The Auswine Forum

Was browsing one of the bookshop sites (Dymocks I think) for wine book release dates, and noticed mention of Olivers 2005 guide now containing tasting notes on the latest vintages.

Anyone know any more about this?

thanks

Ian

Well, if it's true it's about time. It might even prompt me to start buying the guide again, which I've stopped doing. A list of point scores is pretty useless. Years ago I suggested he sdhould also print his most recent notes of a few back vintages as well (particularly his "1"-ranked wines) in the mode of Halliday's 'Classic Wines' book. Sure it would make the book a bit thicker, but I think it would fulfil a need.

Anyyone see Oliver on Channel & (Sydney) last Friday night. Today Tonight had a little spot on 'Cheap wines v Top shelf - can you tell the difference?'. I saw a teaser advert on Thursday night's TV, and made the effort to watch on the show on Friday. You got the impression that the cheap wines were going to sweep the field. The story was clearly funded by some liquor chain with a range of cleanskins to sell (I forget the name - I'm either immune or very insensitive to product placement). In addition to Oliver they'd got 3 shlubs to taste the wines as well. About half a dozen wines were tasted. Although it wasn't clear from the show, I got the impression that Oliver preferred the 'branded' wine in each case - and that was generally the case for all the wines. The exceptions were the cheap white blends, where the cleanskin triumphed over Vasse Felix Classic Dry White (this is top shelp white at a claimed $20?), and straight cabernet where the Richmond Grove Coonawarra offering was, I suspect a bit astringent for most of the panel. Pewsey Vale riesling was a unanimous winner, and just for fun they opened an 00 St Henri to line up against a cleanskin. There's proof that quality will out! So, tabloid TV of course, but funny to watch anyway - perticularly the non-expert commentary of the 'regular drinkers'. Makes you realise just how specialised is the language that gets used do often around here!

cheers,
Graeme

GraemeG wrote:Well, if it's true it's about time. It might even prompt me to start buying the guide again, which I've stopped doing. A list of point scores is pretty useless. Years ago I suggested he sdhould also print his most recent notes of a few back vintages as well (particularly his "1"-ranked wines) in the mode of Halliday's 'Classic Wines' book. Sure it would make the book a bit thicker, but I think it would fulfil a need.

Anyyone see Oliver on Channel & (Sydney) last Friday night. Today Tonight had a little spot on 'Cheap wines v Top shelf - can you tell the difference?'. I saw a teaser advert on Thursday night's TV, and made the effort to watch on the show on Friday. You got the impression that the cheap wines were going to sweep the field. The story was clearly funded by some liquor chain with a range of cleanskins to sell (I forget the name - I'm either immune or very insensitive to product placement). In addition to Oliver they'd got 3 shlubs to taste the wines as well. About half a dozen wines were tasted. Although it wasn't clear from the show, I got the impression that Oliver preferred the 'branded' wine in each case - and that was generally the case for all the wines. The exceptions were the cheap white blends, where the cleanskin triumphed over Vasse Felix Classic Dry White (this is top shelp white at a claimed $20?), and straight cabernet where the Richmond Grove Coonawarra offering was, I suspect a bit astringent for most of the panel. Pewsey Vale riesling was a unanimous winner, and just for fun they opened an 00 St Henri to line up against a cleanskin. There's proof that quality will out! So, tabloid TV of course, but funny to watch anyway - perticularly the non-expert commentary of the 'regular drinkers'. Makes you realise just how specialised is the language that gets used do often around here!

cheers,
Graeme

Hi Greame,

I saw that too. Bing bong. It wan't fair to either side of the court. But it was a 7.00 job. The Pewsey could hardly be called top shelf, and nor the Richmond Grove, although both very good. Didn't think it was going to get anywhere from the beginning considering top shelf wines often need time and the cleanskins are obviously aimed at tomorrows bbq. Nothing was going to balance out in that one, bit of senseless tele fun I suppose. I thought I saw 1999 on the St. Hank label (?). JO looked decidedly embarrased.

cheers,

No idea on TNS, although it's a good idea if kept brief. What I'd like to see is a listing of very highly rated wines which don't get into the books - Houghton Gladstones, Wirra Wirra Chook Block, Wendouree Shiraz. Just a listing of otherwise unlisted 19+s would be nice.

Kieran

I am Jeremy Oliver's biggest fan

Dead Palate Society

Hey, who stole our Australasian Options team name ??!!


Chris