit of digging and the above came up from the Dan Murphys website.

My thoughts on this relate to the wine critic Hookey. Most of us would probably think that he does a good job, is fair and reasonable and probably does not score as highly as Halliday. Or the Dan Murphy's wine panel, although to be fair, The panel has ranked wines lower. When you are dealing with thousands of wines, this is going to happen. Hookey scored this shiraz 94 points, the Gibson the dirtman 2014. It ranked 3rd best barossan out of 51 yet he scored it a 94.

Two other wines may have scored 94 as well, Maybe 95 and 96. maybe 96 99. Dunno, but my query relates to peoples' confidence with a hookey 94 pointer.

Slap a halliday 96 points on a fo special and off it sells. What would a hookey number be for a halliday 96er?

Many stunning wines have clearly been enjoyed by members.

I often have a much different opinion to HH, but IMHO that's really down to personal taste and palate. One needs to understand the flavour profile that a specific taster likes or rates highly, then make your own adjustment for that.

plus, VIP, you must compare like with like. If it's a different year then it's a completely different wine.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

I enjoyed a 2011 St Halletts Blackwell Shiraz on Friday night - drinking very nicely for an '11

How's the going? I tried a couple back in 2014 and found them a bit sharp. Gave a couple away, and I think I have two left. Worth keeping for a bit longer? or at their best now?

Generally try to avoid 2011 from SA, but from what I understand no Old Block was made in 2011 - all grapes declassified to Blackwell etc, so took a punt.

 

[Steady]

How's the going? I tried a couple back in 2014 and found them a bit sharp. Gave a couple away, and I think I have two left. Worth keeping for a bit longer? or at their best now?

Generally try to avoid 2011 from SA, but from what I understand no Old Block was made in 2011 - all grapes declassified to Blackwell etc, so took a punt.

I found it very smooth and balanced - no sharpness. I have not had any other Blackwell Vintages to compare it with but if this is considered a poor one I would be happy to try the others. My last one was 12 months ago (I love Cellartracker) and it has improved but I don't think it it is close to its peak yet

 

[beefarmer]

While on the subject of nice wines, last week did some homework, went to Nicks and came home with a Linke Shiraz 2014, about 17 or 18bucks. Man o man, what a huge body on this one. The nicks review was quite accurate - again - as its really full on, and a bit closed at this early stage. But it is one for the long haul that really overdelivers.

Another from Dans was a Charles Cimicky Trumps shiraz 2014 which was allright, a thinner more approachable now style with brighter fruit. It too was a little closed , twas nice but no wow factor like the linke.

Third was a Dan staff members recommendation- Wicks Estate shirax 2014. From the Adelaide hills, this was a very nice one. Elegance of French oak was there, this was probably the most elegant wine at this stage. All were 2014's so a good triple comparison. the wicks had cherries and dark plums, and the fruitiest of all 3. What distracted was a slight rubbery odour at the end palate. Odd in a way.

Best of the lot - linke 2014 shiraz. For those that like a more full bodied experience ( 8.5/10 for body), this is a beaut. I kept thinking it could be a forty bucker.

 

[Rug]

While on the subject of nice wines, last week did some homework, went to Nicks and came home with a Linke Shiraz 2014, about 17 or 18bucks. Man o man, what a huge body on this one. The nicks review was quite accurate - again - as its really full on, and a bit closed at this early stage. But it is one for the long haul that really overdelivers.

Another from Dans was a Charles Cimicky Trumps shiraz 2014 which was allright, a thinner more approachable now style with brighter fruit. It too was a little closed , twas nice but no wow factor like the linke.

Third was a Dan staff members recommendation- Wicks Estate shirax 2014. From the Adelaide hills, this was a very nice one. Elegance of French oak was there, this was probably the most elegant wine at this stage. All were 2014's so a good triple comparison. the wicks had cherries and dark plums, and the fruitiest of all 3. What distracted was a slight rubbery odour at the end palate. Odd in a way.

Best of the lot - linke 2014 shiraz. For those that like a more full bodied experience ( 8.5/10 for body), this is a beaut. I kept thinking it could be a forty bucker.

Thanks for the heads up. Looks like I will have to place an order with Nicks. Cheers

 

[Daver6]

Just opened a 2008 Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay. My gosh its good. Incredibly complex nose, beautifully balanced with extreme length. I have one more bottle. Drink now but will keep for another few years with ease. 93 points.

 

[Whodoesthat]

A couple of w/e wines worth a mention.....cellar demand currently exceeding supply and need to add some quaffers

Grant Burge Filsell 2004 - Rarely disappoints and very tasty- Well rounded integrated palette,velvety chocolate and vanilla.A couple more years left.



Glenwillow Reserve Shiraz 2005 - Bendigo - From memory we tasted this at the Australian Small Winemakers show ..year?? Sourced a few bottles direct. Deep purple, quite bold fruit with eucaplypt on the nose. Good drinking.



The above two were the successes. Last night we opened a Wynn's Black 2008 Distinctly Cabernet on the nose, great colour however lacking substance, fruit washed out...sadly underwhelming.....can't have a win all the time.

 

[Sedimental]

A couple of w/e wines worth a mention.....cellar demand currently exceeding supply and need to add some quaffers

Grant Burge Filsell 2004 - Rarely disappoints and very tasty- Well rounded integrated palette,velvety chocolate and vanilla.A couple more years left.

View attachment 75378

Glenwillow Reserve Shiraz 2005 - Bendigo - From memory we tasted this at the Australian Small Winemakers show ..year?? Sourced a few bottles direct. Deep purple, quite bold fruit with eucaplypt on the nose. Good drinking.

View attachment 75379

The above two were the successes. Last night we opened a Wynn's Black 2008 Distinctly Cabernet on the nose, great colour however lacking substance, fruit washed out...sadly underwhelming.....can't have a win all the time.

View attachment 75380

"
Don't despair with the Wynns Black Label. My history with cellaring these is that it is going through what I call a "dumb period" and will open with a bit more time. Did you try aerating or decanting? Give it another couple of years and try another. I assume it has a screwcap like mine.
Now, more importantly, that wine rack on top of your fridge is a darn right disgrace! For heavens' sake, fill it up! If it was full of '04 Filsells and you've drunk them all, you're forgiven:!: As an aside, vibration can be cruel to wine storage so if your fridge tends to vibrate I'd consider moving the rack.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Sorry? Did I read that correctly? A wine storage rack " on top of the fridge"?

And you're worried that the Wynns isn't tasting as it should?

LOL. Made my evening....

 

[Whodoesthat]

Sedimental, yep, aerated after I was getting little in return. Have a number of vintages lurking and hope it's in transition, a few put away . The rack on the fridge is purely structural :shock: and only holds a couple of the wife's whites....for the week...very short term as we are living at the back of my nearly finished hoosee. The new cellar is in the main house and a bit of a trudge through the building site... , the others are resting....cheers

 

[Sedimental]

The new cellar is in the main house

Excellent! Does it have a barcode scanner, pizza delivery hatch, ensuite and bottle jettison shute in addition to that internal locking solid core door?

 

[beefarmer]

"
Don't despair with the Wynns Black Label. My history with cellaring these is that it is going through what I call a "dumb period" and will open with a bit more time. Did you try aerating or decanting? Give it another couple of years and try another. I assume it has a screwcap like mine.
Now, more importantly, that wine rack on top of your fridge is a darn right disgrace! For heavens' sake, fill it up! If it was full of '04 Filsells and you've drunk them all, you're forgiven:!: As an aside, vibration can be cruel to wine storage so if your fridge tends to vibrate I'd consider moving the rack.

Who would cook the meals, wash the clothes..................? Sven?

 

[Wozza]

So we have left Mageve in the foothills of Mont Blanc and trekked across to Barcelona for a few nights. Initial impressions are very positive - although it's probably a bit too bohemian for my church-mouse ways! I love all the little interconnecting streets and the relaxed way of life that is evident.


I also like the fact I can order a wine and learn of its providence. So much of what I drunk in the Alps was generally described by the AOP or something similar. Shame as even the ordinary stuff tasted pretty good.

After getting completely lost in the small streets of Barcelona. And after the two little ones got the hangries! We did find a lovely local tapas bar, serving great Catalan tapas with some nice wines. The wife's non-descript White was pretty good. As was my GMS blend:

the Terre de Mistral Vignons d'Estezargues 2014


On Vivino I posted the following tasting note:

http://www.vivino.com/users/warren-dav/reviews/49477950

"The European adventure continues to Barcelona. We find an authentic tapas bar with an authentic tourist-hating waiter! And this lovely Cote du Rhone (GMS) pops off the menu made by a 10 grower co-operative near Avignon. It's a natural wine that's fermented in traditional concrete cuves before being matured in tank, unoaked and bottled unfiltered. The med/light bodied wine has lightly concentrated plums and blackberries, some earth, a hint of salty hoy sin sauce and spice. It matched well with the spicy tapas dishes. A Wozza 90.5/100 (3.3/5.0) from me."