The Auswine Forum

Just ordered a whole bunch of the 2017 Mac Forbes. Was more excited for these than Wynnsday stuff (i'll get a couple of BL later though).

Also some whisky as well.

A few purchases while in La Rioja on holiday...

La Rioja Alta Gran Reserva 904 2009
La Rioja Alta Gran Reserve 890 2005
Remelluri Reserva 2010
Valsacro Dioro 2002
Alion 2013 (Bodega Vega Sicilia)
Marques de Riscal Reserve 2014
Gomez Cruzado "Honorable" 2014
Gomez Cruzado "Pancrudo" 2016

A magnum of 2016 Kumeu River Mates Chardonnay
Even with recent price rises, it is still one of NZ's most under priced fine wines
And at 200% the price and 200% the volume of a 750ml it appeals to those that can do maths

Yes, there can be a shocking premium for magnums.

Perversely though, there have been 2-3 occasions in Italy, where a magnum has been priced (proportionately) much cheaper than a normal bottle.

Craig(NZ) wrote:A magnum of 2016 Kumeu River Mates Chardonnay

Have you tried the 16 Mates?

I picked some earlier this year without trying... would love to hear your thoughts?

deejay81 wrote:

Craig(NZ) wrote:A magnum of 2016 Kumeu River Mates Chardonnay

Have you tried the 16 Mates?

I picked some earlier this year without trying... would love to hear your thoughts?

Me too, and have you tried any of their 2017's yet Craig??

3 X 2016 Wynns BL Cabs.

No wine so far this month, but:
Bridge Road Brewers B2 Bomber Mach 8.0 (to go with earlier versions still in the cellar)
Coopers 2018 Vintage Ale (ditto)
Henry Westons 2016 Barrel Aged Vintage Cider

Round 1:
3x Joseph Drouhin Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches Rouge 2015

Round 2:
To be continued ...

Lots of Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera, Nebbiolo and Dolcetto.

Wendouree.

A few Italian wines so far this month.

2 X 2014 Bruno Giacosa – Falletto Barolo.
2 X 2014 Bruno Giacosa – Rabaja Barbaresco.
2 X 2012 Bruno Giacosa – Rocche del Falletto Riserva Barolo.
1 X 2013 Bartolo Mascarello – Barolo.

Cheers Con.

3 x 2004 Kellermeister Wild Witch Dry Grown Barossa Shiraz (i promised myself no more barossa shiraz.... but here we are...again)
3 x 2014 By Farr Tout Pres Pinot Noir
4 x 2017 Tyrells’s Semillon

TiggerK wrote:

deejay81 wrote:

Craig(NZ) wrote:A magnum of 2016 Kumeu River Mates Chardonnay

Have you tried the 16 Mates?

I picked some earlier this year without trying... would love to hear your thoughts?

Me too, and have you tried any of their 2017's yet Craig??

Yes tried all the 2016's. They are excellent. I rate the 16's up with the 14's and 10's. Really loved all the SV's and bought a mixed case last year. The Mates is the best 16 IMO. Added the magnum in the weekend along with some old odds and sods half bottles from various vintages. They have stopped doing the 375ml unfortunately

Yes tried all the 2017s. KR fingerprint all over them but they are softer, and creamier than usual. They are pleasant earlier drinking wines ore like the 2015's than other recent vintages and not as good as the 2016's. The don't have the drive and structure of the great vintages

2017 was a rubbish vintage in Auckland for whites and a disaster for reds. 2018 even worse for KR they said, and not good for Auckland reds either it seems. 2016 seems to have been quite good for whites, not great for reds (worse than 2013-2015) but better than 2017 and 2018

Luckily 2018 in Hawkes Bay seems to look quite good

JamieBahrain wrote:Lots of Barolo, Barbaresco, Barbera, Nebbiolo and Dolcetto.

A bit out of character for you

A few wines from Marks and Sparks with this evening's grocery shop (1/3 off a large selection of wines). Generally modest wines - 2016 Bunan Bandol, 2014 Valdipiatta Vino Nobile and an NV Lambrusco made by Medici Ermete which should go down well in our continuing warm weather.

Couldn't hold off:

3 x 2017 Chateau Cantemerle (Mags)

Getting ready for summer.

NV Dominique Portet Brut Rose
2005 Clover Hill Cuvee Prestige Late Disgorge Blanc de Blanc
2007 Kreglinger Vintage Brut
2016 Sassafras Savagnin Ancestral
2017 Mada Wines Nebbiolo Rosé
2017 Adelina Nebbiolo Rosato
2017 Domenica Nebbiolo Rosé
2017 Latta Tranquil Nebbolo Rosé Zero SO2
2018 Mada Wines Nebbiolo Rosé

I have a real problem. Am buying wine faster than I can drink it. Have about 3 boxes outside of my storage and have a bunch of Wendouree on the way. Need to show some restraint. Might have to ban myself from all wine websites for 3mths.

Cactus wrote:I have a real problem. Am buying wine faster than I can drink it. Have about 3 boxes outside of my storage and have a bunch of Wendouree on the way. Need to show some restraint. Might have to ban myself from all wine websites for 3mths.

This is an important decision point. How much is enough, and if you decide your current storage capacity is enough, what wines are really important to you?

FWIW I found this situation quite liberating, in that it really helped focus my mind. No accumulating verticals, less buying 'even more of the same style' and most importantly stopping buying stuff 'just because it's a good price'. I still very much enjoy taking a punt on the occasional random buy, but I'm not going to buy a (mixed) case unless the majority of it represents something I really want.

I have 2000 bottles so math is 4 bottles a week x 50 weeks x 10 years. Dont want more space. It's hard to stop buying. But Ian yes, mind will need to be more focused. Skip the bargains I wasnt targeting and only buy wines I really want. Change in mindset. Went for my final wedding session of the cellar today. Pulled out from my offsite stuff I dont want to keep. Bunch of Greenock creek and 2011 South Austtalians.

Cactus I have a similar problem, and now instead of outright buying something I sleep on it and inveriably I wake up with relief of not buying the previous day. And/or I only buy 3 bottles and try to share a six pack with a friend to gain the case discount. Sharing with a friend also has the advantage of him opening one of the bottles with me in years to come.

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Sean wrote:Going with offsite storage is like building a new freeway. It makes sense at the time, but as soon as it’s built it is jammed up with traffic and you have to build another one.

Too true! Thankfully I have reached the point where the ease of upsizing is offset by ongoing storage costs I am not willing to accept.

I'm capped out at 600 bottles (2 x 300 bottles fridges) but I only drink one bottle a week on average so it is still a 10 year supply for me. Seems like the right number for me and Ian's words of wisdom are spot on for me going forward. I think the perspective is perfect for a wine forum as the point is it is all about quality, diversity and interesting wines... rather than volume of "value wines". I've really got to work on diversity (45% of my wines are shiraz / shiraz blends!) but very hard to resist and buy other varieties.

Comment of the year from Sean!

Going with offsite storage is like building a new freeway. It makes sense at the time, but as soon as it’s built it is jammed up with traffic and you have to build another one.

New category in EOY awards?

bdellabosca wrote: I've really got to work on diversity

Rather perversely, buying less seems to be driving more diversity, as the decision often comes down to "I've already got some of that, so I'll go for something I haven't got or want to explore". Of course there is a sensible balance and I need to make sure what we know and love is still there in enough quantity that we don't run out. For your Shiraz, my lead variety is Nebbiolo, running at just over 18%, with nothing else in double figures.

Bit of a Wynns-a-Thon

6 x 2015 JR
3 x 2015 Messenger
6 x 2016 BL Cab
6 x 2016 BL Shiraz
Few of the other cheapies plus rizza

Ozzie W wrote:

Sean wrote:Going with offsite storage is like building a new freeway. It makes sense at the time, but as soon as it’s built it is jammed up with traffic and you have to build another one.

Too true! Thankfully I have reached the point where the ease of upsizing is offset by ongoing storage costs I am not willing to accept.

Not only do I have stacks of wines that are hard to get to, the addition of any more wines exacerbates the problem.

mjs wrote:Bit of a Wynns-a-Thon

6 x 2015 JR
3 x 2015 Messenger
6 x 2016 BL Cab
6 x 2016 BL Shiraz
Few of the other cheapies plus rizza

How much is 15 JR?

FredericoWines wrote:

mjs wrote:Bit of a Wynns-a-Thon

6 x 2015 JR
3 x 2015 Messenger
6 x 2016 BL Cab
6 x 2016 BL Shiraz
Few of the other cheapies plus rizza

How much is 15 JR?

DM has a special going at $109