The Auswine Forum

Red Bigot wrote:

Craig(NZ) wrote:

silkwood wrote:The suggestion of a bias (your promotion of NZ wines) wasn't really serious. Hence the smiley. I could have had a dig at the bigots, but they're bigger (and closer) than you!

hey thats fine, i give plenty of stick to the aussies too. if you give it you have to be prepared to take it

Hey Craig, can you please work out how to leave in the name of the person making the quote, it's not that hard, even for a NZ'er.

(Just a small bit of stick )

done, worked it out

Edited by RB to fix a small mistake

note to self. never pick argument with man who has magical powers to change what you post

thinks of movie liar liar thats a funny move!!

I think the Bigots and Craig need to get together for an off-line.

Is there a NZ tour in the pipeline Ric? Brian?

You guys would love a good Sav Blonc wouldn't you?

Ratcatcher wrote:I think the Bigots and Craig need to get together for an off-line.

Is there a NZ tour in the pipeline Ric? Brian?

You guys would love a good Sav Blonc wouldn't you?

Ha Ha! Managed to avoid him on a quick trip last October.

Ha Ha! Managed to avoid him on a quick trip last October.

there is a waiting list to gain an audience with me anyway. my discourses in sauvignon blanc are in hot demand..

Certainly tend to pay attention to all of the writers in Gourmet Traveler Wine, but most of all I pay attention to Nick Bulleid MW.

Because my tastes are wide ranging I find all wine recommendations useful in that they are pointers to good examples, be they Spanish, Greek, Portugese, Sicilian, etc. I want to try, and to cellar, all kinds of wines and each wine writer offers a different perspective.

I do, however, have my favourites. If I can afford it (and if its available) I will try anything Jancis Robinson recommends. I like her clear, forthright writing style, and the fact that she writes about wines from a global perspective. She has a wealth of knowledge based on her years of experience in the wine trade and doesn't usually play favourites (except perhaps with reislings) and has even recommended a high alcohol wine (the 2001 d'Arreys Original at 15%).

I have always liked Hugh Johnson and Len Evans's writing style. They can educate a reader about wines and spur one to purchase and cellar wines without the need to read about specific bottles. It was Len Evans and James Halliday that got me to cellar Australian wines, like Tahblk and Taltarni cabernets, just on the basis of reputation, at a time when I didn't know much about Australian vintages and shiraz was a twinkle on the wine horizon. Needless to say Parker's first wine buying guide wouldn't lead one to believe that Australian wines could be cellared.

When it comes to cellaring wines that I can only afford a bottle or two of, I sometimes take a general concensus among writers about the vintage and reputation of the producer, not necessarily a high profile wine review (though that would be nice too). Wine collecting, and therefore cellaring, is a chancy game and wine writers and critics are useful in improving the odds of getting a fine bottle in time.

And I still have some bottles of those Tahbilk and Taltarni Cabs........

Cheers................Mahmoud Ali.