Brisbane RNA wine judging

GrahamB · Post by **GrahamB** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 12:18 pm

The judging for the Royal National Assn wine show begins next sunday at the RNA grounds.

Judging days are Sunday - Thursday.

Presentation Ball is on Thursday night.

Friends of the RNA get to taste 7am to 11am Friday.

Public tasting is Saturday. Don't know the times or cost yet.

Graham

mphatic · Post by **mphatic** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 1:49 pm

Saturday 16 July 2005,
2.30pm - 4.30pm

$40 per person ($35 for RNA financial members)
Entry price includes a complementary wine glass and results book.

In previous years they didn't force you to pay for the results book (~$10), so this could explain why the price is up by the same margin. Although the results book is essential if you want to search for particular wines, there is no sense in my partner paying an additional $10 for something that she doesn't need. I'm hoping they will offer the no-book option soon.

Maximus · Post by **Maximus** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 3:54 pm

mphatic wrote:Saturday 16 July 2005,
2.30pm - 4.30pm

$40 per person ($35 for RNA financial members)
Entry price includes a complementary wine glass and results book.

I wonder if it will indeed be a 'glass' or just a plastic cup like they issued at the Brisbane Wine Festival. Just pathetic. You can tell you've walked into a class event when they hand you a plastic cup that has string attached to it through eyelets and encourage a 'hands free' approach by hanging it around your neck.

Jeeee Suz...

mphatic · Post by **mphatic** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 4:15 pm

Maximus wrote:
mphatic wrote:Saturday 16 July 2005,
2.30pm - 4.30pm

$40 per person ($35 for RNA financial members)
Entry price includes a complementary wine glass and results book.

I wonder if it will indeed be a 'glass' or just a plastic cup like they issued at the Brisbane Wine Festival. Just pathetic. You can tell you've walked into a class event when they hand you a plastic cup that has string attached to it through eyelets and encourage a 'hands free' approach by hanging it around your neck.

Jeeee Suz...

Unfortunately (fortunately??) I didn't attend the Wine Festival this year. I would be very surprised if the RQ wine show tasting went the same way, since in the past they have used the standard ISO tasting glasses.

Since they get all the wine for free, and effectively charge $10 for a 20-page black and white photocopied booklet, I'd be mighty pi**ed off I turned up to plastic cups. Tasting glasses would cost less than what? $1?? I'd rather they stopped paying money to the UK backpackers who don't know what they are talking about, and are never there to serve the wine when you need it. The method of pour-it-yourself has worked well in my experience, and not too many people seem to abuse it... I'll be the one over in the fortifieds section, late in the afternoon, with a glass in one hand and a bottle in the other :shock:

GrahamB · Post by **GrahamB** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 4:51 pm

mphatic wrote:
Maximus wrote:
mphatic wrote:Saturday 16 July 2005,

Unfortunately (fortunately??) I didn't attend the Wine Festival this year. I would be very surprised if the RQ wine show tasting went the same way, since in the past they have used the standard ISO tasting glasses.

Since they get all the wine for free, and effectively charge $10 for a 20-page black and white photocopied booklet, I'd be mighty pi**ed off I turned up to plastic cups. Tasting glasses would cost less than what? $1?? I'd rather they stopped paying money to the UK backpackers who don't know what they are talking about, and are never there to serve the wine when you need it. The method of pour-it-yourself has worked well in my experience, and not too many people seem to abuse it... I'll be the one over in the fortifieds section, late in the afternoon, with a glass in one hand and a bottle in the other

I did not attend the public tasting last year. After the Friday session I was all wined out. I am currently studying the "Procedures for Wine Stewards" so that I won't behave like a UK backpacker during the week. They certainly don't use backpackers for the stewards. You have to volunteer and then get an invite if they like the look of you. Quite a few of the stewards were wine reps.

All other sessions use the ISO glasses so I can't imagine they will change for the public session.

Graham

mphatic · Post by **mphatic** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 5:14 pm

GrahamB wrote:I did not attend the public tasting last year. After the Friday session I was all wined out. I am currently studying the "Procedures for Wine Stewards" so that I won't behave like a UK backpacker during the week. They certainly don't use backpackers for the stewards. You have to volunteer and then get an invite if they like the look of you. Quite a few of the stewards were wine reps.

All other sessions use the ISO glasses so I can't imagine they will change for the public session.

Graham

Graham,
They possibly don't use the best stewards at the public tasting. Over the last two years I've struck up conversation with a few of the gals and guys, and many were on holiday from europe. I remember one of them saying that they get to take home/drink as much as they want afterwards as reward. The people behind the Gold medal stand seemed to know what they were talking about but others didn't know a riesling from a shiraz. Will be interesting to see if there is any change this year.

GrahamB · Post by **GrahamB** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 9:00 pm

mphatic wrote:
GrahamB wrote:I did not attend the public tasting last year. After the Friday session I was all wined out. I am currently studying the "Procedures for Wine Stewards" so that I won't behave like a UK backpacker during the week. They certainly don't use backpackers for the stewards. You have to volunteer and then get an invite if they like the look of you. Quite a few of the stewards were wine reps.

All other sessions use the ISO glasses so I can't imagine they will change for the public session.

Graham

Graham,
They possibly don't use the best stewards at the public tasting. Over the last two years I've struck up conversation with a few of the gals and guys, and many were on holiday from europe. I remember one of them saying that they get to take home/drink as much as they want afterwards as reward. The people behind the Gold medal stand seemed to know what they were talking about but others didn't know a riesling from a shiraz. Will be interesting to see if there is any change this year.

It is a guarantee that I won't be doing the Saturday public day.(Unless instructed by the PTB) After six days starting at 6.30am, I will be looking forward to a sleep in and a 50th birthday lunch for a friend.

The week picks up momentum from 6.30am starts each day to the presentation ball on Thursday night, then Friends of the RNA tasting from 7.00 to 11.00am friday. My liver/kidneys will be glad to see the week over.

Graham

GrahamB · Post by **GrahamB** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 7:19 pm

Three days down and three days to go.

Had some very good tastes but too little time to make notes. Each day starts at 6.30am and we normally finish about 4.30pm. Judges go about an hour or so before.

Had some of the 02 Command yesterday. Extra good.

A new one from Grant Burge (GSM) called Abednego. Priced to sit above the Holy T. Nice fruit here. Saw an 02 & 03 of this one.

Tried

03 Fox Creek JSM
03 Fox Creek Shiraz grenache
01 Chapel Hill The Vicar
99 J Creek Limited release shiraz cab
03 Brothers in Arms No6

One year old shiraz tomorrow after a morning of char... See I even have trouble typing it. At least it cleans the drains when we empty the slop buckets.

Results announced on Thursday night. Don't know how long before they are posted to the web. Printed results will be available Friday morning and on Saturday at the public tasting.

Graham

mphatic · Post by **mphatic** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:49 am

GrahamB wrote:Three days down and three days to go.

Had some very good tastes but too little time to make notes. Each day starts at 6.30am and we normally finish about 4.30pm. Judges go about an hour or so before.

Had some of the 02 Command yesterday. Extra good.

Graham

I tasted the 01 Elderton Command on the weekend and was particularly impressed. A massive unit, yet with enough poise and seduction that I could easily have another glass. And another. And...

GrahamB · Post by **GrahamB** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 7:38 pm

Today was the 1 year old shiraz.

Love the 04 Kaesler Bogan and Old Bastard( Good gear here)

04 Lehmann 8 songs nice

04 O'Leary/Walker Shiraz. Better than 03 not the nose of the 02 but it is not finished yet as with all of these

Have to get back and drink some more before the family clean them up.

Graham

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 9:50 pm

Has the final result been published yet? Can I get the result on internet?

tks

707 · Post by **707** » Thu Jul 14, 2005 10:50 pm

Kaesler are doing great things, one of my favourite wineries and starting to get alot of representation in the 707 cellar.

GrahamB · Post by **GrahamB** » Fri Jul 15, 2005 12:12 pm

707 wrote:Kaesler are doing great things, one of my favourite wineries and starting to get alot of representation in the 707 cellar.

And why wouldn't they get a lot of representation.

Lush & Sexy wines. And at my time of life this becomes important.

Results are out in print.

Trophy Winners

Skipping right past the see thru's

Best Gold Medal mature wine classes:
West End Estates 3 bridges Durif 2003

Stodart Trophy for best one year old red:
Chateau Reynalla Reserve Shiraz 2004

Best Shiraz in Mature class
Annie's Lane Copper Trail SHiraz 2002

Best Merlot:
Brookland Valley Estate Merlot 2004

Best Pinot Noir:
No award (Someone is finally getting the message)

Best Dry Red in Commercial class
Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz 2003

Medal winners are available if you want them.

Graham