The Auswine Forum

Best White: Pewsey Vale Contours riesling 2004 museum release
Best Red: domestic: Marius Symposium 2006 (I think that puts me a year behind, but I drank several throughout. Superlative. international: Castello Monsanto 2004 Chianti Classico - walked into an enoteca in Florence and asked the guy to pour the best expression of his locale. He didn't hesitate. Magnificent, fresh wine. I can still taste it.
Best Budget White: Hoddles Creek 2007 chardonnay
Best Budget Red: Tahbilk 2006 cabernet sauvignon
Best Latest Release: Henschke 07 Mt Edelstone, Te Mata 08 Coleraine
Best Cellared Wine: 1995 Ch Pibarnon Bandol rouge
Best Tasting: The Tahbilk 150th anniversary tasting.
Best wine in none of the above categories: Pennyweight Constance fino sherry. Get in before they have to call it apera - this sherry is as rich, bold and satisfying as many Spanish sherries I've tried. Ludicrously good value at $20 a 375ml. Every time I've poured it, eyes light up.
Best wine driving: the drive in Havelock nr Hawkes Bay on NZ Nth Island. To think that terrain as heart-stoppingly beautiful also produces Te Mata and Craggy Range wines. I'll be looking for a spot to be buried next time I'm over!

Happy xmas and fine drinking to all,

Via Collins.

Now that the years over, thought we should revisit Craig's thread just in case the latest festive wines have changed our minds.

Best White: 2005 Michel Picard Montrachet Grand Cru
Best Red: 1990 Chateau La Conseillante Pomerol
Best Budget White: 1999 Leo buring reisling
Best Budget Red: 2006 Talbilk Shiraz
Best Latest Release 2008 Craggy range Le Sol
Best Cellared Wine: as above
Best Tasting: Chateau de Chassagne Montrachet and the most unusual tasting was an Italian guys backyard fragilino tasting in northern Italy.
Best <champagne>: 2000 Louis Roederer Crystal
Best <wine drive> (to add to via collins award) Route de Grand Cru.

Cheers,
Red Smurf

I’m glad you prompted Red Smurf, as I’ve got 2 in my list from xmas day!
Overall, my favourite wine this year was the 08 Giaconda Chardonnay.

Best White: 2008 Giaconda Chardy
Best Red: 2006 Moss Wood Cab Sav (if this is what they do in a bad vintage, I will be buying them every year from now on)
Best Budget White: 2003 Pewsey Vale Contours Riesling
Best Budget Red: 2009 Nick O Leary Shiraz
Best Latest Release 2008: Giaconda Chardy
Best Cellared Wine: 1991 Grange
Best Tasting: Langtons
Best <champagne>: 2000 Dom P
Best discovery – Arneis (a few from the Kings Valley go v well at good prices)
Best intentions for 2011: a better knowledge in Italian wines. Had a cracking Grape Mates session which highlighted there’s a lot to learn and love.
Expect to see more Barolo, Barbera, Nero d’Avolas etc tasting notes in 2011!

Cheers
Michael

Hi Craig and fellow wine readers,

You might want to check out the upcoming 2011 Sydney Royal Wine Show Cellar Tasting to get a sneak peak of the year's most outstanding wines.

After four days of judging, the cellar doors of the Macquarie Group Sydney Royal Wine Show will open exclusively to 600 members of the public on Saturday 19 February.

The Cellar Tasting will provide wine lovers with the opportunity to sample the newly awarded Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal and Trophy winning wines.

A wine tutorial is also included in the ticket price, providing wine lovers with an insight into the judging system, new varietals and trends, and how to taste wine like a judge.

“Boasting a distinguished history of over 180 years, the Macquarie Group Sydney Royal Wine Show has earned its reputation as one of the premier events on Australia’s wine calendar,” said Wine Show Committee Chair Lyndey Milan.

“The Sydney Royal Wine Show prides itself on the high judging standards of experts such as the late Len Evans, Brian Croser, James Halliday and the current Chairman of Judges, Iain Riggs,” said Ms Milan.

All patrons attending the Cellar Tasting will receive a Riedel Ouverture white wine glass to take home as a memento of the day.

As you taste test your way around the 2300 wines, a selection of medal winning gourmet products from the Sydney Royal Fine Food and Cheese and Dairy Produce Shows will be available for sample and purchase.

Cellar Tasting tickets cost $65 per person and include the following:

- Unlimited tastings of over 2300 Australian wines including the trophy and medal winners
- Entry to an exclusive Judges’ Tutorial where you will learn about the judging process, new varietals and trends, and most importantly, how to taste wine like a professional
- A Riedel wine glass to take home
- Opportunity to book into a Riedel Glass Tutorial for $79.95 that includes 4 Riedel Vinum glasses
- Tasting of Sydney Royal medal winning gourmet food products
- Macquarie Group Sydney Royal Wine Show Results Catalogue

Tickets will be available for purchase online on Thursday 13 January at http://www.sydneyroyal.com.au/650.htm. For further information please contact Leanne Zeid at lzeid@rasnsw.com.au or (02) 9704 1294.

The Glass Tutorial being offered by glassware company Riedel will includes a 60 minute information session about Riedel products, proper wine glass usage, helpful tips about wine tasting and four Riedel Vinum glasses valued at $189 which are a gift for taking part in the tutorial.

There are limited seats available for all tutorials. There is limited supply of bottles available for tasting and all Trophy wines will be strictly control poured. Wine will be served on a first in best dressed basis.
The event is for persons over 18 years only.

Cheers,
Anna.

So to my best wines of the year.

My highest rated wine was Ch. Coutet’s most fabulous 1986 Cuvee Madame. I had no hesitancy pulling the cork on this exceptional Barsac dessert wine for this year’s Tom Low Memorial Dinner. And what a wine. It rates alongside the 1975 D’Yquem as the finest sticky I’ve had the pleasure of drinking over the last four decades.

The runner-up was a freakish bottle from Henschke - the 1984 Cyril Cabernet Sauvignon - a wine of such beauty retaining such glorious rich, sweet fruit and unparallelled silkiness, it almost brought me to tears to my eyes. Languishing in my cellar for quite some time, an inventory check revealed this treasure hidden in a box with other Henschke wines. Such are the joys of building a cellar and not keeping it up to date!

My list is as follows -

97 points - Ch. Coutet Cuvee Madame 1986

96 points - Henschke Cyril Henschke Caberner Sauvignon 1984

95 points -

Penfolds Grange 1986

Bonneau du Martray Corton Charlemagne 1989

Lindemans Coonawarra Nursery Riesling 1985 (Classic Release)

Pol Roger Blanc de Blanc 1996

Seppelt Drumborg Riesling 2003

Ch. Coutet 1975

Trimbach Cuvee Frederic Emile Riesling Vendange Tardive 1989

Campbell’s The Merchant Prince Muscat

Morris Old Premium Rare Muscat

Worthy of most honourable mentions at 94 points -

Tyrrell’s Vat 1 Semillon 1992

Hollock Coonawarra Cabernet 1984

Trimbach Clos St.Hune Riesling 1992

Seppelt Dorrien Cabernet Sauvignon 1996

Pewsey Vale The Contours Museum Release Riesling 2005

Ch. Climens 1980

Hugel Riesling Vendange Tardive 1989

Louis Carillon Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Perrieres 2000

Best White: 1989 Trimbach Riesling Cuvée Frédéric Emile Vendange Tardive
Best Red: 1970 Saltram Bin 55 'Claret' (sic)
Best Sparkling: 1998 Krug
Best Fortified: 1975 Wendouree Vintage Port
Best Latest Release Red: 2007 Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon
Best Latest Release White: 2009 Grosset Polish Hill Riesling
Best Budget Wine: 2009 Crabtree Hilltop Vineyard Riesling
Best Tasting Experience: Andrew Jefford's Farewell Dinner

Cheers,
Ian