The Auswine Forum

Hi all

So I have a few 2004 related celebrations coming up and want to be able to host some guests and serve some wines from 2004. These will predominantly be colleagues or clients, some of whom are very wine knowledgeable, most of whom know that better quality wines come in glass bottles...

I am only partly joking.

At the moment I am looking at starting with 2004 Dom Perignon as the champagne, because, well, it is readily available and will impress people. However, in terms of recognisable labels at around $200 or under, I also see Veuve, Lanson, Moet, Bollinger la grand amee, Louis Roederer and Laurent Perrier fairly readily available available. Does anyone think that Dom is not the best option and/or reasonable value there? I will probably need 6 bottles, the best price for which I can find at the moment is $175 per bottle.

In terms of reds, I will have some Basket Press, Bin 389, St Henri, Seppelt St Peter to choose from, and probably a bottle of Grange for sampling, though still looking for maybe 1 or 2 more options (not sure if I can stand to serve work colleagues etc my treasured BP...). I also rather suspect I may have 1 or 2 calls for a lighter red, so if anyone can recommend a reasonable (does not have to be excellent) burgundy I would appreciate that a lot. Just not something I am confident with at this stage.

Where I am really struggling is with whites. I don't have any going that far back in my relatively new cellar, and other than a few semillons and Rieslings (which are not what I would ordinarily serve at a function like this) I am not familiar with whites that will reliably age well over that time period and also which may be able to be obtained (presumably from auction).

Is my idea of finding a few decent and available 2004 whites a pipe dream? I can get my hands on some Rieslings, Grosset Polish Hill and Watervale, but like I said, probably not what I would ordinarily serve at a function. Want something that has more mass appeal, or appeal to the masses perhaps more accurately.

There are a number of white French wines available in the current Langton's auction, and whilst I have really enjoyed some white burgundy in the past I just don't know enough about them to be confident about price or quality, especially with 10 years on them.

This one has me a bit stumped, would really appreciate any thoughts on the whites.

If you got this far, thanks for reading the long post

Cheers

maybs wrote:At the moment I am looking at starting with 2004 Dom Perignon as the champagne, because, well, it is readily available and will impress people. However, in terms of recognisable labels at around $200 or under, I also see Veuve, Lanson, Moet, Bollinger la grand amee, Louis Roederer and Laurent Perrier fairly readily available available. Does anyone think that Dom is not the best option and/or reasonable value there? I will probably need 6 bottles, the best price for which I can find at the moment is $175 per bottle.

Excellent choice at $175 - that's the same price as London these days. The 04 is a 'classic' DP, although there's been some comment the bottles in Oz don't seem as good as those in Europe. Some other thoughts:-

- The 04 Veuve Grande Dame is a smart wine - probably their best release in a long time.
- 04 Bollinger Grande Annee is quite accessible and is a nice wine too.
- Pol Roger Brut (or BdB), Moet et Chandon are also reasonably priced in Oz
- Lanson can be hard going when young - its malic acid is sometimes overwhelming. That said, I haven't tried recent releases.

Cheers

Mike

maybs wrote:Hi all

This one has me a bit stumped, would really appreciate any thoughts on the whites.

If you got this far, thanks for reading the long post

Cheers

I note the LEAS Chardonnay is available - a really good wine. Though it might be more for the wine lover than the 'masses'. Some of the other better Aussie chardies should be ok as well.

That said, I would default to Hunter Semillon. Cheap, good and just starting to hit its straps at 10 years of age....

2004 Mt Mary Cabernets is pretty bloody amazing and will be drinking well - saw some on Sterling for good value......

For a white I would certainly run with the 2004 LEAS Chardonnay as well. Should be available thru auction, depending on your timing. Or perhaps Pierro - virtually as good. Hoddles Creek, maybe hard to find.

Give em Riesling and change their minds. A 2004 Petaluma Hanlin Hill I had with friends recently was well received by all.

Thanks for those tips guys

Definitely going the '04 Dom. I would readily go some '04 Hunter Semillon, a Vat 1 or anything near equivalent would be perfect, but given it is such a specific purchase I am just not sure will get an opportunity to purchase in the next month or so. I have a few 2000 and 2006, will be keeping an eye out for the '04.

Otherwise it appears some Leeuwin Art Series chardonnay could be the go. I can source a few bottles of this or Giaconda, but just looking on cellar tracker it appears the Leeuwin may be holdings its quality a bit better (though starting to fade now perhaps).

Alex, I had decided to maybe give the riesling a go but the reviews of both Grosset Rieslings for 2004 as currently drinking are not super flattering so will give those a miss. Might keep an eye out for some other Rieslings.

maybs wrote:Thanks for those tips guys
Otherwise it appears some Leeuwin Art Series chardonnay could be the go. I can source a few bottles of this or Giaconda, but just looking on cellar tracker it appears the Leeuwin may be holdings its quality a bit better (though starting to fade now perhaps).

Well kept bottles should have plenty of life left in them; provenance is the difficult part

04 Hunter semillons are still pups. A Tyrrells HVD opened yesterday needs years.

Mike Hawkins wrote:

maybs wrote:At the moment I am looking at starting with 2004 Dom Perignon as the champagne, because, well, it is readily available and will impress people. However, in terms of recognisable labels at around $200 or under, I also see Veuve, Lanson, Moet, Bollinger la grand amee, Louis Roederer and Laurent Perrier fairly readily available available. Does anyone think that Dom is not the best option and/or reasonable value there? I will probably need 6 bottles, the best price for which I can find at the moment is $175 per bottle.

Excellent choice at $175 - that's the same price as London these days. The 04 is a 'classic' DP, although there's been some comment the bottles in Oz don't seem as good as those in Europe.

+ 1 on this... if you are going for '04 DP, make sure it is from reputable source , maybe Gavin here. I have encountered quite few not so sound bottles, which lead me not to have them in my cellar at all, same scenario with the '02 sadly. Although $ 175 is a good value for DP ...

For me at that price, I would consider Perrier Jouet Epoque '04 or Taittinger CdC '04 (more expensive, but it does have that wow factor --- Loved this champer)

Cheers
Andy

Hacker wrote:For a white I would certainly run with the 2004 LEAS Chardonnay as well. Should be available thru auction, depending on your timing. Or perhaps Pierro - virtually as good. Hoddles Creek, maybe hard to find.

another + 1 on the LEAS, even better if you can source magnum, provenance is important
Bottles that I have been having from original case, purchased at release and stored at 13 degrees, have been singing


Cheers
Andy

Thanks for the further input guys. I was looking at the Belle Epoque Andy, which I personally really like, but it just doesn't have the same cachet amongst the uninitiated as the DP

I have managed to source some 2004 Jim Barry Florita which should do the trick, but if I come across some LEAS with good provenance I may pick them up also for any Neanderthal Riesling haters

I can't recommend strongly enough AGAINST the Perrier Jouet. Other than the BdB, these are very ordinary wines at very high prices. The 04 DP and Taitt Comtes are streets ahead

[quote="maybs"]Thanks for the further input guys. I was looking at the Belle Epoque Andy, which I personally really like, but it just doesn't have the same cachet amongst the uninitiated as the DP

Can't agree with you more. I hope you have/ will source out some Belle Epoque for the cellar

Cheers
Andy