Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[Sedimental]

Celebrated NYE and a friend's birthday in the stifling Brisbane heat. The 1994 Henschke Hill of Grace my WOTY.

Wishing the entire AFF community health and happiness in 2017.

 

[Whodoesthat]

Our crew of four did justice to the blind caraffe taste off...some wonderful wines,no duds and all were great in their own right.Was too busy to make notes due to the furious pace...

Wine of the night was close....Jasper Hill Heathcote 2004 by a margin to Wolf Black 08......great way to start the year!

 

[teammongo]

Had some neighbours over for new year's drinks. Obligatory champagne starters, then onto the mains.
Rockford Basket Press 2003 - magnificent. A well deserved reputation.
Henschke Hill of Grace 1996 - Sublime, balance of fruit and tannins. complex and very enjoyable.
St Hallet Blackwell Barrosa Shiraz 2003 - Good for the price, but no match for the others.
Mollydooker Velvet Glove 2007 - The jury thought it was a sledgehammer - fruit, berry, alcohol. Very "parkeresque"..
Penfold St Henri 2005 - very good contender, could drink that all night long..

The HOG was superb, but for me the wine of the night was the BP.
Not a bad way to start the 2017.
Wishing my AFF colleagues a happy new year.
tm

 

[Wozza]

Had some neighbours over for new year's drinks. Obligatory champagne starters, then onto the mains.
Rockford Basket Press 2003 - magnificent. A well deserved reputation.
Henschke Hill of Grace 1996 - Sublime, balance of fruit and tannins. complex and very enjoyable.
St Hallet Blackwell Barrosa Shiraz 2003 - Good for the price, but no match for the others.
Mollydooker Velvet Glove 2007 - The jury thought it was a sledgehammer - fruit, berry, alcohol. Very "parkeresque"..
Penfold St Henri 2005 - very good contender, could drink that all night long..

The HOG was superb, but for me the wine of the night was the BP.
Not a bad way to start the 2017.
Wishing my AFF colleagues a happy new year.
tm

View attachment 87569

Cor blimey, Teammongo! I'm coming to your place next NYE! And I reckon half of the AFF Wine Lover community will be joining me! Great wines. Love the fact the BP was better than the HoG for you. I had an 03 in 2015, and it was amazing. HNY.

 

[Wozza]

I had this bottle in my sell or swap it stash. And it's now a third gone!



But I'm glad I opened this Hewitson Mother Vine Single Vineyard Barossa Valley Shiraz 2013:

http://www.vivino.com/users/warren-dav/reviews/59921920

2013 Hewitson Shiraz The Mother Vine, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley - CellarTracker

"This has such a unique flavour profile, especially coming from Dorrien in the heart of the Barossa. Small wonder, given it comes from a 0.8 h site whose 25 year root vines that had a single 'sélection clonale' Shiraz 1853 vine cloned and grafted on to them in 2008 (hence 'Mother Vine'). Halliday loved it, giving 96.

Expect a sweet, cedar nose with a fleshy dark fruit backbone. And a light bodied satin-like palate and fine finish, with exquisite blood plum, red cherry, raspberry, blackberry, salted dark chocolate, a touch of smoked meat, vanilla & delicate French oaked spices. It exudes pure class.

Decant for 2 hours. Drink now to 2020. It's special enough to justify its $49 cellar door price tag. A uniquely elegant 95/100 (4.2/5.0) from me."

A great mof_ purchase from 2015. Recommended from me.

 

[QF WP]

I certainly learnt in 2016 that there are a lot of AFF'ers with excellent cellars and palates....unlike me.

Certainly was great to meet Wozza, Anonymous Coward and Katy in SYD a couple of weeks ago for lunch and hope they'll have me back in 2017.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Out of 331 wines rated on CellarTracker this year (plus a few dozen more on Vivino that weren't from my cellar) - approx 25 wines scored 93 or higher. Just to put to rest that I give 92/93+ to everything I drink

WOTY - Torbreck Run Rig 2004

Top Cabernets:
- Katnook Estate Odyssey 2001
- Petaluma Coonawarra 1996
- Domaine A Cabernet Sauvignon 2000
- Yeringberg Cabernets 2010

Top Chardonnays:
- Hardys Eileen Hardy Chardonnay 2008
- Domaine Christian Moreau Père et Fils Chablis Grand Cru Clos des Hospices 2010
- Jean-Louis Chavy Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Perrières 2011

Top Shiraz (and blends):
- Grant Burge Meshach 2002
- Barossa Old Vine Wine Company Shiraz 2004
- Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz 2005
- Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz 2006
- The Standish Wine Company The Standish 2006
- Hardys Eileen Hardy Shiraz 2004
- Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz 2010
- Elderton Command 2002
- Elderton Command 2006
- Henschke Keyneton Estate 1995

All others:
- Rivetto Barolo Del Comune Di Serralunga D'Alba 2010
- Coldstream Hills Pinot Noir Reserve 2012
- Gaja 'Costa Russi' Langhe DOC 2001
- Aldo Conterno "Romirasco' Barolo DOCG 2006

Highly commendeds to the Grosset Polish Hill 2013 and Crawford River Riesling 2014 (both too young), and the Tahbilk Reserve Cabernet 1994 and Wendouree Cabernet 1989

 

[amaroo]

Sensational meal at Sensi (Bangkok) - highly recommended!

 

[teammongo]

One of my favourite wine makers..

Probably passed its prime, but still very enjoyable. CT91

 

[Dr Ralph]

One of my favourite wine makers..

Probably passed its prime, but still very enjoyable. CT91

View attachment 87707

Had Two Hands Ares Shiraz 2010 on an Emirates flight from BKK 2 days ago. Was great.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Gibbston valley for lunch. Some 20 wines on tasting and as well as the plethora of lovely Pinots, their whites are really looking up.

A pair of excellent Chardonnays on tasting...


Plus an interesting Pinot Blanc with lunch special...



"The 2015 Red Shed Single Vineyard Pinot Blanc is vibrant, fresh and dry.

Floral aromas on the nose combine with talc, orange zest and melon. A racy acidity threads through the palace, leaving a lovely quenching salinity in its wake. It's crisp and refreshing with a mid palate that will fill out in time, it is beautifully defined.

This wine was handcrafted with fruit from our Red Shed vineyard located in the Bendigo subregion of Central Otago. It is very savoury, textural and food friendly."


http://www.gibbstonvalley.com/asset...sting-Notes/Red-Shed-Pinot-Blanc-2015-NEW.pdf

Glad we joined their wine club several years ago!

 

[QF WP]

After recommendations from people here, I bought some Hares Chase Ironscraper 2013 Shiraz from Langtons,so thought I'd crack the first bottle tonight.

It certainly benefited from the 90 mins decanting and went nicely with chicken tagliatelle cooked by friends who are staying with us.

Moist earthy scent with oak and a medium finish which just got better with each glass, very pleased that I still have 7 bottles left.

 

[amaroo]

Another terrific meal and wine - loving the holidays!

 

[TheRealTMA]

Apologies for a double post but the EK AKL lounge wines deserve a mention

 

[Steady]

Apologies for a double post but the EK AKL lounge wines deserve a mention

Some nice wines for a lounge it has been almost 2 years since I was in that lounge but I don't recall those being offered

 

[Buggbear]

After recommendations from people here, I bought some Hares Chase Ironscraper 2013 Shiraz from Langtons,so thought I'd crack the first bottle tonight.

It certainly benefited from the 90 mins decanting and went nicely with chicken tagliatelle cooked by friends who are staying with us.

Moist earthy scent with oak and a medium finish which just got better with each glass, very pleased that I still have 7 bottles left.


View attachment 87762

Been following the discussion as well. Tempting.

 

[amaroo]

Enjoyed with Kobe Beef, Shabu Shabu, and a few other delightful dishes.

Out of this world delicious!!

 

[amaroo]

LOL maybe next time

 

[Daver6]

LOL maybe next time

View attachment 88209

Not a bad price for the Richebourg

 

[Wozza]

Massive recommendation coming for all you Pinot Noir lovers:

the Serrat Close Planted Pinot Noir 2015



On Vivino and Winosphere I posted the following note:

http://www.vivino.com/users/warren-dav/reviews/60537521

"What a way to muscle on to Serrat's customer list! I don't regret buying a six pack of Serrat's latest Pinot Noir vintage direct from their website.

Now Serrat is famed for its high density Yarra Valley vineyard, and it's super-low yield of less than a bottle a vine. They're also most famous for striking gold with their 2014 Shiraz Viognier, that won Halliday's wine of 2016. It's quite a CV. And it looks like they've produced another seriously classy wine.

This 2015 vintage hails from their 2001 old block of MV6 type Pinot Noir. After 20% whole bunches are used in the ferment, it spent 11 months in 500 litre French oak puncheons, 15% new.

The nose is hypnotic, drawing you in with red & black cherry, strawberry, tar, cigar box, and sweet and savoury French oaked spices and a touch of honeycomb and ginger. The silky smooth palate follows suit, with a fine drive and long, lingering finish.

Huge potential. Drink now to 2022. $42 is a bargain for this quality of Pinot. It's why it gets a big Wozza 95.5/100 (4.3/5.0) from me."

If you're keen to land some, then Serrat are still selling them for $42 a bottle here:

http://www.serrat.com.au/buy


* Vineyard picture courtesy of No Cookies | The Weekly Times