Wine drinkers - what are you having today/tonight?
#841
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,820
Somewhat eclectic online tasting with 6 wines, writing this before my memories fade into the ether.
2 whites, 4 reds.
Cullerot, Celler del Roure, 2019 - Valencia, a white blend of verdil, pedro ximénez (!),macabeo, malvasía, tortosí and others. A very pleasant light white, zingy orange peel flavour.
Verus Pinot Gris 2018 - a Slovenian white, not quite Burgundian but a full bodied Pinot Gris with lots of character (if that’s not an oxymoron). One for a pasta or a chicken dish.
Paparuda Pinot Noir 2019 - Romanian Pinot. At the low price point, it’s fine. Inoffensive and probably a lot better than Chilean Pinot at the same price and a world below New Zealand or Australian, never mind US or burgundy. I’d probably pay more for a bottle from somewhere better, but if someone served it, I wouldn’t refuse it. First ever Romanian wine for me.
Johannehohe Blaufrankisch, Weingut Prieler 2017 - Austrian red and the surprise of the tasting for me. Really excellent, a nice level of spice and tannins, but fell short of overbearing. I’m not familiar with blaufrankisch but I’ll definitely look for more. We’re over 35 years since the Austrian ethanol scandal, but it’s probably still paying the price in terms of international appeal. Combined with a wealthy domestic market they don’t really need to export, but any Austrian wine I try is generally uniformly good.
Hochar Musar 2016 - The “second” wine of the famous Chateau Musar (technically not a second wine in the Bordeaux sense, as its single vineyard rather than underperforming plots). Really good, well rounded and other than an odd nose, could be mistaken for a good Bordeaux.
Muga Rioja Reserva 2016 - typical big Rioja, wonderful with red meat. We’re big Muga fans, visited the bodega in Haro a few years ago and have a few bottles of Prado Enea laid down. A solid choice that no red wine drinker would be disappointed with.
Time for a lie down.....!
2 whites, 4 reds.
Cullerot, Celler del Roure, 2019 - Valencia, a white blend of verdil, pedro ximénez (!),macabeo, malvasía, tortosí and others. A very pleasant light white, zingy orange peel flavour.
Verus Pinot Gris 2018 - a Slovenian white, not quite Burgundian but a full bodied Pinot Gris with lots of character (if that’s not an oxymoron). One for a pasta or a chicken dish.
Paparuda Pinot Noir 2019 - Romanian Pinot. At the low price point, it’s fine. Inoffensive and probably a lot better than Chilean Pinot at the same price and a world below New Zealand or Australian, never mind US or burgundy. I’d probably pay more for a bottle from somewhere better, but if someone served it, I wouldn’t refuse it. First ever Romanian wine for me.
Johannehohe Blaufrankisch, Weingut Prieler 2017 - Austrian red and the surprise of the tasting for me. Really excellent, a nice level of spice and tannins, but fell short of overbearing. I’m not familiar with blaufrankisch but I’ll definitely look for more. We’re over 35 years since the Austrian ethanol scandal, but it’s probably still paying the price in terms of international appeal. Combined with a wealthy domestic market they don’t really need to export, but any Austrian wine I try is generally uniformly good.
Hochar Musar 2016 - The “second” wine of the famous Chateau Musar (technically not a second wine in the Bordeaux sense, as its single vineyard rather than underperforming plots). Really good, well rounded and other than an odd nose, could be mistaken for a good Bordeaux.
Muga Rioja Reserva 2016 - typical big Rioja, wonderful with red meat. We’re big Muga fans, visited the bodega in Haro a few years ago and have a few bottles of Prado Enea laid down. A solid choice that no red wine drinker would be disappointed with.
Time for a lie down.....!
Last edited by Kgmm77; Feb 5, 2021 at 3:17 pm
#842
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,820
I’ll admit my general preference with Indian is usually a cold lager.
#846
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA, U2+, SK, AF/KL, IHG, Hilton, others gathering dust...
Posts: 2,551
Yesterday: Pegasus Bay Bel Canto Dry Riesling 2017 (NZ). Orange zest, petrol, lime, rich yet dry with plenty of acidity. With some Dim Sum and a vegetable stir-fry, a slightly early nod to the upcoming Chinese New Year.
Today: Tired of lockdown, wanted something that reminded me of travelling (not that I’ve been completely grounded, but still...), and as it is Super Bowl Sunday, decided it should be from the US. Opened a bottle I bought in LA, Lamborn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2014. Still maybe a bit young, but offset nicely with a rare sirloin steak. Just love Napa Cab.
Today: Tired of lockdown, wanted something that reminded me of travelling (not that I’ve been completely grounded, but still...), and as it is Super Bowl Sunday, decided it should be from the US. Opened a bottle I bought in LA, Lamborn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2014. Still maybe a bit young, but offset nicely with a rare sirloin steak. Just love Napa Cab.
#847
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,820
Mendel Finca Remota Malbec 2010. Our last bottle from a 2014 trip to Mendoza. A really smooth Malbec, softened by age, yet with great depth, paired well with surf (Langoustine and crab claws) and turf (fillet steak).
Last night was a lovely Craggy Range Sauvignon bland with salmon, leek and pea risotto. Really zingy, melon and passion fruit notes. Followed by a few glasses of La Orphica Monastrell 2019 from Spain (Mourvèdre or mataro in the rest of the world). Very smooth and easy drinking.
Last night was a lovely Craggy Range Sauvignon bland with salmon, leek and pea risotto. Really zingy, melon and passion fruit notes. Followed by a few glasses of La Orphica Monastrell 2019 from Spain (Mourvèdre or mataro in the rest of the world). Very smooth and easy drinking.
#849
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,506
Yesterday started with 5 or so Lioco varietals at the tasting room (along with the Club pickup). This, followed by 7 or so pleasant tastes at the Soda Rock tasting room. (The Alley 6 sprits tasting doesn't count for this thread because, well ... Not wine. But really tasty and well-crafted büz.). Take out food dinner in hotel accompanied by Lioco Carignan.
#850
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,215
Valentines Night was langoustines, paired with my last bottle of Etienne Sauzet Bourgogne Ordinaire 2015. Perfect age and the quality of lesser growers' village wines. I have a couple of cases of his 2019 on order!
#852
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: SFO
Programs: AY Plat, LH FTL
Posts: 7,354
#853
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,215
Last night, amongst many others, was my penultimate bottle of Ridge Santa Cruz Mountains 2006. Absolutely stunning wine - and I say that as someone who is not at all keen on most California wine, but Ridge is something different.
#854
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Over the Bay Bridge, CA
Programs: Jumbo mas
Posts: 38,506
[Somewhat OT, but have you tried some of the various Dashe zins and blends? Mike Dashe was a winemaker at Ridge 20-some years ago prior to opening his own shop, and some Dashe wines are just fantastic. Dashe also has a Les Enfants Terribles line, very light handed minimal intervention, Euro-sensibility.]
#855
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,820
Another Zoom tasting, this time with Chester Osborn, proprietor of the pretty well known D'Arenberg wines from McLaren Vale in South Australia. A comprehensive tasting of 7 wines (out of the 76 [!] in the D'Arenberg stable). Two whites and five reds:
Hermit Crab Viognier Marsanne 2018
Lucky lizard Chardonnay 2017
Stump jump Red 2016
D’Arry’s Original Shiraz Grenache 2016
Laughing Magpie Shiraz Viognier 2016
Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Dead Arm Shiraz 2017
The Hermit Crab was for me the pick of the two whites, and the Laughing Magpie and the Coppermine Road were both excellent. The Dead Arm Shiraz won wine of the year in a London tasting last year, I liked it, but maybe it was just too late to properly savour it.
All in all, a really solid tasting, and Chester is a complete character. Full of energy at 7am local time in Adelaide.
Hermit Crab Viognier Marsanne 2018
Lucky lizard Chardonnay 2017
Stump jump Red 2016
D’Arry’s Original Shiraz Grenache 2016
Laughing Magpie Shiraz Viognier 2016
Coppermine Road Cabernet Sauvignon 2017
Dead Arm Shiraz 2017
The Hermit Crab was for me the pick of the two whites, and the Laughing Magpie and the Coppermine Road were both excellent. The Dead Arm Shiraz won wine of the year in a London tasting last year, I liked it, but maybe it was just too late to properly savour it.
All in all, a really solid tasting, and Chester is a complete character. Full of energy at 7am local time in Adelaide.