Christmas supper with the Wine Ark boys

Ahh, catching up with the boys for a pre-Christmas supper. As usual far too many wines were brought along but, for once, we actually showed the self control not to drink 'em all

We had the first wine upon arrival and then the first course arrived - particularly stinky shrimps - which rather obliterated the scent of the wine…

• 2010 Hardys Chardonnay Eileen Hardy

  Australia, Tasmania

  Rich, buttery, peachy and toasty, slight citrus fruit, slight honeysuckle on the nose. In the mouth it's quite lemony and buttery. Tangy and the oak is integrated though present. A little warm on the finish but nice.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2009 Pierro Chardonnay Margaret River

  Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

  Medium minus intensity aromas of citrus and stone fruit, spicy. In the mouth it's slightly savoury citrus but quite alcoholically warm and spicy on the finish. Hmm

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2009 Shaw and Smith Chardonnay M3 Vineyard

  Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills

  Buttery and rich, peachy fruit with Asian five spice notes. In the mouth it's big, juicy and fleshy with a little tannic grip on the mid palate. Long. Bolshy. Tangy Good.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2012 Curly Flat Chardonnay

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Macedon Ranges

  Slight malolactic and toasted oak notes over soft peach and mandarin oil. Pretty much the same on the palate - juicy and tangy and with a little more spice on the finish.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

No goals here tonight…

• 2008 Curly Flat Pinot Noir

  Australia, Victoria, Port Phillip, Macedon Ranges

  Dusty spice, sour cherry but also jubey notes, slight spice and ashy/stalky notes and a tiny bit reductive - we decanted on this basis which generated a little more richness on the nose. In the palate it's got plenty of oak, big with cherry and spice, . Hmm. It's a bit hard for me.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2009 Hospices de Beaune Beaune 1er Cru Cuvée Rousseau Deslandes

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Beaune, Beaune 1er Cru

  Medium minus intensity aromas of smoked soft red berries, slight volatile acidity almost and definite though muted stalks which lending a sourness to the nose and so it proves on the palate, slight sour and ashy red fruit, spice, a little chalky mid palate burr with slight herbaceous notes on the finish which also introduces a slightly metallic note.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2009 Domaine Gachot-Monot Nuits St. Georges Aux Crots Flawed

  France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Nuits St. Georges

  FLAW - Wonderfully Corked!

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

Hmm. Second go at that Lalande…it's getting there slowly but surely. Senejac is a winner but then I would say that, wouldn't I.

• 2001 Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 407

  Australia, South Australia

  Aromas of funky leather, earthy , mushroom, peppery spice, quite autumnal on the nose and touches of back cherry and currant. A little fatter and more spicy on the palate with plenty of alcohol. Hmm. TCA begins to come with time. Bugger. Fortunately we polish off the bottle before it becomes a definite flaw...

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2003 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Surprisingly medium minus intensity aromas of biscuit, slight prune, blackcurrant, very ripe though a little savoury. On the palate its thick and dense, big but also a little closed initially though it gains in generosity, cassis, rich, tannic and a little leathery. Hmm.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2009 Château Sénéjac

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  Cherry liquor, blackcurrant tending to cassis, cream, vanilla. More savoury and slight herbaceous backed by cassis. Big but lovely tannins don’t dominate. Balanced.

  Post a Comment / 2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

This was a lovely supper, great conversation and enjoyable wines. At $25 corkage per bottle and distinctly average food we will not be attending Fix St James again though...