The Auswine Forum

and p.s. a warm welcome from the wine community here to you and we look forward to many of your posts!

Shame they are only releasing half their wines this year. Ive been on the list for about 5 years now and its red line in top corner of the order form each year. When first on the list I only got a 1/10th of my order and as the years progressed they give me more each year. I have a friend who is a doctor and has been on the list for many years and a purchaser of larger quantities. It seems he gets his order form in advance of the red line order forms. Have neglected to ask him if he has a line or initials on top of his page. Will enquire.

I too have the red line on the corner and havnt recieved mine yet. My brother orders more than me, has no line and has got his already?

Just received my order of Wendouree. Order is complete, nothing missing. I hope I live long enough to drink it!!

Paul Timmis wrote:Just received my order of Wendouree. Order is complete, nothing missing. I hope I live long enough to drink it!!

i've just taken a large hit in the card.. not sure yet but could be Wendouree. Spoke to Tony on Friday, Cab/Malbec running low and will not make all orders, shiraz okay still. He said everything should be finalised in next three weeks.

c

Sounds like Christo is right as my c/c has been debited an ammount less than the value of Cab/Mal. Still ........... happy to get whatever.

got my order a couple of days ago - note that the muscat of alexandria is the same double vintage as last years (2004/5)

I spoke with them re my slow order and asked re red line etc. I was told the red line means less important and the signature means high priority...

I got the black initials and my order arrived on Friday.

They seem to draw straws each year for the order that they process states/territories.

I have the black initials and my order arrived over 2 weeks ago (ACT).

Got mine on Friday. Initials - got my 6 bottles of everything. At the very least everyone should get their straight Malbecs apparently.
Adair

being new to all this, is my understanding correct that to get on the mailing list you have to visit the cellar door to put your own name on? is there any other way of getting on that list?

Nope just send a letter with your details in it to

Wendouree Cellars
PO Box 27
Clare SA 5453

You'll get a letter back on fancy letterhead on which to make your order which you post back. Then you wait and keep an eye on your CC statement to give an indication of what you've been given. The more loyal you've been over the years the higher up the queue you are and your orders are filled out on this basis (sort of).

Oh and failing that, just buy them at Auction. Some people just get their allocation and put it straight up for auction.

Thanks dave, thats easier than i was expecting.

I live in NSW (Sydney) and was getting semi-nervous about my order (I found myself checking my visa account online each day). I called today to check and was told that I would most likely get 4 of the 6 Shiraz that I ordered. Not exactly what I'd hoped for, but I am new to the list and I'll take what I can get!

As an aside, assuming I DO get them, what is the recommendation on how long to wait before I can try one? I know they'll be nowhere near ready to drink, but am I just wasting the wine if I pop open one earlier than the 10 years I should be waiting?????

Give it a good day decanting, and then try it.

dave vino wrote:Give it a good day decanting, and then try it.

agree, they are much more approachable these days.

c

nealm wrote:I live in NSW (Sydney) and was getting semi-nervous about my order (I found myself checking my visa account online each day). I called today to check and was told that I would most likely get 4 of the 6 Shiraz that I ordered. Not exactly what I'd hoped for, but I am new to the list and I'll take what I can get!

As an aside, assuming I DO get them, what is the recommendation on how long to wait before I can try one? I know they'll be nowhere near ready to drink, but am I just wasting the wine if I pop open one earlier than the 10 years I should be waiting?????

Hi there i was wandering what number you called ? I placed my order months ago now and dont seem to have had my cc debited so i think i should give them a call and see if they actually received my order

Thanks

Vinh

I live in Sydney, and have been buying every year since 90. I get black initials on the order, and I have not got my 6 bottles of shiraz yet, and I certainly expect to get them. Sydney could be last onthe list this year

Brucer wrote:I live in Sydney, and have been buying every year since 90. I get black initials on the order, and I have not got my 6 bottles of shiraz yet, and I certainly expect to get them. Sydney could be last onthe list this year

That could explain things, as i am from sydney as well, i can but hope for the best

yep sydney here.. waiting for delivery

c

nealm wrote:As an aside, assuming I DO get them, what is the recommendation on how long to wait before I can try one? I know they'll be nowhere near ready to drink, but am I just wasting the wine if I pop open one earlier than the 10 years I should be waiting?????

Hi nealm,
I typically open a bottle or two of each on release, usually with a mate of mine Attila. If you search this forum you will find our tasting notes/vibes from previous "early" tastings of these wines. I have the 2006 Malbec on the tasting bench to open in the next few days and I will undoubtedly post a vibe under TORB's Sunday thread. For what it is worth, I do not decant the wine. I open and taste from the bottle as I like to study how the wine changes over time. Some are great from the start and I will drink over two nights. The tighter ones I might drink over five (with a number of other wines in between) and they might never really provide any what I call "hedonistic enjoyment". Having done this over a number of years, I believe that some have been best without a decant and you would have lost something if you did so. While others, if you were opening to drink in the one sitting, would be best to decant. Open, taste and decide. No doubt, whichever wine you open, you are going to have to enjoy structure to "get" the wine.
Adair

Very strange.....Sydney also.....black initials, and mine has been tucked safely in my callar since late July.

Okay, too much talking and not enough drinking. Time for a taste and quick vibe.

2006 Wendouree Malbec – 13.5%. Ahhh, I haven’t had a Wendouree red for nearly half a year. Absence makes the heart… Like good Pinot Noir, a good Wendouree makes finishing a bottle of red very easy. Every glass makes your palate feel more fresh and wanting a little more.

A core of ripe red cherries, cranberries and sweet meats with unsalted liquorice, dry wheatmeal oak, red/purple florals and a hint of peppermint. Medium bodied. Intense. The palate is very juicy for a Wendouree, but nothing flabby or cloying thanks (as usual) to gorgeous natural acidity and impeccable balance. A wall of fine, sandy tannin carry the wine to long, juicy, savoury finish, although these don’t quite maintain the focus of the top Wendouree reds. As usual, more power than its weight or elegance suggest. And like all Wendouree wines at this age, this wine needs more time to show more generosity, but nonetheless this wine is very enjoyable now. I suspect it will close down over the next 12 months and open again a little earlier than usual in around 6 years. 92/100.

If opening this wine soon, and I strongly recommend you do if you have never had a young Wendouree, please make sure you let the wine breath for a few hours before serving in order to give the wine’s structure time to increase the wine’s depth and more importantly its length. This wine was a little short upon opening.

Adair

Hacker wrote:Very strange.....Sydney also.....black initials, and mine has been tucked safely in my callar since late July.

I suspect I was a little late sending in my form. It took me at least 2 weeks to send it in. May explain the difference.
Adair

Okay delivery at Kennards from Wendouree.. whoo hoo!! now i can relax.

c

Can anyone confirm if a Muscat of Alexandria was offered this year, and indeed if the wine is still produced?

Last vintage/blend I can Google up is the 04/05.

Roughred

Yes same 04/05 Muscat of Alexandria offered this year. Must have had leftovers from last year.

Im red crayon and Melbourne - just got mine and all except Cab/Mal.

Another Sydney member who hasn't received anything yet. I've been member for four years and received whatever I ordered every year. Only difference this year, I only ordered Shiraz. Called them up and they said they haven't got to the NSW orders yet !?! That was a bit questionable answer cause I can see alot of people from NSW got their wine. So something different going on this year. Could it be due to sortage of wine, i.e. no wines from 2007 and so on ?!?!?

I'm one of the "initials" folks and missed out on Cab/malbec this year (and missed out on Malbec AND Shiraz last year) - so don't stress out. They are in a long long drought.

I was advised that 2000 and 2001 Wendouree are looking "advanced" - reports welcome>