Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

A little off-piste again.

A MR Bordeaux Blend sans Cab Sauv and Merlot.

Nothing overly complex - but fresh and juicy. A tasty wine with a bit of style. The CF shines through.

A good pasta, pizza, snaggers, grilled chicken style.

Punches well at $25.

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Tasting night with some friends - the idea was to present sub $40 wines, though I think some of these stretched the definition.

Sami Odi the standout - I meant to bring out Little Wine #9 but in the haze brought out the 19 Hoffman Dallowitz by accident, oh well.
Stefano a nice juicy pinot for the price.
Blackwell a great wine all jubey fruits and rich chocolatey body, but the Elderton edged it out IMO, way more complex.
Also very impressed by the Serafino, such a meaty savoury wine, could drink all day.
 
St Henri shiraz from a poor vintage and not particularly impressive, though that could be just me

2013 suppose to be a good vintage, specially for shiraz all round in S.A. Give it more time for st Henri,too young could be a problem.
 
2013 suppose to be a good vintage, specially for shiraz all round in S.A. Give it more time for st Henri,too young could be a problem.

Yes, possibly, as I wouldn't normally drink such a wine until at least 10-15yo - it was my dad's dinner contribution - NS/HH/AC96, TS94, JO/CM(WF)93
 
Well, our (@Daver6 and my) wine group reconvenes face to face Wednesday week. :)

The theme, apropriately, is Champagne.

Yesterday I was down at the store to grab a bottle, but I always just browse around to see if there's anything unusual that I just have to try out of curiosity.

Here's what I found:

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Some may remember the La Prova Aglianico Rosato that impressed me while roaming the Abrolhos Islands back in March.

This was not a standout, but was interesting enough. Fresh and juicy and with no tannic grip. Very easy drinking. Not too light, but probably best with a daytime cheese/charcuterie platter and would likely suit a person who doesn't usually go for red wine if they find it too dry.

Bottom line for me: worth a try, but wouldn't buy it for myself again. Good value at $17.95, down from $19.95, on promo.
 
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Two Hurley Pinots, cost wise they are at the same level but different styles. This is how the producer describes them:

2014 ‘Hommage’
The nose is a blend of plums, liquor cherry, vanilla, cinnamon, dried herbs and lavender. Fuller than Lodestone, the palate is luscious, mouthfilling and lingering. Here we find dark plums with a lick of creaminess, balanced by the lively acidity of the vintage and well-integrated oak, nuanced by savouriness. The initial impression is sweet but firm tannins dry the palate and leave the exit clean and satisfying.


2015 ‘Lodestone’
A heady nose of ripe cherries, flowers, sage and wet clay leads to a tight and precise palate of succulent red fruits and dried mushrooms that is driven by the racy acidity and coated with the ultra-fine tannins of the vintage. Pure, beautifully balanced and very lingering, this medium-bodied wine eloquently expresses the terroir of Lodestone.

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Out of the two Hommage was the clear winner for me. Lodestone lacked complexity but maybe it’s due to an inferior vintage.
 
Purchased this about a year ago from cellardoor.co for $145 and I can say I'm very happy with that. Condition is excellent. This is everything you want from that classic Australian blend. Everything has come together for quite an elegant wine. Interestingly with the fruit; the CS from Mclaren and Coonawarra (expected) and Shiraz from Claire and McLaren (ie, no Barossa fruit). Hopefully I don't finish it all before the venison is cooked.

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My Standish finally arrived plus other things, so let’s start something with a little less oak.

4 acres,15% whole bunch , light and bright red colour, beautiful red fruit on the nose ,light mix berries/raspberry With some nice acidity running along side of my tongue,not too sour.this is one top release,too bad the 2020 vintage has smoke tainted which is unlikely to be produce.

Standish shiraz, 100% single vineyard, this is very subtle as a barossa shiraz, purplish colour ,lovely nose , the tannins here really overtakes the fruit as the hero of the wine, if I tasted these blind with barolo or barbaresco I don’t think I can tell the difference until the tannins soften in a day or 2, mix black fruits ,herbs and a smooth long finish.

Sami odi Hoffmann 18’, for the last few years the little wine over shines this single vineyard(i think?) because of its price, same block as Hoffmann and of course the NV factor,but this stand up against its own.sweet red fruit on the nose, very easy drinking style ,plums, creamy oak,big tannins ,it just taste like little wine! to tell the difference between the little wine 9 and this at a blind tasting is the aged characters like stronger herb,earthy and starts to have the leathery character.

I tasted the lamella before the Sami odi.
This lamella is a BAD WINE! DO NOT BUY IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. Let me know if you found more stock online, I will buy them all so you don’t have to drink it!! The tannins is massive ,almost hided all the fruit underneath it,and why does it smell like flowers?! Is a fake red!

anyway, colour looks very similar to the Standish shiraz, hint of dark fruit, dark chocolate ,mix berries ,more non-fruit complex element is in play here,I guess I can safely say goodbye to mount edelstone.

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Thanks for the reviews @afro.
You’ve reminded me to call MWG about my Standish order which was placed over two weeks ago.
 

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