Supper at Jen's

Sooooo. Jen said to Ev and Jua if you cook you can choose anything from my cellar because I'm not drinking it quickly enough so Jua met me for lunch and told me so I said I'll cook if I can come to that party so then we put that to Jen and we agreed so she sent out a list of wine and then I proposed some entrees and Ev cooked a shoulder of boar that he'd shot and we went over for supper

washed through a couple of bottles with a series of nibbles...

• 2013 Yangarra Estate Roussanne

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

  Stone fruit, bees wax, touch of hard bitterness to the back of the palate. This was served from the fridge and left out. With time, and a little more warmth, it gained more breadth and structure. Pleasant.

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The 10 really began to shine here and the 11 faded away

• 2010 Andrew Thomas Wines Sémillon Braemore

  Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

  More citric than orchard. Initially this was closed and a bit flat - especially next to the 2011, but after about 30-45 minutes it began to show a lot better with plenty of blossom and honeysuckle. Fresh and balance. Quite good.

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• 2011 Andrew Thomas Wines Sémillon Braemore

  Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

  Avuncular and fresh from opening with citric fruit but started to fade in the glass a little. Quite forward, scarily so under screw cap.

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great, steaming, warming, stew accompanied this selection of 2009 Hunters...cracking

• 2009 Tyrrell's Vat 8

  Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

  Cherry and berry over muted plums and spice. fair breadth on the mid-palate. Still quite primary for me but this fruit is nicely balanced with the structure - the tannins are restrained - and acidity.

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• 2009 Briar Ridge Vineyards Shiraz Signature Release Karl Stockhausen

  Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

  Plenty of American oak here - Vanilla and coconut - to go with savoury plum fruit and sweet spice. The oak lends structure as well as some tannic grip.

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• 2009 Tintilla Estate Shiraz Reserve

  Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley, Pokolbin

  quite dry with fine, slightly grainy tannins and savoury plummy fruit. medium plus length. Hmm.

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• 2009 Andrew Thomas Wines Shiraz DJV

  Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley

  A little more tart than the other offerings but still that savoury plummy fruit with, slightly more muted, sweet spice, tight but quite fine tannins and a quite front to back of the mouth linearity. Just the beginnings of some leather notes here as well. Hmm.

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• 2009 Saddler's Creek Shiraz Bluegrass

  Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek

  Again I'm struck by the commonality of fruit profile and tannic weight across these wines. Savoury plums, fine silky, slightly earthy, tannins, muted sweet spice. medium plus length.

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Wow. Continuity of Hunter Shiraz in 2009...Stunning. Really good fun. Massive thanks to Jen for giving me plundering rights.