Hi Guys

 

I was down at Mike Lenrhan's yesterday listening to a new audio computer he has, and I will do a separate post about that in his forum.

 

But I just wanted to mention I took a bottle of Michael Hermitage 2009 down to check out.

 

It blew both our socks off - fruit power incarnate with surprisingly supple tannin's.  And a nose that just reeks of fruit.

 

I had to drive back, and I am also on Methodrexate which puts a load on your liver so you can't drink much - I only had one glass - but even this morning I have the taste of its fruit in my mouth.

 

Its not a cheap wine, but I will be getting a couple more bottles to cellar.

 

A VERY VERY impressive Shiraz - genuinely Grange class.

 

Thanks

Bill

Very good call, Bill! The Michael is a superb drop though I suspect you've drunk it many years before its peak. Great news that it delivered the goods so early on. In the last 12 months I've finished off the last of my 1998 Michaels - absolutely sumptuous. If you get more (I see Winestar has them for $80/bottle which is very good buying), try very hard to leave them alone for at least another four or five years - very difficult, I know!

Very good call, Bill! The Michael is a superb drop though I suspect you've drunk it many years before its peak. 

 

Without doubt.

 

It will take years for fruit of that strength to integrate and develop.

 

But its there - and you know it will age gracefully for not many years - but decades.

 

A VERY VERY impressive wine.

 

I got it sort of on a whim with a mixed six I got from Dan Murphys - I don't usually go for wines at that price (it was $90.00) except very occasionally, and most certainly not just to take down to check out with an acquaintance, but it worked out well in this instance.

 

Thanks

Bill

Two to three decades at that.

 

But its there - and you know it will age gracefully for not many years - but decades.

 

Two to three decades at that. Drinking a 2009 now is almost a crime

Two to three decades at that. Drinking a 2009 now is almost a crime

 

Indeed:

ttp://www.winestar.com.au/prod1793.htm

'Deep, penetrative scents of violets, cassis, dark plums and blackberries are knit with a handsome grade of smoky cedar/chocolate oak and backed by nuances of exotic musky spices, white pepper and cloves, coconut and nutmeg. Its smooth, deeply flavoured palate of tightly woven fruit and chocolate, savoury oak us underpinned by a polished, fine and mineral backbone, revealing plenty of spicy, meaty complexity. It's very long and brightly lit, with exemplary balance. Drinking: 2029-2039; Rating: 96 Points'

 

Having tasted this monster - what did Madeleine Kahn say in Blazing Saddles (with Tuetonic accent) - 'Its twue, its twue'

 

An Australian classic.

 

A wine acquaintance of mine in days gone by would say -  its the type of wine you wanted to take over to France and say - we are working on a light Beaujolais style - how do you think we are going and laugh your head off.

 

But how do French describe such wine - medicinal - and turn their nose up at it.

 

Thanks

Bill

Edited October 15, 201312 yr by bhobba

The Michael is a very nice wine although I would have to agree that you probably drank it too young. Although not cheap the Michael also offers value. Its stablemate the John Riddoch Cab Sav (bloody nice too) gets more of the plaudits so the Michael can get a bit lost in the traffic, but this can be an advantage as I recall the Michael being cheaper.

 

I don't think many people would turn their nose up at this wine, if they do they can send me their spare bottles.

 

DS

I don't think many people would turn their nose up at this wine, if they do they can send me their spare bottles.

 

It's just a few (only a few - definitely not all) silly (I hate to say it - but I suspect they were French) snobs.

 

Jancis Robinson, herself a Master Of Wine, was on a show where she took along one of the great Granges, 1971 I think, but don't hold me to it.  Anyway she described it as Australia's first growth and gave it to these wine snobs to taste.  They actually turned their noses up at it - ohh - medicinal.  The look on her face was - indescribable.

 

Yes, even though its expensive, compared to its peers, which are wines like Grange and Hill Of Grace, its a downright bargain.  And for some reason it lives in the shadow of John Riddoch.  

 

Like I say I rarely drink wines this expensive, but say once a year, its not a problem.

 

Thanks

Bill

Edited October 15, 201312 yr by bhobba

John Riddoch makes some sense since Coonawarra is known for Cab Sav. I can imagine some wine snobs turning up their noses, they're idiots.

 

The more interesting experiment with the wine snobs is to give them the wine and not tell them where it comes from

 

You should check out the Zema Estate Family Selection wines, ridiculous value. Their standard range is great but the Family Selection are better and not very pricey at all.

 

DS