Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[Princess Fiona]

As some would know, I'm currently an exile in the Hunter Valley, so doing a little exploring in the region.

Cracked this tonight with a thick BBQ steak. Pretty interesting. A fairly new producer here (but from buying and renaming an old vineyard + buying grapes in).

Lovely earthy, chocolately richness. 15% if that part of the label doesn't show - but you wouldn't know it.

View attachment 80490

View attachment 80491

That's on my to do list (visit Thomas Allen). Some lucky people on the Feb Hunter Valley wine tour went there.

 

[JohnM]

That's on my to do list (visit Thomas Allen). Some lucky people on the Feb Hunter Valley wine tour went there.

You're welcome to come up any time you like in the next five weeks PF and we can do it together . I still have a few more of theirs to try with food .

 

[Princess Fiona]

You're welcome to come up any time you like in the next five weeks PF and we can do it together . I still have a few more of theirs to try with food .

I might just take you up on that offer

 

[penegal]

You're welcome to come up any time you like in the next five weeks PF and we can do it together . I still have a few more of theirs to try with food .

Where is my invite?

I am not quite a princess, but I can usually keep up with her drinking

 

[JohnM]

Where is my invite?

I am not quite a princess, but I can usually keep up with her drinking

But I can't keep up with yours .

 

[Whodoesthat]

What a weekend! Great footy...great results...great excuse for a get together.


Kilikanoon Covenant 2002 - the last one.....big ,rich and full of chocolate....past it's prime but excellent drinking.



Faraday Ridge 2004 Shiraz - has mellowed considerably....another full bodied offering from Bendigo...plums and eucalypt..yum

Brown Brothers Patricia Cabernet 2002 - Needed to blow off and settle...better with a decant..violets, blackcurrents and pencil shavings..vg

Yalumba FDR1a Cab shiraz 2006 - again pong on opening...liquorice and currents..cigar to finish....hungarian oak?...vg

Peter Lehmans The Mentor 2004 - Barossa Cabernet...drinking really well after decant...still fruit forward cassis and cedar.....a few more years to go..

 

[Steady]

A 2008 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon for a change. Impressive nose of dark fruit, inky dark red, velvety tannins and very oaky with a long finish, very very close to a wow wine for me. Opening up nicely and would have years left in it, but I picked it up in a back street liquor store in Hollywood so figured I may as well enjoy it now instead of finding out in 10 years it was corked.

 

[Wozza]

It's not often I pour a third glass. Maybe it's the delirium of Dubai-Sydney jet lag mixed with a house move, crazy work and a young family. Maybe it's because I'm talent spotting a true great for the future:

the Wynns Coonawarra Estate Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2014


On Cellar Tracker with a shortened note on Vivino I concluded:

http://www.vivino.com/users/warren-dav/reviews/53870154

2014 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label, Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra - CellarTracker

"I'm putting it out there. This 59th vintage might just be one of the best just-released Black Labels I've had! Calliard said 97; Halliday, 96; others were not far behind.

For me, there's a real nod to the Wynns flagship John Riddoch style. It's classier in flavour profile. It's rich, rounded, concentrated, medium-bodied and lingering. The oaked boysenberry and blackberry flavours dominant up front. But there's strawberry, a whiff of mint and more. This will be sensational in 5-10 yrs time once it's all come together and has aged. Huge potential.

No wonder Sue Hodder - the winemaker - can boldly claim on the bottle label "there is once again outstanding cellaring potential for this vintage of Australia's most important Cabernet Sauvignon". That's some claim. But I think she just might be right. And it's why it gets a big Wozza 96/100 (4.4/5.0) from me."

With all the AFF tricks you good guys armed me with, paying just over $20 a bottle was simply daylight robbery! GW, I can't wait to see how the other 5 go over time ...

Blogged here: http://Is this the best Black Label.../10/05/is-this-the-best-black-label-cab-sauv/

 

[penegal]

With all the AFF tricks you good guys armed me with, paying just over $20 a bottle was simply daylight robbery! GW, I can't wait to see how the other 5 go over time ...

The trick for this one is to put a doz or two away until much later on to try.

 

[Whining&dining]

Opening up nicely and would have years left in it, but I picked it up in a back street liquor store in Hollywood so figured I may as well enjoy it now instead of finding out in 10 years it was corked.
View attachment 80637

Mind you that cork looks like it's got a few miles left on it

What a weekend! Great footy...great results...great excuse for a get together.


Kilikanoon Covenant 2002 - the last one.....big ,rich and full of chocolate....past it's prime but excellent drinking.

View attachment 80548

Faraday Ridge 2004 Shiraz - has mellowed considerably....another full bodied offering from Bendigo...plums and eucalypt..yum

Brown Brothers Patricia Cabernet 2002 - Needed to blow off and settle...better with a decant..violets, blackcurrents and pencil shavings..vg

Yalumba FDR1a Cab shiraz 2006 - again pong on opening...liquorice and currents..cigar to finish....hungarian oak?...vg

Peter Lehmans The Mentor 2004 - Barossa Cabernet...drinking really well after decant...still fruit forward cassis and cedar.....a few more years to go..

View attachment 80551

Forget the footy, forget the friends, let's just revel in those fine fine wines! (had a few decent drops on Saturday but it looks like you scooped the pool)

 

[WineNot]

Hi crew, looking for some friendly advice and this always seems like a good place to get information on some vino! Trying to chase down some Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah. I had the privilege of drinking some of the 2010 over the weekend and it was divine! Had a quick search online and short of paying $400 a bottle from Nick's for the 2012 or $420 a bottle from DM for the 2006, I can't seem to find it anywhere. Are there any tricks? or is it just that good that you need to fork out $400+ for some? Cheers all!

Also, just to contribute to the thread! Had a bottle of 2014 Hesketh Negroamaro on the weekend. They make it in the Barossa Valley although it is seldom seen outside of southern Italy. It was stunning, there was plenty of vanilla, blue fruit and almost a Christmas cake flavour on the palate. It was very nice! Will be buying more for sure. Look forward to trying their Monti too.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Hi crew, looking for some friendly advice and this always seems like a good place to get information on some vino! Trying to chase down some Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah. I had the privilege of drinking some of the 2010 over the weekend and it was divine! Had a quick search online and short of paying $400 a bottle from Nick's for the 2012 or $420 a bottle from DM for the 2006, I can't seem to find it anywhere. Are there any tricks? or is it just that good that you need to fork out $400+ for some? Cheers all!

Cheapest I've managed to get Astralis is $295/bot for the 2006 (in a 6-pack) from Langtons. It's not cheap stuff. I think $375-$400 is about the going rate for single bottles.

 

[WineNot]

Cheapest I've managed to get Astralis is $295/bot for the 2006 (in a 6-pack) from Langtons. It's not cheap stuff. I think $375-$400 is about the going rate for single bottles.

Cheers AC. I actually once had the pleasure of trying the first vintage, 1994. It was truly an experience! I might have to keep an eye out for it. That 2012 was exceptional, right up there with the best wine I have ever tasted! I'd almost be content paying $350+ a bottle and that is saying something!

 

[beefarmer]

It's not often I pour a third glass. Maybe it's the delirium of Dubai-Sydney jet lag mixed with a house move, crazy work and a young family. Maybe it's because I'm talent spotting a true great for the future:

the Wynns Coonawarra Estate Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

View attachment 80638
On Cellar Tracker with a shortened note on Vivino I concluded:

http://www.vivino.com/users/warren-dav/reviews/53870154

2014 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label, Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra - CellarTracker

"I'm putting it out there. This 59th vintage might just be one of the best just-released Black Labels I've had! Calliard said 97; Halliday, 96; others were not far behind.

For me, there's a real nod to the Wynns flagship John Riddoch style. It's classier in flavour profile. It's rich, rounded, concentrated, medium-bodied and lingering. The oaked boysenberry and blackberry flavours dominant up front. But there's a whiff of mint and more. This will be sensational in 5-10 yrs time once it's all come together and has aged. Huge potential.

No wonder Sue Hodder - the winemaker - can boldly claim on the bottle label "there is once again outstanding cellaring potential for this vintage of Australia's most important Cabernet Sauvignon". That's some claim. But I think she just might be right. And it's why it gets a big Wozza 96/100 (4.4/5.0) from me."

With all the AFF tricks you good guys armed me with, paying just over $20 a bottle was simply daylight robbery! GW, I can't wait to see how the other 5 go over time ...

I have to tell you Wozza, after your description, I am going on the hunt for 2-3 botts, maybe waiting for a 20 per cent off at one of the majors. Monster score, monster wine.

 

[Wozza]

Hi crew, looking for some friendly advice and this always seems like a good place to get information on some vino! Trying to chase down some Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah. I had the privilege of drinking some of the 2010 over the weekend and it was divine! Had a quick search online and short of paying $400 a bottle from Nick's for the 2012 or $420 a bottle from DM for the 2006, I can't seem to find it anywhere. Are there any tricks? or is it just that good that you need to fork out $400+ for some? Cheers all!

Also, just to contribute to the thread! Had a bottle of 2014 Hesketh Negroamaro on the weekend. They make it in the Barossa Valley although it is seldom seen outside of southern Italy. It was stunning, there was plenty of vanilla, blue fruit and almost a Christmas cake flavour on the palate. It was very nice! Will be buying more for sure. Look forward to trying their Monti too.

I've been keen to try an Astralis. Sounds like it lives up to its huge reputation.

Cellar Link often have good stock of Astralis as they hold a lot of investment stock in their amazing warehouse in Sydney (it's something to behold when you go there and see a sea of some of the finest wines the Old and New World has to offer). They have the 2004 for $399: https://www.cellarlink.com.au/buy-w...shiraz-clarendon-hills-astralis-2004-750ml-30. Give them a call and see what they have, as it's usually more than they advertise on their website.

 

[Steady]

Hi crew, looking for some friendly advice and this always seems like a good place to get information on some vino! Trying to chase down some Clarendon Hills Astralis Syrah. I had the privilege of drinking some of the 2010 over the weekend and it was divine! Had a quick search online and short of paying $400 a bottle from Nick's for the 2012 or $420 a bottle from DM for the 2006, I can't seem to find it anywhere. Are there any tricks? or is it just that good that you need to fork out $400+ for some? Cheers all!

Also, just to contribute to the thread! Had a bottle of 2014 Hesketh Negroamaro on the weekend. They make it in the Barossa Valley although it is seldom seen outside of southern Italy. It was stunning, there was plenty of vanilla, blue fruit and almost a Christmas cake flavour on the palate. It was very nice! Will be buying more for sure. Look forward to trying their Monti too.

Cheapest I've managed to get Astralis is $295/bot for the 2006 (in a 6-pack) from Langtons. It's not cheap stuff. I think $375-$400 is about the going rate for single bottles.

Maybe something to get during an Amex statement credit offer and/or Vintec voucher

 

[kpc]

Cost $2.35 from a supermarket in Lisbon. Wow a very nice drop of Portuguese red, the equivalent would easily be $25 in Australia!!

 

[infinity]

KPC good to see u r on a big budget

 

[TheRealTMA]

Cost $2.35 from a supermarket in Lisbon. Wow a very nice drop of Portuguese red, the equivalent would easily be $25 in Australia!!

Jeez! Imagine what a $5 bottle would taste like!

 

[kpc]

Jeez! Imagine what a $5 bottle would taste like!

Not sure why but they gave me a 60% discount when I paid...we have noticed that a glass of wine in the restaurants/cafes in Lisbon is cheaper than a bottle of water...makes sense now! TBH, I bought the bottle of wine more out of curiosity, expecting to have to pour it down the sink!

Reinforces my opinion that Aussie wines are overpriced cf to wines from other parts of the world. Enjoying another glass now as I type this!