Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[JohnM]

Just settling in for some scraps at the Taj Palace Hotel, Mumbai.

When in India, try Indian wine. This sparkling was pretty darn good. A light and refreshing style - a bit like Prosecco but with a touch more texture than most of those. A very acceptable aperitif that could hold its own almost anywhere.

 

[JohnM]

Moving along. I had grilled asparagus to start (the dinner menu, somewhat surprisingly, is small plates. That suits me fine. Lunch must be the more conventional meal here as I scoped that menu and it had ‘mains’. The asparagus was excellent.

I had a glass of the Indian Sauv Blanc. What a cracker wine; no cat pee or gooseberries - just nice and austere with a touch of fruit. A very good food wine. Kind of like a cross between Adelaide Hills and Sancerre. I’m super-impressed.

 

[JohnM]

Next up. I chose the creole prawns and with that the Indian Chardonnay. A good wine, but lacking any distinctive characteristics. Very much a lean, austere unwooded-type Chardy. (I suspect, from the wine’s characteristics - and the careful wording - that the ‘French oak’ was chips, not barrels.) No big deal; it was a great food wine.

The prawns was probably the best prawn dish I’ve ever had in my long and miserable life. Sensational flavour and texture balance.

 

[JohnM]

Next up, a Viognier with baked brie. Again, two winners. The brie was in a very thin layer of crispy pastry, with a walnut and beetroot tartare and spicy tomato sauce.

The wine was a very modern and, like the SB and Chardy, very clean expression. No oiliness, but a nice light style but with classically Viognier flavour. I continue to be impressed.

 

[RooFlyer]

I dare say that lot probably put you back as much as the entire Stans eating out!!

No kababs on offer? Tomato and cucumber salad?

 

[JohnM]

Oi, stop interrupting; I’m not finished .

Boxing on. The hoisin-glazed pork belly with grilled GS apple, celeriac puree, onion gravy and taro crisps was again excellent.

There were three Indian reds on offer: Cab Sav, Sangiovese, Tempranillo. I chose the Cab. Not bad, but not recognisably a Cab or Cab blend. The old problem with reds and wine-by-the-glass: it could have been open too long. Anyway, quite acceptable.

 

[JohnM]

Well, that was not a wasted 4 hours of the short time left in my life . And, blow me down, I just happened past a familiar joint on the way back to my hotel for a little chaser to those wines .

 

[burmans]

Love the Taj Palace, I have great memories from there. Sula also do an excellent Shiraz.

 

[Daver6]

Sadly the Jura was corked. Not having a good run of late. The CdC was just brilliant with an endless life ahead of it.

 

[teammongo]

Balanced is a word that comes to mind..

2005 Mount Mary Qunitet.

 

[andy2015]

Giving it 2 hours of decanting and then we'll see...

 

[Cruiser Elite]

The Ette insisted we have a tiny tipple pre dep from home to MEL this arvo - one of the 10 bucker piccolos I bought from Dans a couple mths back:

 

[kermatu]

I'm quite a fan of the Handpicked wines in general. This one no exception.

 

[JessicaTam]

I am Falls Creek for a week and will be drinking down the cellar. Here is tonight’s effort. The family had a strong connection to Fox Creek so a good one to start on. For 2008 it has held up well.

 

[JessicaTam]

It took a few attempts tonight to find a keeper.

Exhibit A:
This was not very pleasant, but also the one I was least hopeful about.

So then I opened exhibit B:

Very flat. I had hoped for better even after letting it breathe for a while. It’s sticker price was also $5.99.

So third time lucky with exhibit C:

With a sticker price of $6.99 it was obviously going to be better, right? Unfortunately the cork was wet through, but it was the only one to remain intact while removing it.

Well, it has held up remarkably well. Classic Frontignac Spaetlese from Krondorf. It matches the description to a T:


Cheers Falls Creek basement.

 

[JohnM]

Love the Taj Palace, I have great memories from there. Sula also do an excellent Shiraz.

The Taj Palace is way behind me now, but here in McLeod Ganj in the NW foothills (the home of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile), the Sula Shiraz. Pretty darn good.



Along the way I’ve also had their Chenin Blanc.

All their wines have been good, solid, true-to-type expressions of the respective varieties that have all segued nicely from aperitif to food-complement. I’m impressed.

 

[afro]

I have not tried their Syrah/blend before but this sparkling Shiraz is very promising.
This is full of black fruits, no sign of any herbs or green grassy flavour and I can’t stop drinking it. I wish all sparkling Shiraz taste like this. Around $60 from auction.

 

[JessicaTam]

Tonight’s offerings were all a fail:


So I had to resort to a VM wine I had brought with me:

Full bodied and very much a Côtes de Rhône style. Phew.

 

[JessicaTam]

Tonight’s offerings were all a fail:
View attachment 188727

So I had to resort to a VM wine I had brought with me:
View attachment 188728
Full bodied and very much a Côtes de Rhône style. Phew.

I should add that I was surprised that the Peter Lehman was undrinkable. The label does say 'ideally enjoyed young and fresh' and I am neither, but I expected better.

The Seppelt was very flat, even after a couple of hours. And the Dan Murphy cleanskin was vinegar.

 

[afro]

I should add that I was surprised that the Peter Lehman was undrinkable. The label does say 'ideally enjoyed young and fresh' and I am neither, but I expected better.

The Seppelt was very flat, even after a couple of hours. And the Dan Murphy cleanskin was vinegar.

dan murphy cleanskins doesn't last and doesn't age well, i bought at least a dozen of different ones and all end up in my cooking sauce.