Wine thread

[Bazal]

From what I can gather of the three or four I've tasted the Hellhole tends to be a very tight wine, literally impossible to tease out in youth. They are made almost solely to age, which is why I never understood why they are released so early!

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Hmmm, bastard of a thing. Well, best be patient and wait until about 2015...

 

[Bazal]

Everyone else is on the beer...welp, it's 12 degrees and wet, so red for my evening of cricket watching. 2009 Grant Burge Holy Trinity GSM. Buy it and drink it.

 

[_Johnsy]

Baz

After re-reading some of your posts. next time I take a trip up to the bottle shop I'll be getting a spanish red to try.

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Question. If things turn out well with one of the job interviews I have this week, I'm going to be chasing some French Champagne (only NV though, not enough money for Vintage). So do I go for:

- Bollinger
- Tattinger
- Mumm

Or one I haven't thought of.

 

[Bazal]

Bollinger for me. Or Billecart-Salmon, which has crashed in price to $70 at the majors

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Bullshit, Billecart at $70 for Vintage! I think I'm selling it for $184

 

[Bazal]

Nah just the NV, not the vintage. Still a damn good buy, was $100 as recently as November

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Well I do enjoy the Billecart, though the most recent Vintage was a bit of a let down compared to its predecessors. Haven't had the NV so maybe that might be the go.

 

[Bazal]

It's one of the better NV champagnes IMO, with Bolly and Pol Roger

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Hmmm, well hopefully things work out with my job interviews. Then I'll have to worry about choosing a good NV!

 

[Bazal]

Wifey and I had our V day dinner tonight, given we're both working tomorrow night. Having a bottle of Perrier Jouet NV, and damn it's good.

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Baz, went to 1st Choice today since the weather is crap here and I need something to occupy my time. Only problem, no smart phone so I couldn't remember what Spanish Tempranillo's you said to try. So the one I got (from 1st Choice Tweed) was Glorioso "Bodegas Palacio" Rioja Reserva Especial 2006. Have you given that one a crack? Will try it over dinner tonight.

 

[Bazal]

You've confused me actually The Glorioso range has three wines...Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva...Bodegas Palacio is a seperate label from the same winery (actually Glorioso is the label, Bodegas Palacio is the winery, but whatever). Off the top of my head the Glorioso's go $18, $27 and $45 (roughly speaking) and the Bodegas Palacio Reserva Especial is $65. So not sure precisely which one you got, but the only one I didn't like was the Glorioso Gran Reserva. Too dusty for me, although it was a 1999 and I bought it last year! The other two are very nice fruit focussed Rioja's with nice juiciness, and the Reserva has some very nice oak handling. If it is the big Bodegas Palacio, I think you'll love it. It's a very special wine IMO, especially with a good decant.

 

[Bazal]

As for me...Fox Gordon Hannah's Swing Shiraz 2008. Halliday gave it 96 points, and I can see why. It's not at all typical, much more into the black fruit spectrum, lots of licorice. Will be interesting to see how it opens up

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Well, the one I got was $27, so hopefully that points you in the right direction (sorry, just typed everything on the label). The DOC label rates it as "Reserva".

 

[Bazal]

Ok yeah that's the Glorioso Reserva. I haven't had the 06 yet, but I thought the 05 was pretty good

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Well, I have high hopes. With the exception of our difference on the d'Arenberg Laughing Magpie , you haven't steered me wrong yet Baz.

 

[Bazal]

It's not the best Rioja I've had, but I recall it being very nice, lots of cherry and a good amount of tannin with just the right "dustiness"

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Personally, I'd rather start there and be able to point out good vs bad Rioga Tempranillo rather than start at the top and have everything else pale in comparison.