Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[ste667]

Rockford 2006 Basket Press Shiraz. Rummaged in the cellar and decided to push the boat out for something to go with the spaghetti bolognese this evening

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How's it drinking? I have an 04 and am wondering how much longer it has.

 

[Caversham04]

How's it drinking? I have an 04 and am wondering how much longer it has.

It's drinking really well at the moment - not much primary fruit character left but very smooth. Í can't comment on how long the 2004 has got left, but I will probably aim to drink the remainder of the '06 in the next few months........

 

[AnonymousCoward]

After Wozza pulled out the big guns with the Maverick GSM , it was definitely time to open something of similar quality:

2006 Standish Wine Company The Standish:



Deep purple in colour. A bit disjointed straight after opening, but given a bit of breathing time, this is like an orchestra in your mouth - playing Beethoven, not Hindemith. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, plus spice, oak and velvet smooth tannins. It's still a big, big Barossa shiraz, but all so well integrated right now. 93 on CT from me. If only I could have bought this for $9.90 :evil:

 

[beefarmer]

See you Aus. We'll be back next month. Here we come Europe.

Not sure if I can post all the fabulous Old World wines I will hopefully sample. So here goes my last Aussie one for a while as SQ 242 taxis away:

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[AnonymousCoward]

From earlier in the week - 2010 Forest Hill Block 9 Shiraz:

Deep red, blueberries predominant, with lots of savoury notes and some oak. Tannins are well integrated. This is really nice right now. 92 on CT from me.

 

[juddles]

Hi everyone, sorry for daring this - but tonight I had a truly enjoyable wine. But it is possibly not worthy of the experts.

Am on holidays in South Australia. This afternoon we moved from the hotel of the last few days in Adelaide CBD, to a cabin in the hills near Hahndorf. It was late arvo, shops closing, and I only just managed to find a liquor outlet. They had a very limited range and nothing appealed - so I ended up getting one of those 2lt casks of Yalumba - a Cab Sav to be precise. Haven't bought one of those in decades.

But to be fair, purists aside, I am really enjoying it. (maybe because I came so close to a cold night without vino?)

Accompanying it is some delicious bread and Gorgonzola I got from the Adelaide Markets this morning.

Bliss.

But from a cask!!??

Sorry.

 

[Caversham04]

But from a cask!!??Sorry.

No need to apologise - the best wine in the world is the one you enjoy drinking

 

[AnonymousCoward]

But from a cask!!??

Sorry.

No need to be sorry. Apparently you can make stuff equivalent to the world's best vino with cask wine....and a Sodastream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSNHfAX_vZA

Edit: to be more serious, there's such a glut of decent quality grape out there, I think the brand name cask wine is a magnitude (or even two) better than it was 20+ years ago. It's not going to knock your socks off, but it's not going to be terrible either.

 

[beefarmer]

Hi everyone, sorry for daring this - but tonight I had a truly enjoyable wine. But it is possibly not worthy of the experts.

Am on holidays in South Australia. This afternoon we moved from the hotel of the last few days in Adelaide CBD, to a cabin in the hills near Hahndorf. It was late arvo, shops closing, and I only just managed to find a liquor outlet. They had a very limited range and nothing appealed - so I ended up getting one of those 2lt casks of Yalumba - a Cab Sav to be precise. Haven't bought one of those in decades.

But to be fair, purists aside, I am really enjoying it. (maybe because I came so close to a cold night without vino?)

Accompanying it is some delicious bread and Gorgonzola I got from the Adelaide Markets this morning.

Bliss.

But from a cask!!??

Sorry.

it will become a very comfortable pillow regardless, but if you can't have the one you want, love the one you're with...

 

[cove]

For years as a student I would drink a "heavy red" before Chateau Cardboard was introduced. I think it was either a Penfolds or Yalumba in those days for under the price of 2 buck chuck. We all survived so no harm was done that I can remember.
Years later I went to a Penfolds wine tasting to find they had improved. Now they are pricing their products higher than many folks comfort zone.

 

[AdMEL]

Some recent photos I bothered to take:

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Farmers Market Sausage Rolls with Grenache Rose from somewhere in Australia...




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Château Moulin de Bernat Bordeaux 2010
Picked this up in a mixer from the Fo. The bottle says to open 3 hours prior to serving, and damn you should read those instructions. Pretty austere and horrible upon cork extraction. By the 3rd and into the 4th hour it was quite tolerable for this price point. I think these were going for about $15?? which would have been a bargain.

I actually didn't decant it, and not sure how much it would benefit to be honest.

In this case a good thing I opened this bottle before I got the lamb out of the fridge, but patience was certainly rewarded.






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Miles from Nowhere "Best Blocks" Shiraz 2011
The real surprise. This was a comp from the Hyatt Regency Perth that somehow made it home with me and has been sitting in the living room (not cellar) for about 3 years. I felt sorry for it, and opened it with my signature pasta, and what a surprise. "Luscious Fruit", and good structure and balance. I only put the tiniest amount in the pasta sauce and actually enjoyed the rest of the bottle. Totally not what I expected from a freebie.





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Another pie and some non-descript wine which was probably worth whingeing about, but I can't remember what it is.




No more wine photos made it into my phone... I will try harder this week.

Funny photos!

Your comments about the Miles from Nowhere Shiraz are interesting. I bought a case of Miles from Nowhere Chardonnay from the Fo as a contraband deal, I think. Have had one bottle and it was terrible ... More like a Sauv Blanc than a Chardonnay. Have been meaning to return it, but it's been so long now, not sure they'd accept it back

 

[Daver6]

How's it drinking? I have an 04 and am wondering how much longer it has.

Jeremy Oliver suggests drinking window is 2016 to 2024+, obviously in ideal cellaring conditions. I've not had the 2004, but it was a strong vintage for Barossa shiraz. I can't see it falling over any time soon.

 

[ste667]

Jeremy Oliver suggests drinking window is 2016 to 2024+, obviously in ideal cellaring conditions. I've not had the 2004, but it was a strong vintage for Barossa shiraz. I can't see it falling over any time soon.

Thanks daver6. Cellaring has been good so might see if I can hold off until it's 20th birthday

 

[drron]

A boring night so it had to be a good wine.
So from my days in the Hunter a wine that promised a lot.Reviewed by Chris shanahan in 1994-

One of those rare, truly great reds unique to Lindemans Hunter vineyards with intense, earthy Hunter aromas, rich palate and quite tight structure. Will cellar much longer.

And he was right.

.

 

[beefarmer]

An absolute exhilarating night tonight, my pinot went down a treat but the best new job application goes to albo. Loved it.give the man a glass of Pirie. It must taste incredibly sweet coming from Tassie !

 

[Whodoesthat]

On the subject of Pinot, I have struggled over the years with the finer subtle nuances attested to the grape.To quote one of our regular blind group sittings "why bring a knife to a gunfight?"......as we are all unashamedly into bigger wines. Having said that, Friday saw me opening a Bicknell FC Yarra Valley 2014. I purchased this after a recommendation from a Pinot addict after having had the same discussion...
Opening aroma floating cherries and strawberries, mouthfeel surprisingly full, CM used the words jellied and sweet fruited , which is exactly what it was....with a spiciness to the finish.A pleasant change and very nice drinking although I'd probably prefer to put the price point to an S or C....but hey, horses for courses....

 

[beefarmer]

On the subject of Pinot, I have struggled over the years with the finer subtle nuances attested to the grape.To quote one of our regular blind group sittings "why bring a knife to a gunfight?"......as we are all unashamedly into bigger wines. Having said that, Friday saw me opening a Bicknell FC Yarra Valley 2014. I purchased this after a recommendation from a Pinot addict after having had the same discussion...
Opening aroma floating cherries and strawberries, mouthfeel surprisingly full, CM used the words jellied and sweet fruited , which is exactly what it was....with a spiciness to the finish.A pleasant change and very nice drinking although I'd probably prefer to put the price point to an S or C....but hey, horses for courses....

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What I find most mysterious about Pinot is the changing flavour profile of the varietal compared to the classics. It is slightly irritating when the old-memory taste alters with a new bottle from the same vintage, but I believe it's about bottle age and the ability to settle down. I found a great description somewhere years ago that summed it up extremely well and talked about ducks turning into beautiful swans. I must find it again amongst the clutter. Eventually a even flavour profile develops but it is a difficult one indeed. Anyone else had similar experience the years? My Rose and Thorns Great southern Pinot '14 last night did not quite match the hights of Februarys' bottle, but it was good nevertheless.

 

[Steady]

Some of my recent wines
An enjoyable pink Tassie sparkling I picked up from the cellar door when grabbing some of the Kelly's Reserve a few weeks ago

A '12 Blustery Banks Pinot - I was told it wasn't as good as the '13 but I really enjoyed it - not a sour cherry style of Pinot

This was my first Joseph - very nice but I prefer the Rockford BS

And then I thought I would try the '13 Blustery Banks Pinot while the '12 was fresh in my mind - I like them both


I purchased the Blustery Banks wines on an AFFers (Miss bick) recommendation and I am glad I did

 

[QF WP]

Took my family away after EoFY - Mrs QF WP decided that she wanted the kids to see a little of the outback

I needed some wine for all the driving



Nowhere near the quality of some of the wines I've just viewed.

But I enjoyed the Bordeaux for $10

 

[Whodoesthat]

Post traumatic election blues called for a gathering of the clan. Another interesting blind line up.
1984 Wynn's John Riddoch - Pong on the nose- Not looking good. First taste Pong Pong - Brett (which I can never get past). Still fruit surprisingly and not as secondary as you expect a 32 yo wine. The cork was insane ,the appearance of petrified wood.Disappointing as without the taint would have been special.




Torbreck Descendent 2001 Shiraz Viognier - All class black fruits..drinking nicely, the viognier not as pronounced.Very good.

Petaluma Coonawarra 2005 - Picked as a straight Cab, the Merlot not apparent. Big nose well rounded Coona.

Cape Mentelle Cabernet 2004 - Black cherries and cassis but finished a tad too earthy.

Houghtons Thomas Yule 2012 - Massive silky mouthfeel. Rich and delicious . Actually picked as a big Barrosan due to the big white chocolate / vanilla finish. Needs a couple of years. A marked step up from the Gladstones of which I'm a fan.