The Auswine Forum

Let us salivate vicariously as you tell us your plans for Xmas cheer this year.

We're having our usual teppanaki indoor barbecue with little bits of marinated flesh and vegetables burning away while we swill on some Rockford Black Sparkling and maybe an old Ed Carr.
By 2.30pm I'll have a headache and need a nana nap or it'll be 40 degrees and the afternoon will be in the pool trying to avoid swimmers ear!

Hope everyone has a safe and wonderful Xmas and New Year

Luke

A quiet one for me this year, and only 6-8 people for lunch. Slow roasted lamb shoulder with accompanying cabernet based red for me. Some young and local (Perth Hills) blanc de blanc as aperitif, and lots of sparkling shiraz on standby. Also time for a decent botrytis Riesling with dessert. Possibly for this forum, the only interesting wine will be the cabernet, which I will probably decide on the day.

Rockford Black Shiraz and a burg nerd friend is opening some good ones he says.

Probably roast guinea fowl with a lighter red, unless we have a change of heart and go for a leg of lamb, in which case maybe the 1996 Jack Mann, or a 1994 La Point pomerol or 2006 L'Enclos pomerol or any number of more substantial reds.

Low key. All cold. Prawns, probably some cold bugs. Ham. Maybe a cold chicken. Plenty of salad stuff. There will be bubbles (probably Pol Roger NV) and I might open something decent for myself later in the day (most of my family don't drink wine). Possibly a decent Pinot since the missus loves the stuff.

Planning on cooked ham and eggs Boxing Day morning with a glass of Rockford Black Shiraz to get ready for the cricket

Airplane food. Still haven't booked any tickets away and we were thinking of grabbing a flight on Xmas day. its a great day fly.

Christmas on the 24th mainly, as two of my sons fly out to NY and Toronto on Xmas day midday to be with their GF's for Xmas dinner.
Lots of cold seafoods, then beef and turkey. All starts mid-afternoon after golf. Luckily, despite drought (they tell me) Royal Melbourne in top condition for my return down under
18 for this gala lunch, starting off with the tutored tastings:

1. Premier Cru, Puligny Montrachet 2010

Etienne Sauzet "Referts"
Domaine Leflaive "Pucelles"
Lucien le Moine "Folatieres"
Jacques Prieur "Combettes"
Henri Boillot "Clos de Mouchere"
Alain Chavy "Charmes"

2. 2002 Burgundy Horizontal

Domaine Pousse d'Or Volnay "Clos de 60 Ouvrees"
Chateau de Chorey Beaune "Tante Berthe"
Domaine Fourrier Gevrey Chambertin "Cherbaudes"
Robert Arnoux Vosne Romanee "Suchots"
Clos des Lambrays Morey St Denis "Clos des Lambrays"
Domaine Jean Grivot Vougeot "Clos Vougeot"
Domaine Hudelot-Noellat Nuits St Georges "Murgers"
Laurent Roumier GC "Bonnes Mares"

The whites are tasted and then drunk with the first part of the lunch, the reds the same with the second part. Got a magnum of 1995 Arnoux RSV to have with the beef.
With dessert, 2005 Climens and 2001 Rieussec.
Then follows beer-pong, beer, more beer.
12 hours later lots of panadol, and start again at Xmas lunch after the airport.

not sure on the wine yet, but having a crapload of trouble hunting down a kosher ham and turkey

Since my better half was flying back to the USA for Xmas this year and I'm staying local, already did our Xmas dinner:
2011 Olek Bondonio Barbaresco Roncagliette along with various dishes at 121BC (salumi platter, gnocci, balsamic ribs), finished with a red dessert wine from the Langhe region which I forgot to note down the name, superb with any combination of chocolate and nuts.

Christmas day with the family will be a fairly traditional aussie affair, bbq and salads, thinking ill open a 2004 Marsh Estate sparkling, 2003 Mount Pleasant OP&OH Shiraz and perhaps a 2004 Barolo...

Bobthebuilder wrote:not sure on the wine yet, but having a crapload of trouble hunting down a kosher ham and turkey

Kosher Hams are usually right next to the Halal ones.

Rockford Black Shiraz is our staple. Plus probably a couple of French Bubblies during the day. That's for the wife and family anyway, I'm working

I hope everyone here on the Auswine forum has a great Christmas spent with family and friends. May 2016 be bigger and better again! Here's to drinking great wine.

Cheers
Ian

Most of my wife's family are descending our way from Brisvegas so we will be hosting 12 people. Plus our youngest daughter is coming back from Surrey from a gap year - very excited!
Christmas eve seafood, ham and turkey buff. Christmas Day Eye fillet of beef and more of the previous day's fare.
Wine wise it is difficult because they either don't drink, or don't care what they drink. Some non descript wine on Chrismas Eve with a pinot open in the kitchen for discreet fillips for those who care. Joseph Sparkling Shiraz on Chrissey day and maybe a Rockford BP with the beef.

Hacker wrote:Wine wise it is difficult because they either don't drink, or don't care what they drink.

My Xmas wine drinking in a nutshell.

Usually get a Seppelt Sparkling for Xmas morning and a nice chardy for lunch and a half decent shiraz for dinner.

We will be in Barcelona enjoying a low key Christmas away from our families. The plan is to gather assorted goodies from the Boqueria market for brunch - jamon (bellota), foie gras, baguette, marcona almonds, cecina etc, which should all wash down nicely with a good quality cava. Will probably whip up a light, late lunch later in the day to pair with a decent Rioja.

trufflequeen wrote:We will be in Barcelona enjoying a low key Christmas away from our families. The plan is to gather assorted goodies from the Boqueria market for brunch - jamon (bellota), foie gras, baguette, marcona almonds, cecina etc, which should all wash down nicely with a good quality cava. Will probably whip up a light, late lunch later in the day to pair with a decent Rioja.

Sounds like the perfect plan.

We are in Sydney visiting friends and relos and will be enjoying Xmas with sister and her family, including a very fresh baby. About a dozen in all. Eats will be the usual suspects including turkey done 2 ways, ham, prawns, blue swimmers oysters - Sydney Rock ad Pacific, and a unique family favourite that may not appeal to mainstream - mochas herring, green apple and onion very finely chopped and served on rye bread liberally coated with butter. It came with my father from USA and was handed down from previous relos from Europe.

I drove from Adelaide with 4 dozen wines that are now ensconced in my father-in-laws underground bunker, a relic of the cold war fashion for nuclear shelters lined in concrete under the house. Some for Xmas and balance for ron. Nothing of major note in the wines (most relos are beer drinkers or abstainers) with a highlight being a Protero Adelaide Hills 2005 Cabernet Blend. Some nice Clare rizzas, Bubbles, plenty of beer and perhaps a SMW or 3. Then a nanna nap.

Will also be enjoying my first January off in 25 years following recent retirement.

To everyone, have a great Xmas and I hope you have been good all year and receive everything you wished for from Santa.

And please drive carefully.

Carl

Chuck wrote:And please drive carefully.

Carl

+1

my bro in law will cook a feast.
fairly standard Aussie fare of prawns and oysters and whatever he whacks in the webers.
Probably turkey,lamb and some pork.

Booze wise I'm thinking of some Wynns BL cab from the 90's.
Got a 2005 Mitchell McNicol Shiraz that needs to be popped so prob grab that as well.
My old man will prob come with a Greenock creek tucked under his arm so we'll see.
Wouldn't mind a white too but most attending vino drinkers are 'big bloody shiraz' types.
Get that sissy chardonnay out of here boy!

got a primo Joseph sparkling for new years.
the bottle for these still makes me laugh.
ahhhh, why?

Pretty standard like most people - Some bbq'd prawns and oysters, leg ham and a poached soy Asian style Chicken. Number of fresh light salads washed down with

2008 Clover Hill Brut Rose
2003 E&E Sparkling Shiraz
1999 Grosset Polish Hill Riesling
2015 Grosset Springvale Riesling

And then I need a recommendation on either the 2007 Kooyong Haven, Meres or Ferrous Pinot Noir

My brother will bring some aged Semillon of some description and some Hunter Shiraz

Hi all, tinkering with the idea of having my first 94 Seppelts show...the lad was 21 last week, so might open one.
2002 Pewsey contours
86 Bin 28...they don't make them like this anymore
2003 magnum John Riddoch...Wynn's were chucking these out cheap a few years back...have not had anything much from the 03 vintage so will be interesting

Finish with Bullers fine old muscat and a stack of Peroni.

Good eating and drinking to all...we are hosting for the first time in 10 years, might be interesting.
Thinking of bring back Frank Castanza's Festivus...a post lunch act of strength such as a wrestle on the lawn ...may be on the cards

Cheers
Craig

Its going to be hot in Adelaide hence will be a beer and white sort of day. I have lined up a 2015 Jim Barry Watervale Riesling & 2015 Tim Adams Pinot Gris.
The 2015 whites from Clare are looking great at the moment!

Have a fair few family over tomorrow, so the food and wine will be in abundance.

2008 majella sparkling shiraz
NV primo joseph sparkling red
2012 seppelt sparkling shiraz
2 * mumm NV champagne
2 * 2013 seppelt jaluka chardonnay
2001 tahbilk shiraz magnum
1996 lindemands pyrus magnum
2000 chambers rosewood tokay
2009 gibson botrytis semillon

winetastic wrote:Since my better half was flying back to the USA for Xmas this year and I'm staying local, already did our Xmas dinner:
2011 Olek Bondonio Barbaresco Roncagliette along with various dishes at 121BC (salumi platter, gnocci, balsamic ribs), finished with a red dessert wine from the Langhe region which I forgot to note down the name, superb with any combination of chocolate and nuts.

How'd you go with the Roncagliette?

Rossco wrote:Have a fair few family over tomorrow, so the food and wine will be in abundance.

2008 majella sparkling shiraz
NV primo joseph sparkling red
2012 seppelt sparkling shiraz
2 * mumm NV champagne
2 * 2013 seppelt jaluka chardonnay
2001 tahbilk shiraz magnum
1996 lindemands pyrus magnum
2000 chambers rosewood tokay
2009 gibson botrytis semillon

Nice list. Need a bag carrier?

Carl

Merry Christmas all.
We'll be having the 86 Moss Woods Cabernet, 2011 Cornerstone and the 2011 Avatar. (Not holding out much hope for the Moss Woods at 30yrs old)
There will also be some sangria which packs a punch but is great for a relaxing Brisbane xmas.

rens wrote:Merry Christmas all.
We'll be having the 86 Moss Woods Cabernet, 2011 Cornerstone and the 2011 Avatar. (Not holding out much hope for the Moss Woods at 30yrs old)
There will also be some sangria which packs a punch but is great for a relaxing Brisbane xmas.

We opened a 1990 Moss Wood Cab Sauv only a couple of months back, and it drank really well. It had aged into a medium bodied wine, but was clean and good drinking. 1986 might be drinking just fine. Fingers crossed !

Merry Christmas, Everyone !

The highlight of my day food wise was a tiger prawn and avocado sandwich (made with fresh bread lots of black pepper and a few coriander leaves) at about sundown yesterday. Washed it down with a Four Pines Ale.
Was perched on a verandah about 80 yards from the surf just north of Noosa.
That there is luxury!

2005 Rockford basket press - was lovely, every one liked it, even those like mum who don't generally like big reds
1998 wynns black label cab Shiraz merlot - nice, but definitely past its peak, luckily it was served before the BP because it was clearly no match.
2007 Viognier by Farr - some liked it, some were unsure, all agreed it was very interesting and different.
2013 Moore farm Chardonnay - a cheap young chard from Adelaide Hills, easy drinking, refreshing, great VFM
Taylors NV port - MIL brought this to replace the Galway she used up in the cooking the day before. I must say I think I came out on top in that trade!

2005 Drappier Grand Sandree - A touch autolytic, and I liked this.
2007 Seppelt OSS - perhaps very, very faintly corked. The type you can't quite put your finger on. I finished the bottle, regardless. Heathen.

Very low key Chrissy, as has been the norm in recent years.

86 Moss Woods Cabernet: As suspected it was over the hill (and by a long way-about 10 years I'd say). You could see the framework that was left and it would have been a nice wine in the late nineties.
2011 Cornerstone: nice enough with good balance and everything you normally expect from this label but the nose had lots of eucalyptus which detracted somewhat from the over all experience. I hope it settles down a bit in the years ahead.
2011 Avatar: Another strong showing-picked before the heavens opened I'd say and looks pretty good, but I suspect the 2010 and the 2012 are far superior.