Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[beefarmer]

A friend got his hands on some white truffles flown in from Italy and cooked up a storm last night.
View attachment 84131

Out of interest, how many imbibers knocked this lot off?
Are you sure you're not looking a bit like Denzel Washington these days daver?

 

[Daver6]

Out of interest, how many imbibers knocked this lot off?
Are you sure you're not looking a bit like Denzel Washington these days daver?

There were six of us. One was driving. Bottles weren't all completely emptied though

 

[beefarmer]

great effort !

 

[Steady]

Its a week since trying the Springvale Watervale so while it is fresh in my mind I thought I would sample their flagship Riesling. It is certainly a step up (but not a huge one) and a worthy benchmark. It went well with Sushi.

 

[Whodoesthat]

'Oribbly hot in Bris yesterday.....called for a chilled white Tyrrell's Belford Semillon 1999 - Big citrus nose, grapefruit and lime....with long zesty acidity...many years left.

 

[penegal]

Its a week since trying the Springvale Watervale so while it is fresh in my mind I thought I would sample their flagship Riesling. It is certainly a step up (but not a huge one) and a worthy benchmark. It went well with Sushi.

I actually think Polish Hill is a bit over rated. I attended a Riesling tasting earlier this year and it really didn't stand out against many cheaper Australian, and foreign drops.

 

[The Warlock]

Maverick 2012 Ahrens' Creek Barossa Valley Grenache- Whoever it was on this forum who recommended me this wine - when it was a $25 per bottle in a six pack from Cellarmasters on Ebay - thanks very much, it was a real treat served last night with Beef and Veggie BBQ skewers smothered in BBQ marinade. I believe that the RRP for this wine was a whopping $180 but the $25 price is a bargain. Phenomenal fruit both on the bouquet and palate. Sour Cherry and a heady and rich depth of flavour with other mixed red berries and a little elder flower and spice. Some lovely complexity about the wine beginning to develop but it's the fruit that really gets you hooked. This is clearly Maverick's premium Grenache fruit in action. There is a little occasionally noticeable heat on the finish of this and it is a massive wine coming in at 16.5%. Definitely not for everyone but very glad I boomed on this at the price. Would I pay $180 for it? Absolutely no chance. I think it's on VM at the moment at around $50 which is probably about par but perhaps not a brilliant price. 94/100

 

[carwashhair]

Maverick 2012 Ahrens' Creek Barossa Valley Grenache- Whoever it was on this forum who recommended me this wine - when it was a $25 per bottle in a six pack from Cellarmasters on Ebay - thanks very much, it was a real treat served last night with Beef and Veggie BBQ skewers smothered in BBQ marinade. I believe that the RRP for this wine was a whopping $180 but the $25 price is a bargain. Phenomenal fruit both on the bouquet and palate. Sour Cherry and a heady and rich depth of flavour with other mixed red berries and a little elder flower and spice. Some lovely complexity about the wine beginning to develop but it's the fruit that really gets you hooked. This is clearly Maverick's premium Grenache fruit in action. There is a little occasionally noticeable heat on the finish of this and it is a massive wine coming in at 16.5%. Definitely not for everyone but very glad I boomed on this at the price. Would I pay $180 for it? Absolutely no chance. I think it's on VM at the moment at around $50 which is probably about par but perhaps not a brilliant price. 94/100

Aha, I did wonder who if anyone jumped on this, so great to hear your report, The Warlock! Found my original post http://www.australianfrequentflyer....s-other-wine-deals-66250-484.html#post1495966. I really can't add much more to your excellent series of descriptors, and I have to echo completely the value proposition re: price paid vs RRP. Glad I've got another 10 bottles to go, because it's a joy to drink. In fact, might even crack one tonight to go with some duck breast!

 

[carwashhair]

Made myself some duck last night as promised - atop some puy lentils, alongside a roast beetroot, wild rice and fennel salad. I didn't end up going with the maverick grenache, but pulled this one out of the cellar



And it was a very nice thing indeed. Had several of those earthy pinot characteristics you'd want to tie in with the food, both on the nose and palate. Mulberries and mushrooms on the palate too, with a persistent sour cherry line that played around with an almost zesty minerality. Light, almost ethereal in body, yet that mineral acidity gave it structure at 7 years in. Interestingly, it felt almost 'ageless' - as in hard to discern if it had aged, or when it might deteriorate, only that it's drinking nicely right now. Yet to post up on vivino but it'd be a 4.1

 

[Teebs]

The last Friday Wine Club event was a good 'un with some really fine options.

Loved the Cullen as I'd not had that vintage before or much of it really to be honest. The St Henri was rich, deep, dark and chewy with years ahead of it.

02 Saltram is one of the best of this breed I've had.

To finish the Merchant Prince was incredible! I wanted to take the glass home with me and spend the next month just sniffing the remains.

 

[Duffa]

....... atop some puy lentils, alongside a roast beetroot, wild rice and fennel salad.

and then you put a dead bird on top.... LEGEND!!!

 

[QF WP]

Weekend quaffer.

View attachment 84043

Drinking alone this weekend so went for a cheap one which was surprisingly very good, especially the next day after it opened up nicely.

My thoughts exactly Boomy (my second night [last night] was better than the first). Have another 4 left from recent purchase, so will wait a while and decant it first for a couple of hours to see if that helps.

I've been stuck in the quaffers for weeks now, haven't had a good enough reason to crack a decent bottle.

 

[boomy]

Maverick 2012 Ahrens' Creek Barossa Valley Grenache- Whoever it was on this forum who recommended me this wine - when it was a $25 per bottle in a six pack from Cellarmasters on Ebay - thanks very much, it was a real treat served last night with Beef and Veggie BBQ skewers smothered in BBQ marinade. I believe that the RRP for this wine was a whopping $180 but the $25 price is a bargain. Phenomenal fruit both on the bouquet and palate. Sour Cherry and a heady and rich depth of flavour with other mixed red berries and a little elder flower and spice. Some lovely complexity about the wine beginning to develop but it's the fruit that really gets you hooked. This is clearly Maverick's premium Grenache fruit in action. There is a little occasionally noticeable heat on the finish of this and it is a massive wine coming in at 16.5%. Definitely not for everyone but very glad I boomed on this at the price. Would I pay $180 for it? Absolutely no chance. I think it's on VM at the moment at around $50 which is probably about par but perhaps not a brilliant price. 94/100

Glad you liked this wine. Got the same deal and think I wrote about it here few weeks ago. Small correction, it's 15.5% not 16.5% which is still massive.
The label currently offered on VM is 'Trial Hill' Eden Valley Grenache 2012. Looking at the price I have to wonder if it's twice as good as Ahrens Creek

 

[Wozza]

Massive 4 weeks for me on the work front. So it was only fitting to relax the night before the big deal day with the client trying this:

the Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No 1 2010


Not my favourite premium Aussie Bordeaux Blend, but I really liked it:

2010 Yarra Yering Dry Red N°1, Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Yarra Valley - CellarTracker

http://www.vivino.com/users/warren-dav/reviews/56584558

"There's a great story behind Yarra Yering and (the now late) Dr Carrodus who founded it (see: Yarra Yering | Premium Wine | Cellar Door | History | Yarra Valley). And his wines, now of international fame, bear testament to that story, his ingenuity and his love of Old World wines. His Dry Red No 1 is his Yarra Valley take on the Bordeaux Blend.

At 6 yrs, it already has an earthy, concentrated complexity, with soft, juicy blackberry and cassis fruits, and a long and quite dusty, savoury French Oak inspired finish. Drink now to 2020.

It's not really worth its $92 price tag given the strong competition from other Aussie wineries producing Bordeaux Blends. But it's classy, and few other wineries have managed to gain the same reputation. It therefore gets a very respectable Wozza 94.5/100 (4.1/5.0) from me."

 

[Whodoesthat]

Last nights effort, the WOTN going to the Limestone Ridge Shiraz Cabernet 2002 - Drinking superbly, unfortunately my last of the vintage.
All were good, albeit different styles, the Houghton needs another 5 years to mellow, the McLean drinking well but preferred the 2012 from last week.

 

[imipenam]

Long lunch at seppeltsfield vintage cottage. Smallish 10 hectare vineyard with half shiraz and half cabernet grapes - hidden treasure! My favourite was their cabernet - full bodied, spicy/peppery to start followed by fruity aftertaste. Jo Irvine (daughter of Jim Irvine 'the merlot king') also present to talk to us about wine making. Much yumminess to be had!

 

[Wozza]

I purchased this fine, little beauty from one of the big, regular contributing AFFers, who's more renowned for their spotting of a great bargain and adept use of their credit, than their contributions to this thread:

the Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz 2004



So, I'm not sure if they will see this.

http://www.vivino.com/users/warren-dav/reviews/56652688

2004 Penfolds Shiraz Bin 28 Kalimna, Australia, South Australia - CellarTracker

"So what happens when an excellent vintage of the Bin 28 has one of those consummation moments? When the tightly woven tannins, quality multi-region blended Shiraz fruit and American Oak treatment combine? And when 12 years of patient cellaring meet the 'crink' and 'slosh' of an early screw cap and pour for its expectant owner?

Pure satisfaction! That's what you get.

Dark with (ageing) burgundy edges. Lifted, heady sublime nose. Medium-bodied, but concentrated. It's perfectly balanced and has a fine lingering finish. It's beautifully nuanced on the nose and palate. With blackberry, liquorice, sage, tar, praline, and black pepper all there, in finely balanced measure.

It's just goes to prove - great value can be found in the Penfolds range. A 6 pack of the Bin 28 should be purchased by any serious Shiraz fan. And then opened in the 6 - 16 year window. Drink until 2020. A very satisfied Wozza 94.5/100 (4.1/5.0) from me."

Thank you sir. Glad to have met you today. And done some fine share-a-case business. Cheers, Wozza.

 

[Dr Ralph]

I purchased this fine, little beauty from one of the big, regular contributing AFFers, who's more renowned for their spotting of a great bargain and adept use of their credit, than their contributions to this thread:

the Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz 2004

View attachment 84486

So, I'm not sure if they will see this.

http://www.vivino.com/users/warren-dav/reviews/56652688

2004 Penfolds Shiraz Bin 28 Kalimna, Australia, South Australia - CellarTracker

"So what happens when an excellent vintage of the Bin 28 has one of those consummation moments? When the tightly woven tannins, quality multi-region blended Shiraz fruit and American Oak treatment combine? And when 12 years of patient cellaring meet the 'crink' and 'slosh' of an early screw cap and pour for its expectant owner?

Pure satisfaction!

Dark with (ageing) burgundy edges. Lifted, heady sublime nose. Medium-bodied, but concentrated. It's perfectly balanced and has a fine lingering finish. It's beautifully nuanced on the nose and palate. With blackberry, liquorice, sage, tar, praline, and black pepper all there, in finely balanced measure.

It's just goes to prove - great value can be found in the Penfolds range. A 6 pack of the Bin 28 should be purchased by any serious Shiraz fan. And then opened in the 6 - 16 year window. Drink until 2020. A very satisfied Wozza 94.5/100 (4.1/5.0) from me."

Thank you sir. Glad to have met you today. And done some fine share-a-case business. Cheers, Wozza.

That didn't last long! Delivered at 8.20am and consumed within 12 hours!

Glad you enjoyed it.

How was the cork?

A large amount of sediment in the bottle I would expect?

Nice recommendation on purchasing the BIN 28. I've bought a case every year for the last 15 years. It used to be very good value, its price though now has increased considerably. It's still, though, one of my favourite wines. It was difficult to part with the few that I sold you.

I trust that the rest of the bottles you purchased are also to your taste.

 

[Wozza]

That didn't last long! Delivered at 8.20am and consumed within 12 hours!

Glad you enjoyed it.

How was the cork?

A large amount of sediment in the bottle I would expect?

Nice recommendation on purchasing the BIN 28. I've bought a case every year for the last 15 years. It used to be very good value, its price though now has increased considerably. It's still, though, one of my favourite wines. It was difficult to part with the few that I sold you.

I trust that the rest of the bottles you purchased are also to your taste.

Ah. I didn't think you popped into this thread!

I did (and will over tomorrow night) enjoy this lovely Shiraz. I can see why you don't open them for so many years. The aged characteristics were wonderful. This 2004 was a screw cap. Must have been one of the early ones. So no cork issues to grapple with, thankfully. I'm only a few glasses in. So not sure how the sediment will go. There was none on the neck. So you must be better than me at storing your wines.

For everybody else, if you see me talking about other aged Penfolds and Wynns over the coming months. You'll know where they have come from! The young Wendouree will not be opened for quite some years.

Thanks Dr Ralph.

 

[Dr Ralph]

This 2004 was a screw cap. Must have been one of the early ones. So no cork issues to grapple with, thankfully.

Ok. Interesting. I have a case of 2004 which is screw cap and another case which is under cork. I'm yet to try any of them.

The aged characteristics were wonderful.

8 years is my rule for most reds. It's great to have such a collection that I am usually forced not to bring out anything younger than this.

The young Wendouree will not be opened for quite some years.

Smart move. It's difficult enough to get your hands on the Wendouree Shiraz (6 bottle limit to those on the list), it would be a shame not to enjoy it at its prime. I miss those bottles already!