The Auswine Forum

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 business...

I've always felt that the S&K ports deserve a decent period in the cellar, at least a decade. The last one i drank was the 1988 from a magnum and it was amazing, and could easily live for another 10+ years!!

Maybe the 2000 is just too young?

Hi Adair, I had a bottle of the Ballinderry a week or so ago and really enjoyed it. I found it very similar to as you have described, particularly the floral tones, dark fruits and spicy oak. I picked it up out of curiosity having only ever drunk the Hilltops Shiraz and Shiraz Viognier from Clonakil...

Hey, I'm 26 and in a similar boat to a few of you, my cellar is up to around 170, but i just pulled 2 doz out to get me through the next couple of months. Having started collecting back in 1999, my early cellar was built from the 97,98 and 99 vintages, which i am starting to now drink the profits so...

Adair, When you say 'the greatest Viognier that i have tasted' does that include any wines from Condrieu? Or is your opinion based only on Australian examples? I.e. how does it compare to The Virgilius or Petaluma Viogniers? I'm yet to taste the Clonakilla, but have been keen to do so, the thing tha...

Hi folks, Here they are... 1999 Domain Chandon Brut Vintage Nice, but I didn’t pay too much attention as I was preparing lunch. 2001 All Saints Marsanne Light gold, quite muted on the nose at first but it did open up with hint of that aged marsanne honeysuckle and marmalade character. Not a p...

Hi folks, A mixed bag for the Easter weekend for me, impressions below 2000 Redhill Estate Classic Release Chardonnay Had a buttery/creamy nose I’d expect from the peninsula in a 2000 vintage wine. On the palate the fruit had all but dried up and the wine was past it. Left too long forgotten ...

Steve, Interesting that you were let down by the Seppelt. I had a bottle last year that was fantastic. It had definitely hit its peak drinking, but i still found the aged characteristics that came through interesting. Sure the fruit had taken a back seat, but the wine was still a great example of an...

Hi all, Well some mates and i got together a week or so back to drink some booze and eat some food. Our host decided that Spanish would be the flavour of the night. Jamon, chorizo, olives and some crazy Spanish cheese, oh yeah, and half a dozen red wine...an excellent time was had. Anyway, here we g...

Europa Cellars might be worth a try.

Pulled a few wines out from the medium term cellaring list over the last week or so, some good, some disappointing and some unusual. 1999 Charles Melton Pinot Shiraz Medium red, slightest hint of brick around the edges. Cherry and spice dominant aromas. Quite savoury on the palate, not a lot of frui...

I have to admit that i'm not the biggest fan of these big,high alcohol wines, even though the theme was my idea. Having said that i will probably go out and pick up a few of the wines to put in the cellar and see what they turn into, in particular The Darkie, The Doyen and probably both of the Durif...

A few weeks ago I asked for some help regarding some mega reds from the forum for a tasting I was hosting. Here are the resultant notes. Thanks again for the suggestions, quite a few of the wines suggested turned up on the night. The forth meeting of the Wine Cabinet had two rules: 1. Red wine 2. 15...

Thanks everyone,

There have been a lot of helpful suggestions, i'll let you know how the tasting turns out.

Cheers
cheyne

Hi All, I've organised a tasting for a group of friends this Saturday night with the theme of red wines over 15.5% alcohol and i need some help with some suggestions for some of the guests. The purpose of the tasting is to look at wines with a high alcohol content and the effect it can have on balan...

Hey all, A few to report, 2002 Mitchelton Parish Shiraz Viogner: Medium to dark purple, quite perfumed on the nose although i didn't find it as obviously floral as some S/V blends, on the palate dry and dusty, yet reasonable amount of fruit coming through. I was expecting it to be a bigger wine give...

Hey,

I'm a fan the Yeringberg ($50), Yarra Yarra ($60ish at CD) and Domaine A ($65) Cabernets and for me they show that decent cabernet can be made in cooler climates.

Cheers
Cheyne

Hey, Fairly quiet wine week but a couple of good ones nonetheless. Bottles: 2001 Coriole McLaren Vale Shiraz: Deep inky purple; massive amounts of fruit and spice on the nose. Quite a lot of fruit sweetness on the palate, almost syrupy with vanilla overtones (American oak influence nost likely) with...

On a trip to the US last year i was prety disappointed with the wines i tried, with the exception of a few Oregon Pinots and some Napa Valley merlot. In the lower price rang, most of the wines were prety crap, my friends and i ended up bying Lindemans and Rosemount wines which were better value!!

Hey, Some of my fave Pinots by region include: Tasmania (from a recent trip down there) Elswhere vineyard No regrets Tinderbox Pooley Pipers Brook Domaine A/Stoney Vineyard (also amazing Cabernet) Mornington Peninsula: 10 minutes by tractor Main Ridge Paringa Estate Yarra Valley: Coldstream Hills Ye...

Hi all, First post for me so here i go. 1998 Seppelt Drumborg Chardonnay: Bright yellow/gold, nutty, barrel ferment characteristics on the nose. Creamy, cashew flavours on the palate with a hint smoky oak on the finish. Has really developed well and is definitely at its peak now. Loved it 2001 Elgee...