Ben's 50th B'day

Ben and Estella's place, Parramatta
Tasted Sunday, February 15, 2015 by chatters with 464 views

Introduction

Ben's 50th b'day. A few people and lots of lovely wines. I had a bit of a head cold so my notes aren't as good as they should be but I did my best with what I had.

Flight 1 - Bracket one - Whites (4 Notes)

matched with twice cooked goats cheese soufflé. For me none of the wines really worked with the soufflé, though the food was lovely. The Javillier and the Vacqueyras were the winners for me.

Flight 2 - Bracket two - Reds (9 Notes)

matched with chateaubriand. In the end the wines were divided into three sub brackets of three wines each. Of this lot the Beaucastel was probably my favourite. The Grange and the La Chapelle still needed a bit of time for my liking (yes, I know the Grange is a 1990 but it came across as relatively young). The Coriole, Seppelt and Penfolds St Henri were very nice Australian Shiraz with a bit of age. The Dom de Vieille Julienne was also pleasant.

  • 2009 Château St-Louis la Perdrix Costières-de-Nîmes Cuvée Marianne

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Costières-de-Nîmes

    On the nose red berries, alcohol heat and spice notes. More of the same on the palate with some talc textured tannin…it's a little short for me and lacks complexity. Meh

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  • 2002 Belgravia Woodland shiraz merlot cabernet

    Australia, New South Wales, Central Ranges, Orange

    Funky and meaty, leather, farmyard and horse sweat over ripe black fruit notes and touches of vanilla on the nose. In the mouth it's more of the same aged, dirty notes but with a sweet core of black fruit and vanilla compote. Probably past it's best as it's a bit out of whack and dissonant.

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  • 1998 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    Aromas of funky farmyards, red berry and touches of cherry fruit, biscuit, toast, leather and spice. On the palate there is some red berry fruit, spice, a bit of funkiness, leather tobacco pouch, herbs and talc like tannins. Very nice

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  • 2007 Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle

    France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Hermitage

    On the nose aromas of black berry fruit, toast, peppery spice, cream and smoke with some floral top notes. I'm also getting the beginnings of some leatheriness here as well. In the mouth there is an initial impression of some juiciness, black berry fruit then tight, thick, very chewy tannin. It's long and cream flavours join on the finish but it's still a bit young for me.

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  • 1990 Penfolds Grange

    Australia, South Australia

    Medium plus intensity aromas of blackberry, cream, vanilla, chocolate, some eucalyptus notes and spice. In the mouth the wine is instantly present with tight, drying but fine textured tannins, bountiful black fruits, vanilla, cream, spice and the first beginnings of some leather notes - still tastes and smells very young. A puppy.

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  • 2005 Coriole Shiraz Lloyd Reserve

    Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, McLaren Vale

    Medium plus intensity aromas of black plum and berry, cream, vanilla chocolate, cedar, spice as well as an almost mint note. In the mouth the wine is composed mostly of black fruit flavours with spicy undertones, fine, talc like tannins and a fair heft of alcohol heat. Nice enough for what it is.

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  • 1998 Seppelt Shiraz St Peters

    Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Great Western

    aromas of leather, biscuits, toast, dried flowers meaty then muted black fruit and plentiful spicy notes. Cream and slight vanilla as well. In the mouth the wine has slight volatile acidity and is quite savoury and sour with silky tannins black currants and berries meaty. It's complex but a touch out of whack and on it's downward journey I'd suggest.

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  • 1998 Penfolds Shiraz St. Henri

    Australia, South Australia

    slightly funky notes, leather meat, black berry, Asian five spice, slight peppery notes, touches of volatile acidity and a bit of soy as well. In the mouth the fruit is a little more red currant over the black berry, slight toffee and cream. Plentiful flour textured tannins, leather, quite savoury and very slight mustiness on the finish.

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  • 2005 Domaine de la Vieille Julienne Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    Aromas of red berry fruit, tobacco leaf; actually it's quite herbaceous with spice notes. In the mouth the wine has spicy red berry fruit and is quite dense and broad across the mid palate with drying tannins then cream and more cherry notes on the long finish. Nice.

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Closing

What a lovely day, despite my relative illness. Some great wines to enjoy with some lovely company. Wonderful

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