Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[JohnM]

With dinner last night in Pretoria on my final night in Africa. Very elegant.

 

[beefarmer]

Ahh, I see him as the supreme alchemist, a wizard with wine and words!

Wines keep a coming and coming and the temptation is great, so with an Epsilon Tempranillo it was out with my mates. And don't forget our four lovely wives, all night long poking the korma and vindaloo with their knives. It set the mood up for a great catchup and night, both the '15 watervale Riesling and the Tempranillo were well liked.

The Watervale is such a lovely wine to drink with Asian or indian and let's be honest, with just about anything. In fact I think it would go nicely with a piece of toast at 12.01pm. It is light yellow, crisp with a citrus overtones and a dash of lime. Nice medium palate finishes off with a little nice not overdone drying finish. And not a scent of benzene odour. I like Rieslings , I like anything really and I was recently reading that benzene odours in Rieslings are a fault. Period. they should not be acceptable as some scribes have noted, but they are being sold as if they are acceptable. This opens a can of worms I believe because I have had some with a minor benzene scent which was not that distracting and I liked them. But the watervale is pristine in its clarity and at about fifteen dollars at dans, it's supurb drinking. It isn't the most complex which you would not expect but it's just very good.

The Epsilon Tempranillo followed. Same glass, so of course you pour a little of the new liquid in, give it a swirl, and down it goes. This is good I thought, a very good start. A real glass shows a deep ruby colour , not what I was expecting. Now, I haven't had too many of this varietal in my days strangely, the last one being a Landsdale 2011 a month ago. landsdale was flogged via grays as west cape howe's cleanskin. Or some other west oz's wineries offshoot. to compare the two is timely as discussions between shiraz and syrah prevail. I guess the landsdale is more European old school, lighter in colour, lighter in texture but a lovely flavour. Having only this to guide me about the Barossan tempranillo, I was pleasantly surprised by the great colour impenetrable to light and the fruit dominant nose. I didn't know what to expect but you could call it a shiraz with similar bouquet and appearance. I liked the red berry and slight cherry flavours and the finesse of the French oak in the background, not overpowering. it has a lovely texture, a lovely mouthfeel and a body of about 7. initially, I thought it could have had a little more substance , not flavour, but a tinge more body as is my peculiar request from the wine world, but by the end of the second glass, it really didn't matter. the wine became its own and it then became very Moorish. it glided down without one distraction whatsoever and I thought of that recent Hungerford Hill Gundagai shiraz in that this tempy has that quality to it with a slight bit of pepper thrown in. it is not as good as the HH shiraz but it really is an easy drinking style coming after the Shiraz I had from epsilon recently. Taking a punt has really paid off with this one and I know it's only one bottle, but as you can read, I was suitably impressed. Four of the botts have been put aside for someone who helped share the load and they will love this wine. Quality is quality as always. It is so very easy to discern.

I did not partake of the other wines, a couple of kiwi savvys , Gossips rose and a champers.

 

[Buzzard]

+1 Ashton Hills Shiraz and SS

Silly me, I thought Ashton Hills was in Ashton (ADL Hills)

 

[Buzzard]

Meanwhile, in the Buzzard household; the good, the bad and the ugly:

 

[Steady]

Silly me, I thought Ashton Hills was in Ashton (ADL Hills)

Its very close to Ashton? Are there 2 Ashton's near Adelaide?

 

[Delectable Blue]

I'm posting this as something of a mea-culpa. I first tasted this wine six months ago, and really didn't enjoy it. At that point it tasted overly sweet and lacked complexity, tasting very one dimensional. I opened this, my last bottle, tonight with very low expectations. I was shocked to find the wine totally transformed. The wine has now improved considerably. The sweetness has now been tempered and is supported by layers of dark complexity, including caramelised fig, cedar and chocolate. Now tasting like a rich sumptuous Bordeaux merlot. Very nice indeed. My original CT score was 75, which I have now updated to 90. I feel an apology is in order...

Thankfully the winery still has the 2013 Merlot in stock, so I've just order another case. For those of you who are interested in a little speculation, they also have a 2010 Cabernet Merlot on run-out sale for $10 a bottle. I haven't tasted the cab-merlot, but I've decided to roll the dice on this one. The worst case scenario is that I end up with a dozen nice cooking wines.

https://wineclub.firstcreekwines.com.au/products/8925-00-2010-cabernet-merlot-dozen

 

[Cruiser Elite]

A couple weeks back on a cold wet MEL Sunday arvo I accidentally fell into a double blind wine tasting. Double blind is where you head off to a footy match - have a few ice creams pre match - a couple more at half time - then an extended session post game - then much later on at night you somehow end up at a blind wine tasting - double blind that is.

TBH I remember little of the wines tasted except 1 - and I was staggered afterwards to learn that the wine that 3 out of 7 attending chose as most notable - wait for it - wait for it - here it is:



Next day day I was scratching my head - really? Really? So after receiving a $30 Dan's voucher for $15 I headed off to Dan's on Fri night to grab another one to do a full sample test only in a sober state this time - we bowled this over tonight - I am still truly surprised - this is seriously excellent quality for the price. Dan's have it at $27.90 in 6s - with CR and WISH I can get it down to ~$22.60 - IMHO excellent value.

 

[Whining&dining]

Wines keep a coming and coming and the temptation is great, so with an Epsilon Tempranillo it was out with my mates.


The Epsilon Tempranillo followed. Same glass, so of course you pour a little of the new liquid in, give it a swirl, and down it goes. This is good I thought, a very good start. A real glass shows a deep ruby colour , not what I was expecting. Now, I haven't had too many of this varietal in my days strangely, the last one being a Landsdale 2011 a month ago. landsdale was flogged via grays as west cape howe's cleanskin. Or some other west oz's wineries offshoot. to compare the two is timely as discussions between shiraz and syrah prevail. I guess the landsdale is more European old school, lighter in colour, lighter in texture but a lovely flavour. Having only this to guide me about the Barossan tempranillo, I was pleasantly surprised by the great colour impenetrable to light and the fruit dominant nose. I didn't know what to expect but you could call it a shiraz with similar bouquet and appearance. I liked the red berry and slight cherry flavours and the finesse of the French oak in the background, not overpowering. it has a lovely texture, a lovely mouthfeel and a body of about 7. initially, I thought it could have had a little more substance , not flavour, but a tinge more body as is my peculiar request from the wine world, but by the end of the second glass, it really didn't matter. the wine became its own and it then became very Moorish. it glided down without one distraction whatsoever and I thought of that recent Hungerford Hill Gundagai shiraz in that this tempy has that quality to it with a slight bit of pepper thrown in. it is not as good as the HH shiraz but it really is an easy drinking style coming after the Shiraz I had from epsilon recently. Taking a punt has really paid off with this one and I know it's only one bottle, but as you can read, I was suitably impressed. Four of the botts have been put aside for someone who helped share the load and they will love this wine. Quality is quality as always. It is so very easy to discern.

I did not partake of the other wines, a couple of kiwi savvys , Gossips rose and a champers.

Wow BF some very comprehensive info there! I might find it bit too elegant for my admittedly robust tastebuds, you have painted a glowing portrait of it nonetheless. It's a very narrow tightrope sometimes navigating what makes one wine stand out for one individual and not for another, personal bias and all that. I've only had Spanish tempys previously and not exactly top-drawer at that, so not much to base an opinion on, had one last night but didn't bother/was too tired to take note of the producer so after your positive response I might give it a crack the next time it emerges from the VM vaults-thanks!

 

[beefarmer]

View attachment 76431

I'm posting this as something of a mea-culpa. I first tasted this wine six months ago, and really didn't enjoy it. At that point it tasted overly sweet and lacked complexity, tasting very one dimensional. I opened this, my last bottle, tonight with very low expectations. I was shocked to find the wine totally transformed. The wine has now improved considerably. The sweetness has now been tempered and is supported by layers of dark complexity, including caramelised fig, cedar and chocolate. Now tasting like a rich sumptuous Bordeaux merlot. Very nice indeed. My original CT score was 75, which I have now updated to 90. I feel an apology is in order...

Thankfully the winery still has the 2013 Merlot in stock, so I've just order another case. For those of you who are interested in a little speculation, they also have a 2010 Cabernet Merlot on run-out sale for $10 a bottle. I haven't tasted the cab-merlot, but I've decided to roll the dice on this one. The worst case scenario is that I end up with a dozen nice cooking wines.

https://wineclub.firstcreekwines.com.au/products/8925-00-2010-cabernet-merlot-dozen

Time does funny things to all sorts of wines doesn't it ? I've had my recent pinot experiences, I've had previously good wines do a tail spin like the roulettes, and here you've had a butterfly come from a caterpillar. Now, the animal/insect world does through up some odd stuff from time to time but I working on an analogy here. Did you know that to become a butterfly, the wriggly caterpillar firstly has to digest itself. But bits and pieces survive and reform. There is a wine site column/blog out there that I believe is called Wine Will Eat Itself. Was the author channelling this bio-transformation in a somewhat Freudian cannibalistic manner. Bed time for me starts soon. Bye.

 

[kermatu]

I stumbled upon a box of old wines under my stairs a few weeks ago. Several old Tasmanian reds bought a long time ago (well before I was of legal age - so couldn't have been me). In an unsealed removalists box with random papers. Obviously came up to Canberra either with me or subsequently - honestly can't remember. Printed tasting notes for two of the wines included. OK - definitely not me - I'm not that organised.

One of them was the following - a 1988 Pipers Brook cabernet blend.



Absolutely no idea if this is a classic or a dud - but given the notes suggest it is well and truly past its best drinking date and also outside its suggested lifespan, I decide to give it a crack tonight. Opened it up late morning. Cork a bit damaged and a little sediment, but otherwise ok. Let it decant until mid-evening.

Well, it was actually rather nice. Light but with a really nice, lingering finish. Exactly what the tasting notes suggest, only mid-strength (I had with a very flavoursome lamb dish so probably didn't help) but certainly a very nice drink. Not bad for a bottle that has probably been through some ridiculous extremes in temperature, poorly stored, past it's lifespan and produced when I was barely a school-boy.

If anyone knows anything about this wine I'd love to hear more. I have quite a few Pipers Brook and Ninth Island wines (including a handful from the late-80s and 90s).

 

[Buzzard]

Its very close to Ashton? Are there 2 Ashton's near Adelaide?

There is only one Ashton but the label states Clare Valley. So is the winery in the Clare or do the grapes come from Clare and the winery is in Ashton :what:

 

[Steady]

There is only one Ashton but the label states Clare Valley. So is the winery in the Clare or do the grapes come from Clare and the winery is in Ashton :what:

AFAICG grapes from A.P. Birks Wendouree, winemaker Ashton Hills.....

 

[Daver6]

2008 Benoit Ente Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Folatières En la Richard served along side Fettuccine Alfredo with shaved Manjumup truffle

 

[TheRealTMA]

2008 Benoit Ente Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Folatières En la Richard served along side Fettuccine Alfredo with shaved Manjumup truffle
View attachment 76465

nice glass, nice truffles, fabulous wine!

 

[Daver6]

nice glass, nice truffles, fabulous wine!

Good pick up on the glasses. I should have added they are the Zalto Burgundy. We tested the wine in those and the Riedel Vinum Bugundy glasses. Zaltos won hands down. Plus much nicer to hold too.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Good pick up on the glasses. I should have added they are the Zalto Burgundy. We tested the wine in those and the Riedel Vinum Bugundy glasses. Zaltos won hands down. Plus much nicer to hold too.

Yes I know. Have several. I'm leaning towards the Zaltos over Riedels these days.

 

[Daver6]

Yes I know. Have several. I'm leaning towards the Zaltos over Riedels these days.

\

Do you have the Zalto Bordeaux glasses? If so, thoughts? I have the Riedel Sommelier Bordeaux stems and quite like them. But after Zalto's, everything else seems heavy and clunky.

 

[TheRealTMA]

\

Do you have the Zalto Bordeaux glasses? If so, thoughts? I have the Riedel Sommelier Bordeaux stems and quite like them. But after Zalto's, everything else seems heavy and clunky.

I have both the Zalto and Riedel, plus the Zalto Burgundy and Universal glasses. As you say the Zaltos are so light and lovely to use.

 

[Rug]

There is only one Ashton but the label states Clare Valley. So is the winery in the Clare or do the grapes come from Clare and the winery is in Ashton :what:

AFAICG grapes from A.P. Birks Wendouree, winemaker Ashton Hills.....

Sparrkling shiraz grapes come from a.p.birks Wendouree. The rest of the range comes from estate grapes in Adelaide Hills and a co owned vineyard called cemetary gate also in Adelaide Hills. Cheers

 

[vedder50]

I stumbled upon a box of old wines under my stairs a few weeks ago. Several old Tasmanian reds bought a long time ago (well before I was of legal age - so couldn't have been me). In an unsealed removalists box with random papers. Obviously came up to Canberra either with me or subsequently - honestly can't remember. Printed tasting notes for two of the wines included. OK - definitely not me - I'm not that organised.

One of them was the following - a 1988 Pipers Brook cabernet blend.

Absolutely no idea if this is a classic or a dud - but given the notes suggest it is well and truly past its best drinking date and also outside its suggested lifespan, I decide to give it a crack tonight. Opened it up late morning. Cork a bit damaged and a little sediment, but otherwise ok. Let it decant until mid-evening.

Well, it was actually rather nice. Light but with a really nice, lingering finish. Exactly what the tasting notes suggest, only mid-strength (I had with a very flavoursome lamb dish so probably didn't help) but certainly a very nice drink. Not bad for a bottle that has probably been through some ridiculous extremes in temperature, poorly stored, past it's lifespan and produced when I was barely a school-boy.

If anyone knows anything about this wine I'd love to hear more. I have quite a few Pipers Brook and Ninth Island wines (including a handful from the late-80s and 90s).

Out of curiosity, why the decision to decant for so long? I thought the generally accepted approach to older wines that are likely past their drinking window is to drink shortly after decanting before oxidation deteriorates them. No? Maybe they judged the window incorrectly and it was a stayer?