I didn't take any notes at all and my memory is a shocka but just a few points.
Firstly, Finney, be very interested in the weekend in Bowral. It was Eschalot that just got the great write up in the good living, wasn't it, so I'd be keen to check it out. After mid March, when things finally begin to settle down would be great. April even better.
The food: I thought it was brilliant. I've eaten at Atelier when it was at Newtown and while exceptional, it came across a bit more homey. They have raised the bar here. The duck egg was stunning, the suckling pig sublime. The cheeses, fantastic. Saying that, I really can't believe they thought most of this was going to match a sparkling shiraz and cabernet night. 2 seafood courses? They had the list of wines too. I know they do some amazing beef dishes so it really didn't make a lot of sense. So on the level of matching, it was a disappointment, however nothing really jarred that badly but the food itself, I thought was amazing. I'll definitely be going back.
The company: Great as always. It's always such a pleasure to go to offlines and meet new people. And for most of this group, it was their first offline. Still haven't found an axe murderer either! Thanks everyone for the generosity and making it such a great night.
The wines: What a fantastic selection. The thing that stuck me the most was the variety. Having attended the 99 Barossa shiraz night, it really struck me there how similar many of the wines were. I guess with the same wine, same region and same year, you should expect that but it was only subtle differences that held them apart. Here, we had a wide range of vintages, regions and styles. Every wine was quite diffferent.
The sparkling shiraz. Wow. How good is this style? Both the Joseph and the Rockford blew me away. I haven't had the Joseph before but wouldn't hesitate to buy it. Lovely bottle too. There'll definitely be some rockford on my christmas table this year.
Quickly through the other wines.
89 Mentor A bit of mint up front. Lovely wine and got better in the glass. Good stuff and holding up very well.
90 Wynn's Black Label Fantastic example of a classic Black Label. Someone at our table said, "When I taste this, this is exactly what I expect from Coonawarra Cabernet" Couldn't have said it better.
92 Rosemount Show Reserve A bit tired and old really. Not bad but at the very end of it's drinking window and everything else on the night was looking a lot fresher.
94 JG John's Blend I got a bit of caramel as well as the sweet coconut on both the nose and front palate. A lovely wine drinking very well indeed.
95 Devils Lair Very different wine from the others, marking it's region. Still very youthful and plenty of life left in it. Worth seeking out.
96 John Riddoch Still very youthful too although I kept some of this in my glass for most of the night and it started fading a little towards the end. Plenty of tannis still but I think this is just entering it's drinking window if you like them a bit bigger but will last for years. Plenty of chocolate and blackcurrent.
96 707 These were my bottles so I was naturally biased but gee these are good. Decanted for about three hours and when I opened them, lovely nose of blackcurrents, which happens to be my favourite flavour. Filled the kitchen with the aromas. On the night, they showed very well, with layers of black fruits and chocolate and spices. I've got quite a few of these so was very interested to see how they were travelling. With decanting (probably longer than what I did would be better) drinking exceptionally well now but should be shining in ten years. These were so closed on release, so glad to see we could get something out of them now.
97 Bowen Unfortunately, can't remember too much about this wine but I think it was paling in comparison to the two previous wines. Still it wasn't bad, as I'd remember that!
00 Noon Reserve Cab Sav I loved this wine (but then I've got a few so it's just as well) Found it quite sweet and full of black fruits. Still quite young though.
99 Happs Three Hills Another great wine. They just kept coming. Also very young with plenty of life in it. Quite a depth of flavour in this one and a long finish.
00 Wild Duck Creek Reserve Cab Sav Didn't find this weird at all. Maybe you were all drinking it with one of the seafood courses?
Quite big and still plenty of tannins and again pretty sweet but thoroughly enjoyed it. Maybe I've got the weird palate.
Thank God none of the wines were tasting bitter and metallic this time though!
Anyway, a great night and thanks again to Christo, who I'm sure has his hands more than full with the new bub, for organising the night.
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Great to meet you all.
, loverly aged cab shows what can be done with some effort it what was supposed to be a poor vintage.
. Loved the wine had a lot going on, I made a remark about malibu and red wine, the coconut oak was very prominent but the fruit was up to the task such a contrast to some of the more subtle wines we had great stuff, when is the next contest Brian 
.... first time i saw it was on arrival & i felt they could've done better.
