Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[beefarmer]

Out of this world, best drop we've had recently.

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You can't go wrong with a bit of strategically placed viognier. Kind of funky.

 

[Steady]

Looking forward to this tonight...

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I haven’t cracked any of my ‘12 Rifle Range yet, love to hear how it’s coming along

 

[TheRealTMA]

Out of this world, best drop we've had recently.

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Have a case. Will try in a year.

 

[billbro]

Have a case. Will try in a year.

Wish I could afford a case! However, will probably buy a couple of additional bottles.

Anyone tried farr rising? The gamay in particular.

 

[boomy]

I haven’t cracked any of my ‘12 Rifle Range yet, love to hear how it’s coming along

As we all know when’s the ideal time to open a good red is very subjective, especially with big grapes like Cab Sav. In my opinion this one is drinking fantastic right now. Which vintage you’re drinking ATM?

 

[Steady]

As we all know when’s the ideal time to open a good red is very subjective, especially with big grapes like Cab Sav. In my opinion this one is drinking fantastic right now. Which vintage you’re drinking ATM?

I have been drinking older ‘05 to ‘12 Moppa, Rod n spur, Hand picked and local growers (Some purchased as museum releases) as well as Younger frugal farmer and black Shiraz.
The ‘12 RR was the first vintage of it I bought, and after tasting at the CD thought I would lay them down for about 10 years. Getting to try older Rockfords at Stonewall lunches a few years later confirmed to me that I like / love them (Rockford wines in general) with a bit of bottle age.

 

[tielec]

Thought I'd pop in for some comment on these two, including observations about the bottles - inspired by Hokitika; although bottles don't effect my personal ratings.

I was turned onto the Stagiaire by this forum, so thanks for that guys. I like the bottle, midweight, good punt, minimal label with a sort of artistic take on gears (?) perhaps a meta comment on precision. Plays well into the 'I might be $25 but I make up for it by being culty and cool' aesthetic.

My notes mention a fantastic nose of strawberries and barnyard floor, a mid length palate of rhubarb, red berries, mushy strawberry with a touch of heat and an attractive bright colour palate. I didn't see much aging potential or complexity, despite reviews to the contrary. By day 2 this has evolved magnificently into a much leaner, more precise wine - I think I was wrong about age-ability. Really good and wish I had left more than one glass to go the distance; oh well, 11 left in the cellar.

Achaval Ferrer is a passion purchase, borne out of a trip to Mendoza a few years back. Disclaimer: Achaval Ferrer made what I thought was the best Malbec I had in South America, and I drank a fair few... Strange bottle shape with a huge shoulder to catch sediment (strange because AFAIK Malbec not meant to be aged), heavy, big punt. I don't really like labels with crest-ish designs on them - feels a bit wanky. I think Achavel are big enough to just put their name on a bottle and leave it at that, a la Mosswood.

Iconic Medozan Malbec nose, I don't know how to describe except crushed violet, plums, five spice and star anise; so aromatic that you can't help but smell it even as you put the glass to the mouth. It sound silly writing this but I always think of chocolate cake that has beetroot in it when I smell Mendozan Malbec. Palate is lush, midweight tannins, fair kick of acid to balance out the fruit and chocolate - 'juicy'. Reasonably long. Inky dark with purple rim. So evocative of the region; smokey barbecues, completos, empanadas and cigars.

 

[Daver6]

Closest I can get to flying international J these days. From VM consumed at Mt Augustus.

 

[JohnM]

Closest I can get to flying international J these days. From VM consumed at Mt Augustus.

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Before or after you climbed that hill?

 

[Daver6]

Before or after you climbed that hill?

Before. Was celebrating getting to Mt Augustus with four inflated tyres...which is one more than some people were able to achieve...

 

[JohnM]

Before. Was celebrating getting to Mt Augustus with four inflated tyres...which is one more than some people were able to achieve...

One more than many could achieve...

But... a flat at Kalbarri? Wimpy.

 

[Jczer000]

I wouldn't picking up a few bottles of Malbec to drink in the short term. If I am only looking to spend $20-30 a bottle, am I better going domestically (Langhorne Crk seems to be a hotbed for the stuff) or grab some Argentinian bottles. Any recommendations?

 

[tielec]

I wouldn't picking up a few bottles of Malbec to drink in the short term. If I am only looking to spend $20-30 a bottle, am I better going domestically (Langhorne Crk seems to be a hotbed for the stuff) or grab some Argentinian bottles. Any recommendations?

Although I have a few recommendations for Argentinian Malbec (as per a few posts above) it's hard to source them in Australia.

This isn't a bad effort from Ferngrove: https://www.ferngrove.com.au/product/ferngrove-black-label-malbec/

 

[Daver6]

Downed this sexy little number at Wooleen Station (I BYO'ed it). Damn it's good. In fact, (and I've said this before) Brash Higgins wines are all round really good. A producer worth seeking out.

Also wine related and will cover in my TR, you can see a door slightly ajar behind the snooker table. That leads down the wine cellar at Wooleen. Decently stocked with mainly WA wines. Not bad for a catttle stations out in the middle of nowhere!

 

[Major]

I wouldn't picking up a few bottles of Malbec to drink in the short term. If I am only looking to spend $20-30 a bottle, am I better going domestically (Langhorne Crk seems to be a hotbed for the stuff) or grab some Argentinian bottles. Any recommendations?

I buy Malbec from Bremerton. It's really good and have no hesitation in recommending it.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Couldn’t work out where to post this. Interesting.

2,600-year-old Phoenician wine 'factory' unearthed in Lebanon

The oldest press found in the country was used by ancient Phoenicians to manufacture vintages once adored around the Mediterranean.

www.nationalgeographic.com

 

[Daver6]

Theme for the tasting last night was any red 10 years or old. The Marchand and Burch where thrown in for good measure.

 

[JohnM]

Theme for the tasting last night was any red 10 years or old. The Marchand and Burch where thrown in for good measure.

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'Twas another great tasting.

 

[beefarmer]

Theme for the tasting last night was any red 10 years or old. The Marchand and Burch where thrown in for good measure.

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Out of interest how many imbibers imbibed and what sort of side nibbles goes with these?

 

[Major]

And the wine of the night was ....