Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[drron]

Tonight's tipple-

Much preferred to the Penfolds.Probably at peak.

 

[Buzzard]

Enjoyed this one with Uppy and Mr Up yesterday alongside a coffee crusted steak. Not a massive Shiraz like those from the Barossa but a gorgeous well rounded Shiraz that slid gracefully down the palate leaving that quintessential taste in the mouth. Somebody chose well (not me)

 

[Cossie]

Another good Sardinian red, I thought they would be much 'bigger' and have way more tannin, not the ones we have been drinking, they have been gentle for the want of a better word. I don't think we have had a bad house wine either, although they do serve the red cold, but as it warmish, that has been ok as well!

 

[AdMEL]

If it wasn't for the huge TWE blowout I've just had (I've just put my money where my wine tasting/opineing mouth was, and acquired a number of Penfold's Magill Estate 13, Wynn's Michael 12 and Lindeman's St George 13), I would be on the serious hunt for:

the Gemtree Vineyards Uncut Shiraz 2012

View attachment 73173

What a fabulous wine, defying its pay station:

2012 Gemtree Vineyards Shiraz Uncut, Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale - CellarTracker

http://www.vivino.com/wines/7465660

"I think this may be my best under $20 Shiraz! What a regal wine, especially with the French oak notes that sing through the whole taste experience. This Shiraz is produced from organic, low yielding vineyards in the McLaren Vale with minimal winemaking intervention. Halliday gave it 95 saying it was a McLaren Vale powerhouse.

The nose and palate sync beautifully as rich dark berries, sage, salty hoy sin sauce, smoked dried meats, dark chocolate and fine pepper and spices fill the senses. The palate is med-bodied, smooth, lifting and slightly drying at the end. Drink now or up to 2022. Fantastic wine that punches well above its price point. A well deserved Wozza 95/100 (4.2/5.0) from me."

I picked this up last year from WineMarket using one of the 20% promotion codes and one of those time-limited 10% cash back promotions, paying a hugely undervalued c.$11 a bottle at the time. For those that haven't blown the wine budget, you might want to check out the following WineMarket link to the 2012 (especially if the EOFY promo codes get generous):

Gemtree Shiraz | 2012 Uncut - WineMarket

Interestingly, Halliday gave 2012 vintage 95 and 2013 vintage 94; Whereas Campbell Mattinson gave 2012 vintage 93 and 2013 vintage 94. Believe your preferred reviewer. Details here:

https://www.danmurphys.com.au/product/DM_903872/gemtree-uncut-shiraz

Great value for score ratio on this one.

Picked up a case of the 13 during the recent cellarmasters voucher frenzy for less than $10 per bottle. Gotta be one of the best vfm purchases of late.

I think I prefer the 12 fwiw.

It is again possible to pick up Gemtree Uncut 2013 Shiraz for a little under $10 from CM with current Amex and CM offers.

A couple of years ago, Dans had it as a 2 for 1 receipt offer - worked out at $8 or $9.

 

[Chardonnay]

Found this photo from new years (stretching the “recently” bit) in Perth, hence the WA flavour:

The usual Margaret River suspects are there kicking goals ie Howard Park, Cullens, Preveli (naked). For me though especially loved the Moombaki Shiraz 2010 from the Great Southern. Still loads of primary fruit, but beware, it’s not that sweet stuff, this stuff still gives me nightmares with its brooding dark brambly fruits. Will keep going for another decade.
The only non-WA wine is an Orange pinot. If you like pinots to age De Salis build ‘em to keep. Never that approachable when released however this 2012 is starting find its way, interesting and complex.
Happy NY!

 

[puppysparkes]

Some may say a nice celebratory red for the win tonight....

It does taste like a winner

 

[ste667]

Some may say a nice celebratory red for the win tonight....View attachment 73609

It does taste like a winner

I picked one of these up in MR last week. Will try and keep my hands off it for a few years although that may be vain hope!

 

[puppysparkes]

I picked one of these up in MR last week. Will try and keep my hands off it for a few years although that may be vain hope!

It is sensational out of the bottle. The decanter would be mind blown.

 

[beefarmer]

Not expensive either, and the decanter would have been glass blown. Then again, there exists a head Vodka bottle/decanter.

Now, getting serious for one moment, if you read Suckers' review below, you may think that this wine should be optimum in the next year, even though Leeuwin gives it 10-12years. Maybe I am reading it incorrectly, but here is one reviewers' perspective only. However, you above love this wine and that's all that matters.

Different takes on different rakes.

91 points "A classically styled wine that is tailored for instant appeal and drinkability. This is balanced and silky with beautiful fruit and harmony. Drink now."
jamessuckling.com, 9 February 2016

 

[drron]

Another old favourite tonight to cheer on QLD.The label says it should cellar for 20 years.Not wrong.

.

 

[Wozza]

When the word went out on the Dan's and Others thread that the Yalumba Wines The Signature Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz 2012 was going for $35 a bottle. I downed tools to purchase 4 of these wines (that I had been tracking on my wish list for quite some time).


What a phenomenal wine. And it was drinking superbly even at this relatively early stage for a Signature. On CellarTracker (with a shorter note on Vivino), I posted the following review:

2012 Yalumba The Signature, Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley - CellarTracker

http://www.vivino.com/users/8818052/activities/115262110

"That feeling, when the rich, balanced palate coats every surface of your mouth, revealing exceptional fruit flavours and myriad oaked nuances that unfold over 30+ secs. That's why it has a 98, 97, 96 and three 95s from the Aussie experts. And why I'm clambering for more of this 54th edition of this Barossa/Eden Valley Cab Sauv | Shiraz Aussie iconic blend that was matured for 22 mths in French, American and Hungarian oak (coppiced at the winery).

Blackcurrants, blackberries, blueberries, leafy herbs and smoked, powdery oaked spices titivate the senses, for a fine, long finish. This is a fitting wine dedicated to the 5th generation Robert Hill-Smith that owns (and is now chairman of) this fine Aussie winery. It's already stunning at this 4yr point. But surely it will be at its best between 2020 and 2025. A Wozza 96/100 (4.4/5.0) from me (with more to come) ..."

What a great wine. And highly recommended from me. Shame the $35 deal at 1st Choice appears to have gone: https://www.1stchoice.com.au/Red Wine/yalumba-signature-cabernet-sauvignon-shiraz-750ml_15271. I'll be looking out for more of this phenomenal wine. Three left is definitely not enough ...!

EDIT: one of the Vivino users responded to my note saying the not yet released 14 Signature is meant to be even better than the 12. Definitely one to look out for if that is the case.

 

[drron]

And tonight a Pinot that really does age well-

.

 

[beefarmer]

And tonight a Pinot that really does age well-

.

nearly twenty, that's impressive.

 

[marki]

And tonight a Pinot that really does age well-

.

Tried it not bad

 

[qaz]

And tonight a Pinot that really does age well-

.

Nice - I had my final 1997 Ashton Hills Reserve last year and am looking forward to my ultimate 1997 Bass Phillip Reserve next year

 

[JohnM]

This tonight with duck. Still a pup.

 

[penegal]

Some may say a nice celebratory red for the win tonight....

It does taste like a winner

Did you pay for it or get it off QANTAS?

Cracker of a wine, at a very acceptable price point.


Speaking of MR, the friendly folks at Cullen and Vasse Felix have both dented my credit cards in recent months.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Small wine tasting evening last night:



Pick of the crop (excluding mine):
- 2010 Moss Wood - still a baby, cassis, big tannins, black fruits, great structure
- 2012 Rockford Basket Press - red fruits, pepper hints, medium tannins, vanilla in the background, lingering finish
- 2010 Alex 88 - cassis and blue/black fruits. Still huge.
- 2012 Jean Noel Gagnard Chassagne Montrachet Les Caillerts 1er cru - green grapes, orange notes zesty acid vanilla & minerally finish

Honourable mentions to:
2012 Penfolds St Henri - still to young, but looking good
2012 D.V. Cantena Mendoza Malbec - great Malbec
2010 Murphy-Goode Zinfandel Liar's Dice - huge 15.5% alcohol, but great structure that covers this.

I popped in the:
- 2008 McWilliams 1877 Shiraz/Cabernet blend +
- 2008 Lindemans Limestone Ridge Shiraz/Cabernet
Both got 96 Halliday points. the Mcwilliams is dripping in trophies and medals, including Decanter Wine Magazine trophy for best shiraz/cab blend worldwide in 2015. The Limestone Ridge also has a few. I think the 1877 was voted WOTN, and it is great, but can do with more cellaring. The Limestone Ridge is also excellent, but less restrained that then 1877. Both need more time IMHO

1996 M.Chapoutier Côte-Rôtie La Mordorée - my last magnum of this. Took a serious 3+ hour decant to get rid of the barnyard funk, but afterwards revealing that great Rhone syrah flavours, if you're a fan of that - wet soil, leather, spice, velvet tannins, with some blue fruit holding it all together.

 

[Whodoesthat]

A rummage through the rack produced the Majella Coonawarra Cabernet 2003 - Quite hard on opening but softened nicely after a half hour decant. Slight bricking and very leggy, all cassis and cigars. The oak not as pronounced as with previous bottles. A most enjoyable bottle served with Mrs Who's Vietnamese Pork Noodle salad... while watching the match....

 

[beefarmer]

Small wine tasting evening last night:

View attachment 73834

Pick of the crop (excluding mine):
- 2010 Moss Wood - still a baby, cassis, big tannins, black fruits, great structure
- 2012 Rockford Basket Press - red fruits, pepper hints, medium tannins, vanilla in the background, lingering finish
- 2010 Alex 88 - cassis and blue/black fruits. Still huge.
- 2012 Jean Noel Gagnard Chassagne Montrachet Les Caillerts 1er cru - green grapes, orange notes zesty acid vanilla & minerally finish

Honourable mentions to:
2012 Penfolds St Henri - still to young, but looking good
2012 D.V. Cantena Mendoza Malbec - great Malbec
2010 Murphy-Goode Zinfandel Liar's Dice - huge 15.5% alcohol, but great structure that covers this.

I popped in the:
- 2008 McWilliams 1877 Shiraz/Cabernet blend +
- 2008 Lindemans Limestone Ridge Shiraz/Cabernet
Both got 96 Halliday points. the Mcwilliams is dripping in trophies and medals, including Decanter Wine Magazine trophy for best shiraz/cab blend worldwide in 2015. The Limestone Ridge also has a few. I think the 1877 was voted WOTN, and it is great, but can do with more cellaring. The Limestone Ridge is also excellent, but less restrained that then 1877. Both need more time IMHO

1996 M.Chapoutier Côte-Rôtie La Mordorée - my last magnum of this. Took a serious 3+ hour decant to get rid of the barnyard funk, but afterwards revealing that great Rhone syrah flavours, if you're a fan of that - wet soil, leather, spice, velvet tannins, with some blue fruit holding it all together.

Just the two of you this time AC?