The Auswine Forum

I used to grow for Chandon in the Yarra Valley and in their early days Richard would come out annually to assist with the assemblage. I was fortunate to have a few lunches with him - a very warm and knowledgeable man.

So sad and a great loss to the wine world. I was fortunate to attend a couple of tastings at Cameron’s invitation, where his knowledge and love of wine was clearly evident. A warm and engaging personality who will be greatly missed by all around him. Vale Cameron.

Hi SVG
Check out the current MW Wines auction but be quick it closes tomorrow night. A number of Baroli on offer there

Hi Con
Would love to be involved, and could help with back ups or gap filling, but just can’t do September or October. Any chance of a November date?

Con
Think I can do any of the vintages from 1995 but would need to check. Timing could be an issue though, September and October not good for me.

Yes, Aramex just hopeless. We are 50 k’s from the Melbourne GPO and by their reckoning a rural delivery. That means passing delivery on to a “local courier”. They won’t identify who the local courier is and therefore there is no opportunity to track the progress of your order. In the dark for almost...

Snap - the same three recommendations came to mind for me too. Chuck, you will enjoy Paris Go - it flies under the radar but has been a long time favourite of mine.

Geez WineRick - wish I could grow grapes for $250 per tonne. That doesn’t even cover picking costs!

Very fond memories of Bill and Chambers Rosewood. I spent quite a bit of time in the North East of Victoria in the mid 1970’s through to the early 1980’s. A different era but there were no tasting fees in those days - all wines were set out on a trestle table and you helped yourself through the exte...

I guess VFM is in the eye of the beholder but that aside I think that YY Cabernet based wines are outstanding, if perhaps just a small margin behind the Yarra’s very top Cabernet, Mt Mary. I have followed YY since their first release in 1973 and have enjoyed the wines immensely. However I would say ...

Good idea Con although it would be helpful for Luddites like me if there were instructions available on how best to post photos. I have a few in mind including the 1954 Tulloch Private Bin which famously won both the Claret and Burgundy classes at the Sydney show.

Gee that Gayfer’s wine brings back memories. First wine I ever bought was the 1971 Gayfers Durif VP - purchased from the winery and still have one in the cellar.

Con. I’d say your wine is certainly from the original Oakridge vineyard in Seville, later called Five Oaks. From memory, the move to the current Maroondah Highway site in Coldstream happened some time in the early to mid 1990’s and as it was a greenfield site to start with I suspect the first Cab of...

Scotty Suggest you check out the wine growers association website wineyarravalley.com.au. All members and their contact details are listed. I guess you really need to identify where your interest is. The valley caters well for the “tourist experience” with plenty of cellar doors providing an excelle...

Virgin Hills
https://www.realestate.com.au/property/292-s ... n-vic-3444
Glenhope Vineyard
https://www.realestate.com.au/property-mixed ... -700112674

I see that the Virgin Hills property has recently been listed for sale $2.3 million.

1998 Wendouree Shiraz Malbec I have always thought this to be the lesser of the Wendouree range and stopped buying it a few years back, now concentrating annual purchases on the Shiraz, Shiraz Mataro, Cabernet and Cabernet Malbec. On tasting this I am wondering if I should have stuck with it - a lov...

Thank you Ian and Wizz for your attempts to bring some sanity to this thread. As a casual poster I have thought it inappropriate for me to comment before other more active participants “weigh in”, but I am heartily sick and tired of the incessant and petty exchanges between Jamie and Mahmoud, surely...

Yes Felix, oh "for the old says". I similarly had a case of the 1971 Grange but unfortunately had the last of mine a couple of years ago. The thing about it is that (from memory) it was only 12.5% abv - such depth and complexity at, by today's standards,such low alcohol.

I've also dined at Piazza Duomo and found the food and wine to be excellent. However, Galloni has been critical of wine storage at the restaurant's cellars and again recently recommended that customers choose "young, inexpensive everyday wines" rather than running the risk with older bottl...

Shiraz, Mondeuse was indeed sourced from the Milawa vineyard. Five years or so since my last bottle but the 1967 turned out to be a cracker. Lucked on a few bottles at auction for $5 pb - one of those speculative buys that returned in spades.

Thanks Franco Agree that very good wines can come from challenging vintages and indeed had yours and a few others in mind when referring to 2011 (above). I guess the substantive point is that 2011 and 2016 were vintages where wine buyers need to be careful - these were very difficult growing seasons...

Some views on the Yarra vintages mentioned above: 2009 - fires and smoke affected everyone - wouldn’t touch with a barge pole 2011 - cold and wet with mildew issues in all Vineyards. Notwithstanding, those that were selective made some very good wines, principally from the early ripening varieties. ...

Yes. Bought by my wife as a present. Acquired from Crittendens in Melbourne at, from memory, somewhere around $35 i.e. in the days when first growths were considered expensive but accessible. Carried with us through five houses, with cellaring conditions sometimes less than optimal. Such a joy when ...

1966 Latour - cellared for the past 40 years and opened to celebrate a special anniversary. A vibrant and beautifully structured 50 year old with some years ahead of it.

Thanks for the report Con, much appreciated. Sound like a great trip. We live the place and after three trips can’t wait to get back. Our recent visit was based in Serralunga and whilst we prepared our own meals most nights we did get out and about a bit too. Some views on a few of the establishment...

Further to the comment above regarding Conterno Cerretta - my understanding is that 2010 was the first Cerretta labelled as Barolo but that he had the vineyard for at least 2 years before that and released the wines as Langhe Nebbiolo - Cerretta Serralunga whilst he was getting to know the site bett...

Hi Con Looks like you are living the good life in Barolo at the moment. We are just back in Australia after spending the last month there. Had the 2008 version of the Conterno Cerretta one night and was very impressed. Would be interested to know the name of the restaurants reflected in your photos ...

Great memories Felix. My wife bought me a 1966 Latour at Crittendens at around the same time - I recall it costing $30 odd dollars. We drunk the wine in May this year after carting it around with is for the past 40 years. What a wine; years ahead of it - wish she had bought two!