The Auswine Forum

Good pick up Phil!

Picked up a six pack of St Henri at $72.90 a bottle from Dan's. Not too bad a price for what seems to be a classic vintage of I wine I quite like. Don't want to upset you, but it seems there's been a further price drop since this morning! No stress. Happy to secure a case at $72.90 bottle. Interest...

Picked up a six pack of St Henri at $72.90 a bottle from Dan's. Not too bad a price for what seems to be a classic vintage of I wine I quite like.

Both Alois Kracher and Eric Salomon have recently died - a tragedy for the Austrian wine industry, as these were two of the greats.

I'm sure the unfortunate punter who bid $144 for the 2000 Langhi Shiraz must have mistaken it for a six pack. Almost all the six pack bids are less than this so far.

Bit the bullet and sent off my usual order today (a mixed case of all four wines). Think the price rise is probably trying to make up for the next few releases which will be low (no whites next year, and very little reds the following), though not sure if John would have been so aggressive with the ...

Would prefer a Friday or Saturday, but either of those dates would still be O.K.
Anyone else interested ??? Happy to make suggestions for restaurants and/or organise if we get enough interest.

Would be up for a Septmeber offline if no prior engagement (it's building up to be a busy month!). Barossa vs Rutherglen sounds fine. Lots of other BYO options available near centre of town. Moreton's Brasserie on Rathdowne St has nice French bistro style food, and an upstairs section that's good fo...

Great night out. Again, thanks to Mark S for taking notes - very similar to my thoughts on the wines. Favourites for me were the two whites, the Eileen Hardy (sitting on a perfect plateau at the moment), and the outstanding Tally - all you could possibly want from a Coonawarra Cabernet. Sorry for du...

BB, I think that you're making an very strong assumption that 'they must not be very good at their jobs' if they can't recommend a $10 bottle of wine. It is really a redundant question to ask what they recommend at that price range, any restaurant that employs a real sommelier is not in the busines...

I would definitely decant the Tally. My advice would be to decant for about an hour, then double decant back into the bottle and cork.

Should be a great night. Just need to raid my old man cellar now.....

Are we still on Michael??? Any update on who's coming, and who's bringing what?

Hmmm, wish I could say the same. I e-mailed petaluma about 2 months ago regarding an undrinkable bottle of 2000 Tiers (oxidised) that had been well cellared and received no response at all.

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

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 ...

Be happy to attend on offline near the CBD in early July. Hard to head out of town with a one year old bub. Can I suggest one of the BYO restaurants in Rathdowne St. - Moreton's Brasserie has excellent French bistro food, reasonably priced, and has an upstairs section that can be used exclusively if...

C'mon Wine Girl - nothing like a good little stoush over a subject we're all passionate about.

Aah, I remember picking this up for $35 a bottle on release. Only bought two bottles. Doh!!!! Haven't opened one yet, but by all reports this is an awesome cabernet. I would think $100 is a reasonable price assuming good provenance. Which bottleshop by the way. (Don't worry, I won't rush over and bu...

Not many have arrived yet Nigel. I've ordered a few through Fine Wines of Europe (an importer based at Essendon Airport in Melbourne) - some Dom. Laurent Volnay and Confuron-Cotetidot Vosne Romanee 1er Crus. Still getting offers, though most are selling out very quickly. Prices are very painful on t...

Opened a bottle last night to complement some nice T-bones we'd bought. Not considered a great vintage, and wasn't super impressed when I opened a bottle five years ago, but this was singing last night. Bright clear ruby with no signs of bricking. Decanted for about an hour. Initially a bit tight on...

Grant, purchased at cellar door on release, and stored in a wine fridge at 14 degrees since purchase. Rooview, this is the only 2000 Tiers I've opened, so can't compare colour. That said, I've never had a dry white this dark that wasn't completely stuffed - this wine was oxidised beyond reproach. Ha...

Opened a bottle purchased from cellar door at Bridewater Mill. Perfectly cellared, good ullage and good looking cork, but the wine was deep orange and madierised. Anyone else have similar problems with this or other vintages?

NYE wines Rockford Black Shiraz ('99 disgorg) - Delicious start to proceedings. 1997 Grosset Polish Hill - Quite forward for its age - not stored very well. Any one else have experience with this? 2000 Penfolds 00A Chardy - Drinking beautifully now. No point keeping longer. 2001 Greenock Creek Seven...

Couple of nice pinots last night. 2005 Bindi Original vineyard - thought I'd try one young. Wonderful concentration and balance. Top notch pinot. 2000 Yarra Yarra - From St Andrew's vineyard. Was drinking well last night- again nice concentration, fine tannins and good length. Although their caberne...

Wine Girl, You have misread these wines completely. I've been tasting MM wines at cellar door for about a decade now, and the current releases are as good as any I've tasted. They're always difficult to pick when young, but I'm getting used to watching these wines develop after tasting at cellar do...

Michael - I'm not sure why you thought my comments were "sledging" or "harsh". I'm simply offering an opinion backed up by significant experience with these wines (as has another poster, irregular). As Wine Girl stated, this was her first experience tasting MM wines, and they are...

Wine Girl, You have misread these wines completely. I've been tasting MM wines at cellar door for about a decade now, and the current releases are as good as any I've tasted. They're always difficult to pick when young, but I'm getting used to watching these wines develop after tasting at cellar doo...

I will probably pour petrol on the forum fire with what I am about to say, but I simply must reply... When a winemaker sees a crate of grapes he/she is more likely to be praying there is tank space left in the winery to hold it... ... I think it is rubbish such as you have written that stops a lot ...

Andrew, my wife and I recently returned from London (we lived in Clerkenwell for 18 months) on a work/travel exploit much as your own sounds. We had a great time - lots of travel around the U.K. whilst working, and bookended the trip with travel around mainland Europe. Heaps of great food and wine o...