The Auswine Forum

Hi guys,

I'm going to be back in Adelaide and would be interested in checking out an offline. Friday the 29th is the date I suggested and a few people shown interest for then. As for themes... I dunno. I can bring either a Two Hands Ares 2009 or a Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva 1978. This could open up themes such as old bottles, blockbuster Shiraz/Aussies or just a free for all. I'm happy with any of them.

Location.. no idea as I don't live there anymore. I assume somewhere in the CBD would be best.

Cheers

The 29th suits Gail and I, although as it is Good Friday we may be limited for restaurant choices. I would vote for D'Artagnan on O'Connell Street if it is open.

Cheers

Mark

Mark Jappe wrote:The 29th suits Gail and I, although as it is Good Friday we may be limited for restaurant choices. I would vote for D'Artagnan on O'Connell Street if it is open.

Cheers

Mark

Crikey, I forgot all about that!

Given what happened last Christmas/New Years with the majority of restaurants closing altogether to avoid paying the new penalty rates, I seriously doubt we'll have much luck finding a suitable venue for the 29th (and it might badly limit the number of forumites going too).

Maybe we're better off looking at Thursday the 28th, or some other night during that week?

Cheers,
Ian

n4sir wrote:Crikey, I forgot all about that!

Given what happened last Christmas/New Years with the majority of restaurants closing altogether to avoid paying the new penalty rates, I seriously doubt we'll have much luck finding a suitable venue for the 29th (and it might badly limit the number of forumites going too).

Maybe we're better off looking at Thursday the 28th, or some other night during that week?

Cheers,
Ian

Thursday the 28th is even better for me.

I think I can do the 28th, too...

Happy with the 28th also.

Jas and I may be able to make the 28th

I say let's go for the 28th. So venue and theme (or no theme) need to be decided. Anyone have an idea of what they'd want to bring?

Also, I'm not sure of the etiquette in Australia. Would it be OK for me to drop off my wine a week or two in advance at the restaurant? I don't have proper storage in Adelaide.

Right, well in terms of venues, we could look at:

D'Artagnan, as suggested by Mark: http://www.dartagnan.net.au/
Press - http://www.pressfoodandwine.com.au/grou ... tions.html
Etica pizza e mozzarella bar - http://www.eticapizzeria.com.au/index.p ... 1&Itemid=5
Maiz and Mezcal - http://maizandmezcal.com/index.php

PaulG wrote:Right, well in terms of venues, we could look at:

D'Artagnan, as suggested by Mark: http://www.dartagnan.net.au/
Press - http://www.pressfoodandwine.com.au/grou ... tions.html
Etica pizza e mozzarella bar - http://www.eticapizzeria.com.au/index.p ... 1&Itemid=5
Maiz and Mezcal - http://maizandmezcal.com/index.php

Of those, either D'Artagnan or Press would get my vote if someone can come up with a good deal.

Same. All things being equal I would personally lean towards D'Artagnan because I'll be eating at Press the night before. If Press does a better deal or is more convenient for people I'm sure I can somehow find a way to tolerate eating there two nights in a row

I've sent out some emails and will report back shortly.

PaulG wrote:I've sent out some emails and will report back shortly.

Any news?

D'Artagnan: E-mailed, but no response yet. Will call them tomorrow if I get a moment to do so.
Press: Refuse to allow BYO
A Hereford Beefstouw: Happy to have us, but will charge $25/bottle corkage
Samurai: Happy to have us either at 5:30 till 7, or 9pm till whenever.

Happy to hear other suggestions

PaulG wrote:D'Artagnan: E-mailed, but no response yet. Will call them tomorrow if I get a moment to do so.
Press: Refuse to allow BYO
A Hereford Beefstouw: Happy to have us, but will charge $25/bottle corkage
Samurai: Happy to have us either at 5:30 till 7, or 9pm till whenever.

Happy to hear other suggestions

Hi Paul

Thanks for all your work on this. I am still keen on D'Artagnan, but if they say no, then Marquis on Gouger street would be a good option. If you call them and speak to Chi Chan he should be able to cut us a good deal.

Cheers

Mark

D'Artagnan or Hereford Beefstoiykjghekh both look fine to me. Either way.

EDIT: Or that Marquis thing. All good. Is it too early to be talking about the wine btw? I'll be needing to know which bottles to bring from Japan. As I initiated this offline but have contributed zero to actually organising it, I'll bring a red and a white/sparkling.

Go the Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva 1978.....

Wish I was there I'd bring a white from the same vintage!

JamieBahrain wrote:Go the Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva 1978.....

Wish I was there I'd bring a white from the same vintage!

Damn. That'd be something.

I'm absolutley under the pump today, so won't get a chance to follow any restaurants up. If anyone has a chance to call D'Artagnan or Marquis, that would be brilliant!

After eating at D'Artagnan last night I withdraw my vote for it as a venue.
Any luck with Marquis Paul?

Cheers

Mark

Still very much under the pump, but will give them a call if I get a moment to breathe. Anyone else able to call them is welcome to do so

I tried but I can't remember the goddam international dialing code on my phone. I wave the white flag

If we can't get one of the proposed venues, there is always the option (threat? ) of T-Chow at short notice.

n4sir wrote:If we can't get one of the proposed venues, there is always the option (threat? ) of T-Chow at short notice.

Don't even joke about that.

Marquis have indicated they can probably do $55 to $65 for 3 course set menu.

Regards

Mark

I have to leave for Australia on Wednesday morning. What theme are people keen for? I need to know which wine to bring (I think Aussie customs have a limit on how many bottles you can take in?). Random theme is OK?

Marquis sounds perfect.

In terms of theme, Panda, why don't you suggest what wines you want to bring, and we'll build a theme around those?

I believe you can bring in 2L of wine per person into Australia (so 3 bottles each).

As before, I can bring in a 2009 Two Hands Ares Shiraz. It would need a fairly major decant but it's a pretty solid Shiraz (98pt Spectator, 95pts WA, 95 IWC, 96 Rhone Report and so on... if that means anything to you). This could lead to a blockbuster Shiraz theme where one could bring a top Shiraz from anywhere in the world (if someone wants to bring an '85 Lala feel free ) or a blockbuster Aussie theme.

My other main option is a 1978 Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva, which is one of the great Rioja wines though it never got much love from the critics. Bottle variation at this point is an issue however. So far, 1 in 3 have been.. meh. Anyway this could open up an old bottle theme, a tempranillo theme (I guess..) or maybe a 'no theme' theme.

Panda 9D wrote:As before, I can bring in a 2009 Two Hands Ares Shiraz. It would need a fairly major decant but it's a pretty solid Shiraz (98pt Spectator, 95pts WA, 95 IWC, 96 Rhone Report and so on... if that means anything to you). This could lead to a blockbuster Shiraz theme where one could bring a top Shiraz from anywhere in the world (if someone wants to bring an '85 Lala feel free ) or a blockbuster Aussie theme.

My other main option is a 1978 Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva, which is one of the great Rioja wines though it never got much love from the critics. Bottle variation at this point is an issue however. So far, 1 in 3 have been.. meh. Anyway this could open up an old bottle theme, a tempranillo theme (I guess..) or maybe a 'no theme' theme.

1978 Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva sounds really interesting and would get my vote out of the two - never really been a huge fan of Two Hands or anything from the 2009 vintage in SA. That's not to say it won't be an interesting wine and change my way of thinking, but the odds are pretty heavily stacked...

We could go an old bottle/relics theme, or just bloody good/rare bottle theme, doesn't really bother me.

Cheers,
Ian

Done.. I'll bring the Tondonia and make it a 'Best bottle you're willing to bring' theme

Panda 9D wrote:Done.. I'll bring the Tondonia and make it a 'Best bottle you're willing to bring' theme

Sounds like a future idea for a theme we floated at the last offline... go hard or go home.