Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[Paulos27]

Another night another fine Grenache.

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How does it compare with their standard grenache?

 

[Daver6]

which one is the best?

Best is subjective. See below for the groups wine of the night.

Went to the Katnook Odyssey 2005 by a slim margin. There was also a 1998 Penfold Bin 389 which was unfortunately corked.

 

[boomy]

How does it compare with their standard grenache?

Good question. Even after two hours of decanting my initial reaction was meh it’s not better than the Estate.
Took at least two more hours for it to open up and mellow.
To answer your question it’s more elegant and refined but you know what they say, first impression is everything... wish I had opened the bottle few hours earlier.

 

[Doctore1003]

3.5/5 for the Meta Grenache. Was expecting more given the $38 price tag (I paid $30 through Qantas Wine and also got a swag of bonus points, which dulls the pain).
Strong raspberry and strawberry notes, with some herbs as well.
Relatively high acidity and tannins, which hopefully will lead to some improvement over coming years for the remainder of my case.

4/5 for the Serrat Pinot noir. Dominated by primary fruit notes, especially cherry and red plum. Also some fig. Enjoyable but not outstanding. Again, hoping for improvement in coming years.

 

[qaz]

all whites, because, well, white wines matter were better with the warmer weekend weather in Melbourne

rieslings were probably in finer form, the older chardonnays preferred - my last bottle of Lethbridge from Dan's to coincide with their tasting

snap somewhat:

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• my first Muddy Water ($28 @ Camberwell Cellars) and perhaps one of my first skin fermented wines - not smashable for me (no wine is, beer maybe), preferred it a few days later

actually, i forgot all about Knappstein Insider

I applaud you for being able to drink one bottle within 3-4 days, that’s self restraint! Mine rarely last to see another sunrise

i drink more than one bottle within a few days

That's interesting, I didn't really like it on the third night as it felt like the perfume and aromas had been lost. However, maybe it comes down to not storing it as well, didn't quite follow the half bottle hack.

i don't usually use half bottles, just keep the mid-consumed originals overnight in the fridge

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?

hopefully you saw this?

Besides previous picks - delivered before $20 referral (also $20 off 2nd order), 8.8% Cashrewards:

• 2016 SuperUco Calcáreo de Granito de Gualta Malbec - WA(LG)95, V(ST)94 - $29.99

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!

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haven't had much chenin blanc, but recently received tripe.Iscariot Absolution Wilyabrup 2018 - other option was the 2018 Brash Higgins

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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which M&Bs and how were they?

Line up for tonight/tomorrow.

Opened up the Paralian and the Farmilo so far, quite enjoyed the former, found it quite whimsical.View attachment 227749

good adjective - yes, i found the 2018 Paralian somewhat different to other preferred grenaches

how was the 2014 Juniper?

I've actually had the Azul Tokaji before - we had it blind as part of WSET where they were trying to show us the difference between botrytis and appassimento.

The Tokaji blew my mind as I'm not usually a sweet wine type of guy, but it just tasted like liquid honey without the glugliness - acidity really helped offset the sweetness.

acidity is definitely the difference between good dessert wine and lolly water

 

[billbro]

how was the 2014 Juniper?

I'll have to confess that it wasn't my cup of tea on the night. In the past I probably would have found it quite provoking, but I no longer seem to enjoy the typical cab sauv notes (herbal/capsicum flavours, leathery and tobaccoey). I didn't actually get a lot of fruit notes that seem to be common in tastings notes for the drop.

We decanted but I don't recall for how long but it did seem to drink better over time. I let my friend take the remaining half bottle home, so didn't get a chance to revisit it. I might have just been too far gone on the night as we opened a couple of other bottles beforehand.

Will probably try the remaining bottle I have in a more sober state, was hoping I would love it. Personally, I think the $30 Bowen Estate tends to be one of the better value cab savs, so might revisit that to see how my palate had changed.

 

[boomy]

My No.1 wine tonight...

 

[Bill Bosworth]

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: Ferngrove Black Label 2018 Malbec | | Ferngrove Wine

I've had some very nice Argentinian malbec in recent times. Much nicer than the aussie imho... Last one was a vinalba gran reservado 2015 for $15 from VM which we had in a malbec tasting night. Nearly all 20 odd preferred the Argentinian over the 5 aussie ones, including some costing four times as much. Take a chance I say...

 

[teammongo]

My No.1 wine tonight...

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nice one boomy - thoughts about this classic Aussie?

 

[shirazphile]

View attachment 2280903.5/5 for the Meta Grenache. Was expecting more given the $38 price tag (I paid $30 through Qantas Wine and also got a swag of bonus points, which dulls the pain).
Strong raspberry and strawberry notes, with some herbs as well.
Relatively high acidity and tannins, which hopefully will lead to some improvement over coming years for the remainder of my case.

4/5 for the Serrat Pinot noir. Dominated by primary fruit notes, especially cherry and red plum. Also some fig. Enjoyable but not outstanding. Again, hoping for improvement in coming years.

I debated buying Serrat's 2019 Pinot Noir, but went the 2019 Shiraz Viognier instead. Maybe the Pinot Noir is built for ageing, which may explain why you did not think it to be outstanding.

 

[boomy]

nice one boomy - thoughts about this classic Aussie?

Superb combination of power and elegance, also good value for money. Yes it’s $100 and rarely discounted but you’ll struggle to find similar quality Bordeaux blend in Australia at this price.

 

[beefarmer]

Superb combination of power and elegance, also good value for money. Yes it’s $100 and rarely discounted but you’ll struggle to find similar quality Bordeaux blend in Australia at this price.

Thats why i found the reviews of the warramuda very disappointing here because Victoria cabernets provided they always get a good airing are lovely.
I was buying and finally drank them all but the Hope Estate Victoria cabernet 2006 bought 27thmarch 2014 from grays at $44 a case, then others at $49,$54 and $59 were sensational and the acidity kept everything together. Even as a thirteen year old red, the fruit was intact and they were stunners. Every single bottle did not disappoint. Amazing really. I grabbed some 2008's too but they were not as good.Good but not amazing.One case only for the 2008's The hope estate 2006 shiraz/malbec 2007 at $44 a case was alright. There was plenty of hope at my place. always is. haha.

 

[TheRealTMA]

One from fridge today.

just delicious, cassis, blackberry. Impressed.



edit: actually, it’s reminiscent of a nice Sassicaia which is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc.

 

[CTT]

Just remembered to take a pic before the bin night.

Really refreshing wine with a nice mineral finish, balanced with fruits in the citrus and the stone fruit spectrum.

Mainly fruits and mineral in the first few sips, then started to taste more of the butter, cream complexity. Very subtle oak flavors in the background. Sort of reminds me of an oaked Chablis.

The mrs quite enjoyed it. Very good quality wine...but personally I prefer it more buttery.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Just remembered to take a pic before the bin night.

Really refreshing wine with a nice mineral finish, balanced with fruits in the citrus and the stone fruit spectrum.

Mainly fruits and mineral in the first few sips, then started to taste more of the butter, cream complexity. Very subtle oak flavors in the background. Sort of reminds me of an oaked Chablis.

The mrs quite enjoyed it. Very good quality wine...but personally I prefer it more buttery.

Hope you cellared some!

 

[Daver6]

One of Australia's finest examples of this variety IMHO.

 

[boomy]

One of Australia's finest examples of this variety IMHO.

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You have good timing. Was at wine tasting last night and got to chat with the host about Viognier. She said one of her favourites in Australia is Yalumba. Your photo reminds me to try it soon.

 

[qaz]

I'm generally not much of a cabernet person these days, but with BWS having so many at half price recently, it was an opportunity that resulted in me buying probably more of them than ever expected since my wine journey began in the 1990s with regional starter packs that included 1995/1996 Bordeaux, and so to coincide with the Australian Cabernet Challenge, a few 2016s:



all were excellent and enjoyable, hard to pick a highlight or standouts, though the O'Deas was maybe not too surprisingly the least approachable and appealing, even after a few days, somewhat lacking the elegance of the others, supporting the notion that Margaret River and Yarra Valley reign over Coonawarra as flag-bearers of Australian cabernet

similar to the Oakridge Willowlake pinot noir, my penultimate bottle of 2014 Drumborg chardonnay has been the best yet - like those from Yarra Valley, the older, the better with cool-climate chardonnay for me

Head grenache: my current favourite, opened to celebrate International Grenache Day and my first auction bid/win

Superb combination of power and elegance, also good value for money. Yes it’s $100 and rarely discounted but you’ll struggle to find similar quality Bordeaux blend in Australia at this price.

recently:

• Yarra Yering No.1 $70
• Cullen Diana Madeline $70
• Mount Mary Quintet $77.21
• Wantirna Estate Amelia $38.70
• Yeringberg $69.82
• Te Mata Coleraine $70

 

[boomy]

recently:

• Yarra Yering No.1 $70
• Cullen Diana Madeline $70
• Mount Mary Quintet $77.21
• Wantirna Estate Amelia $38.70
• Yeringberg $69.82
• Te Mata Coleraine $70

Yes good point. I should have clarified that I meant ‘rarely discounted’ by the winery or the merchant who sell them. Most of my YY wines were purchased using different vouchers but never actually saw them go on sale/clearance. Then again, up until this year I could say the same about MM so there is hope

 

[Buzzard]

Although Tulloch is in the Hunter, the fruit for this gorgeous Zin comes from Young. Delicate oak with a hint of spice.