The Auswine Forum

OK, it's Wendouree time again. Time to discuss what's on offer, how much it costs, and what everyone's ordering.

My particular question: has everyone received their mailer already? I didn't receive mine last year, and had to call and harass them to get one. By which time all the best wines were gone. I got the feeling that I'd slipped through the cracks in their system.

If they've forgotten me again this year, I want to jump on it early.

Stuart

Got mine (ACT) yesterday.

Red Bigot wrote:Got mine (ACT) yesterday.

Got it Friday (SA)

Cheers,

Mark

Mine arrived yesterday (Queensland). I have the red line across the top right hand corner also?? Posted today.

Maria

Got mine yesterday (SA Country) and returned yesterday.

Interesting thing I noticed on my order form, it had a red line scrawled across 1 corner?
I missed out last year so hopefully this means give him some this year....

Got mine yesterday (Sydney)
Bruce

Brucer wrote:Got mine yesterday (Sydney)
Bruce

I'm a Wendouree fan from way back.

However, I am not on the mailing list (or any mailing list for that matter) because of a perceived conflict of interest.

However, each year I like to buy a few bottles in to add to the collection and vertical.

I post this because, if anyone has a little excess in their allocation, that is, some more wine than they really want, I would be really interested in getting a few bottles.

I assume they send all the mailers out at once. Anyone know if this is true or not?

Stuart

What is the difference between a red stripe across the order form and Tony Brady's initials in black ink. Which is higher on the pecking order.

gastrorob wrote:What is the difference between a red stripe across the order form and Tony Brady's initials in black ink. Which is higher on the pecking order.

Black initials are top of the tree as far as I know, but there may be something above that for people who have been on the list even longer than I have (20+ years).

I think red pencil signifies newbie / low priority.

Although even marked so, the Wendouree gods shone on me last year! And I now have a few bottles tucked away which I will think of as I search for inspiration to convince my wife that we really must incorporate an underground cellar into the planned house extensions.

Of course I did not get everything I wanted in last years order, but what I got was very much appreciated after (1) years of coveting (stupidly I could have also put my name on the mailing list over twenty years ago - but ignoring that opportunity was not my sole stupid act of those years) and (2) stupidly driving up to clare (from adelaide) specifically to visit their cellar door about five years ago - without checking beforehand that they were actually open

And while I am doing so well with that motif - I put an inordinate amount of thinking into what I would put on my order this year - if I order too much might Mr and Ms Brady (no Tony or Lita for the likes of we red liners) think I am being too greedy and push me to the back of the queue, if I order too sparingly might I miss out on what might be available, should i pay the extra for insurance or might that just create extra administration making my application less appealing, would they recoil at the unsophistication of my blue biro on their lovely paper, and that hand writing! MY GOD WHY DIDN’T I PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THOSE CURSIVE WRITING EXERCISES IN 1972.

I had thought of making use of forum anonymity to spread rumours that early reports suggested that the 05 Wendouree vintage was a little disappointing – but I suspect that the Wendouree gods, as well as having the power to dispense happiness or dismay at will, are all knowing.

Isn’t it lovely what a couple of glasses of wine will do to transform a cr@p day.

Even when that wine does not come out of bottles with beautiful cream labels with beautiful gold text.

forgot that i had ken bates as my avatar - what a lovely surprise

albus wrote:... would they recoil at the unsophistication of my blue biro on their lovely paper, and that hand writing! MY GOD WHY DIDN’T I PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THOSE CURSIVE WRITING EXERCISES IN 1972.

Strangely enough, the last time I visited Wendouree cellar door when it was actually open was sometime in the late 60's or early 70's, old Roly Birk himself served us and wrote out the docket in impeccable copperplate script. Unfortunately I was uncaring enough to throw it out some years later.

albus wrote:forgot that i had ken bates as my avatar - what a lovely surprise

A nicer surprise than Norman...

Hello - I'm new to the forum, but have been an ardent Birks fan since 1969, and had the pleasure of drinking wine with Roly. I have lived in UK the past 20 years, but am returning to Oz soon, and and have been on the mailing list 2 years now, so have a small stash waiting for me.... Only problem is, having read some reviews, it seems I will have to wait 18 years to drink it! Hope I'll still be alive to enjoy it! Meanwhile, what does everyone think of the Tim Adams Aberfeldy in comparison (since it comes from part of what was the Wendouree estate?)
Yours in red - Pamela

Hi Pamela, and welcome aboard and soon back to Australia.

You should have a quick read of the thread on the Aberfeldy 2001, if you haven't already. Some people obviously like it more than others, personally I think it's a consistently good wine that delivers value for the price without aiming for the stellar heights sometimes achieved by some of the wines selling for $100+.

As a long time buyer and drinker of both the Aberfeldy and the Wendouree Shiraz, to me the main difference is the more obvious oak treatment, more overt fruit and softer (yet abundant) tannins in the Aberfeldy. To me the Aberfeldy is mostly a 10-12 year cellaring problem, sometimes less, sometimes a little more. I notice Jeremy Oliver has since the 2001 vintage bumped his estimate of the drinking window up to 20 years where it was previously 10-12 years, I don't think I'll be leaving any of mine that long.

Thinking back I realised I've only really done a direct comparison of the same vintages of the two maybe 3 times, so I'm thinking of organising a dinner/tasting to compare 5-6 vintages of the two.

Pamela Dyson-Harvey wrote:Only problem is, having read some reviews, it seems I will have to wait 18 years to drink it!

** Depends on the wine. The 2004 Shiraz Malbec is ready to go any time you like.

Stuart

Red Bigot wrote:
Thinking back I realised I've only really done a direct comparison of the same vintages of the two maybe 3 times, so I'm thinking of organising a dinner/tasting to compare 5-6 vintages of the two.

Sounds like a great idea, I can contribute one vintage of Aberfeldy

Glen

GRB wrote:

Red Bigot wrote:
Thinking back I realised I've only really done a direct comparison of the same vintages of the two maybe 3 times, so I'm thinking of organising a dinner/tasting to compare 5-6 vintages of the two.

Sounds like a great idea, I can contribute one vintage of Aberfeldy

Glen

Which vintage?

It will probably be in Canberra, probably not until late September as Andrea and I am travelling O/S soon and I'm going to SA with Ric early in September. Maybe we could do Eschallot if we could get 10-12 people.

95 is the only one I have at the moment but there are a few Langton's Auctions before then . I am sure we could convince a couple more to join in by then.

GB

beef wrote:

Pamela Dyson-Harvey wrote:Only problem is, having read some reviews, it seems I will have to wait 18 years to drink it!

** Depends on the wine. The 2004 Shiraz Malbec is ready to go any time you like.

I agree completely. At a recent offline, we had the 2004 Wendouree Shiraz Mataro. It was amazingly approachable! Expressive wine – nose of blackberries and a touch of sweet milk powder. It was just so well balanced and seamless. Had we just tasted a new brand of Wendouree? 13%a/v.

firoz wrote:

beef wrote:

Pamela Dyson-Harvey wrote:Only problem is, having read some reviews, it seems I will have to wait 18 years to drink it!

** Depends on the wine. The 2004 Shiraz Malbec is ready to go any time you like.

I agree completely. At a recent offline, we had the 2004 Wendouree Shiraz Mataro. It was amazingly approachable! Expressive wine – nose of blackberries and a touch of sweet milk powder. It was just so well balanced and seamless. Had we just tasted a new brand of Wendouree? 13%a/v.

** The 2004 Shiraz Malbec is a much more approachable wine than the 2004 Shiraz Mataro. Not as good, however, IMO.

Stuart

Thankyou Brian and Stuart, and all others who commented - very helpful. I have now read the thread on the Aberfeldy, and can get some here in UK, although it will likely be too young to drink - so not much use.
Sounds a wonderful idea to have a dinner tasting the same vintages of Birks and Aberfeldy! I will put my order in to Mr & Mrs B for some of everything, and hopefully get a mixed dozen.....to put in the cellar and look longingly at for some years!
Yours in Red
Pamela

Can anyone cofirm with certainty what the red and blue lines mean. I got blue last year and not allocation but got red this year????

In the experience of any other readers, would receiving a larger allocation one year result in one's demotion on the mailing list ladder for the following vintage?

Was excited last year about finally getting a cellar of my dreams, and celebrated by acquiring a bit over 3 dozen bottles in total.

My order form for this year had the dreaded red mark.

AdamG wrote:In the experience of any other readers, would receiving a larger allocation one year result in one's demotion on the mailing list ladder for the following vintage?

Was excited last year about finally getting a cellar of my dreams, and celebrated by acquiring a bit over 3 dozen bottles in total.

My order form for this year had the dreaded red mark.

** I don't think the red mark should inspire much dread. What mark (if any) did your order form have last year?

I seriously doubt you would be demoted, simply for wanting to purchase a lot of their wine. The only time I've heard of someone being demoted is if they don't buy any wine at all. And that "demotion" involves being kicked off the list entirely.

Stuart

What mark (if any) did your order form have last year?

I have a some recollection of it being green (maybe blue?). I have not kept a note of the colour as I was not aware that these marks were actually used in the allocation process. I thought customer names themselves would have been kept in a ledger (maybe even a database?) in the winery and marks were used to ensure order forms were not photocopied... (I have not read auswine or other forums previously)

I do remember that the first order form I received (a few years ago) was marked red and no wine was allocated that year...

Okay, for the crayon marks.

Red means "ordered last year and received wine last year".

Green means "ordered last year and didn't receive wine last year"

Back to your normal message-boarding.

-- George Krashos

My credit card got "hit" yesterday which means the wine is just about on it's way. (I was charged for what I ordered.)

George Krashos wrote:Okay, for the crayon marks.

Red means "ordered last year and received wine last year".

Green means "ordered last year and didn't receive wine last year"

Back to your normal message-boarding.

-- George Krashos

sorry to stuff that theory up but I ordered last year but got zip. I have red on mine this year?