So I had the chance to try a bit more Lethbridge Riesling 2011...
On the plus side, good development..a bit of toasty notes....
On the downside...a bit more VA than I was expecting...The TA for the wine is very high which I love....but the VA is a bit of a concern for the long term....It wasn't that off putting but it wasn't what I was expecting to see and would definitely limit how much this wine will age. Have an older example I'm planning on trying soon so maybe that'll give me a better idea....
Just to make it clear, the VA wasn't that obvious when it was younger...
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Friday, March 20, 2015
A bunch of stuff with friends
Clonakilla Riesling 2014 - This is proof to me that most Australian riesling needs age on it...There are some that have some added complexity right away but to me this was basically dead. Acid, some fruit, no depth....I know this will be better in 5 or so years....it just isn't very good right now.
Tyrrells Futures Semillon 1998
Slightly oxidized but still a very good wine underneath. Good acidity, good depth and complexity... a lot of honey and toasty notes. This doesn't hit the depths of their Vat 1 but no other semillon does.
Margan Semillon 1999
A bit of residual sugar on the nose and noticeably lighter in color than the Tyrrells. Slightly less acid and less depth than the Tyrrells but still doing very well and can definitely age a bit more. I don't mind some residual sugar in certain wines but this one is throwing me off a bit...It doesn't seem to go right with the toasty notes I get from aged Semillon but overall this is quite nice.
Wynns Centenary 1991
This is a freak of a wine. They're generally all really good. It doesn't have the depth or structure of some of the other Centenary's I've had but still, pretty good wine overall. Started to fall off near the end of the evening but my initial gut was this could have gone longer in the cellar. Brighter than most Connawarras, tannins were fine, overall depth was good.
Bowen Cabernet Sauvignon 1991
This was definitely a bit "older" than the Wynns...a lot more leathery characteristics...Tannins were fully resolved..the wine overall was drinking very nicely. At first I would've put the Wynns over it..near the end of the evening the Bowen was getting better with sufficient acidity to carry it, ample grip and a lot of savory characteristics that just made it enjoyable to drink. Definitely drink NOW though...
Tyrrells Futures Semillon 1998
Slightly oxidized but still a very good wine underneath. Good acidity, good depth and complexity... a lot of honey and toasty notes. This doesn't hit the depths of their Vat 1 but no other semillon does.
Margan Semillon 1999
A bit of residual sugar on the nose and noticeably lighter in color than the Tyrrells. Slightly less acid and less depth than the Tyrrells but still doing very well and can definitely age a bit more. I don't mind some residual sugar in certain wines but this one is throwing me off a bit...It doesn't seem to go right with the toasty notes I get from aged Semillon but overall this is quite nice.
Wynns Centenary 1991
This is a freak of a wine. They're generally all really good. It doesn't have the depth or structure of some of the other Centenary's I've had but still, pretty good wine overall. Started to fall off near the end of the evening but my initial gut was this could have gone longer in the cellar. Brighter than most Connawarras, tannins were fine, overall depth was good.
Bowen Cabernet Sauvignon 1991
This was definitely a bit "older" than the Wynns...a lot more leathery characteristics...Tannins were fully resolved..the wine overall was drinking very nicely. At first I would've put the Wynns over it..near the end of the evening the Bowen was getting better with sufficient acidity to carry it, ample grip and a lot of savory characteristics that just made it enjoyable to drink. Definitely drink NOW though...
Sunday, February 8, 2015
Wine lists
So what do you look for in a wine list? Do you look for the big names? The wines you recognize? Or maybe your favorite region?
Everyone's answer is going to be different and it really just depends on what wines you like to drink and how comfortable you are with going out of your comfort zone...
My personal opinion is, I want a wine list where you can see there is actual effort put into the list. A variety of different styles, producers, regions, varieties and price points. At a minimum, every single wine should be well made (which isn't always the case). I'd like a mix of well known names and some hidden gems. I want some where they might be popular in certain wine geek circles but not necessarily well known wines. I want wines where if I want a known quantity, I can easily go with that. I want different styles so I can pick a wine based on the preferences on the table...I want something a bit different but safe..I want something really different and not.
At a lot of well known restaurants, you might often see a very large, very nice but incredibly boring list that has absolutely no effort. Making a book full of Bordeaux 1st Growths, 2nd Growths, Burg GCs, 1er Crus (all well known names), the most famous wines of each region..multiple vintages..I can't think of anything more boring than that. To top it all off, you pay a super premium to buy one of these no brainer wines...Snooze...
At the same time, a big trend right now is sommeliers picking a lot very oddball wines....So the list, while it might appeal to some wine geeks, is packed full of lesser known producers, very acid driven in style and they seem to have it in their head that they're trying to teach their customers about wine.
Now, out of the two there, I'd rather see the latter...just because for my personal tastes that is gong to be what I want to drink...but I don't think most people fall into that category..I also think the Somm has failed in what they're supposed to be doing here. You can have your geeky wines but still have stuff that will be in a style THEY might not want but that their customers might prefer. Or in the least, go with something that will have mass appeal but might be slightly different....You'll still be surprised how many people would be willing to try something different but why limit your list to your own personal preference. If you can't honestly evaluate wines of a different style to what you prefer, maybe a job that requires you to think about the palate of others is not the right profession....
Everyone's answer is going to be different and it really just depends on what wines you like to drink and how comfortable you are with going out of your comfort zone...
My personal opinion is, I want a wine list where you can see there is actual effort put into the list. A variety of different styles, producers, regions, varieties and price points. At a minimum, every single wine should be well made (which isn't always the case). I'd like a mix of well known names and some hidden gems. I want some where they might be popular in certain wine geek circles but not necessarily well known wines. I want wines where if I want a known quantity, I can easily go with that. I want different styles so I can pick a wine based on the preferences on the table...I want something a bit different but safe..I want something really different and not.
At a lot of well known restaurants, you might often see a very large, very nice but incredibly boring list that has absolutely no effort. Making a book full of Bordeaux 1st Growths, 2nd Growths, Burg GCs, 1er Crus (all well known names), the most famous wines of each region..multiple vintages..I can't think of anything more boring than that. To top it all off, you pay a super premium to buy one of these no brainer wines...Snooze...
At the same time, a big trend right now is sommeliers picking a lot very oddball wines....So the list, while it might appeal to some wine geeks, is packed full of lesser known producers, very acid driven in style and they seem to have it in their head that they're trying to teach their customers about wine.
Now, out of the two there, I'd rather see the latter...just because for my personal tastes that is gong to be what I want to drink...but I don't think most people fall into that category..I also think the Somm has failed in what they're supposed to be doing here. You can have your geeky wines but still have stuff that will be in a style THEY might not want but that their customers might prefer. Or in the least, go with something that will have mass appeal but might be slightly different....You'll still be surprised how many people would be willing to try something different but why limit your list to your own personal preference. If you can't honestly evaluate wines of a different style to what you prefer, maybe a job that requires you to think about the palate of others is not the right profession....
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Seppelt Great Western
Seppelt Great Western Reserve Shiraz 1998
Seppelt St Peters Shiraz used to be called the Seppelt Great Western Shiraz. For a few years they had a barrel selection of the Great Western Shiraz that was to spend some additional time in barrel. Those were released as the Great Western Reserve Shiraz...
I've always been a big fan of this wine, it is a great example of what Australian wine can be but often isn't.
Medium body, good acidity, and tannins still present...Great complexity and texture...Maybe a little too much oak but I don't think it detracted from the wine...it also had a bit eucalyptus component as well...
I think some may think this a bit on the milkshakey style of wine and I'd partially agree...but the palate has great balance and great depth and really doesn't feel like it is forcing anything....So that combined with the good acidity and medium body really just make this a joy to drink...92 points
Seppelt St Peters Shiraz used to be called the Seppelt Great Western Shiraz. For a few years they had a barrel selection of the Great Western Shiraz that was to spend some additional time in barrel. Those were released as the Great Western Reserve Shiraz...
I've always been a big fan of this wine, it is a great example of what Australian wine can be but often isn't.
Medium body, good acidity, and tannins still present...Great complexity and texture...Maybe a little too much oak but I don't think it detracted from the wine...it also had a bit eucalyptus component as well...
I think some may think this a bit on the milkshakey style of wine and I'd partially agree...but the palate has great balance and great depth and really doesn't feel like it is forcing anything....So that combined with the good acidity and medium body really just make this a joy to drink...92 points
Thursday, December 25, 2014
Something different from OZ
A lot of new producers out there doing something different...they're going against the grain and doing what they want...
I'm actually finding that a lot of them, for whatever reason, are in Adelaide Hills but really, they're coming up from all over and it is a really an exciting time for Australian wine.
I'll try to cover some of these wines in the near future if I ever get around to it but for now here's a list of some of the ones I think are really riding that edge...Let me know if I'm missing some :).
Ochota Barrels
BK Wines
Brash Higgins
CRFT
Marius
Ruggabellus
Alex Byrne
Lethbridge
Marq
Yelland and Papps
Between Five Bells
Born and Raised
Adelina
These Young Punks
Woods Crampton
A.Retief
I'm sure there are a bunch of others but these are the ones standing out in my mind (right now). Higher acid, extended skin contact, oak when the wine might not normally be used in oak...extra time on leeds...just a lot of different yet not so different things to try to change people's perception about Australian wine or even just to make something they want to drink..either way, interesting stuff that will really make you take notice..
I'm actually finding that a lot of them, for whatever reason, are in Adelaide Hills but really, they're coming up from all over and it is a really an exciting time for Australian wine.
I'll try to cover some of these wines in the near future if I ever get around to it but for now here's a list of some of the ones I think are really riding that edge...Let me know if I'm missing some :).
Ochota Barrels
BK Wines
Brash Higgins
CRFT
Marius
Ruggabellus
Alex Byrne
Lethbridge
Marq
Yelland and Papps
Between Five Bells
Born and Raised
Adelina
These Young Punks
Woods Crampton
A.Retief
I'm sure there are a bunch of others but these are the ones standing out in my mind (right now). Higher acid, extended skin contact, oak when the wine might not normally be used in oak...extra time on leeds...just a lot of different yet not so different things to try to change people's perception about Australian wine or even just to make something they want to drink..either way, interesting stuff that will really make you take notice..
Friday, November 28, 2014
Sonoma, Napa and others
I've had the chance to try quite a few California wines so I'll do some quick impressions....
Porter Creek - Sonoma
Well made wines...a pretty good estate Chardonnay...a good range of CA Pinot with some being just a bit too ripe and others fitting quite nicely between a big pinot and a more medium bodied, high acid Pinot. They also had a pretty good Carignane and a very peppery Syrah. Overall - Worth a visit...Their wines are pretty reasonably priced and they're very well made.
Unti Wines - Sonoma
Specializing in Italian varieties...The guy at Porter creek actually suggested I come here because their wines tend to be high acid..
Very good Barbera...one of the better non Piedmont ones I've tried...and the rest of their line was all good and exhibited very good value as well. One thing that really threw me off though was their stated acidity and what I picked up on the palate were NOT consistent. At some point I thought maybe they were doing the EU type of acidity calculation but if so, these would have been impossibly high for the grapes that were there..so that couldn't be it....This place is definitely worth a visit if you like Italian varieties or you want higher acid wines...very good overall value.
Macphail wines.
Pretty good but very typical CA Pinot...Not sure what to say here but they did have a number of different pinots and they were all interesting to try...but a bit of a stretch price wise and it doesn't help that their tasting fee is 20 dollars and you need to buy 3 bottles to offset it....Is it worth trying? I'd probably say NO...they were very nice, very helpful and the overall experience was pretty good...but their pricing structure is terrible and how they approach their tasting fee is not good at all.
Pride Mountain
Wonderful estate on top of the mountain that straddles both Napa and Sonoma county. We were able to take their wine tour and check out their wine cave as well as get to try barrel samples and do our own little blending of sorts....I've had their wines before and they've all been very good. Their reds are a great balance between very fruit forward but still maintaining really good structure...especially when it comes to acidity. Their Chardonnay was also quite nicely done...CA Chardonnay bright fruit, some new oak, partial malo and really nice acidity. I'd highly recommend coming here.
Heitz
Old school Napa Cabs...one of the few places where the tasting fee is still free as well...Compared to most of the modern Napa Cabs, these are quite light...some might even call them thin. To me they were very nice, nice texture and mouthfeel..proper acidity..but yes, by modern standards they do not have the body of oomph of a lot of CA Cabs....I actually really enjoyed the wines though...
Porter Creek - Sonoma
Well made wines...a pretty good estate Chardonnay...a good range of CA Pinot with some being just a bit too ripe and others fitting quite nicely between a big pinot and a more medium bodied, high acid Pinot. They also had a pretty good Carignane and a very peppery Syrah. Overall - Worth a visit...Their wines are pretty reasonably priced and they're very well made.
Unti Wines - Sonoma
Specializing in Italian varieties...The guy at Porter creek actually suggested I come here because their wines tend to be high acid..
Very good Barbera...one of the better non Piedmont ones I've tried...and the rest of their line was all good and exhibited very good value as well. One thing that really threw me off though was their stated acidity and what I picked up on the palate were NOT consistent. At some point I thought maybe they were doing the EU type of acidity calculation but if so, these would have been impossibly high for the grapes that were there..so that couldn't be it....This place is definitely worth a visit if you like Italian varieties or you want higher acid wines...very good overall value.
Macphail wines.
Pretty good but very typical CA Pinot...Not sure what to say here but they did have a number of different pinots and they were all interesting to try...but a bit of a stretch price wise and it doesn't help that their tasting fee is 20 dollars and you need to buy 3 bottles to offset it....Is it worth trying? I'd probably say NO...they were very nice, very helpful and the overall experience was pretty good...but their pricing structure is terrible and how they approach their tasting fee is not good at all.
Pride Mountain
Wonderful estate on top of the mountain that straddles both Napa and Sonoma county. We were able to take their wine tour and check out their wine cave as well as get to try barrel samples and do our own little blending of sorts....I've had their wines before and they've all been very good. Their reds are a great balance between very fruit forward but still maintaining really good structure...especially when it comes to acidity. Their Chardonnay was also quite nicely done...CA Chardonnay bright fruit, some new oak, partial malo and really nice acidity. I'd highly recommend coming here.
Heitz
Old school Napa Cabs...one of the few places where the tasting fee is still free as well...Compared to most of the modern Napa Cabs, these are quite light...some might even call them thin. To me they were very nice, nice texture and mouthfeel..proper acidity..but yes, by modern standards they do not have the body of oomph of a lot of CA Cabs....I actually really enjoyed the wines though...
Saturday, November 1, 2014
CRFT
CRFT Wines
CRFT wines is the brainchild of two winemakers, Candice Helbig and Frewin Ries. They currently only produce single vineyard wines from several different sources around South Australia.
I've read a few things about them but they only started in 2012 so a very new up and comer and their wine is very difficult to source. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to try their wines and I'm really glad I did..
CRFT Gruner Vetliner K1 2014
CRFT Gewurztraminer K1 2013
Both of these wines are fantastic atypical representations of each of these grape varieties and I was especially impressed with the Gewurztraminer which had very nice acidity which I think showed a bit better because the RS was so low (under 2g). Both of these are great food wines and I wouldn't hesitate to drink either one of these...
CRFT Pinot Noir Arranmore 2013
CRFT Pinot Noir Budenberg 2013
CRFT Pinot Noir Chapel Valley 2013
Fruit was sourced from single vineyards across Adelaide Hills. All of the them used French oak varying between 35-40% new.
Each of their Pinots were different from each other but one thing was fairly consistent...Great acidity, great texture, a very medium bodied Pinot that I think a lot of locals will scoff at..but honestly, a really great example of what CAN be done in Australia and I'm looking forward to seeing how this goes. If you like a lighter Pinot that is more like a village level or 1er level burg in color/viscosity, you will probably like all three of these...
CRFT Little Hill Shiraz 2013
CRFT Cemetery Shiraz 2013
CRFT Fechner Shiraz 2013
All Barossa sourced single vineyard Shiraz. All had great acidity. Out of the three, the Cemetery was probably the biggest of the three and the most full body but all of them were great. The Little Hill was a very good everyday wine with food..and the Fechner, which was from the Eden Valley, had fantastic acidity to go with very nice fruit..I was actually really impressed by these wines....
One thing I noticed with all of their reds was that even though they did use a good amount of new oak, none of the wines felt overly oaky....which I thought was great considering how young the wines were....They all had great texture and mouthfeel....Actually that applies across every single one of their wines...Not a dud in the bunch...
I see them having great success and I see them(along with others) filling a great gap in the Australian wine scene... there are a good number of new winemakers now that are moving away from the old Australian wine scene...they're doing what they want, how they want and what they think rather than trying to follow some trend....
CRFT wines is the brainchild of two winemakers, Candice Helbig and Frewin Ries. They currently only produce single vineyard wines from several different sources around South Australia.
I've read a few things about them but they only started in 2012 so a very new up and comer and their wine is very difficult to source. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to try their wines and I'm really glad I did..
CRFT Gruner Vetliner K1 2014
CRFT Gewurztraminer K1 2013
Both of these wines are fantastic atypical representations of each of these grape varieties and I was especially impressed with the Gewurztraminer which had very nice acidity which I think showed a bit better because the RS was so low (under 2g). Both of these are great food wines and I wouldn't hesitate to drink either one of these...
CRFT Pinot Noir Arranmore 2013
CRFT Pinot Noir Budenberg 2013
CRFT Pinot Noir Chapel Valley 2013
Fruit was sourced from single vineyards across Adelaide Hills. All of the them used French oak varying between 35-40% new.
Each of their Pinots were different from each other but one thing was fairly consistent...Great acidity, great texture, a very medium bodied Pinot that I think a lot of locals will scoff at..but honestly, a really great example of what CAN be done in Australia and I'm looking forward to seeing how this goes. If you like a lighter Pinot that is more like a village level or 1er level burg in color/viscosity, you will probably like all three of these...
CRFT Little Hill Shiraz 2013
CRFT Cemetery Shiraz 2013
CRFT Fechner Shiraz 2013
All Barossa sourced single vineyard Shiraz. All had great acidity. Out of the three, the Cemetery was probably the biggest of the three and the most full body but all of them were great. The Little Hill was a very good everyday wine with food..and the Fechner, which was from the Eden Valley, had fantastic acidity to go with very nice fruit..I was actually really impressed by these wines....
One thing I noticed with all of their reds was that even though they did use a good amount of new oak, none of the wines felt overly oaky....which I thought was great considering how young the wines were....They all had great texture and mouthfeel....Actually that applies across every single one of their wines...Not a dud in the bunch...
I see them having great success and I see them(along with others) filling a great gap in the Australian wine scene... there are a good number of new winemakers now that are moving away from the old Australian wine scene...they're doing what they want, how they want and what they think rather than trying to follow some trend....
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