The Auswine Forum

Good news story. I rang Dalwhinnie about a corked Shiraz, not only did the lady at the cellar door agree to replace but the winemaker rang later the same day to apologise and said they would send a replacement no evidence required.

All
Thanks for the advice, I am getting a picture now of what to expect and the anticipation is building. Notes on tour will be posted on return.

cheers Colin

My wife and I are going to France in October and of course I have my mind set on going to either Burgundy or Bordeaux to experience the wine scene. I would appreciate some advice on: 1. Of the two regions which is the better area to visit if I had to choose one from a wine experience perspective. 2....

Over the last week or so drinking was never better with a couple of specials for me and the family. Dalwhinnie Shiraz 2001 Pulled the cork and let it sit for a couple of hours as per Attila's recommendation. The bouquet was blueberry, spice and perfumed, not overbearing but showed finesse. It litera...

What is the prospect for Southern regions 2005 vintage given the extensive wet Summer. I would have thought the rain so late in the season would be a disaster and after so many dry years with Indian Summers this will be a huge challenge.

Colin

Attila Great notes that capture the exprience. I was at the winery last October for the second time and a lifelong convert now, fantastic cellar door overlooking the valley. 2002 DALWHINNIE Moonambel Shiraz A very seductive Shiraz that was aged in 50% American and 50% French oak, 30% of the barrels ...

Alex I don't profess to have access to the best wines but I think part of what you say might be related to the market saturation of Shiraz. Perhaps it is a case of familiarity breeds contempt. I drink Shiraz from different regions and I find something different in each, some have minor variations an...

Ok, went for something different on Saturday night, an Argentinian Cab Sav for $12. Santa Julia Reserve 2002 Cab Sav Quite green and stalky aromas, in the mouth it was still the same with herbaceous leafy flavours as well, tannins were dominent and mouth puckeringg. Maybe it needed some beauty sleep...

I went out last night for Chinese, stinking hot night but I wanted to have a nice Pinot Noir for a change so looked at NZ and Tassie stuff that didn't break the bank. Ended up with a Tamar Ridge 2003 at $23. Tamar Ridge 2003 I asked for an ice bucket to keep the wine at lower than the room temperatu...

Damn, that was me. Colin

This has been a fascinating discussion thread and one that could hold our interest for a further month but in order to avoid a Bay of Pigs type incident we should take stock of what has been said. My interest was raised by an international vintage chart regarding premium wines. Without taking too mu...

Gary wrote At the top level of Australian wine - the great gifts to the world - IMO there is Rutherglen Fortifieds Now there is something I can relate to, some of the best fortifieds to be found, and at reasonable prices. As for premium reds I have to admit the arguments put forward by the French pr...

Some thoughts on the threads. Keith wrote The Australian dollar is strong versus the US dollar at the moment which is most certainly not helping our wine exporters I would have thought an exchange rate of .76 would have been favourable for our market, if it isn't that suggests that price is a major ...

Apologies to Brian Croser, mi misteak.

I happened upon a wine site in USA that is run by Berry Bros & Rudd, probably the USA equivalent to Gavin's site. They have a vintage chart for the world which I was most interested in from an Aus and NZ perspective. To my amazement, disappointment then despair I realised that they did not rate ...

Anthony
Salient advice and probably on the money as I haven't seen any forum TNs proclaiming these wines to be noteworthy and the wines have been on the market for a few months now. Colin

I visited an Aldi supermarket for the first time yesterday and noticed they buy wine and stick their own label on it. Margaret River 2002 CS for $16.99, Mornington Penninsula 2000 Pinot Noir $16.99 etc, has anyone tried it and is it any good and what is the QPR?

Colin

On an indifferent weather day in Melbourne I took the missus to see an advanced screening of Sideways at the Rivoli cinema in Camberwell. For the uninitiated Sideways is a story about two men doing a wine tour in California before one of them gets married. Forumites who enjoy a carefree comedy will ...

Fine, I won't waste my hard earned if I ever have the chance to snap one up. It's back to scouring the aisles for the Shiraz discounts.

Colin

Ok, what makes it overrated in your opinion, price, taste, style, embelished reputation? I have not tasted it but clearly your passionate outcry suggests you have.

Colin

I opened my last bottle three years ago and it was superb for the price. My opinion is it would have reached its peak and is ready for drinking now, happy drinking.

Colin

that was me

Colin

I read recently where it was considered time for great Cab Savs to start making a renaissance for the variety. Shiraz dominates the wine media and their accolades but I have noticed the emergence of some CSs and CS blends that are making an impression. Is it possible the sameness of Shiraz in Aust w...

I visited the winery Oct last year to try the 2002 range. The winemaker rates 2002 as one of their best vintages, take it on trust and enjoy what you have over the next decade. Colin

On Monday 27th December it hell had frozen over in Mornington so out came one from the cellar to have for lunch. Plantagenet 1995 Mount Barker Shiraz I drank another bottle of this about two years ago and was not overly impressed, after two years I am willing to change my mind. Spice and pepper with...

I bought a cleanskin from Dan's the other day, 2002 Langhorne's Creek Shiraz Cab Sav. Not a bad drop for $8, got what I expected for the price but something puzzles me. The cork that came out is from Brown Brothers, now either they have a vineyard over in SA I was not aware of or Dan got his geograp...

Making a trip to visit the family for lunch on my birthday last weekend loaded up with cleanskins and a bottle of Bullers Tawny Port I stumbled across something that had been awakened from my youthful memory. In the pantry stuck behind the sherry and spumante my father had uncarefully cellared a bot...

Quiet weekend, went away but managed one wine. M.Chapoutier 1999 Mount Benson Shiraz At first nothing on the nose except briary type smells, with a weak, nearly watery palate, I was beginning to worry. After half an hour things were starting to happen, dry savoury flavours mixed with cherry and dark...

Neville Thanks for your track notes, sounds like the Cox Plate is a few years off for One Eye and Pink Cliffs. I was at Mornington for the weekend, not for the races but they were on there, perhaps this is where the Shadowfax stable should have been trying their new colts in the 2YO maiden; you gott...

Thanks
Interesting results, I am surprised the 2002 SA wines didn't do better. Colin