Saturday Lunch and a Mini Dessert Wine Tasting

Its a cool but sunny Saturday afternoon and seven of my good friends are arriving for what is suppose to be lunch and a Dessert Wine tasting. In the Kitchen the slow cooked Moroccan Lamb Shanks are stewing away, the potatoes for the mash are on the boil and palate cleansing beers are being drank by those already in attendance. A new one to me called Aussie Cool Lager?
What better lunch than Lamb Shanks on a cool May afternoon but of course they wouldnt be complete without some good old hearty reds to wash it all down so it goes without saying that some double decanting was also going on in the dining room.
First up is the 2006 Schild Estate Shiraz which was lovely and full bodied, showing plums, dark berries and a full lush mouthfeel. I could not help but feel as though this may be a little on the stewed fruit side or slightly over extracted? Never the less it was certainly gluggable and went terrifically well with the Lamb Shanks.
At the same time the Schild Estate was on the table another budget beater was also fighting for prominance 2005 Sea Change Padthaway Shiraz purchased by a friend as a bin end run out with a free case of beer when you buy a case. Rather floral on the nose and certainly drinkable but not all that interesting. Dark purple with a little spice and a little short on the finish. It is worth mentioning i did not take notes on any of these wines as it was more about eating, laughing with friends and something to wash it all down at this stage.
Next was a 2002 Saltram Metala Cab/Shiraz showing typical Langhorne Creek traits of mint and a touch of Eucalypt. Nice mouth feel with some grippy tannins and dark plums but certainly a little simple and not all that interesting either.

Then a 2005 Mt Langhi Cliff Edge Shiraz, now this was actually i very nice wine indeed for its price, mulberry and boysenberry, plums, soft tannins with a some spice and pepper, great balance and mouthfeel, medium length and drinking nicely right now. Will have to grab some of these and put in the cellar for regular consumption i think.

This was followed by a 2007 Leeuwin Estate Shiraz which although i had a glass i did not pay a great deal of attention to it. I do remember liking it and thinking it was a good shiraz that needed time in the cellar and also finding it a little more on the savoury side with nice fruit but a little closed right now. Now all these were consumed before, during and after the Lamb Shanks were served. I think the Mt Langhi and the Schild Estate drank the best with the meal.

Moroccan Lamb Shanks with Brown Lentils, Figs, Dates, Dried Apricots and Creamy Mashed Potato.

Now i did mention this was a dessert wine tasting didnt I, well im not so sure 5 wines qualify for a tasting but a few last minute pull outs saw the list go from a proposed 8 down to 5. Anyway time for the first flight which was 3 Australian Botrytis wines. Now due to the number of wines and my already very relaxed jovial mood i also failed to write proper notes on these wines however;
2008 Vasse Felix Cane Cut Semillon, semi sweet, slightly tropical fruit including banana skin and some echoes of pineapple, interesting and enjoyable to say the least.

2007 Vinelain Botrytis Semillon with pure 23k Gold Flakes (bizarre), i could not help but feel this had a very mineral and slatey taste bordering on dry and slightly bitter. An interesting and unusual wine.

2005 Tempus Two Botrytis Semillon, Honey, citrus marmalade and nice botrytis spice showing ginger and a little clove. WOTF and certainly my preferred choice of the 3.

To help us consume these sweeter wines there were Mini Walnut and Butter Tarts, Mini Sultana and Butter Tarts and Chocolate Cake topped with Balsamic Macerated Strawberries and Strawberry Mouse.

Second Flight was:

2003 St Stephan's Crown, Tokaji Aszu, Corked smelling of wet dog and cardboard.

2005 Chateau Lamothe, Guignard, Sauternes, Pale in colour and evidently young showing honeysuckle and citrus with mineral and herbal spice. Great balance and good acidity although perhaps a little short on the finish.


The 2005 Tempus Two took out the overall wine of the day WOTD on this occassion, although i dont really think it had a great deal of competition it was a lovely wine on the day.