The Auswine Forum

From memory it's been Barossa ever since Yeah - saw a note somewhere way back that the block was either too unproductive or had gone to another source. I think in 2002 only Ben Glaetzer made both Barossa and McLaren Amon Ras. I'd like to try again. Single bottle from auction I think. There was some...

Case in point - the Amon Ra 2002 (McLaren Vale) Shiraz. Opened one - my only bottle - a week back, absolutely top drawer stuff, really classy, wish I had more. A bit of a unicorn wine - not sure but only vintage it was made I believe. From memory it's been Barossa ever since Yeah - saw a note somew...

2004 Seppelt St Peters & Chalambar Don't think they got this right. Heavy oak handling, quite acidic and very dry. Not sure if it will ever come around Tasted the 2004 Chalambar at release. Seemed all over the place, never bought. I still have a case of the 2004 St Peters so am hoping it's bett...

Rockford BP 2002 - bought a case of them based on other vintages and a JO score of 97 (?) I think. Drank them (price was reasonable) but frankly would have done better to auction them - generally hot and out of balance. No regrets BP with other vintages I have. Overbought on Parker points 2002-2004 ...

I appear to have inadvertently started a wino-ageist thread which was far from my intention but rather amusing. I now have to think where to go on this, I have been on the forum ages but not posting so much!! So - 1) Whatever age you are, you are probably underestimating how well and long some Austr...

Interesting feedback. I think there's a few dimensions to this, being luck enough to drink top aged wine of course is one of them. But to do that you have to NOT drink your wines and I get amazed at people opening say even 2010s (don't get me wrong, 1 of 6 to try is fine!). I also think part of it i...

Purely to generate discussion in the forum ... lot's of interesting folks here. As I get older I get more and more amazed at how young "youngsters" are drinking some amazing Shiraz that seem to have years in the tank and are improving. With screw-cap it seems to me even more this is the ca...

Hi guys, Apologies if I was flippant on the Wendouree tasting but it does seem a polarising drop and I remembered the general sense of disappointment. Actually it was from a set of TNs recorded in 2005 by Lincoln Scott who's still out there at m and some of the folks feedback I have included. It's n...

Girlfriend stayed in Auz after our Xmas holiday and last night she sent me a WhatsApp from her mothers 60th birthday BBQ. Apparantly ma's boyfried was not aware of the "special" wine stack and so a bottle of 2013 Wendouree Shiraz was plonked on the table along with a few normal reds...Tru...

Lately I've been reading Andrew Graham at Oz Wine Review. I like how I learn something technical from almost every note. And he has a nice spread of points. ie: if something isn't up to scratch he tries to pick why and then marks accordingly. Hurrah! Agreed 100%. Really good and he calls what he ta...

Auswine forum ... still THE place to get views on Australian wine, has rejuvenated and we still get enough old timers here. I still subscribe to The Wine Front (my only subscription, and I had to consider when resubscribing) and have since followed Campbell since maybe 2003, plus Gary on his site. M...

2006 Clonakilla Shiraz/viognier 14% (screwcap) 6% viognier, but its not obtrusive. This wine is basically a cult Canberra district wine. The brand came to my notice with the 1997 and 1998 vintages – a wake-up call about Australian cool-climate Shiraz efforts that included co-fermented Viognier. Thi...

Thanks for the note - an absolute reminder how well good older wine lasts and improves. I've just finished 4 bottles of Orlando Jacobs Creek Jacaranda Ridge Cabernet 1996. All had dreadful crumbly corks that came out in chunks, intense yet graceful wine, maybe nearly at peak. All gone, just wish I h...

Orlando Jacaranda Ridge Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 1996 - very old school, very impressive. Intense, long and yet still some elegance and certainly aging well and in a nice place. Classic flavours, oak well integrated though evident and for my palate the wine will still improve as it ages and cou...

Changed TORB left the forum, I know he's out there but I miss Ric's contributions The 109 point scoring system seems to have gone out of fashion. Craig? More offlines (which being in the UK I miss) Auswine's low res picture in the top left corner A weird preference for lower alcohol wines (he says ...

We obviously need two threads - one where you are drinking the wine now and tonight, one for after. It's fine, I read both individual TNs and this thread and appreciate all those who have time! At least it's very alive here, "the other forum" is looking pretty lifeless these days perhaps b...

Schubert Estate Goose-Yard Block Shiraz 2004 Bought for a song on Cellarlink along with a case of Hobbs Shiraz 2004. Very more-ish ... savoury plum, decent length and very elegant on the palate given some very ripe fruit. Improving on day 2 so should easily last, or needs a decent decant. Really re...

A couple of bargains, more 2004 Barossa Shiraz ...

12 x Hobbs Shiraz 2004 (about £20 a bottle)
6 x Schubert Goose-Yard Block Shiraz 2004 (about £10!)

I've had the Hobbs before, top wine in the "heroic" style

Grange is a disappointment, 90A a much better wine. HoG is excellent, but no way it will see age 50. Actually, I reckon the Pennies 707 is the best bet to reach 50 years from all the Aussie stuff available. This. I bought 1990 Grange after all the hype and sold it - but am keeping my Bin 90As and 9...

Last year, instead of going direct from Lyon to CDG Paris, which is less than 2 hours on the TGV, I detoured via Bordeaux which added about a further 9 hours to the trip to pick up a magnum of 2000 Lafleur at a ridiculously low price ($600). Straight onto the plane, making the total trip back to Oz...

Continuous scouring on Wine Search Pro for bargains, look for cases and magnums. When travelling to the US, check out prices, and who'll ship to where I am headed. Have regularly shipped wine from Europe to the UK ... I admit it's the thrill of the bargain for me as well as the wine ... which means ...

Thanks Allan - great notes. Tesco (aka TEE) here in the UK sell a Howard Park riesling as part of their self-branded Finest range - "Tingleup". 2012 is the current vintage, it would be interesting to compare vs the real Howard Park wine and know if there is any difference - a very smart wi...

Normal bargain hunting ... three wines I would not buy at full price especially the Querciabella. After I bought 4, the price magically jumped to £80 next day, so maybe it was a pricing error. First taste of the Yalumba last night makes me I think I should some back to it in 10 years, some top 20...

Marks and Spencer Fox Hollow Hunter Semillon 2006 - single vineyard wine by Tyrells and just top notch gear, reminds me of Belford.
11 bottles to go but they won't last long.

If I restrict to aussie wine ... and keeping it affordable so no special bins etc 1. Tyrell's Semillons - VAT 1, Belford, HVD etc DISTANCE 2. Rockford BP Shiraz 3. Howard Park Abercombie Cabernet and equivalents 4. Standish Shiraz (Standish, Relic etc) 5. Wynns JR What is crazy is I drink lots of Ri...

6 x Standish "The Standish" Shiraz 2003
6 x Standish "The Standish" Shiraz 2002

Some knock down prices here in the UK, I will post a couple of TNs.

The creator of this movement is the philosopher Rudolf Steiner. You should google him and "Anthroposophy" which is the cult/religion he founded and is still going, with a HQ in Switzerland. If you think Biodynamics is crazy you have not scratched the surface compared to Anthroposophy ... s...

Waiters Friend wrote:

Mike Hawkins wrote:I'm looking fwd to the marketing spin on the 2011 Grange. It may be a tough sell....

Perhaps THEN we will see a price drop!

Like the legendary 2000 vintage then?

Thanks - awesome tasting / notes and may have to see if there's any 2007 in the UK!

Have to mention that bottles I have had of the 1994 in the last few years have been stunning and fresh, although at 20 years bottle variation will be at play.

Jay

Interesting ... not sure it was an export label as I remember seeing it around when I used to be in Oz in the early 90's. I never saw another vintage after 1990 which may have been because Wolf Blass were acquired by Mildara in 1991? I assume it's all part of Wynns now in some shape of form. Nice fi...