The Auswine Forum

Hey, In Rioja you stay in Haro and that's that. I stayed in Hotel Arrope which was fine but if you have the dough I'm sure you can find somewhere better. You walk to, in my opinion, the best wineries in Rioja. Lopez de Heredia is my favourite and has one of the most amazing cellars on the planet. Th...

Mine was a mid to late 90s Mt. Edelstone had at Gaucho('s?) in Adelaide. For whites it was a massive Kistler Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley had at a friend's apartment in Kyoto.

Aberlour 12 YO Double Cask SMW. If you are interested in an entry level SMW try the Aberlour. At around $70 it's great shit! Carl I remember the old 10 YO Aberlour well from when I was buying mixed dozens of Orlando wines to get a free one (around 27 years ago now). I guess that's where my adventur...

3x 2014 Foillard Cote du Py Morgon 1x 2014 Foillard Morgon... the one with the black label (edit: grey label) 4x 2015 Lapierre Morgon 1x 1980 Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva (birth year) 2x 2015 A Small Change Red 1x 2014 A Small Change White 1x 2016 O'Leary Walker Polish Hill 1x 2012 Paracombe Reuben An...

6x 2015 Lapierre Morgon
2x 2014 Foillard Morgon Cote du Puy
2x 2014 Foillard Morgon Cuvée Corcelette
1x 1996 Moulin Touchais

The Lapierre is good. Haven't tried the others.

Mrs. Robinson wrote a very positive article about these wines this week. Also said that it costs more in Australia than most places (but we're getting used to hearing that).

A Barossa winemaker I spoke to said it seems to be similar to last year but he is expecting higher yields. He said his biodynamic vineyard is holding on the best.

I'd take a look at some of Head's Grenache and Contrarian Shiraz vintages (the percentage of whole bunch varies depending on vintage conditions) or you could spend some dough on Dujac's better wines from Burgundy. I can't imagine you'd be disappointed with either.

Just 2 on xmas. Krug NV (bottled in the summer of 2012 with vintages from 1990 to 2005). The best champagne I've ever had. I've had more expensive champagnes and much more fashionable ones but this one tops them all. Lemons, white floral perfume, stones, chalk and bottled energy. With time in the gl...

2011 Yangarra Estate Rousanne Really enjoy this wine having tried a few times. Still quite primary I think. Honeysuckle on the nose is enticing without being overwhelming. Lovely mouth-coating texture, viscous without being oily, delivers a chalky mineral character which lingers...assume it will bu...

Really sad news. He was a top writer and I read his notes religiously.

http://drinkster.blogspot.com/2014/08/j ... n-out.html

Head Ancestor Vines Grenache 2013 - What a heroic wine. Best for those with patience but holy catfish. Has the fruit complexity and elegance of a top Burgundy. The tannins are so fine and evenly spread. Head Old Vine Grenache 2013 - More fun to drink now but will improve. Savoury peanut skin, meats,...

The best Tavel rose´ you can get your hands on. A kind of savory one. Goes well with dashi-based grub.

I'm well jealous of this one! Thanks for the notes and photos.

I believe it will be returning on Father's Day. When is that in Australia?

In addition to the ones mentioned above, I recommend the Vina Ardanza and Vina Arana Reservas.. reasonably priced and made in a more traditional style that doesn't soak the wine in oak. Brighter and fresher but can age for yolks. Come to think of it.. anything by La Rioja Alta is good. The Gran Rese...

I couldn't find any Tondonia Rose in Rioja or anywhere else in Spain.

I'd be down for an Italian offline if I'm back at a time that suits everyone.. can get good deals at times (though there have been a bunch of unimpressive 68 Barolos flooding the market… I'd advise skipping them unless you really know what you're looking for).

All from memory but I thought some of you might be interested in a couple of the Spanish wines I've had recently. 1964 La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 - As soon as I touched the cork with the opener, the cork shot down into the wine. In a panic I poured it into a decanter a little faster than I would...

France should still have a lot to offer if you don't choose the two most expensive regions in it. Cotes du Rhone, Loire, Jura, Languedoc, Beaujolais etc.

Keeping with the 1966 theme, we had this at EMP in New York for our 12th Wedding Anniversary. The 1975 is on the tasting bench for this week to celebrate our 14th! http://s7.postimg.org/feonzjf8n/P1100504.jpg I don't have much experience with Grange but.. I had no idea they used to make it with Fre...

Sixty euro. I got a discount though. Looks to be in good condition. Will be looking for more old vintages today.

1x 2004 La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva Magnum 1x 2005 La Rioja Alta Vina Arana 1x 2001 La Rioja Alta 904 Gran Reserva 1x 1964 La Rioja Alta 904 Gran Reserva 1x 1999 Vina Tondonia Blanco Reserva 1x 1994 Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva 1x 1995 Remelluri Reserva 1x 2004 Roda 1 Reserva 1x 1986 C.V.N.E V...

1x 2004 La Rioja Alta Vina Ardanza Reserva Magnum 1x 2005 La Rioja Alta Vina Arana 1x 2001 La Rioja Alta 904 Gran Reserva 1x 1964 La Rioja Alta 904 Gran Reserva 1x 1999 Vina Tondonia Blanco Reserva 1x 1994 Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva 1x 1995 Remelluri Reserva 1x 2004 Roda 1 Reserva 1x 1986 C.V.N.E Vi...

I don't think anyone meant any harm.

I'm not at ground level but a couple of the winemakers I import have told me 2013 is the year for Grenache.

Shocking to think that politicians at that level can be bought off so cheaply.

Big paella night on Saturday with 15 in our wine group 2001 Calstello YGay Gran Reserva Rioja 2006 Tormeresca Bocca di Lupo Anglianico 2007 Carpineto Brunello di Montalcino 2010 Castagna La Chaive Sangiovese 2012 Timo Mayer Bloody Hill Pinot Noir 2010 Timo Mayer Close Planted Pinot Noir 2007 Hospic...

Sorry, could you repeat that? I wasn't listening.

I heard that Penfold's have been doing screwcap trials on Grange for decades. I'd love to know if anyone has had a chance to do a comparison.