The Auswine Forum

10 days to Christmas! On Christmas eve I am thinking of a champagne, probably a Cedric Bouchard, and burgundy, probably a Gevrey 1er.
On Christmas day after a dip at Bondi Beach a Galah Sparkling Shiraz (sadly my last) and the 2016 Sorrenberg Chardonnay. Such good reports about the Sorrenberg, I just have to see what the fuss is about. And maybe a Pierro chardonnay as well.

What is being planned with you guys?

Im going to try a sorrenberg chardonnay aswel. Casual picnic lunch in a tiny spring fed stream. Followed by a little fly fishing.
Some old rockford sparklings dinner time.

Xmas Eve we have a seafood night. I don't like pretty Aussie chardonnay with seafood so will pull some rusty old whites from the cellar.

With Moreton Bay bugs-

1991 R. López de Heredia Rioja Blanco Gran Reserva Viña Tondonia
2002 Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos
1967 Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Le Haut-Lieu

And Xmas Day-

Rokford Black

Double Magnum of Turkey Flat Shiraz 2000

Wife is working Xmas lunch, so I will be driving the kids to both sides of the family throughout the day..... not much fun and
as such, not much drinking will be done unfortunately.

Xmas eve I will crack with the wife a Primo Joseph Sparkling Red followed by a 2010 Wendouree Muscat of Alexandria (my first one, so see how it goes)

Boxing day will be watching the cricket with Ruinart N/V, then (depending on weather) either the 2013 Oakridge 864 Funder & Diamond Chardonnay or 2016 William Downie Mornington Pinot or even perhaps 1999 Tahbilk 1860's vine Shiraz or 2001 Domain A cabernet, finished off with a 2009 Frogmore Creek Iced Riesling

In the Brisbane aircon, a bottle of 1998 Bin 389 (My last), some 2007 Kreglinger Sparkling, 2011 Cornerstone grenache and possibly something French and likely a splash of Tahbilk Marsanne.

Breakfast, Lunch, Tea, just like Vegemite.
Rockford Black + Rockford Rose + Rockford Riesling + Rockford Cab Sav + Rockford BP

Same as every year - Rockford Black Shiraz! Probably some NV French bubbles and a 2004 GCW Cornerstone Grenache.

Marry Christmas to all the forumites.
Ian

Family Christmas with my parents, both my siblings and their families, which we haven’t had for a few years.

Just picked up today a bottle of Primo Estate Joseph Sparkling Red, love this (once a year!). Helm Premium Riesling, old Crawford River, 2013 Vat 47, 05 Belford Sem, some Yarra Pinot.. maybe Oakridge and Hoddles.

The old man wants to open some Freeman Nebbiolo, so will crank the aircon, I might take some Benevelli Langhe to have alongside. Maybe a Cortese Rabaja, but this may be a waste, haven’t decided yet.

Will

Rockford Black too, I reckon. A bunch of mid 2000s red that need looking at so probably one or two of them as well...

Rockford Black, Deviation Rd sparkling, Pirate life pales

Willard wrote: I might take some Benevelli Langhe to have alongside.

Would be a good comparison. This Langhe punches above its weight.

Xmas Eve: Rockford Black Shiraz, Ch Tahbilk Marsanne 2011 and Wynns Cabernet 1998
Xmas Lunch: Bubbles, Mayer Pinot 2015
Xmas Dinner: Penfolds Magill Estate 1996, Rockford Basket Press 1997 and D'Arenberg VP 1973

And anything else that catches the eye.

-- George Krashos

Back in Aus for Xmas
20 for lunch..... copious amounts of Champagne and Burgundy. Finish with some old Bordeaux.

In order
Billecart Salmon Brut NV
1988 calon segur
1997 yquem

Not sure yet. Roast Guinea fowl most likely to feature in food terms, so maybe a nebbiolo or maybe a timorasso?

Krillian wrote:Pirate life pales

One of the best aussie PAs around. Shame it comes in a can.

Carl

Chuck wrote:

Krillian wrote:Pirate life pales

One of the best aussie PAs around. Shame it comes in a can.

Carl

It's perhaps a shame that Pirate Life have just been sold to AB/Inbev, but I am in fierce disagreement with you about the cans as I think that most hop forward beers like the Pirate Life core range beers benefit from being in cans.

As for Christmas drinking, I'll say I probably wont drink much as I invariably spend Christmas ferrying around Family members It will probably be a glass of Riesling with lunch and maybe a beer or two that is on the lighter side such as a Bridge Road Little Bling ( now in cans) or a Bad Shepherd tiny IPA.

As good a place as any to wave the flag for beer in cans.

A subject more sensitive than cork closures over at TWF of late, but i'll happily back you on that one Paul. Lots of excellent beers out of cans this year - Brunswick Bitter easily available and hits thr quality spot.

I'm not really drinking enough beer to make a bold comment, but the comment about hoppy beers cuts both ways, in that I'm not a fan of the recent (last decade or less) trend for very hoppy beers, so having the can better preserve that impact isn't great for me.

I've had a few modern-day cans, and it's fair to acknowledge these are much improved on the old style cans used in mass market Fosters/XXXX/Stella etc. I still have a preference for bottles, though barring the comment above, it's a slightly dated preference based on the poor quality of cans in the 20th Century.

Cans all the way. Lighter, easier to haul around. Preserves the beer better. I rarely actually drink them from the can so it’s all good with me.

Wayno wrote:Cans all the way. Lighter, easier to haul around. Preserves the beer better. I rarely actually drink them from the can so it’s all good with me.

I was under the impression cans keep it fresher
And
Decent beer should always be consumed out of a glass

I should explain that it was just that I prefer drinking from bottles than cans.

Carl

Christmas day will be super traditional for a change this year - turkey is on the cards. Unsurprisingly, we will be drinking Nebbiolo, probably young Barbaresco and Langhe Nebbiolo.

Champagne to start.

Cappellano Barolo Chinato to finish.

I’ve been trying to plan a list for almost 2 weeks now
And like most years, I’ll probably be making rushed decisions 5 Min’s before rushing out the door screaming at the kids to hurry up!
You people are so organised, I envy you all!!!

Christmas Eve - will be cracking open both Joseph and Rockfords sparkling. Interesting to see how they compare.

Christmas day, will be serving Billecart salmon rose NV (canapes), Grosset Polish Hill and Alea rieslings 2017 (prawns and crayfish) and Vajra Bricco Delle Viole 1997 (home made lasagne).

Sparkling Shiraz very popular and so it should be! I'll be opening a 2002 Peter Rumball Sparkling and a 2008 Castagna Genesis Sparkling.

trufflequeen wrote:Billecart salmon rose NV (canapes) and Vajra Bricco Delle Viole 1997 (home made lasagne).

It is settled, offline xmas day lunch with trufflequeen.

Ozzie W wrote:Sparkling Shiraz very popular and so it should be! I'll be opening a 2002 Peter Rumball Sparkling and a 2008 Castagna Genesis Sparkling.

Met Peter Rumball once in Adelaide but unfortunately don't have a bottle. Thought his sparkling shiraz was non-vintage but clearly I was wrong. I will be opening an 2002 Seppelt's Sparkling Shiraz on Christmas day.

Mahmoud.

Mahmoud Ali wrote:

Ozzie W wrote:Sparkling Shiraz very popular and so it should be! I'll be opening a 2002 Peter Rumball Sparkling and a 2008 Castagna Genesis Sparkling.

Met Peter Rumball once in Adelaide but unfortunately don't have a bottle. Thought his sparkling shiraz was non-vintage but clearly I was wrong. I will be opening an 2002 Seppelt's Sparkling Shiraz on Christmas day.

Mahmoud.

He makes both a NV and vintage Sparkling Shiraz. The 2002 was only released in 2013 after spending 10 years on lees.

Taittinger Comtes 2004 for breakfast
Rockford Black Sparkling for lunch
Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardy 2012 for dinner
and some food I'm told......