Labour Weekend Auckland Offline - 1998 Hawkes Bay Reds

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 7:27 am

No need to rush into setting a date, can still be a while off but if we are to beat the 185 replies from the SRL thread we could start now using this thread to list general themes.

I occassionally have ideas so lets just use this space to pen them

I did think the other day:

1. Prestige Cult Pinot Noir. No one can afford to keep up with all the $80-100 labels that are around these days. Bring a bottle each from different producers and compare where Pyramid Valley Earth Smoke, Bell Hill, Carrick Excelsia, Felton Block 3 or 5, Peregrine Pinnacle, MBV Marie Zelzie, Mt D Target Gully bla bla

2. 2007 Top Rank Syrah. Who really is the best?? Do it blind? Le Sol, Bilancia La Collina, Homage, Unison, Stonecroft, Passage Rock Reserve, Church Rd Reserve, Esk Reserve, Villa Reserve....

Add your ideas without commitment in any form and when we feel its time we can put a plan into action based on these ideas

Bick · Post by **Bick** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 7:15 am

I quite like both of your ideas, Craig, could happily go with either of them.

(Though to be honest the "premium" label pinot fad pi**es me off - just make your best freakin' wine from your vineyards like you always did, don't carve out the three rows on the left, just behind the gnarly tree over there that got two and half degree-hours more sun than the sorry vines on the right, call it single row premium gully extra special reserve w*nkhill and chalk the price up 60%. And if the best grapes are now put into single row premium gully extra special reserve w*nkhill, then by definition the wine I'd come to love, simply called "pinot noir", which was excellent and well priced, has just got worse and why should I now buy it! Marketing gimmickry that's ruining the country's regular pinot. A plague on 'em! A plague on the whole stinking lot of them! Rant over; I feel a bit better now. :wink:

)

An idea I had was to pick a grape variety and then each bring an example from a different country and see who can source the best (we could have a monetary limit, perhaps $80/btl and pick a specific vintage, say 2005). I'd be interesting in bdx blends or chard - we could easily pick 8 or 10 countries that do good examples of them - could be interesting. Not as kiwi focused as your ideas mind you.

Jay60A · Post by **Jay60A** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 7:51 am

I am SO up for a vertical of single row Premium Gully Extra Special Reserve W*nkhill Pinot Noir. :lol:

But only from Vine 24 :wink:

orpheus · Post by **orpheus** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 7:59 am

Good luck, kiwis, at beating your record of 185 (not out?).

Accept this single from me, and aim for at least a double century this time.

BTW, the tasting on the last occasion sounds great, and worth the effort.

And a tasting of those top Syrahs sounds terrific; I was bowled over by the Le Sol 2004 which I tasted when over in NZ, and also a Vidal syrah.

orpheus · Post by **orpheus** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 7:59 am

orpheus wrote:Good luck, kiwis, at beating your record of 185 posts (not out?).

Accept this single from me, and aim for at least a double century this time.

BTW, the tasting on the last occasion sounds great, and worth the effort.

And a tasting of those top Syrahs sounds terrific; I was bowled over by the Le Sol 2004 which I tasted when over in NZ, and also a Vidal syrah.

Curt · Post by **Curt** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:19 am

The Syrah idea appeals more to me rather than the Pinots but I would be into either ... as long as someone does not invite winery people ... that doesn't always turn out as you would expect :roll:

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:52 am

(Though to be honest the "premium" label pinot fad pi**es me off - just make your best freakin' wine from your vineyards like you always did, don't carve out the three rows on the left, just behind the gnarly tree over there that got two and half degree-hours more sun than the sorry vines on the right, call it single row premium gully extra special reserve w*nkhill and chalk the price up 60%. And if the best grapes are now put into single row premium gully extra special reserve w*nkhill, then by definition the wine I'd come to love, simply called "pinot noir", which was excellent and well priced, has just got worse and why should I now buy it! Marketing gimmickry that's ruining the country's regular pinot. A plague on 'em! A plague on the whole stinking lot of them! Rant over; I feel a bit better now. )

yip have to agree. why buy w*nkhill single vineyard block 2 selection reserve for $90 when you can buy ata rangi for $60? Id actually struggle to contribute from the cellar to that tasting anyway. the worst i have is neudorf home block, daniel schuster omihi or escarpment te rehua

The Syrah idea appeals more to me rather than the Pinots but I would be into either ... as long as someone does not invite winery people ... that doesn't always turn out as you would expect

Agree and agree. Lessons learnt carried forward. Curt will be on the door arms folded, black winter coat, dark sunnies.

Bick · Post by **Bick** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:51 am

Curt wrote:The Syrah idea appeals more to me rather than the Pinots but I would be into either ... as long as someone does not invite winery people ... that doesn't always turn out as you would expect

Curt - did you get your 91 SRL replaced as promised??

Bick · Post by **Bick** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:55 am

orpheus wrote:Good luck, kiwis, at beating your record of 185 (not out?).

No problem.

By the way - whatever happened to that Sydney offline of a cabernet icon? The thread got to about 40 odd posts and then seemed to die a death without the venue, wine or date having been decided :wink:

cuttlefish · Post by **cuttlefish** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:58 am

Hey you lot, don't think that any of us are going to help you get your number of post up by weighing in to provide helpful commments or...Doh !

Curt · Post by **Curt** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 10:20 am

Hi Mike, Yes they replaced it with a 2005 ( my request , they would have replaced it with a 1991 if I wanted ) .. very happy about that !!!

orpheus · Post by **orpheus** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:05 am

Bick wrote:
orpheus wrote:Good luck, kiwis, at beating your record of 185 (not out?).

No problem.

By the way - whatever happened to that Sydney offline of a cabernet icon? The thread got to about 40 odd posts and then seemed to die a death without the venue, wine or date having been decided

Caught in the slips?

Peter NZ · Post by **Peter NZ** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 4:52 pm

Both options sound good to me.

Have all the likely '07 Syrah contenders been released yet? - haven't seen the Villa, Vidal, Homage or Esk Valley anywhere ...

Cheers
Peter

rooman · Post by **rooman** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 4:57 pm

I vote for a Verdelho taste off.

monghead · Post by **monghead** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 5:43 pm

orpheus wrote:
Bick wrote:
orpheus wrote:Good luck, kiwis, at beating your record of 185 (not out?).

No problem.

By the way - whatever happened to that Sydney offline of a cabernet icon? The thread got to about 40 odd posts and then seemed to die a death without the venue, wine or date having been decided

Caught in the slips?

Now, now, since we are doing this July/August, we see no need to discuss further until then. What I can say is that we have the numbers, the venue, and a good idea of what wine to feature as a vertical.... (i think.....)

Anyways, good luck with this one. Sounds great as usual.

Cheers,

monghead.

cuttlefish · Post by **cuttlefish** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 6:19 pm

rooman wrote:I vote for a Verdelho taste off.

Sounds good. When ? Where ?

rooman · Post by **rooman** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 8:21 am

cuttlefish wrote:
rooman wrote:I vote for a Verdelho taste off.

Sounds good. When ? Where ?

I have a friend with a classy little room above the Otara Wine Emporium. With high quality glassware and very close proximity to the airport, the venue is a no brainer.

Obviously it can't be on a Monday as that day follows Sundays and everyone know no one works on that day. Friday is also ruled out for the same reason given that it precedes Saturday: long live the 4 day weekend as prescribed by the Treaty. Sunday is a no go because the Church of the Latter Day Saints use the room and Saturday is the day of the Lord's game. Thursday is out because everyone is lined up for the Dole. Wednesday should be fine except that is the wife's crochet evening and Tuesday is my son's indigenous language lessons. Boy this is going to be harder than I thought. :shock:

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 8:31 am

Have all the likely '07 Syrah contenders been released yet? - haven't seen the Villa, Vidal, Homage or Esk Valley anywhere ...

Villa has im pretty sure. they can be far away. Craggy Block 14 will be released July I got told by Steve last night

Peter NZ · Post by **Peter NZ** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 5:44 pm

Craig(NZ) wrote:
Craggy Block 14 will be released July I got told by Steve last night

Maybe in Auckland ... already available in Wgtn ...

cuttlefish · Post by **cuttlefish** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 5:47 pm

rooman wrote:
cuttlefish wrote:
rooman wrote:I vote for a Verdelho taste off.

Sounds good. When ? Where ?
I have a friend with a classy little room above the Otara Wine Emporium. With high quality glassware and very close proximity to the airport, the venue is a no brainer.

Obviously it can't be on a Monday as that day follows Sundays and everyone know no one works on that day. Friday is also ruled out for the same reason given that it precedes Saturday: long live the 4 day weekend as prescribed by the Treaty. Sunday is a no go because the Church of the Latter Day Saints use the room and Saturday is the day of the Lord's game. Thursday is out because everyone is lined up for the Dole. Wednesday should be fine except that is the wife's crochet evening and Tuesday is my son's indigenous language lessons. Boy this is going to be harder than I thought.

What's an "Otara" ?

rooman · Post by **rooman** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 10:43 am

cuttlefish wrote:
rooman wrote:
cuttlefish wrote:
rooman wrote:I vote for a Verdelho taste off.

Sounds good. When ? Where ?
I have a friend with a classy little room above the Otara Wine Emporium. With high quality glassware and very close proximity to the airport, the venue is a no brainer.

Obviously it can't be on a Monday as that day follows Sundays and everyone know no one works on that day. Friday is also ruled out for the same reason given that it precedes Saturday: long live the 4 day weekend as prescribed by the Treaty. Sunday is a no go because the Church of the Latter Day Saints use the room and Saturday is the day of the Lord's game. Thursday is out because everyone is lined up for the Dole. Wednesday should be fine except that is the wife's crochet evening and Tuesday is my son's indigenous language lessons. Boy this is going to be harder than I thought.

What's an "Otara" ?

Its an extremely classy suburb with a high consumption of quality wine such as Lafite and DRC. You may have seen it immortalised in such cinemographic classics as "Once Were Warriors".

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 2:37 pm

Peter NZ wrote:
Craig(NZ) wrote:
Craggy Block 14 will be released July I got told by Steve last night

Maybe in Auckland ... already available in Wgtn ...

Yeah Steve told me fibs. I picked one up today at LL. Will drink tonight. Obviously it has been released hush hush to some retailers while others clear the 06.

Bick · Post by **Bick** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 10:58 am

Bump.

With the Sydney Cullen vertical offline having taken place succesfully (it sounded great), it falls to the kiwis to return to ideas for our next offline.

Any further thoughts re: format and timing?

SueNZ · Post by **SueNZ** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 12:09 pm

No ideas really - except to say I'm busy now until about after the first weekend of October.
Cheers,
Sue

jafa · Post by **jafa** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 3:02 pm

Bick wrote:Bump.

With the Sydney Cullen vertical offline having taken place succesfully (it sounded great), it falls to the kiwis to return to ideas for our next offline.

Any further thoughts re: format and timing?

Put some bait on the hook :lol:

jafa

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 3:09 pm

gonna take a bit to do a better vino line up than the srl tasting...will have to put the thinking cap on

Flagship 98 Hawkes Bay reds??

SueNZ · Post by **SueNZ** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 4:31 pm

Craig(NZ) wrote:gonna take a bit to do a better vino line up than the srl tasting...will have to put the thinking cap on

Flagship 98 Hawkes Bay reds??

Would be interesting to see how the 98's are evolving. The hard part will be finding the wines.

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 6:07 am

Would be interesting to see how the 98's are evolving. The hard part will be finding the wines.

quantities are not what they once were but i still have a reasonable selection. id imagine most people should have a few if they have been into wine long enough? if not they can go buy a 98 vidals solar cab which is still on the market at the release price :lol:

jafa · Post by **jafa** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 11:30 am

Craig(NZ) wrote:
Would be interesting to see how the 98's are evolving. The hard part will be finding the wines.

quantities are not what they once were but i still have a reasonable selection. id imagine most people should have a few if they have been into wine long enough? if not they can go buy a 98 vidals solar cab which is still on the market at the release price

{nibbling on bait noises}
Fair starting point. I can certainly do several flavours on that theme.

cheers jafa

Craig(NZ) · Post by **Craig(NZ)** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 7:40 am

Ideas for verticals (if indeed that is a theme we settle on again) thinking of wines im not too bad with in my cellar which I think many others would also have. They gotta be icons

Esk Reserve Merlot Cab
Esk Terraces
Te Mata Coleraine
Te Mata Elston
Neudorf Moutere Chardonnay
Ata Rangi Pinot
Unison Selection
Craggy Le Sol

or we could look at aussie stuff. i have 90's vintages of many aussie flagships - not so much recent vintages