Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[Wozza]

Interesting experience, spending July in Europe. I got to try lots of Old World wines. Most were just drinkable quaffers. A few were sensational (thinking the 22 year old Faustino Gran Reserva: http://www.vivino.com/users/warren-dav/reviews/49196272 and the young Louis Jadot Meursault: http://www.vivino.com/users/warren-dav/reviews/49005804).

After drinking so much mediocre wine, though. I was desperate to try something special from home. So I rifled through a few boxes last night, and came across this:

the Balnaves The Tally Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2005


It was a fitting choice. As you'll discover from my tasting note below:

http://www.vivino.com/users/warren-dav/reviews/50490427

2005 Balnaves of Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon The Tally Reserve, Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra - CellarTracker

"The 'Tally' is only produced from the 12 blocks of the Balnaves (Coonawarra) vineyard in exceptional years. Balnaves is a small family owned vineyard that has gained a huge reputation, thanks in part to the consistently brilliant and age-worthy Tally Reserve Cab Sauv. This 2005 is classified 'Excellent' by Langtons and has a 96 from Halliday, amongst other accolades.

The nose is mesmerising, as blackberries, cassis, blackcurrants, violets, cedar oak and spices flood the senses. The palate is full, dense and tightly woven as those flavours unfurl, lift and linger in a manner fit for one of Australia's best Cab Sauv's. It still feels very youthful, and feels like it has easily another 10 years in the bottle before it drops from its peak. It's truly very special indeed. Hence a Wozza 95.5/100 (4.3/5.0) from me."

The only negative was the cork. That not only split into a hundred pieces. But ended up in the wine. Luckily a double decant saved the evening. And all was fine. I doubt I would have decanted it. But it's highly recommended. As it's a very tightly coiled wine without it.

It's good to be back. Have a lovely weekend one and all. Cheers, Wozza.

 

[penegal]

Something crisp and easy drinking with some Asian style fish and rice

Have you tried the Vine Vale?

 

[Delectable Blue]

Welcome back Wozza, we missed you.

The only negative was the cork. That not only split into a hundred pieces. But ended up in the wine. Luckily a double decant saved the evening. And all was fine.

It might be time to invest in an Ah-So cork puller. They are absolutely brilliant with dodgy corks. I rarely even look at my regular corkscrews anymore. If the wine has a cork I just grab the Ah-So and the cork is out. Quick easy and no more broken corks. I'd rate it as the best wine gadget I've ever purchased.

 

[Steady]

Welcome back Wozza, we missed you.



It might be time to invest in an Ah-So cork puller. They are absolutely brilliant with dodgy corks. I rarely even look at my regular corkscrews anymore. If the wine has a cork I just grab the Ah-So and the cork is out. Quick easy and no more broken corks. I'd rate it as the best wine gadget I've ever purchased.

This is one place you can pick them up

 

[Captain Halliday]

Late this afternoon a mate and I headed off for our pre-dinner drinks at Danny M's. What with it being a Friday we thought some Wynns might be on the table as a little aperitif. Veni vidi bibi. On tasting were only two Wynns, a 2013 Black shiraz and a 2014 Black classic Cabernet. I am not up to date with current releases but I thought both would be 2014.

Care to share your view on the two Wynns beefarmer? I'm considering taking an initial dozen on the Langtons $300/-$150 deal. @$16.25/btl it's a gimme, but should I snap the '13 Shiraz or the '14 Cab?

 

[AnonymousCoward]

This is one place you can pick them up

Also available at Victoria's Basement in the QVB

 

[Daver6]

Welcome back Wozza, we missed you.



It might be time to invest in an Ah-So cork puller. They are absolutely brilliant with dodgy corks. I rarely even look at my regular corkscrews anymore. If the wine has a cork I just grab the Ah-So and the cork is out. Quick easy and no more broken corks. I'd rate it as the best wine gadget I've ever purchased.

Forget the Ah-So. Go straight to a Durand https://thedurand.com/

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Forget the Ah-So. Go straight to a Durand https://thedurand.com/

It's like 10x the price, but doesn't do anything extra...

 

[Delectable Blue]

Forget the Ah-So. Go straight to a Durand https://thedurand.com/

Do you have a Durand? I'm genuinely interested in first hand accounts, especially with older wines.

I drink quite a few oldish Semillon (20+ years old) and the corks frequently get quite crumbly with age. With a regular cork screw it is always the pressure that the screw places on the cork internally that causes it to fracture and crumble. I looked at the Durand before purchasing the Ah-So. The thing that worries me about the Durand, is that is still uses a screw, which is still going to place internal pressure on the cork. In the end I decided to go with the safety of the Ah-So and it has been brilliant, even on very poor corks. I'm not sure what the value is in spending 7-10x as much on the Durand.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Tonight with Heston style 4 hr slow roasted @60C beef rib. Tasting lovely just opened, soft white pepper, rich and long finish. Should be excellent in 2 hrs.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Tonight with Heston style 4 hr slow roasted @60C beef rib. Tasting lovely just opened, soft white pepper, rich and long finish. Should be excellent in 2 hrs.

Would love to know how this gets on. Been looking at a few Gimblett gravels syrahs (one is even a 2010), and curious to know how you'd rate the vintage and the wine itself. I've heard it described as being similar to northern Rhone, which would be great, since these NZ bottles tend to be a lot cheaper than AOC Rhone stuff

 

[Daver6]

It's like 10x the price, but doesn't do anything extra...

See below...

Do you have a Durand? I'm genuinely interested in first hand accounts, especially with older wines.

I drink quite a few oldish Semillon (20+ years old) and the corks frequently get quite crumbly with age. With a regular cork screw it is always the pressure that the screw places on the cork internally that causes it to fracture and crumble. I looked at the Durand before purchasing the Ah-So. The thing that worries me about the Durand, is that is still uses a screw, which is still going to place internal pressure on the cork. In the end I decided to go with the safety of the Ah-So and it has been brilliant, even on very poor corks. I'm not sure what the value is in spending 7-10x as much on the Durand.

I have both. First got an Ah-So, then the Durand.

On some really old fragile corks, I've seen the Ah-So just push the cork in. Puting the Durand screw in first prevents this from happening. In other cases I've seen where an Ah-So twists without the corking moving. Again, wouldn't happen with a Durand.

It certainly does cost a lot more and in plenty of cases the Ah-So will do just fine. However, if you are going to the effort/expensive of an old wine, then it can be worth it.

I can see how my initial comment might have come off at a little flippant, so for that, I do apologise. As I said above, the Ah-So is a seriously good tool...but there are cases where the Durand is needed from my experience.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Would love to know how this gets on. Been looking at a few Gimblett gravels syrahs (one is even a 2010), and curious to know how you'd rate the vintage and the wine itself. I've heard it described as being similar to northern Rhone, which would be great, since these NZ bottles tend to be a lot cheaper than AOC Rhone stuff

Just tried first full glass. Superb. The pepper spice has mellowed and the tannins are softening . Another hour for the beef and probably for the wine, although may need a 2nd bottle by then.


(Apologies for the dirty oven.)

 

[blackcat20]

Started with the Innocent Bystander Syrah and about to move onto the Yalumba with some homemade pizza.

 

[vmile]

(Apologies for the dirty oven.)

Not sure what you are apologising for, looks pretty clean to me...

 

[ste667]

Started with the Innocent Bystander Syrah

Do you guys rate this wine? Am considering getting some but don't think I've ever had a Yarra Valley Syrah.

 

[beefarmer]

Care to share your view on the two Wynns beefarmer? I'm considering taking an initial dozen on the Langtons $300/-$150 deal. @$16.25/btl it's a gimme, but should I snap the '13 Shiraz or the '14 Cab?

Nice pick up Captain. I purposely made no mention of these two BUT since you asked, I found one to be a clear winner. That's all I wish to say about them. One to me was a just alright shall I say without being too strong in my assessment. Then again, it is an honest appraisal not judged with food. That can really make a diference. Let's just leave it at that and make your own assessments.

 

[blackcat20]

Do you guys rate this wine? Am considering getting some but don't think I've ever had a Yarra Valley Syrah.

I absolutely love it but I know it's not for everyone. It's not a Barossa Shiraz, it's light, easy drinking Victorian Shiraz. But it's one of our favourites.

 

[TomVexille]

Do you guys rate this wine? Am considering getting some but don't think I've ever had a Yarra Valley Syrah.

I really like it as a lighter cool climate, quaffing syrah. It's a really good food wine, especially with pizza. But stand up on its own if need be.

 

[ste667]

Great, thanks for the feedback guys. Think I'm talking myself into yet another purchase!