Proposed Melb Offline: Aged Coonawarra Cab/blends

[LGW]

The restaurant looks great! Haven't been there before. Is there room for a +1 for me John?
Ta

[mjs]

Her indoors and I are now available!

Definitely sounds like a magnum night!

[simon1980]

No more talk of mangnums, please...there will definitely be nothing hiding in my cellar to deal with this! Although with nearly 20 of us, we are going to have pretty small servings! It my be worth seeing if there are possibilities of getting two bottles of the same wine on a number of occasions? John, if you need any help, please ask.

simon1980

[Softie]

Forum-ites
I'm stoked over these responses. It's a great Birthday present. A small few of us have tried for two years to reach critical mass on wine dinners. These numbers - whilst a wine volumes challenge (see below on solutions) - this indeed looks to be 'the breakthrough'. I was a founding member of Sydney's Grape Mates; the quality of the wine experiences thereby created by that membership has been truly elite, fabulously enjoyable and expanded the wine appreciation of all - even those whose cellars and knowledge were already considerable.

Some ideas:
- Two bottle (same wine) contributions - for couples and pairs of friends/collaborators.
- consider bringing good wines 6-12 years old, not your most precious ones (eg 15 yo John Riddoch)
- consider your cellars' stocks of Cab blends including cab/Shiraz and Coonawarra predominant blends (eg Coona-Barossa Cab blends)
- we can ask our favorite suppliers to consider selling us Two bottles of aged stock and share the cost between pairs of us.
- for the future, in Sydney the precious few with elite cellars leveraged the group to create super elite wine nights to open their cellars and participants contributed money towards the costs of these elite wines. Such spin offs become possible through critical mass.

We may need to create an email hub (eg Google Group) off Auswine - as Grape Mates did - to create communication efficiency, especially given some attendees are CellarTractor members not Auswine members. Also, Sydney capped their memberships and some events ... Let's not go there for a little while.

Any IT type want to work with me on that?

Other ideas?

All smiles,
John

[Softie]

... And I should have mentioned - I'm about to contact Gavin Trott, as first cab off the rank, to see if the Australian Wine Centre have suitable stocks they wish to supply to achieve our pairs of Cabs and blends aged (say) 6-12 years.

John

[Softie]

Hi All,

Sparky has VERY generously offered a Magnum of Penfolds' Yattarna Chardonnay to commence proceedings on the night.

John

[LGW]

I'll have a dig around tonight to see whether I have any duplicates. I think the only thing which remotely comes close would be a couple of the 98 Petaluma merlot I may have a couple of 05 Murdock mergers which is a barossa / coonawarra blend. I'll have to check.

Otherwise I do have a magnum of 01 LEAS chard which could go with sparkys generous offer?

[Softie]

LGW,

We certainly do. It'll be lovely to meet you both. I find functions with a fair representation of partners are improved by some dilution in wine obsessiveness.

John

The restaurant looks great! Haven't been there before. Is there room for a +1 for me John?
Ta

[simon1980]

John, happy to lob some $ in to source a few bottles. Especially if they are from Gavin!

Simon

[via collins]

Second Simon1980 on that. My Coonawarra stocks are un-Australian. Due mainly the the theft of a case of 1998 Coonawarra merlot years ago, but more on the battle tale on the 31st!

[Softie]

Second Simon1980 on that. My Coonawarra stocks are un-Australian. Due mainly the the theft of a case of 1998 Coonawarra merlot years ago, but more on the battle tale on the 31st!

Yes, OK Guys, join me in. I haven't yet heard back from Gavin or his staff, and am keen too, but as a side check I've looked at a major chain. That check alone shows it's easy to buy retail aged Cabernets - especially 6-10, but also a lot older. Naturally, older can mean a price >$100. Under 10 YO generally means < $100, often by a fair bit. We probably then have a right to claim corkage or other spoilage if it is exhibited.

As there are four of us (with my +1), we could probably buy two vintages (eg 2006, 2002) of the same wine (2x2 bottles), giving us a mini-vertical addressing the question, 'can Coonawarra Cabs be delightful under 10 YO'?'

Anyone else want to join this mini-buying group?

John

[paulf]

Here's what I've got at home at the moment, so I don't need to be part of the buying group ... I've only got a couple of bottles of each
Leconfield Cab 04 and 05
Balnaves Cab 04
Majella Cab 04
Penley Reserve cab 04

[cuttlefish]

So John, can you please reiterate what the theme is here ?
Is it strictly Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon and or Coonawarra Cabernet blends or is it a more open Cabernet theme (ie from other regions) ?

What about whites other than the Yattarna ?
Are you planning it all to get some kind of decent spread, or is the plan to just go hard on Cabernet all night ?
I'd personally opt for a spread of whites and reds to make it multi-dimensional, but if this goes against what you had planned, I'll just go with the flow.

[Softie]

Tom,

The theme I propose remains as originally stated: Connawarra Cabs or Cab-blends 5+ years old; do delightful ones demand >8 years of age or can they delight earlier? (Like their Margaret River peers.)

I want this to remain the main theme - partly because that was the espoused theme when we attracted the large numbers.

But you are dead right: now we have exceeded expectations in attendance and expect to taste ~14 wines (before any extras) - that's a lot of Cabernets. Hence, I welcome some choosing to bring alternatives to the stated theme, including Moira's Yattana Magnum and LGW's option to bring an 01 Leasingham Chardonnay.

I do not want to bear down on anyone's enthusiasm to bring a wine they feel complements the evening. For instance, were anyone to suggest bringing younger Cabs or Cab blends from other regions they felt drink well under 9-10 years of age, that would be well placed too. Similarly, some may wonder about bringing Sparkling wines, rather than Cabs/blends, especially if their cellar is weaker in Cabernets or Cab blends.

OK?

John

[dlo]

Hi All,

Sparky has VERY generously offered a Magnum of Penfolds' Yattarna Chardonnay to commence proceedings on the night.

John

Hope it's the 2008 .....

[dlo]

I'll have a dig around tonight to see whether I have any duplicates. I think the only thing which remotely comes close would be a couple of the 98 Petaluma merlot I may have a couple of 05 Murdock mergers which is a barossa / coonawarra blend. I'll have to check.

Otherwise I do have a magnum of 01 LEAS chard which could go with sparkys generous offer?

Petaluma's '98 Merlot is the best ever made ... and drinking brilliantly now .... good choice

The 2001 LEAS is another cracker .... hope the colour is still lightish.

[Waiters Friend]

This sounds like potentially one of the best Melbourne offlines in some time. I have some frequent flyer points at present, and was considering flying over ....

... except I will be at Faber Vineyard in the Swan Valley the following lunchtime, and it would be a very early flight to get back to WA:(

I hope you have a great night, and I look forward to the report.

Cheers

Allan

[Softie]

Folks,

Please contact me if you want some help sourcing wines for this dinner. (Preferably within 24 hours.)

I can source some pairs of vintages [and two bottles each] at reasonable prices. For example:

Penley Estate CS 2005 x 2 and 2000 x 2.
Lindeman's St George 2006 x 2 and 1998 x 2.
Wynn's Black Label 2006 x 2 and 1998 x 2.

John

P.S. Still looking for volunteers to organise wine flights pre- and on the night; and help collect/administer the money.

[LGW]

Nice work on sourcing some possible wines. If its ok I would prefer to bring my own as my budget this month is dismal (wendourees fault) although the wines I have suggested which I have duplicates of aren't exactly what you have proposed as a theme. Hopefully you will get enough to make a good flight on your theme.

Speaking of which, what collecting / administering of money is required...do you have a rough idea on how much the dinner will be? Sorry I'm new to all of this!

[Softie]

LGW,

No worries, we want new folks!

I'd say the food will be (very broadly) $40-$55 per head. The menus are not decided, but I know their price ranges and want to make the food price OK for as many as possible. I'll finalise prices at least a week before and advise before we collect money.

Were you going to bring a Magnum of Chardonnay? If so that fits in by giving variety. Relax and just tell me what you want to bring.

John

[TiggerK]

Nice start by offering up a Magnum of LEAS LGW! Jealous! Up against the Yattarna, it'll be WA vs SA in a premium Chardonnay battle!

[Softie]

Hi All,

Please start emailing me [not private messaging] any food allergies and other exclusions. The venue will be able to accommodate such matters as is expected these days.

The owners of the Moat (our venue) and I have agreed $45 per head as the food price.

I meet with them tomorrow to decide on dishes, and other sundry details. It's possible there maybe a small corkage charge in addition to the $45 - I'll advise.

As previously foreshadowed, I'd like to get a deposit - $20 per head - to confirm numbers, pay the venue some surety for reserving us up to 28 places, and to moderate cash collections on the night. I'll advise bank details shortly.

All OK?

John

[LGW]

Sound good. Thanks for organising.

[sparky]

Hi All,

Sparky has VERY generously offered a Magnum of Penfolds' Yattarna Chardonnay to commence proceedings on the night.

John

Hope it's the 2008 .....

Geez, I can't remember but it might be close.. Hopefully I can also remember which spiders I parked it alongside under the stumps!

John, arrangements are sounding splendid so far. Thanks for all the organisational excellence and cat herding you're providing.

[AlexGarner]

Hi all, sorry I'm a bit late to the conversation, but I had a few issues signing up.

I'm also interested, although my wife is currently pregnant, so I'll be coming alone.

Just looking on cellar tracker, and my situation with respect to Coonawarra Cabernet older than five years is as follows

2003 Katnook Estate (more than 3)
2004 Katnook Estate Founder's Block (more than 3)
2006/2005/2002 Leconfield (more than 3 of each)
2001/2004 Majella (more than 3 of each)
2008 Richmond Limited Release Coonawarra Vineyards (1)
1987 Rymill (1)
1998 Zema Estate (1)

I also have some Cabernet blends

2003 Hollick Cabernet-Merlot (more than 3)
1991 Lindemans Pyrus (1)
2003/2008 Majella The Malleea (2 of each)

There is also a bunch of Merlot and Shiraz, but while the Merlot will fit with the Bordeaux blend theme, the Shiraz probably won't.

I also have a bunch of Katnook Estate 2004 Chardonnay, which will either be interesting, or broken by now.

In case you don't know, the Heywood Hotel drive through bottle shop in Penola has an Aladdin's cave of back vintages of Coonawarra wine and incredible prices. You wouldn't know it from sitting in the car, but if you walk into the back room where all the wine is and look along the back row, there are some 30-40 cases of back vintages (some going back to the '80s) of all sorts of stuff, and at a price that barely takes into account inflation. I spoke to the manager and he said they have much more stuff out the back and that they just bring out cases when they feel they might be ready to drink, and therefore sell. If anyone is going through the Coonawarra in the next two weeks, it might be worth taking an order. Or I could ring them and get a list of what they have and place an order for shipping.

I'll need some time to ship the wine from my cellar, so I might just make a call now on what would be interesting and get it out, assuming I'm not too late to be able to attend.

[Softie]

Alex, a warm welcome to Auswine.

I'll give you feedback on which wines fit with others' choices as we get closer - if you like. But also do give heavy weight to which Cabernet or Cab blend selection would give you the most personal satisfaction to bring.

(BTW, Just a note on origins of this forum and mentioning retailers: the convener and forum host, Gavin Trott, is a Retailer - and respected contributor - so protocol is not to mention other retailers. But you're new and the wine you mentioned is highly specialised - aged.)

Warm regards,
John

[Softie]

Hi All,

I visited the venue again today. Corkage proposed was $10, but I've asked for a reduction. Worst case, it's nibbles plus three courses for $45/head plus $10 corkage per person.

Proposed Logistics seem to indicate we'd better cap at 24 places - first 24 in with deposits of $20 per head. Please clearly indicate your name/ID on direct debit remittance. Deposits should arrive in my account by first thing Thursday 29 August. My bank details:

John Lowry
CBA
BSB 063014
Acct: 10375824

Other details

* Venue, The Moat, 176 Little Lonsdale Street, 6:30 for 7pm 31 August. Function to conclude by 11:30pm.
* Calling for volunteer to manage flights and bottles on the night; ditto to collect additional cash; blind serving on the night is preferred.
* Please pre-decant wines where desired, re-pour into bottles and bring ready-to-go. Spittoons will be provided.
* Please bring each wine in 750ml x 2 (1500ml x 1) [covering contributions from two persons] where possible (perhaps co-operating with other attendees).
* Please advise me by email the wine you wish to bring (name, vintage) and when you send your deposits; please advise any dietary requirements by next Wednesday night.
* LGW and Sparky are bringing Magnums of Chardonnay; there's room for another 1-2 of those volumes of Chardonnay or other white wine if attendees wish to offer to bring same in place of Cabs and blends.

Any thing else to cover? [I'm sure to have forgotten something. ]

John

[LGW]

Email sent.

[damonpeyo]

In case you don't know, the Heywood Hotel drive through bottle shop in Penola has an Aladdin's cave of back vintages of Coonawarra wine and incredible prices. You wouldn't know it from sitting in the car, but if you walk into the back room where all the wine is and look along the back row, there are some 30-40 cases of back vintages (some going back to the '80s) of all sorts of stuff, and at a price that barely takes into account inflation. I spoke to the manager and he said they have much more stuff out the back and that they just bring out cases when they feel they might be ready to drink, and therefore sell. If anyone is going through the Coonawarra in the next two weeks, it might be worth taking an order. .

thanks for the tip

[paulf]

So what is everybody planning to bring? I've got a couple of bottles that match up with Alex (The 04 Majella and the 05 Leconfield). I'd be happy to bring 2 bottles, but not 2 of the same thing unless it is the 05 Leconfield as that is the only one I have more than 2 of. The other options for me are the Balnaves, Penley reserve and Leconfield 04 cabs