Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[Sedimental]

Christmas drinks with two friends...
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Plus two people. Both bottles excellent drinking but could take another couple of years. Pick? The Paringa with lovely integrated oak and buttery light malo.

Yum! Yes please

 

[AnonymousCoward]

the Norfolk Rise Vineyard Mount Benson Shiraz 2015

Instead, I am glad I tried it. But I'm thinking who would like to receive my second bottle, so it's enjoyed more fully by somebody who likes this style of wine.

At $9.90, it's about as good as it gets in Aus at this price point. Will it improve? Possibly a smidge over the next few years. But it's a drink-young-wine. For me, its still just a nice quaffer. Hence a Wozza 92.5/100 (3.7/5.0) from me."

Your all-in cost was $7.40/bottle and for that price, I don't think you can fault the wine. It's not going to compete with good quality $30/50/100 wine. If it did, it wouldn't be $7.40!

I've got a 1/2 dozen more, and whilst I'll keep a couple for the nights where I can't justify opening something more special, I'll be giving the rest away, where they'll compete (in my honest opinion) nicely with the overpriced ~$30 bottles from Liquorland/BWS/etc that would otherwise be purchased. Better quality than a few of the other quaffers at similar price that I have lying around for the same purpose. (Haselgrove Batch 187, and Innocent Bystander - looking at you!)

 

[JohnM]

I have a friend who, with no pretensions at all about being a wine aficianado, gets a kerosene taste in almost every riesling she tastes. Initially, she was too afraid to mention it, thinking it seemed mad. Once she did, and I said that it's a characteristic of riesling, she suddenly relaxed.

I conclude that she's a super-taster for TDN. I, on the other hand, struggle to sense it.

for clarity and amaze (or bore) your friends at Xmas parties, it's called TDN.

From wikipedia

Petroleum notes in aged Riesling wines

On release, certain Riesling wines reveal a striking petrol note (goût de pétrole in French) which is sometimes described with associations to kerosene, lubricant or rubber. While an integral part of the aroma profile of mature Riesling and sought after by many experienced drinkers, it may be off-putting to those unaccustomed to it, and those who primarily seek young and fruity aromas in their wine. The negative attitude to petrol aromas in young Riesling, and the preference for fruitier young wines of this variety, seem more common in Germany than in Alsace or on the export market, and some German producers, especially the volume-oriented ones, have even gone so far as to consider the petrol notes a defect which they try to avoid, even at the cost of producing wines that are less suited to extended cellar aging. In that vein, the German Wine Institute has gone so far as to omit the mentioning of "petrol" as a possible aroma on their German-language Wine Aroma Wheel, which is supposed to be specially adapted to German wines, and despite the fact that professor Ann C. Noble had included petrol in her original version of the wheel.

The petrol note is considered to be caused by the compound 1,1,6-trimethyl-1,2-dihydronaphthalene (TDN),[18] which during the aging process is created from carotenoid precursors by acid hydrolysis. The initial concentration of precursors in the wine determines the wine's potential to develop TDN and petrol notes over time. From what is known of the production of carotenoids in grapes, factors that are likely to increase the TDN potential are:[17]

• Ripe grapes, i.e., low yields and late harvest
• High sun exposure
• Water stress, which is most likely in regions which do not practice irrigation, and there primarily in certain dry vineyard sites in hot and dry years
• High acid content

These factors are usually also considered to contribute to high quality Riesling wines, so the petrol note is in fact more likely to develop in top wines than in simpler wines made from high-yielding vineyards, especially those from the New World, where irrigation is common.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riesling

 

[TheRealTMA]

I have a friend who, with no pretensions at all about being a wine aficianado, gets a kerosene taste in almost every riesling she tastes. Initially, she was too afraid to mention it, thinking it seemed mad. Once she did, and I said that it's a characteristic of riesling, she suddenly relaxed.

I conclude that she's a super-taster for TDN. I, on the other hand, struggle to sense it.

Yes that's very likely. I know a couple of people who never drink Riesling I think for that reason. As you know some are more sensitive than others to wine 'aromatics' such as TCA/TCB from cork taint, Methoxypyrazines, Brettanomyces etc. I have a strange sensitivity for amyl acetate when in excess particularly in Pinot but annoyingly it can take half a bottle for me to realise just why I feel the bottle is a little off. Convincing a waiter who has no idea what amyl acetate actually is, is completely another matter!

Just like some people who eat asparagus have a ''jimmy riddle'' issue.

Or the Geosmin smell just after a rainstorm.

Nice discussion in this Australian paper https://www.awri.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Sept-Oct-2012-AWRI-Report.pdf

 

[Wozza]

Your all-in cost was $7.40/bottle and for that price, I don't think you can fault the wine. It's not going to compete with good quality $30/50/100 wine. If it did, it wouldn't be $7.40!

I've got a 1/2 dozen more, and whilst I'll keep a couple for the nights where I can't justify opening something more special, I'll be giving the rest away, where they'll compete (in my honest opinion)ev nicely with the overpriced ~$30 bottles from Liquorland/BWS/etc that would otherwise be purchased. Better quality than a few of the other quaffers at similar price that I have lying around for the same purpose. (Haselgrove Batch 187, and Innocent Bystander - looking at you!)

Totally with you, AC. It's a great wine for the price, hence why I concluded you won't get better in Aus at this price point. A big call, but I trust Mattison with his big 95 score. He would have tried a lot of young wines at this price point this year.

Funny you should mention the Innocent Bystander. I raved about that the first time I tried it, about 16 months ago. When I tried it more recently I couldn't finish the glass. I was alluding to that exact wine when opening with my note above that my tastes have changed over the last 16 months, as I've dived deeper into the wonderful world of wine.

It will make a great present for your friends. They will be pleased, I'm sure.

See you at lunchtime ...

 

[boomy]

Usually I drink Aussie wines at home so it's always nice to take a world tour when visiting the parents.

France



Italy



Argentina

 

[MadMick10]

Love the different background with each wine boomy.

 

[baiden]

Number 10 of a dozen purchased and whilst the last couple corks have been a little challenge, fortunately there has been no impact on the wine. Had this with chicken risotto tonight.
Deep gold, lime, pear and lemon on the nose with delicate apple finish on the palate. The acid is still there and key to having lasted this long, testament to the balance achieved.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Xmas drink. Nicely matured, good drinking.


I'm not a Henri fan but these 2010 were touted as the best for some years. Only 2nd one out of the wooden case so far in some years. Seems to be born out in the drinking. Quite a few years left in it but excellent drinking now.

 

[Whodoesthat]

Not quite in the same league as above...but this weeks quaffs went down nicely.

Wynns Black 2004 Cabernet - medium bodied, travelling well as 2nd of six. Certainly no bruiser, violets with soft rounded palette...good.




Heathcote Estate Shiraz 2007 - No idea where I got this, Med to full bodied, was expecting a bit more chocolate, pepper and liquorice, with a spicy finish - on the run downhill from here.




And finally the Penley Estate Shiraz Cabernet 2002 - This was the pick...big fruity nose....lots going on, nice integrated oak and long savoury finish, can't believe JH slammed this way back....great drinking.

 

[beefarmer]

Coincidence...we started last sat night with a 2000 Tahbilk Marsanne which had been in the fridge for a couple of days only. Initially, a little mixed up of many muted flavours as you described but after warming up for 45minutes, it became a more pleasant wine. My cork snapped two thirds down but no big deal. Age and nostalgia mean little to me when I become a critic on every wine I have, but I gave it about a 7/10. Not fantastic, but a credible score. Had better vintages but it was a shared opener so not really that disappointed. A mate was more impressed than myself.


I might as well keep going with last Saturday nights rather wide selection, some bottle which were not finished and left at the hosts home.


Next came the Star Lane Merlot 2012. Very impressive wine,great rich fruit, not overoaked to distract, very well received by all, elegant was a term applicable.
Followed by a Goulburn Valley wine Cape Howe Shiraz 2012. This one was mediocre, a bit too sweet and simple, not one to have another glass of.
Getting more serious, a 2004 Shotfire Quartage. Very well liked by all, still such a youngish wine, great fruit definition and great supporting oak. Very nice indeed, and a favourite wine of mine always.
2006 Henschke Euphonium red blend followed. This one stunned us. It was very good, but under stelvin, this thing tasted like it was three or four. No one thought it was ten years old. I remember having the same wine and vintage three years ago and it was brilliant and seemed not so young. This time, the youthfulness/acidity was a minor distraction to an otherwise damn fine drop. Again great length of flavour like the Shotfire and an impressive wine.
Last one was the Majella Cabernet sauv 2012. I have to say this is quintessential. A bit of mint, a bit of eucalypyt, refined lip smacking tannins, flavour endless, so smooth. Great berry fruit. Supurb. Wine of the night easily.

A very enjoyable night being our 21st continuos Christmas dinner since our first sprogs could walk. For the first time, having dinner is now a bit daggy for all the kids so us parents all had a great time in great company in magnificent Warrandyte.
C'est la vie.

 

[Wozza]

I am going to take on online drubbing from some for this review - as some know I have a fairly formed and straightforward view on the bold and brash - Barossa Shiraz!!

But it was a very generous Christmas gift from CJEMNMAC, who was keen for me and AnonymousCoward to try this hidden gem from MyWineGuy:

the Landhaus Barossa Valley Shiraz 2015


It was a very kind gift indeed, as you will see from my note below:

http://www.vivino.com/users/warren-dav/reviews/58675090

"Let me coin a new phrase: this is Nouveau Barossa. It's part of a recent trend to refashion the Barossa Fruit Bomb into a more silky, elegant Shiraz, complete with the signature Barossa flavours the warm climate, South Australian region is famous for. It's my kind of wine, even at this early stage.

Think single vineyard, 19 mths in exp. French oak, & cellaring potential of 12-15 yrs. The nose is enticing, the med. bodied palate sublime, and the finish enduring & memorable, seducing you in for more. As blackberry, plum, mulberry & liquorice glide effortlessly, lifting to a sweet berry fruit, vanilla & spice finish that lingers and lingers. Huge oak, but silky, silky smooth palate. Given the oak, I'd suggest you consume it with food at this early point. It's approachable now. But with bags of potential. A Wozza 93/100 (3.8/5.0) from me."

Thank you mate. I'll enjoy this over the coming days.

 

[afro]

been waiting to open this , cork looks good but fair bit of sour nose after i pour into the glass, took a sip straight away , sour and dry but i notice a bit of sweetness so i let it rest unit dinner is over. the sour taste has gone with more fruit upfront, but i think this has past the peak, still abit dry and earthy finish.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Grosset Polish Hill 2015:
AFF Sydney offline lunchtime meetup: arguably Australia's greatest Riesling. Took a little while to open up. From a difficult vintage, from my understanding. Quite a delicate nose of floral notes and lime. The palate was nicely balanced with citrus fruits dominant and plenty of minerality. Fairly restrained, not hugely zesty. Probably needs more time. CT91

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Kilikanoon M Shiraz 2009:
Seems like I'm the first to review this (nothing on Vivino or CT) so far. Single Vineyard (the 'M', hence the name). Opaque in the glass, the nose is tight with a dense dark fruit core and some meaty notes. 24 months in French and American oak, but I can't sense much evidence of that - the palate is still of loads of dark fruit, with a long but slightly tart finish, smooth tannins. It doesn't display a lot of complexity, however that might be due to lack of age. Certainly there is no lack of power in the primary flavours today. CT90

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Henschke Keyneton Estate 1995:
Even a 21 year old bottle keeps up the winning streak - still can't remember ever drinking a bad bottle of Henschke Keyneton. Jimmy Watson trophy runner-up in '96, it's a 71/21/7/1 Shiraz/Cab/Merlot/Malbec blend for this year. Still deep ruby in the glass. The nose remains strong with ripe blackberries, tar, cigar box and earthy notes. The palate is exceedingly smooth and velvety and lingers to lovely savoury spice finish. This is a great aged Aussie 'claret'. CT93 from me - one of the top wines I've drunk this year.

 

[TheRealTMA]

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Good reporting!

And, just because it's Xmas, I hope QF WP has taken notice of the excellent glasses ( even if they are Pinot and not Shiraz ) used by afro!

 

[beefarmer]

A common theme in the last few reviews is the time required for these wines to open up. Clearly in the December haste, we have forgotten our decanters.

Which reminds me of the comment the same fellow host made about a decade ago to me when we were having a night out with the same group at a thai in Hawthorn back in the day. He remarked, how come the sleeves are off two of them and they look like they have been opened ?
He was surprised that I had rebottled two lovely reds after many an hour decant. It worked !

 

[Pushka]

Is this good?

 

[ste667]

Is this good?

I was thinking about it ($120 for Dan's members), but the early reviews of the 2012 aren't looking too hot. If you really want the glasses though, I guess it can't be too bad!