The Auswine Forum

Pikes club event at the Adelaide wine centre last night. Very well attended, 250-300 punters. Steve Baraglia, chief winemaker very skilled at his craft, new releases very fruit forward but balanced structure for the long haul. 2025 yields down, quality up, significant frost in some vineyards. All w...

x3 2021 Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Odyssey x1 2012 Seppelt Shiraz Show Sparkling Great Western x2 2023 Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier And a few auctions purchases: x2 2012 Best's Great Western Sparkling Shiraz x1 2022 Kalleske Shiraz J.M.K VP x2 2008 Saltram Cabernet Sauvignon Winemaker's Selecti...

Allan thanks for the tasting notes. Much appreciated. Love Woodlands and it is probably the most represented winery in my cellar. I have all of these vintages of Margaret plus vintages going back to 2001 in the cellar. Good to hear that many of them still need more time before they show their best. ...

Received email from Callum this morning for his 2024 releases. Will probably purchase a mixed 6 pack. Anyone else purchasing this year? Wines available this year include: 2024 Flaxman Valley (Naimanya, Burley 'Hill', Home 100+ year ‘Old Vines’) 13.3% alcohol 3,513 bottles produced. 2024 K’ Sands (As...

Took a 2002 Grosset PH to day one of the World Test Championship at Lords. Despite the average glassware, this remains a cracking wine (fantastic line and length) with the loveliest lime aromas and beautiful cleansing acidity. Plenty of life left Snap! Almost. Took a 2005 to share with Mr Carringto...

Allan, Thanks for the tasting note. Brings back memories. While living in London this (and Saltram No.1) was the house red which both could be picked up for under 15 quid a bottle at the time. Ridiculous value. Haven't drunk a bottle of either since returning to Australia (no reason I can think of) ...

x6 2020 Houghton Cabernet Sauvignon Gladstones (crazy pricing from CellarOne ... $35 per bottle!) x12 2024 Balnaves Sparkling Cabernet x1 2022 Lindeman's St. George x1 2022 Lindeman's Pyrus x1 2022 Lindeman's Limestone Ridge x12 2023 St Hallett Shiraz Blackwell 375ml (for mid-week quaffing) Also rec...

Quoting Darryl Kerrigan ... "tell him he's dreaming".

A few more for the month: x2 2008 Seppelt Shiraz Show Sparkling Shiraz (on sales at $55 per bottle from Treasury) x3 2021 Seppelt Shiraz St Peters (Auction purchase) x1 2017 St Hallett Shiraz Old Block (Magnum) x1 2012 Wolf Blass Black Label x6 2021 Katnook Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (free 6 pack for...

Domaine A Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 : Ruby colour. Leather, VA, menthol, coffee / mocha, and developed blackberry fruits on the nose. Muscadelles and black plums on the palate, with chalky tannins, cedary oak and noticeable acid and tannins. Medium to long finish and an excellent wine to finish the t...

x3 2021 Houghton Cabernet Sauvignon Jack Mann (voucher and a store purchase credit helped bring price down to $89/bottle

Giaconda for me the best Australia has to offer.

Others not already mentioned:

Lakes Folly
Stella Bella Luminosa
Tyrrell's VAT 47

Don't mind a good South African Cabernet now and again ... Boekenhoutskloof a personal favourite but rare as hens teeth ... however have had a few different vintages of this label and always seems to be consistently good.

Thanks for the TN.

x6 2024 Leo Buring Riesling Leonay ($100 voucher ... so $15 per bottle )
x2 1998 Saltram Cabernet Sauvignon Mamre Brook

x6 2023 Sami-Odi Shiraz Hoffmann Dallwitz x3 NV Sami-Odi Shiraz Little Wine #14 x3 2023 Sami-Odi Shiraz Our Hill Eden Valley x1 2012 Seppelt Shiraz Show Sparkling And a few misc auction buys: x2 2004 Saltram Cabernet Sauvignon Winemaker's Selection x1 NV Vilmart & Cie Champagne Premier Cru Grand...

x2 1994 Seppelt Show Reserve Sparkling Shiraz

Fix St James is a regular for us. Great food and it is also a wine bar, so they know their stuff!

x3 2023 Setiono Shiraz Lowke
x3 2023 Setiono Syrah Flaxman

A few wine club purchases during the month ... x4 2020 Evoi Cabernet Sauvignon x2 NV Evoi Shiraz Fortified x12 2024 Balnaves of Coonawarra Sparkling Cabernet x6 2024 Rockford Black Shiraz x6 2021 Rockford Cabernet Sauvignon Rifle Range x6 2021 Rockford Shiraz Basket Press x6 2024 Noon Grenache High ...

Thanks for the notes, Graeme, and ticklenow1 (Ian) for the photos. Interesting that a couple of Tasmanian whites featured - I had the pleasure of visiting Glaetzer-Dizon in Hobart a couple of weeks ago, and bought the Unerblanc (among others). I'm especially delighted that the Howard Park showed so...

Tasted the BP, RR and the Black Sparkling at the Langtons Classification tasting the other night. BP and RR standouts for me and show the class of the 2021 vintage. Must buys!

darellk wrote: ↑Tue Oct 01, 2024 3:18 pm I have heard good things on the Zinfandel from Lowe but am yet to sample it myself.

2nd this but is a bit expensive.

What about '18 & 19? I have few bottles of these vintages of Moss Wood I'd be waiting a few more years before I opened either of them 2019 was a cooler vintage and may well be earlier drinking. 2018 was a stellar vintage and should reward longer term cellaring (and take longer to come around). ...

What do people think of 2020 and 2021? I believe 2022 and 2023 are getting some love but not really enough out there for convincing opinions. As others say the region is an embarrassment of riches. It’s hard to find anything from most producers that isn’t top notch. 2021 better than 2020 but not up...

Mike Hawkins wrote: ↑Wed Sep 25, 2024 9:51 pm

Andrew Jordan wrote: ↑Wed Sep 25, 2024 8:46 am x2 2020 St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon
x4 2024 Tyrrell's Sémillon Vat 1
x2 2023 Tyrrell's Shiraz 8 Acres (magnum)
x4 2023 Tyrrell's Shiraz Vat 9

You do know Semillon is a white grape??!!

And goes very well with seafood!

In general, Margaret River has been remarkably consistent over the past 25 years. The 14s are drinking very well now but a are pretty well structured and I'd be inclined to drink the 15s before the 14s. 2011 was a super vintage, especially in comparison to most of the rest of Australia's red output...

x2 2020 St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon
x4 2024 Tyrrell's Sémillon Vat 1
x2 2023 Tyrrell's Shiraz 8 Acres (magnum)
x4 2023 Tyrrell's Shiraz Vat 9

Mike Hawkins wrote: ↑Wed Sep 25, 2024 4:39 am Alongside Moss Wood, this is my favourite WA red, just in front of Woodlands

So, you have finally seen the light ...

Avoid 2006.

07, 08, 11 and 14 all entering their drinking windows and drinking well after a decent decant

Australia
1. Woodlands (WA)
2. Seppelt (VIC)
3. Mount Pleasant (NSW)
4. Rockford (Barossa, SA)
5. Wynns (Coonawarra, SA)

International
1. Te Mata Estate (NZ)
2. Stonyridge Vineyard (NZ)
3. Chateau Lafon-Rochet (FR)
4. Paul Bara (FR)
5. Pol Roger (FR)