Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[AdMEL]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

Henschke Hill of Grace 1996

This guy has been insolently teasing me for ages - along with its yearly siblings. I got sick of it, so when some friends dropped by, and we only had chops and snags to put on the BBQ, I thought that I had to produce something to lift the tenor of the evening so I got it out and wrung its neck.

Or rather, I gently eased the cork out, actually used the decanter and we all enjoyed it immensely with our chops and snags.

BTW I hadn't seen that 'open a bottle without a corkscrew' before. Jeepers, I hope everyone here would rather leave the bottle unopened than subject any decent red to that?

View attachment 26888

Well done! I have a 2001 Hill of Grace in the cabinet teasing me. I'd better get in some snags and chops . It's all about occasion .

I also have one of its slightly older siblings teasing me - a 1994!

How was the 1996?

I have read conflicting advice regarding decanting - whilst most people decant old wine, apparently it's often better if you don't and actually much more useful to decant young wines.

 

[drron]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

Thanks Rooflyer.I have one of that vintage teasing me as well.
I nearly opened it last week when friends were over but didn't as I thought it might be just a little Too old.
So no worries now!

 

[RooFlyer]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

Thanks Rooflyer.I have one of that vintage teasing me as well.
I nearly opened it last week when friends were over but didn't as I thought it might be just a little Too old.
So no worries now!

Actually, to answer both AdMel and yourself, I'd say that it was probably not going to get any better (ie it was probably going to go down a bit from here). But it was absolutely delicious. Drink now and enjoy, as they say!

(ps mine also hasn't had an ideal life - originally kept in professional wine storage in Sydney but for the past 10 years or so, its been an "under the house" job in Tasmania, with about 3 house moves in that time!)

EDIT: yes, AdMel, I'm not generally a decanter-er, especially with older wines as they have been oxidized quite enough! We were just feeling a bit pretentious

 

[Daver6]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

Nice! Got any tasting notes to share?

Henschke Hill of Grace 1996

This guy has been insolently teasing me for ages - along with its yearly siblings. I got sick of it, so when some friends dropped by, and we only had chops and snags to put on the BBQ, I thought that I had to produce something to lift the tenor of the evening so I got it out and wrung its neck.

Or rather, I gently eased the cork out, actually used the decanter and we all enjoyed it immensely with our chops and snags.

BTW I hadn't seen that 'open a bottle without a corkscrew' before. Jeepers, I hope everyone here would rather leave the bottle unopened than subject any decent red to that?

View attachment 26888

 

[Daver6]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

I have read conflicting advice regarding decanting - whilst most people decant old wine, apparently it's often better if you don't and actually much more useful to decant young wines.

You will definitely want to decanter an older wine like that. Mainly to remove sediment (unless you like your wine crunchy?). You can always double decant it back into the bottle if you decide it doesn't require anymore air time.

When I open a bottle, I'll pour a small tasting to assess and make a decision from there. If its anything that's likely to throw a sediment, I'll decant regardless. If, I've opened it a few hours before I want to drink it, I'll just pour it back into the bottle and close it again.

 

[drron]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

Being a lazy fellow I picked up a nice fine wine strainer in the USA-the home of making life easier.
Does the job nicely but would not satisfy the connoisseur.

 

[Daver6]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

Being a lazy fellow I picked up a nice fine wine strainer in the USA-the home of making life easier.
Does the job nicely but would not satisfy the connoisseur.

Wine strainer? That's for wimps. Use your teeth

 

[drron]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

Too many gaps in my teeth!

 

[medhead]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

I've had a few bottles of a 2001 Shiraz that have involved a love hate relationship. Had to drink one bottle that I happened to find was leaking when selecting something drink. Straight from the bottle it was almost undrinkable. (But I struggled through). Subsequent bottles I either decanted or ran through the aerator and they were rather good. Anyway, I donated the last bottle of that to Munitalp and the Adelaide poker event. Still have to see if it'll turn out any good.

 

[RooFlyer]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

Nice! Got any tasting notes to share?

Aw, I appreciate your confidence in my tasting, but sorry, no. The colour definitely indicated that it was showing its age (orangy tinge not an intense deep red) and the taste (I'm a bit reticent to credit anything to my 'palate') a severe critic might say was j-u-u-u-st getting over interesting. Just a bloody nice drop.

 

[RooFlyer]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

Being a lazy fellow I picked up a nice fine wine strainer in the USA-the home of making life easier.
Does the job nicely but would not satisfy the connoisseur.

Don't suppose you can remember where you got it? Or does anyone know if such are available in Oz?

I've looked and looked in western Canada, but can only find ones that are part of a whole decanter (ie an insert in the neck)

 

[Buzzard]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

After being chilled the wine turned rather dark for some reason. The cork was pulled and it was in excellant condition so we were looking forward to this old girl. Unfortunately we were somewhat disappointed.

Whilst the wine was still nice, obviously it was no at its best after 16 years. Thinking back to the epiQure event 2 days earlier when I sampled (several times to be sure) the current Noble One, I would say just buy one when you want one.

Perhaps the wine does improve over time, just don't leave it for 16 years.

 

[drron]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

Don't suppose you can remember where you got it? Or does anyone know if such are available in Oz?

I've looked and looked in western Canada, but can only find ones that are part of a whole decanter (ie an insert in the neck)

Brookstone.Always a few interesting gadgets there.

 

[Daver6]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

Bugger about it not being up to scratch

I had a 2002 about a month ago. Colour was pretty dark too, but actually, the wine was still in tip top shape. I think you just got unlucky with a bad bottle/cork more than anything.

 

[Buzzard]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

Clearly I am a fan of the Basket Press.

With only 2 of this vintage left, I chose to share one with some friends old and new.

The cork was still in great condition with a nice nose, the wine was very smooth on the palate, made me think of cigars.
Certainly worth the wait.

 

[JohnM]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

Don't suppose you can remember where you got it? Or does anyone know if such are available in Oz?

I've looked and looked in western Canada, but can only find ones that are part of a whole decanter (ie an insert in the neck)

I bought a good one some time ago - in Myer, IIRC . It's a funnel with a bent stem to gently splosh the wine down the side of the decanter and the fine-mesh strainer is an insert into the funnel.

 

[blackcat20]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

I've got some Wolf Blass black label that I'm looking forward to drinking soon.

 

[tgh]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

It seems there r a few ancillary disease to wine.. er admiration..
One of these is hoarding past the due time ( whenever that is )…
I have "appreciated" an old but poorly stored grange and stored ( and continue to) store a few that probably don't deserve their comfort zone.
Suffering the disease , I continue to stash ..clearly beyond help I am...

 

[RooFlyer]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

It seems there r a few ancillary disease to wine.. er admiration..
One of these is hoarding past the due time ( whenever that is )…
I have "appreciated" an old but poorly stored grange and stored ( and continue to) store a few that probably don't deserve their comfort zone.
Suffering the disease , I continue to stash ..clearly beyond help I am...

Well, thank goodness for that. I thought I was the only one. Maybe we should have a thread "Nice wines I SHOULD have drunk if not recently, then some time ago."

Like these:




This one's going to be opened on Anzac Day with every finger crossed.




Maybe the Yering will still be OK for a spag bol?

 

[tgh]

Re: Nice Wines I have DranK Recently - Red or White

Perhaps a confession thread would/could? be cathartic…
I'm in nosetate to be taking pics of old wine bottles tonight.. maybe termorrer…