A very good start to the evening while we waited for the stragglers to arrive. Nice intensity to the nose. Lots of developed toast and honey characters but showed a bit watery/short on the finish. Ready to drink now.
New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Initially I thought there was something weird going on with the nose and there was a decidedly green note to the finish, but it seemed to blow off after 45-60 minutes. Quite enjoyable and would be better served after spending the next 5 years in a cellar.
Very obvious Brett characters. I wasn’t able to get into this, too much animal dominating the nose and palate. Very savoury. I believe this was a poor vintage in the Northern Rhone as well.
I was told beforehand that I would hate this, but I much preferred it over the Rhone wine and would have rated this my second favourite wine of the night. Plenty of pencil shavings and cigar box characteristics. This wine is ready to drink now and is unlikely to get any better with additional age.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills
Well made, with good fruit, but there was quite an obvious stalky character that put me off a bit. There are still only a few PN producers in Australia that compel me to purchase and Grosset isn’t among them yet.
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek
Tastes that were described were tomato chutney, green tomatoes, vegemite, ratatouille and more. I had a much better bottle of the 2003 version of this wine last year. This bottle was bordering on undrinkable.
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Big, but not as tannic as I would have expected if I’d been told it was a Wendouree beforehand. Very good structure and I believe it’s going to be great if it’s given at least ten years rest before being opened.
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
A very classy wine, and my wine of the night. It was discussed that this was actually quite similar to the '85 Chateau Lascombes tasted earlier in the night. Great structure and balance.
1996 Mount Pleasant Wines Sémillon Elizabeth 91 Points
Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
A very good start to the evening while we waited for the stragglers to arrive. Nice intensity to the nose. Lots of developed toast and honey characters but showed a bit watery/short on the finish. Ready to drink now.
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1998 Te Kairanga Cabernet Sauvignon 89 Points
New Zealand, North Island, Wairarapa, Martinborough
Initially I thought there was something weird going on with the nose and there was a decidedly green note to the finish, but it seemed to blow off after 45-60 minutes. Quite enjoyable and would be better served after spending the next 5 years in a cellar.
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1993 Noël Verset Cornas 84 Points
France, Rhône, Northern Rhône, Cornas
Very obvious Brett characters. I wasn’t able to get into this, too much animal dominating the nose and palate. Very savoury. I believe this was a poor vintage in the Northern Rhone as well.
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1985 Château Lascombes 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
I was told beforehand that I would hate this, but I much preferred it over the Rhone wine and would have rated this my second favourite wine of the night. Plenty of pencil shavings and cigar box characteristics. This wine is ready to drink now and is unlikely to get any better with additional age.
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1999 Grosset Pinot Noir 87 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Adelaide Hills
Well made, with good fruit, but there was quite an obvious stalky character that put me off a bit. There are still only a few PN producers in Australia that compel me to purchase and Grosset isn’t among them yet.
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2002 Smidge Zinfandel The Tardy 77 Points
Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Langhorne Creek
Tastes that were described were tomato chutney, green tomatoes, vegemite, ratatouille and more. I had a much better bottle of the 2003 version of this wine last year. This bottle was bordering on undrinkable.
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2001 Wendouree Shiraz Malbec 91 Points
Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
Big, but not as tannic as I would have expected if I’d been told it was a Wendouree beforehand. Very good structure and I believe it’s going to be great if it’s given at least ten years rest before being opened.
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1990 Rockford Cabernet Sauvignon 93 Points
Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley
A very classy wine, and my wine of the night. It was discussed that this was actually quite similar to the '85 Chateau Lascombes tasted earlier in the night. Great structure and balance.
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