Some wines consumed at a friend’s birthday;
1981 Louis Roederer Cristal
Vigorous bead. Honey, nutty, quince and oxidative notes on the nose. Just enough acid to give the palate some life but there isn’t a great deal of complexity. This bottle would have been better when it was fresher but it was still enjoyable.
89/100
2007 Schloss Lieser Dry Riesling
Lovely floral nose, with slate and some smokey notes. The palate is dry with and has beautiful balance and length with a super line of acidity. Refreshing and delicious with the potential to improve.
92/100
2007 Willi Schaefer Graacher Trocken Riesling
Tropical fruit aromas with some light spice. The palate is nice and easy to drink, although there is a touch of warmth on the finish that throws the balance off slightly.
88/100
2007 Reinhold Haart Haart to Heart feinherb Riesling
Perfumed nose of musk and spice with some lemon and a touch of petrol. Palate shows a bit of spice as well. Simple but well made.
87/100
2007 Knebel Winninger Bruckstuck feinherb Riesling
Chamomile floral scents with chalk and slate in the background. Great balance and depth of fruit. There is just a touch of restrained sweetness that results in a lovely lingering flavour. Brilliant wine now and will develop well also.
92/100
2007 Schloss Lieser QbA Riesling
Restrained nose with a touch of yeast. Off dry palate with good balance but not a lot of interest. Easy to drink and not think about too critically.
86/100
2007 Knebel Winninger Rottgen Kabinett Riesling
Touch of floral and lemongrass scents and some spices. Sweetness is evident but it is balanced by a good line of acid. There is great power and quality to the fruit without any broadness.
90/100
2002 Didier Dagueneau Pur Sang Sauvignon Blanc
Intense smoke, honey, wax and passionfruit on the nose. A viscous mouthfeel with good intensity and a wild element to it. Good length and intensity. So much going on and it requires attention to unravel it – very interesting.
91/100
2001 Rousseau Chambertin Clos de Beze Pinot Noir
Sandalwood, intense cherry, oven roasted tomato and beetroot on the nose. Muscular and powerful fruit on the palate. There is structure there behind the immense red fruit and I think this will improve over the next 10 years.
92/100
2006 Holyman Pinot Noir
Musk, red cherries, raspberry, spice and a fair bit of oak on the nose. Medium bodied without much depth. Decent length.
87/100
1991 Wynns Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon
Briar, spice, redcurrant, tobacco and timber. Medium bodied with good flavour and length. Still youthful and has the structure to continue to develop complexity over the next 7 years.
89/100
1976 Bailey’s Bundarra Bin 18 Hermitage
Nutty, sweet caramel and Vegemite aromas. Acidic and a nutra-sweet type flavour. Nicer on the nose than the palate but still not good.
81/100
1977 McWilliams Philip Shiraz
Dead.
NR/100
2004 Wild Duck Creek Wondallee Cabernet Franc Melot
Cherry, earth and plum aromas with medicinal and grassy notes. Medium bodied palate with okay depth and length.
86/100
2005 Baumard Quarts de Chaume
Apricot syrup, quince, honey and peaches on the nose. Intense and rich palate with enough acid to carry it into a long finish and avoid being cloying. So intense that a small amount is enough to satisfy. Lovely now, but seems to have the balance to last for 20 years.
93/100