A PASSION FOR WINE: Wed Nights

Showing posts with label Wed Nights. Show all posts

November 29, 2007

Peter Lehmann 'Eight Songs' Shiraz 2002

Barossa Valley, 14.5%, $40, cork, 93 pts, Drink 2007-2012.

"Deep plum and blackberries, dark chocolate, red earth, dusty pepper and cinnamon and seasoned French oak. A full bodied, very Barossan shiraz which is starting come of age and show real ripeness. Would easily last another 7 years, but I like it how it is now."

Tasting notes by Mike.

Lake Breeze 'Bernoota' Shiraz Cabernet 2003

Langhorne Creek, 14.5%, $20, cork, 91 pts, Drink 2007-2010.

60% Shiraz, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon.

"60% shiraz and 40% cabernet from Langhorne Creek. Full bodied, sumptuous and creamy this wine really fills the mouth. Loads of blackberry fruit, mocha, vanilla and some cabernet eucalypt spice to finish. Another wine that could be drunk over the next 3-5 years but for my tastes it is drinking now."

Tasting notes by Mike.

October 8, 2007

De Bortoli 'Estate Grown' Shiraz Viognier 2005

Yarra Valley, 14.0%, screw cap, $35, 92 pts, Drink 2008-2012.

Aromas of dark plum, sweet red berries and black pepper.

On the palate it shows up a bit darker, with blackberry, liquorice, roast meats and quite peppery but fine finish.

This wine is excellently structured, with oak, tannins, and acidity in balance.

Tasting notes by Mike.

Riparossa 'Montepulciano d'Abruzzo' 2005

No notes for this wine.

~85 pts.

September 27, 2007

Wednesday 26th Sept Dinner Party

Last night I hosted a small dinner party at home to celebrate a friend's birthday. Click on the above photo to have a closer look at the menu.

We made a few last minute additions to the night: Courvoisier VSOP, Grant Burge 20-yr old Tawny Port, and a Penfolds Grange 1980. Unfortunately we were having too much fun to concern ourselves with being too analytical about the wine, so unfortunately there are no notes for last night's wines. However, I'll provide some brief comments based on what I can remember:

Voyager Estate Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2006 ($25) - third time I have tried this wine, and on all three occasions I did not think highly of it. It's not bad at all, but it definitely doesn't have "oomph". If you like citrus whites, then this is probably the white for you. (88 pts).

Grant Burge 'Meshach' Shiraz 1995 ($150) - This label is my favourite wine of all time. I have tried several vintages of the Meshach: 1990, 1995, 1996, 1998, and I think it was 2000 and/or 2002. Consensus has it that the '98 is the superior vintage (though two occasions of having this wine I did not enjoy it immensely for some strange reason, though my company certainly did). My favourite is the '96, then '90, then the '95. An excellent wine, and definitely better than the Grange 1980!!! (95 pts).

Cape Mentelle 'Trinders' Cabernet Merlot 2004 ($30) - This wine had at least 2 hrs to decant, it finally opened up and softened up a little, but it proved not to be overly exciting. Upon opening the wine, it displayed a considerable amount of green/leafy characteristics, which settled a bit once the fruit had come out of the woodwork as a result of breathing the wine.

Jardim Do Bomfim Shiraz 2005 ($10/RR$30) - One of Mike's popular cheapies. I think he got it from Get Wines Direct? $10, otherwise $30 retail. It is definitely good value for money at 10 dollars, most definitely capable of giving the 'Trinders' a good run for its money. A very sound wine with good structure. The next day it was holding up better than the Grange. Yes, I'll be getting to the Grange shortly; you can probably predict that I don't have very nice things to say about it!! (92 pts for the Jardim).

Grant Burge 20-yr Old Tawny Port ($30) - can't remember too much at this point, but it was quite nice. Mike will post more detailed notes for it later. (93 pts).

Courvoisier VSOP ($65) - as always, bloody fantastic! I have had some of the World's best Cognac's, this VSOP may not be as "refined" as some of the World's best (eg. Remy Martin Louis XIII), but I have had both right next to each other, and I must say I enjoyed the Courvoisier more. If I had a billion dollars, yeah, I would probably drink Louis XIII every day, but for the difference in price, I would rather drink Courvoisier VSOP any day! I find that a lot of the very expensive alcoholic beverages tend to be so "refined" that you lose the essence of what that drink is all about. Cognac is supposed to be intense! (93-94 pts).

Penfolds Grange Hermitage 1980 ($290/RR$450) - So much for waiting for Wine Clinic to visit mid next year! Drunkenness got the best of me. We opened it, and the corkscrew went in, and came all the way back out again leaving the cork in the bottle. Michael immediately operated on the cork. The wine immediately had an unappealing bouquet (I must also mention that this wine showed no signs of being tainted). This wine was a big disappointment, and I take back everything I said about Grange being legend, and an experience. But I am at least content in knowing what all the fuss is about now, and finally suppressing my desire for such wines, when I know other wonderful wines are available at much more affordable prices. The wine was extremely rich, reminded me immensely of the Chateau Reynella Vintage Port 1982 - it just tasted of vintage port!! Yes, it was holding up very well for a 27-yr old wine, but who gives a crap when it does not bring you pleasure!! The wine displayed notes of mocha, liquorice and vintage port. It was a difficult wine to drink, and I did not enjoy it much at all. It's now no surprise that Jeremy Oliver gave this vintage only 90 pts, and others even less. It is very surprising that Penfolds regards it as an outstanding vintage. Grange is definitely an example of opulence, but you have to enjoy that to begin with. (89 pts).

September 20, 2007

Wednesday Sept 19

Moondah Brook Verdelho 2006 - $17
Excellent, 91 pts.

Saltram 'Mamre Brook' Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 - $26
Excellent, 93 pts.

Whislter 'The Black Piper' G.S.M. 2005 - $20 ish
Average, 85 pts.

Rocland Estate 'Lot 147' Shiraz 2005 - $25 ish
Average, 87 pts.

September 15, 2007

Wednesday Sept 5

Marius 'Simpatico' Shiraz 2004

&

Torzi Matthews 'Frost Dodger' Shiraz 2004

September 6, 2007

Longhop Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2006

Terra Felix Shiraz Viognier 2005

Victoria, cork, $15, 89 pts, Drink 2007-2009

red currant, plum and apricot on the nose. The viogner apricot aromas were very evident initially but has since died down after a few hours in the glass/decanter. The bouquet follows on right through to the palate along with sturdy tannins and finishes with fresh acidity. Would make a excellent partner to a rich creamy pasta dish, with that fresh acidity cutting right through.

Watershed Shiraz 2002

Margaret River, 14.0%, cork, $24, 91 pts, Drink now-2009.

Blackcurrant, dark plum and pepper on the nose, with a slightly heady spirit aspect. The palate reveals ripe black plums, red liquorice and very subtle tannins on the finish. Drinking at its peak now I would say, and drinking very well indeed.

Yalumba 'The Signature' Cabernet Shiraz 2003

Barossa Valley, 14.0%, cork, 92 pts, Drink 2009-2014.

Quite reserved on the nose, but nuances of cassis, liquorice and menthol coming through. On the palate it fills out with generous fruit, with a strong blackberry and red currant presence, finishing with round but assertive tannins. Big and ripe, but with some years ahead of it to give way for more refined tertiary characteristics.