Wine thread

[Drew-Sta]

I love mataro.

Drank the rest of a '13 Yarra Valley Pinot Noir from Dorrien Bin 1a label. Good juice. Huge strawberry though.

 

[Bazal]

Turkey Flat for Drew! They do a straight Mataro too

 

[Drew-Sta]

I'm on it!!

 

[Bazal]

We needed another bottle. 2009 St Hallett Faith. Been going through the 08s and thought I'd see how this was going. It's still cellar-cold but even so, it's very good. A little more porty than the 08s, which is surprising from a cooler vintage, but still loads of fruit and spice without the tannin it had on release and the oak has settled.

Doesn't need to be pricey to cellar well

 

[muzby]

had a 2004 spring lane shiraz viongier last night..

not bad at all..

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Corte Dei Giusti Brunello 2004. For an 11 year old wine, this still has a heap of classic Sangiovese flavours. Big sour cherry hit, with plenty of herb + bitter chocolate notes. No real tannin to speak of, finishes rather quick. Probably was at its peak about 3-4 years ago.

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Tapestry "The Vincent" Shiraz 2005. From McLaren Vale, but obviously named after the best guy ever to come out of Penshurst. For a 10 year old wine, you would be mistaken for thinking this is from the current vintage. So very vibrant and exciting, this is some serious juice. Smooth and subtle yet at the same time quite robust. Layers of bright red fruits, followed by cigar box and eucalyptus.

I am going to get another bottle of this and hold onto this for as long as temptation allows me.

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

A rare opportunity: analyse a bottle of wine without the rose tinted glasses of an employer. Climbing Shiraz 2011

(Note: writing this now I haven't cracked the bottle)

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Initially funky, but in the best way. Some serious beef stock and shiitake mushroom front palate flavours. There's angry, then there is this which would be ADHD angry!

I will report back at 1:30am when this wine has had an opportunity to open up.

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

90 minutes (ish) later. More Shiraz than Syrah, Orange/Central Ranges proves that there is an option to making Shiraz that isn't from the classics of Barossa or Hunter Valley. Subtle as granite, but tough as a pillow. A seriously strange mix.

Personally, after trying straight varietals from the area and blends, I think Orange is Australia's answer to Cotes du Rhone for lack of better description. GSM red blends are Orange's calling card in my opinion, but it will take getting some old hard heads away from "classic" French varietals before progress is made in NSW. White Cotes du Rhone white blends are still 100% embeded in McLaren Vale, and require a serious challenger to Chateau Tabhilk Marsanne.

 

[Twizzle]

was at FC last night and they had Wizzbang Shiraz and Chocolate Red Wine tasting

f**king terrible stuff, both way too sweet for my taste

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Spy Valley Pinot Noir 2012. Best option available at my hotel in Canberra (well 2nd best, but they were out of the Mitchelton Shiraz). A quite tart Pinot, with a good hit of bramble and forest floor. A solid Marlborough red.

 

[Bazal]

Didn't I see you were at the Pavilion?

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Yup

 

[Bazal]

You're within like 5 mins drive of about a thousand grog shops! Or a few mins walk of a couple if driving isn't an option

That said Spy Valley are no slouches

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

It is also below zero outside, f**k that!

 

[Bazal]

It's not too bad....yet

Ainslie Cellars. Go there next time.

Also, 2009 Brown Brothers Tempranillo Graciano. I think this is the last red from my last trip down there...I may have a Patricia Chardy and a Patricia Sticky left. I also think it was about $18, so ridiculous value. The kind of wine you can't stop drinking, slick fruits, five spice kinda thing and very little of the dusty tannin tempranillo can get

 

[Bazal]

2011 David Hook Barbera. Central Ranges.

Classic Barbera, you could pass it off as Italian quite happily. Maraschino cherry, clove, licorice, some violet/rose, solid Barbera acid and a little dried citrusy fruit thing. Gonna have to replace this with six more....

 

[Bazal]

*talks to self*

2010 Torbreck The Steading GSM. The most Gigondas-like Aussie GSM I've had for a long time, maybe ever. Given the vintage I was expecting it to be a reasonably overripe, classic Barossa fruit bomb but it's nothing like that at all. It's that classic Gigondas style of powerful fruit with spice and earth and minerality.

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Big fan of the Torbreck GSM's. The Grand Cuvee is one of the better wines in Australia in its price bracket.