Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[TheRealTMA]

Sunday = Pinot. Tonight a lovely Willamette Valley Pinot. Cellared for a few years. Drinking superbly now.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

We continued our Pinot pilgrimage on Sunday night with the Mt Mary 2012.. Earthier than the Yabby Lake (to be expected) but certainly didn't set my world on fire.. Price adjusted (very expensive in my opinion) I'd give it an ok... Certainly not as good as I remember the By Farrs to be.
Mr Up opened the Bass Philip 2011 Crown Prince this evening and said he preferred it to the Mt Mary. Probably why I am now having the last glass of the Mt Mary .. the tannins have softened overnight but still not worth the price we paid for it (IMO).

 

[JohnM]

We continued our Pinot pilgrimage on Sunday night with the Mt Mary 2012.. Earthier than the Yabby Lake (to be expected) but certainly didn't set my world on fire.. Price adjusted (very expensive in my opinion) I'd give it an ok... Certainly not as good as I remember the By Farrs to be.
Mr Up opened the Bass Philip 2011 Crown Prince this evening and said he preferred it to the Mt Mary. Probably why I am now having the last glass of the Mt Mary .. the tannins have softened overnight but still not worth the price we paid for it (IMO).

Always remember No 1 adage: Always be prepared to be disappointed (invariably you will be with hyped wines IMHO).

 

[JohnM]

Right, half of the third of the Argentinian Malbec 6-pack was put to the sword tonight:



Initial impression was that it was not as good as the first two. A little short on the palate; just a bit underwhelming and not quite defining Arg Malbec. However, it seemed to get better (or I mellowed). I have a hunch that it might actually come to the fore when I open the half-bottle the second half was bundled into.

Of course, the reality is that these bottles average $23 each delivered to your door, so cracking value IMHO for something just a bit different. The odyssey continues...

 

[QF WP]

A reunion of 3 couples originally from our street meant my neighbour found the perfect chance to open this little beauty:



It has been given to him as a gift from work but I was a little concerned about its provenance (certainly far from perfect but at least not stored next to a stove).

No leakage from outer seal but as soon as I looked at the cork I was concerned - there appeared to be evidence of leakage around the side.

Eased the cork out and to the nose it smelt of port. Not a good sign.

Poured a sample. The colour was deep dark ruby red to the light and with some swirling the nose opened up. Amazingly, it was fine. Deeeeelightful

So with the first decanter full, we went out to the BBQ and the host put on some thick steaks and sausages (the joys of 7 kids being together again). Some nice slow Webber cooking, a couple of cold cleansing ales and then we sat down for dinner.

None of our wives decided to join us with the red wine - so what are the three of us going to do??? Damn it, we'll just have to drink it all ourselves. Let's settle in - and it's only a 50m walk home across the road. Happy days.

The first decanter was left for an hour and drunk with the pre-dinner snacks - very little of anything at the bottom so result were 3 very relieved drinkers. Full bodied and no taint. Olives and feta with some biscuits. My, this could be a loooong night.

Second decanter was filled as soon as the first finished - probably wasn't left an hour as we had hungry children. Was a bit of sediment in this decanter as we poured the next glasses to have with steaks with mustard and a green salad with long bean salad.

Last decanter had the least time - probably 20 mins only but we weren't that concerned about the worlds issues by that stage. Feet up in the Lounge Room, kids watching a film in another room and catching up with dessert ready to be served. That really was a great jeroboam and there was still a glass left - which I got for supplying the decanter.

Here are the happy lads with their wives after dinner:



Can't see anything wrong with the photo - well we did have a skinful by that stage and we are really good friends

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>
Here are the happy lads with their wives after dinner:

View attachment 41685

Can't see anything wrong with the photo - well we did have a skinful by that stage and we are really good friends

As I don't know Mrs QF WP, I'm assuming that's her with you .

 

[TomVexille]

As I don't know Mrs QF WP, I'm assuming that's her with you .

I'll vouch for him... this time

 

[QF WP]

Well we have had photos in the past with swapping spouses (all in good fun of course). Not knowing whether you know which one is me, RooFlyer, but for anybody that doesn't know, I'm the one on the left (and yes that is Mrs QF WP on my lap )

 

[QF WP]

Actually finished off the last glassful in the decanter last night. The sedimentation in the bottom was fairly grainy and the wine still drank well. Not that I expect to drink too many jeroboams again in my lifetime, but interesting to know that it held 9 glasses (admittedly not all of exact measures).

 

[juddles]

some of my favorites in my cellar

 

[JohnM]

View attachment 41696

some of my favorites in my cellar

Dang! - there's a couple of memories - and an excuse for me to arrive parched on your doorstep in September juddles :!:.

The Angelica Zapata (from Bodegas Catena Zapata - the immaculate and lovely Mayan-style winery pictured in my TR below) is a cracker. I gargled a bottle of it in Mendoza. IIRC it was at Azafran restaurant - referenced upthread for Rooflyer's upcoming visit, and where I ate twice.

As I mentioned quite a way up thread The Norton Privada used to be sold in Australia by Vintage Cellars and I thought it was B* good (and good value at c. $30). Foolishly, I thought it was on their permanent inventory and I never bought more than about five or six in total before it vanished.

 

[JohnM]

Well we have had photos in the past with swapping spouses (all in good fun of course). Not knowing whether you know which one is me, RooFlyer, but for anybody that doesn't know, I'm the one on the left (and yes that is Mrs QF WP on my lap )

Were all the car keys in the bowl by the door, though, QF WP :?::shock:.

 

[QF WP]

Were all the car keys in the bowl by the door, though, QF WP :?::shock:.

There was only one couple driving - the others were the hosts and we live diagonally across the road .

 

[RooFlyer]

I went to my favourite wine shop in Calgary - Metrovino; been going there for years. They know me better than my 'local' in Tasmania!

First things first. As I've noted before, they stock Rockford Basket Press. Currently, 2001 for C$90. Get outta here! I see its for sale at Dan Murphy's and elsewhere in Oz for between A$150 - A$175. Aussie and Loonie not far off parity. I'd buy and take back home except I have my own stock already .

Next. I asked about Argentinian malbecs. Answer - not a cracker! Not a single bottle. Sod-all. This place does specialise in Old World wines, but has very respectable new world wines from all over.

Huge disappointment. So I ended up with a Patagonian pinot noir. Barda 2012

I was completely open minded and poured a glass before having (Canadian) lamb for dinner (C$29/kg for some thick-cut forequarter chops). It poured a little orangy-brown which got my attention. Pretty dead on the nose. I've mentioned before that my technical palate is hopeless, let me just say that it had distinct smoky overtones and then pretty flat to start with.

On drinking, it opened up a bit but I'm afraid with the colour and initial impression, it failed me. I won't pre-judge the class by this bottle; it may have been straight-out 'off' (in which case a first from this supplier) - of course that means I keep trying others .

 

[JohnM]

Huge disappointment. So I ended up with a Patagonian pinot noir. Barda 2012

I was completely open minded and poured a glass before having (Canadian) lamb for dinner (C$29/kg for some thick-cut forequarter chops). It poured a little orangy-brown which got my attention. Pretty dead on the nose. I've mentioned before that my technical palate is hopeless, let me just say that it had distinct smoky overtones and then pretty flat to start with.

On drinking, it opened up a bit but I'm afraid with the colour and initial impression, it failed me. I won't pre-judge the class by this bottle; it may have been straight-out 'off' (in which case a first from this supplier) - of course that means I keep trying others .

They do describe it as their "second wine" - Pinot Noir made from "...a blend of the components eliminated from the single-vineyard wines".

The general problem with Pinot Noir IMHO is that once below a certain quality/price level, it is almost irredeemably poor and squarely aimed at the unsophisticated drinker wanting something 'lighter' than Cab Sav, Shiraz etc. A classic example of this category in Australia, IMHO, is 9th Island.

Generally, IMHO, an Australian Pinot Noir under about $30 is too risky. How much was it?

 

[QF WP]

I went to my favourite wine shop in Calgary - Metrovino; been going there for years. They know me better than my 'local' in Tasmania!

First things first. As I've noted before, they stock Rockford Basket Press. Currently, 2001 for C$90. Get outta here! I see its for sale at Dan Murphy's and elsewhere in Oz for between A$150 - A$175. Aussie and Loonie not far off parity. I'd buy and take back home except I have my own stock already .

I said something different, but I suppose they have a similar meaning .

I'd have bought their entire supply of Basket Press. I'd think similar feelings from a decent group of AFF'ers as well.

 

[JohnM]

I said something different, but I suppose they have a similar meaning .

I'd have bought their entire supply of Basket Press. I'd think similar feelings from a decent group of AFF'ers as well.

Lugging it back to Aus is the pain.

 

[RooFlyer]

I said something different, but I suppose they have a similar meaning .

I'd have bought their entire supply of Basket Press. I'd think similar feelings from a decent group of AFF'ers as well.

Actually, I do buy the occasional bottle of it here, when I'm invited out to dinner and an Aussie wine is expected.

Lugging it back to Aus is the pain.

Not to mention the duty ... when I have a supply already!

 

[TomVexille]

Lugging it back to Aus is the pain.

QF WP​ would have drunk it before it got to the plane

 

[JohnM]

QF WP​ would have drunk it before it got to the plane

Ah hah - lugged it back internally. A RBP mule .