The Auswine Forum

hi folkes,
just floating an idea...
i know the other one got postponed or cancelled but i was tossing the idea of holding a Offline sometime before Xmas either late Nov or early Dec.

It could be an early Xmas drinks or we could theme it...say a Glaetzer Shiraz vertical (97-99 & 01,02,04), including a vertical of the three vintages of Amon-Ra (02-04)... or we could do a Great Western / St peters vertical.... or do anthying else.

Who's up for it. Ric, Brian when does it suit you to travel up this way?

Who usually organises these things, as ive yet to go to one & am not entirely sure of organisation or protocols. Im happy to flick pass it on to someone who knows what they're doin

Christo

I'm interested in either just a regular offline or a great western vertical.

I'm keen, but if Brian brings up the John's block it won't fit into either theme. But that can always be put aside for another night

Glen

I think the last week of November is out for me (and Ric), early December may be Ok, Fri/Sat night would be preferable.

I'm flexible on theme, I'm practising on shiraz overdose at the GASC awards dinner in Melbourne on 28 October.

I have 91 and 94-2001 John's Blend + 96-98, 2000-2002 Margaretes Shiraz, but that could be a bit much oak at one time for even me

Sat would be my pref, work xmas parties are likely to take up Fri nights around then .

Glen

I could do a Saturday night early in December but getting a BYO will be next to impossible. Tueday or Thursday nights would be best for me.

Sounds great but my diary is already filling up quickly. Cant do last weekend in November or 1, 2, 3, 5th of December. Other than that, I'm clear!

Given it's christmas, makbe a sparkling theme would be fun. Start on some champers and move on to sparkling shiraz? I'm not fussy though. We will need to book somewhere quicklky though, given the season. I'm fine with midweek too.

Yes i too am interested in this one, was just thinking to myself sparkling may be a great idea being close to christmas

Okay,
what about Sat 10 December?... if this suits I might start enquiring at a few places... any recommendations? i was thinking Atelier in Glebe!

Oh i like the sparkling theme also.

let me know.

Christo
PS: i have my best mates 30th night before, my 29th a few nights before... so big, big week!!

EDIT: have made an initial enquiry at Atelier to gauge menus, etc... corkage is $5 p/btl.
c

I should be OK for Dec 10, see how we go for numbers that close to xmas. Not sure what a whole night on bubbles would do to my head though

the sparklers are to kick off proceedings... then on to the reds... i got a magnum of devils lair 95', & a J.Riddoch 93' mag. ive been wanting to crack open.

c

Sat 10th looks OK for me.

Had a bad experience at Atelier earlier this year with just the two of us, I guess I'd risk it again with a group, it's located quite handily.

Happy to bring a Rockford Black or 2 for bubbles and reds to fit a theme.

Should be OK for the 10th too.

I can't make it, but as a thought, Ripples in North Sydney at North Sydney Pool is a great venue, lovely food, stunning views of the harbour and BYO to boot! http://www.ripplescafe.com.au/ Parking is OK too.

Cheers,

David M.

I'm tempted to come, especially if it's at Atelier (eight minutes walk from home) and if I can talk my wife into it.

Kieran

what about Cabernet..... as a theme?

c

Christo wrote:what about Cabernet..... as a theme?

c

Not a problem. As long as they are from the 20th century and we can still have sparkling shiraz to start with.

Hmm, Dalwhinnie, John's Blend of course, Oakridge reserve, Petaluma, Plantagenet, Sallys Paddock, Wendouree, Wynns John Riddoch...

Sat 10th is good for me too. Cabs and sparklers is looking pretty good as a theme. Atelier is perfect for me. Not quite walking distant but less than $10 in a cab. Promise I won't drive this time!

Okay contact with Atelier has been made...

their private room is already booked on that day (tis the season ) but we can have a table in the courtyard.. if that suits? Or inside with everyone else.

Seven course degustation @ $75pp. This consists of five savoury & two sweet (cheese course is an additional $7.50pp). I was thinking of exchanging the cheese for a sweet, instead of the extra course?... whaddaya think? But happy to go with the flow.

Corkage is $5 per bottle (but thats okay im briniging magnums)

So, let me know if you would like inside or outside? extra cheese course or sub it for a sweet? & if i should confirm booking? Ive informed them that we are kicking off with red sparklers then on to cabernet, they are getting back to me re: a menu to suit. Will post when receive it.

bye 4 now
c

I haven't seen the courtyard, what's it like if it rains or is windy? Any fragrant blossoms to intrude, excite hay-fever? We may disturb less people with our wine-obsessiveness out there?

Definitely prefer to have cheese instead of a sweet, there is bound to be a heap of red left to drink.

Outside is fine by me, can anyone order some good weather . My vote is for the cheese as well.

Glen

GRB,
luv the signature..

Christo wrote:GRB,
luv the signature..

Hey, it was my suggestion to put that there until Glen found something else smart to sign-off with.

Outside is good for me. I haven't been there since it moved to Glebe but I think it would probably be undercover. These things do get noisy so being away from everyone else is a bonus.

Definitely prefer the cheese over a third sweet course.

All sounds good.

10th is fine with me. Am happy to go with the Sparkling and Cabernet theme. Would also prefer to swap a sweet for cheese.

Okay,
just another question they have offered us the private dining room on the friday 9th December.... how does that suit?

Also need to know what everyone will be bringing, tasting notes if possible to pass on to chef for menu selection.

Im thinking: either Lakes Folly Reserve Cabernet 94 (mag), J Riddoch 93 (mag), Devils Lair 95 (mag) all ready to go i think, & maybe a WDC Reserve Cabernet 2000.
Other options include 707, mosswood, wynns Black Label 90, yarra Yering no1 (mag), cyril henschke, seppelt dorrien

c

I would like to say that my partner and I are interested as we will be back in Australia by then. Friday or Saturday is good for us.

Not sure if I have the entrance requirements though. I can bring a couple Rockford sparkling, Rockford Cabernet from 98 on and Noon from 99 (I think) onwards. As you can tell I started collecting only a few years ago. I wouldn't mind bringing a 98 Willows Cabernet that is a personal favourite. Not sure what else is interesting in the cellar (am in Istanbul at the moment so can't have a look and have been travelling for a year so can't remember ).

Let me know if you have room and we would love to be there. Let me also know what bottles to bring.

cheers

Christo wrote:Okay,
just another question they have offered us the private dining room on the friday 9th December.... how does that suit?

Also need to know what everyone will be bringing, tasting notes if possible to pass on to chef for menu selection.

Im thinking: either Lakes Folly Reserve Cabernet 94 (mag), J Riddoch 93 (mag), Devils Lair 95 (mag) all ready to go i think, & maybe a WDC Reserve Cabernet 2000.
Other options include 707, mosswood, wynns Black Label 90, yarra Yering no1 (mag), cyril henschke, seppelt dorrien

c

Christo, Friday night is Ok with me.

How many people do we have in total now? I don't have any suitable magnums, so may have to go to wines of which I have at 2 bottles. Thinking Petaluma Coonawarra 91, John Riddoch 91, Wendouree 91 Cabernet or Cab-Malbec.

Glen(GRB) are you putting your prize 94 John's Blend in the dinner wines? If so I'll bring two.

griff wrote:Not sure if I have the entrance requirements though. I can bring a couple Rockford sparkling, Rockford Cabernet from 98 on and Noon from 99 (I think) onwards. cheers

Griff,
havent tried a noons cabernet so that might be a starter & so would the black shiraz, lookk foward to seeing you there.

c

Christo,

Fri is OK for me as well, I am in Melbourne at the moment so don't have a full list for the cellar but I was thinking of 96 Rosemount Show reserve or a 96 St George. Or I have a 98 Wynns BL if people are interested in how it is travelling, I haven't tried it for quite a while.

Brian,

The John's Blend is a definate starter .

Glen