Expressions of Interest - Melbourne Burgundy Social Club

[Benchmark]

Hi everyone,

Just putting a line out to anyone who might want to start a Burgundy tasting group in Melbourne.

I started another thread http://forum.auswine.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=14912 regarding Burgundy and forum member swirler put the idea forward.

Once we get some numbers sorted, I figure 6-12 is ideal, we will work on the logistics of format, frequency etc etc.

So far we have:

1. swirler
2. Benchmark
3. Benchmark's lovely wife
4. Chris H
5. Boganrouge (formerly Bogenrouge haha)
6. Ozzie W
7. Hacker (pending date)
8. Mrs Hacker (pending date)
9. toofastdriving

Reserves

10. mjs
11. Diddy
12. Blesso
13. conformistpete
14. alexc92
15. felixp

I look forward to hearing from you.

Grant.

[Chris H]

You really need to be able to have everyone get a reasonable taste of a 750ml bottle. I'd cap the numbers at nine. Any more and the pour is too small.

[Benchmark]

True.

We will cap it at nine if we get that high.

Maybe a few 'reserves' should people pull out.

Lets toss around a few potential dates and frequency.

I am happy to go with the majority but for me, quarterly works best.

[swirler]

Love the group's name, Grant! Unpretentious in the extreme.

I think one of the things that put people of Burgundy and European wine in general is it's usually all or nothing. DRC, Rousseau, etc., or 'I don't get/can't afford Burgundy.' Yet, plenty of people have no problem buying St Henri, JR, ME, MMQ, etc., I've had plenty of lovely examples at those prices.

I just hope we don't get non-participants [edit: on this thread] party pooping (trolling?) on here, saying Burgundy is too expensive here, a minefield, etc. There are plenty of other threads for that.

The wine-pages and Wineberserkers crew of have regular, huge threads on the best value Bourgognes, underrated Appellations, etc., They seem to derive lots of pleasure from these simple wine without needing to have p!$$ing competitions. They have the latter, too, of course.

Let's open a few half decent examples and enjoy the ride!

[swirler]

quarterly works best.

Would be great to have them even more frequently, but that would be a good start. Maybe a fee informal get-togethers could happen if the vibe is right? But the main thing is to get the ball rolling.....

[Boganrouge]

I'm Boganrouge now not bogenrouge now. Sorry for the mistake! I'm easy about how often we meet.

[Ozzie W]

I'm very keen to join if there's still a place available.

[Benchmark]

On the list Mr W

[Hacker]

I'm coming for the Aust Open tennis in late Jan. If that time is convenient for a Burg dinner I would be keen to be involved. I think my dates are 22-26 Jan, but might need to check with Mrs Hacker.i have a few Burgandies in the bat cave.

[toofastdriving]

I'm in if there's still a spot please. Don't own any Burgundy but am interested in learning more - happy to pick up a bottle for a tasting group - or bring something Aus to compare QPR to - have a number of good pinots.

[Benchmark]

We now have nine if everyone is happy with the date 22-26 Jan.

Can we all work with that?

Anyone else who might be interested please post as there will be inevitably dates some of us can't make.

[Ozzie W]

We now have nine if everyone is happy with the date 22-26 Jan.

Can we all work with that?

Anyone else who might be interested please post as there will be inevitably dates some of us can't make.

I can't do 22 Jan due to a prior commitment. 23-26 Jan works for me.

[Benchmark]

No worries Ozzie.

I am thinking the 25th might be the best option.

[Chris H]

Monday 25th works for me.

If unsure about venues, Choi's is very good but maybe a bit out of town for some. Shark Fin Inn is in the city (not Shark Fin House, that is fully licensed) and I have done the "full duck experience" numerous times pretty cheaply.

[Chris H]

Anyone else who might be interested please post as there will be inevitably dates some of us can't make.

Agree on the "reserves" idea Grant - never seen an Offline yet that didn't have a couple of pullouts close to the date

And may I say that without even trying, you have come up with one of the best wine group names ever Makes me smile just looking at the name. Good vibes emanate from it.

[swirler]

And may I say that without even trying, you have come up with one of the best wine group names ever Makes me smile just looking at the name. Good vibes emanate from it.

+1 on the vibes

[mjs]

I'm interested and happy to start on the bench

[Hacker]

25th works for me (although I haven't told the wife yet ) Closer to the city would be appreciated.

[Benchmark]

Start working your charm Hacker.

Thanks Chris.

We can probably move on to venue.

Agree with the sentiment regarding food costs at a minimum.

I am also happy with Chinese but will open up the conversation regarding possible alternatives.

Ladro is a possibility. Reduced corkage on Mondays ($5.00) and reasonably priced food. I have never been there so I cannot comment on quality.

[swirler]

$30 food + $70 wine >> $70 food + $30 wine (by a country mile.)

With food, I nearly always find that Asian food is much better value than European food in terms of price and quantity. Quality is subjective. $5 corkcage is really good for sure, but how much will the food cost (all in)? Chinese would be circa $25 per person. If the alternative was the same or less I'd have no objection at all.

Another issue is how long we can stay there.

I have a good 'Western' restaurant that fits all criteria, but I'll save it for later.

For me, duck + Burgundy = Heaven, though.

[Benchmark]

$30 food + $70 wine >> $70 food + $30 wine (by a country mile.)

I like your mathematics swirler.

Asian it is. Unless one of the other 'members' has some problem with it.

Can I leave the logistics of this to you and Chris H who seems to know about such things?

[Benchmark]

I'm in if there's still a spot please. Don't own any Burgundy but am interested in learning more - happy to pick up a bottle for a tasting group - or bring something Aus to compare QPR to - have a number of good pinots.

Personally I have no problem with you bringing an Australian Pinot.

It will offer an interesting reference point to the Burgundies.

I will leave it open to the group however.

Should no one care, it is your call.

[Hacker]

I'm in if there's still a spot please. Don't own any Burgundy but am interested in learning more - happy to pick up a bottle for a tasting group - or bring something Aus to compare QPR to - have a number of good pinots.

Personally I have no problem with you bringing an Australian Pinot.

It will offer an interesting reference point to the Burgundies.

Perhaps we could have a number of blind wines including the Aussie pinot, that way we can be more 'judgemental' on old world vs. new world quality. we don't have to it with every wine though.

[swirler]

Perhaps we could have a number of blind wines including the Aussie pinot, that way we can be more 'judgemental' on old world vs. new world quality. we don't have to it with every wine though.

Ha! We must have been typing at the same time!

I suggest we do all tasting blind to avoid prejudice and to be 'scientific.' It's too easy to be seduced by the label. And it's more fun. If we can have some kind of discussion that would make it more educational, but we certainly don't need to be too serious (I'm bringing my Clive Coates books with me to refer to*)

* I'm lying. I don't have anything like that!

I think one 'ringer' is more than enough as it is supposed to be a Burgundy tasting group not a pinot noir tasting group. We're not here to prove which country makes the best pinot noir. That is totally subjective (well, it's not because Burgundy makes the best ones ) But we do want to learn more about Burgundy.

Toofastdriving. Assuming you're in Melbourne, I'd seriously recommend that you go to Prince Wine Store in South Melbourne (or somewhere similar) and ask them to recommend something. If they think it is a good wine then it would be a good one for our tasting IMO. [I can delete this last paragraph if it isn't suitable for this forum. Please feel free to PM me if anyone wants to discuss in private.]

[Chris H]

Yep good suggestion re sourcing a Burgundy Swirler. Grand Milliseme will deliver by then if you don't want to travel to Sth Melbourne.

One non Burgundy would be interesting if wines are all masked. One only though as it is a Burgundy group. I can bring one as an extra.

[Benchmark]

Agree with all of the above.

All to be Burgundy but one.

Happy for it to be a blind tasting. I am certainly guilty of being swooned by a label and fine print.

[swirler]

Blind is good. If the label looks like this I'm not going to dislike it!:

http://admin.iwine.com.tw/upload/images ... fasdfs.jpg

Seriously, we could bring an Aussie pinot if we suspect there's a chance our Burgundy may not be 100% (ie. it has one of those pesky corks.)

Grand Milliseme is another good option for Burgundy, for sure.

[Ozzie W]

I am certainly guilty of being swooned by a label and fine print.

I'm a noob when it comes to Burgundy. Can't wait until the time comes that I get swooned by labels.

[JamieBahrain]

Blind is good. If the label looks like this I'm not going to dislike it!:

http://admin.iwine.com.tw/upload/images ... fasdfs.jpg

Seriously, we could bring an Aussie pinot if we suspect there's a chance our Burgundy may not be 100% (ie. it has one of those pesky corks.)

Grand Milliseme is another good option for Burgundy, for sure.

I'm happy to help and bring a few good bottles down with many footy trips to Melb this year. Here's an offer of a few days ago from a friend who imports Burg to HKG.




Rousseau, Chambertin Grand Cru 1982 Magnum
- 1mg 150cl 25,000/mg
Rousseau, Chambertin Grand Cru 1989
AM94 2bt 75cl 14,000/bt
Rousseau, Chambertin Grand Cru 1990
AM93 3bt 75cl 21,000/bt
Rousseau, Chambertin Grand Cru 1995
AM94 5bt 75cl 12,000/bt
Rousseau, Chambertin Grand Cru 1998 Magnum
AM93 1mg 150cl 21,200/mg
Rousseau, Chambertin Grand Cru 2001
RP95 8bt 75cl 8,000/bt
Rousseau, Chambertin Grand Cru 2002 Magnum
RP96 2mg 150cl 32,000/mg
Rousseau, Chambertin Grand Cru 2012
AM97 6bt 75cl 10,500/bt
Rousseau, Chambertin Grand Cru 2012 Magnum
AM97 1mg 150cl 28,000/mg
Rousseau, Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 1980
JR18.5 1bt 75cl 16,000/bt
Rousseau, Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 1990
AM92 2bt 75cl 18,500/bt
Rousseau, Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 1990 Magnum
AM92 2mg 150cl 95,330/mg
Rousseau, Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 1991 (LS)
RP94 1bt 75cl 19,000/bt
Rousseau, Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 1993
AM96 2bt 75cl 16,500/bt
Rousseau, Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 1997 Magnum
RP94 1mg 150cl 18,000/mg
Rousseau, Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 2011 Magnum
AM95 2mg 150cl 18,000/mg
Rousseau, Chambertin Clos de Bèze Grand Cru 2012
RP98 5bt 75cl 9,600/bt
Rousseau, Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 1969
AM91 1bt 75cl 8,000/bt
Rousseau, Ruchottes Chambertin Grand Cru 2009
RP93 1cs 75cl 21,060/cs of 6
Rousseau, Marc de Bourgogne 1982
- 1bt 75cl 6,000/bt

[Chris H]

Not everyone has replied so can I assume Monday 25th January is good for most of us ?

I'll liaise with Swirler on a venue as Benchmark suggested.