We had a wonderful tasting session at Thompson Plaza today.It was first a flight of Aussies shiraz, follow up with a 97 Barolo and then some Burgundy Grand Cru and Premier Cru paired with home-made roasted Pork (Sio Bak) and Vadai.. Wonderful!
Long Gully Estate BlackBerry Hill Pinot Noir 2006Nose: Immense Dark cherry, with a herbal backbone.
Palate: The palate is less juicy than most New World Pinot Noir, most likely due to the colder climate in Yarra Valley. Lean but still with noticeable tannin. Will improve with age (5year). Not sure how much it is retailing for, but i would like to taste one 5-8 years down the road. It is pretty elegant in a new world way.
Kaesler Old Vine Shiraz 2004:Nose: Candied dark Berry
Palate: Very big and juicy. Strong alcohol heat. Not my type.
Bird In Hand "Mt Lofty Ranges" Shiraz 2006: Nose: Candied cherry and juicy nose
Palate: No typical aussie peppery and spicy note. very juicy with huge currant/berries. Probably i would enjoy this a few years down the road as I prefer more of the secondary flavour coming out by then. This was voted Wine of the Year 2007 in NZ and Aussie for <30AUD category. If you have a palate tuned to the old world, forget about it or buy some to chuck it in your cellar and see how it evolved 5-10 years down the road.
Two Hands Angel Share 2004
Nose: Strong vanilla attacking your nose. An obvious use of American Oak. Big currant and chocolate
Palate: Juicy, currant, some spice and vanila. Still needs a long time to open it up. It was nice that it was not too spicy and peppery. This was rated 95 pointer by Robert Parker but hey, I am not exactly attuned to his palate.
Rolf Binder Heinrich 2004, Barossa Valley
Nose: Stong nose of vanila back with straw undertones.
Palate: Round mouth feel from this Grenache/Shiraz/Mataro blend. Juicy, smooth tannins and end with a herbal back palate.
Massena Eleventh Hour Shiraz 2005Nose: Vanilla/currant with herbal undertone, much pronouced herbal note than the other aussies tonight.
Palate: Good complexity with chocolate/currant dominating and back by herbal tones. Good length. Worth keeping for few years to see how it goes.
Veritas Winery Bulls Blood Pressings 2005Nose: BIG chocolate supported by green bean note.
Palate: Smooth palate but i still yet to come to terms with the humongous chocolate nose. It is like eating chocolate. I have a 2002 in my cellar and now i am thinking of chucking it away.
This shiraz mataro blend does not impress me.
Gianni Gagliardo Barolo Riserva 1997Nose: After 1 hour decanting. Complex medicinal nose with a bitter leather tone emerging after further evolution in glass. Chocolate/mocha emerge as well.
Palate: Grainy tannins and pretty lean, light to medium mouth feel. I like the overall earthy and purity. Good to keep for another 10 years easily.
Domain J. Cacheux Echezeaux Grand Cru 2001Nose: Intense complex cherry with lychee. Herbal undertone
Palate: Big mid palate with good acid. a tannic backpalate. This is one for the cellar and it is looking promising. Good purity and elegance but with a good mid and complexity. Can go along way! buy ! Friends bought some bottles to keep
Louis Lequin Santenay Premier Cru Le Passe 2005Nose: Wet dog + cherry
Palate: Lean with considerable tannins. Not much complexity and purity. Skip.
Home made Sio Bak from Philip: Fantastic roast pork with crackling skin and good salty note.
Home Made Vadai: Spicy and as good as a Malaysian mamak version. Loads of spices and chili.
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