Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[Daver6]

Purchased a dozen 2014 Wykari Riesling Naughty Boy from Vinomofo. Cracked the first one tonight. Let's just say I'll be giving their return policy a whirl tomorrow morning. Just didn't seem varietally correct and a very average wine at best.

The nose was herbaceous/grassy but perfumed too. The palate was simply lacking. For want of a better term, watery.

I don't care how little this cost me per bottle, it was just not enjoyable and needs to go back.

 

[JohnM]

Purchased a dozen 2014 Wykari Riesling Naughty Boy from Vinomofo. Cracked the first one tonight. Let's just say I'll be giving their return policy a whirl tomorrow morning. Just didn't seem varietally correct and a very average wine at best.

The nose was herbaceous/grassy but perfumed too. The palate was simply lacking. For want of a better term, watery.

I don't care how little this cost me per bottle, it was just not enjoyable and needs to go back.

Disappointment on one bottle is part of life - but not on a dozen.

 

[RooFlyer]

Purchased a dozen 2014 Wykari Riesling Naughty Boy from Vinomofo. Cracked the first one tonight. Let's just say I'll be giving their return policy a whirl tomorrow morning. Just didn't seem varietally correct and a very average wine at best.

The nose was herbaceous/grassy but perfumed too. The palate was simply lacking. For want of a better term, watery.

I don't care how little this cost me per bottle, it was just not enjoyable and needs to go back.

I'd be inclined to try a second bottle before I returned the lot - just to show to myself and them it wasn't a freakish one-off. Take just half a glass, and if confirmed, put the cork or screw-top back on and return with the others.

Else maybe you risk them coming back with "Well, we've tried several others, and its quite alright. Charge stands except for the bottle(s) we opened, and you can collect the remainder from us any time you like." (Unless the returns policy is 'no questions asked' type of thing).

 

[TomVexille]

I'd be inclined to try a second bottle before I returned the lot - just to show to myself and them it wasn't a freakish one-off. Take just half a glass, and if confirmed, put the cork or screw-top back on and return with the others.

Else maybe you risk them coming back with "Well, we've tried several others, and its quite alright. Charge stands except for the bottle(s) we opened, and you can collect the remainder from us any time you like." (Unless the returns policy is 'no questions asked' type of thing).

It is 'no questions asked'

 

[Daver6]

I'd be inclined to try a second bottle before I returned the lot - just to show to myself and them it wasn't a freakish one-off. Take just half a glass, and if confirmed, put the cork or screw-top back on and return with the others.

Else maybe you risk them coming back with "Well, we've tried several others, and its quite alright. Charge stands except for the bottle(s) we opened, and you can collect the remainder from us any time you like." (Unless the returns policy is 'no questions asked' type of thing).

Valid point on trying another. Just didn't taste oxidised, just seemed like a poor wine to me. The VM return policy is super generous. I suspect they just use the returned wines in mixed dozens.

At Vinomofo, we want you to enjoy your wines. We only sell the wines we love and drink ourselves, so we know the wines are awesome, but everyone has their own tastes, and that's important.
If you’re not 100% happy, you can return your order to us ANY TIME for a replacement, credit or refund - you pick. We’ll even pick it up and cover the return shipping cost.

• Return shipping is absolutely FREE.
• You can return your purchase up to 365 days from the purchase date.
• You can choose to receive a replacement, refund or a credit on your Vinomofo account, for the full value of your original order.
• We ask that you return your original order in the original box/packaging.
• You can try up to 2 bottles in your case and still receive a full refund. In fact, we encourage you to try a second bottle, just to be sure it wasn’t just the one bottle that wasn’t right.
• Once your return is received by our team, your refund will be processed and a credit will be automatically applied to your credit card or your Vinomofo account within 7 days.
• Please note that depending on your credit card provider, it may take an additional 2-10 business days after your credit is applied for it to post to your account.

 

[RooFlyer]

Wow, that is pretty liberal. I bet you wish Epiqure would have the same .

 

[JohnM]

What prompted you to buy a dozen of this wine in the first place Daver6​?

 

[Daver6]

What prompted you to buy a dozen of this wine in the first place Daver6​?

Had the $25 Wine Companion voucher that needed using, plus free shipping. Wanted some more Riesling for the cellar. There were three Rieslings that were on offer. I think a Tassie and Victorian one. Couldn't fund too much info on either of them, so went for the one from a great Riesling area of Australia, Clare. I wasn't expecting the worlds most amazing wine but was expecting something worth drinking.

Just spoke to a really nice lady at VM. No issue at all returning. She did ask why and wanted to know so they could pass the information on to their buyers. So far, totally painless.

 

[Daver6]

Wow, that is pretty liberal. I bet you wish Epiqure would have the same .

Don't you know it! That did make my chuckle

 

[penegal]

Not yet consumed but I think good buying for $60

The Siding is a bit of a hidden gem IMHO.

The 2012 is particularly impressive given the good vintage, however it will definitely reward ageing. They were on special at Dans for $13 or $14 a month or two back - unbelievable value.

 

[penegal]

I really need to visit blackcat20 more often.

You know where we live

I did suggest last night that you visit....

Where was my invite?

 

[TomVexille]

Where was my invite?

When are you in town? We'll have you over sometime.

 

[drron]

Sunday night for a friends 50th-

.

Rating b*good.
Tonight a bottle I had put into the wrong part of the cellar.Expected it to be well and truly past it but actually still pretty smooth though obviously past it's prime-

.

.

Tried to find out the percentages of each grape.Drew a blank but found this interesting article in the SMH archives through Google.Go to the bottom of the page-free tastings of the 79 St.henri.Bin 128 at $3.99 a bottle.Those were the days!
The Sydney Morning Herald - Google News Archive Search

 

[penegal]

When are you in town? We'll have you over sometime.

Today...

But only just leaving the office.

 

[QF WP]

After a hard day and a parent teacher interview for my Prep-year son, had a glass which turned into 3 large ones and somehow the bottle is gone



Average on the JohnM scale but eminently drinkable *hic.*

 

[JohnM]

OK, for those of you still following along at home (yawn), this is the fourth of the Argentinian Malbec 6-pack:



It was from Valle de Uco, so that held some promise for a more refined style.

However, this was probably the least attractive of those opened so far. If anything, it was a bit 'Australian' in the sense that it was fruitier and a little richer than what I would class as good Arg Malbec where it is the deep tannic, but incredibly soft mouthfeel, that makes them unique.

A pleasant wine, but insufficiently differentiated to be remarkable. I don't think it would invoke the "That's different, what is it?" comment at your mate's BBQ. People would think that it's a fruity Australian wine - without being able to pin it down.

However, bearing in mind that the average price of these wines is $23 landed on your doorstep, it is still pretty good drinking.

So, with four down and two to go, the all-up assessment so far is that it's more than a pretty reasonable collection for the price point.

 

[Daver6]

Having this tonight with some Nandos style home-made chicken. Bottle 3 of 6 from a Vinomofo purchase. A pretty decent wine with a Daver6 rating of 87 points. I stand by my original assessment of consuming these by the close of 2017.

 

[JohnM]

Having this tonight with some Nandos style home-made chicken. Bottle 3 of 6 from a Vinomofo purchase. A pretty decent wine with a Daver6 rating of 87 points. I stand by my original assessment of consuming these by the close of 2017.
View attachment 41962

Interesting. I wasn't aware that Churchview did a Zin. Might slip in a grab a bottle to try next time I'm down that way.

While I totally respect the Daver6 assessment method, the question I would ask is: How does it compare to the world benchmark (ie. a reasonable to good CA Zin.)?. Generally, my assessment has been that Aus Zins are 'hot' and overtly fruity. So it is great for something a bit different, but generally doesn't drive you back to purchase more (ie. in that respect it's just like Aus Malbec).

Viticulturally, Zin is a difficult and it needs a lot of hands-on care and attention. So, not only is CA good terroir for the variety, they have lots of cheap Mexican labour. If it weren't for the latter, there could be significant problems producing the class Zins that they do...

My experience is with these sorts of 'left field' wines is that you don't open them for your BBQ mates crowd thinking that they will recognise your 'exemplary taste' in wine because they will probably all mutter under their breath: "What's that f* w@nker on about?" Horses for courses...

So it's no surprise that Australian winemakers struggle to get recognition in the marketplace for their attempts at introducing new varieties. But, that said, it was exactly what the Argentinians were telling me about trying to produce Shiraz that had that 'Aussie wow-factor' in their country. These things cut both ways! And, of course, it's exacerbated by the global over-production of wine where everyone is desperately searching for a point of difference. Marketers' BS and discounts rule!

 

[Daver6]

Interesting. I wasn't aware that Churchview did a Zin. Might slip in a grab a bottle to try next time I'm down that way.

While I totally respect the Daver6 assessment method, the question I would ask is: How does it compare to the world benchmark (ie. a reasonable to good CA Zin.)?. Generally, my assessment has been that Aus Zins are 'hot' and overtly fruity. So it is great for something a bit different, but generally doesn't drive you back to purchase more (ie. in that respect it's just like Aus Malbec).

Viticulturally, Zin is a difficult and it needs a lot of hands-on care and attention. So, not only is CA good terroir for the variety, they have lots of cheap Mexican labour. If it weren't for the latter, there could be significant problems producing the class Zins that they do...

My experience is with these sorts of 'left field' wines is that you don't open them for your BBQ mates crowd thinking that they will recognise your 'exemplary taste' in wine because they will probably all mutter under their breath: "What's that f* w@nker on about?" Horses for courses...

So it's no surprise that Australian winemakers struggle to get recognition in the marketplace for their attempts at introducing new varieties. But, that said, it was exactly what the Argentinians were telling me about trying to produce Shiraz that had that 'Aussie wow-factor' in their country. These things cut both ways! And, of course, it's exacerbated by the global over-production of wine where everyone is desperately searching for a point of difference. Marketers' BS and discounts rule!

Firstly, I paid $14 for this via VM. Value at that price. In fact, value up to the $25-$30 really.

He is a tasting note I wrote on the first bottle I opened about 14 months ago

Nose of red berries with a hint of cedar wood and earthiness. Not a massive nose though but enough on offer.

Mouth is interesting. Palate is medium weight and quite well rounded, yet still has a hint of syrupiness to it (but not in a bad way). Bright fruit flavours, heaps of acid and a hint of spicy vanilla (American oak perhaps?). Very little alcohol heat which is impressive given the 16%! Medium to long finish.

Specifically I got no alcohol heat and no jaminess at all.

As for a world benchmark on the variety, I look to the Italians rather than the Americans personally. They did "invent" that variety after all

I thought this was a lot more elegant than the Peel Estate Zin, which is a fair bit dearer too.

 

[RooFlyer]

I'm a sucker for a good Zin, but like JohnM, I appreciate the Californians ( Russian River to be exact).

But would love a good local. It's on my list as well. Found any others?