Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

Evening all.

For those that dabble in the utmost bottom margins, tonights tipples are ones I got in a justwines eco dozen. So average paid is about $6 - delivered!! I do indulge in far greater wines, but it is interesting exploring this bottom level - so far pretty much all have been drinkable!!

I love when I get a wine that, despite holding the physical bottle in your hand, you are still unsure of the provenance.

Wine 1 has a label "Devil's Blend". The rear label reveals no more detail - just a description of the wine in very generic terms (it is apparently a Shiraz Cabernet blend) And on that back label it also refers to "southeast Australia". I have no idea who makes it. Most of the back label is in dual english/french. I suspect that given it is being included in discount mixed reds, it is probably part of a recently failed export? Most likely to the UK??

I will describe it, but first I will introduce the second tipple.

From the same bargain basement justwines dozen, is an Aura cabernet merlot. The back label on this clearly refers to it being imported by a UK enterprise, hence my belief that these are wines who's export orders were stuffed. The label also says that they are proudly owned by the "McWilliam family".

The thing that struck me most is the similarity between the wines. They are both "ok", in a quaffer sense. The shiraz cab was a triffle clearer in colour and brightness. And a tad fruitier and sweet. But overall they were just uncannily similar. Both were screwcap closures and cheap bottles. Apart from different colour additions, the bottles appear actually identical.

So in summary, I assume these were destined for export but are now being unloaded via the bargain websites. Nothing wrong with either wine, but obviously at these prices nothing special or memorable either. Perfectly suited as an offerring at a BBQ at your house where you hope, forlornly, that the guests will bring better stuff which they will leave to you because they drink this swill :)
 
Head to a restaurant, it says not allow to byo, but it’s google online menu says yes. Ok, then went to my friends home and have KFC😭. We opened the Standish 2016 and Washeauk Wrecked 2008 under kaesler brand.

The decanter I bought from China which it just cost under $15. Crystal, not glass, it looks great, but the design is bad. When I pour the wine from the tiny mouth, it flows too fast and it drips.

Obviously the standish is more balance, More condensed, nice colour, more fruity, more layer. Absolutely a star in its price range. Washeauk is winery and stored in my friends fridge for 5 years. Fruity is going, oaky, spicy dominates on the palates and finishes. Sweetly due to its 16 alcohol, licorice on the palate, complexity and the power is not at the same level of standish.

I just tried 3 of the whiskey, we can’t drink them all, because it just only 2 of us
 

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HokitikaGold said:
Evening all.

For those that dabble in the utmost bottom margins, tonights tipples are ones I got in a justwines eco dozen. So average paid is about $6 - delivered!! I do indulge in far greater wines, but it is interesting exploring this bottom level - so far pretty much all have been drinkable!!
.....
Wine 1 has a label "Devil's Blend". The rear label reveals no more detail - just a description of the wine in very generic terms (it is apparently a Shiraz Cabernet blend) And on that back label it also refers to "southeast Australia". I have no idea who makes it. Most of the back label is in dual english/french. I suspect that given it is being included in discount mixed reds, it is probably part of a recently failed export? Most likely to the UK??
Click to expand...

Usually a label in French and English indicates a wine was destined for Canada, due to their dual language requirements.
 
Tertini Shiraz.jpg

Evening all, I have managed to upload a photo :)

Tonite's first tipple is a 2015 Tertini "Hilltops Gundagai" shiraz. There were two of these in a recent discount mixed dozen I bought via justwines. The "enticers" to lure you in and believe their usually inflated "RRP price" thing. I see it is sold separately on their site for $25, and on Dans it is $28. So getting it in a mix with average cost to me (after coupons) of $6 made it a economic thing. But anyway, who cares about the price - what was it like?

I am a bit funny, so in a wine review I put some emphasis on the packaging. Screwcap seal. Burgundian style bottle of decent weight and decent punt. These are plusses for me. Bordeaux bottles fit easier in wine racks, but a heavy burgundy wide-base style bottle sits far safer on my desk in the semi-darkness of my study as I clumsily pour another :) The lable is simple yet dignified. No crass attention-grabbing tricks. A focus on the Brand itself - a clear sign of pride. I like that.

I also intensely enjoy the visual aspect of a wine. Simply put, I hate brown, and I hate drab, lifeless appearance. This is neither. It has a quite nice, medium to deep ruby colour, with a dash of purple coming through. Given it has 5 years now, there is a gentle cloudiness to it that does not detract from its appeal - it seems hazy in a mellow and soft way, without losing the colour. I like that too. I hope my mind resembles that after I finish it :)

On the nose, it is fruity but gently so. Dark fruits would be the term perhaps most appropriate. Unfortunately I am not skilled in detecting all the other plethora of minutiae that most wine drinkers seem able to.

On the palate, plum and blackberry. Just verging on a thing I personally enjoy very much in some wines, which I would describe as well-cooked blackberry jam. But also with startling presence of raspberry too. I really could not decide if raspberry was there or just in my imagination. But anyway, a very pleasant taste. In my somewhat limited experience with shiraz, it was only medium + in body. Very nice moderate tannins, and a long finish - it just lingered pleasantly.

All in all a thoroughly enjoyable wine, for this price bracket. Nothing amazing or mind-blowing, but a very solid tipple. I would proudly serve this to friends, if I had any.

BTW, I just checked it on Hallidays and they gave this vintage a rating of just 89 - but they did this back in 2016 - so either the wine has developed nicely, or JH knows so much more than me in wines :)
 
wee angus.jpg

Second tipple for tonight.

I must explain that I try to enjoy two new wines each night. There are just so many out there that when one considers one's life span, you have to try hard to forge ahead to attempt to explore. Hence, as you will see, the emphasis on new things rather than just seeking a favorite.

As I merrily chew through the latest just-wines mixed reds case, I got to this one. A "Wee Angus" 2018 straight merlot.

Apparently from Victoria, and an alcohol content of 14%. I must admit from the start that my initial impression, driven as always by the bottle itself, was not good. Bordeaux style, medium weight, but also with medium punt - so at least not like a Dan Murphys 100 gram bottle cleanskin... but still, I was even less inspired by the label. I am the first to admire "minimalist" things, especially in wine, but this label screams that they were trying to save dollars by using a minimal colour palette. Perhaps a very harsh and perverse pre-assessment. As I say, I like minimalist labels without flowery junk, but please give a little more pride than this....

I was not expecting much - as this was one of the "secondary" wines in an el-cheapo mixed red dozen. And that is exactly what it is - a second rate but drinkable wine that one can source so easily these days via such specials.

Visually it is ok, a medium to deep ruby, quite bright and vibrant, which I like. But there was an effect that it was difficult to clearly see beneath the surface. You get that some time in wines, but have never seen anyone explain this.

On the nose you are met with the usual merlot fruits, but there was nothing noteworthy here.

On the palate, to me, judging the sweetness of a red is a complicated thing. This was to me moderately sweet, in a pleasant fashion, but others may consider it dry. I guess it is what you compare it with, and individual perceptions. To me, it is light to moderate body, slight tannins, with a rather short finish. But I must disclose that after a couple of bacon and cheese toasted sandwiches, my palate may be compromised.

All in all, exactly what you would expect of a base merlot in this price range. Enjoyable and quaffable, but absolutely no pure joy. Worth what I paid for it, but philosophically, time wasted.
 
had a big tasting yesterday.

stand outs were:

Gosset 2012, it had really good fruit, much more than what you can taste in the Gosset NV. Lots of toast, brioche with all the time on yeast too.

The Nautilus was surprisingly really good too, would probably rate it ahead of the Gosset NV, especially considering its price too.

The Barolo was spectacular too, lots of tannin and acid. really intense flavour with a long finish. 2015 but drinkable now.

Villa Antinori Chianti Classico, despite only being 2015, there are lots of leather, toast, smoke flavour already.

Bodegas Conde Valdemar Rioja Reserva 2011, it's up there as one of the best $30 wine I've tried... still really good amount of primary fruits even though it's a 9 year old wine, good bottle development coming through as well.
 

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Distant reminder of the days when VM used to be all about quality without the annoying hyperbole.
Can’t remember how much I paid but definitely far less than it’s $140 RRP which btw is not inflated. This is a true quality Shiraz that developed beautifully over the years and I believe reached peak drinking time.

C5795EE4-1404-4FB2-A162-9CCC108043D0.jpeg
 
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Impulse buy at a local Asian Fusion restaurant, courtesy of a friend. Didn't match the food at all; no one complained.

Drinking young. Strong American oak influence, cola, coconut and meatiness. Tannins were very soft, I would have liked a tiny bit more structure. One of the more approachable Granges I have had. Ages left, but I wonder if the low acidity and lack of structure will impact down the track?
 
tielec said:
View attachment 226151
Impulse buy at a local Asian Fusion restaurant, courtesy of a friend. Didn't match the food at all; no one complained.

Drinking young. Strong American oak influence, cola, coconut and meatiness. Tannins were very soft, I would have liked a tiny bit more structure. One of the more approachable Granges I have had. Ages left, but I wonder if the low acidity and lack of structure will impact down the track?
Click to expand...

Impulse buying Grange in a restaurant!
Wish I had friends like yours, this one is a keeper :D
 

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