The Auswine Forum

Classic Wines of Australia and New Zealand by James Halliday (ed.3 - 2002) is the best book I ever read on Australian wines. Reading vertical tastings on Aussie classics, Woodley Coonawarra reds 1930-56. Saltram Dry Reds 1946-78. Fascinating stuff. Reminds me of RPJ's Bordeaux books. Great tasting notes also.

Any comparable books on Aussie wines? Do you think he'll update this? I'll buy it straight away.

He might need to cut out Jamiesons Run and Koonunga Hill in the next version though . Just interested in people's views.

I'll have a word.

Jay60A wrote:He might need to cut out Jamiesons Run and Koonunga Hill in the next version though . Just interested in people's views.

I haven't tried anything beyond the 2000 KH (have some 2002 & 2003 in cellar) - I gather you're not a big fan of the latest drops? Drop in quality?

Got me worried now, might have to crack a 2002 on Saturday night to check on it.....

Had the 2002 a couple of weeks back (shiraz cab). it was really good, nothing to worry about there. Havent tried the 03

02 is a good drop

Think the 04's now been released. It's selling at DMs for under $10/bottle and not even on special. I also haven't heard anything about how good this one is compared to previous years.

There's nothing comparable as far as I'm aware. From time to time I've speculated that one of the principle writers out to do something like Parker's 'Bordeaux' on local wines, but there's no real sign of it. Halliday's book is a reasonable substitute, except that he's trying to restrict it to 'Classic' wines. Perhaps is definition is also influenced by the desire to present a decent vertical for each wine, and it's good that edition 3 was considerable fatter than edition 1, for instance.

I don't see why Koonunga Hill shouldn't stay. If anything the last few years' notes will chart its precipitous qualitative decline...

The CD that accompanied the 2002 edition of Halliday's Annual was the most comprehensive source of his notes on back vintages, but for me a CD will never replace the sheer user-friendliness of the printed word. A book in the hand is worth two on the hard drive...

cheers,
Graeme

I could be wrong but I think that he is updating it. When he accepted the Wine Communicator Award a few weeks back he rattled off a list of 3 or 4 books that he was working on, all due for release during this year. My recollection is that this book was one of them ... but my eyes started to glaze over at the time and I am therefore an unreliable witnesss.

Campbell.

www.winefront.com.au

Campbell,

Were your eyes glazing over with tears as you didn't win?

If JH doesn't write this, would you?

I think there's an opening for this kind of book, based around a mixture of the top "Classic" wines, which are the long-term auction staples, plus the Cult/Emerging scene. Lot's of detailed TNs including rare and unobtainable wines which I will never taste myself. Another form of voyeurism ...
A real Aussie Bible, admittedly one for the officionados. Points out of 100 not star-ratings out of 5 - JH saying the 1986 Grange deserves a sixth star is like Parker's 100+ points, a little bit silly.

I'll pull back on my Koonunga Hill remark. It's fascinating to see upswings and downswings in Wineries and/or Brands and RPJ doesn't stop reviewing a 5th Growth Margaux just because it was crap from 1960-81. So I'd agree, keep KH in there also on the same basis.