The Auswine Forum

As the heading says, I'm stopping in Adelaide a few hours. Gavin do you have a physical wine store? Want to buy a bottle of Champers, preferably pink, preferably 375-ml if any pink Champagne is made in this format. Arriving and departing from the railway station. Thanks, Sue

Thanks Paulf. You may be right as I have now had a reply from Top Drop and they said they do not have a tour on that date! I have now been in touch with the Margaret River Busselton Tourist Association and already had a very quick and helpful reply.

Rocky wrote:SueNZ

Suggest you phone them as there could be any reason for not answering emails.

Regards

Yes, will think about that when a free calling weekend to Australia comes up if I haven't organised something else by email in the meantime.

An update on my MR tour planning: Filled in the web contact form for Margaret River Wine Tours. They answered within hours but unfortunately on my date they are on holiday - probably well deserved. I filled in the web contact form for Top Drop. After two days and no answer, followed up with an email...

Thanks all. I think I will, as Rocky suggested, pick up a rental to drive to Margaret River area with some sightseeing stops on way there and way back, but rather than drive around the wineries I'll take a one day wine tour while I'm there. Looking at Margaret River Wine Tours, seem to be fairly upm...

Thanks for of all your suggestions. I agree it will be easiest to hire a car. Anyone have suggestions for must visit wineries that fly under the radar.

Gosh, I see it is just over 3 years since I logged onto AusWine. Never forgotten however. Hi Gavin and crew. Lots of changes for me. I've moved house and been widowed. Now I am revving up my wine interests again. I've got 3 days in WA at the end of July, arriving Sat 30 in the pm, departing Tues 2nd...

G'day I buy a case of this each year, drinking a few young, and allowing the remainder to age. I then drink approximately one per year until they run out. At the moment, the oldest PV in the cellar is 2003 - not coincidentally, the vintage where PV switched (back) to screwcaps. I've been doing this...

Yes I know the year isn't finished yet but lets get the ball rolling. Lets hear your picks so far Off the top of my head Best New Release Reds: 2010 Craggy Range Le Sol Syrah 2010 Puriri Hills Pope 2010 Puriri Hills Reserve 2010 Te Mata Coleraine Syrah finds it hard to impress me more than a good b...

Like so many of the originals on the various boards, Torb and co. no longer grace us with their knowledge, wit and vinous guile. 'Tis a real shame but as most of these people will probably readily admit and more than likely understand, shit happens. Sad to see Boccaccio go as a board, too, but I th...

Latest auction catalogues show Stonyridge is expected to go for about $60 a bottle. Not much ROI for the people selling them.

Craig(NZ) wrote:As I said I will settle for one point

And that's all we needed! Well done ABs.

Looks like you had some nice wines there.

Sounss like a fantastic tasting. Thanks for sharing.

Current release is $42 NZ.

Neil opened this last night and gave it to me blind. St Jerome Matuka 1996 is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, made from fruit grown in Henderson in West Auckland and matured in French oak for two months before release. He asked me options styles questions but I couldn't pick the re...

Hmmm - so no further reports, no TN's. What does this mean?

I think Craig that the overseas writers are often more impartial than the locals who rely heavily on the largesse of the wealthy companies to fly them around the country and even outside the country. . . . So personally, I do enjoy seeing reviews from decent international writers who aren't so blin...

Curt asked me the other night if I knew about this offline. Been so busy and just caught up with the thread. Probably have a wine that makes the grade but see rules state no spitting allowed and Albany to Howick a little too pricey for taxi fare. So guess I'm out - although it seems I was never in. ...

DLo, Where was my invite?
Sounds amazing. Love the idea of a a big bolshy bubbly red between two elegant whites.
Your notes make it all very real.
Cheers,
Sue

Craig(NZ) wrote:I think the criteria must be "it was made in NZ". Bell Hill Chardonnay must be one of the most difficult wines to obtain in NZ??!!??

I've never seen or tasted any Bell Hill wines but I've sure read lots about how great they are.

I'd go to any that are open. Always new gems waiting to be discovered. Problem, as someone mentioned, it's winter and many cellar doors will be closed or 'by appointment' only. Pegasus Bay is the no brainer. Mountford (same winemaker but new owners) is getting good raps and I also like the Black Est...

Check out the Special Announcement on m. Let hope Craig keeps posting here. Don't know what I'd do without my fix of "out of 109" scores. Craig if you read this can you PM me or email me your new email address (the one I have is bouncing), otherwise I might just have to resort to the telep...

Tried on Thursday at Kumeu River in a mini vertical 06, 07, 08 vintages of each of Kumeu River Estate Chardonnay and the single vineyard Coddington, Hunting Hill and Mate's. 2006 wines are simply stunning across the board and still quite youthful - a vintage to continue to cellar with confidence. Fo...

Hi. I understand Sue is out of town with the MG club ... she had indicated to me she is not sure if she has the wine and that she is not so keen on attending now . I am still in with a 94. Hi Guys, Sounds like it all went well. Didn't get back from the South Island until Friday 9th and didn't check...

We were drinking a lot of Orlando St Helga 2004, discounted to under $15, and Richmond Grove Limited Release WaterVale Riesling 2004, about $12.99, until just recently (now all gone). Prices reflect the inability of this style of Riesling to sell in this country, hence someone has decided these labe...

Awatea 2008 the highlight of the vintage release for me. Tasting again in a couple of weeks time. Tasted at a Te Mata function last week where they put on some 1998 reds. 1998 Bullnose was 'fully mature', some would even say 'peaked'. 1998 Awatea was sublime. Pity we didn't have a bottle this good a...

Yeh, will be interesting to see what happens. AL may be staying on to make the wine for the next three years, but who is going the maintain the fastidiousness in the vineyard? Still the vines do have age and that contributes a lot to the depth of the Stonecroft wines. All three 2007 Syrahs were sens...

The Bell Hill seem to be very exclusive these days, with very minimal production, I expect it's mainly mailing list only. The Bell Hill reminds me of Corbans who had the designation 'CB' for some of their top wines. We used to joke the 'CB' stood for 'Can't Buy'. It eventually became Cottage Block....

Thanks for your vibes, Peter. Marlborough still seems to be treated like a cinderalla of the pinot noir regions, but some real star producers there. You mention Marlborough 08's were a let down after the 07's. How did you find the Central Otagos 08's in general? Have similar thoughts to the pricing ...