The Auswine Forum

Penfolds Eden reserve riesling 2000 - most liked it but it did nothing for me.

Cloudy Bay Sauv Blanc 2002 - poor VFM. Had intensity but lacking palate weight. Worth $15, not $25-30. Must be a poor vintage because I have tried better than this in past vintages.

Seppelt ? Pinot 2001 - ok for the $ but nothing exiting. One to drink on these warmer days and not think about it.

Leeuwin Estate Pinot 1999 - I now hear they have pulled up the vines. Good decision. Worth half of the $35.

Stefiano Lubiano Pinot 2000 $44 - the improvement over the previous 2 pinots was obvious. More structure and really buidls in the glass. Not one of my favourites for the year but very enjoyable and hard to keep the glass down.

Tamburlane reserve shiraz 1999 - $30. Someone pass the bucket. Poor winemaking and poor VFM. The tannins indicate a wine with ambition, but the rest of the wine falls in a heap. Avoid.

Barwang shiraz 1995 $20 - in the prime of its life and very good value. Medium bodied and very well balanced. Equal 2nd best of the night.

Zema Family Selection Cabernet 2000 $45 - Really nice medium bodied wine. Equal 2nd best of the night. Unusually I felt it was not going to get much better than now. It didn't seem to have the depth of fruit to last 10 years, which is unusual for a wine at $45. A crowd pleaser.

Henschke Cyril Henschke 1993 - wine of the night and the first time I have ever tasted a Cyril H. In its prime now but should hold for a while yet. Lighter on body than I would have expected had I known in advance what it was. Impeccable balance.

Justin

...and I want to add that JO scores the 93 Henschke Cyril at 16/20. Demonstrates the limits of point scores to convey likely enjoyment by the majority.

Justin

.......JO and Henschke I just don't understand, I rate the 1999 Cyril as an aboslute pearler yet JO gives it a whopping 14.8/20. Oh well, bring it on cheap at auction. I checked an older edition of his book, 1998, when the Cyril was still ranked as a "Number 1" wine and the 1993 was pointed at 18.7, seems closer to your groups assessment.

Now Justin what I was wondering, is this Beefsteak dinner the one associated with Sterlings the auction house or is this your wine group???I've never attended, or know someone who has, one of those Sterling "tasting" group dinners or lunches but often wondered what they were like.
cheers
TA

Not sure who the wine writer is who had a big fallout with Henschke, but maybe scores an indicator.

Somebody may have had their nose put out of joint when not invited to the Hill of Grace 130th Celebration. Included a vertical tasting of HofG which would be the source of many great articles for a journo.

No, the Beefsteak group has no association with Sterlings. The full name is Beefsteak & Burgunday Club Perth, being one of a couple of hundred similarly chartered groups, mainly inn Australia but also with some overseas. Every club pays an annual fee and is provided with a Charter, club ties and the opportunity to attend annual conventions. Its the clubs choices as to whether the club is uni-sex or co-sex. This club is uni-sex, no ladies allowed. One member in years past insisted that the club change its charter to allow for ladies. It was suggested he leave and he did. Mind you there are 2 ladies night every year where the guys bring their partners. Beefsteak has been in operation in Perth for 45 years now, with 1 founding member still involved. Needless to say he doesn't see much point in cellaring wine....

Justin