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Quick Notes From a Memorable Night in Sydney

Cirrus, Barangaroo

Tasted June 15, 2017 by JonnyG with 680 views

Introduction

These TNs posted a day later from memory can never do justice to the wonderful array of wines we enjoyed...

Flight 1 (19 notes)

Red - Sparkling
1972 Seppelt Shiraz Sparkling Burgundy Great Western Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Great Western
91 points
The fizz was gone, but not "The Thrill." A real treat, no bubbles left. Slightly medicinal nose, but plenty of candied fruit and a pleasant herbal aspect. Quite the time machine bottle, I'd say.
White
2000 Best's Great Western Riesling Concongella Vineyard Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Great Western
91 points
A very interesting treasure. Loads of patrol and some waxiness. High acid backbone, amazingly fresh.
White
2005 Crawford River Riesling Reserve Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Henty
92 points
A rather floral expression of the varietal, quite rich and evocative. A touch sweet too.
White
2005 Seppelt Riesling Drumborg Vineyard Australia, Victoria, Western Victoria, Henty
92 points
Great cut and minerality, with a touch of effervescence. Should evolve for many years as there was just a hint of smoke and toast.
White
1991 Leo Buring Riesling Leonay Eden Valley Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Eden Valley
94 points
I loved this treasure of a bottle: lime, flint, petrol, butterscotch in layers of flavor waves, plus enough acidity to hold things together very, very well.
White
2001 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay Art Series Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
94 points
In stellar form, especially with air. Butterscotch, pear, citrus and clove, along with a fine minerality holding things in lovely balance.
White
2005 Leeuwin Estate Chardonnay Art Series Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River
92 points
Such a powerhouse of a bottle, almost too full-throttled for me on this occasion, and I have had this vintage multiple other times. Robust, high-toned lemon, pear and ginger notes, very expansive mouthfeel. A monster of a wine!
2 people found this helpful Comment
White
2004 Giaconda Chardonnay Estate Vineyard Australia, Victoria, North East, Beechworth
93 points
Lemon, stone fruit and honey, very precise. Benefitted from an hour or so in the glass and probably need more. The CT drinking window here is simply wrong as this wine came off as quite primary, and with many good years ahead of it.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
1981 Tyrrell's Pinot Noir Hunter River Australia, New South Wales, Hunter Valley
94 points
Served blind. Very hard to call out as a Pinot (I thought Nebbiolo until I saw the screw cap-fitted bottle top; should have acknowledged the lack of tannins, too, oh well). Fresh, perfumed and floral, with a lovely smokiness and fine minerality. So impressive.
Red
1996 Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru France, Burgundy, Côte de Nuits, Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru
92 points
So young and primary. Popped 'n poured but I am not sure even a long decant would have changed things. Cranberry, some rose petal and a touch of orange peel. High minerality. Lay away for 5+ years if you are lucky enough to have one.
Red
2011 Bernhard Huber Spätburgunder Alte Reben Germany, Baden
90 points
More ripe than I would have expected, especially on the nose, with bright red fruit, somewhat tangy, alongside muted spice and a sort of bramble note that presumably comes from stem inclusion. Should age well.
Red
1991 Wendouree Shiraz Malbec Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
98 points
An extraordinary bottle, so rare I had to create the 1991 version of the wine in CT before adding a review. This wine was simply ethereal. Gentle red fruit complemented by layers of chocolate, smoky eucalyptus and fine salinity. Tremendous persistence. Seemingly immortal.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
1994 Wendouree Shiraz Malbec Australia, South Australia, Mount Lofty Ranges, Clare Valley
96 points
Mint, tobacco, leather and mocha wrapped around a core of sweet red fruit. So balanced and harmonious!
1 person found this helpful Comment
Red
1996 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon John Riddoch Australia, South Australia, Limestone Coast, Coonawarra
94 points
My second encounter with the vintage, and this bottle easily exceeded the quality of its predecessor. Sweet red fruit, some kirsch, cocoa powder, mint and forest floor, very clean and persistent.
Red
2004 Kapcsándy Family Winery Cabernet Sauvignon State Lane Vineyard USA, California, Napa Valley, Yountville
90 points
Not a good performance. Came off as muted and somewhat charmless, with acid dominating the fruit. Shut down after a 20-minute or so window. Time to drink up?
Red
2008 Levy & McClellan Red USA, California, Napa Valley
95 points
I continue to love what these guys do. Deep red fruit, bright and powerful but balanced. Some fennel, ash and perfumed flower petals as well. A masculine wine for sure, yet there was plenty of nuance to accompany the robust fruit profile.
1 person found this helpful Comment
Rosé - Sparkling
2010 Castagna Shiraz Australia, Victoria, North East, Beechworth
91 points
I wished I had spent more time with this beguiling Shiraz, seemingly cold climate in style, green and savory at the same time, with white and green pepper, pine needles and dark fruit.
Red
1999 Clarendon Hills Astralis Australia, South Australia, Fleurieu, Clarendon
97 points
From a magnum. No decant. So handily exceeded examples of the cuvee I have had from the 2000s I hardly know what to say. Truly world class. Seamless, red fruit with a touch of licorice, pepper, smoke and a savory aspect. Fully integrated oak. A hypnotic wine with depth and class.
White - Sweet/Dessert
1996 Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux 1ère Trie Le Mont France, Loire Valley, Touraine, Vouvray
93 points
Fully evolved, gracious and fresh. Pale, translucent golden color. Flavor profile of lanolin, pear and almonds, maybe some apple peel. Medium acidity. Medium-plus finish. No rush at all (of course).
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