Brisbane Book Club » Waffle

Merry Christmas!!

Lincoln — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:28:27 +0000

Just a quick note

Lincoln — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 09:01:45 +0000

We went to a restaurant on the weekend, and ordered too much food (no surprises there), and when we asked for a “doggie bag”, they said they couldn’t do that. We asked again, and eventually they relented after making us … Continue reading →

Odds & Ends XV

Lincoln — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 06:48:12 +0000

Guigal Lieu Dit Saint Joseph 2006: all finished now. Very nice too, which was not unexpected considering I had the same wine a month ago or so
Telmo Rodriguez Dehasa Gago 2007: looked a bit odd
Burge Family Olive Hill Shiraz Mourvedre Grenache 2005: pleasant enough
Seppelt Grand Muscat nv: quite sweet. Are these as good as they seemed to be 10 years ago?
Vietti Dolcetto d’Alba Tre Vigne 2006: quite hard, and I had almost given up on it, when on the 3rd night it showed very nicely
Wither Hills Pinot Noir 2009: looked boring and simple. I’m told this wine can take some aging, so I might leave them a while longer
Primo Estate “Il Briccone” Shiraz Sangiovese 2009: decent quaffer
Roda 1 2003: very nice, but needs some time to open up (and clean up too)
Chateau Poujeaux Moulis-en-Medoc 2000: very disappointed with this one. I’ve enjoyed the ’96 version (I think) and had high hopes for the ’00. Perhaps just a bad bottle.

Odds & Ends XIV

Lincoln — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 03:45:20 +0000

Rockford Rod & Spur Cabernet Shiraz 2008: didn’t like it. Preferred the Moppa and Rifle Range Road Cabernet. Reviews of these to follow
Benevelli Barbera d’Alba “Bricco Ravera” 2006: very tasty
Teusner The Riebke Northern Barossa Shiraz 2010: a recent purchase, very good too, needs some time, good buying under $20
Burge Family The Homestead Cabernet Sauvignon 2005: very good, 14.0%
Coldstream Hills Chardonnay 2010: very nice chardonnay for the price (around $20)
Burge Family D & OH Shiraz Grenache 2005: another good ‘un from the museum release of 2005 wines. Averaged out at $27 for 6 year old Barossa red which I think is value
Gran Sasso Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC 2009: rustic by comparison to the Burge wines, but still, for $10 per bottle, very drinkable. Needs another year to soften
Chateau du Cedre Heritage Cahors 2001: 12.7% abv and after the stink disappeared was enjoyable
Peter Lehmann “Margaret” Semillon 2005: very good, a bit of lanolin, still got fuel in the tank

Odds & Ends XIII

Lincoln — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:11:23 +0000

Just a few escaped a full review:

Guigal Lieu Dit Saint Joseph 2006: very nice
Tulloch Tempranillo 2009: simple and a bit sweet
Roland Pignard Morgon 2007: very tasty. Actually added a bit of this to the aforementioned Tempranillo and it is improved it
Tulloch Chardonnay 2010: okay
Tulloch Pokolbin Dry Red 2009: a bit better than the Tempranillo from the same stable, but still only okay. I will try some of their higher end stuff soon

Blending Exercise #1: Shiraz Cabernet

Lincoln — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 21:03:47 +0000

This is a newly themed series of posts. It will describe my blending experiences; some good, some not so good. This is not really to tell you about the wine combination, which is unlikely to be repeated, but more a nudge of encouragement to try this yourself, in the safety of your own home of course. Anyways, this glass of wine was a blend of a rather bleak Château Patache d’Aux Médoc 2005 with a very rich Taylors Jaraman Shiraz 2009. About 2 parts Cabernet to 3 parts Shiraz seemed about the right combination; the austerity of the Bordeaux matched by the plumpness of the Australian blend. Plummy and little leafy, with vanilla and minerals, graphite and red cherries. Not a bad one-off. 88 points. Drink now.

Lunch with a rocket scientist

Lincoln — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 08:00:44 +0000

Almost 30 years ago I was doing the first year of an Engineering degree, and as it turns out one of my fellow students is now a rocket scientist. “It’s not rocket science” is a well worn catch-phrase. Anyway, after many years in England and the United States he is back in Australia drinking red wine with me:

Abbazia Moscato d’Asti n/v: had this for at least a year now, and with the weather warming it is a welcome change. Holding up well and has maintained some freshness

Barossa Valley Estate E&E Black Pepper Shiraz 2003: 15.0% abv and shows it a bit, but backed up by rich plums and dark cherries fruits, with chocolate, tobacco, liquorice and spices.

Henschke Mount Edelstone Shiraz 2005: a lovely Shiraz, terrific balance; it’s got the lot, will go another 5 years easily.

Wynns Coonawarra Michael Shiraz 1998: got this from a friend the other night sitting at the Corinda train station. Not sure how and why I ended up with it, but it was very enjoyable the next day. Not particularly Coonawarra or Shiraz like, if you know what I mean, but a decent big red.

Majella Cabernet Sauvignon 2005: very good too, not leafy really, maybe a bit minty, but the richness of the fruits and the power of the oak are nicely in balance at the moment

Odds & Ends XII

Lincoln — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 09:17:33 +0000

Blame the new job:

Meerea Park Postcode Chardonnay 2010: solid, not too much sunshine, good flavours and length
Meerea Park XYZ Shiraz 187ml 2010: destined for an airline, very nice
Wynns Cabernet Sauvignon 2004: phhhh, cabernet, okay I suppose, but I am biased
Louis Roederer Brut 375ml nv: delicious
St Halletts Blackwell Shiraz 2009: god’awful’sweet….. leave a few years please
Benevelli Langhe Nebbiolo 2010: ooh er, very tasty. Looks better than ’08 and ’09
Tyrrell’s Vat 9 Shiraz 2005: reduced, as usual
Pyramid Valley Calvert Pint Noir 2008: boring
Yalumba Signature Cabernet Shiraz 2006: pretty good, but needed time to come good.

And a warm welcome to Michel too

Lincoln — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 23:47:02 +0000

In his words:

Can’t bowl, can’t throw, can’t write tasting notes – michel has an obsession with holidays based around food/wine and ‘real’ woodfired sourdough. New World pinot – chardonnay , burgundy of any colour and an increasing unhealthy obsession with oak balanced natural or minimal sulphur wines.Actually any wine that thrills me is what i desire-preferably in the presence of genuine peasant food and 1950′s Jazz and wine conversation.

A warm welcome to Andrew

Lincoln — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 23:38:42 +0000

And in his own words:

My real name is Andrew, but I’ve been Wizz to the online wine world since about 2002. After writing notes in a few places, I now write fro Brisbane Book Club and also for www.vinoculation.com, a New Zealand hosted blog. I’m also part owner of Auburn Wines – check us out at www.auburnwines.com. I’ve followed the fashion trends in wine over the years, moving from the big, glass-full-of-sunshine styles from the plethora of Austraian riegions, to things that are a little more subtle now. Current tipples of choice are riesling – with New Zealand and Germany being top of the pops, Burgundy of both colours, and Syrah.