The Auswine Forum

dan_smee wrote:Maverick I was really looking forward to - but it was ALL brett and barnyard flavours - genuine chicken sh!t in there. Tasted cheap French. Undrinkable. Such a shame. That was the first bottle opened. The second had amazing fruit and structure, but a smaller, but still off-putting amount of that brett presence. All pointed to filthy winery practices that make me nervous about exploring the rest of the range.

If you thought that was bad, did you have a look at the Domaine Asmara Reserve Shiraz? Talk about funk!

Diddy wrote:

dan_smee wrote:Maverick I was really looking forward to - but it was ALL brett and barnyard flavours - genuine chicken sh!t in there. Tasted cheap French. Undrinkable. Such a shame. That was the first bottle opened. The second had amazing fruit and structure, but a smaller, but still off-putting amount of that brett presence. All pointed to filthy winery practices that make me nervous about exploring the rest of the range.

If you thought that was bad, did you have a look at the Domaine Asmara Reserve Shiraz? Talk about funk!

Nope, by the time we got to that table I was needing to start skipping some things - glad I did!

I attended the Melbourne event and it was a pleasure to meet Blesso.

We didn't really take any formal notes as such, so I'm going from memory as best as possible.

A few remarks about the event itself:-

- I thought it was odd to offer the 09 Grange as an aperitif on arrival! Way too much of a shock to the system straight up and probably didn't do it justice
- Decent size space for the event, even once all guests had arrived - didn't really have to wait for a pour at any point
- The staff were quite helpful and up for a chat
- Great value for $30 - would definitely go back again - perhaps an Australian Cabernet showcase might be on the cards next!

Honourable mention to the following wines that caught my eye:-
- Chris Ringland Reservation Shiraz
- Clonakilla Hilltops
- Henschke Hill of Grace
- Kilikanoon Covenant Shiraz
- Mount Langhi
- Penfolds RWT
- Penfolds St Henri
- Shanahans Old Dog Shiraz - great VFM at $15 (I suspect this is a DM brand as they were pushing it pretty hard - didn't stop me from grabbing a bottle)

dan_smee wrote:

Diddy wrote:

dan_smee wrote:Maverick I was really looking forward to - but it was ALL brett and barnyard flavours - genuine chicken sh!t in there. Tasted cheap French. Undrinkable. Such a shame. That was the first bottle opened. The second had amazing fruit and structure, but a smaller, but still off-putting amount of that brett presence. All pointed to filthy winery practices that make me nervous about exploring the rest of the range.

If you thought that was bad, did you have a look at the Domaine Asmara Reserve Shiraz? Talk about funk!

Nope, by the time we got to that table I was needing to start skipping some things - glad I did!

It was quite funny actually - when we went to ask for a taste, the staff member wouldn't serve it to us until we'd tried a few others first.

I swear I can still smell it in my glass now!

I recently paid around $90 for a 2005 Langi Shiraz.... the fact that it was marked at $19.90?????? Geez I hope for my sanity that it was indeed a pricing error!!!

Sounds like a good night - shame I missed it.

I've called in every night this week to see if DM had more St Henri at Eastwood as they said they would be getting it in. Still none in last night on my way home from work .... not happy.

Teisto wrote:Sounds like a good night - shame I missed it.

I've called in every night this week to see if DM had more St Henri at Eastwood as they said they would be getting it in. Still none in last night on my way home from work .... not happy.

Just recieved an sms from DMs here in Adelaide...some stock but all under cork. May have to look at an independent and have to pay a bit more.

Cheers
Craig

Teisto wrote:Sounds like a good night - shame I missed it.

I've called in every night this week to see if DM had more St Henri at Eastwood as they said they would be getting it in. Still none in last night on my way home from work .... not happy.

Mate give the Gladesville store a call as they still had a few 6 packs last night when we left the tasting.

My brother just ran across and they said they only had 1 6 pack for a customer order and none left after that. They got theirs from Top Ryde to which my brother replied he was there this morning and they said they had none.

A solid bout of shenanigans going on here me thinks .....

Ok so I got the call from the fine wine manager at Eastwood this afternoon that they got stock. I got a crate of 6 not sure if cork or screw cap as it is sealed.

They have probably another couple of dozen which will be gone by tomorrow. Get in quick if you want some as they were very quiet at 6.30 tonight in store

Teisto wrote:Ok so I got the call from the fine wine manager at Eastwood this afternoon that they got stock. I got a crate of 6 not sure if cork or screw cap as it is sealed.

If it is the sealed wooden six pack then you more than likely have scored it under cork.