Sometimes I just can’t help myself. A random walked into the shop a while ago with three old bottles of wine that looked to be in pretty reasonable condition. He only wanted $20 a piece. This is the first of ‘em. 1964 Mc Williams Hanwood Claret and 1967 Seaview Claret.
Deep onion brown colour with onion brown hue. Earthy nose of prune, new leather and ham hock. The palate is incredibly luxuriously textured. Liquid velvet. Still some fruit lingering; Fig, dried apricots, prunes, craisins and toffee, above new leather and green olive. Earthy back palate. Clean finish; acidity still fresh. Very long aftertaste of prune and dried apricot. Alc Unknown. Curio, not scored.
2008 Crown Ambassador Reserve Lager
There’s quite a fuss made about this stuff. The packaging and presentation really is superb. They (Fosters) sure as shit make you pay for it though. This stuff retails for around $70 per bottle when it’s released. This is the first release, but they’ve done another one since. I’ve not yet tried it. The marketing hype prattles on about the cellarability of this beer, and the fact it’s strong, and made from fresh hop flowers. The fact is, the Belgians have been making this style of beer for centuries – what’s more, they’re still doing it! I’m amused by Fosters calling it a “Lager.”
Pours a deep, near opaque amber colour with ample, fine, off white head, which dissipates quicker than it should. Fine white lacing remains, however. I find the carbonation just borders on acceptable. Manuka honey, multi-grain toast, and raisins on the nose. It’s rich, generous and inviting. The palate is big, rich and warming. Delivering intense flavours of raisin toast, golden syrup and nutri-grain. There’s an appealing hint of vegemite running through the palate. Not normally something I’d call appealing, but it provides contrast against the onslaught of sweet honey, dried fruits and grain. The finish is a disappointment, soft and soapy, the flavours fading into insignificance without so much as a wave goodbye. An exceedingly good attempt at the Belgian dubbel/tripel style. Wax covered crown seal. Alc/Vol not on bottle, I suspect around 9%. Bottle 4354 Tasted. 2, 6, 6. 14/20.
Works for me because it’s flavours are golden, on the verge of brown, I find it more drinkable than a Westmalle for example. However, at $80, I could have a dozen Belgians that are infinitely superior beers; Ambassador Reserve isn’t any better than Chimay Blue, Chimay Red, Westmalle, Delerium, Hoegaarden Grand Cru, Hoegaarden Forbidden Fruit, Orval.
I still insist Cooper’s Vintage is a superior beer to all of those above. Here’s a review I did a while ago of the 1999 Coopers Vintage. I had one a month or so ago, the stuff is still in very fine form.
http://schitzengiggles.net/wp/2008/10/booze-zaks/
2005 Hoddles Creek Estate Chardonnay
I’d been hanging to try an older bottling of Hoddles Creek Chardy, Turns out Boccaccio had some ‘05 at museum release prices. Even at $30.. In the words of my Italian friend, I no complain. This stuff is mighty, especially considering it’s release price ($20ish.) The D’Anna’s have a real winner.
Brilliant straw colour with pale straw hue, slight green tinge. Looks like it was bottled yesterday. At first, offers a refined nose of nougat, biscuit and cashew with a subtle tropical fruit background. As the wine warms, this nose expands considerably, showing nice toasty oak influence, perfectly balanced to the lees and fruit .Generous texture, ripe, luscious and full bodied, delivering intense fig and hazelnut early, before biscuit and cashew again, this time with spicy grip on the back palate. Impeccably balanced. Reasonable length. Very long tangy aftertaste of fig, spice and biscuit. Wonderful stuff. Drink over the next 5 years. Screwcap. 13.2% Alc./Vol. 3, 6, 8. 17/20.
2005 Cleanskin McLaren Vale Grenache - Mayerling Cellars
This comes from the same producer, label and shop as the previously mentioned 2006 Cleanskin McLaren Vale Shiraz. It’s reportedly 2005 Chateau Reynella Basket Pressed Grenache. Since it features the same bottle, cork and carton as the Shiraz, and of course, it’s quality, I believe the rumour.
Colour holding well for a 2005 red; Very deep purple crimson with bright crimson hue. Fresh raspberry, plum, a touch of tartness – think rhubarb, liquorice, something a little leafy, dusty and chocolatey mingling with the spices on the nose. The medium weight palate, shows mouthfilling flavours of ripe raspberry, plum, pronounced fresh liquorice, and very lively white pepper. Perfect balance. Very well judged oak – compliments and supports the fruit. Cleansing acids and very fine tannins keep things rolling. This wine is just starting to hit it’s straps. Very long liquorice and pepper aftertaste. 2.5, 6, 8.5. 17/20. 14.0% Alc./Vol. Will improve for another 2 years and will drink well until 2014.
A steal at $138/doz. Available online at Mayerling Cellars.
