Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

Last Tuesday of the month's (August) blind wine options was a little trickier than usual!

First bracket
1998 Leo Buring Special Release Riesling. Past its best. Cork. These were declassified Leonays.
1999 Richmond Grove Watervale Riesling. Cork. Overly developed, just drinkable.
1999 Richmond Grove Watervale Riesling. Screwcap. John Vickery's Stelvin Initiative, drinking beautifully with lovely lemony fruit, some secondary marmalade characteristics and enough acid to keep you wanting more.

All 3 rieslings were bought at the same time and stored in the same air conditioned cellar. Proof that screwcaps definitely are the superior closure for this variety.IMG_4085.jpgIMG_4086 (2).jpg
 
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Some interesting and challenging wines in the second bracket.

A Lagrein (that's the grape variety) from Italy. Certainly a first for me.
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An Austrian Pinot Noir
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And another Pinot, this time a Burgundy.
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Nice Alvarinho and, ahem, two bottles of a superb Rioja at lunch with my son yesterday.

So the two of you drank three bottles at lunch? :)


All 3 rieslings were bought at the same time and stored in the same air conditioned cellar. Proof that screwcaps definitely are the superior closure superior for this variety.

Just that variety and not others? :)
 
Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

I haven't had the 2007 vintage of the Rockford RR myself but I did buy a case of the 2010 vintage (in addition to the Rod & Spur Cab Shiraz). It's a fantastic wine with great cellaring potential (both are). I'm hoping to grab a few bottles of the 2010 Rockford Basket Press from the next mailing list as I've heard from others that it's even better.

Three 2010 Cabernet Sauvignons were compared on Friday night: Wynns Coonawarra Estate Black label, Xanadu, and Chapel Hill The Chosen Gorge Block. I'd say the Xanadu was the best for drinking now and over the next few years (fruit forward and easy to drink). The Black label needs more time in the cellar and _could_ end up being the best of the three. The Chosen was somewhere in between, dark and fruity but didn't wow on the initial sip compared to the Xanadu.

Was just thinking about my Xanadu wine the other day. I have a few 2010s and was wondering when to start drinking them.
 
Blue Poles Allouran 2011: Classic Right-bank Bordeaux blend: 74% merlot and 26% cab franc. I'm usually a left-bank style cab sauv drinker, but this is nice. Floral and fruity nose, with a medium+ body of plums and red berries, sweet yet at the same time underlined with gravelly tannins. Long finish with spice and some oak. Zesty acidity. Looks like this has good cellaring potential. 5-10 years is claimed on the label. CT90 (borderline 91 - will see how it develops)

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Just that variety and not others? :)

My time capsule experiment (I like to think of it as a double blind trial;)) does indeed extend to other varieties, results pending exhaustive drinking analysis! As an indication of my persuasion I do masquerade as RedStelvin on RB's site:p. There is a romance about pulling the bung out of a bottle but that soon fades when the wine you've nurtured for 10 odd years exhibits TCA taint. Getting OT here so these weren't some of the reportedly 7% affected!
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Blue Poles Allouran 2011: Classic Right-bank Bordeaux blend: 74% merlot and 26% cab franc. I'm usually a left-bank style cab sauv drinker, but this is nice. Floral and fruity nose, with a medium+ body of plums and red berries, sweet yet at the same time underlined with gravelly tannins. Long finish with spice and some oak. Zesty acidity. Looks like this has good cellaring potential. 5-10 years is claimed on the label. CT90 (borderline 91 - will see how it develops)

necked a bottle tonight - its a nice change from the boisterous south aussie reds i generally consume, didn't pair well with BBQ meats but i like - great review, pretty much summed it (recommended)
 
necked a bottle tonight - its a nice change from the boisterous south aussie reds i generally consume, didn't pair well with BBQ meats but i like - great review, pretty much summed it (recommended)

Have ordered but yet to receive or taste. Expecting medium bodied but hoping for an alluring nose and good legs/viscosity. Was it acid dominant or in balance? Will I be rewarded?
 
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Have ordered but yet to receive or taste. Expecting medium bodied but hoping for an alluring nose and good legs/viscosity. Was it acid dominant or in balance? Will I be rewarded?

I have only gotten into the bordeaux melot's recently tbh (maybe not the best judge), this is a very different beast to those i have tried. Yes medium bodied and more legs than the bordeaux i have tried - would say in balance but did get a little sourness near the end...more blueberry than black cherry, I think I will be drinking and enjoying now rather stashing away

I did enjoy - happy with purchase
 
Dinner at Old Kingdom in Collingwood.

We started with the Luke Lambert 2015 Chardonnay (highly recommended) and Salt/Pepper/Chilli Calamari before moving into the (Peking) ducks and (Aussie) pinot

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Sorry the photo is not the best.
Bass Phillip Crown Prince 2010
Yeringberg 2010
Bindi Original Vineyard 2008
Heemskerk 2010

IMHO the Yeringberg was the standout
 
Re-visiting a VinoMofo buy from last year:

the Hungerford Hill Heavy Metal Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

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http://www.vivino.com/users/warren-dav/reviews/52385941

2013 Hungerford Hill Heavy Metal, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley - CellarTracker

"This is all about balance and drinkability. As this Aussie multi-region Shiraz (68%) and Cab Sauv (32%) blend combines the best of the McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Hunter Valley and Barossa Valley wrapped in a medium-bodied wine of 13.5% ABV. Halliday extolled a huge 97.

There's plums, blackberries, blueberries, mocha, liquorice, salted charcuterie, vanilla, violets and sweet and savoury French oaked spices flowing from the highly fragrant nose to the smooth and concentrated palate. So layered. And so well made. It drinks well with or without food. And it's drinking nicely now, and for at least another 3 years. A Wozza 95/100 (4.2) from me.
"
 
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Re-visiting a VinoMofo buy from last year:

the Hungerford Hill Heavy Metal Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon 2013
...
There's plums, blackberries, blueberries, mocha, liquorice, salted charcuterie, violets and sweet and savoury French oaked spices flowing from the highly fragrant nose to the smooth and concentrated palate.
Oh Wazza! There just has to be more than that? What about Cassis, Angular, charcoals , cigar box, grippy tannins,unctuous,opulent? :)
 

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