The Auswine Forum

My one and only experience with Penfolds' returns policy was an oxidised 00A Chardonay. The whole deal was resolved by an email, a follow up phone call (within 24 hours) and an exchange of packages by express post. Actually when double checking the time line of the process I notice that my query was...

I think that I opened it a bit too warm as I lost almost a third of the bottle from spontaneous eruption. The trick is to relax and not think about it too much cheers Carl Spilt milk? Regardless, fair comment, Carl. Sometimes these things are sent to try us. ...no one else just thinks this is a con...

I've got a real soft spot for Willespie, I like their gear and they release their wines with a decent amount of bottle age.

Depends what time he got there too, whether he got the good first bottle or the horribly oxidised second one.

Was very dissapointed to hear that the chap presenting those wines was completely disinterested when this was pointed out to him.

...did the guests speak Asian at the weddings too; and the service, was it also conducted in Asian?

*shakes head and walks away slowly*

"before that i had some truly aweful, disgusting wine at a few weddings (asian weddings, read=cheap) "

That's a really classy generalisation to make son, nice one.

Hi Brian, nothing would make me happier than to learn that better bottles of the 94 Durif are floating around. Michael at La Vigna is usually very reliable, so for once I'm hoping for a cork related drama. The way you've described yours is pretty much what I'd been hoping for, though without the ben...

I've had some great experiences with more recent vintages, so when I found bottles of the 94 at a trusted retailer I figured I'd give it a bash. Gave the wine three hours to breathe before looking at it. This smells and tastes like black olives. Now I love olives, and I really like a hint of olive i...

I have another question on a related topic: Wines sealed with cork, that are then sealed with wax. I've got a fair number of wines using this combination of methods and am now left wondering whether the addition of the wax will create a seal perhaps more in keeping with a s/c wine. If so then isn't ...

I'll bite:

Kannonkop Cabernet 2001, given as a gift and I have no idea whatsoever about this wine.

Last time I looked at them I was very dissappointed, I have to throw my hat into the green and acidic ring on this one. A shame really, because I really want to like their wines - do they still have the gorgeous black and white photo of a lady with a cello on the way to the toilets, that was *my* wi...

1989 Domaine Chandon Recently Disgorged. Barely a whisper from the cork on opening and a fizz that had much more in keeping with San Pellegrino than Champagne. Glorious honey, white stone fruits and burnt shortbread; still held together with crisp acidity. Went beautifully with a selection of Modern...

Last night 2001 Sorrenberg Sauvignon Blanc great stuff. Restrained oak, mouthfilling midpalate, and a lingering savoury finish. One of those wines that's all about mouthfeel and went a treat with grilled yabbies with lemon and herb rissotto. I bought this on spec out of a bargain bin at the Steve's ...

I looked at the 2003 of this wine yesterday and loved it: The Vieux Telegraphe was brilliant. The nose featured ground asian spices, with just a very slight note of dried herbs, dancing with full ripe cherries and blood plums. I'd been careful to spit all 18 wines tasted previously as I was driving ...

Interestingly I thought this was the wine of the La Vigna tasting, at least for my palate. I found a lifted nose with spice, cherries and blood plums. The palate was rich and mouthfilling with a midpalate that really stood out for me in the face of the Barolo and the Argiano wines. I would find it i...

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Hey Max. The food was very good, though having eaten there a fair few times (living in North Perth makes it just so convenient) I was really looking forward to trying some dishes that aren't on the menu. We started with Sashimi Tuna that had been marinated in chilli oil, served with diced sashimi tu...

When I'm not at work, or lurking here, I coach highschool athletics (track specifically). This weekend has been the state championships and my kids ran very well, taking 7 Gold, 4 Silver and 5 Bronze Medals - real medals To celebrate we went to 9nine, a Japanese fusion restaurant in Northbridge (cor...

I'm with AJ on this one. I've been finding the Vintage Sir James to give me much better bang for my buck. I've never looked at the Clover Hill, but my large and authoritarian collection of wine books suggest that it's worth a try! Similarly I've got less experience with sparkling wines than anything...

96 Glaetzer “Bishop” Shiraz Cork soaked two thirds of the way through but came out easily with my screwpull, opened 2 hours before drinking over the next 2. Medium purple/red and just a hint of terracotta at the rim. On the nose I found predominantly mocha dark chocolate notes...

Sorry about the knee-jerk response Swig, my bad,


...I just really wanted to say spambulance : )

Quick! Call the Spambulance!

Checked out a Champagne tasting at the Shenton Park VC's. Was underwhelmed in general, however the NV and 98 Veuve-Clicott blew me away. I've usually purchased Australian Sparklings simply because I don't know enough about Champagne to appreciate what I'm tasting. It was the complexity and richness ...

I concur with Andrew, La Vigna is easily my favourite of the local stores. You'd be looking at a 30 minute drive from Frmantle to North Perth though so that may not be do-able. Failing that I'd suggest Old Bridge Cellars in North Fremantle, they've got good range of WA wines and others. Should be a ...

Love the reference to Istanbul too, by the way. I always say if more modern music sounded like the 90's I'd buy more modern music.

My vote went to Torbreck - well David Powell anyway.

I'm way too young to have had a chance to try the Great Western shiraz with any serious bottle age. But I have a few bottles of the 93 Great Western Shiraz last year, and with 11 years age it was showing beautifully. One of the most enjoyable parts of my relationship with wine is how my palate has c...

In Perth...honestly there is only a Thursday Food+Wine special in the West Australian. That's it.

We only have two newspapers here in Perth anyway, I just buy the Australian every day, reading the West just makes me sad.

I *need* to find a bottle of this wine to drink before the new Batman movie is released.

To start with I don't like pinot, but I do love the Pierro whites. I looked at the 2002 a couple of years back on an epic trip down Caves Road - which means I started near enough to Pierro to have a full grasp on my faculties at the time. I found the wine quite unpleasant, it had a porty Christmas p...

Went to Tsunami ( m ) on Saturday for the birthday of one of my closest friends and housemates. Started off with a 1996 Katnook Pinot Chardonay. This was a real turn up for the books with complex shortbread biscuit and stonefruit flavours. Not too much with the bubbles but a really lovely style with...