The Auswine Forum

Basically I can't have pork/bacon/ham/panchetta (anything pig related) or seafood, so menus 2 and 3 work for me!

I hope to present two closely related wines. One will be red and have bubbles, the other will be red should be bubble free. As far as I can tell, they are made from the same grapes. I think the comparison would be very interesting.

If we're swamped with still reds, I'll be happy to investigate a small producer white - and knowing me it'll be old, and either riesling or semillon.

My only preference with regard to the menu is for dessert - I'm a sucker for a crème brûlée... so that gets my vote!

Thanks for putting this together Sarah. I'm in, and Josh has already messaged me to say he's interested in going too.

Menus 2 and 3 both look great. Crème Brûlée would be nice, then again sticky date pudding could be a good match for some vintage ports at the end.

Cheers,
Ian

People RSVPed so far:
Sarah +1
Andrew Jefford +1
PaulG + Jaz
Steve
n4sir
Josh
silkwood

Lagare Lout (Duane) has indicated he'll go at this stage too. David & Pam are checking their schedule tonight to see if they can make it.

Cheers,
Ian

Catherine and I will attend if there is still space. Thanks.

Sean

People RSVPed so far:
Sarah +1
Andrew Jefford +1
PaulG + Jaz
Steve
n4sir
Josh
silkwood
Sean + Catherine
Lagare Lout
David + Pam?

Pity about the change of venue - would have loved to catch up with those of you who could make it to our neck of the woods in the southern vales.

Hope those of you who went to the Dutschke dinner had as good a time as I did - great night to spend a wedding anniversary!

Cheers,
John

I should be able to make this one I reckon....looks like there would be too many people if I put my hand up though.

see how you go....chuck me in as a reserve

If it's looking like too many I'll drop out.

Cheers,

Mark

John and Sue can't resist this temptation.

Count us in please, if there is room.

Andrew and I share the same birth year, yet he looks so much older.

I'm also in the please fit me in if there's room category
regards chris

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

Cheers
Nick

And me in the 'if room' category. And a possible +1 (if room)

I'll put in for this menu with the resutarant.

On Arrival-
Grenache Vinegar Marinated Olives

Entrée
Leek & Blue Cheese Tart, Rocket Pear Salad,
Walnut Dressing
Chargrilled Turkish Bread w Candied Balsamic & EVOO

Main
Wagyu Rump, Yorkshire Pudding
Fondant Pumpkin, Green Beans & Jus
Rosemary & Garlic Roasted Chat Potatoes

Dessert
Apple Crème Brûlée, Fig & Walnut Biscotti ($1.50 Surcharge)

People RSVPed so far:
Sarah +1
Andrew Jefford +1
PaulG + Jaz
Steve
n4sir
Josh
silkwood
Sean + Catherine
Lagare Lout
David + Pam?
Dave B
John + Sue
ck
Nick
Wayno +1

I think this number is ok - we must have had something around this when we did the last Soho dinner, and everyone managed to have enough wine to taste then!

All I can say is YUM!

Happy to Direct Deposit if you like - and whilst we're at it we may as well give you the whole amount (save fiddling for money on the night!)

Just to update - no deposit required (this was for functions that were to be paid by cheque, but since we will be paying with cash it's not an issue).

I have booked for 22 (6:30pm arrival) - we have a room to ourselves. I will confirm numbers one week prior to the booking, so please let me know if you can't make it afterall.

Please remember to bring glassware - they have offered glassware, but I think it's just nice to have your own nice glasses, and give the restaurant one less thing to deal with because we use so many
They have plenty of icebuckets etc.

Final cost is $66.50 p/h

I've picked menu 3 as I think it offered the greatest flexibility in terms of what wines would match

Can't wait for this one!!!

Sounds great.

22 sounds like a few too many for a quiet evening of tasting. I'll take my name out. Thanks for organising, hope everyone has a great evening.

Cheers,

Mark

Pam and I will be there.

Sarah,
Susan and I cannot now come to this offline due to work commitments.

We're very sorry, I know you have put a lot of effort into the arrangements.

John

I've managed to get the bottle I was shooting for, so Jaz and I can confirm we will be bringing along:
2002 Stringy Brae Shiraz
2006 Samuel's Gorge Grenache

Are we at the stage of finding out what everyone is bringing yet?

P

silkwood wrote:22 sounds like a few too many for a quiet evening of tasting. I'll take my name out. Thanks for organising, hope everyone has a great evening.

Cheers,

Mark

Please don't let that put you off Mark - we haven't seen you at an offline recently.

A question about the "small winemakers" theme - just what exactly qualifies as a small winemaker for this purpose? Turnover under 50,000 cases? No cellar door? Height under five foot eight?...

Cheers,
Ian

Jiust to update...

Sarah +1
Andrew Jefford +1
PaulG + Jaz
Steve
n4sir
Josh
Sean + Catherine
Lagare Lout
David + Pam
Dave B
ck
Nick
Wayno +1
Mark Wickman

Can everybody who has put their hand up for the dinner let me know if this has changed? We often fluctuate in numbers towards the date and I'd like to give the Sauce a final number by friday.

As for the theme - well i guess it's fairly flexible, but what i was thinking was more along the lines of 'not owned by a giant company', or 'not made in a way that relies upon drawing on grapes from all over the place'

ie Andrew is interested in that 'terroir' quality. so perhaps that is more what i am getting at. Wines expressive of that 'place'. Australian of course. Does that make sense???

I still intend to be there.

It's looking like a good dinner. I don't think I've been to one since before my South East Asian Odyssey (tm) last year... it's been a while!

At this stage Duane, Josh & myself are still good to go.

I'm still working out what to take - maybe a magnum of 1994 Mitchell Cabernet Sauvignon...

Actually, does Andrew actually have any requests of anything in particular he'd like to try in regard to region/age?

Cheers,
Ian

i'm still there and as far as i know, so is my +1. Thinking maybe an Ashton Hills Reserve Pinot 2004 for me, so far but that could change between now and then.

n4sir wrote:At this stage Duane, Josh & myself are still good to go.

I'm still working out what to take - maybe a magnum of 1994 Mitchell Cabernet Sauvignon...

Actually, does Andrew actually have any requests of anything in particular he'd like to try in regard to region/age?

Cheers,
Ian

Good question Ian - have sent him an email asking if there is anything in particular he would like to see, and on the other hand, what he has already had and may not want to have again.

I didn't ask him about the age issue, but i guess some O/S wine drinkers is that Australian wines generally don't age, so a few mature ones if we have access might be a good idea. or a pair of a young vintage and old vintage of same wine?

cheers
Sarah

I'm in at this stage.... bringing a Sami-Odi Shiraz and probably a DP64

Andrew is happy to try anything we recommend, and is looking forward to experiencing the arty end of the wine spectrum