Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[Whining&dining]

Rug introduced me to Lake Breeze wines and I haven't had a dud one yet, delish!

 

[boomy]

Home alone tonight having seafood for dinner so red is not an option. Normally I’d go for Chardonnay but for the first time I’ve opened a bottle of champagne just for myself with no special occasion. Also first time to try this particular DL and it’s very nice!

 

[JohnM]

Tonight, something I dragged back from Canada a few years back. 2012 and very nice.

 

[Whining&dining]

Just had to do a little write-up about a wine that friend and fellow wine-aficionado @Rug gifted me recently: the 2009 Chris Ringland CR Shiraz.
We both agreed that this is a "wow" wine, admittedly we both like large-boned voluptuous Shiraz' that aren't afraid to leap out and grab you by the lapels and this is certainly a wine of those very apochryphal attributes.

The colour is subterranean in its ink-stained fulsomness, darker than a grave-digger's black heart it bodes for a big time in the 'ol town tonight. In the glass it has a brooding quality and more legs than an octopus, a testimony to its 16.8% ABV, tread with caution and have a stash of Panadol Clear on the bedside table (not to mention a brimming glass of agua gaseosa). Exceedingly generous alcoholic warmth and spiritous soulfulnes leads the charge into the hallowed land of what Mr Halliday would call "black and red fruits of all kinds", I would call it damson plums, fully-ripened red currants and an ethereal quality of black currants coming through the clouds summer pudding-like, a dose of adult Ribena rather than the effete concotion that the French refer to as "Creme de Cassis". All-in-all a veritable fiesta of fruits and washed down with profligate measure of boozy pleasure that had my tastebuds standing up prouder than chapel hat pegs, I doffs me cap, yet again....

 

[VPS]

Great wine with slow cooked roast beef - superb

 

[JohnM]

Mmm, mmm. At Yarri, Dunsborough, tonight.

 

[kermatu]

Superb wine. Wasn't sure how it would stand up against a spicy chicken curry but it cut through nicely with a full but quite sweet berry taste. Bonus find of half a dozen bottles under the stairs. Very happy.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Long story short:

Me - So do you actually have any genuine French Champagne on the wine list we can buy?
Them - Yes we have Secret Garden at $25 - we have ...................
Me - NO NO NO - do you have any genuine French Champagne on wine list you sell?
Them - No Sir only Australian champagne
Me - We are celebrating a birthday tonight so please ask the Manager can I bring a bottle of Champagne and he can charge any corkage amount he likes.
1 minute pause
Them - Sorry Sir I have consulted the Manager and our licence prohibits any BYO at all
Me - OK I will see you at 7pm
4 hours later on arrival
Me - WTF? Where do you think Billiecart-Salmon come from?
Them - Oh sorry Sir - I think she was confused.
Me - May I please have a bottle of the Billiecart-Salmon?



Our regular Thursday night go to so we can look out over the water whilst having a 389 @ $90 or a Dead Arm $80 with perfectly cooked 280gm eye fillet with salad and veg for $35 (Note - Members pricing)

 

[Cruiser Elite]

So I finally got to try one - $188 down to $42.50 remember? Well it is quite delicious - I would never pay $188 for it but bargain of all bargains at $42.50

 

[Daver6]

Them - Sorry Sir I have consulted the Manager and our licence prohibits any BYO at all

I don't know about liquor licensing laws in other states, but when this line is trotted out in WA I just call them out on it. A license to sell alcohol does NOT prohibit BYO at all. Now given everyone serving alcohol has to have a RSA, you'd think they might know this?!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Yes it is same in VIC - but arguing doesn't get you anywhere - they can just refuse to take your booking.

 

[Daver6]

I took the Moss Wood to share with my uncle in London. He brought out the big guns. Both stunning!

 

[VPS]

View attachment 198343


Superb wine. Wasn't sure how it would stand up against a spicy chicken curry but it cut through nicely with a full but quite sweet berry taste. Bonus find of half a dozen bottles under the stairs. Very happy.

My knowledge of Pinot Noir isn't great and I want to buy someone a present and I know he loves Tassie Pinot. Is this a good one to get and if not can you recommend another - up to about $50 a bottle - Thanks

 

[afro]

I took the Moss Wood to share with my uncle in London. He brought out the big guns. Both stunning!

View attachment 198359

really interested to know what your uncle think about the moss wood?and hows the big gun btw?

 

[kermatu]

My knowledge of Pinot Noir isn't great and I want to buy someone a present and I know he loves Tassie Pinot. Is this a good one to get and if not can you recommend another - up to about $50 a bottle - Thanks

I have a soft spot for Pipers Brook (and Ninth Island) but yes this one was sensational. I'd look for around this vintage (2011-13). Some of the more recent Ninth Islands are not so great.

I also like Frogmore Creek / 42 degrees south wines. Purchased several two years ago to give as gifts in 3 or 4 years. Have dipped into the stock a bit but generally held firm!

That said, I will defer to those more expert than me. I won't claim to have any special knowledge or expertise. There's good info in the dedicated pinot noir thread: The Pinot Noir Thread

 

[Daver6]

really interested to know what your uncle think about the moss wood?and hows the big gun btw?

He liked it. He appreciated it. Two very different wines and no mistaking the new and old world wines. The tannins were quite well integrated on the Moss Wood. Very intense nose. Acid still going strong. The Haut Brion was in excellent condition and the tannin levels surprised us all, with quite grippy tannins still. Just entering its drinking window. The Moss Wood a more masculine wine while the Haut Brion a more feminine and pretty wine. Both matched the lamb ragu exceptionally well and finished off with some hard cheeses.

This was the weather in London...so perfect for the meal.


And what are those two bottles you ask? Two bottles I wish I had got to drink! Some previously imbibed bottles by my uncle.

 

[VPS]

I have a soft spot for Pipers Brook (and Ninth Island) but yes this one was sensational. I'd look for around this vintage (2011-13). Some of the more recent Ninth Islands are not so great.

I also like Frogmore Creek / 42 degrees south wines. Purchased several two years ago to give as gifts in 3 or 4 years. Have dipped into the stock a bit but generally held firm!

That said, I will defer to those more expert than me. I won't claim to have any special knowledge or expertise. There's good info in the dedicated pinot noir thread: The Pinot Noir Thread

Thanks @kermatu I'll check out that thread and I'll see what I can find.

 

[afro]

He liked it. He appreciated it. Two very different wines and no mistaking the new and old world wines. The tannins were quite well integrated on the Moss Wood. Very intense nose. Acid still going strong. The Haut Brion was in excellent condition and the tannin levels surprised us all, with quite grippy tannins still. Just entering its drinking window. The Moss Wood a more masculine wine while the Haut Brion a more feminine and pretty wine. Both matched the lamb ragu exceptionally well and finished off with some hard cheeses.

This was the weather in London...so perfect for the meal.
View attachment 198371

And what are those two bottles you ask? Two bottles I wish I had got to drink! Some previously imbibed bottles by my uncle.

View attachment 198370

thanks for the details dave, the moss wood sounds like its still young. the latour labels thought, i wish i can keep it like that, will start my own label collection soon.

 

[Daver6]

thanks for the details dave, the moss wood sounds like its still young. the latour labels thought, i wish i can keep it like that, will start my own label collection soon.

Yeah, the Moss Wood you can drink now but will still improve. I wouldn't say its too young to be drinking at this point though (for my tastes). However if you only have one bottle, I'd say give it a few more years with ease.

 

[cove]

I have a 707 that I found down in my wine cellar. It was bought for around $100 so I have kept it unopened for quite a while.
Penfolds/Treasury Wines latest pricing made it an investment.
i just keep drinking Moss Wood and Diana Madeline reds instead.