It's Sunday already, please tell us what was good or bad...

[Red Bigot]

Ric has just left here on his way back to more fish-tank fixing, so it's my turn again.

My highlights of the week:

Monday was sparkling reds, Seppelt Show 93 a clear standout, a richer version of the style, 98 Original pretty good to, Fox Ck Vixen different in a nice way.

Wednesday was:
Oz bubblies with 98 Arras very classy, the Bay of Fires 98 great value at half the Arras price, Brown Bros Patricia interesting if you like the OTT aldehydic style, 99 Sir James a bit left behind in this class.

2001 Cabernets, with the cheapy Taylors in ROTE holdiong it's own against the three $20 competitors, it was a close second to the new Jameisons Run Red terra Reserve and ranked ahead of the Alkoomi FR and Richmond Grove Coonawarra.

2002 Heathcote Shiraz from Nick's with the Tatiarra Culled barrel trumping the pricier Tatiarra Cambrian with Mt Burrumboot Ok and the Sangiune estate estery and confected, a dead last in my vote.

Thursday was sparkling reds again with Seppelt Original 99 in good form, Majella 2001 classy but needing time, Fox Ck Vixen showing well again, Morris Shiraz Durif not as good as I remember, Stephen John Traugott Cuvee showing what not to do with Shiraz and Pinot and a dead awful McLaren on the lake.

Saturday was a fabulous dinner for 6 organised by Shrek (aka David Lole) at Aubergine. The Red Icons were (not necessarily in this order):
Joseph Sp Red (01 disgorgement), a nice aperitif, not as rich as some disgorgements, but a nice mellow style, not overly sweet.
1975 St Henri, unfortunately somewhat past it's prime.
1994 Greenock Ck Seven Acre, showing that Barossa is not all ott syrupy reds, lean and firm yet, but with enough fruiit to cope with the 14.0%, although David found a sl. hot finish. Has another 5 years yet.
1996 Rosemount Balmoral, rich, generous classy wine, I thought it had more Barossa than McLarenvale character, also has years ahead of it.
1984 Grange, classic Penfolds shiraz nose as soon as it was poured, it was just a matter of picking the vintage really, so distinctive, great wine.
1991 Wynns Centenary Shiraz-Cabernet, again pretty easy to pick if you've ever tried it before, still youthful, but I'm a bit worried about the acid levels showing on this.
1990 Wendouree Cabernet malbec, again so distinctive withe the menthol/mint overtones and fine dry tannins, Ric picked this after the first sip. This was not double-decanted as the others had been, blossomed in the glass, will live another 10 at least.
1976(?) Hardys Vintage Port, the commemorative re-release version, had to be Reynella or Hardys from the first sniff, classic Oz VP, still youthful.

[David Lole]

Brian,

Great to catch up with you and Andrea again. Just a few comments about last night's dinner, if I may.

The Hardy's was the '75 Museum Release VP.

Great to see all the 90's reds looking good for the long haul.

Holistically, the '84 Grange was near perfect to my taste.

Thanks to Ric, Tony and Deborah for their contributions and good company.

And to James, Tanya and team at Aubergine my appreciation for the fine food and service at a top venue with excellent ambience.

Not surprisingly, awoke feeling fresh as a daisy! How did you three pull up?

Thanks, again.

[Justin B.]

Been a touch quiet for me in the past week:

1. Planataganet shiraz 1995 - very different to your average Barossa style. Quite stinky, but in a nice way. Holding well and should hold for a few more years but unlikely to improve much from here I suspect. Good balance.

2. Seppelt Great Western 1993 - this vintage has always put me off: way to much green character. I never really liked it when it was young either. Balance is there and at 10 years of age is holding up remarkable well. JO rates this 18.7/20 drink 05-13. Drinking window is accurate IMO and even the score may be in technical terms, but the score doesn't seem to reflect the overt green characters that detract from my enjoyment of the wine. I think I will be sticking to the 91, 96 and 98's from here.

[JamieBahrain]

1991 Chateau Musar- Signs of abuse ( hot Lebanese summers and a long shelf life ) but still very good. A solid backbone of acid and tannin preserved some developed sweet cherry and leather flavours. Some porty aromas/ flavours aswell-most probably a result of it's cooking.

2002 Doctor Loosen Erdner Treppchen Riesling- A delicacy of floral and pear, surprising mouthfillling weight with fine cutting acid.

2002 Doctor Pauly Classic Riesling-After drinking many delicate Loosens this is like a gruff Australian- Clare etc. Varietal nose, some nice weight and the citrus and limey charateristics made it Clare like. The grapefruit acid effect of the backpalate/finish would be the hint it wasn't from Clare.

Many bottles of Salitage!!!!!

Gavin-please change my name to JamieHongKong. 86 days to go!

[Geoffrey]

Coming out of spring in Christchurch and warmer weather is making one reach for the white grape;
Nautilus Marlborough Cuvee NV; Pinot and Chardonnay blend that has had extended time on lees, toasty yeasty and citrus Marlborough flavors, good length. Its a well made wine with fruit that is at least 5yrs old. Big wine that is good on its own and suitable with lighter flavored food. Great value at about $nz28 and i think one of the best kiwi sparkling wines in nz$20-30 bracket.
1999 Chard Farm Riesling Central Otago, steely nashie pear, citrus flavors almost a dry-med wine liked it for that reason, none of that semi botyis. sweetness that alot of south island rieslings have and just ideal for pre meal drink on a warm evening. Just starting to slip on the down hill side and drunk just in time. Think i payed somewhere in the low $NZ twenty's for it.
2003 Johanneshof Marlborough Gewürztraminer;from a small scale winemaker in Marl, Med. style with all the Gewuztr. bouquet and Flavors of rosepetals,lycees.turkish delight etc. Long finish and should cellar for some yrs but drinking well at present. One of the better Kiwi Gewurzts. from 03 this year and selling for about $nz23

Cheers
Geoffrey

[Gavin Trott]

Hello

Dined out with Glen Green and partner at the Blanc in Adelaide.

he brought

1997 Bianchet Marsanne - wow, a beauty. Did it taste like marsanne, well no, not really. It had clearly had time in new French oak, plus time on lees, so it was made like a Chardonnay, but it had aged beautifully and was more enjoyable than any 6 year old Chardonnay I've had recently. Unexpected and delightful! Wish I could get me some!

I brought

1998 Petaluma Coonawarra - also in very good form. Clearly way to young yet, but the fruit shone through delightfully, and I thought the acid/tannin balance was excellent. I'll give the rest of these a few more years of sleep, then they should be outstanding.

Great wine, food and company, sitting outside on a balmy Adelaide evening, who said life wasn't meant to be easy!

[Davo]

Brown Hill Estate "Ivanhoe" reserve Cab Sauv 2001, Absolute corker of a MR cab with intense cassis and well handled oak and only a tiny hint of green on the palate despite the amount of green capsicum on the nose. Years ahead of it.

Kay Bros Hillside Shiraz 2001, corked.

Mick Morris Durif 1990, Still pounding along with tons of brambly fruit still in evidence and tannins softened right off.

Tuck's Ridge Pinot Noir 1998, Absolute classic duck's guts nose with heaps of sour black cherry stone to go with the sweet strawberry. A very nice PN indeedy and still has years to go.

Chittering Estate Reserve Chardonnay 1992, Who says Oz chardy does not age. Still drinking well with more steely/mineraly notes now than when young to go with the toasted honey and lime citrus, but still immensely enjoyable, if you like that kind of thing.

E.Guigal Cotes du Rhone 1998, Surprisingly good and much better than those I had on release, just a bit short on fresh ripe fruit in comparison to Oz shiraz of the same vintage and price range.

Peter Lehman Barossa Shiraz 1998. God I wish I had bought more of this. Absolutely sensational right now and exceptional for the price. Gobs of fruit in a seemless parcel.

Brown Brothers Epicurean Shiraz. Similar to the above, and likewise wish I had bought more. Gobsmaking stuff. Dynamite for the price of a penny bomb.

[SueNZ]

If the world was awash with Shiraz/Syrah, right now the Kingsley Estate Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2001 (NZ) would go down a treat. Well it did last Thursday night anyway. What a stunning wine. Served blind, I thought it was a really top class Aussie Syrah but I got the country wrong so had to go Hawkes Bay in the region question.
Based on this tasting I'm so not surprised it did so well in the recent tri-Nations Challenge.
Deep black red in colour, sweet fruit, chocolate, spice, nutmeg. Mouthfilling and creamy with liquorice and milk chocolate. Fine tannins. Terrifically integrated savoury oak. Ripe and buxom. Delicious. Fantastic! It costs about $NZ44. It's organic and sealed with a screwcap.

Cheers,
Sue

[Rory]

Garry Crittenden "i" Range Arneis '02
A good example of this wine, always love it, especially on a hot night.
Toolangi Reserve Chardonnay '02
Yarra Valley winery, wine made by Rick Kinzbrunner of Giaconda. evidently too young, but if ever a wine deserves the title of Giaconda's baby brother, this may be it. Given time would be hard to pick as Australian with mealy, cashew nut nuances on the palate,a minerality to it not often found. Great prospects with some age on it, may be one to watch as Giaconda goes close to the $100 mark.
'91 Seppelt Show Reserve Sparkling Shiraz
Oooh, great nose, meaty earthy plumy, rich dark fruit on the palate with some more of the meaty earth. Great wine love it.
'94 Leasingham Classic Clare Shiraz
Lots of vanillan oak on the nose, combined with some weight in the fruit, follows through on the palate, some residual acidity for it's age, but lacking structure to get much better.
'97 Seppelt Great Western Shiraz
This wine just keeps getting better, tying in with wine of the week with the next one. Fantastic rich earthy, meaty, rich plum nose & palate, great fruit weight, long finish, IMO, infinatley better than the '96, and pips the '98 & '99.
Trembach '98 Alsace Gewurztraminer Vendage Tardive
The most apt comment from one at the table, without wanting to sound snooty, was "why does Australia bother", and it may be true.
Beautiful Lychee nose, sweet fruit, but not residual sugar, lovely length, a wine to sniff constantly, and sip all night, and never stop marvelling at it's beauty!
Rory

[PaulV]

Pikes 2002 reserve Riesling [screwcap] Lovely pale buttercup/green colour, icy limey citrus blossom nose, midweight palate with more fruit than I expected at this stage from a reserve wine. Clearly from its region - watervale rather than polish hills - will peak fairly quickly , say 5 years. Very good to excellent.

William Fevre 2000 Chablis "Vaillons" 1er cru [cork] Even paler than the Pikes. Slight sulphur bottle stink which blow off to show some straw and lemons. Medium body, flavors follow the nose with a touch of peach, harmonious and well balanced/medium length with good cut, and just a touch of oak. While it does not have the acidity of many of the top 2000’s it is still good drinking over the next 5 years. I miss the "mineral" element though. Good to very good.

JM Pavelot 1996 Savigny les Beaunes "Les Narbontons." 1er cru[cork] As someone once said to me if Burgundy is a minefield, then Savigny is a Red Cross station, chock full of well-made, well-priced pinot. No exception here, the Narbontons is medium bodied, intensely spicy, both on nose and palate, wonderfully red-fruitted and long palate. Excellent.

Howard Park 2001 Scottsdale Shiraz [screwcap] My first and won't be my last. Lovely spicy black fruit nose with hints of cinnomin and vanilla from the nice touch of french oak. Sparkling fresh spicy shiraz fruit on the palate with some background salami and oak. Long palate and so well balanced. Great wine. drink over next couple of years for the fruit or let it sleep for 8-10 years. Excellent.

Cheers

paulV

[Pana]

96 Zema Family Selection C/Sav - glorious wine, starting to peak
94 Seppelt Drumborg C/Sav - excellent, with enough acid to go a further 5yrs.
99 Heritage Shiraz - so, so
98 Jim Barry Mcrae Siraz - Big wine, not integrated, dont touch before 08.

[Ian S]

1991 Chateau Musar ... Some porty aromas/ flavours aswell-most probably a result of it's cooking.

Jamie
I think this may be a feature of the ageing of Musar - certainly noticeable in 1985 bottle consumed a couple of years ago - though for me it didn't detract from the wine.
Happy travels!
Ian

[GraemeG]

The Noble Rotters had our catered Christmas lunch yesterday. An interesting collection of whites brought by members, together with some 98 reds from the group cellar made the table. TVs only here, as this was strictly a social occasion, but Lanson nv black label was its usual biscuity but refreshingly sharp self, Peter Rumball’s nv Sparkling Shiraz (I think) was a slightly sweetish and undemanding glass of red bubbles. A 1992 Frankland Estate Rhine Riesling was fresh and glorious, with developed honey/kero notes surfing a wave of fresh acid – stunning. 2002 Grosset Semillon Sauvignon Blanc was all lime and tropical fruits – lovely to drink in the sunshine. 1998 Taylors St Andrews Chardonnay managed not to be over-buttery, and the oak was well judged, but I felt it was just a touch flabby perhaps. The 1998 Howard Park Riesling was deep gold and badly oxidised. Cellaring or cork? Hmmm. A Canberra district Rhine Riesling from 1994 – Jiel or some such? – was remarkably good; clean vibrant apple fruit with even some steeliness. Who’d have thunk it?

Of the 1998 reds, the Jamieson’s Run Alexanders Block was rather oaky, the Richmond Grove Special Release Shiraz was quite chocolatey but not overdone, Haselgrove H Reserve Shiraz had the rich McLaren Vale fruit cake quality – but the tannins have softened considerably from earlier days. Wynns Shiraz has lots of white pepper & spice in a lighter style, the Pepper Tree Reserve Coonawarra Cabernet is surprisingly herbaceous – there’s a real asparagus/capsicum quality to this wine. Baileys 1920s Block Shiraz is very soft , with unexpectedly clean berry aromas. Perhaps the pick of them for me was the Mt Pleasant OP & OH Shiraz, a lovely blurry, sensual smudge of a wine which just leads you to the next glass.

Also last Friday at dinner, we finished off the second half of a 1999 Blue Pyrenees Estate Reserve Red. Dark cherry red, the nose here is very shy, hardly offering much beyond crushed blackberries and a smidgin of oak. The palate is tightly wound, tannins quite strong, if not particularly fine. Better with food, no doubt – I’ll keep my remaining bottle in the hope it’ll blossom into something a bit more welcoming…

Cheers,
Graeme

[Adair]

A Canberra district Rhine Riesling from 1994 – Jiel or some such? – was remarkably good; clean vibrant apple fruit with even some steeliness. Who’d have thunk it?

That would be Jeir Creek. I think Canberra Riesling is one of the most underrated wines in Australia. Seriously!

Adair

[GrahamB]

Majella 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon

Lots of everything in this wine. Young and tight at this time but I think this will be one of the 2001 cabernets we will be talking about for some years to come.

Rufus Stone 1998 McLaren Vale Shiraz

This was the second bottle of this wine in two weeks and the difference was quite marked. The second bottle was tasted blind and it wasnÂ’t picked as the same wine. Still enjoyable and maybe a little more refined where the first opened up to a lovely fruity Mc Laren Vale shiraz. Now I will have to try a third bottle. The things we have to do.

CM barrel tasting in Brisbane

The stand outs here were without a doubt the Riddoch wines:

Riddoch 2002 Shiraz Chocolate and spicy pepper and nice oak nose. Rich and full bodied with a lovely firm structure. Excellent

Riddoch 2002 Cabernet Coffee and mint and nice French oak on the nose. Typical coonawarra style with good tannin and a nice dry finish

I also liked the:

2002 Leasingham Shiraz/Cabernet/Merlot. Ruby colour with nice fruit nose. Fine tannins and good structure and length.

2002 Fox Creek Pethick Road Mc Laren Vale Cab Sauv. Nice quaffer.

2002 Lowe Family Mudgee Sangiovese Merlot Barbera. Interesting multilayered wine mixing Italian varieties and merlot.

Graham

[MartinC]

Turkey Flat Shz '98 - Nice wine, elegant & balance Barossa Shz.. Prefered it upon released.

Pepper Tree Rsv.Cab '00 (JWT) - If Ric said the '98 is a crowd pleaser, this one only appeal to "certain few" The leafy tone dominated, it's OK if it's just a hint but this too much. Med-bodied, lacking in weight for a top-end, lean fruits. After an hr the acid is too much and finishes short as the times goes by.

Taylor's Cabernet '01 - After the lacklustre P.Tree, this is a welcome change. For a <$20, this wine delivered. Good weight, full palate, excellent varietal defination and a decent lenght. I found very little to separate this fr the St.Andrew(on a good yr)

Taylor's Shiraz '02 - Very good too, a little simple perhaps but can't complained because of the $.

The Taylor's Cab btl. was 1st to be empty says it all....A QPR winner..rated outperformed.

[Phil Shorten]

Friday night..

Out with a bunch of English lads - 23+ wines all tasted blind - some Aussies featured, good and bad

2001 d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz

Very pleasantly surprised with this one. Deep inky black in colour. On the palate, dry, savoury and quite elegant. Carries its 15% alcohol with aplomb. Whatever you think of Parker, this is very good wine indeed.

2000 d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz

Quite clumsy by comparison to the 2001. Young ripe and sweet, bordering on jammy. Not my cup of tea.

2000 Evans & Tate Shiraz

A few of us thought this was from the southern Rhone - nice savoury Grenache like fruit - but nup we was wrong - decent quaffing wine.

2000 John's Blend, Maragerette Shiraz

Very nice bouquet - almost Old World - slightly leafy/earthy, graphite/lead pencil (presumably oak). On the palate, very disappointing - extremely sweet very ripe fruit, high alcohol. I did not like this wine at all.

Other standouts were....

1999 Verglegen Merlot, S Africa - like a well styled St Emilion
1998 Casa Lapostalle Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile - Jammy nose, but nice dry albeit rich palate
2001 Cotes du Rhone Villages, Dom la Soumade - cocoa/chocolately, young and very good
1998 Mas Daumas Gassac Rouge - filled out nicely, well structured, ripe, elegant

Saturday...

With Sudanese food

2003 Yalumba Y Series Viognier

Lacks the fruit intensity and acidity of the 2002. Not bad, but just average.

Sunday...

With Lamb and all the trimmings

2001 Cotes du Rhone "Bouquet des Garrigues", Le Clos du Caillou

A very serious Cotes du Rhone - 14.5% ABV, bottled unfiltered - a wine that would challenge many a Chateauneuf du Pape. Double decanted. Deep cerise on colour, slightly volatile nose. On the palate, nice and savoury, definitely ripe - dark cherry, kirsch, violets and white pepper. Good for drinking at 4-7 years. Excellent value at under a tenner.

2001 Maculan Dindarello

Bought from the winery at under 6 Euros a half bottle. Moscato is the dominant grape variety. Nice sweet, full bodied wine underpinned by good acidity. Not overly complex but a decent drop nonetheless. Worth buying.

Tomorrow night is a work Xmas function that will feature:

NV Charles Ellner
1997 Ch de Malle (Sauternes)
2000 Pouilly Fuisse "Les Chailloux", Dom Seve
1998 Gruner Veltliner "Weissenkirchner Achleiten", Freie Weingartner Wachau
1998 Ch. Laroque St Emilion Grand Cru
NV Cartlidge & Browne Zinfandel (made for BBR)
1993 Disznoko Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos
1998 Taylors Quinta do Vargellas

To be followed on Wednesday by a tasting of Warres Vintage ports - 1963 - 1994.

Reports to follow!

......and Christmas is still 3 weeks away!

Cheers
Phil

[David Lole]

2001 d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz
2000 d'Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz
2000 Evans & Tate Shiraz
2000 John's Blend, Maragerette Shiraz
1999 Verglegen Merlot
1998 Casa Lapostalle Cabernet Sauvignon
2001 Cotes du Rhone Villages, Dom la Soumade
1998 Mas Daumas Gassac Rouge
2003 Yalumba Y Series Viognier
2001 Cotes du Rhone "Bouquet des Garrigues", Le Clos du Caillou
2001 Maculan Dindarello
NV Charles Ellner
1997 Ch de Malle (Sauternes)
2000 Pouilly Fuisse "Les Chailloux", Dom Seve
1998 Gruner Veltliner "Weissenkirchner Achleiten", Freie Weingartner Wachau
1998 Ch. Laroque St Emilion Grand Cru
NV Cartlidge & Browne Zinfandel (made for BBR)
1993 Disznoko Tokaji Aszu 5 Puttonyos
1998 Taylors Quinta do Vargellas
To be followed on Wednesday by a tasting of Warres Vintage ports - 1963 - 1994.
....and Christmas is still 3 weeks away!
Cheers
Phil

Phil,

I really don't know you that well, but at this rate I'd be off to the quack for a LFT and a triglyceride test first thing tomorrow, so as I could be told the results before the Warres VP vertical. Only my 2 cents worth, tho. On second thoughts, I'd have the tests booked for Thursday at ........ 3 P.M., when I woke up. Much better idea

[Phil Shorten]

David

Thanks very much for the advice!! Thankfully, most of these functions are tastings, so small 30-50ml serves only; though I have to admit Friday was a heavy night....

Still, balance is the key - alcohol free and off to the gym tonight - no booze on Thursday either!

Hope all's well.

Phil

[David Lole]

Phil,

Just caught your reply by chance, before I hit the sack. AFD's are definitely a good idea, mate For me, the gym would probably spell "heart attack" - I'm 113 kilos and going nowhere. Oh well, we all have our problems. You go enjoy that Warres tasting!

[daz]

Jasper Hill Georgia's Paddock 99 - love this wine. Last tasted about 16 mths ago. Discovered I had a btl more than I thought during a recent consolidation of my meagre, diminishing collection and couldn't resist checking how it was going. Much the same as the last taste but this bottle was all mine - consumed over two days. Wasn't noticeably changed after the time in fridge, the substantial plummy, blackberry fruit still a huge mouthful, oak somewhere but subsumed by the fruit that carries through to the lengthy finish. Didn't finish hot even with the 15.5% abv that it carries so well.

Also reasonably impressed recently by Plantagent Mt Barker Cabernet Sauvignon 01. Not a particularly complex wine but very pleasant. qpr a bit ordinary @ $20/btl.

A couple of earlier posts have remarked on Taylors 01 Cab - I enjoyed the 00 so will have to try the later vintage. A wine that seems to be getting back into form after some indifferent attempts. Don't like the change of label much but qpr @ $15 or less is pretty good in my book.

Cheers

daz

[Mike Hawkins]

Tried a couple of young'uns on the weekend...

2002 Mad Dog Shiraz - first experience with this label and I was mightily impressed. Purple colour with a nose of chocolate and mulberries. Others picked up plum. Medimum bodies, oak in harmony, decent length.

2000 Tollana TR16 Shiraz - having tried other EV wines from this vintage (eg Mt edelstone) I wasn't expecting much. On the whole, a good effort. Slightly peppry nose, medium bodied and a nice finish. Can't complain at $15 pb.

[Adair]

2002 Mad Dog Shiraz - first experience with this label and I was mightily impressed. Purple colour with a nose of chocolate and mulberries. Others picked up plum. Medimum bodies, oak in harmony, decent length.

Finally someone tried this wine and posted. I have 7 at home and have not tried it yet. I also have 1 x 2001 that I have not opened.

Thanks for the notes.

Adair

[Adair]

My highlights of the days since Wednesday at Atelier (where the 1997 Rockford SVS Hoffmann stole the show (and the 1971 Mouton was not bad either ) and beat anything I have had since) were:

2001 M.Chapoutier "Limestone Coast" Shiraz: powerful fruit driven wine with a big future ahead. Good acid balance with very reserved oak. Rated as Highly Recommended. Good value at $20.

1992 Yalumba "Barrel Select" "Family Reserve" Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot (Barossa/Langhorne): Developed sweet red fruits, some darker/riper fruits and mint on chalky, but well intreagted, tannic structure. I have never heard of this wine but was impressed and thanked my father-in-law for bringing it. Rated as Highly Recommended but drink now.

2003 Tahbilk "Everyday Drinking" Sauvignon Blanc: great value at $4.95 for those that like fresh Sauvignon Blanc flavours. Rated as Recommended. (This is an extremely high rating for a SB from me!!!)

Kind regards,
Adair

[Andy]

With all the good weather Melbourne has finally had over the past week I have sparked the BBQ and cracked appropriate wines. Vibes as follows:

2002 Torbreck Woodcutters Red - This was fantastic stuff - so well rounded and great mouthfeel. VG value, esp. given the recent discussion on this producer.

NV Pol Gessner Champagne - label imported by Safeway. Crisp, refreshing and rich. Great bubbles for the $ - at around $25 I'd take it over any Aus sparkling at that price point.

2001 Mount Riley Pinot Noir - I was a bit disappointed by this. Clear upfront fruit with a short bitter finish. A touch flat and boring. Nothing wrong with it, just OK.

2001 Vintage Cellars Chardonnay - this was the one James Halliday conroversially recommended in the Top 100. I have no idea what excited him about this wine. Just another $14 SA chardonnay, no different to many others. Incidentially, I wonder what chance any other cleanskin seller would have of getting one of their wines in the top 100 (i.e The Naked Grape, 6J's or the Wine Society - anyone but Vintage Cellars)

2001 Stepping Stone Cabernet Sauvignon - A great BBQ wine. Opened well and developed in the glass. Perfect for the lamb cutlets on a balmy night after the Davis Cup.

2002 Devils Lair Fifth Leg White (Sem Sauv) - Refreshing, morish WA sem sauv perfect for watching the sun set on the balcony. I do love summer.

1999 Sentinel The Navigator - Rich, deep and so well rounded after a bit of time in the glass. Blackberry, tobacco and a hint of aniseed before finishing with chocolate. More please.

Happy days

Cheers

Andy

[Adam]

Had a few goodies...but very breif notes as in the middle of a transaction closing tomorrow

2001 Clarendon Hills Hickinbotham: Great wine, needs a seriously long decant, picked up a lot of mint on this one.
2001 Le Cupole: Tasted even better than previous tastings, lovely rich balanced italian, probably a bit over priced.
1999 Casa freschi La Signora: I really like this, more on the elegant side and great structure
2001 Majella Cabernet: Nice wine, probably expected a bit more, will improve with time.
1995 Lenoble Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru: great stuff and good VFM at about $50.

Cheers,Adam

[Rob]

1998 Chandon Cuvee Riche disgroged in 2001. a very nice wine to have on a hot day, tasted this wine a year ago, but much prefer the current style. The sweetness is not as pronounced now. A good aperitif wine on a hot summer day.

That's all I have in a week, very poor effort. will pickup the performance next week.

[brad]

1999 Verglegen Merlot, S Africa - like a well styled St Emilion

Did some consulting work at Vergelegen in 1996. A gift from winemaker Martin Meinart (sp?) included some unreleased '95 Merlot. Phil or anybody with any knowledge on ageing of their merlot? Haven't even tried one yet! Call me lazy.

Cheers, Brad

PS. I know Martin left them shortly after. Not responsible!
PPS. There is no better view from a winery office anywhere in the world as that from the winery at Vergelegen!

[brad]

I'm not that new here really?

I'd be one of the old ones I'd reckon!

[Phil Shorten]

1999 Verglegen Merlot, S Africa - like a well styled St Emilion

Did some consulting work at Vergelegen in 1996. A gift from winemaker Martin Meinart (sp?) included some unreleased '95 Merlot. Phil or anybody with any knowledge on ageing of their merlot? Haven't even tried one yet! Call me lazy.

Cheers, Brad

PS. I know Martin left them shortly after. Not responsible!
PPS. There is no better view from a winery office anywhere in the world as that from the winery at Vergelegen!

Brad

I've tasted their wines a couple of times - good fruit and good structure - would be at or approaching its peak assuming 95 was a good vintage is my guess.

Cheers
Phil