What's for tasting this weekend

[Gavin Trott]

Lurker's, here's your chance, what do you think you'll enjoy this weekend.

For me,

2001 Plantagenet Chardonnay
2002 Arakoon Blewitt Springs Shiraz
1996 Sevenhills St Ignatius

that I know of so far.

Oh, and Carlsberg beer, hot weekend here in Adelaide!

[Andy]

It has been a while since I last posted, and given the "What has happened post" I feel I should get back on board.

Anyway, recent highlights have included:
Wirra Wirra Church Block 2002 - Cabernet/Shiraz/Merlot. I have long enjoyed this label and am thrilled with the 02'. So smooth and rich. Great balance - a clear advantage of the blend. Was on special at DM last week and I will definately pick up some more.

Pirramimma Stocks Hill Shiraz 2001 - Very good value but a bit leaner than I remember it. Still, very handy McLaren Vale shiraz.

Wynns Shiraz 2002 - Another perrenial favourite. Agree with the seperate posting on this wine. Very different to the 01' - I found it richer and slightly oakier which surprised me as I thought 02' was a cool one for Coonawarra.

Zilzie Viogner 2003 - I thought this was a stunning wine. So viscous and rich. The nose was pure apricot and very moorish. Fantastic with scallops and one of the few reasonably priced wines I have ever seen at VC ($13).

Howard Park Chardonnay 1996 - Obviously a great year for MR chardonnay. This wine was at its peak - good for an Australian chardonnay to last this long. Unfortunately drunk the Australian way of far too cold.

Also, a couple of weeks ago I bought two 2001 shiraz's to try side by side and was surprised by the result:

St Hallet Blackwell Shiraz 2001 - This was a joy to drink and was archtipical of what South Australia does so well. Peper and licorice on the nose, and some olive and blueberry on the palate. Smooth silky tannins - I was so happy with this wine for $25.

Elderton Shiraz 2001 - This was blown away by the Blackwell. I had seen others on this board recommend this wine but it was my second bottle and again I found it a touch dull and uninspiring. Not bad value at $20, but I'll be paying the extra $5 and going more Blackwell.

Finally, a Charles Melton Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 was perfect with roast lamb after a long day at work. Probably nearing its peak, I have no idea why Jeremy Oliver rated it so poorly (15).

This weekend will see lots of Pilsner Urquell beers, a 2003 Voyager Estate Semillon SB and probably a 2000 Houghton Cabernet Sauvignon.

Cheers

Andy

[Adam]

Opening a Magnum 1969 burgundy (Hospice le Beaune), unfortunately its from the Beaune region and hence more than likely to be well well past its best...however we will see.

Has anyone had any experience with old Beaune wines?? I trust decanting will not be required other than to remove sediment.

[Anthony]

Got my bags and (more importantly) grog packed for a week in sunny queensland.
Included in it is:
85 Seppelt Eden riesling
03 Grosset Watervale Riesling
02 Egon Muller Scharzof
Billecart Salmon NV
Henriot Blanc de Blanc Nv
Perrin Crozes Hermitage 00

Also will be buying truckloads of XXXX which should go down pretty easy.

cheers
anthony

[simm]

Opening a Magnum 1969 burgundy (Hospice le Beaune), unfortunately its from the Beaune region and hence more than likely to be well well past its best...however we will see.

Has anyone had any experience with old Beaune wines?? I trust decanting will not be required other than to remove sediment.

Hi Adam,

I can't imagine many of them go far considering they a pretty lean on the whole. I was there recently and didn't get to try too many. Hospice de Beaune even in its magnum I wouldn't think would last that long. I managed to get an Hospice de Beaune bottle fridge magnet , I thought the real stuff was overpriced but I suppose that's fair considering they are made for fund raising. Very keen to hear what the results of your tasting are!!

Personally I'm tossing up between a Chais Clarendon 99 (because I have heard it is not so good and want to try it for myself) or a St. Hugo's 2000 just to see what all the hype is about. I would appreciate any advise.
After that there's a Miranda Dark Horse Barossa Old Vines Shiraz 99 to guzzle which I quite like even though a tad on the jammy side, but for $10 hey...
My wife will probably start with her works local pub house wine and move onto a Hamilton Slate Quarry Riesling 03 at home.

Have a better one,

[Wizz]

2002 Arakoon Blewitt Springs Shiraz

So you got these after all?

For me:

02 Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz
03 Shaw and Smith SB
one of the 03 Roses.

Not as hot here as Adelaide, but its always warm here

cheers

Andrew

[Red Bigot]

1996 Sevenhills St Ignatius

Gavin, hope yours is much better than the last one of these I had. Mine was pretty far advanced and not terribly pleasant, perhaps a case of dreaded random oxidation, I've not been game to try another yet. Take a spare!

NFI what I'm drinking yet, pretty hot here too, so probably a couple of champagne/sp reds by the friends pool at some stage, Chinese BBQ duck with Kylie Kwong blood plum sauce tonight may be a challenge, a similar sauce on caramelised wagyu brisket at Billy Kwongs late December went brilliantly with a Turkey Flat 2001 Shiraz, maybe check out the replacement Ashton Hills 99 Pinot and reduce my Pinot stocks by a third

[markg]

85 Seppelt Eden riesling

cheers
anthony

Anthony, would love to hear how the 85 riesling turns out. Have you had one of these recently ?

[Adam]

Hi Adam,

I can't imagine many of them go far considering they a pretty lean on the whole. I was there recently and didn't get to try too many. Hospice de Beaune even in its magnum I wouldn't think would last that long. I managed to get an Hospice de Beaune bottle fridge magnet , I thought the real stuff was overpriced but I suppose that's fair considering they are made for fund raising. Very keen to hear what the results of your tasting are!!

Simm,

The only reason I hold any hope whatsoever is that the bottle is in perfect condition. I had 2 x 750ml of the same wine about 2 years ago and one was good the other buggered, as they say no good old wines just old bottles....or something like that

Will report...

Cheers, Adam

[Anthony]

85 Seppelt Eden riesling

cheers
anthony

Anthony, would love to hear how the 85 riesling turns out. Have you had one of these recently ?

had a bottle of the 84 about two weeks ago and it was mid-blowing. One of the best aged rieslings I have had, and in the prime of it's life. Dying to try this to see how it has developed. Im my memory serves me correctly, for whites 85 was a good year without being great.

cheers
anthony

[markg]

85 Seppelt Eden riesling

cheers
anthony

Anthony, would love to hear how the 85 riesling turns out. Have you had one of these recently ?

had a bottle of the 84 about two weeks ago and it was mid-blowing. One of the best aged rieslings I have had, and in the prime of it's life. Dying to try this to see how it has developed. Im my memory serves me correctly, for whites 85 was a good year without being great.

cheers
anthony

I opened a 1979 Leo Buring the other week (still yet to write up tasting notes) and it was absolutely sublime. We couldn't get over how sharp its colors were and how zesty it seemed for a 24 year old reisling.

[KevinT]

Cooking Duck this weekend, braised in porcini and sangiovese.

Thinking a pinot might be a bit light on to go with the braise. Maybe opening a Mont Redon Chateauneuf du Pape or a Villa Trasgaia Super Tuscan.

What do you guys think? Or maybe a Fox creek Short Row Shiraz 99

[Guest_Anders]

Well, I will head to the monopole here in Sweden and hopefully there will be a few bottles left of the Old Bastard Shiraz 2001 and 1914 Shiraz 2001. I also noticed that they had released Torbreck's Run Rig 2001, so I am hoping I will find a few bottles of that too. But, what I will be drinking this weekend? Any or some of the following:

Torbreck Descendant 2001
Torbreck The Steading 2001
Peter Lehman Stonewell 1996
Lindemans Limestone Ridge 1996
Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz 2000

and perhaps

Smith Woodhouse Vintage Port 1985

Kind Regards,

Anders

[Rob]

Still undecided what I am going to drink and it's all dependent on the weather. The weather report said, it's going to be 40 degree in Sydney on Sunday and not much better on Saturday. I am going to wait and see.

If the weather is hot as predicted. will open

1996 Pol Roger
2002 Dopff au Moulin Gewurztraminer
2000 Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis Vielles Vignes

[Adam]

Well, I will head to the monopole here in Sweden and hopefully there will be a few bottles left of the Old Bastard Shiraz 2001 and 1914 Shiraz 2001. I also noticed that they had released Torbreck's Run Rig 2001, so I am hoping I will find a few bottles of that too. But, what I will be drinking this weekend? Any or some of the following:

Torbreck Descendant 2001
Torbreck The Steading 2001
Peter Lehman Stonewell 1996
Lindemans Limestone Ridge 1996
Mount Langi Ghiran Shiraz 2000

and perhaps

Smith Woodhouse Vintage Port 1985

Kind Regards,

Anders

I had the 2001 Descendant late last year...I thought it was a stunning wine, hope you enjoy it...let us know.