Why is this forum dominated by big red wines from SA?

[Stu]

Thanks everyone for your insights as to why you are passionate about big SA reds.
After reading these notes it seems to me that most talk on this site is driven by a relatively small number of contributors who all seem to have a mutual passion for the big red wine style.
Like most of you have said, I guess it comes down to what we all personally like, and it seems like lovers of big reds are concentrated (no pun intended) at this forum. Good on you all!
Hopefully I can add contribute to the diversity of the forum in the future by talking about some cooler climate reds as I don't often drink big reds.

P.S. Are the general Coonawarra red styles considered in the big style or more at the elegent, cool climate spectrum. I would vote for the latter but I think it is quite variable between years and makers.

[GrahamB]

Brian (and Craig),

What Hawkes Bay Syrah have you tried? I'm yet to try any of them but it's quickly catching up with me when I'm surrounded by Kiwis. It's extremely difficult to pick a NZ red off the shelf when there are so many Aussie reds that I'm yet to try.

I'm looking at the Craggy Range Syrah (Le Sol or something?), Te Mata Bullnose, Matariki Aspire, Morton Black Label Syrah and Stonecroft. There's a couple others too but I forget.

I'm also intrigued by the Vidal "Joseph Soler" Cabernet...

Max

I stuck my nose in a glass of Murdoch James Salesyard Syrah at the NZ wine show on Sunday. Not Hawkes Bay but Martinborough. Very nice and I kept the empty glass for quite a while just smelling. But at $43, I would rather spend my hard earned on 2 x O'Leary Walker Clare/McLaren shiraz.

I should do some stats on my cellar. I think South Australian reds would be close to 80%.

Graham

[Bob]

I am just wondering why 90% of the talk on this forum is about:
1 - Big red wine styles
2 - South Australian wines, in particular Barrosa and McLaren Vale.

I'm not trying to be negative or argumentative, I'm just interested.
I have not been viewing this site for long. Maybe I have missed talk on cooler climate styles, or whites or sparkings or fortifieds.
Personally I have a penchant for cool climate styles - particularly pinot and caberbet. I find these wines to be a bit more intersting to my palate.

What are the reasons for these wines popularity?

I don't think it is so much a question of SA red dominating the conversation as the principals being more interested in those wines. Unless you have something very pertinent (or conversely very asinine) to say, you might not get much feedback. I think it is in the nature of forums for regular contributors to converse among themselves. From what I've seen, the members here go to great pains to be urbane and considerate, but not necessarily outgoing, to outsiders.

[707]

Are the general Coonawarra red styles considered in the big style or more at the elegent, cool climate spectrum. I would vote for the latter but I think it is quite variable between years and makers.

Good point Stu. Whilst never in the dense style of some Barossa or McV, the better ones (Majella etc) certainly have an intensity that I like. I drink a fair bit of Coonawarra so I look forward to your future posts.

[707]

I think it is in the nature of forums for regular contributors to converse among themselves. From what I've seen, the members here go to great pains to be urbane and considerate, but not necessarily outgoing, to outsiders.

Bob, if you want to read conversing amonst themselves there is another forum that takes it to great heights!

I'm glad to see the regulars have some good points, I'll be outgoing to anyone, even the unnamed Guests if I can usefully add to the conversation. It's just some topics like whites or Pinots I have limited knowledge to add.

Keep on postin', I'll keep reading

[TORB]

and the two bald brothers from the east .

Steve,

Be careful, I resemble that remark!

And speakingf of that people in glass houses shouyldnt throw nasturshions upon other peoples looks, especially when they look like a 70's porn star like you did!

[707]

I notice Brian was mildly offended but wasn't sure if it was reference to baldness or the thought of being your brother Ric!

You're just jealous of my former flowing locks and flowing moustache!

[Bob]

I think it is in the nature of forums for regular contributors to converse among themselves. From what I've seen, the members here go to great pains to be urbane and considerate, but not necessarily outgoing, to outsiders.

Bob, if you want to read conversing amonst themselves there is another forum that takes it to great heights!

I'm glad to see the regulars have some good points, I'll be outgoing to anyone, even the unnamed Guests if I can usefully add to the conversation. It's just some topics like whites or Pinots I have limited knowledge to add.

Keep on postin', I'll keep reading

Steve,
I’m afraid ‘not outgoing’ was a very poor choice of words to express what I was trying to say. The regulars here certainly do not only talk among themselves. On the contrary, I’m often surprised at how much effort they make to be helpful to anyone and everyone who has a question. What I wanted to say was that there is a certain camaraderie among the regulars in which it is difficult for others to share. As a result, while an offhand remark by a regular is quite likely to elicit a response from the other regulars, the same remark from someone else might go overlooked. For example, your ‘bald brothers’ remark produced quick comebacks from both Brian and Ric, but I think such a quip by a non-regular might slip by without comment (and it would also be a bit rude from someone less familiar to them). Of course this is only natural, as the regulars are much more familiar with each other, both through the forum and often outside of it as well. In no way did I mean to complain or criticize; I’m just a bit envious of the camaraderie.

On another point, I would think residence in SA is totally irrelevant to a preference for big red wines. There are certainly a lot of people, myself included, who do not live in SA, and who may not have even ever been to SA, who have a preference for such wines. And as sacrilegious as it might sound, I imagine there are plenty of people living in SA who prefer white wine. Most of the participants in the forum seem to lean in this direction, some of course more or less than others. SA may have a larger number of big reds than other areas, but IÂ’ve certainly seen frequent discussion of big reds from Vic as well.

[707]

Bob, it's about time you headed our way and had yourself a good helping on good old southern hospitality.

You'd not only come to the home of the best reds but also get to meet some of the regulars.

Check out the airfares boyo!

[Bob]

Steve,

We'll be heading to Melbourne for a week in April (and I'll be posting a call for help on fortifieds and stickies in that regard that will display my total lack of knowledge). It will be our 4th visit, both to Oz and to Melb, and it was on the first visit in 2001 that I developed this terrible unshakable addiction to Oz shiraz. Prior to that I was under the delusional impression that Oz made mostly inexpensive , somewhat pleasant, mostly nondescript wine (read Lindeman Bin 45/50/65 and Rosemount diamond label and below). I'd probably be looking around for some Yellowtail right now if it had not been for that fateful first trip (IÂ’d also have more money in my bank account).

Never been to Adelaide. Gave it considerable thought for this trip, including taking the train from Melb so we could do both, but in the end we decided to put it off for a future trip. We like Melb so much more than Sydney (not to mention that the hotel is about half the price), since it is such an easy walking city with so many great restaurants.

[Red Bigot]

I notice Brian was mildly offended but wasn't sure if it was reference to baldness or the thought of being your brother Ric!

The latter

You're just jealous of my former flowing locks and flowing moustache!

Being bald saves so much time as well as money that would be spent on shampoo, hairdresser etc. Probably works out to a few good bottles of red a year.

[GraemeG]

Perhaps its because not enough people with other tastes bother to post here

I dont think many people would argue with the fact that most australian wine fans are more parohicial than most, they tend to full there cellars up with local red stuff more than most. Not saying that is right or wrong, its just how they are.

I think that's mostly a function of price. By the time WET and GST go on, everything else, including reds from NZ, is starting behind the eight-ball on price. I'd love to buy more foreign wines, but the ATO is killing me. Guigal Cotes du Rhone for A$28? Sheesh!

cheers,
Graeme