Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[Jczer000]

I was always under the impression that Basket Press is available at the cellar door? Is it easily accessible in person or do you need to be there right at release?

 

[beefarmer]

Pulled out a Reserve 2010 Sandalford Cabernet this week and it was really nice. Great fruit still, lovely balance, just a delight. Back to a 2017 Scotchmans Swan Bay Pinot which like the Stoniers is allight but no where near as full, fruity or as moreish as the Gippsland pinots, two, I have had recently.

 

[henleybeach]

both outstanding. First time Giaconda and loved it.

 

[boomy]

Standish and Rockford tasting.
The latter lasted almost 3 hours!

 

[Jczer000]

Standish and Rockford tasting.
The latter lasted almost 3 hours!

What was the pick of the Standish?

 

[Jczer000]

I was always under the impression that Basket Press is available at the cellar door? Is it easily accessible in person or do you need to be there right at release?

It looks like Sparking Black is being released today. Due to COVID it appears they may be more flexible with phone/email orders

 

[billbro]

Woah, hectic!

 

[tielec]

I was always under the impression that Basket Press is available at the cellar door? Is it easily accessible in person or do you need to be there right at release?

I've bought it twice from cellar door, each time I was there, so in my experience it is available. Not sure if I just got lucky.

 

[Daver6]

I was always under the impression that Basket Press is available at the cellar door? Is it easily accessible in person or do you need to be there right at release?

Basket Press is released to the general public the first weekend in March and available until sold out.

 

[CaptainCurtis]

Nothing beats a Sunday lunch.

 

[boomy]

What was the pick of the Standish?

Divided opinions on that one. My pick was The Relic as most approachable to drink now. As a rule Dan recommends to cellar his wines between 8-10 years.

It looks like Sparking Black is being released today. Due to COVID it appears they may be more flexible with phone/email orders

It was released this weekend. We could buy it yesterday.

 

[JohnM]

I spotted this in the bottleshop of the Margaret River hotel last week. Had never seen it before, but it turns out that it's very new. It was exxy ($60), but looked interesting, so I took the plunge and bought a bottle.



I scoped the blurb on the Vasse Felix website. They have taken over the former Watershed winery just south of Margaret River on Bussell Highway and are making it into a dedicated sparkling production facility (A Decades-Long Fixation - Idée Fixe).

Opened last night.

I was disappointed. It's a good wine, but it didn't have enough wow factor to justify the price IMO. Certainly a nice mousse and fine bead, so stylish in that regard, but very citrussy with insufficient yeasty characters, complexity of flavour or texture to rock my world.

Just as well my motto is: 'Always be prepared to be disappointed.'

 

[Daver6]

I was disappointed. It's a good wine, but it didn't have enough wow factor to justify the price IMO. Certainly a nice mousse and fine bead, so stylish in that regard, but very citrussy with insufficient yeasty characters, complexity of flavour or texture to rock my world.

Just as well my motto is: 'Always be prepared to be disappointed.'

Are they planning to pick in late December then to get the high acid you ideally want for sparkling wine production?

 

[JohnM]

Are they planning to pick in late December then to get the high acid you ideally want for sparkling wine production?

You'll need to talk to them about that.

 

[qaz]

• Radikon Slatnik 2013: perhaps not unexpectedly, the best skin contact wine i've had yet
• chardonnay: Marco Lubiana (Tasmania) outclassed the two from Adelaide Hills
• Heirloom grenache: most enjoyable on day four/five
• cleanskin: my first ever, (one of) the rarest and greatest given that it's Blue Poles Reserve Allouran 2018, much preferred over other merlots this year

I found the Hoddles to be decent, but not remarkable - waiting for a friend to drop off 3 bottles of bay of fires though. I also wouldn't complain if I could get my hand on Felton road.

Summer Hill now have Felton Road magnums, including 2019 Block 3

Definitely, if I can get my hand on some Basket Press - not sure if I'll ever get onto the allocation though

2017 Basket Press @ Rathdowne Cellars

 

[billbro]

Summer Hill now have Felton Road magnums, including 2019 Block 3

2017 Basket Press @ Rathdowne Cellars

My pockets aren't quite as deep as yours - the minister of finance wouldn't approve.

I don't expect to taste basket press anytime soon (if ever). Was luckily enough to try some Cornish though.

 

[Kohen]

Thoughts on the Tonic - drink now or keep for a while?

View attachment 232287

• Radikon Slatnik 2013: perhaps not unexpectedly, the best skin contact wine i've had yet
• chardonnay: Marco Lubiana (Tasmania) outclassed the two from

2017 Basket Press @ Rathdowne Cellars

View attachment 232287

• Radikon Slatnik 2013: perhaps not unexpectedly, the best skin contact wine i've had yet
• chardonnay: Marco Lubiana (Tasmania) outclassed the two from Adelaide Hills

Thoughts on the Tonic? Have a few haven’t opened - hold or drink now?

 

[billbro]

Thoughts on the Tonic? Have a few haven’t opened - hold or drink now?

I would hold, but we are hardly experts, Ms. B didn't love it when we opened it - I suspect she would if we kept it for longer.

 

[JohnM]

Chowing down at Margs again tonight. Once again, getting into the local spirit.

 

[Daver6]

Chowing down at Margs again tonight. Once again, getting into the local spirit.

View attachment 232600

View attachment 232599

Venue please?