Melbourne Offline - Friday 27th July (Abla)

michaelw · Post by **michaelw** » Thu Jun 14, 2007 5:45 pm

Friday 27th July at Abla for an offline.

Abla's is at 109 Elgin St, Carlton.

Who's in?

Theme suggestions are also welcome. I'm suggesting a challenge/contrast between Heathcote and either Rutherglen or Barossa.

Attendees:
michaelw +1
prester john +1
tpang
funk44
aj_syrah
shiraz_freak +1
Dr Durif +1
Gasman
Mark S
Darby (sorry, I missed your earlier post!)

Running total: 14 (as at 1.110pm Thursday 26th July)

prester john · Post by **prester john** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:52 am

I'm in for 2 people: me and a wine-loving friend, although this might extend to 3 people. I'll confirm a little later.

I'd really love a fortified wine theme, but I recognise that this wouldn't be quite appropriate. Therefore, I'm quite happy with your theme, but I'd like to suggest another theme of pre-2000 reds from anywhere.

The other forumites can let us know.

Best,

PJ.

michaelw · Post by **michaelw** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 8:25 am

Maybe we could run with the fortified theme after the mains or during dessert?

tpang · Post by **tpang** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:00 am

Count me in for this one, plus a possibility of 2 others...

I like the notion of healthcote/rutherglen side by side with barossa/mclaren vale.

funk44 · Post by **funk44** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 7:48 pm

i know im very new to this forum but it sounds like something i should be involved in, due to my age (22) its difficult to meet wine enthusiasts of my own age outside of work (i work in hospitality). What are the general ages of people in these events, would i be out of place at my age? Personally i would see it as an opportunity for the older folks to impart their much greater wisdom of wine upon me

griff · Post by **griff** » Fri Jun 15, 2007 9:28 pm

funk44 wrote:i know im very new to this forum but it sounds like something i should be involved in, due to my age (22) its difficult to meet wine enthusiasts of my own age outside of work (i work in hospitality). What are the general ages of people in these events, would i be out of place at my age? Personally i would see it as an opportunity for the older folks to impart their much greater wisdom of wine upon me

All ages are invited (over 18 of course!). Having said that, prior to asking a question of the wise ones, it is customary to proffer a gift. A nice bottle of wine brought to the offline usually is sufficient but who knows?

cheers

Carl

michaelw · Post by **michaelw** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:32 am

Any more takers? I know it's about 6 weeks out but we need to make a booking and organise 'who's bringing what'.

This may well be the Annual Melbourne Offline if history is the best indication of the future. Don't miss this once a year opportunity.

danclarke · Post by **danclarke** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:23 pm

michaelw wrote:
This may well be the Annual Melbourne Offline if history is the best indication of the future. Don't miss this once a year opportunity.

What?

danclarke · Post by **danclarke** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 8:34 pm

By the way. When choosing the wines. Dont go red nuts. Alba's does not suit it

tpang · Post by **tpang** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 9:38 pm

danclarke wrote:By the way. When choosing the wines. Dont go red nuts. Alba's does not suit it

What do you think would suit Abla's? I've never been there, so no idea what the flavours we'd want to be trying to match.. some aged perhaps?

Hey people! surely Elgin St isn't that rural? a melbourne offline and only 5 confirmed with hardly any interest? geez...

danclarke · Post by **danclarke** » Tue Jun 19, 2007 10:10 pm

I'd head down the aromatic track in reds and whites
Moscato, marsanne, sangiovese, grenache, cabernet shiraz, and then some shiraz.
But I'll have money you end up liking the earlier stuff more

Something like that anyway.
The food needs fresh wines early, or you can get bogged down.

aj_syrah · Post by **aj_syrah** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:50 am

G'day funk44 and all ,

I have the same problem. i'm 24 and don't know anyone of my age that has a large interest in wine - look forward to meeting you funk44. I'm in for abla's. As far as themes go,

I'm suggesting a challenge/contrast between Heathcote and either Rutherglen or Barossa.

I like the idea, would prefer the challenge to be between heathcote and barossa - or for even more freedom, VIC v. SA. That would allow me to include yarra valley (a very important region), and by then i would have my delivery of Hillcrest premium cabernet and pinot. Further, an expanded theme beyond heatchote, rutherglen and barossa, would then be able to include some good white's, that may be suited to Abla's.

AJ_SYRAH>

tpang · Post by **tpang** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 10:56 am

aj_syrah wrote:G'day funk44 and all ,

I have the same problem. i'm 24 and don't know anyone of my age that has a large interest in wine - look forward to meeting you funk44. I'm in for abla's.

I'm 28 and have the exact same problem.. lots of people can't drag themselves away from uni-cheap beer days..

Shiraz_Freak · Post by **Shiraz_Freak** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 3:46 pm

Count me in guys +1, now just have to find some wines to bring along.

michaelw · Post by **michaelw** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 5:34 pm

Great. Now we're at 10 attendees (if tpang's 2 guests are confirmed).

With regard to theme, we could expand to regions outside of those already mentioned or we could try and come up with some whites from Heathcote and Barossa as well. That might be a bit interesting.

Or do we have a white theme and a red theme?

Shiraz_Freak · Post by **Shiraz_Freak** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 6:20 pm

Can anybody suggest hotels for the night near abla?

danclarke · Post by **danclarke** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:11 pm

Shiraz_Freak wrote:Can anybody suggest hotels for the night near abla?

What sort of place?

The windsor is a $10 cab tops

Shiraz_Freak · Post by **Shiraz_Freak** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:41 pm

was there on the weekend. rydges looks good and just around the corner from Abla.

Mrs_freak would like to know if any of the attendees are women??

Also what is the go with minimum amounts to bring 1 bottle per person??
And have we settled on a theme??

griff · Post by **griff** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:51 pm

Shiraz_Freak wrote:was there on the weekend. rydges looks good and just around the corner from Abla.

Mrs_freak would like to know if any of the attendees are women??

Also what is the go with minimum amounts to bring 1 bottle per person??
And have we settled on a theme??

Judging by your byline shouldn't it be at least 2 bottles per person?

cheers

Carl

Shiraz_Freak · Post by **Shiraz_Freak** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 8:53 pm

Haha yeah, but one doesnt want to get too messy and be banished from the boards :lol:

funk44 · Post by **funk44** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 10:35 pm

not too sure how the wine situation works but perhaps i'll get the ball rolling.

I assume that we are doing the banquet menu at abla, also my budget isn't overly large but i'll bring the best i can afford

I'm happy to bring:
2005 Spinifex Esprit
1994 DeBortoli Noble One

does that sound suitable?

aj_syrah · Post by **aj_syrah** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 4:06 am

funk44 wrote:1994 DeBortoli Noble One

does that sound suitable?

Jeremy Oliver's Wine Annual tells me that the 94 noble one is a 96 point wine, matched only by the 02. Further inspection tells me that JO gave the 02 18.9/20, but the 94 19.0/20 (making it the best noble one ever, in JO's opinion). It sounds good to me!

Shiraz_Freak wrote:Can anybody suggest hotels for the night near abla?

abla's, on elgin st, is very close to the CBD (5 min cab ride). I suggest looking at http://www.wotif.com for deals on accommodation in Melbourne. I can recommend the Hotel Lindrum in melb, and also the Adelphi - which contains one of melbourne's best restaurants - Ezard's (and they'll give you more than two scallops).

tpang wrote:I'm 28 and have the exact same problem.. lots of people can't drag themselves away from uni-cheap beer days..

Cool, look forward to meeting you at the offline.

the menu, for wine matching purposes, is available at http://www.ablas.com.au/menu.html under banquet.

As far as themes go, i'm happy with any theme, but perhaps the theme of 'my favourite wine' might be nice, adding a personal aspect to the night.

AJ_SYRAH>

prester john · Post by **prester john** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:05 am

All,

I've been to a few wine nights, and I have found that bringing 2 bottles is overkill.

I would recommend bringing 1 bottle each, but make it a decent and memorable one. We can settle upon who will be bringing what variety, etc as we get closer to the time.

I'm quite happy with the theme suggested, but let's not mix the reds and the whites.

As for being a small group (ie. 10 persons or less), this simply makes for a more intimate evening. I see no negative in only having a small group. Nevertheless, all attendees are welcome.

Best,

PJ.

Nayan · Post by **Nayan** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:45 am

prester john wrote:I've been to a few wine nights, and I have found that bringing 2 bottles is overkill.

Wimp!

Wine Girl · Post by **Wine Girl** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 10:09 am

Please count me in as 1 definite, but it may become 2 later.

For whoevers wife was concerned about the male/female situation, I am female!

tpang · Post by **tpang** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 4:26 pm

aj_syrah wrote:As far as themes go, i'm happy with any theme, but perhaps the theme of 'my favourite wine' might be nice, adding a personal aspect to the night.

'my fav wine' might turn this into a really expensive outing :lol:

I initially thought of taking a Buller Durif next to a Massena. But following danclarke's advice, something more aromatic might be in order.. Into The Dark Grenache anyone?

Wine Girl · Post by **Wine Girl** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 5:47 pm

What about a "My favourite wine for under $50" theme for those of us on a budget?

tpang · Post by **tpang** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 10:55 am

That's a good idea.. are we still in for 'a bottle per person'?

michaelw · Post by **michaelw** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 2:03 pm

I think so.

One bottle per person in a theme of "My favourite wine under $50".

Take into account the food we'll be eating. While I'm happy to drink most wines, they may not show as well with the food we'll be consuming.

prester john · Post by **prester john** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 2:43 pm

Michaelw,

I assume that the $50 applies to the price you paid at the time of purchase.

I have too much wine which was well under $50 when purchased, but now would be over that limit.

In particular, and to get a list of bottles started, I am thinking of bringing a 1992 Eileen Hardy shiraz.

However, if you'd prefer that I bring a port or a Noble One, I could live with that too.

BTW, nice website. You've got a nice family. You're a lucky man.

Best,

PJ.