Wednesday night pre TG:
2005 MP Shiraz Nine:
Dark in the glass. Still big and burly in the nose with blueberries and a bit of alcohol. Some black pepper. The palate is like sweet motor oil. The only thing off balance is a little heat. Sweet and concentrated but somewhat monolithic. I like it but not as much as my host does.
2006 SQN Raven:
The nose has both chocolate and vanilla, dark fruits and oak, however, the host only had the Riedel Burgundy Sommeliers out and I think it was too much glass. I had to sniff hard to get a nose and the cigar smoke wasnt helping. The palate had lots of grilled meat and dark berries. A little oak. Some nice baking spices. Long finish but some drying tannins. The cigar and giant glasses made this the worst showing of three bottles Ive had.
1998 Penfolds Grange
Third time Ive had this. I always find the nose surprisingly soft. Some sweaty notes, dried canberries, and sweet chocolate on the nose. The palate has some soft ripe blue fruits and great acidity. A bit of a grainy texture. Long finish and sweet tannins. Good? absolutely, Great? not so much.
To be continued, daughter woke up 
'98 Grange from this time last year was incredible. Easily the best bottle from Down Under that I have ever had.
Everyone keeps telling me that Tex. All three bottles Ive had have come from the same stash. Maybe there is something wrong with it. Thought I couldnt tell what. Its good though.
Heres the rest:
2005 Saxum Bone Rock
Huge fruity nose of raspberries and blue berries. Sweet and upfront on the palate with more red and blue fruits, cinnamon and a freshness I havent found in a Bone Rock before. Probably the most delineated wine of the night. Sweet tannins and very smooth.
2003 Caymus Special Selection
Motor oil dark with an enormous nose of cranberries, chocolate, and yup some blueberries. I pulled it from my buddy’s cellar and they all had a hard time identifying the grape. Partially palate fatigue, partially the fact that this is a huge, sweet wine. Palate is just as big and juicy as the nose but velvety. Mouthwatering dark fruit, but this one does have puckering tannins that hit suddenly. Many years ahead of it.
2007 Mollydooker Velvet Glove
Another huge nose of blueberries, sweet oak, and baking spices with a little black pepper. The palate has the umami feel of tamarinds but the flavors of blueberries and smokey oak. Vanilla and cinnamon sticks are evident. Long sweet finish with a bit more oak. A little too much oak even for me ![[shock.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0b1dcf699ec319f43254f92e3f145786dcd93904.gif "shock")
but in time I think it will be up there with the 06.
My kind of night with my kind of wines.
On TG I was the only wine drinker so I brought an 06 Alpha Omega ERA
This wine has a killer nose of berries, violets and even rose petals. I smelled it for about 10 minutes before I tried it because I was worried that the palate would not hold up to the nose yet. I was right. Lots of bright berries, floral notes and acid but its still primary and unbalanced. The oak is also screaming mememe! still. Long finish with drying tannins that were not unexpected. This wine will rock with some years under its belt.
Some days I feel like drinking motor oil Dan
2 quick additions:
2006 Ghost Block
This was suprisingly good. I mean I liked the 05 a lot for the price, but didnt expect much from the 06. This is full bodied, with lots of cranberries, beef and smoke on the nose and palate both. Still very tannic and primary but man! And did it ever go well with a blue rare NY strip. The tannins got mellowed out and a perfect purple sweetness emerged. Damn I shouldve bought more than 3.
2006 Lillian
Talk about primary. The first day it was shut down hard. Nothing. Day two showed some ripe but tight black and blue berries. Like smelling a chewy fruit stick, lots of intensity but no complexity, yet. Left some for today, we’ll see.
