Melbourne Offline - Friday 27th July (Abla)

[danclarke]

You guys need to get on the Coded offline train.. choo choo

Code 1 Offline - Undisputed champions. DRC, Grange, Latour etc.
If you want to bring something above this, you’re dreaming.

Code 2 Offline - Wines of high pedigree – Moss Wood, Cullen, La Grange, Giaconda, Mt Mary
If you want to bring something above this, fine.

Code 3 Offline – Basically $30 - $50 wines with a bit of age on them, say 6 years.
389, St Peters, Vat 47, Vat 1, Voyager etc.
If you want to bring something above this, fine.

Code 4 offline - Fast get together, No level. BBQ type wines - Bring what ever you like.

[danclarke]

Admittedly it is a little dated now, and it does need another level slotted in between 1 and 2...somehow

[tpang]

and between 3-4, young-ish or newly released $30-50 wines ..

[Dr Durif]

If there is still room for 2 more then I'd be keen to come along.

[Shiraz_Freak]

We will be trying to bring a pedro ximinezz sherry and maybe 2 others, not sure what they will be yet.

Looks there are a few that will be going now, should be a good night

[funk44]

i'll dig around and see what i can find, i will bring the noble one along for sure

[michaelw]

If there is still room for 2 more then I'd be keen to come along.

Most certainly Dr Durif. Glad you can make it

[michaelw]

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.

Thanks PJ.

I reckon $50 at the time of purchase is a fair call. A 1992 Eileen will be a great contrast to some of the other wines I'm sure.

[tpang]

Since we've been recommended something aromatic, I'll bring the Greenock Creek Grenache and Apricot Block.

Had a chat with Brandon at Cloudwine today, he was recounting how they had a function at Abla's too and thoroughly enjoyed the occasion. Can't wait!

[aj_syrah]

Trying to decide what to bring, my current thoughts are either;

05 Hillcrest Premium Cabernet or Premium Pinot,
05 Woodlands Margaret Reserve Cabernet Merlot,
05 Torbreck the Gask.
+
a bottle of steingarten riesling

any thought's?

[tpang]

the gask!

[Shiraz_Freak]

Hello all,

Been having a look for some wines to take and have narrowed it down to.

1998 Tahbilk reserve shiraz or cabenet
1999 BVE E&E Black Pepper shiraz
2004 Summerfield reserve shiraz
2001 Broken River sparkling shiraz

Looks like the broken river for sure plus 2 of the others.

Sound good?

The Gask sounds good Aj

[aj_syrah]

The Gask it is! - hope it's not corked. Might bring a backup just in case. Does 04 Seppelt St Peters sound good?

[Gasman]

Sorry for the late reply, but have been working in Vanuatu last two weeks - little access to internet.

Count me in. Favourite wine under $50?......guess I'll have to leave all the La Tache at home.

Has this been officially booked yet Michael? Time for a head count and maybe review of who's bringing what (or are we blinding any wines???)

[michaelw]

Righto, we've now got 15. Can those ppl that have commented they 'may' be bringing 1 or 2 extra ppl pls confirm this by the end of the week and I'll make a firm booking.

I'll collate "who's bringing what" over the next couple of days. If you're going to blind your wine, please let me know if it is red or white.

[Shiraz_Freak]

definatly 2 here and definatly red

[Mark S]

I'm in, numbers permitting - no shortage of wines with some age on them to bring (seeing as I get virtually no help at home drinking them!)

Maybe a St Henri 1980, or not so old, Bass Phillip Pinot 1998, and I'll bring a mystery white.

[Mark S]

I'm in, numbers permitting - no shortage of wines with some age on them to bring (seeing as I get virtually no help at home drinking them!)

Maybe a St Henri 1980, or not so old, Bass Phillip Pinot 1998, and I'll bring a mystery white.

[michaelw]

No probs Mark. Either of those wines sound like they'll fit the bill.

[aj_syrah]

The Gask may be a no show. The place that i was going to buy it from had a truck go through their storefront (cloudwine, bourke st), and they'll be closed for 2-3 weeks. I may be able to source it elsewhere.

[tpang]

aj, check out Nick's on High St, Armadale.. they might have some.

[tpang]

hey michaelw, my +2s can't make it that evening, so it's just me. and put me down for 2 light reds.

[Shiraz_Freak]

Just a quick question,

I have a decision to make concerning the E&E Black pepper, i can get the 99,00 or 02 which of these is the best vintage when it come to E&E? I have always thought 99 to be a bit of a dodgy vintage in the barossa but it seems some wines from this vintage are really hitting their straps, is E&E one of these? 02 was a good year but may be not old enough? and i'm not sure about the 00 from E&E?

They are all the same price so it doesnt matter which one i get in that regard.

[darby]

I can probably dig up a bottle of mid 1990s Heathcote red.

[aj_syrah]

I have a decision to make concerning the E&E Black pepper, i can get the 99,00 or 02 which of these is the best vintage when it
come to E&E?

Definately the '02.

aj, check out Nick's on High St, Armadale.. they might have some.

Thanks Tpang, Just bought a bottle from their Doncaster east store now. find the gask to be too full of stewed fruit. I'm enjoying it, but it's the type of wine that only comes good when you're near the end of the bottle. It won't work for an offline - as there will only be one glass per person. I'll bring an 04 Balnaves tally instead.

[michaelw]

And we are booked in. Friday 27th July, 6.30pm at Abla's under the name of Michael W. The booking is for 15 (as current numbers suggest) and we having the banquet ($45 a head).

If you can't make it or one of your +1's can't make it, please let me know as they are chockers that evening.

I made the booking for 6.30 to allow for the inevitable stragglers so that we may begin about 7pm. I'll bring a bottle of sparkling red (yet to decide which) for the early birds.

I'll post a list of 'who is bringing what' over the coming days and keep it updated as we go.

[prester john]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I hate to bring this up again, but I must. I would rather restrict this evening to 1 bottle of wine each and have 2 offlines in the next few months, than have one offline and bring a surfeit of bottles on the one night. Personally, I have never understood bringing 2 (or more) bottles per person for the one night. Is the intention of the evening to taste an array of wine which we might not normally taste, and in good company, or is it to simply get pi$$ed!? Wading through 30 bottles at even a sip or two per bottle is going to wreak some damage on me on the day after. I don't have to taste everything, but I'd like to, because that's a substantial reason for the evening.

If we all bring one bottle, we'll drink an average of 1 bottle each. For those who wish to simply get drunk, I think that even the most inveterate drinker will succeed in getting drunk on one bottle.

For those who think I'm a wimp or something else, please don't think that I'm hard up for an extra bottle. If necessary, I have no hesitation in bringing 5 bottles. But, I would still prefer that we bring one bottle each, and have a convivial evening; and let's make it a fine bottle. I don't intend to hold back on my choice.

Whatever we decide, I'll abide by the majority decision, but I'd still like to tone it down and conduct 2 offlines before the end of this year, or even 3 offlines if we have the will.

Let me know. I'll live with the result, whatever it is.

Also, we really need a port or a sauternes for the completion of the evening.

Michael, I confirm that I'm bringing myself + 1.

Best,

PJ.

[Shiraz_Freak]

I thought it was already decided that everyone would bring 1 bottle per person? I don't think it really matters how many each person brings, it's up to the individual how much they choose to imbibe. We will be in a hotel room not far from the restaurant, well hopefully not too far to crawl We will be a 2 but will most likely bring 3 bottles just to be on the safe side

As to what everyones bringing, it doesn't bother me as long as they think it is good or their fav wine.


Was just wondering Prester if u bring 5 bottles no need for us to bring any, we'll just drink yours

[aj_syrah]

I agree, 1 bottle of wine per person is perfectly reasonable. If anyone wants to bring 2 bottles, that's up to them, but there is no expectation that they should bring two. Likewise, a half bottle of a great desert wine would probably fit the bill, as smaller measures of dessert wine are served, and our idea is to try many different great wines, not get inebriated.

that being said, if anyone is wanting to get inebriated, the the supper club might be a good after(dinner)-party venue.

[Gasman]

Happy to bring just one bottle. I'll bring a masked white Michael.