The great Epiqure quaffer clean out

[Rugby]

Mrs Rugby is going to have a go at staying off the booze for 8 weeks in the lead up to a running event. I don't like running and I'm not that keen to go two months off the sauce.

I'm going to support her by cleaning out (drinking) the Epiqure quaffers that we've built up over the last couple of years and haven't been keen to touch, either due to fear or the style is not usually to our taste. That way she won't be too tempted and can get some amusement from my potential face contortions and cursing.

I'm also hoping to strike a nice surprise wine or two during the two months. Other members might want to post about their good or bad wine "mystery bets" too, or how they found the wine I'm drinking. Todays wine is the Juniper Crossing Margaret River Cab Sav Merlot 2010. It'll have been decanted for four hours prior to sampling. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[samh004]

I generally like the Juniper Crossing red wines I have. Just can't recall which ones they were and/or year.

 

[Rugby]

The first excursion into the back of the cellar has been a fair result. Cab Sav is usually a bit heavier than what I go for, but I'm happy with this as a cool weather quaffer - nice on an overcast drizzly SYD afternoon. Good Wine Guide 2013 had this as $20 RRP, and I don't know price it was in the Epiqure mixed box at the time, but IMO $15 - $20 is around the mark. I won't be tipping this one down the sink.

 

[TomVexille]

This sounds interesting. Please do keep us updated.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Subscribing

 

[TheRealTMA]

Todays wine is the Juniper Crossing Margaret River Cab Sav Merlot 2010. It'll have been decanted for four hours prior to sampling. I'll let you know how it goes.

Good luck with the project!

Why decant it for 4 hrs prior? Prior experience or theory?

Did you progressively taste it during the oxygenation phase to see how it developed?

 

[amaroo]

Excellent. I've built up stock of Eq wines, will be interesting to see how some of them turn out.

 

[Rugby]

Good luck with the project!

Why decant it for 4 hrs prior? Prior experience or theory?

Did you progressively taste it during the oxygenation phase to see how it developed?

Thanks TheRealTMA. I tried the nose of the wine when I opened it and thought it needed a good airing. I find a bit of air can forgive a few sins. I didn't do a progressive tasting - but it did continue to open up nicely tonight.

 

[Rugby]

Todays selection from the back of the cupboard is the Katnook Founder's Block Cab Sav 2012 from Coonawarra. I think this might have been in one of the Christmas mixed dozens last year, happy to be corrected. I took this over to a neighbours this afternoon so I could share my project, but they were ill and not drinking, so I am 'Lone Ranger' again.

As I was travelling with the bottle I didn't decant it, but did take the cap off a few hours before tasting. Dan's has the 2013 vintage listed for $15. First impressions are that it's young, and would be nicer in a couple of years time, but it's got quality. After a couple of hours it continues to improve. I'm halfway through at the moment and I think it's worth $25. It's a rich smooth wine and drinking well now. It would match nicely with some cheddar and crackers on an Autumn Sunday afternoon.

 

[Buzzard]

+1 and I went to Katnook in February and found their wines to our liking. It might be a shame you didn't keep the 2012 for another year or two. At $15/it might be worth while getting some to put away for say 5 years.

 

[Rugby]

At $15/it might be worth while getting some to put away for say 5 years.

Thanks Buzzard, I totally agree. You should do wine wine tours

 

[Rugby]

I'll be delving back into the cupboard on Friday night with a Saltram 1859 Barossa Shiraz 2013. I picked up 6 of these last year. From memory I wasn't a big fan of this wine, so I'm keen to see how I find it almost a year on.

 

[Buzzard]

The best price I can get for the Katnook Cab Sauv. Is $16.60 which is still quite good as cellar door is $20.

 

[Rugby]

I'll be delving back into the cupboard on Friday night with a Saltram 1859 Barossa Shiraz 2013. I picked up 6 of these last year. From memory I wasn't a big fan of this wine, so I'm keen to see how I find it almost a year on.

A change of plan for tonight due to todays Epiqure bonus points special. I'm going to open up a bottle of d'Arry's Original Shiraz Grenache 2011. While not the 2010 in the offer it might be of help to some, myself included, on whether to pick up a case of 2010 plus the bonus points. Dan's is flogging the 2012 for $17.10. Epiqure tells us that we'll pick up plums, rhubarb, cardamom and sage - I had to ask Mrs Rugby about cardamom.

 

[Rugby]

I have decanted the wine and jumped straight in because it's Friday night. I pick up a bit of a caramel flavour and lots of spice and rich fruit in the taste. I think it would be good with a saucy pasta, and should be okay with my homemade pizza tonight. I rate this 2011 a good solid quaffer. Not sure I'd part with $19 for the 2010, but the 5000 bonus points for the case gets it across the line for me.

I'll try out the other wine in the bonus points offer - the Willunga 100 Shiraz Viognier tomorrow, but having tried that last year I would agree with others that the d'Arry's is the pick of the two.

 

[Rugby]

The Willunga 100 Shiraz Voigner I've opened today is the 2010, I picked up a case of it last winter, probably with some bonus points. Selector Magazine says "...vibrant palate of red fruits and spice. An open and relaxed finish. Which would suggest this is a great 'drink now' proposition." Dan's has it for $21.85. As per usual I've decanted it.

 

[Rugby]

The Willunga 100 Shiraz Voigner I've opened today is the 2010, I picked up a case of it last winter, probably with some bonus points. Selector Magazine says "...vibrant palate of red fruits and spice. An open and relaxed finish. Which would suggest this is a great 'drink now' proposition." Dan's has it for $21.85. As per usual I've decanted it.

I'm finding this wine to be a bit sour and harsh. I don't mind the finish which is nicely dry, but this one is not for me. It's not a pour down the sink wine, but I'll be wading, rather than swimming through the rest of the bottle. I'd be interested in what others thought of it.

For the bonus offer maybe the 2013 is better, but I would definitely go with the d'Arry's Shiraz Grenache - and I have.

Mrs Rugby is going to be happy I've found one I don't like, and there's still a few bottles left from the case that might have to get a run towards the end of this two month project

 

[Rugby]

Right, now that Willunga is out of the way I'm going to enjoy a Laphroiag

 

[Rugby]

Okay, under the pump a bit today after being out at friends for lunch. Nice seafood and Brokenwood Semillon. I'm cheating a bit tonight and going with a Best's Great Western Bin No.1 Shiraz 2012 - I got a case last year and it's a cheat because I liked it last year and it's not really a "back of the cellar job". Dan's has the 2013 for $23.75 but I thought the 2012 was a bit cheaper, around $20, when I got it from Epiqure last year, but stand to be corrected. No decanter tonight just open and pour. A nice rich dry red, great in a few years, but a good quaffer now. I wish I had the space for proper cellaring. I think $20 is around the mark for this one.

 

[burmans]

Okay, under the pump a bit today after being out at friends for lunch. Nice seafood and Brokenwood Semillon. I'm cheating a bit tonight and going with a Best's Great Western Bin No.1 Shiraz 2012 - I got a case last year and it's a cheat because I liked it last year and it's not really a "back of the cellar job". Dan's has the 2013 for $23.75 but I thought the 2012 was a bit cheaper, around $20, when I got it from Epiqure last year, but stand to be corrected. No decanter tonight just open and pour. A nice rich dry red, great in a few years, but a good quaffer now. I wish I had the space for proper cellaring. I think $20 is around the mark for this one.

Didn't this wine get the Jimmy Watson trophy, hardly a ringing endorsement that $20 is around the mark!?,