currently drinking

[Kristian Kristiansen]

I only drink beer in really hot weather - and that beer is Birra Moretti

well it was

this stuff is zero carb zero sugar - and well - I basically think it can be categorised as a sports drink - and extremely refreshing little brew

 

The design aesthetic speaks to me - as does the existential tagline

 

 

[dwbasement]

Mid week special my son said....duck pancake.

@Mendes not my fault, my son made me drink during the week lol

[Mendes]

24 minutes ago, dwbasement said:

Mid week special my son said....duck pancake.

@Mendes not my fault, my son made me drink during the week lol

Good beer Den 

[Luc]

 

 

 

A beer from Bleak City, Mordialloc to be exact.  Will put  many good stouts to the test. (  @Doppelganger)

[Mendes]

17 minutes ago, Luc said:

 

 

 

A beer from Bleak City, Mordialloc to be exact.  Will put  many good stouts to the test. (  @Doppelganger)

12%, much respect Lee , clearly not a session beer 

[Luc]

3 minutes ago, Mendes said:

12%, much respect Lee , clearly not a session beer 

Slow sipper Steve most assuredly.  @Doppelganger and I know what happens when your a bit too quick on your high ABV beers.................turn the music down!!!!

[Cloth Ears]

10 hours ago, Luc said:

Slow sipper Steve most assuredly.  @Doppelganger and I know what happens when your a bit too quick on your high ABV beers.................turn the music down!!!!

The Lark barrel one is equally nice. I love winter - everyone produces their Imperials. Most are stouts, but there's the occasional lager, pilsener or ale to keep you on your toes. I tried the WotW Lark aged sour - but not my cup of beer...

[Mendes]

Happy hump day, tonight some Nebbiolo from the north of Italy.

A bit unusual, it’s made Amarone style hence the 15.5 % alc/vol.

Stunning none the less…

 

[tripitaka]

Good health all

[foryou]

another 389 nights 

[tripitaka]

3 minutes ago, foryou said:

another 389 nights 

Haven't tried an '18, good?

[foryou]

11 minutes ago, tripitaka said:

Haven't tried an '18, good?

Nice , it better than 16 

[tripitaka]

1 minute ago, foryou said:

Nice , it better than 16 

!!!

'16 is fantastic

[foryou]

6 minutes ago, tripitaka said:

!!!

'16 is fantastic

Yes , not bad . Drink one last weekend. 

[tripitaka]

2 minutes ago, foryou said:

Yes , not bad . Drink one last weekend. 

 

Crikey, I'll have to 'drive past' next weekend

[foryou]

The best penfolds for me still grange  2008 , sadly I just bought two bottle and all gone now. 

[tripitaka]

12 minutes ago, foryou said:

The best penfolds for me still grange  2008 , sadly I just bought two bottle and all gone now. 

2008 an amazing Barossa year

My budget never extended to Grange though

[Mendes]

1 hour ago, foryou said:

another 389 nights 

So, Time for a Bin 389 

[NonPlayableCharacter]

9 hours ago, foryou said:

The best penfolds for me still grange  2008 , sadly I just bought two bottle and all gone now. 

I think Grange is overrated </controversial>.

 

It's showcasing the chef de cave rather than any vineyard or winemaker. Every year it's different wines from different regions. It is a simpler exercise to make consistently good product when you're blending from a choice of only the best h parcels of fruit in the entire regions of Coonawarra and Barossa. It would be hard to make a duff product.

I find the super premiums from single vineyards to be more impressive; Hill of Grace, The Laird etc.

 

As for great Penfolds wines, I think Bin 707 is probably a more interesting option; although I think an awesome bang-for-buck option is Bin 407 in the years when 707 is not made. Essentially, when 707 trials don't make the grade in a given year, it gets declassified and blended into 407.

 

I really enjoy the specials that are only made in the best years. Bin 90A is a favourite, but it's been years since I had one. I do have 2 bottles of the 2004 release of Bin 60A left. That's an impressive wine. I've not had the original (and only other release) 1962 Bin 60A and am probably unlikely to ever try it unfortunately.

[Mendes]

1 hour ago, El Tel said:

I think Grange is overrated </controversial>.

 

It's showcasing the chef de cave rather than any vineyard or winemaker. Every year it's different wines from different regions. It is a simpler exercise to make consistently good product when you're blending from a choice of only the best h parcels of fruit in the entire regions of Coonawarra and Barossa. It would be hard to make a duff product.

I find the super premiums from single vineyards to be more impressive; Hill of Grace, The Laird etc.

 

As for great Penfolds wines, I think Bin 707 is probably a more interesting option; although I think an awesome bang-for-buck option is Bin 407 in the years when 707 is not made. Essentially, when 707 trials don't make the grade in a given year, it gets declassified and blended into 407.

 

I really enjoy the specials that are only made in the best years. Bin 90A is a favourite, but it's been years since I had one. I do have 2 bottles of the 2004 release of Bin 60A left. That's an impressive wine. I've not had the original (and only other release) 1962 Bin 60A and am probably unlikely to ever try it unfortunately.

Yes, I tend agree with you Tel.

The only Pennies I buy these days are Yattarna and the Reserve Bin A Chardonnay.

1 hour ago, El Tel said:

I find the super premiums from single vineyards to be more impressive; Hill of Grace, The Laird etc

Yes indeed, I would gravitate to Guigal's La La's (Cote Rotie) or similar and as always YMMV

 

Always happy to drink Grange when friends bring it over though 

[NonPlayableCharacter]

6 minutes ago, Mendes said:

Always happy to drink Grange when friends bring it over though 

 

I would never be so churlish as to turn down a glass if offered. It's against my code of ethics to refuse a drink.

[foryou]

3 hours ago, El Tel said:

I think Grange is overrated </controversial>.

 

It's showcasing the chef de cave rather than any vineyard or winemaker. Every year it's different wines from different regions. It is a simpler exercise to make consistently good product when you're blending from a choice of only the best h parcels of fruit in the entire regions of Coonawarra and Barossa. It would be hard to make a duff product.

I find the super premiums from single vineyards to be more impressive; Hill of Grace, The Laird etc.

 

As for great Penfolds wines, I think Bin 707 is probably a more interesting option; although I think an awesome bang-for-buck option is Bin 407 in the years when 707 is not made. Essentially, when 707 trials don't make the grade in a given year, it gets declassified and blended into 407.

 

I really enjoy the specials that are only made in the best years. Bin 90A is a favourite, but it's been years since I had one. I do have 2 bottles of the 2004 release of Bin 60A left. That's an impressive wine. I've not had the original (and only other release) 1962 Bin 60A and am probably unlikely to ever try it unfortunately.

Agree , grange is overrated and over priced . also decanting times more than 3 hours to make it ready . 

 

 

 

 

[dwbasement]

Yes, all penfolds are overpriced.

But I still buy the 389, 28 and 128 in a good vintage year to keep my collection for years to come. 

For me 1996 one of the best years for 389 (no idea with the ones before 1996 as I only started at that year) and the other is 1998. I still have 2 bottles of 1996 and have had a 1998 recently, I think the 98 might overtake 96 in a few more years...

For cab sav, I decided not to cellar 407 instead Wynns Black label is my choice, such a good value cab sav and the oldest vintage I have is 2008 (last one and reluctant to open as it tastes so good).

Edited August 18, 2022 by dwbasement

[NonPlayableCharacter]

2 hours ago, dwbasement said:

(last one and reluctant to open as it tastes so good)

 

I was advised to shake that approach off. I've had wines that I have left too long as a consequence. Now I listen to that advice.

 

Some great advice I have been given down the years:

1. With wines that might well be coming to the other end of their perfect drinking window, it's better to drink a wine a day too early than a day too late.

2. If you're planning to drink something special, it's worth opening in the morning (or even the night before if it is a big wine that is on the younger side), taking a 15ml sample into glass and leaving it to assess 10 mins later. Swill the sample and give it a little sniff and then a small taste. Pour anything remaining back so that the line is up the neck and leave it open with a business card or similar on top. Check a sample again about 2-3 hours before serving and that will tell you when to decant.

3. If you're saving a wine for some undefined "occasion", maybe make that wine *the* occasion.

[dwbasement]

4 minutes ago, El Tel said:

 

I was advised to shake that approach off. I've had wines that I have left too long as a consequence. Now I listen to that advice.

 

Some great advice I have been given down the years:

1. With wines that might well be coming to the other end of their perfect drinking window, it's better to drink a wine a day too early than a day too late.

2. If you're planning to drink something special, it's worth opening in the morning (or even the night before if it is a big wine that is on the younger side), taking a 15ml sample into glass and leaving it to assess 10 mins later. Swill the sample and give it a little sniff and then a small taste. Pour anything remaining back so that the line is up the neck and leave it open with a business card or similar on top. Check a sample again about 2-3 hours before serving and that will tell you when to decant.

3. If you're saving a wine for some undefined "occasion", maybe make that wine *the* occasion.

Haha, yes agree not to leave too long. The last bottle is for a couple of more years as it can also give me idea of how it develops and compare to other vintage.