The Auswine Forum

" yes, yes, now go take an aspirin and have a good lie down."

Often wondered what a 'bad lie down' would look like.

Wife insisted we buy a wine fridge as I was taking up too much of the main fridge with my bottles. Smallish, Vintec V40SG2EBK, 40 - 50 bottle capacity, 2 temperature zones, a little under 2K. Excellent in all respects, however too small. I have commercial storage too, but juggling between home &...

Indeed very disappointing when you open an expensive (and particularly if a long-cellared) bottle to find it TCA affected. My routine is, if I come across a dud bottle, (and not only for corked wines, but any good wine that I suspect is faulty for whatever reason) is to immediately pour the rest bac...

Good to get this info on the NZ auctions, Brodie - I've been involved in wine auctions in Oz for many years, and was (briefly) dealing with Mossgreen shortly before they went under (probably lucky I didn't get stung!) Been curious about the NZ scene for years. My interstate experiences have generall...

Yes, generally one month later, but over Xmas/NY period very inconsistent - I got a bank deposit from proceeds of a 17 Dec auction on the 21 Dec - just 4 days later! Never had this happen before. However, I also have a number of invoices going back many months that are still listed as "payment ...

Mark Wickman's operation is excellent - transparent with careful attention to the condition and provenance of the wines sold. Smaller than the other auction houses, but it's nice to easily and directly talk to the owner/manager/operator, which Mark is.

Practical tip - not sure where you are, but if at all possible, leave your wines with the auction house in your own city, ie somewhere you can drive to to drop off and if need be, collect. I've dealt with most auction houses extensively over the years, still do, and have found through hard experienc...

When I get a wine I know should be good, but isn't, if it's expensive (say $50+) I'll keep as much in the original bottle as I can, and immediately send it (under my own steam) to the winery, not making any claims of any particular fault, simply stating my own unhappiness with it, and asking for the...

Certainly Mark Wickman's operation is excellent in all respects!

There are other auctions worth a look - interstate ones will usually do good freight rates m m Also m while Grays sell a huge amount of cheap stuff, they have 'Private Cellar" auctions Mon thru TH nights usually closing at 9pm. These can have all manner of really interesting wines in them - jus...

Hi - have not been to offlines in many a long year, would very much like to meet you in person, Mark. Count me in for Fri 23 May - venues previously mentioned are all good - La Luna will provide an upstairs room if there's enough of us. Everyone who's been to Matteo's (including me) raves about it -...

see page 84 of the latest Penfolds Rewards of Patience, confirms the Crittenden connection with the first vintage of Bin 707. Sammy if your bottles are in good condition you have a wonderful (& valuable) wine there - if you do intend to sell/auction them, be sure to get the auction house to stat...

Even though no price is given for the Magnum of Claret, there's got to be some realistic estimate of it's commercial value - also, does anyone have knowledge of where the wine comes from, and is it related/the same as some existing Penfolds product?

I've been a fan of Phillip Jones' pinots for many years, and have had the good fortune to attend quite a number of tastings, wine dinners & such showcasing his wares. However every attempt I've made over the past several months to contact Phillip/the winery has been fruitless - does anyone here ...

a while ago cracked a long-cellared bottle of Katnook Cabernet 1998 with high expectations - very disappointed to find a thin, fruitless wine with odd notes - convinced that something was not right with it, sent the remains under my own steam to Katnook winery. Got a call not long after - they had n...

Have tried a few Giaconda Aeolia's, and my impressions are that it is a wine best young - at a year or two old. The older ones seem to go over into the harsher phenolic territory. Lovely wine when fresh. Talking of viogniers, I've pretty much been in the "why bother with this variety" camp...

for exemplary service & professionalism in their response to my email about a corked bottle of 2002 Parker Terra Rossa Merlot - a wine I've greatly enjoyed over a number of vintages. A brief explanation of the problem sufficed for them to send me a replacement bottle of the same vintage, without...

Thanks for that, mf & Brian - so leaving aside the artifical addition of sugar or similar processes, grapes picked at a relatively low baume like say 11, would make a 'regular' dry style wine, and couldn't really be made into anything syrupy, heavy or sweet?

Not knowing much on the technical side - is 11 or 12 baume considered low? Can you have a rich syrupy wine such as a Rutherglen-like tokay or muscat with that level of baume, or given their strength/sweetness would the baume have to be much higher?

It was a lovely wine, over a decently long drinking window, however, now in decline unless you're lucky enough to find some bottles with exceptional provenance

Tatachilla Foundation Shiraz 1999 - big prizewinner in past years - quite developed, has a 'sour' note that some would find appealing, others may find off-putting, certainly full of interest and likely to generate animated discussion in a group tasting. Caledonia Australis Pinot 2001 - a producer t...

Jeremy wrote "In a couple of email conversations with Vanya, she IS really wrapped by the 2007 vintage. It's not my sorta stuff, but she loved what the vintage did for the grapes and flavours, so she's genuine...in reply to Pelican" Jeremy , just to clarify : the vintage ratings covered n...

I just received as a gift a bottle of: Charles Cimicky Shiraz Signataire 1999 Can anyone help me with this? my tasting note from Nov 2007 "excellent looking cork, 1mm staining. a bit reticent on opening, but coming out of its shell now - not overdone in any way, decent honest warm climate shir...

Have a 1991 Jim Barry Armagh that's been lying around for years - anyone have experience of this one?

Petaluma Coonawarra Merlot 1998... I've seen a fairly glowing Jeremy Oliver note but love to hear some others if they are out there... Can't recall tasting this particular vintage of the merlot, however, my experience over a fair few other vintages, is that it's a remarkably long-lived wine, and se...

I'd be tempted by the Jacobs Creek 'Limited' shiraz cab, lovely cellarable wines, the Kooyong Ferrous Pinot, retail is around $60 on each I believe, and the Majella cab at $25

Struck what I was pretty sure was a corked 1995 Petaluma Merlot some days back - kept the remains in the fridge as I always do in case the winery or merchant asks for the proof - emailed Petaluma; following day got a phone call from them, after a brief discussion, they sent a current vintage (2004) ...

been getting a few of these emails in the last few weeks - but when I log on, there's nothing there - anyone else getting the same thing??

didn't know that - do they give any reason for not using the gas device on magnums?

absolutely right - have had a few wonderful Morris, Seppelts, Grands or Rares - without getting that hot harsh character at all. Australia's gems.