The Auswine Forum

Wine Would definitely try to set up a visit at Brash Higgins if you can. Agree also that Samuel's Gorge is worth a visit. Food Pizzateca worth a look if you feel like some authentic pizza over in the Kay's corner of the valley. Pearl down next to the Aldinga boat ramp was excellent when we were the...

G'day David I hope you have a great trip, and that your travels aren't cut short by the dreaded virus. There's a few threads floating around on Adelaide/Barossa travels; I think this (http://forum.auswine.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=16128) is probably the most recent. One note of caution is that ...

G'day Ian If you can justify the drive across to Wanaka (which is a stunning drive, and probably only about 90 minutes), Rippon and Maude were probably our two favorite Otago cellar door experiences, ahead of anything else we visited on the Queenstown side. We also organised a tasting at Burn Cottag...

Thanks everyone for suggestions on which Australian Sangiovese to choose. The eventual line-up for the Sangiovese flight was: 2015 Antinori Tignanello 2014 Isole e Olena Cepparello 2010 Argiano Brunello di Montalcino 2015 Castagna La Chiave All wines were opened, tested, and left open four hours bef...

Have to admit, "oxymoron" made me laugh. Instinctively, I have to admit that I agree, so will be interested to see how they present. Have procured a 2015 Castagna, alongside a 2015 Tignanello and a 2014 Cepparello. Will give them all a few hours in a decanter beforehand, and will let you k...

Hi All I'm putting together an Italian-themed dinner for some friends next month, and thought it would be interesting to have a look at a couple of Super Tuscans (2015 Tignanello and 2014 Cepparello) blind side-by-side with Australia's best effort at a similar style of Sangiovese-dominant wine. Whic...

G'day JD Below is a working document a group of us maintain semi-regularly regarding food & wine in and around Adelaide. It hasn't been updated for a while, so I'd check specific details, but it's a solid starting point. It's not at all an exhaustive list, and I'm sure others can add their own f...

Should have been clearer, glassware at la Bonne Table better than average, just not full sets of Riedels. And agree, $20/bottle has unfortunately become the new standard.
Agree with Insieme as a good recommendation as well.

Can recommend Juveniles and Les Climats from last visit. Juveniles pretty relaxed, Les Climats one Michelin star and a little more formal.

Hey Guys I'm still in QLD Friday night so I won't be there, but can recommend La Bonne Table as a BYO venue. I think they've recently increased their corkage from $15 to $20/bottle, but food and service was really good for a long lunch recently. Glassware isn't as good as it could be, but isn't disa...

Hi All Heading to NYC and San Francisco in coming months (as well as Portland, Seattle and surrounds) with a couple of young kids. If anyone has any wine-related tips (retail for Champagne, Barolo/Barbaresco, White Burgundy especially, wine bars, cellar doors, restaurants, etc.), would be hugely app...

Interesting one Ian, I had the 2006 Syrah about 12 months ago and absolutely loved it. I followed up and chased down some more, which I've been getting through this year, but they have been falling over very quickly on opening; not nearly as enjoyable as last year. I had put it down to hitting a win...

If you get the chance, I can't recommend Provenance strongly enough for dinner. One of the best meals I've had this year, with Sorrenberg and Savaterre reasonably priced by the glass.
Cheers
Nick

Hi Dan I would visit Tscharke before just about any other Cellar Door in the Barossa, definitely try to make time. I would make fermentAsian my first booking for a meal; I'd eat there every week if it was in Adelaide. If you're not a Stonewaller, I would try to visit Rockford in the company of a Sto...

Thanks+ All, will report back in a month...
Cheers
Nick

Hi All
Heading to Venice, Rome & Paris in the next month. If anyone has any "don't miss" wine experiences, or just great places to buy wine in any of these cities, would love to hear about it.
Thanks+
Nick

Recent Impressions 1991 Hollick Ravenswood Cabernet . An absolute beauty. At secondary prices, I wonder if the Ravenswood is the best value Coonawarra Cabernet going around in good vintages. Extremely Good. 2005 Grosset Chardonnay . Tried really hard to like this, but in the end the funkiness was di...

Primo Estate
Hoddles Creek
Ochota Barrels

I think this is the most weekly drinking thread, so I'm running with it! Adopting the monghead rating system. 2002 Zema Cabernet Sauvignon - one of those wines that makes me think that I should keep a sharper track of my spreadsheet. Flat, unattractive, mulchy nose, some semblance of residual blackc...

Hey Matt
For Sunday lunch I'd probably go with Bridgewater Mill.
Cheers
Nick

Hi Paul We've done similar days before, and it's actually not too far from Barratt to Aldgate; I'd think you'd make it in 20 minutes. Having said that, we normally drop in to Petaluma's Cellar Door at Bridgewater Mill to break up the drive down to Hahndorf. Cellar door prices not particularly sharp,...

Haven't tried the 2006, but opened a cheeky bottle of the 2008 on Tuesday to celebrate arrival of Wendouree shipment. Decanted for two hours, then into Riedel Shiraz glasses. Spectacular wine, lovely spicy aromas, not overblown, great length. The type of wine that forces you to think deeply about it...

Fear not guys; I hadn't heard anything until today, then my full allocation arrived this morning. No crayon on the order form. I think they just have LOTS of wine to deliver each year, and it takes them a while to get through the orders.
Cheers
Nick

Hi Paul Very envious; will be there in a couple of months myself. Last time we were there I wandered over to Caves Auge at 116 Boulevard Haussmann; very interesting and cluttered shop that had the Egly Ouriet Blanc de Noirs I was looking for. I'll definitely be heading back there next visit. I agree...

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions; I ended up at Mille Vini and De Vine, mostly because they were close to where I was staying and it wouldn't stop raining in Sydney! Both fantastic places and I wish Adelaide did this type of thing more. Both had great selections of Italian wines by the glass,...

Hi All
I'm in Sydney with work over the coming weekend; wondering if there are any CBD wine bars that I should check out...
Thanks+
Nick

Cheers Dave; PM sent.

We'll be in the Valley tomorrow Dave; will you still be there with those bottles of Astral Series?!

Thanks Adrian for the recommendation of Vincenzo's . Dined there for the first time last night and it was our first 'wow' dining experience for a while. Ticked every box and then some. Will definitely be going back soon, and while I didn't ask, might well work for an offline at some stage. Cheers Nick

I'm also in the rapidly growing "I'd be keen if there's room" group.

Cheers
Nick