Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

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Fair bit of love for the Kumeu at the moment, tried the 2020 Hunting Hill and thought it was pretty good - precise, but powerful? Worked well without and with food.

Previously had only Village/Estate (the latter a clear step above). However, the SVs are even more compelling, though whether more than double the Estate is a question mark.

Anyone tasted across 19, 20, 21?

I’ve only tasted and bought the Mate’s 20 & 21.
Missed on Hunting Hill when it was available at DM.
Other stores sell it for more than I’m willing to pay.

Did you get to taste Mate’s and Hunting Hill side by side?

Btw agree the Estate is or shall I say was great value.
Seem the price gone up significantly for current vintage.
 
View attachment 291661

Fair bit of love for the Kumeu at the moment, tried the 2020 Hunting Hill and thought it was pretty good - precise, but powerful? Worked well without and with food.

Previously had only Village/Estate (the latter a clear step above). However, the SVs are even more compelling, though whether more than double the Estate is a question mark.

Anyone tasted across 19, 20, 21?
Ah, yes! Love Kumeu. Used to buy direct but they didn't notify me of the new releases this year. Just bought a dozen of the four new vintages from The Emporium in Brisbane. The Mate's SV is excellent.
 
Speaking of Chardonnay, got to try 3 of the Rochford wines sold in the recent Chardonnay pack offer. These are their least ‘premium’ of the pack and I thought they were all quite good, particularly as mid-week quaffers.

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My preference was Terre 17 > Estate 19 > Terre 18
 
I’ve only tasted and bought the Mate’s 20 & 21.
Missed on Hunting Hill when it was available at DM.
Other stores sell it for more than I’m willing to pay.

Did you get to taste Mate’s and Hunting Hill side by side?

Btw agree the Estate is or shall I say was great value.
Seem the price gone up significantly for current vintage.
Nah I haven't tasted Mates and HH side by side, but I think that would be pretty interesting. I've heard they are quite different and there isn't a consistent view on which one is better.

Will try and open the 21s together when the right op arises though. Probably trying a Rays Road next though to see if that might be a better value prop.
 
Spent a week away and sampled locally made lychee rose in Mauritius, it was well made, fresh and light a tad too sweet for me. French red was enjoyable. De Toren Z, a Bordeaux styled blend from South Africa was good value, could do well with few more years in cellar.

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Just goes to show that you can have great wine from a less than stellar vintage.
Why not a good vintage?


95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Outer quote mark
The 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz The Signature is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Shiraz that spent 20 months in a combination of French and American hogsheads as well as smaller barrels. Its deep, sweet perfume of blackberries, camphor, damp earth, vanilla, licorice, and pepper is followed by a powerful, flavorful, intense wine revealing high tannins as well as impressive concentration. This superb Cabernet should easily age for 12-15 years.
Inner quote mark
(10/2005)”
 
Why not a good vintage?


95 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Outer quote mark
The 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon/Shiraz The Signature is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Shiraz that spent 20 months in a combination of French and American hogsheads as well as smaller barrels. Its deep, sweet perfume of blackberries, camphor, damp earth, vanilla, licorice, and pepper is followed by a powerful, flavorful, intense wine revealing high tannins as well as impressive concentration. This superb Cabernet should easily age for 12-15 years.
Inner quote mark
(10/2005)”

I meant that 2001 wasn't considered one of the stronger vintages of the 2000's in the Barossa.
 
Last night in Tassie. Making up for a night in the Scott Kilvert Hut at Lake Rodway. This is much more civilised…
 

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Lovely - dark fruits, earthy, silky.
Paired beautifully at eleven with a lamb shoulder
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Oh great! I've got a couple of the 2008s from the langtons deal a couple of years ago (would never have bought at close to the rrp but it was a bonus btl in a case of brookmans).

Did it taste like there was any chance it's going to head downhill anytime soon?
 
Spent a week away and sampled locally made lychee rose in Mauritius, it was well made, fresh and light a tad too sweet for me. French red was enjoyable. De Toren Z, a Bordeaux styled blend from South Africa was good value, could do well with few more years in cellar.

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I’ve had a De Toren red before, I think called the Fusion V. They seem to make good wine!
 
Oh great! I've got a couple of the 2008s from the langtons deal a couple of years ago (would never have bought at close to the rrp but it was a bonus btl in a case of brookmans).

Did it taste like there was any chance it's going to head downhill anytime soon?
Still got a bit left although it had matured quicker than i thought.
Drink in the next 5 years I’d say.
 
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