Two Australians with a nice bit of age.
On release, both were their winery's flagship wines, with intense varietal aromas and flavours. Both were expected to age well.
And both are showing magnificently now. A bit more mellow. Better integrated. More refined. Yumm.
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2017 Chateau Pradeaux (rouge)
Just such an easy, earthy, food-friendly wine.
For friend's birthday the other night:
NV Union Champagne de Saint Gall Le Selection
2018 Galerie Cabernet Sauvignon Pleinair
2017 M. Etain - the youth on this is incredible. It opens up into black currants, kirsch liquor, grippy tannins that mellow out and brightens up the fruit. Let sit for 30 minutes to air out and this is a treat.
2018 SQN Distente- Young bold, cotton candyish on the nose that opens up t oa very lush and rich black cherry note.
2021 Assiduous Pinot Noir Regan Vineyard.
@ $29.99, just a crazy-good qpr. Crisp (not overripe), stemmy, elegant, Santa Cruz Mountains pinot fruit. A little brighter and less terrior-driven than some of its closest competitors from the area, eg. Domaine Eden and basic Rhys SCM (fka. Alesia SCM) but also a bit cleaner tasting with more fruit complexity.
@winetarelli posted:2021 Assiduous Pinot Noir Regan Vineyard.
@ $29.99, just a crazy-good qpr. Crisp (not overripe), stemmy, elegant, Santa Cruz Mountains pinot fruit. A little brighter and less terrior-driven than some of its closest competitors from the area, eg. Domaine Eden and basic Rhys SCM (fka. Alesia SCM) but also a bit cleaner tasting with more fruit complexity.
Nice one
2007 St-Prefert cdp auguste Favier( right time to open this- excellent)
2013 Cantina Sociale Cooperativa Copertino Riserva - Great QPR. Old world stink. Full-bodied. Liked the 2012, which made me try the 2013. So far like the 2012 a little better. Will give this a little time and see what happens.
Absolutely incredible. The 06 reminded eveeyone of properly aged ridge montebello, the 11 was no slouch, showing great depth and freshness of fruit
@g-man posted:Absolutely incredible. The 06 reminded eveeyone of properly aged ridge montebello, the 11 was no slouch, showing great depth and freshness of fruit
Perhaps we will have an 11 for Rosh Hashanah. No 2006 left for us
@jcocktosten posted:Perhaps we will have an 11 for Rosh Hashanah. No 2006 left for us
everyone at the tasting agreed that the 06 is just starting to drink now and that the 11 should be held for the 5 yrs to evolve
@g-man posted:everyone at the tasting agreed that the 06 is just starting to drink now and that the 11 should be held for the 5 yrs to evolve
Too late, we had the 11 last night. Perhaps improving, but tastes great now. Looks like we only have 1 more
Very Italian Rosh Hashanah
2011 Le Ragnaie Brunello
2009 Domenico Clerico Ciabot Mentin Barolo
Then France
2020 Chapoutier Le Bernardine - brought by guest not our infanticide choice
@jcocktosten posted:Very Italian Rosh Hashanah
2011 Le Ragnaie Brunello
2009 Domenico Clerico Ciabot Mentin Barolo
Then France
2020 Chapoutier Le Bernardine - brought by guest not our infanticide choice
Nice. Within “modern” Barolo type I’ve always had a soft spot for Clerico.
2021 Dragonette Sauvignon Blanc Vogelzang Vineyard
About as good as SB gets outside of France. Lemongrass, coconut, and papaya are the primary notes, with just a hint of lime zest, especially on the finish.
oh man how was the clarendon hills?
i had a very unfortunate day where my 98 astralis was corked =(
@g-man posted:oh man how was the clarendon hills?
Dense and intense. Dark, almost inky, deep blackberry and plum, long finish. Blind, I wouldn’t guess that this wine is more than 10-12 years old at most. Not sure it’ll improve from here, but it’s a powerhouse.
2011 Anderson Conn Valley Cab
2018 Bedrock Under the Mountain Heritage
2014 Grevino Pinot
2020 Grevino Pinot
Over the past few nights:
2020 Zind-Humbrecht Gewuztraminer Hengst (Grand Cru)
2019 Joseph Roty Cote de Nuits Village
The Z-H was good with a really nice coconut finish. But it was unspectacular.
I love Roty as a producer but had never tried this “lowly” wine. Holy cow! My new favorite sub-$50 Burgundy. It matches lovely Pinot fruit — on the slightly brighter side for a wine that’s presumably mostly Gevrey — with loamy, mushroomy, earth. It was just as good (maybe even better) on night 2.
2010 La rioja Alta Vina Ardanza seleccion especial rioja( spectacular 96-97)
With a bunch of seafood last night, 1998 Deutz Champagne Cuvée William Deutz, lots of bread dough, green apple, citrus, and mineral, with good acidity, but the fine bead diminished significantly after an hour or so. Time to drink up.
Happy Birthday Sylvia. 
@Bytown Rick posted:Happy Birthday Sylvia.
+1.
Last night, NV Bollinger Champagne Special Cuvée. I’ve said many times that you have to spend quite a bit of money to get a Champagne that’s significantly better than this one. Never disappoints.
A friend opened a forgotten bottle that he hoped would be interesting: 2007 Perrin Vacqueyras, which had significant bricking, and tasted old and tired. This wine was never intended to be held this long, as evidenced from the start by à saturated, soft cork that came apart during extraction. It was interesting though, if not enjoyable.
