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- Dec 31, 2011
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I attended the Penfolds Kalimna Club Icon and Luxury Collection release dinner on Wed night. It was held at the Old Swan Brewery.
Upon arrival were had canapés and were given an extremely cold glass of the Cellar Reserve Chardonnay. I don't have notes on it and unsure what year, but was less than impressed with the wine. Even after warming up, the nose was quite closed and had a rather astringent finish. I didn't finish my glass.
First two wines matched to marron were the 2012 Reserve Bin Chardonnay. This is all Adelaide Hills fruit and a wild yeast ferment. Expressive nose of green melon, white peach, cashew and river pebbles. Weighty palette, high acid. Heaps of stone fruit, nuttiness and white grapefruit with a long finish. This wine is only made in good years and I really enjoyed this. 94 pts
2011 Yattarna. Mainly Tasmanian fruit.Rather delicate nose. white peach, grapefruit and lemon pith. Really balanced in the mouth, with lemon, white grapefruit and stone fruit. Good length. Just didnt amaze me. 91 pts.
2010 St Henri. Dark fruits, plum, tar, dark chocolate on a really intense nose. Some white pepper too. Quite tannic in the mouth with high acid and heaps of juicy fruit. Mainly darker berries in the mouth. This is a huge wine with a long life ahead of it. Really balanced and a long finish. I loved it. 94 points.
2011 Magill Estate. This was from an average vintage, single vineyard and it showed. The best fruit from the vineyard goes to Grange. This was disappointing. Med nose, Dark berries, chocolate ad hints of red berries. Med palate, med+ acid. Dark fruits and some sweet vanilla. med- finish. Just a bit thin really. 88 pts.
2011 RWT. This wine surprised me and was a lot better than I was expecting. Tight nose initially. white pepper, mint leaf, plus the expected dark fruits and plum here. Chalky tannins. High- acid with well balanced oak. The palette exceeds the nose here and finishes long. 92 pts.
2009 Grange. Med nose of chocolate, dark fruits, coconut, aniseed and even a hint of brine! Super elegant in the mouth. Just so balanced really. Massive fruits, high acid and mouth coating tannins with a long finish. 94 points. Good wine...sure is. Worth it...no way.
NV Great Grandfather Port (30 years) Intense nose with nuttiness (hazelnut), some sheery like aromas as well as raisin. Good palette wieght, med+ acid, low tannins and med+ sweetness. Super nutty and a long finish. 93 pts. Not sure if this is worth the money over the Grandfather Port (20 years).
All in all a good night and a great opportunity to try the wines. The speaker was a little disappointing and to some extent just trots out the company spiel.
Upon arrival were had canapés and were given an extremely cold glass of the Cellar Reserve Chardonnay. I don't have notes on it and unsure what year, but was less than impressed with the wine. Even after warming up, the nose was quite closed and had a rather astringent finish. I didn't finish my glass.
First two wines matched to marron were the 2012 Reserve Bin Chardonnay. This is all Adelaide Hills fruit and a wild yeast ferment. Expressive nose of green melon, white peach, cashew and river pebbles. Weighty palette, high acid. Heaps of stone fruit, nuttiness and white grapefruit with a long finish. This wine is only made in good years and I really enjoyed this. 94 pts
2011 Yattarna. Mainly Tasmanian fruit.Rather delicate nose. white peach, grapefruit and lemon pith. Really balanced in the mouth, with lemon, white grapefruit and stone fruit. Good length. Just didnt amaze me. 91 pts.
2010 St Henri. Dark fruits, plum, tar, dark chocolate on a really intense nose. Some white pepper too. Quite tannic in the mouth with high acid and heaps of juicy fruit. Mainly darker berries in the mouth. This is a huge wine with a long life ahead of it. Really balanced and a long finish. I loved it. 94 points.
2011 Magill Estate. This was from an average vintage, single vineyard and it showed. The best fruit from the vineyard goes to Grange. This was disappointing. Med nose, Dark berries, chocolate ad hints of red berries. Med palate, med+ acid. Dark fruits and some sweet vanilla. med- finish. Just a bit thin really. 88 pts.
2011 RWT. This wine surprised me and was a lot better than I was expecting. Tight nose initially. white pepper, mint leaf, plus the expected dark fruits and plum here. Chalky tannins. High- acid with well balanced oak. The palette exceeds the nose here and finishes long. 92 pts.
2009 Grange. Med nose of chocolate, dark fruits, coconut, aniseed and even a hint of brine! Super elegant in the mouth. Just so balanced really. Massive fruits, high acid and mouth coating tannins with a long finish. 94 points. Good wine...sure is. Worth it...no way.
NV Great Grandfather Port (30 years) Intense nose with nuttiness (hazelnut), some sheery like aromas as well as raisin. Good palette wieght, med+ acid, low tannins and med+ sweetness. Super nutty and a long finish. 93 pts. Not sure if this is worth the money over the Grandfather Port (20 years).
All in all a good night and a great opportunity to try the wines. The speaker was a little disappointing and to some extent just trots out the company spiel.
pondering if I should open and give it a taste now or wait for an occasion.
