Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[qaz]

To be fair , the benevelli is not a barolo.

true, but benevelli is perhaps a better langhe, sensi a lesser barolo, with similar value

View attachment 226151
Impulse buy at a local Asian Fusion restaurant, courtesy of a friend. Didn't match the food at all; no one complained.

Drinking young. Strong American oak influence, cola, coconut and meatiness. Tannins were very soft, I would have liked a tiny bit more structure. One of the more approachable Granges I have had. Ages left, but I wonder if the low acidity and lack of structure will impact down the track?

THE BEST 20 WINES TO BUY INSTEAD OF 1 BOTTLE OF GRANGE

 

[HokitikaGold]

Sorry if it is inappropriate to post about a wine I did not enjoy, but I couldn't find a thread for that purpose, and seeing I have been using this one, please forgive me - if this is wrong just let me know.

I have just been assaulted by a rhino. Savagely. Let me explain....

Being someone who frequents Dan Murphy's, I noticed a new product they are actively spruiking. "Old Fat Unicorn" pinot noir. My immediate reaction was that I was repelled by what I though was a crass label, and the name. So I ignored it for a while, but eventually, as they say, "curiosity killed the cat".

So this is what I bought: (all of $14)



As I say, a crass name and label, with even the screwcap with the same gaudy colours.

But it is the rear label which I love:



It is the last part of the "story" that really got me - "dazzling not just to the eye, but to every sense". To me, a bold claim indeed. But I like my eyes to be dazzled

Apart from the label, the bottle is a medium-weight, medium punt, burgundy style, with a screwcap. Overall ok, but the screwcap itself is cheap, and I had to firmly grasp the bottom half to be able to crack the seal without the whole thing rotating. A flaw in really cheap closures, but one that does not affect the seal of the wine. Maybe I was just in a hurry, as I wanted my eyes to be dazzled.

So here it is in all its glory:



I am not a skilled pinot person, so am unsure how typical this is. But the colour was a deep salmon. Hmmmm. It was ok in brightness, but a tad cloudy, and this is not an aged wine.

On the nose, red fruits.

On the palate, bland red berries. Some sourness and bitterness. And an odd lingering effect - sort of tingling at the back of my mouth in unpleasant burning fashion, which spread to much of my mouth. And I am someone partial to the occasional tequila… You could say it has a very long finish, but not one that one would want.

I decided against further drinking....

I am very much a believer that the whole wine-enjoyment thing is mostly subjective. So I respect someone who says they enjoy this wine. Maybe I have COVID which has destroyed my senses. I just tried to find any reviews on this wine, and found some only on the Dan Murphys site itself. 3 of the only handful of reviews proudly exclaimed that they only bought it because of the "funny" and "clever" label. I guess that is marketing. I just hope none of this gets overseas - our image could suffer the same setback my senses are grappling mightily with as I type this.

"Unicorn" my cough.....

 

[Jczer000]

Savoury, spicy, smoky and still so structured

 

[jrod]

Sorry if it is inappropriate to post about a wine I did not enjoy, but I couldn't find a thread for that purpose, and seeing I have been using this one, please forgive me - if this is wrong just let me know.

I have just been assaulted by a rhino. Savagely. Let me explain....

Being someone who frequents Dan Murphy's, I noticed a new product they are actively spruiking. "Old Fat Unicorn" pinot noir. My immediate reaction was that I was repelled by what I though was a crass label, and the name. So I ignored it for a while, but eventually, as they say, "curiosity killed the cat".

So this is what I bought: (all of $14)

View attachment 226421

As I say, a crass name and label, with even the screwcap with the same gaudy colours.

But it is the rear label which I love:

View attachment 226422

It is the last part of the "story" that really got me - "dazzling not just to the eye, but to every sense". To me, a bold claim indeed. But I like my eyes to be dazzled

Apart from the label, the bottle is a medium-weight, medium punt, burgundy style, with a screwcap. Overall ok, but the screwcap itself is cheap, and I had to firmly grasp the bottom half to be able to crack the seal without the whole thing rotating. A flaw in really cheap closures, but one that does not affect the seal of the wine. Maybe I was just in a hurry, as I wanted my eyes to be dazzled.

So here it is in all its glory:

View attachment 226423

I am not a skilled pinot person, so am unsure how typical this is. But the colour was a deep salmon. Hmmmm. It was ok in brightness, but a tad cloudy, and this is not an aged wine.

On the nose, red fruits.

On the palate, bland red berries. Some sourness and bitterness. And an odd lingering effect - sort of tingling at the back of my mouth in unpleasant burning fashion, which spread to much of my mouth. And I am someone partial to the occasional tequila… You could say it has a very long finish, but not one that one would want.

I decided against further drinking....

I am very much a believer that the whole wine-enjoyment thing is mostly subjective. So I respect someone who says they enjoy this wine. Maybe I have COVID which has destroyed my senses. I just tried to find any reviews on this wine, and found some only on the Dan Murphys site itself. 3 of the only handful of reviews proudly exclaimed that they only bought it because of the "funny" and "clever" label. I guess that is marketing. I just hope none of this gets overseas - our image could suffer the same setback my senses are grappling mightily with as I type this.

"Unicorn" my ****.....

Unfortunately also why so many DM shoppers quickly knock down pinot noirs and say it’s watery sugar water. It’s hard to get the good ones and even harder to find good value. Cheers for the review

 

[HokitikaGold]

Unfortunately also why so many DM shoppers quickly knock down pinot noirs and say it’s watery sugar water. It’s hard to get the good ones and even harder to find good value. Cheers for the review

Exactly. I do not mind Dans, on the contrary I love them. But they are a behemoth in aussie liquor sales that cater to all tastes. Especially the bulk ones. I don't mind the fact they sell a myriad of Pinnacle drinks labels, as they make so much from these that they manage to daily offer other labels at really, the standard of bottom prices. I am moving from enjoyment of their overall good prices to seek small labels that will never be sold by them, but I still like their stores and overall concept. Anyone who walks a "standard" liquor outlet after being in Dans would notice the relatively tiny array of options in comparison. nd although I am slowly getting used to online stuff, I do still love walking into a Dans and being able to touch almost 4000 different wines in the one space

 

[boomy]

Tonight’s treat.



The only single vineyard in Penfolds family if I’m not mistaken. Supposed to be great vintage, can’t wait

 

[SleepyPolarBear]

Tonight’s treat.

View attachment 226460

The only single vineyard in Penfolds family if I’m not mistaken. Supposed to be great vintage, can’t wait

There is the bin170 and block 42, but those are more collectables

 

[HokitikaGold]

Aloha all

That time of night again - I only rest on the sabbath.....

Tonight's tipple is a Printhie Ashburnham shiraz, 2014. My last aussie wine for a few days - Monday will try some beaujolais, something I have not had for about 30 years...

Anyway, I liked the bottle. Decent presentation for a mid-$20's product. Nice solid but restrained burgundy bottle, decent punt. The front label is a stylized yet simple design, emphasizes the product, "Ashburnham". The screwcap has large Printhie, with their logo (a swallow) on the top. (another of these can be seen directly behind it in the rack I keep on my desk) No gimmicks. And I am fast yearning for a more traditional use of bottle shapes - hence respecting a shiraz in a northern Rhone bottle style - bordeaux should be left for cabernets...

The rear label gave some concise info re the specific location of origin (like that), but in-concise info re the vines themselves (do not like that). They referred to initial plantings in the area in 1952, but no tie was made to this actual wine, so I sensed they were bulking out "the story" with historical stuff that is irrelevant to this particular wine.

The colour was aged moderately-deep ruby, leaning to garnet. Slightly opaque with now 6 years age, but still alive and colourful.

On the nose, quite opulent dark berries. Nice.

On the palette, mellowed tannins and dark berries - morphed into a blend of perceptions. Good balance, but nothing standing out in an individual way. Pleasant but unremarkable.

All in all, a fairly sound but average product in this price range (nominal retail in mid twenties) Perhaps I need to pair the wines rather than stand alone tasting, to be more glowing. Would I buy it again? Probably not, not due to any inherent fault, but because there are just so many other wines out there, and this lacks any spectacular feature.

BTW, Printhie is a brand that, as almost always, is new to me. This wine is from the Orange region in NSW. Ashburnham is near the town of Molong. NW of Orange.

 

[Daver6]

When you need something big to go with your steak. Label says 15% ABV. I'm sure it's more but didn't stick out. Balanced wine that will go another 5 years with ease.

 

[Duffa]

Hey Cruiser,

It's bin day.
Show us the recycles!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

Hey Cruiser,

It's bin day.
Show us the recycles!

K

 

[Doctore1003]

Sampled some of my recent "secret deal" purchases this weekend (the two reds) and was very pleased with both.

The Tally was $40 from Qantas Wine (less than half the usual price). Gorgeous blackberry, blueberry, oak and eucalyptus on the nose. Also earthy / leather notes on the palate. Dry, medium tannins and acidity. Beautiful to drink.

The Giesen pinot noir was $32 from VinoMofo (again, great price). Lots of red and dark berry notes, with vanilla and a little bit of spice. Dry, smooth with medium acidity. Glides over the tongue. Just lovely.

The Frankland Estate riesling wasn't a secret deal but still purchased at a good price of $32 pb. Very floral on the nose with citrus, stone fruit, mineral and honey notes. Dry with med+ acidity. Very much enjoyed also.

A great weekend's drinking. Now ready to detox for a few days!

 

[Cruiser Elite]

A great weekend's drinking. Now ready to detox for a few days!

Rookie mistake IMHO - soldier on

 

[Jczer000]

K

How was the 16 St Peter's Drinking?

 

[Steady]

I spent last weekend in the Pipers River regio, I was fortunate to be able to visit Apogee and spend time with Andrew Pirie. I don’t often drink new release Pinot, but thought I would try this and decide if I will start buying to put away. (Along with his sparkling). No doubt I will.....

 

[CTT]

How was the 16 St Peter's Drinking?

I had that same bottle a month ago, I thought it was stunning, it did take a couple of hours to really open up though.

cherry, blackberry, plum, pepper. Lots of fruit but had mouth watering acid but very well balanced with the oak-vanilla cloves and I thought a hint of chocolate. Really good intensity with a long finish.

prob the one of my favourite from all the clearance back in June.

I had the Nobu too... but that wine never opened up for me, rather disappointing, I'm hoping it's just that one bottle as I still got a few more...keen to see what you thought of it Cruiser Elite?

 

[TheRealTMA]

Drinking very well.

 

[billbro]

Veuve and Vanguardist for us this weekend - Ms B felt like indulging, so I was obliged to honour that request. Our collection is relatively young, so nothing too fancy or particularly cellared (most of the stuff we laid down we ended up going through).

I'm personally not as enamoured by the Vanguardist as others seem to be based on reviews - I seem to prefer Pinot over Grenache, even if they can be similar in expression.

Veuve was decent, but the bubbles faded pretty quickly and the toasty/brioche notes weren't as overt as I would like.

 

[Doctore1003]

Veuve and Vanguardist for us this weekend - Ms B felt like indulging, so I was obliged to honour that request. Our collection is relatively young, so nothing too fancy or particularly cellared (most of the stuff we laid down we ended up going through).

I'm personally not as enamoured by the Vanguardist as others seem to be based on reviews - I seem to prefer Pinot over Grenache, even if they can be similar in expression.

Veuve was decent, but the bubbles faded pretty quickly and the toasty/brioche notes weren't as overt as I would like.

View attachment 226508View attachment 226509

Great pics!

 

[boomy]

Staying in 2013, after a visit to Magill Estate the other day, we go west to Moss Wood.

I know it’s way too young to drink, normally MW CSs are being cellared for decades but thanks to some recent clearance sales I can afford to open a bottle early without feeling too bad about it

This vintage marks the 40th anniversary and I can describe it one word - elegant. It’s the most refined CS I had from MR, very fruity due to its young age it’s a pleasure to drink now but needs more time to develop secondary characters.