Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[imipenam]

A few standout wines from a recent tasting event I was lucky enough to snag an invitation to. The wines tasted included:

1998 Mount William Blanc de Blancs
1996 Stefano Lubiana Late Disgorged
2009 Tyrrells Vat 1 Semillon
1994 Faiveley Aloxe Corton 1er Cru
2008 Buisson Charles Meursault
2012 Aminus Pinot Syrah
2012 Reveur Pinot Noir
2009 Domaine A Pinot Noir
2005 Diamond Valley Reserve Pinot Noir
2009 Sangreal by Farr Pinot Noir
2008 Dry River Pinot Noir
2013 Farnese Edizione
2015 Giant Steps Sexton Pinot Noir


The 2009 Sangreal by Farr Pinot Noir was the unanimous (at least I think it was unanimous) wine of the night. For me white wine of the night was the 1994 Faiveley Aloxe Corton 1er Cru, a simply stunning wine. A real education for me.

Just a little bit jealous

 

[penegal]

Looks like a great event DB.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Having visited them twice in the Willamette valley, I highly recommend you consider adding some of these Domaine Serene to your cellar. I've added a dozen to mine.

http://view.email.nicks.com.au/view...cfc211959630bf95aa69880bd8ab051bf72c4eb8b6cb1

 

[Wozza]

A few standout wines from a recent tasting event I was lucky enough to snag an invitation to. The wines tasted included:

1998 Mount William Blanc de Blancs
1996 Stefano Lubiana Late Disgorged
2009 Tyrrells Vat 1 Semillon
1994 Faiveley Aloxe Corton 1er Cru
2008 Buisson Charles Meursault
2012 Aminus Pinot Syrah
2012 Reveur Pinot Noir
2009 Domaine A Pinot Noir
2005 Diamond Valley Reserve Pinot Noir
2009 Sangreal by Farr Pinot Noir
2008 Dry River Pinot Noir
2013 Farnese Edizione
2015 Giant Steps Sexton Pinot Noir


The 2009 Sangreal by Farr Pinot Noir was the unanimous (at least I think it was unanimous) wine of the night. For me white wine of the night was the 1994 Faiveley Aloxe Corton 1er Cru, a simply stunning wine. A real education for me.

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Just logging on for the first time after attending the same event on Friday night - the Vivino Offline Christmas Party 2016.

You forgot to add the Bollinger and the Petaluma that we had at the after party, party drinks in a Suite at the Intercontinental, overlooking the Harbour Bridge and Opera House!! Big, big night with some good friends.

For me, the By Farr, the Dry River and the 1er Cru were the ridiculous standouts amongst the ridiculously good wines we had. The Domaine A Pinot was really nice, the Stefano had everybody stumped in a good way. Nobody picked the age or location of the 98 Mount William. The Tyrrell's Vat 1 didn't open up until the end of the night, so it tasted like a really good chardy. All of the wines were pretty special in their unique ways. It would have been nice to try them over 2 or 3 nights rather than over one meal - that way I might not have lost my phone!

A recommendation for the venue, the Fix Wine Bar & Restaurant (https://fixwine.com.au/ - just behind the David Jones Ladies Store, Sydney CBD)did some great food and really looked after us. Corkage was $25 per person for us, which was not bad considering the number of quality wines we tried that night.

 

[Delectable Blue]

You forgot to add the Bollinger and the Petaluma that we had at the after party, party drinks in a Suite at the Intercontinental, overlooking the Harbour Bridge and Opera House!! Big, big night with some good friends.

Or the '05 Meshach! But I was trying to protect my reputation. I don't want people thinking I'm a drunk. I guess at least now they might figure me for an expensive drunk, rather than a cheap one.

It would have been nice to try them over 2 or 3 nights rather than over one meal - that way I might not have lost my phone!

Oh no, that's terrible. I was wondering why I ended up with two phones when I got home (just kidding). I hope you manage to find and/or recover it somewhere.

 

[Wozza]

Guess what? I've just got my phone back from a (he looked homeless / a park drunk) bloke called David, meeting him 20ks from where I dropped my phone on Friday night!

To celebrate, I've opened the Elderton Command Single Vineyard Shiraz 2001 that I won last week on a Greys Wine auction. Sorry A.C. from North Sydney, that auction lot was destined to be mine. Despite your constant $5 bids after the 9pm auction close - I hate the way the auction stays open in that way!



http://www.vivino.com/users/warren-dav/reviews/57679020

2001 Elderton Shiraz Single Vineyard Command, Australia, South Australia, Barossa - CellarTracker

"I write this note in rather fortuitous circumstances. After attending the Vivino Sydney Offline Christmas Dinner 2016, I lost this phone twice in the same night! Yes twice! I've just paid a homeless guy $50 for it's safe return two days later! I therefore celebrate in style with this iconic Aussie Barossa Shiraz of 15 years vintage.

And what a wine it is. It's deep, dark and brooding. With that signature black fruit premium smokey French oak experience I've come to love in my collection of Elderton Commands. Dark berries, liquorice, vanilla, sage, and smoked oaked spices tantalise the senses. Oh, it's so moorish, and beautifully balanced. Not as big as the 02. But it's really nice. It therefore gets a Wozza 94/100 (4.0/5.0) from me."

 

[Sedimental]

A friend gave this to me on the weekend. I viewed it with suspicion and just opened it out of intrigue this evening. A surprisingly good different drop . Was smashable chilled on its own and even withstood the rigours of my homemade beef madras.

2016 Unico Zelo Cherry Fields Dolcetto

My first 2016 wine of the year. Would have put money on it not being a red!

 

[JohnM]

A friend gave this to me on the weekend. I viewed it with suspicion and just opened it out of intrigue this evening. A surprisingly good different drop . Was smashable chilled on its own and even withstood the rigours of my homemade beef madras.

2016 Unico Zelo Cherry Fields Dolcetto

My first 2016 wine of the year. Would have put money on it not being a red!

It was one of the offerings here last Friday: Dropping new hits in Perth - Young Gun of WineYoung Gun of Wine

Some quite neat stuff at the tasting.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Friday night Chardonnay. Case arrived Wednesday. Still young but drinking well, rich french oak tones, needs a few years IMHO.



http://top100.winespectator.com/wine/2-domaine-serene/

https://www.nicks.com.au/2014-domaine-serene-evenstad-reserve-chardonnay

 

[Wozza]

Penegal and I enjoyed a corporate lunch in Sydney today, and with a cameo appearance from AnonymousCoward and Katy we polished off:

the Balnaves of Coonawarra Chardonnay 2013



http://www.vivino.com/users/warren-dav/reviews/57865289

2013 Balnaves of Coonawarra Chardonnay, Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra - CellarTracker

"I know you'll think I'm mad! A decent Chardonnay from Coonawarra. Yes! And here's proof.

Meticulous winemaking with an early harvest, whole bunches and fancy Latour French barriques, delivers a beautiful Chardonnay, with finely layered complexity and something just a bit different to your average Aussie Chardonnay. Halliday said 'elegance was the key' when giving 95. It's a lemon pie delight, with restrained peach and grapefruit. And the magic for me, a creamy minerally back palate as the pricey oak works subtly in the background.

I think $30 (cellar door price) is fine for this quality. Drink now to 2019. A Wozza 95/100 (4.2/5.0) from me."

If you are after something a bit different and well made, then I'd recommend this. Even Katy liked it! It's a lovely wine. Cheers, Wozza

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Tahbilk Reserve Cabernet 1994:
Lovely aged Cabernet, with aniseed, cassis and mint on the nose. The palate is medium bodied, with smooth tannins, and a long finish of earthy notes, leather, tar and savoury spice. All achieved with 12% ABV - nice change from the 14%+ that's usual in Aus. CT92

 

[sigmadelta]

Im glad you discovered this wozza. Tried on tasting last year at the cellar door, i got some more from winebox warehouse in melbourne. $25/b which i think is good value. I was surprised at the quality from a coonawarra chardonnay and i like the lemon curd character running through it. Good stuff.

 

[Wozza]

Im glad you discovered this wozza. Tried on tasting last year at the cellar door, i got some more from winebox warehouse in melbourne. $25/b which i think is good value. I was surprised at the quality from a coonawarra chardonnay and i like the lemon curd character running through it. Good stuff.

Thanks sigmadelta. I should look out for that as I've drunk my three that I shared with AnonymousCoward. They look like good propositions for the 5 year point. I might see if Balnaves will do a vertical of back vintages to see how they develop.

 

[beefarmer]

Wozza has certainly taken out the gong in 2016 for the most apt description of a quality Chardonnay, albeit one that shows nice complexity however is somewhat marred by its youthfulness.

Lemon Pie Delight.

I only hope that you haven't plagiarised that expression as it sums up beautifully what The Real TMA was intimating with his Domaine Serene review and what your Balnaves Coonawarra made you think of.
Thankfully you didn't mention an apple component to your chardy description as images of Jim in American Pie came to mind. Wise choice there Wozza. Stifler couldn't be more proud of you.

Recently I savoured a 97 pointer, one of six Pipers Brook 2015 Chardonnays and I too got that lemon pie delight feeling. I couldn't find adequate adjectives to sum up that 'oh too young' feeling. But now I have.
I think our three wines are all supurb, and will easily last a dozen years, but TRTMA nailed it with a re-assessment booked in no sooner than five years.

Zitronenkuchen

Tarte au Citron

 

[blackcat20]

A very pleasant Syrah from Giant Steps tonight.

 

[Wozza]

One of the greatest gifts we have been given from Above, is that of sharing life with good family and friends over a meal with fine wine.



And that's exactly what we did last night, whilst opening the Penfolds Bin 407 Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

http://www.vivino.com/wines/21678

"My 500th Vivino Review! I had no idea. But the wine & occasion were fitting, celebrating Christmas with our best friends.

This iconic Aussie Cab Sauv is built like the people of Acciaroli on the Mediterranean coast, south of Naples: with longevity in mind. 300 of its residents (1/3rd) are over 100.



At 12 yrs, this wine is probably 8 yrs from its peak. It's built to last with a strong core of highly concentrated blackberry, cassis, eucalyptus, mint & oaked, powdery spices.

Why not pull this out at the 20-25 yr mark and enjoy with your family and close friends. The people of Acciaroli will be doing so in their own way. It's part of why they live so long! A WIP 94/100 (4.0) from me. Cheers"

Blogged more fully here: https://2blokesintrouble.wordpress.com/2016/12/11/bin-407-built-to-last/

[* beach picture credit copyright of The Independent]

 

[TheRealTMA]

Xmas BBQ finish.



A trifle well supported with excellent dessert wine.

 

[baiden]

My second last of a wine I’ve been very happy with over the last 10 years. Well and truly into its second stage of life – a touch of deep earth, coffee and tobacco, dominated by soft coconut and velvety vanillin flavours. Still retains some of the wild black forest fruits of blackberry and mulberry. Lost it’s cassis flavours I remember from a few years back. Not better and certainly no worse than a few years back – just different. Really good to have been able to pick up a dozen of a good solid wine that can go the distance and learn about the changing essence of wine.

If I had to pick a scene and mood to go with this I think it would be a smoky fire, log hut high in the mountains, lots of leaves and tall trees (not of the "The Cabin in the Woods" ilk) after a trek through forest and waterfalls.

 

[beefarmer]

Nigel Dolan, a great winemaker, probably made this one. I had the same 2004 Cab and a 2003 Shiraz on grand Final day in October and have to concur with your tasting notes. I reckon it was my penultimate bott as well. My lousy tasting notes only had 'Nice and smooth, much mellower than last time, overshadowed by the Shiraz".

The 2003 Mamre shiraz was beautiful and retained its spice, flavour, colour,and oaky nose. That certainly surprised the hell out of me, something to do with acidity and longevity? Dunno.

Totally agree with the observation of development thru the ages and the effects on a good wine. Nothing worse than tipping them down the sink.

 

[The Warlock]

Wozza has certainly taken out the gong in 2016 for the most apt description of a quality Chardonnay, albeit one that shows nice complexity however is somewhat marred by its youthfulness.

Lemon Pie Delight.

I only hope that you haven't plagiarised that expression as it sums up beautifully what The Real TMA was intimating with his Domaine Serene review and what your Balnaves Coonawarra made you think of.
Thankfully you didn't mention an apple component to your chardy description as images of Jim in American Pie came to mind. Wise choice there Wozza. Stifler couldn't be more proud of you.

Recently I savoured a 97 pointer, one of six Pipers Brook 2015 Chardonnays and I too got that lemon pie delight feeling. I couldn't find adequate adjectives to sum up that 'oh too young' feeling. But now I have.
I think our three wines are all supurb, and will easily last a dozen years, but TRTMA nailed it with a re-assessment booked in no sooner than five years.

Zitronenkuchen

Tarte au Citron

Had my finger on the button on that Pipers Brook Chardy deal on VM but declined it. Regretting it a little now.

You just can't have enough Chardy in the house at this time of year, not sure about everyone else but I can barely move for empty Chardy bottles at the moment ....