Well, after 12 months we were all back to where we started, the NHP Board Room. Due to a late start, the evening ran short on sentimental commentary, so I’ll now take the opportunity.
It’s been absolutely fantastic being a part of the group, and a bright spot on my social calendar. The collective: sharing, tasting, views and insights have been, not only enlightening and educational, but an opportunity to build friendships around a mutual shared interest and passion.
I would like to thank everyone for the effort they’ve put in over the past 12 months in their hosting, wine choices and research, and for just turning up, which is often the single greatest challenge.
I would also like to thank both Duane and David for their commitment to the group (of which we are not their peers). Not only are their wines consistently outstanding, but the information and insights they share have helped to increase our own knowledge and understanding. I doubt the group would exist without them.
Once again, thank you to all.
The Night:
Twelve months ago I was quite impressed by the first meeting Craig hosted: the set up, food and overall organisation and atmosphere. It definitely set the stage for the dinners that followed.
Twelve months later, he raised the bar again – fantastic décor, place settings, background music, service and food. Very well done Craig - thank you!
Well, I was quite proud of myself for having brought along a copy of my old tasting notes of the first night, but was completely upstaged by Craig as he’d actually saved all the bottles from the night and handed each of them back to us so that we could all revel in our success, or wince in shame at the memory (damn that 1999 Run Rig!)
It was refreshing to see that someone else’s wine geekiness surpassed my own.
Duane was back in the saddle as Cork Master. The moonlight strolls with Lars on the promenade deck, all now but a distant memory……..
Apparently tiring of our immature point scoring and bracket judging, Duane declared that there would be none of that nonsense and that instead we would settle down to the serious business at hand of just speaking to the wine in the glass and appreciating it for what it is.
Like kids who had just received a dressing down from their grumpy father at the end of a long day, we resigned ourselves to the situation and made the best of it.
Tasting Notes:
No brackets just tasting notes. Everyone was a winner………except of course Peter McKelvey, who in a brutal display of gutsy honesty, owned up to the Paris Hilton, Pink Cowboy Hat of Shame (see YouTube for the video)
The Champagne: Something Odd Craig Picked up in Vietnam (kidding - insert own note)
Tasting note: Fresh, young, yeasty, citrus, lots of bead initially which later died down. I wouldn’t call it a complete wine, but enjoyable none the less.
. Secretary’s rating 89 pts
Wine #1: Grosset Polish Hill 1999
Note: The nose immediately proclaimed its region and varietal. Honeyed nose with hints of petrol/kerosene, spicy with good acidity, plenty of legs and will drink well over the next 5 years. Thought it to be a 97. A Classic Clare Valley Riesling – Peter Matthew’s wine.
Secretary’s rating 93 pts
Wine #2: Daniel Crain, Barrington Estate Semillon 1999
Note: Something’s wrong here – this wines buggered in every way, rotten nose of strong sulphur, no acidity, very flabby in the mouth, the sulphur seems to have destroyed the wine – Peter McKelvey’s wine.
Secretary’s rating 84 pts
Group’s conclusion was that this was an early day screws cap and was most likely suffering from an excessive dose of sulphur in the wine making. Peter had reported of having had better bottles of the wine and that this wine was markedly different to the others he’d had previously. Extreme case of bottle variation?
Wine #3: Marc Bredit, Grande Anne Vouvray 1986
Note: Very exotic and fizzy nose of old pineapples with a Durian undertone that’s bordering on an overtone, wet dog hair (best possible), pick it as being an 8-10 yr old Chenin Blanc. A real treat – Duane Roy’s wine.
Secretary’s rating 92 pts
Wine #4: Andre Perret Clery Condrieu 2005
Note: Subtle and attractive, gewutzy nose, visible legs on the side of the glass, oily notes of Turkish delight on the palate off-set by huge acidity. Noticeable alcohol, lots of weight, great structure and ironically somewhat reserved. Very interesting wine. – Dave Fatches wine.
Secretary’s rating 91 pts
Wine #5: Chianti 1990 (missed bottle – insert own note)
Note: Faded rim, lovely garnet color, savoury and subdued nose, slightly dried out on the palate, lovely texture and mouth feel. Pick it as an older Pinot. Loved it – Jim Tinsley’s wine.
Secretary’s rating 93 pts
Wine #6: Fox Creek Merlot 1999
Note: Deep dark in color, bacony sweet fruit on the nose, quite complex on the palate with very good length, seems to have breed – very classy stuffy. Best wine so far. – Simon Bartter’s wine.
Secretary’s rating 94 pts
Shocked and amazed – I was convinced it was French, it seemed to confound most, with more than one guessing it was from the right bank (it’s Merlot, so it would sort of make sense…).
Wine #7: Morey Saint Denis 1er Cru “Clos Des Ormes” 2004
Note: Best nose of the night, complex Burgundian sweet fruit, herbs and spice – beautiful. Very good use of oak, with fine drying tannins. Definitely has that “X” factor. Pick it as being about 10 – 15 yrs old, seems to seamless and developed to be younger – Philippe Mady’s wine
Secretary’s rating 95 pts
Wine #8: Costa Di Bussia Barolo Riserva 1997
Note: Earthy, aniseed, slightly pooey, palate seems under-fruited against the aggressive unresolved tannins. Just doesn’t have the fruit to bring the wine in balance. – Craig Farmer’s wine.
Secretary’s rating 89 pts
Intermission Sticky
De Bortoli Noble One 2000
Note: Seems too dark for a 2000, lots of quince, caramel with a hint of citrus, very evolved, short, sweet and simple – Courtesy of Craig Farmer
Secretary’s rating 88 pts
Wine #9: Vega Sicilia Bodega Y Vinedos 2001
Note: Not giving off much on the nose, ultra astringent on the palate, seems quite thin an and weedy – improved as it opened up.
Secretary’s rating 86 pts
Wine #10: Luke Lambert Nebbiolo (Heathcote)Vega Sicilia Bodega Y Vinedos 2001
Note: Very odd nose, not unattractive, just not really recognisable – overly strawberry, soft and perfumey, repeating on the palate. Seems to be lacking structure, fruit and definition, hard to tell what this is, my guess is Pinot – Scott Perry’s wine.
Secretary’s rating 88 pts
The wine elicited heated opinions on what does and doesn’t work with planting varietals outside their proven and respected growing regions.
Scott defended his choice by pointing out that if you didn’t know what it was you’d probably enjoy the wine in the glass.
Wine #11: Waraballen Druif Reserve 2003
Note: Seemed slightly corked on the nose – this may have been a bad bottle. No detailed notes taken – David Madsen’s wine.
Secretary’s rating 89 pts
Wine #12: Zenato Amarone 2003
Note: Strange nose of bubble gum and dried fruit smells a bit hot and raisiny, repeating again on the palate. Found it hard going to drink – Scott Emerson’s wine.
Secretary’s rating 87 pts
Wine #13: Roda II Reserva
Note: Warm nose of alcohol heat and over ripe fruit on the nose, together with sickly sweet vanillin oak. Smells like over ripe Barossa Shiraz. Deeply fruited with a long finish but lacking any sort of regional definition, freshness or vitality. New world wine making at its worst,very disappointing – Phillip Blanco’s wine.
Secretary’s rating 88 pts
Wines of the Night (WOTN)
1. Morey Saint Denis 1er Cru “Clos Des Ormes” 2004 – Philippe Mady (WOTN)
2. Fox Creek Merlot 1999 – Simon Bartter
3. Costa Di Bussia Barolo Riserva 1997 – Craig Farmer
Philippe Mady has claimed his 4th WOTN and has to my knowledge never brought anything but French wines……..it’s demoralising really.
Gentlemen, this is becoming a lopsided event and we must rise to the Challenge! Start bringing French wines, erh…..I mean start bringing wines that can best Philippe’s French wines!
