Flying visit Melbourne offline Wednesday 19th Feb

[cuttlefish]

Chaps,

Dave Vino is in Melbourne for a short while this week.
Myself, Dave, and Softie are looking at dinner at I Carusi in Brunswick East again (very casual, bring your own wine glasses)

The address is:
iCarusi Pizza
46a Holmes Street, Brunswick East

The pizzas are great and they're fine with BYO. Probably looking at about a 7:15 start.
Anyone want to join us ?

WE ARE BOOKED FOR 7:15 IN THE FRONT ROOM. SEE EVERYONE THERE !

[via collins]

Oh man, would love to see Dave Vino, AND eat there again, but the night is taken care of I'm afraid.

Enjoy!

[dave vino]

Nothing fancy, fwiw I'll be bringing a couple of safe bets, 2007 Lakes Folly Cabernets and a 2004 Maurice O'Shea to rep NSW

[cuttlefish]

Hmmm...could be a bit of a lottery as to whether it's drinkable, but I might bring an older Hunter wine plus a backup.

[Sipper]

Oh! Away at work. Have a great time. Expecting 6 2003 LF to be arriving this week. Will have to give them a run at iCarusi or the next offfline.

Have a great night. Sipper

[conformistpete]

Chaps,
(very casual, bring your own wine glasses)

Anyone want to join us ?

I may be able to make it. Just wondering how many glasses?

[cuttlefish]

I think 2 glasses each would be plenty. I could imagine using just one even, but two means we could compare wines if we want to.
Currently with all here included will be 6, I think.

[conformistpete]

I can make it and the boss might drop in for pizza if she gets out of work on time but going on this week that is doubtful.

Looks like ppl are bringing heavy hitting wines, though not sure I have anything from the Hunter.

[cuttlefish]

Looking forward to it.

See you at 7:15.

I'm picking up Dave on the way, so might run a few minutes late.

They've told me they're seating us in the front room.

Tom.

[Softie]

I'll bring a Sparkling (white) - French or Italian.

Last time we ate there, no one brought a White!

[conformistpete]

I'll bring a Sparkling (white) - French or Italian.

Last time we ate there, no one brought a White!

Does rose count? Though I had an Tuscan red in mind due to the cooler temp tomorrow.

[mjs]

I'd turn up if I wasn't going to McLaren Vale on Thurs for a long weekend with some Maralinga Wine Club Mates. Next time!!

[Softie]

Rose is good variety, Conformist ... but bring what you want - don't be so, err, conformist!

[dave vino]

OMFG a 52 Rhinecastle from a personal friend of Maurice O'shea.

Brilliant. say no more.

Great company, good food, great wines.

83 Milawa Brown Bros, Lakes Folly, O'Shea, Morris Rare Muscat, 04 PLehmann Rizza, 09 Moss Wood Chardy, Italian Sparklers

Great Night thanks to all who attended.

[The fish]

Nice work fellas! That's some pizza night.

I'd hate to see what you guys drink when it's dumpling time

[conformistpete]

Crazy night. What a way to pop my offline cherry!

The generosity of all those that attended blew my mind. Unbelievable people and amazing wines.

Lakes Folly, Morris Rare Muscat and the Rhinecastle were standouts and all for completely different reasons.

Thanks Tom for organising and Dave for coming down to be the catalyst.

PS screwcaps win.

[Softie]

Fab night,

Thanks Tom, great organising and generous contribution of aged wines from you, and Peter (Snr and Junior).

Yes, Conformist... this reflects why, when I joined Grape Mates Sydney, I went from a wine lover to a wine obsessive. Wine obsessives love to share the glories from their cellars. Yea! That generosity introduces one to an amazing variety of stunning old wines. After that I, and many others, become hooked.

John

[cuttlefish]

Softie, I have your glasses.

[Softie]

Thanks Cuttles. C u and them next time.

[cuttlefish]

Thanks to everyone who attended and to all for their generous contributions. Nice to meet you for the first time, conformistpete !

As it was a few weeks prior, the food was simple and tasty, with some shared anti pasti starters, and then we all ordered a pizza each. Good stuff.

The wines in order of appearance:
OK, I can't figure out how to upload photos, but I'll include pics when I have that worked out...anyone know if I can upload from Flikr ?

Bests Great Western Riesling 2013
Lovely young riesling. I read it has about 9g/l residual sugar, but I would not have picked it on the night. Well balanced wine

Peter Lehmann Wigan Riesling 2004
Far out. This is a super riesling. Has developed nicely. Still rich, and showing some buttery aromas, and rich mature citrus.

An Italian method traditionelle was next but I neither recall the name, or photographed it, sorry. Softie, you have the details ?
I thought this was very nice. I'd rate it an aperitif style. Percentages of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and was there a third grape ??

Moss Wood Chardonnay 2009
I'm trying to recollect what I thought of this. Seemed to me to be quite restrained, with non-intrusive oak, and a well balanced palate. Very nice.

Draytons Hermitage 1983
Whilst still sound, this was probably a few years past its best. I liked the nose, which had nice dried leaves/dried flowers aromas, but the palate revealed a little too much oxidised character, and even a faint whiff of TCA. Still fruit there, but not quite enough.

Rhinecastle Special Bin (estimated as 1952) 375mL bottle.
Clare fruit, apparently, and made by a Knappstein, I think was mentioned (I might need to check that). This was a pretty staggering wine. Probably typically, it had a certain fortified quality to it, but gee it's travelling really well. I think this was WON for everyone.

Brown Brothers Milawa Special Limited Production Cabernet & Malbec 1976
This was looking really good. Lovely drinking. Probably a touch of brett which some picked up on more than others. Earthy, yet with a core of subtle fruit.

We then cracked a couple of younger Hunter reds:

Mount Pleasant Maurice O'Shea Shiraz 2004
Looking great. I found this a lot more elegant than I was expecting. Very tasty with some excellent roasting pan type savoury nuances.

Lakes Folly Cabernets 2007
Again, this was looking great. So well balanced, and elegant. Probably light to medium bodied for mine. Great purity to this. Give it another 8-10 years, and this will most likely be spectacular.

Torrione Petrolo 2010
Apologies, again, as I don't recall a great deal about this wine. I was in my opinion corked, but aside from that had a good density and complexity. Anyone else care to comment on this one ?

Morris Rare Liqueur Muscat
Excellent fortified wine. I was driving, so just had a sip, but very, very good wine. I love Morris fortifieds.

[Michael McNally]

I was in my opinion corked

With all that wine I bet you were!

Cheers

Michael

[cuttlefish]

Criminally, perhaps, I didn't drink too much as I was driving home !

[conformistpete]

Nice to meet you for the first time, conformistpete !

Torrione Petrolo 2010
Apologies, again, as I don't recall a great deal about this wine. I was in my opinion corked, but aside from that had a good density and complexity. Anyone else care to comment on this one ?

It was great to meet you and some other forum members, considering I have been lurking some time and sometimes add my two cents to this great resource.

Yeah the Torrione didn't seem correct. I am yet to crack open another to see what it was supposed to taste like.

The next morning was nothing a hot laksa couldn't fix at lunch time.

[dave vino]

Feel like some more Laksa? I may be down again next week

[cuttlefish]

Do you know what nights ?

[dave vino]

Pretty flexible, but cannot stay weekend. Then driving up to Wang, then Albury and fly back.

Probably Wed or Thu night.

[cuttlefish]

Wednesday if at all for me....hopefully I can work out some way to not have to drive, as I have Thursday off work, and could enjoy myself a little more...

[conformistpete]

Unfortunately Wednesday is out for me... but a lunch time laksa in the city is good!

I'm back to work as of next week

[n4sir]

OK, I can't figure out how to upload photos, but I'll include pics when I have that worked out...anyone know if I can upload from Flikr ?

I think it shouldn't be a problem if you know the url address of the pictures (ie. http://)

In a reply type in the url address of each image, highlight it and hit the Img button located above the subject window, and I think that will do it. Not really much different from bolding a section of text or adding a quote.

Cheers,
Ian

[cuttlefish]

I thought I did do all of that. I'll try it again.