Auckland Offline: Stonyridge Larose Vertical

Bick · Post by **Bick** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:02 am

There's been some discussion of this on the April buying thread. Better to have a separate thread as Craig suggested.

The idea: an offline get together somewhere in Auckland to taste a vertical of Larose. Each attendee to bring a unique vintage. Hopefully we can cover early-mid 1990's through to late 2000's.

Who's interested?
What sort of dates work for you?
What vintage could you bring?
Where should it be?

I can make any time in May/June, but will be away most of July, unfortunately, I know that was suggested as an idea. I could bring 07 (most easily) or maybe 02, 03.

SueNZ · Post by **SueNZ** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:21 am

Would be interested.
Opened a 2006 the other night, but would recommend that this be decanted as it really was tight and leathery. Soon opened up in a huge Bordeaux glass. Most of my friends hated it and went on to something else in the meantime.

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 10:37 am

i can supply from my cellar 96,99,00,04,05 ie any of the recent top vintages :D I only really have single bottles but that doesnt worry me, happy to share with those who appreciate.

94 vintage would be one we should look for too.

id prob be keen to bring the wife and 2 vintages and also have a ex workmate who is a srl collector who i will contact and invite. on top of that i have a wine industry contact with a lot of larose who may be keen to organise something in conjunction with us

another thought (just random throwing it out there) 10 years srl vs 10 years coleraine - answer the age old question.

never seen it done before, ever...could create some interest

96 97 98 99 00 02 04 05 06 07

skip 01 and 03 which were below avg years for both producers

coleraine i could supply 96,98,00,02,04,05,06,07.

Curt · Post by **Curt** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 3:40 pm

Hi, I have some older vintages that I could bring 89,90,91,93,95

Peter NZ · Post by **Peter NZ** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 4:04 pm

I'm interested, but really only on a week night (Mon - Thurs).

Don't have any Larose in the cellar, but can have a look round to see what's available if need be. If it extends to Coleraine I've got various options -- happy to contribute a '98.

Cheers
Peter

Nayan · Post by **Nayan** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:59 pm

I'm working harvest in Marlborough and will be heading up to Auckland May/June. I'd be interested in joining if I could buy in.

Cheers,

Nayan

Paradox · Post by **Paradox** » Wed Apr 08, 2009 10:18 pm

Hi, I'm interested too. I have 89, 96, 97, 99, 00, and 02 sitting lonely in the cellar.
I also have the (mis)fortune of knowing a couple of (non-Stonyridge) Waiheke winemakers (I gave them my last 87 for a previous vertical) if you guys want to expand this.

SueNZ · Post by **SueNZ** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 5:58 am

Craig(NZ) wrote:id prob be keen to bring the wife and 2 vintages

in a similar vein, i'd be keen to bring the husband (seeing he paid for the wines) and 2 vintages too.

Would prefer daytime (sorry Peter) as it's better to look at the colours. Will be away sometime in late July/early Aug (not sure of dates yet).
With Bick away most of July, perhaps June - but not 21st (car club Winter Woollies) or 28th (Wine Options). Free most Saturdays in June and late May. Have some Sundays free too.

Can't offer any recent Coleraine. Have a really old one somewhere, could bring along for interest though it most probably is stuffed. Some of the oldies were peaking at a vertical five years ago.

Just one question, with a dual vertical and 20 wines, would we get 20 pours out of each bottle?

Bick · Post by **Bick** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 6:42 am

I think we'd struggle to get through 2 verticals tbh, and I'd be keen to look at some old Larose if it came available, i.e. extend the Larose to moe than just a decade. Perhaps we could say its focussed on Larose, but that if you're bringing a partner, you could make your second bottle a Coleraine, just so we get to make a few comparisons?? What do you think?

Not sure if it will be just me or me+1 at this stage. If its the two of us, I'd probably bring two Larose vintages.

So far we have (for Larose):

Bick: 07 (plus one vintage ?)
Craig: One from 96,99,00,04,05
Curt: One from 89,90,91,93,95
Peter: could buy in
Nayan: could buy in
Paradox: 89,96,97,99,00,02
Sue/Neil: Two vintages??
Craig's mate: ?
Craig's industry contact: ?

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:21 am

I think we'd struggle to get through 2 verticals tbh, and I'd be keen to look at some old Larose if it came available, i.e. extend the Larose to moe than just a decade. Perhaps we could say its focussed on Larose, but that if you're bringing a partner, you could make your second bottle a Coleraine, just so we get to make a few comparisons?? What do you think?

yip tend to agree. Lets make it Larose for starters, ive been to plenty of Coleraine verticals

Bick · Post by **Bick** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:27 am

Bump.

Was anyone else interested in this off-line?
How would Saturday May 23rd, or Saturday May 30th work for folk?

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Mon Apr 20, 2009 11:39 am

either date suits me as far as im aware at this stage.

happy to attend even if it ends up a small group

SueNZ · Post by **SueNZ** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:53 am

Bick wrote:Bump.

Was anyone else interested in this off-line?
How would Saturday May 23rd, or Saturday May 30th work for folk?

May 3oth is Saturday of Queens Birthday Weekend and not so good for us. May 23rd would be better.

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Tue Apr 21, 2009 8:19 am

Basically any time suits me. set a date with a bit of warning and i will make sure im there

I can do week nights, weekends, day, night. Any other engagements can be cancelled :lol:

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Wed Apr 22, 2009 2:29 pm

Set a date Bick.

You choose, make it your baby if you like

Best to set a date, decide a venue (restuarant or someones place i dont care). I can basically make any date, any place in auckland as long as I have a bit of notice to arrange itchy and scratchy some baby sitters

Those who are in are in, those who are out are out. You can never please everyone.

Once we have details i can invite a couple of non forumites that may be interested, but pointless doing that before i have the details

Curt · Post by **Curt** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 5:52 am

Hi all, Larose only & the 23rd works for me.
Cheers,
Curt

Bick · Post by **Bick** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 7:33 am

Ok, thanks guys. Saturday May 23rd it is. Lunchtime. Venue tbc (I'll have a think and come up with a proposition), but will be in Auckland.

I've taken the liberty of penciling in what folk might be able to bring. If you're still on for it, can you edit or confirm? Bold is confirmed. We obviously can't do all vintages, so I've identified what are perhaps the best (and/or available) 10 vintages - if you disagree or want to bring a vintage not on the list that's fine.

07 - Bick
05 -
04 - Sue/Neil?
02 - Bick
00 - Craig+1?
99 - Sue/Neil?
97 -
96 - Craig+1?
95 - Curt?
91 -

I've not penciled in anyone for 05 as I imagine someone can get hold of that if they want/need to buy in - Peter/Nayan or a friend of Craig's?? Paradox, it would be great if you can make the 23rd May and bring one of your earlier vintages.

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 8:20 am

Yip fine, and yes put me down as x2. Mel will come. It may clash with her netball but if so i will suggest she skips the game! Shouldnt be an issue with this much notice

Would be good to get hold of a 94 is poss as one of the classic vintages.

dhall and nash (wellington) have some on their website for $105 which is a bloody good price. perhaps we should get one shipped up??

Unfortunately i havent got one. I have emailed an ex workmate who may be keen and has a pile of vintages. Unfortunately he is on leave so wont hear from him for a week or so.

If we need to buy any in i know a couple of places that sell various vintages around the $90-120 mark which is better than the central auckland retailers!

SueNZ · Post by **SueNZ** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:05 am

Craig,
Can wait a week or so to see what your mate can bring before panicking about buying anything in.
Cheers,
Sue

Nayan · Post by **Nayan** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:32 am

23rd should work for me, but won't be a definite either way for a week or so. Quite happy to buy the current release or something older from D&N (will be driving up through Wellington) as needs be.

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:47 am

Can wait a week or so to see what your mate can bring before panicking about buying anything in.

yip, no rush. if my mate can come i think we will be able to choose from about 10 vitnages with him (not sure if he has 94)

Bick · Post by **Bick** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:14 am

Nayan wrote:23rd should work for me, but won't be a definite either way for a week or so. Quite happy to buy the current release or something older from D&N (will be driving up through Wellington) as needs be.

Excellent!

Nayan · Post by **Nayan** » Mon May 04, 2009 8:01 am

Bump.

Just want to see how this is going. Do we have a venue sorted yet?

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Mon May 04, 2009 8:22 am

i have a "no im in brisbane that weekend" and a no reply "on annual leave" so far from my contacts.

im keen to fly x2 still

Bick · Post by **Bick** » Mon May 04, 2009 8:42 am

Sorry guys, been kinda busy and I've let this slide for a week - my apologies. We do need a venue. Happy to arrange, but before I do, what kind of venue are you interested in? Is there a byo lunch/cafe spot in central auckland anyone knows about? I can't think of one off hand. The french byo place in Parnell (St Tropez) is not open lunchtimes, I think. Any and all ideas gratefully received.

Nayan - what vintage might you bring? - stick a pin in one you're happy with and we'll firm them up.

Cheers.

Nayan · Post by **Nayan** » Mon May 04, 2009 8:48 am

Mike,

I'll go the 94 from D&N. I'll email them now to reserve it.

Bick · Post by **Bick** » Mon May 04, 2009 9:01 am

Nayan wrote:Mike,

I'll go the 94 from D&N. I'll email them now to reserve it.

Excellent, cheers. Craig, you want to stick a pin in a couple? 96 and 00 looked good, without overlap with other people - you ok with them?

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Mon May 04, 2009 9:12 am

yip. Put me down for 00 and 96
done

All I can suggest is La Bocca Parnell where we went last time. Not an expert in central BYO's sorry.

Nayan · Post by **Nayan** » Mon May 04, 2009 9:22 am

I've taken the liberty of emailing Stonyridge to see if anyone there might be interested in attending (and plugging a few gaps, of course). Hope that you don't mind.

Bick · Post by **Bick** » Mon May 04, 2009 9:25 am

Craig(NZ) wrote:All I can suggest is La Bocca Parnell where we went last time.

Looks good to me (and I've not been there). The only other place I just thought of was a similar kind of venue - Capri Cafe and Bar in Mission Bay. La Bocca maybe looks better though. Any other opinions from anyone? I'll give it a day for other views then see about booking a table at La Bocca.

We have confirmed:
Bick/Claire (02, 07)
Craig +1 (96, 00)
Nayan (94)
Curt (which of your old vintages do you think?)
Sue/Neil (can you confirm 99 and 04 Sue?)

Paradox and Peter, and anyone else - can you make it this date and if so, which vintage could you bring?

Currently looking like a table for 8-10.