Brisbane Offline - Urbane

[Luke W]

Thanks Nick

If you would prefer a chardy, I have a few Toolangi Reserves (2002 Rick Kinzbrunner) left.

[chillwrx]

Unfortunately Michelle can't make it, I may ring in a couple of people from work but I'll see how we are going for numbers first;

Nick - either an 06 Ata Rangi or 07JP Fichet Mersault depending on whether we need a Chardy or Pinot
Gerry - 02 Leeuwin Art Series Chardy
Rens+1 08 Woori Yallock & 07 Amisfield Pinots
Ben+1 98 BP PRemium & 04 Giaconda Chardy

Luke Possible - Felton Rd Pinot

Craig are you still keen?

Any other takers?

Nick

I really want to come buttravel is likely to keep me away. If I can tidy things up in Perth quickly I may be able to get back in time and then yes I will bring a suitably robust and ostentatious red and the white equivalent.

I must say though that the rets of you are shit at picking dates for offlines.

[Rednick]

Update

Nick - either an 06 Ata Rangi or 07JP Fichet Mersault depending on whether we need a Chardy or Pinot
Gerry - 02 Leeuwin Art Series Chardy
Rens+1 08 Woori Yallock & 07 Amisfield Pinots
Ben+1 98 BP PRemium & 04 Giaconda Chardy

Luke Possible - Felton Rd Pinot
Craig Unlikely, LMK if it starts to look hopeful

Nick

[Luke W]

Count me in Nick - Tuesday night at Urbane at what time?

cheers

Luke

[Rednick]

Great to have you on board Luke -

So we have

Nick - 06 Ata Rangi
Gerry - 02 Leeuwin Art Series Chardy
Rens+1 08 Woori Yallock & 07 Amisfield Pinots
Ben+1 98 BP PRemium & 04 Giaconda Chardy
Luke - Felton Rd Pinot

I'll confirm with the Restaurant on Friday is everyone still in? Craig - any chance of you being able to make it back? Time I'm guessing around 7:30 / 8 - I'll confirm this as well.

For flights, kick off with the chardy, then maybe the two vics together, followed by the three kiwi's - thought's?

Cheers - Nick

[rens]

Good to see you can make this one too Luke.
Happy to approach the flights as you have them.
7:30 works for us.

[chillwrx]

I still hope to be there but will not know until Friday, if then. Put me down as a no and if I get there hopefully we can be squeezed in.

[Rednick]

No worries Craig, I'm sure we'll be able to squeeze you in if you can make it back, LMK either way.

All still good with you Ben & Gerry.

Cheers

Nick

[Luke W]

Nick

I could ask a mate to come along as well but he won't be back from Vietnam until Sunday nite.

LMK if u want me to ask him

Luke

[Rednick]

Hi Luke, if you'd like to invite him along feel free - I've confirmed 7 for 7:30pm with the Restaurant (assuming Gerry, & Ben+1 are still good) but let them know we may have 1 or two late entries and I would let them know on Monday if we have any additionals.

Looking forward to catching up with everyone and meeting Ben.

Cheers - Nick

[gpk]

No worries Craig, I'm sure we'll be able to squeeze you in if you can make it back, LMK either way.

All still good with you Ben & Gerry.

Cheers

Nick

Nick,

Just got back to Oz and am all good to go. Looking forward to catching up. cheers Gerry

[BackdoorBenny]

Hi all, regret to inform that my wife, daughter and I have all had a bout of mycoplasma pneumonia to deal with this past week. On the mend with anti-bis but a persistent head, nose and throat full of congestion isn't going to bode well for the nuance of the Burgundian varietals on offer. My wife and I will have to pull out on this occasion - which sucks fiercely as we love pinot, chard and Urbane. Would also be good to get to know a few more likeminded locals - hopefully next time.

[Rednick]

Sorry to hear that Ben, hope you all get well soon.

[Luke W]

Nick

I just got a call from the cop who's organising the court case this week - she was very apologetic but said that there is a chance the whole thing will go belly up. I won't find out until sometime tomorrow and will let you know as soon as I find out.

Sorry

Luke

[Rednick]

ok, thanks luke - if you can let me know as soon as you found out tomorrow - I'll be bringing at least 1 or 2 from work to help with numbers.

[Luke W]

Nick

Just heard - guy pleaded guilty at the last minute so they don't need me to come to Brissie to testify - have a great night, I'll be thinking of you all (might even whip out the Felton rd to drink anyway!)

[rens]

We're dropping like flys.
we're still going though

[Rednick]

No worries Luke,

I'll be bringing along a mate from work who will be taking a By Farr Chardy, so we'll still have 5 of us some lovely wines and great food.

Should still be a top night - Nick

[gpk]

Still on....see you all tomorrow. cheers Gerry

[rens]

oh my head!

[chillwrx]

oh my head!

Toughen up princess and tell me how it went..............

Sounds like I would have liked it.

[rens]

OK. Panadol on-board and some more sleep too.
I didn't take any notes. But it went something like this:
Started with a very nice 1994 Seppeltsfield sparkling shiraz. Just great. Right in its drinking window and showing nice balance. Thanks Gerry!
Then the whites. A 2008 (??) By Farr Chardonnay. A great expression of the variety with nice use of french oak. Together with a 2001 Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay. Beautiful minerals and fruity pineapple that went well with the ocean trout appetizer and Foie gras, almond milk curd and jasmine gingerbread and spiced cherries. For me the By Farr was the pick. I thought the Art series was a little old for my tastes (but still very nice).
Next was the mains and pinot course. The table had either the slow cooked lamb shoulder from Millyhill with Heirloom tomato, candied olives and potato skins or the Snapper, black pudding and caramelised fennel with Potato crab and leek fondue and curry sauce. The wines were the 2006 Ata Rangi, 2008 Woori Yallock & 2007 Amisfield Pinots. The Woori Yallock was over shadowed by the other two, with the fuller bodied Amisfield having more complexity and winning over most of the table.
Not satisfied with that we perused the wine menu for something sweet to go with a selection of cheeses. Gerry found the 2005 Kracher Beerenauslese Cuvee. A great little sticky with a very long lingering finish. A great way to finish a great night.
Once again thanks to Gerry, Nick and Tony for their generosity and great company. Kellee and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and are looking forward to the next off-line.

[Luke W]

Thanks for that Rens

Glad you had a great night - I was there in spirit (in body was watching my 15 yr old daughter losing her netball game!).....

At least I don't have that much of a headache

How would you rate the food - it sounds pretty special?

Cheers

Luke

[chillwrx]

OK. Panadol on-board and some more sleep too.
I didn't take any notes. But it went something like this:
Started with a very nice 1994 Seppeltsfield sparkling shiraz. Just great. Right in its drinking window and showing nice balance. Thanks Gerry!
Then the whites. A 2008 (??) By Farr Chardonnay. A great expression of the variety with nice use of french oak. Together with a 2001 Leeuwin Art Series Chardonnay. Beautiful minerals and fruity pineapple that went well with the ocean trout appetizer and Foie gras, almond milk curd and jasmine gingerbread and spiced cherries. For me the By Farr was the pick. I thought the Art series was a little old for my tastes (but still very nice).
Next was the mains and pinot course. The table had either the slow cooked lamb shoulder from Millyhill with Heirloom tomato, candied olives and potato skins or the Snapper, black pudding and caramelised fennel with Potato crab and leek fondue and curry sauce. The wines were the 2006 Ata Rangi, 2008 Woori Yallock & 2007 Amisfield Pinots. The Woori Yallock was over shadowed by the other two, with the fuller bodied Amisfield having more complexity and winning over most of the table.
Not satisfied with that we perused the wine menu for something sweet to go with a selection of cheeses. Gerry found the 2005 Kracher Beerenauslese Cuvee. A great little sticky with a very long lingering finish. A great way to finish a great night.
Once again thanks to Gerry, Nick and Tony for their generosity and great company. Kellee and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and are looking forward to the next off-line.

Agree on the amisfield - it is my favourite kiwi pinot ( not that my experience is huge.) Wish I could have been there - thanks for the notes!

[rens]

Thanks for that Rens

Glad you had a great night - I was there in spirit (in body was watching my 15 yr old daughter losing her netball game!).....

At least I don't have that much of a headache

How would you rate the food - it sounds pretty special?

Cheers

Luke

The food really fitted with the wines. If I had to use one word to describe it I'd use delicate. Good quality produce using good technique to bring out the flavors. The wine service was excellent (No warm glasses) and there was plenty of glass wear to around. The staff were very knowledgeable about both the wines and the food they were serving. Pretty special is about on the money. I'd love to try the degustation next time.

[gpk]

Thanks for a great night and fantastic company. The food and service was excellent and Ramon the wine sommelier did a great job and went out of his way to present the wines so we could look at them all together (thanks Ramon ). Best offline by far when it comes to glassware and overall wine presentation. The Lewuwin Estate 02 was a classic example of how good this wine can be, stone fruits with underlying lime aromas, still very fresh with fine acidity and great balance. By Farr Chardonnay was what I call more old fashioned, classic melon, stone fruit and vanilla aromas with the oak driving a soft buttery palate, great mouth feel. For me it was the pick of the two, but I love Chardonnay’s with refined oak coming out. I am not a pinot guy, but for me the Ammisfield was the clear standout with great fruit and structure with a palate that lived on. The Woori Yallock has the classical cherry nose (described by others as typical Yarra Valley), but came up short for me on the palate, almost thin and lost amongst the other two. The Ata Rangi was also a great wine to try, very refined and everything in its place, but simply outclassed by the Ammisfled tonight.

Thanks for sitting this up Nick, Urbane was a great choice and like Ren’s I would love to revisit for a full on degustation affair. See you at the next offline (hopefully I am in town).

Cheers Gerry

[Rednick]

An excellent night, always a pleasure to catch up with everyone.

Enjoyed all of the wines, with the 07 By Farr & 07 Amsifield being my picks. The By Farr was certainly showing some oak but it was in balance with the lovely fruit and acid backing it up. I was in the minority in thking the Leeuwin still had a bit of time in front of it - very classy.

The Amsifield was very Otago, lush fruit but not out of whack with good spice and length holding it in check. Whilst the Ata Rangi displayed a wonderful structure it was perhaps let down slightly by a slightly green edge, lastly the Worri Yallock - very Yarra in character, wonderful nose and a very "pretty" pinot - perhaps lacking some length.

Also enjoyed a Seppelts Sparkler to start the evening and finsihed off with a very well balanced Austrian? sticky.

Hats off to Urbane, fantastic food, top service and glassware. Their Sommelier Ramon was a excellent, giving advice on food matches and displaying his passion and knowledge of wine without being overbearing.

For those that missed on a great night, the restaurant is keen to have us back (so we must have been reasonably well behaved) - perhaps we'll do a more structured tasting with them matching food to our wines. They are also looking at putting on some of their own wine nights - first off the rank is going to be Riesling I beleive, I'll post details as soon as I have them - Nick