The Auswine Forum

A decent Barbera matches the acidity of the tomato sauce well IMHO
Prunotto's is available in Oz.

Minotaur, Don't expect any bargains with an 80% duty in place. You can sometimes get decent deals on French stuff on special at Watsons Wine Chain (Central or Pacific Place are the best locations) ie cheaper than Oz such as Graillot Crozes Hermitage at sub $40. In regards to a restaurant, what kind ...

Louis Jadot Chateau des Jacques Moulin a Vent 2001 Louis Jadot can't put a foot wrong in Beaujoulais at the moment with their basic bottlings being well received. This is their top wine and after a few years the bright berry nature has subdued and integrated seemlessly with the well judged oak. A f...

Now the year's actually over I'll add the following: 1996 Pewsey Vale Riesling - Sadly the last of the case, a classic wine in almost any company 1999 Dom de Aubesieres Vouvary Demi Sec - Classic Chenin that has many years left in it. Sweet, tart, acid all in lovely complex harmony 1999 - Bannockbur...

Chain Of Ponds Novello Nero 2004 A great quaffer, predominantly Sangiovese with Grenache and Barbera. Opens up after an hour to reveal a morello cherry nose with pleasing dryness and acidity. Ideal with home made pizza. Lucien Albrecht Riesling 2004 This is a very good wine. Perfectly sits as a com...

[/b]Dinner with Jamie Bahrain at Yellow Door in Hong Kong with 3 nice reds Domaine Du Cayron Gigondas 2000 Drinking well, lovely bright blueberry Grenache fruit underpinned by gamey notes and a certain steeliness perhaps provided by Mouvedre? This has a way to go but handled the mildly spicy food we...

Mourchon Seguret CdR 2003 Despite some good reports this wine went nowhere over 24 hrs. Big, dumb, tannin over the top. A representative bottle? Who knows but I won't go back for another. Bidgeebong Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2002 A very cool year from a cool spot, no surprises the acidity is high for a...

All, This week I am moving to Hong Kong and after some deliberation and helpful advice from Jamie have decided to leave the majority of my cellar here(the potential for a 90% duty and heat damage sealed the deal). I am looking at professional wine storage and was wondering who I should go wiith for ...

Adair, This is a gorgeous wine and continues my love affair with good Chenin. There is nothing from Aus that comes near it and the only wine I can think outside the Loire that would match it in quality although in a drier style is a wine from South Africa from Ken Forrester called the FMC. I know it...

All,
I am moving to Hong Kong next week and am really struggling to find out who can ship my wine in a temp controlled environment. Does anyone know who wineries use to make these shipments? I am getting desperate as I'm currently getting the run around!
Thanks in advance.

JM Brocard Fourchame 1er cru 2000 This had some Chablis minerality and was moving into a more toasty maturity. At an interesting stage of life and could only be Chablis Zema Estate Cab Sav 1998 This is a lovely straight forward Coonawarra. At this age I'd like to see more cigar box notes in my cab....

[b[/bI am hoping someone may be able to help me. I have agreed to move to Hong Kong with work and would like to send my modest collection of around 220 bottles with me. The company I am working for has agreed to send the bottles via temp controlled container biut I believe the duty rates are incredi...

Yering Station Shiraz Viognier 2003 This bottle was not as good as one had late last year. A nice wine but without the cool climate shiraz aromatics as previous. Does anyone know how the '02 of the std release is going? Barwang Cab Sav 1998 A nice wine but not overly Cabernet like to me with aromas...

Can I ask where you stayed and what you payed? as I will be there in September again this year. Glen, I will be going back in the new year and will take up your advice on going to Breedekloof as I plan to see as much of this area as possible. We stayed at the 1802 guesthouse which is in an older st...

I was lucky enough to get out of Johannesburg for last weekend and ended up spending the Saturday in the winelands as it's called of Stellenbosch and Franschoek. The wines weren't always a hit but when they are on song certainly are world class and good vfm in most cases although some big money is c...

All,
Thanks for the feedback, some good suggestions I look forward to trying out. I'll be there from the 31/5 until the 4/6. As I'm going on the company's $ I won't be going the BYO route but sounds as though I'll need that BYO list Jamie if I move there!

I am heading to HK in a couple of weeks with my wife to look around with a view to moving there for work. Where should I head to with a good wine list and food of any type?

I couldn't believe it when I heard this news. He was one of the few to reach into an ordinary Australian world and show it in such a beautiful way. Robert Forster believed he was happier than he'd ever seen him which is a small comfort.

2000 Vincent Girardin Santenay Les Gravieres 1er cru [/bA favourite relatively lower priced red burg. This, from a lighter vintage shows bright almost new world dark cherry fruit with a fair whack of oak. Very enjoyable and at its peak. 2003 Voyager Shiraz This was quite rhone like with a whiff of ...

1999 Dom du Marcoux CNdP Had this at a local BYO who has no decanter or other large vessel to decant. This tasted very savoury and not particularly good until we got down to the last third which was all you could ask for from a southern Rhone. A decanter would of done wonders! 1998 Hillstowe Mary's...

2002 Seppelt Chalambar Shiraz This came nice after decanting in a leanish savoury style. I'm not sure how long this will last but will be decent drinking over the next 5 to 7. 2003 Sandalford Riesling Starting to show some toastiness but a lack of acidity will probably not allow it to go to full ma...

I couple of weeks of being too busy to post so here's some from memory [/b] Tollot Beaut Beaune Clos du Roi 1er cru 1998 A fave maker but this one had good fruit that still seems to be warring with the tannins and may never get there. Hewittson Ned & Henry Shiraz 2003 A good Barossa with savoury...

Ravensworth Shiraz 2004 A new winery from Canberra region with a vineyard nearby to Clonakilla so the sales person said. This is really good and quite Rhonish is style with liquorice and boot polish to the fore. Glen Carlou Grand Classique 2002 A Cab Merlot blend from a fantastic Sth African winery...

I love this wine, a real sense of place to it and for want of a better word, mystery ie. not just grape juice with blackcurrant. I think it's decent value at $40 but how lucky would you be drinking this at just over A$20! This is the price in France and I still can't accept the upcharge for imports ...

Domaine des Aubusieres Demi-Sec 1999 This is such a classy drop. Honey, nutty and with the acid just so perfect. I bought this as part of Ultimo's frozen container back in 2001. I really admire them for levelling with their customers and charging about a third of full retail on this shipment (insur...

1999 Bannockburn Shiraz: Did not like this at all. Green edged fruit, hard tannin. Quite hard and astringent.

Jordan,

One of the mysteries of wine. This was one of the best wines I've had in the past year...a truely beautiful cool climate shiraz.

The acid on this sticks out like dogs balls!

We've been through the rants on RPJ scores before....

Many wines tasted over the past few weeks but here are the most interesting: Bannockburn Shiraz 1999 I loved this wine. It had lovely cool climate fruit with no signs of any heaviness and a texture which to me is shiraz fruit in the hands of a pinot lover. Sadly a one off for me but a great memory N...

Many wines tasted over the past few weeks but here are the most interesting: Bannockburn Shiraz 1999 I loved this wine. It had lovely cool climate fruit with no signs of any heaviness and a texture which to me is shiraz fruit in the hands of a pinot lover. Sadly a one off for me but a great memory N...

2004 Strugglers Flat Martinborough Pinot Noir A superb new world pinot for around A$20. Very rich fruit and a nice lick of oak. There should be more like this for us Pinot addicts on a budget because there is a lot of mediocrity out there. Made by Capricorn Wines, does anyone know these guys and wh...