Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[boomy]

Celebrating Thursday night with this special air dried Shiraz & Cab Sav blend - K1 Tzimmukin (raisined grapes) by Geoff Hardy.

 

[beefarmer]

Celebrating Thursday night with this special air dried Shiraz & Cab Sav blend - K1 Tzimmukin (raisined grapes) by Geoff Hardy.

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funny name but what's it like? Geoff hardy is an obvious Fo favourite but I started drinking a little of his Viognier from Winemarket many years ago. I guess he is calling this wine what Jim Carrey kept saying in one of his movies.

 

[Buzzard]

I just can't get past the white pepper taste in the Maverick Twins GSM 2014 - I sometimes astounded that there's even any wine those bottles! I'm happy to gift my bottles to Sydney-siders who like this

Shame I'm in ADL not SYD

 

[boomy]

funny name but what's it like? Geoff hardy is an obvious Fo favourite but I started drinking a little of his Viognier from Winemarket many years ago. I guess he is calling this wine what Jim Carrey kept saying in one of his movies.

It's an interesting wine, very smooth and easy drinking with or without food. I'm not sure I'd pay the $145 retail price tho, seems a bit overpriced to me.
Typical to Geoff Hardy it has a story behind the name.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Port in Porto



And most strange Vinho Verde for lunch.

 

[carwashhair]

Port in Porto

And most strange Vinho Verde for lunch.
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You don't see Calem Port in Australia much. How was it? And why is the Casal Garcia strange - is it the slight spritz? I really enjoy this wine as a budget quaffer in Australia (available direct from importer via Petersham Liquor Mart if anyone wants some), but wish we could pay Portuguese prices for it - was about 4-5 euro a bottle when I was there 4 years ago!

Anyway, please keep posting Portuguese wines, TMA, you've got a keen observer here

 

[TheRealTMA]

You don't see Calem Port in Australia much. How was it? And why is the Casal Garcia strange - is it the slight spritz? I really enjoy this wine as a budget quaffer in Australia (available direct from importer via Petersham Liquor Mart if anyone wants some), but wish we could pay Portuguese prices for it - was about 4-5 euro a bottle when I was there 4 years ago!

Anyway, please keep posting Portuguese wines, TMA, you've got a keen observer here

It was strange being a Vinho Verde of, to me, unknown grape types, slightly spritzig, bright limes on the initial palate, acidic. 9.5%. Mellowed over time. We drank it with thus for lunch! (A version of Portuguese Francesinha)


I actually have tons more photos of all the Portuguese wines we have drunk over the last week, including some from "old vineyards" which are particularly characteristic of the Douro valley where a specific wine can have more than 36 different grape types. Very drinkable but difficult to get your head around.

The Douro is fabulous, great wines, food and friendly Portuguese people, and dimly stunning scenery. Definately a destination for wine lovers. There's much much more than just port, if that's not enough in itself.

 

[carwashhair]

It was strange being a Vinho Verde of, to me, unknown grape types, slightly spritzig, bright limes on the initial palate, acidic. 9.5%. Mellowed over time. We drank it with thus for lunch! (A version of Portuguese Francesinha)
View attachment 71064

I actually have tons more photos of all the Portuguese wines we have drunk over the last week, including some from "old vineyards" which are particularly characteristic of the Douro valley where a specific wine can have more than 36 different grape types. Very drinkable but difficult to get your head around.

The Douro is fabulous, great wines, food and friendly Portuguese people, and dimly stunning scenery. Definately a destination for wine lovers. There's much much more than just port, if that's not enough in itself.

That's a fairly fancy looking Francesinha, TMA - worthy of having a wine with! (though I'd probably still crack a beer with it). I agree, the vinha velha (old vine) wines are exactly as you say - very drinkable but difficult to get your head around. I absolutely fell for them as i've always enjoyed blends, and with so many (often native) grape varieties in the blend it's a kind of overload - all these aromas and flavours coming at you means its like having 4 or 5 different wines at once! And in case people wonder "why blend so many grapes in one bottle" - it's because these old bush blocks were simply planted with all these different varieties and no way of easily separating them while picking, let alone identifying all of them!

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Since I'm drinking solo this evening, that means either experimenting with less popular varietals or Cabernet. Cabernet wins out. Lets see how this goes:

 

[Steady]

I'm enjoying another 2013 Maverick Twins Cab blend tonight - I love it, an immensely drinkable quaffer in my book

 

[juddles]

...... great wines, food and friendly Portuguese people....

Love it - to me wine is not just about the liquid - it is the circumstances that surround the experience

 

[TheRealTMA]

At Taylor's for lunch before tour and tasting.

Nice Douro white from Vallado.


Mix of grape types.

Plus a nice VP to finish.

 

[Steady]

Grand Irvine 2006 at Langtons right now - $35/bottle

I tried a 2006 recently and was quite disappointed in it. It was cloyingly sweet, without a lot of the complexity I am used to in the wine. I'm hoping it was just a dud bottle. I'll try and find my tasting notes a little later when I have some free time.

I haven't had the opportunity to taste the 2004, but absolutely loved the 2008.

Thanks AC, I have successfully bid on a few bottles from Langton's over the last week that are due to be sent - as I am paying delivery for 12 I think I will grab a couple.

Delectable Blue, (or anyone else) any comments positive or negative between the 2004, 2006 and 2008 vintages

Following the January wine lovers tasting night in SYD I fell in love with the 08 James Irvine 08 Grand Merlot, I found some 04 at a price I could live with and have finally cracked one.

A beautiful wine, different to the 08 but equally worthy. Raisins, plums, tobacco, cigar box, silky tannins, yummyness all the way through to a long finish.

 

[burmans]

Please excuse the rudimentary notes - I've never been good at descriptors. But gosh this is good! So smooth, luscious & complex. Huge @ 17.5% ABV, but balanced.

Winery notes say more than I can: 2015 Parola’s Limited Release Durif | Warrabilla Wines

Cracked one last Thursday, initially got some alcohol heat, but it calmed down after 5 - 10 mins. We managed to stretch it out until Sunday night, when it started to show port-ish oxidised characters. But there was far more air than wine left in the bottle by then, so probably being a bit harsh.

I realise that most of this forum favour BIG REDS - I don't any more, (heavy oak is evil) & this is big but it really is beautifully put together. I don't think you'll find a classier wine for less than the $34.99 you can get it for.
Highly recommended as a very fine wine & an exemplary rendition of Durif. They also make highly regarded Zinfandel (Will demolish one this week end), Shiraz & CS. I'd like to sample their Marsanne too, being a long-time fan of Tahbilk.

There's more than Shiraz, CS & Merlow you know ...

I'm no longer on the Warrabilla list and not 100% sure why but they did make some great wine

 

[sagittariusdrake]

I'm no longer on the Warrabilla list and not 100% sure why but they did make some great wine

I'll say they do. The Zinfandel is a cracker too! They haven't had a good enough year for the Parola's since 2009. Gotta love that integrity to not devalue their own brand.

Say, Beefarmer - did you swing by & pick up some of this? And if not, why not?

Also I snared some of the Top Paddock (sic?) Pinot from Boccacio's at your recommendation. Very nice, but I don't have a Hoddles to compare with it (yet).

 

[Cossie]

I'll say they do. The Zinfandel is a cracker too! They haven't had a good enough year for the Parola's since 2009. Gotta love that integrity to not devalue their own brand.

Say, Beefarmer - did you swing by & pick up some of this? And if not, why not?

Also I snared some of the Top Paddock (sic?) Pinot from Boccacio's at your recommendation. Very nice, but I don't have a Hoddles to compare with it (yet).

Went to a Warrabilla Lunch last Saturday at the Boathouse, very, very good. Also had a 2009 Parola Shiraz last week, our guests were surprised at the alcohol content (17%), wish I had a few more dozen bottles!

 

[Cossie]

Celebrating Thursday night with this special air dried Shiraz & Cab Sav blend - K1 Tzimmukin (raisined grapes) by Geoff Hardy.

View attachment 71015

Mark Day at Koltz in McLaren uses this technique for his Pagan shiraz, takes up to 6 weeks to dry the grapes with obviously lot's of monitoring, I like it, but a friend whose nose I respect doesn't, as he says it's far too peppery. Each to their own!

 

[beefarmer]

I'll say they do. The Zinfandel is a cracker too! They haven't had a good enough year for the Parola's since 2009. Gotta love that integrity to not devalue their own brand.

Say, Beefarmer - did you swing by & pick up some of this? And if not, why not?

Also I snared some of the Top Paddock (sic?) Pinot from Boccacio's at your recommendation. Very nice, but I don't have a Hoddles to compare with it (yet).

Yes I did, I popped into Nicks at east Donnie and bought a couple of botts of the Durif for a little bit of a long term hold. I am glad you asked as I was doing a little bit of research on the 360 wines on their 'Hot List" and after narrowing down the field to about 7, I am due for another drop in there. I them wrangled this seven to two. hey, you can't buy everythring. One of them is the Vintage port 2006 or close from Warrabilla. the second is a McLaren vale yangarra 13 shiraz at about $25.Never had a yangarra but will drop in for a couple of botts as well.

I am glad you like the top paddock. I find the value outstanding and the quality extremely impressive as well. just so drinkable with no sharp edges. It's not a forty five dollar pinot, but it sits pretty damn well with me.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Interesting Portuguese red with a Shiraz mix. Nice depth, light tannins, nice fruit forward style.




Around 18.50€ in shops. 35€ in restaurant.

 

[beefarmer]

Yes I did, I popped into Nicks at east Donnie and bought a couple of botts of the Durif for a little bit of a long term hold. I am glad you asked as I was doing a little bit of research on the 360 wines on their 'Hot List" and after narrowing down the field to about 7, I am due for another drop in there. I them wrangled this seven to two. hey, you can't buy everythring. One of them is the Vintage port 2006 or close from Warrabilla. the second is a McLaren vale yangarra 13 shiraz at about $25.Never had a yangarra but will drop in for a couple of botts as well.

I am glad you like the top paddock. I find the value outstanding and the quality extremely impressive as well. just so drinkable with no sharp edges. It's not a forty five dollar pinot, but it sits pretty damn well with me.

SG, if I can abbreviate you, I thought I would put pen to paper.............crikes, nearly forgot, index fingers to keyboard and tell you that I did drop into Nicks and bought a single bot of the 2013 Yangarra Shiraz. I have knocked off about three glasses tonight and I thought a review was in order. As I was sipping the first glass, I went to the phone, the wireless and looked up some reviews, in particular the nicks wine review. I am now looking at in again and it says sold out. I bought the last bloody bottle. Damn. At least their inventory is correct. The chap had to find this last one somewhere but it was beautiful and those review characteristics were good. I went and searched another review. Why the hell are you reading this and thinking why does he do this ? Blame Wozza, super taster. I want to taste all that stuff they talk about and sometimes I do. Sometimes I don't. But I will describe what Peter Fraser, the winemaker, says about it and you work out who smoked the wacky tabaccky.

"this wine has a head illusion of sweetness and confection, and after that lovely slender syrup establishes itself, the oozes of prune and blackberry emerge, and entwine with the dark chicory and juniper tannins and the faintest whiff of harness leather".

You with me so far SG ? That was sentence one from the wankmaker, sorry winemaker. Now part deux.

"All over the primary fruit like summer, with smells of rain on hot sunbakes sandstone and rusty galvo, and explosives in the quarry".

Jeee zus, what words, what amazing descriptions. Is this winemaker a winemaker or a Mills and Boom writer incognito.

Seriously, embellishment like that deserves a reply and from none other than the wine critic known as Beefarmer.

This wine is seriously good, ridiculously purple in colour, nicely full bodied, in fact at this price point very undervalued,quite complex, rich, just looking to be enjoyed over fifteen years. It is stunning and I did read someone else's review about this one, a serious critic, who said that it a wine that needs patience. Sheesh, a doctor needs patients not me, but I could see his point. It will just offer so much. Reading one review had this wine really summed up nicely. Almost line for line.

I am sceptical most of the time but I could really see what the critic was talking about. We all read the notes, we all try to discern the subtle nuances and characterisctics , but when we do, it's like a breath of fresh air.

Sorry Wozza, not you or DB for that matter. Their olfactory senses are outstanding.

So where did I go from the Yangarra? Almost a cabernet in the study, but alas, another shiraz.

Hungerford hill Gundagai 2014 presented itself after a couple of knockbacks. Purrfect, a shiraz, and a wine that I was expecting to lose the taste off as it were.

Started pouring, definitely a colour difference, the thickness and solidness of yangarra changed to a cherry coloured, lighter, thinner(oh I am worried I can tellyou) wine.

As I was pouring I thought I have made a mismatch in comparison. However,

the HH is supurb. it was a month or three ago when I bought it. Terroir folks. Nice acidity in the HH, beautiful balance, nice soft lingering tannins, in fact, evenly matched. It says a lot about the HH, which from it's older sibling I knew was better than good.

If I were to make a decision tonight as to which wine was better, the difference would be so close that I call it a draw. I certainly did not expect that after the yangarra