Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[Buzzard]

Ok JohnM I suggest you sit down before reading this post... You're not as young as you used to be and this may damage your delicate sensibilities
Last weekend Mr Up, Father Up (my dad not a priest lol) and I enjoyed this cask..
View attachment 40724

Yes I did say enjoyed! We decided to try it as Stelzer declared it the best cask wine in Australia and I have to say it was very drinkable (and evidence to the fact, it was quickly emptied)! And none of those dilemmas of "Should we open another bottle?"
On the JohnM Simpler and Fairer Highly Technical Wine Evaluation Scale[SUP]Pat. Pend. TM [/SUP]I'd give it a solid 2.5 maybe even a 3 when price adjusted.
Go on.. try it.. you can always use it for cooking if you can't drink it
We had it with a very delicious tangy and spicy prawn broth.. think tom yum soup with big prawns

Quick! UpInTheAir, Dans have some of these casks @ $9.99!! :shock:

https://www.danmurphys.com.au/dm/se...Hash=51d46a522e25a2dc5341a2aeeb478ee1bb83f0b6

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Quick! UpInTheAir, Dans have some of these casks @ $9.99!! :shock:

https://www.danmurphys.com.au/dm/se...Hash=51d46a522e25a2dc5341a2aeeb478ee1bb83f0b6

Awesome! Thanks Buzz

 

[JohnM]

OK, for the last person still awake, the last Malbec from the Argentinian 6-pack.

There were reasons for me leaving this one to last. It was the one I had least confidence in, just from the labels and the bottle. I was not mistaken. Let me show you and explain why:





First up, Argentinian producers are not in the slightest bit green when it comes to bottles. In fact, they are probably the least green of any producers in the world. Any 'good' Malbecs will be in a heavy-glass bottle with a deep punt. Cork is the the closure of choice; screwcaps are an extreme rarity. It's all VERY traditional.

Now, that does not mean that a wine in a lightweight bottle with a screwcap is going to be bad. But it does suggest it's not going to be 'traditional' Argentinian. Further, it suggests a 'special' production for an 'outsider'.

Next: any maker that puts 'Sustainably farmed' on their front label is immediately pleading to the ignorant as a distraction from the inherent quality. 'Sustainably farmed' can mean anything - but nothing at the same time. Actually - let's be frank here - it's always the latter .

OK, turning to the back label. No clearly-defined 'recognised name' producer. Conclusion: this is a negociant-style wine. Nothing necessarily wrong with that - but all things put together, it's like a 'home-brand'.

Right, after that, what was the verdict? Well, first up, it was not bad. But, unlike the other five, it did not show the underlying deep and dusty smooth tannins of good Arg Malbec. It was more like...Australian Malbec! - fruity and juicy. But it did not have the Aus heaviness. So, in the end, I thought it was more like an Aus Tempranillo than anything. I simply would not have recognised it as Malbec without knowing. But, all that said, it was actually quite a nice wine.

So, final verdict on this wine: it would be great with the charcuterie before the BBQ! But don't try to pretend to people that it represents Argentinian Malbec because it simply doesn't.

Final verdict on the 6-pack: pretty damn good when averaged and very good value for money IMO.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Apart from Cape Mentelle Wallcliffe, a very good NZ Pouilly Fume style is Cloudy Bay Te Koko (bear in mind that Cloudy Bay was started by David Hohnen, the Cape Mentelle founder. - Both now in the LVMH group.) Like Wallcliffe, it is not an aperitif... But it is certainly an alternative to Chardonnay with shellfish or fish. But, that said, oaked SBs probably aren't for everyone.

Good comments from JohnM, while I absolutely agree that one should try some Australian SB and Wallcliffe is excellent and one of my favourites, Te Koko is a wild yeast ferment and interesting but not really like Pouilly Fume, which really derives from clay based terroir, not just natural ferments. (And quite different from standard Sancerre.)

Another excellent and IMHO better example of new Marlborough SB are the wines from Kevin Judd ( orig Cloudy Bay wine maker before European takeover) ans his Greywacke label. Cloudy Bay in recent years is not what it used to be, The standard Greywacke is one of the best in Marlborough these days and the wild yeast Greywacke is fab, although not all would like the style.

interesting discussion!

 

[blackcat20]

Somewhat on topic, but I've just had Wolf Blass start following me on Instagram. I guess that says something about the quality of our wine consumption.

 

[drron]

Tonight I decided I was going to have a very nice wine as after tomorrow I will only be home for 1 night in the next 2 months.So here is my selection-

.

.

It became one of my favourite wine when we visited the vineyard in 1972 just a few years before Cyril was shot by his wife.Bought 6 of these for just over $20 for the 6.
No real loss of volume.Cork in great condition.Colour still a dark red.
How does it rate.the best wine I have had in the last 2 years.Definitely ahead of the 74 Grange I had last year.Pure nectar.Could drink the whole bottle straight up but will leave a glass or 2 until tomorrow.Didn't rate too badly in a 2013 taste of 50 years of Hill of Grace-
Good Food - Vintage love in 50 shades of Grace.

Rating-of course-B*fantastic.

 

[JessicaTam]

Tonight I decided I was going to have a very nice wine as after tomorrow I will only be home for 1 night in the next 2 months.So here is my selection-

.

.

It became one of my favourite wine when we visited the vineyard in 1972 just a few years before Cyril was shot by his wife.Bought 6 of these for just over $20 for the 6.
No real loss of volume.Cork in great condition.Colour still a dark red.
How does it rate.the best wine I have had in the last 2 years.Definitely ahead of the 74 Grange I had last year.Pure nectar.Could drink the whole bottle straight up but will leave a glass or 2 until tomorrow.Didn't rate too badly in a 2013 taste of 50 years of Hill of Grace-
Good Food - Vintage love in 50 shades of Grace.

Rating-of course-B*fantastic.

I am literally sitting at work salivating. I shared a HoG with my father many years ago, and it is still the red that all other are compared to.

 

[RooFlyer]

A 1970 HoG? Are you kidd'n me? :shock:

I give up.

 

[drron]

A 1970 HoG? Are you kidd'n me? :shock:

I give up.

It was my last one.Should have bought 6 dozen rather than 6.But I really wasn't very flush in those days.

 

[Steady]

Tonight I decided I was going to have a very nice wine as after tomorrow I will only be home for 1 night in the next 2 months.

I don't think you should put yourself through the ordeal - you really should bring some of these with you to Tassie. I'm sure We could find at least a half dozen good BYO restaurants ...

 

[bismarck]

Tonight I decided I was going to have a very nice wine as after tomorrow I will only be home for 1 night in the next 2 months.So here is my selection-

.

.

It became one of my favourite wine when we visited the vineyard in 1972 just a few years before Cyril was shot by his wife.Bought 6 of these for just over $20 for the 6.
No real loss of volume.Cork in great condition.Colour still a dark red.
How does it rate.the best wine I have had in the last 2 years.Definitely ahead of the 74 Grange I had last year.Pure nectar.Could drink the whole bottle straight up but will leave a glass or 2 until tomorrow.Didn't rate too badly in a 2013 taste of 50 years of Hill of Grace-
Good Food - Vintage love in 50 shades of Grace.

Rating-of course-B*fantastic.

Just a quiet Tuesday night in....no big deal


:shock::shock::shock::shock::shock::shock::shock::shock:

 

[QF WP]

Certainly puts my very humble bottle in its place:



1970 HoG...I think crawling over broken glass or hot coals would be in order.

Back to my tipple tonight (briefly before focus is returned to HoG). Can taste the American oak. First mouthful was a bit rough but worked into it nicely. Front of tongue and medium to full body with astringency at the end. Certainly going to go down well with Swiss & Cheddar cheese

 

[JohnM]

It was my last one.Should have bought 6 dozen rather than 6.But I really wasn't very flush in those days.

Flusher than I was at that stage!

 

[penegal]

Got Dan's 'secret deal' today: Wolf Blass Brown Label Shiraz 2012. I'm a fan of the Wolf Blass brand, have some of their premium labels at home and enjoy their table wines in QF J lounges.
I never tried Brown Label and was curious to see how good it is so opened one today.

Well, great buy at $26 no doubt about that. It's good full bodied wine now (needs to be decanted for a couple of hours to let it open up) but I think it will be much better in 4-5 years.

So I should get some?
If it is still available?

 

[penegal]

Sunday so I could get exothermic on this. Loverly base wine from Mount Difficulty, cellared for 2-3 years. Wonderful forest floor character, good fruit, CO spicy tannins with excellent depth.

Had several bottles of the '12 at a work dinner recently... It was young, but bloody awesome!

 

[Buzzard]

So I should get some?
If it is still available?

The 6 I ordered on Sunday arrived today. Just need to make some room in the Vintec and wait a few years. At least I'll be able to watch the $299 Samsung whilst I'm waiting

 

[penegal]

One of the wines I had on Friday while FaceTiming QF WP.

 

[penegal]

And this is tonight's tipple... In a blind tasting you could be forgiven for thinking this is a Margaret River wine. It has developed a lovely buttery texture with age, yet is quite restrained. A truly fantastic oaked Chardonnay.



Unfortunately I matched it to a Marinara that Janice cooked for me (Fettuccine with fresh-ish seafood, mushroom and tomato)... To be honest, a sub-par food match, but the second glass with some hard cheese is excellent...

---

Paging PrincessFiona!!! You would love this wine!

 

[TheRealTMA]

Certainly puts my very humble bottle in its place:

View attachment 42645

1970 HoG...I think crawling over broken glass or hot coals would be in order.

Back to my tipple tonight (briefly before focus is returned to HoG). Can taste the American oak. First mouthful was a bit rough but worked into it nicely. Front of tongue and medium to full body with astringency at the end. Certainly going to go down well with Swiss & Cheddar cheese

Wine is fine - had a bottle on special from DM's the other night. But...
I'm starting to think we should be taking up a collection to buy you some proper glasses!

 

[Steady]

I'm visiting Barringwood Park in a few months - I have heard some good things but am yet to try any of their wines