Barossa Trip 2007

[rednut]

Well it was that time of year again and we headed to the Barossa for our Kaesler pilgrimage.

3 nights at Kaeslers Cottages and lots of tasting to be done.

Started with a walk to Penfolds on the Sunday arvo and gave thier range a whirl. Some nice wines but nothing really grabbed me by the long a curlies.

Day 1 we headed for Chateau Tanunda and tried the complete range. Lovely wines, great service and well worth a visit. Purchased some 06 Sem/Sauv. Blanc, 06 Grenache Rose, 05 Shiraz and Nightwatch Sparkling Shiraz.

Next stop Bethany Wines as our travelling companions hadnt been there.
Left with a bottle of their 2002 GR8 Shiraz for the cellar.

Turkey Flat was next and only 1 red available for tasting with their Grenache sold out.
Love their Rose though.

Kaeslers was the last tasting for the day and all their wines just keep on getting better.
Bought a couple of Bogans and a Cab/Sav. which is very nice indeed.

Day 2 started at Maggie Beers. Loved the dips etc and also their wine selection. The 05 Shiraz was a steal for $15 and I absolutely enjoyed the 2004 Old Vine Shiraz ($50) and took a bottle of each with me.

After Maggie's we headed for Henschke's as I have never been there. Was a little dissappointed with their wines I must say. Little too dry for mine and our friends tastes.

Yalumba was the next stop and the service and atmosphere there was fantastic as usual.
Left with a couple of Roses for the wife.

Heritage Wines was the last stop and I am a bit biased with their wines as I like em all.
Chatted with Steve Hoff for a while and finished with a glass of 04 Roscoe's. Nice end to a great trip.

Had tea with a friend who works there and she brought a magnum of the 2004 Roscoes which we consumed with much enjoyment.

Left the Barossa with a nice collection of wines and a visa card with a bit of damage but hey life's too short.

[George Krashos]

Just wondering how much the Roscoe's magnum was?

-- George Krashos

[rednut]

Just wondering how much the Roscoe's magnum was?

-- George Krashos

The one we drank was brought by our friends. They sell through Heritage for $100 while they last .

[JamieBahrain]

I bought one last year and recall $80?

[Matthew Moate]

I know this topic is a little old but well done... Sounds like a grat trip. Living only a few minutes from the Barossa I don't get there as often as I would like. I'd recommend that you try Langmeil on your next visit...

[silkwood]

I was in the Barossa last weekend and purchased from Veritas, Richmond Grove and Kaesler (way too much, couldn't resist, though I [barely] resisted The Old Bastard, my card was getting a hammering as it was!).

Tried the wines at Maggie Beers, including the newly released late harvest riesling, but I have to say I wasn't overly impressed with anything on a QPR basis. The food was great though, and a pleasant place to enjoy a light lunch, overlooking the dam. On the way out I looked in on the pheasants in the pens. One of them kept charging the fence, trying to attack me! I think it knew I didn't buy any wine.

Cheers,

Mark

[rednut]

We bought the Old Bastard and I loved their Cab Sav.

Im suprised you didnt like any of Maggie's wines?
Did you try the Old Vine Shiraz?

[Ralph]

Hi,

I made a trip up to rockfords last week and was unlucky to miss out of purchasing a 1994 basket press from their cellars (last one sold that morning), however fortunate to be the first to try and buy the new 2000 SVS Hoffman.

Very closed (straight up from cellar and decanted then tasted) but great nose was evident.

Thanks to Rachael for looking after me.

Damian

[DavidL]

Hi Ralph I presume your a stonewaller. What else was on tasting? any other SVS wines and how much? thanks david

[silkwood]

Im suprised you didnt like any of Maggie's wines?
Did you try the Old Vine Shiraz?

Rednut, I found the $15 house wine okay, but there are too many very good every-day drinkers around at the moment, and this wasn't up with the better ones. I did like the Old Vine, but thought it was similar to many good wines around $25-$30. At $50 I simply thought my money was better spent elsewhere.

I rarely buy wines under $20 at cellar door, unless they are either hard to get elsewhere and I particularly like them, or they are CD only. I can usually get good lower priced wines at a better price off the net or at retailers. I use trips to the wineries to sample the wines, find new things that I like (particularly from smaller producers) and to enjoy the ambience of the wine regions. I think a lot of people are the same.

Cheers,
Mark

[rednut]

Fair enough Mark...

[Ralph]

Hi David,

In the interests of red decorum I skipped the whites - almost, did try the Riesling, which I enjoyed, not too minerally, slight touch of honey.

Skipped the Grenache, tried the 03 and 04 cabernet (04 from half bottles), the 03 has settled down with extra bottle age.

No BP nor sparkling shiraz. Onto the SVS Hoffman, which was $80.00. Only the Hoffman made SVS for 2000.

Finished off with a nip of VP, still the 99.

Oh the Alicante 07 is available, didn't try just bought 6, plus a VP, a magnum of 02 BP and the SVS. I already have the cabernet in cellar.

Regards.

[DavidL]

Hi again Ralph

In your opinion is the SVS worth $80?

David

[Ralph]

It's all relative I suppose. I was happy to buy at that price, others might find better value / preferences elsewhere.