The Auswine Forum

More bargains were found, distress sales according to the shopkeeper:

2003 Howard Park 'Leston' Shiraz,
2006 Madfish Riesling,

Mahmoud.

Just ordered a dozen Chapel Hill 2008 Shiraz guess they're making room for the 08

daz wrote:Halliday's ratings are contended to be too high these days because they're generally a point or two higher than Walsh's or Mattinson's or some other commentators'. But I've seen ratings of wines at TWF that have been up to 5 points higher than JH's. Go figure. My rule of thumb for JH ratings is that any wine 92-94 is a very good wine, 95-96 excellent, 97+ exceptional, then it's all down to understanding the TN. Then, GW and CM often vary by a point or two on their ratings. Individual palates? Don't forget that JH has an understudy who these days is likely to contribute a significant number of TNs/ratings under JH's name. That's rather a frustration for me as I'm sure it is for others who use JH's published assessments as a guide to buying without trying. If it is the case, it's deceptive I reckon. The actual taster should be attributed the assessment.

Not sure about the online Wine Companion or the 2012 one, but the 2011 one certainly made it clear when the review was by JH's side kick.

daver6 wrote:

daz wrote:Halliday's ratings are contended to be too high these days because they're generally a point or two higher than Walsh's or Mattinson's or some other commentators'. But I've seen ratings of wines at TWF that have been up to 5 points higher than JH's. Go figure. My rule of thumb for JH ratings is that any wine 92-94 is a very good wine, 95-96 excellent, 97+ exceptional, then it's all down to understanding the TN. Then, GW and CM often vary by a point or two on their ratings. Individual palates? Don't forget that JH has an understudy who these days is likely to contribute a significant number of TNs/ratings under JH's name. That's rather a frustration for me as I'm sure it is for others who use JH's published assessments as a guide to buying without trying. If it is the case, it's deceptive I reckon. The actual taster should be attributed the assessment.

Not sure about the online Wine Companion or the 2012 one, but the 2011 one certainly made it clear when the review was by JH's side kick.

Really? If I read any of the offsider's notes in the online 2011 I didn't notice the attribution. Haven't had much of a look at the 2012 yet. I don't buy the paper version. Thanks for the info, I'll look closer at the notes.

Cheers

daz

Ch

daver6 wrote:

daz wrote:Halliday's ratings are contended to be too high these days because they're generally a point or two higher than Walsh's or Mattinson's or some other commentators'. But I've seen ratings of wines at TWF that have been up to 5 points higher than JH's. Go figure. My rule of thumb for JH ratings is that any wine 92-94 is a very good wine, 95-96 excellent, 97+ exceptional, then it's all down to understanding the TN. Then, GW and CM often vary by a point or two on their ratings. Individual palates? Don't forget that JH has an understudy who these days is likely to contribute a significant number of TNs/ratings under JH's name. That's rather a frustration for me as I'm sure it is for others who use JH's published assessments as a guide to buying without trying. If it is the case, it's deceptive I reckon. The actual taster should be attributed the assessment.

Not sure about the online Wine Companion or the 2012 one, but the 2011 one certainly made it clear when the review was by JH's side kick.

The 2012 book clearly has BE alongside the reviews not done by JH himself. Same as 2011.

bacchaebabe wrote:Quality over quantity this month so far with a:

86 Penfolds Grange
86 Chateau D'Yquem

With any luck to be drunk next month. Had our anniversary dinner planned for last Saturday night but my best friend ended up having emergency surgery last week so it's all postponed now. Of course getting your 8 closest friends all available on the same night is the challenge, especially when we're a very social and busy bunch. Our anniversary was actually in May so it's been a long time in the planning!

I would have thought an 86 Grange and an 86 D'Yquem would clear their calendars!

Congrats on the Silver Jubilee!

Cheers

Michael

Just picked up

6xHalifax 2007 Shiraz
1xKatnook Prodigy 1997 Shiraz (any ideas if this is past it or not?)

Dazzled by retail special pricing......
09 Craggy Range Te Muna PN

cheers jafa

BlaCkAdDa wrote:Just picked up

6xHalifax 2007 Shiraz
1xKatnook Prodigy 1997 Shiraz (any ideas if this is past it or not?)

I have no experience with Katnook's Prodigy but as their premier Shiraz, and at the asking price, there is no way it should be past it's prime regardless of the vintage.

Mahmoud

Yes tax return time for me too, so purchased a few I've been wanting for a while to add to the cellar,
3 x 1996 Penfolds bin 389
6 x 2005 Penfolds bin 389
3 x 2008 Penfolds bin 389
9 x 2004 Penfolds St Henri
3 x 2007 Mount Pleasant Maurice O'Shea
12 x 2009 Mount Pleasant Maurice O'Shea

Just waiting to hear from Noon and Clonakilla and the spending spree will be over for this year !!!

Regards
Craigie.

my mates at 'please come again liquor' have been up to their old discounting tricks again. 2006 Millton Opou Riesling $10 and 2009 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir $48

The Millton was sensational, drank a bottle last night

Cyclonecraigie wrote:Yes tax return time for me too,
Regards Craigie.

Hmm, I guess tax return is a somewhat appropriate term if you are paid a tax refund after you submit a tax return. The latter could probably be more correctly termed these days, a statement of assessable income, allowable deductions and entitlement to rebates. Mind you, there are many who get a tax due and payable notice. E-Tax is so much easier for me than completing the paper version - I don't have the convoluted and complicated taxable income circumstances that perhaps some here do.

2002 Pierre Peters Les Chetillons
2002 Camille Saves
1996 Henriot Brut
NV Camille Saves Rose

Cheers

Mike

1 x 05, 07, 08, 09, 10 Karra Yerta Riesling
2 x 10 Petaluma Riesling
2 x 05 Tim Adams Riesling
2 x 10 Mesh Riesling
2 x 04 Granite Hills Riesling
1 x 10 Dandelion Vineyards Riesling
1 x 10 Pauletts Polish River Riesling
2 x 09 Dopff Riesling
1 x 10 Curly Flat Pinot Gris
2 x 06 Tahbilk Marsanne
2 x 10 Tahbilk Marsanne
2 x 10 Mount Charlie Chardonnay
1 x 08 Yalumba FDW7C Adelaide Hills Chardonnay (A punt - anyone familiar with this?)

6 x 05 Nino Negri Valtellina Superiore Riserva
1 x 06 Giribaldi Conca d'Oro Langhe Nebbiolo
1 x 10 Valdesil Valderroa Mencia
1 x 07 Curly Flat Pinot Noir
1 x 10 Lubiana Primavera Pinot Noir
1 x 08 Mount Charlie Malbec
1 x 08 Mount Charlie Tempranillo
1 x 10 Mount Charlie Tempranillo
2 x 10 Cirillo The Vincent Grenache
1 x 10 Kalleske Clarry Blend GSM
2 x 07 Monredon Cotes du Rhone Rouge
1 x 10 Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz
1 x 05 Granite Hills Shiraz
6 x 09 Tar & Roses Shiraz
1 x 07 Langi Ghiran Billi Billi Shiraz
1 x 08 Morris Rutherglen Durif

Sated a Riesling urge, otherwise cheapies abound but hopefully stopped short of forgoing quality for quantity...

A mixed case of Marius wines. Just made the 31 August cut off for the winery's discount offer.

6 each of Head Wines Blonde and Brunette 2010 reds. GW gives them a great writeup.
Pity I won't be touching them for quite a few years.

Just thought I'd share this for anyone who's in Singapore (if any... :S )
24 bottles x Moet & Chandon (their entry level) @ SGD 59.00 per bottle

This is the cheapest I've seen Champagne in Singapore. Pricing only available for 24 btls purchase.
Offer ends 01-Sep on an online retailer.

12 x 2006 Penfold Bin 28 (375ml)

Part of my project to start getting more quality wines in smaller format.

Cheers

Michael

Last purchase of mine for August was 12xPirramimma 2009 Katunga Shiraz.
Was happy with the 08 so thought I'd give the 09 a go too.

2009 Elefante Vino de la Tierra de Castilla x 12 - Bargain.

3 x 2010 Head Wines of the Barossa "Blonde"
3 x 2010 Head Wines of the Barossa "Brunette"

More to come next month as the bank balance starts to look a little better again.

Have now also added 6 x Head "Blonde" and 6 x "brunette".

I spent a weekend in the Barossa and have been having wine delivered for the last week or so. Every day I get home and there has been more wine delivered.

Highlights were the following, cellar door only purchases:

2008 Schild Estate Shiraz (1st Blend) Magnums
2008 Grant Burge Filsell Shiraz Magnum
2007 Torbreck The Steading Magnum
2006 Rockford Basket Press Magnum

12 x '08 Chapel Hill Shiraz
6 x '10 Teusner Joshua
6 x '10 Head Blonde
6 x '10 Head Brunette
2 x '02 St Henri
1 x '09 Wendouree Shiraz
1 x '09 Wendouree Shiraz Mataro
1 x '09 Clonakilla Syrah
1 x '08 Marius End Play
1 x '08 Marius Simpatico
1 x '08 Marius Symphony
2 x '08 Ata Rangi Pinot
2 x '06 Ata Rangi Pinot
2 x '98 Seppelt St Peters
2 x '98 Bin 389
2 x '01 Best's Bin 0
3 x '10 Tyrrell's Old Patch
2 x '10 Tyrrell's Johnno's
2 x '10 Tyrrells Vat 9
3 x '11 Tyrrells Vat 1
1 x '11 Tyrrells HVD Chardy
1 x '11 Tyrrells Vat 47 Chardy

6x Grosset Watervale Riesling 1999 (auction)

Some Barwang 2008 Cab Sav's