Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[ste667]

Only one bottle ste667​? Definitely the Tally for me!

Yes (plus obligatory bubbles of course). Just myself and mrs667 tonight, and will be an early start with the kids tomorrow!

 

[Daver6]

QF upped the ante with this ripper MR chardy.

View attachment 87253

Would have polished off the bottle but didn't want to keep St Henry waiting too long

I can't believe QF make such a song and dance about their wine list in F and then serve great wines in such a disgraceful excuse for a wine glass. Other airlines can get it right in J!

 

[Wozza]

It's been, quite frankly, a pretty awful 2016 for me. And, annocdotedly, it seems it has been for many others around me too. But, in all the brokenness of this year, I've had the ever-present, ever-patient (with me) and ever-gracious, loving God. So I finish this year very thankful. Especially for small mercies that are easy to take for granted. Including family, growing friendships (that include some wonderful AFFers), continued health, continued work, an amazing church, hobbies, this country, continued comfort, continued security, and much more. It's easy to think they are givens. But only a quick flick through the international news feeds tells you we live a very privileged life, despite our ups and downs.

I've gone through quite a marked shift in my wine habits in 2016. I've purchased much less wine this year, preferring quality over quantity. I've made greater efforts with my wine writing. In particular, I've tried to make deliberate efforts to extol and upsell our great Aussie wines to the wider online community. So important, when the rest of the world knows our wines as fruit forward, young, mass produced table wines. I've connected more online, joining CellarTracker and recently WinoSphere. Also, I have started my own wine blog, albeit it's early days on that front. Most importantly, I've connected more in person with those that share my passion for wine. Through it, I've made some great friends, and many more connections all over the world.



I've had the privilege of trying some excellent wines too. They include:

My top 3 wines of 2016:

Parker Coonawarra Estate First Growth 1990
Brokenwood Graveyard Vineyard Shiraz 1999
Torbreck Les Amis Grenache 2009

The rest of my top 10 wines of 2016:

Torbreck RunRig 2006
Petaluma Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 (Magnum)
Chateau Musar Gaston Hochar 2008
Wynns John Riddoch Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon 2009
Dry River Martinborough Pinot Noir 2008
Serrat Shiraz Viognier Close Planted 2015
Grant Burge Meshach 2002

Rounding out my top 15 wines of 2016:

Mount Pleasant Maurice O'Shea Shiraz 2006
The Standish Single Vineyard Shiraz 2006
Domaine A Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Tyrrells Wines Vat 1 Semillon 2009
Paxton Jones Block Shiraz 2012

And wines showing huge promise in 2016 for the future:

[The Serrat SV 15 would top this list]
Mount Pleasant Old Paddock & Old Hill Shiraz 2014
Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
Penfolds Magill Estate Shiraz 2013
Flametree Wines SRS Wallcliff Chardonnay 2014

What were your wines of the year? What are your wine exploits of the year?

Cheers, and here's wishing you all a blessed 2017 ...

 

[ste667]

What were your wines of the year? What are your wine exploits of the year?

Checking Cellartracker it looks like my top wines of the year were:

2004 Elderton Cabernet Sauvignon Ashmead Single Vineyard
2001 Tahbilk Shiraz Reserve
2006 Grant Burge Cabernet Sauvignon Shadrach
2009 Château Doisy-Védrines
2010 Shelmerdine Shiraz
2010 Rockford Rod & Spur
2007 Frankland Estate Olmo's Reward
2000 Domaine A Cabernet Sauvignon
2012 Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz Cliff Edge
2013 Howard Park Cabernet Sauvignon Leston


I'm definitely resolved to follow quality not quantity with my wine purchases of 2017. I've got enough in the cellar for midweek quaffers for the whole year, so don't need to succumb to every amazing $6 per bottle Cellarmasters deal!


Hopefully this is the right place to give a wholehearted thanks to all the forum members who have helped in my wine education so much. Wozza, you are definitely one of those, so here's hoping you have a much improved 2017

Special mention to AnonymousCoward and his fantastic mystery wine identification skills. I always look forward to your reviews of the Aussie classics deemed good enough to grace the table on a Tuesday evening! ;-)

 

[boomy]

I can't believe QF make such a song and dance about their wine list in F and then serve great wines in such a disgraceful excuse for a wine glass. Other airlines can get it right in J!

Yea they need to have proper white and red wine glasses. On the bright side, they serve champagne in proper glass (unlike in J) and the wine list improved.

Btw if you think the wine glasses are disgraceful you should see the coffee cup and cutlery... think about the ones you take when going camping, they're worse!

 

[Whining&dining]

Had a few friends around last night for a relaxed night on the deck, quite a few wines opened but not all that much consumed (had to get up to drop the youngest son at work at 6.30am the next day put a bit of cap on it for me!) Not a huge bubbly fan but the NV Mumm was a pleasant enough aperitif before the meal, the reds always hold my attention more and despite the appearance of the ubiquitous Savvies I tried to sample all three.

Barely sampled the Diablo but quite liked the depth and breadth of expression in the glass, that and the Tassie Pinot will get another outing tonight but I saved myself for the Lienert of Mecklenburg Laudamus from 2006, natural cork still beautifully intact and the wine itself had the tarry intensity of an oyster-farmer's stick, lots of life still left in it but it's my second last bottle so c'est la vie.....

 

[beefarmer]

Trying to decide between 2011 Rifle Range and 2007 Balnaves the tally for tonight. Any thoughts in terms of drinking windows?

How many botts do you intend to down before you start on those silica transparencies ? Stick to drinking the good stuff, and both above are.
For me, it's Winestates wine of the year, the 2012 lakebreeze Arthurs Reserve. My first of only 3 botts allowed.
Happy imbibing all ! In the words of j.caeser, Veni Vidi Bibi.

 

[beefarmer]

Had a few friends around last night for a relaxed night on the deck, quite a few wines opened but not all that much consumed (had to get up to drop the youngest son at work at 6.30am the next day put a bit of cap on it for me!) Not a huge bubbly fan but the NV Mumm was a pleasant enough aperitif before the meal, the reds always hold my attention more and despite the appearance of the ubiquitous Savvies I tried to sample all three.
View attachment 87317
Barely sampled the Diablo but quite liked the depth and breadth of expression in the glass, that and the Tassie Pinot will get another outing tonight but I saved myself for the Lienert of Mecklenburg Laudamus from 2006, natural cork still beautifully intact and the wine itself had the tarry intensity of an oyster-farmer's stick, lots of life still left in it but it's my second last bottle so c'est la vie.....

very nice photography as well. Stopped down to about 2.0 I guess. Depth of field as small as a slightly surly sumptuous seductive shucked clam.

 

[ste667]

How many botts do you intend to down before you start on those silica transparencies ?

Just the one bottle of red tonight before the bubbles and an early night!

Went for the Tally in the end and very glad I did - really lovely Cabernet. Have been drinking so much MR recently it's nice to be reminded of how good the Coonawarra can be.

Hope the lakebreeze works out just as well

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Yea they need to have proper white and red wine glasses. On the bright side, they serve champagne in proper glass (unlike in J) and the wine list improved.

Hmm - my experience in QF F was that the wines declined from the mid 00s through the decade. Whereas RWT and similar were normal, it seemed to decline back to $50-60/bot wines by 2010.
Given the few routes that still have F, which are all long haul and expensive, I'd be hoping they'd have something better these days.

Not particular impressed with, say, current vintage St Henri in F. Might as well just buy your own bottle of nice $80 wine at Duty Free and pour it yourself.

Edit: FWIW, did 26 QF F flights 2006-2013 and whilst the tasting menu ex-Aus is good, the rest isn't much better than sitting in a good restaurant in Syd/Mel

 

[boomy]

Hmm - my experience in QF F was that the wines declined from the mid 00s through the decade. Whereas RWT and similar were normal, it seemed to decline back to $50-60/bot wines by 2010.
Given the few routes that still have F, which are all long haul and expensive, I'd be hoping they'd have something better these days.

Not particular impressed with, say, current vintage St Henri in F. Might as well just buy your own bottle of nice $80 wine at Duty Free and pour it yourself.

Edit: FWIW, did 26 QF F flights 2006-2013 and whilst the tasting menu ex-Aus is good, the rest isn't much better than sitting in a good restaurant in Syd/Mel

I meant the wine list improved compared to recent years. I don't really get the "tasting menu", it has no tastings in it. Instead of multiple small portions it's a choice of soup-small-main-dessert. Full size dishes that pax can select themselves from a-la-carte menu.

 

[amaroo]

Still got 50 odd minutes to go here in SIN...

 

[Whining&dining]

very nice photography as well. Stopped down to about 2.0 I guess. Depth of field as small as a slightly surly sumptuous seductive shucked clam.

That's my youngest son's work, apparently stopped down to F4, had another select gathering last night (kinda hate NYE) of just a couple of friends one of whom brought around a kilo bucket of his honey and a leg of venison for the bbq, happy days....

 

[Whodoesthat]

A few good bottles continue to be had over the break...

Brown Bros Patricia 2002 ...right in its window, gorgeous full bodied Victorian, chocolate sweetness, well rounded and nice vanilla on the finish...made the years top 10.

Leasingham Classic Clare Cabernet 2001- Another in the zone, delicious rich and silky, raspberry and coffee?....a cracka....

Grosset Polish Hill Riesling 2005, a youngster still, zesty mineral and limes, quite powerful on the long finish....+1



Last night mixing it up a bit..

Wendouree 2000 Shiraz -These take a few hours to really open up, medium bodied with rust bricking, the initial herbacious forest floor nose gave way to mild eucalypt, should have left another hour before attacking as it was staring to sing by the last mouthful. V Good but peaked

Tatiarra Caravan 2004 Shiraz Pressings - big America Oaked Vic Shiraz, velvety smooth, massive fruit still evident... didn't disappoint

Howard Park Leston Cabernet 2004 - Drinking sooo well....quite dusty on opening but rounded out..all cabernet..just like the MR Cab...excellent.





Happy NY to all.... myself and the lads are meeting for the first meet of the year this evening ....should be a ripper with six blind on offer....TN to follow..

 

[Whining&dining]

A few good bottles continue to be had over the break...

Brown Bros Patricia 2002 ...right in its window, gorgeous full bodied Victorian, chocolate sweetness, well rounded and nice vanilla on the finish...made the years top 10.

Leasingham Classic Clare Cabernet 2001- Another in the zone, delicious rich and silky, raspberry and coffee?....a cracka....

Grosset Polish Hill Riesling 2005, a youngster still, zesty mineral and limes, quite powerful on the long finish....+1



Last night mixing it up a bit..

Wendouree 2000 Shiraz -These take a few hours to really open up, medium bodied with rust bricking, the initial herbacious forest floor nose gave way to mild eucalypt, should have left another hour before attacking as it was staring to sing by the last mouthful. V Good but peaked

Tatiarra Caravan 2004 Shiraz Pressings - big America Oaked Vic Shiraz, velvety smooth, massive fruit still evident... didn't disappoint

Howard Park Leston Cabernet 2004 - Drinking sooo well....quite dusty on opening but rounded out..all cabernet..just like the MR Cab...excellent.



Happy NY to all.... myself and the lads are meeting for the first meet of the year this evening ....should be a ripper with six blind on offer....TN to follow..

Great wines and equally toothsome tasting notes, can't say I'm not jealous seeing so many beauties on show, well done and hogmanay!

 

[penegal]

No idea what my best wine was... That assumes I keep records...

But lovely to share some wines with all of you, both in person and via your words on the forum.

 

[Steady]

A Cabernet Sauvignon tonight, very nice but no wow factor for me

This was a prize from Wozza's last SYD wine tasting night - Thanks to whomever the donor was (possibly Katy?) as it was a solid example and a nice way to spend an evening

 

[GDSman]

No photos unfortunately but I decided to break into some of my stash of Rockford Basket Press over the holidays. 1998 with turducken on Christmas Day was very good but the 2008 on New Years Eve with slow roast lamb was a stunner...

 

[Steady]

No idea what my best wine was... That assumes I keep records...

But lovely to share some wines with all of you, both in person and via your words on the forum.

My number one wine in 2016 was an '08 Escarpment Pahi Pinot Noir - wow.

Some honourable mentions 2001 Domain A Cab Sauv, a 2002 Cullen DM, the Run Rig at Wozza's after party with some other AFFers , an old Magnum Rockford BS in the Stonewall room, '13 Tolpuddle PN, '14 Wines for Joanie PN, '05 Escarpment Kupe PN, '14 Home Hill Kelly's Reserve PN

Lots of Pinot Noir in my list.

 

[blackcat20]

We've definitely had some stunning wines over the last 12 months. And decided to kick off the new year (it's still Jan 1 here) with blueberry pancakes and a bottle of bubbles.

Start how you intend to go on and all that