La Curio

Atalyk

Reserve Semi Dry Riesling Rkatsiteli

Herbal, but more tarragon than you might expect, orange peel. At first whiff/squirt I thought this might be a hybrid curio but it appears to be rkatsiteli! Great effort. — 7 months ago

Alvear

3 Miradas Vino de Pueblo Sierras de Montilla Pedro Ximénez 2018

PX nose, raisiny, melon, candied fruit. Dry palate, oily, lavender, oxidative, honeyed. A bit of a curio— dry Montilla PX 8 months sous voile. Fabulous with sockeye. — 3 years ago

Alsu Shakirova
with Alsu
Brian, Neil and 8 others liked this

Château d'Yquem

Y Ygrec Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend 1972

This was in prime health at the tender age of 47. Beautifully aromatic and it tasted just as I imagined dry Sauternes would. A lovely curio for a school night - 1972 — 5 years ago

Brandon, Bob and 9 others liked this
Shay A

Shay A Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Awesome bottle @Fraser McKinley
Mike R

Mike R Influencer Badge

Awesome
Fraser McKinley

Fraser McKinley Influencer Badge

Thanks gents, I hope you are both well! @Shay A @Mike R

Mount Pleasant Wines

OP & OH Limited Release Hunter Valley Shiraz 2006

Very Hunter with earth, leather and red cherries, presented in a savoury manner. More full bodied on the palate than Hunter Valley Shiraz should be. In the mid 2000’s it was when Mount Pleasant was trying to emulate full bodied South Australian Shiraz instead of doing what they do best. This was most enjoyable but I still enjoy the old fashioned style made by Maurice O’Shea in the late 1940s and early 1950s in primitive conditions which were just medium bodied and very long lived. I once had a 1952 Mt Pleasant Stevens Vineyard made by the legend (birth year wine) which I bought at auction. It was over 40 years old when I consumed it. Barely medium bodied with amazing length and still kicking goals. A wonderful old curio and a privilege to drink. The “Maurice OShea” is the top Cuvée from Mt Pleasant these days. Had my last bottle of 2006 OP and OH on 10th July 2024. Becoming more Hunter Valley and earthy than South Australian as in the last note but still ripe and full bodied. Oak has diminished in influence. 93 points. — 3 years ago

Ming, Jan and 21 others liked this
Ceccherini Cristiano

Ceccherini Cristiano Influencer Badge

Drinking one of those O'Shea's gem is one of my dreams and i am sure it will only get harder. Good on ya, Cheers!!
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

@Ceccherini Cristiano Thanks Cec. If you want a good read find a copy of The Wine Hunter about the life of Maurice O’Shea written by Campbell Mattinson. Amazing the quality of wine he made with candle light and gravity. Winemakers today would aspire to this level of quality.

Mount Mary

Lilydale Cabernets Red Blend 1983

At Polar’s old Australian Tasting. Dr Pete (Polar) has been a long time collector of Mount Mary, one of Australia’s Premium Cabernet blends and this was certainly an Old one. Opened as very Cowyard and manure but definitely no Brett. Less than medium weight but totally classy. Obviously past its best but I liked it - a curio. — 5 years ago

James HunterAndrew WhittlePolar
with James, Andrew and 1 other
Scott, Fraser and 11 others liked this

Château Chantecaille Clauzel

Saint-Emilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2014

Aromas of plum and tobacco from this predominantly Merlot Wine with a small percentage of Cabernet Franc. Chocolatey flavours accompany the plum on the palate. This Wine is a rarity and was”discovered by Andrew Caillard MW from Australia’s leading auction house, Langtons. The grapes come from a tiny 0.4 Hectare Block along the boundary of St Emillion and Pomerol. The vineyard is surrounded by some of the biggest names of the right bank and is crammed between vines belonging to Ch L’Evangile and Ch La Dominique. Over the narrow gravel road is Chateau Petrus and Chateau Gazin. Across the D244 just a few metres away are vines belonging to Ch Cheval Blanc. It has largely existed unnoticed by the worlds Wine critics and survives in its current form because of it’s tiny size, local politics and dogged family hope” to paraphrase Caillard. Caillard goes on “Curiously the Chantecaille Vineyard has no Grand Cru classification because no Cellars have been built on the property. The Vineyard is so small (only 0.4 hectare) that any building would require the destruction of the Vineyard; a pointless exercise. As a consequence the crop is tractored to Chateau Guillot Clauzel in the commune of Pomerol, just a few kilometres away where it is vinified and then matured in barrel; all 5 or 6 of them! If “Chantecaille” was purchased by one of its more illustrious neighbours, the fruit could be incorporated in a more prized and expensive label!” The Wine itself was no Petrus but was medium bodied with M- intensity and light tannins Fermented in stainless steel and aged in used oak barrels it has little oak influence. All in all a curio. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for this little Vineyard. Postscript:
My longest ever Delectable Note but I thought it was an interesting story. 🍷
— 7 years ago

TheSkip, Anthony and 12 others liked this
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

@David T Yes - the most likely scenario. Ironic if sold to Petrus it becomes a component of s Wine costing around $3600AUD as against the $40AUD I paid for this bottle.
David T

David T Influencer Badge

As ironic as only 5-6 barrels actually ending up on the export market that far away from France. You’d think it would all stay in France and if there was any exported, it would end up in England.
Bob McDonald

Bob McDonald Influencer Badge

I suspect that Andrew Caillard MW may have bought the lot or fair percentage of it for Langtons which he co-founded and sold to Woolworths. He calls this Wine “My Great Bordeaux Discovery “

Bodegas Arzuaga Navarro

La Planta Ribera del Duero Tempranillo 2020

Unexpectedly great wine. In Curio Malaga. — 3 years ago

Domaine des Rutissons

Isère Etraire de la Dhui 2019

Rare grape from Isère (near Savoie) and another @Lyle Fass curio. First sip after 3-hr decant brought to mind young Loire cab franc—bright fruit, tannin, high-toned acidity. Calmed down over a few hours and blossomed in the zalto. Pretty nose, bright cherry; palate has a softness that recalls mountain nebbiolo, earthy, young tannin, great structure, high acid. Terrific match with the barberries & cardamom in an Ottolenghi dish; cut through the chicken fat and really helped make a memorable meal. — 3 years ago

Alsu Shakirova
with Alsu
"Odedi", Peter and 9 others liked this
Lyle Fass

Lyle Fass Influencer Badge Premium Badge

My favorite Savoie (Isere) red. Nothing like it and masterfully made. Glad you enjoyed it. Love my curios!

La Curio

Reserva Bush Vine Grenache 2009

Smells wonderful. Tasted good, but even moreso the nexr day for more air. — 6 years ago

Grace Winery

Private Reserve Hishiyama Vineyard Grace Koshu 2016

Surprisingly good structure. Curio. Would definitely drink again. — 6 years ago