The Auswine Forum

12 x Stonehaven Limited Release 2021 Wrattonbully Shiraz. Another mid week quaffer (actually more than that IMO) from 2021 vintage. Needs a few years to settle down and come together.

Petersons 2016 Talbots Flat Mudgee Shiraz. Cork. I know zero about Mudgee wines. Brought by a friend this was an interesting introduction. Mature and ready to drink with lots of sweet plum and blackberry. What surprised was the 15.6% abv. It carries it quite well. Not unbalance at all. Went well wit...

A label completely unknown to me, no real info on their website as to background and winemaking, just like every other CW incarnation, outrageous RRP quoted on line, but 2016 Coonawarra Cabernet "discounted" to $20, what could possibly go wrong? 12 x 2016 Devitt & Moore Captain D Bruc...

Dowie Doole 2017 The Architect McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon. The 17 vintage generally in SA was tough but MV was one area that dodged the bullet. This wine is a good example. Opened 2.5 hours before serving with a reversed seared medium rare grade 8-9 wagyu chuck eye roll steak. Plenty of black f...

12 x Haselgrove 2021 Cul-Stor McLaren Vale Cabernet Shiraz Cabernet Franc. Nice quaffer at inviting price.

Perhaps there's a chance for all of us to get a bottle or two, with the holding back of the challenging aka shit 2020 vintage :wink: :wink: Cheers Craig Regarding 2020 vintage. SA has had a rare good streak of vintages recently. 19, 21,22 were outstanding with 18 not too shabby. What went wrong in ...

What has always puzzled me is the ability to buy (say) 20 year old Grange from great vintages, with provenance, at prices lower than current release. Substantially lower. Yes the price is more than on release but...Go figure. Chuck, same as Hill of Grace, I was happy to take $400 a bottle profit, o...

What has always puzzled me is the ability to buy (say) 20 year old Grange from great vintages, with provenance, at prices lower than current release. Substantially lower. Yes the price is more than on release but...Go figure.

On Saturday night paired with reverse seared scotch fillet and peppercorn sauce we enjoyed a Lindemans 2012 Limestone Ridge Coonawarra Cabernet Shiraz. From a great vintage IMO this is developing nicely. Since last bottle a few years ago the acids and tannins have settled nicely but plenty still for...

Whilst it's hard to swallow $1,000 the 21 vintage would be the one to get if you are a collector. 21 was an astonishingly great vintage in the Barossa/Eden. I've been loading up on them for a while now albeit at a fraction of the HOG pricing. Fruit quality has been stunning. Hard to see any wine mak...

Katnook Estate 2018 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. 2nd bottle of a 6-pack. First bottle about 6 months ago was tight and unyielding and thought it needed a lot more decant time. This bottle was opened for 3-4 hours and was more user friendly. Fruit was there to enjoy with tannins slowly unlocking t...

Not knowing much about Bordeaux wines we went to a tasting of "entry level" reds at DM. Prices mainly around $70 - $130 so it was hard understanding how these are "entry level" but I guess that's Bordeaux. Wines were OK but nothing to write home about. I was surprised to find out...

Last night with a BBQ marinated lamb rack we opened a Wynns 2012 Black Label Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. Decades ago I cut my teeth on this wine but found this bottle nice without floating my boat as much I was expecting. Not a wow wine. 2012 was a great vintage. Maybe my expectations were too hi...

6 x Brockenchack 2021 Jack Harrison Eden Valley Shiraz

Another 6-pack of the Leo Buring 2024 Clare Valley Riesling. 2nd bottle was even nicer than 1st tasted recently. Perhaps travel shock has settled.

I haven't bought Pennies for decades. Tried a Bin 389 a few years ago and it was so so. A nice ok wine, underwhelming, and definitely not worth the price. The competition has caught up and is intense particularly with the current glut.

12 x Devitt and Moore William Pile 2021 Barossa Shiraz.

6 x Arila 2022 Moppa Barossa Valley Shiraz

And forgot to add something that should be in the Spirits area of the forum but couldn't find a thread to attach it to. Wife bought a brandy for the Xmas cake. Decided to try it. De Valcourt VSOP Napoleon Brandy . from France. Wasn't expecting much I was very impressed. Not quite as good as a VSOP c...

The Stage Door Wine Company 2015 Eden Valley Shiraz. Had never heard of this winery and wine before seeing large volumes on offer at Oddbins Wine Auctions in Adelaide a few years before we moved to Sydney. Picked up a case at silly prices hoping for a good mid week quaffer. It was much more than th...

I have been buying "black market wines" from Vinomofo for over a decade and have found them generally to be of good quality although I do question the advertised RRP. Perhaps that's why the wines are not selling on the retail market. What I do like about Vinomofo is the ability to try 1 or...

Leconfield 2018 Coonawarra Cabernet Franc. I do like this grape when treated like a cab sav in the winery and is more fuller bodied. Really nice black fruits that were sweeter than I was expecting. I liked that. Tannins settled now. Everything in place. Should improve and hold for quite a while.

12 x Hahndorf Hill Adelaide Hills 2023 Rose. Bought on spec. Something a bit different. Made from majority Trollinger, an obscure German grape, with some other red grapes thrown in. Needed for some easy summer drinking.

I normally put reds in the fridge for at least half an hour in summer and in a decanter to keep it from warming too quickly when serving. A block of ice works if I forget ensuring it it removed once desired temperature is reached.

Tried an old favourite. 2024 Leo Buring Clare Valley Riesling last night. Fresh and zingy with that blossom element to it that I do like. A neat little package. Great quaffer. Will buy more.

Many thanks for the feedback. After family and friends drained a good percentage of my rieslings over the holiday season it's time to stock up. I have moved on from aged riesling and like them fresh and zingy so 2024 looks the goods.

Hi.

I've heard some rumblings that 2024 Rieslings are pretty good particularly from Clare Valley. Any thoughts?

If it was a failed export order it may have novel health warnings on the label peculiar to a country. I've seen these on failed export orders to the USA. ie Surgeon General warning.

Tried a Lindemans Trio 2012 St George Cabernet under stelvin. Last bottle about 4-5 years ago was quite light and lacking fruit intensity. Medium bodied at best. This bottle was significantly better. Above medium body with great fruit depth and intensity. Aged characteristics developing. Plenty of d...

12 x Frederick B177 2021 Barossa Valley Shiraz. Good mid week quaffer.

4 x Bleasdale Sparkling Shiraz NV