The Auswine Forum

On the same date last year I posted much the same thread and thought I'd repeat the 'fun' this year too. And, yeah, I know the year isn't over yet, but you don't have to post immediately, and you can always edit.

Who gets the gong for you in the following categories?

# Best red
# Best white
# Best value wine
# Honourable mention
# Biggest disappointment
# Worst wine without a technical fault
# Most memorable thread

I'll kick things off with my gongs for 2008:

Best Red: Rockford Basket Press 02
Best White: Felton Road Riesling 07
Best value: Saltram Mamre Brook Shiraz 05
Honourable mentions: Carrick Pinot Noir 05, Charbonniere CdP 04
Biggest disappointments: Discovering my cellered Awatea 00 was corked
Worst wine without a technical fault: Kumeu River Village Pinot Noir 07
Most memorable thread "What's the point" - Lordson

How about you?

Best Red: Chateau Tanunada Terriors of the barossa Greenock shiraz 05
Best White: Stonelieigh Rapura series sav blanc 06
Best value: Cimicky Trumps shiraz 06
Honourable mentions: Tahbilk shiraz 90
Biggest disappointments: Tahbilk Cabernet 83
Worst wine without a technical fault: Many
Most memorable thread "What's the point" - Lordson

Best Red: Henschke Cyril Henschke 2001 (I think)
Best White: William Fevre Bougerots Grand Cru Chablis 2005 (I think)
Best value: Williams Crossing Pinot Noir 2006 / Hoddles Creek Chard 07
Honourable mentions: Penfolds Magill Estate Shiraz 1991
Biggest disappointments: anything corked
Worst wine without a technical fault: precious few thankfully
Most memorable thread: anything by Lordson or with Lordson's name in it somewhere / Craig and RB's ongoing dialogue

Wayno wrote:Most memorable thread: anything by Lordson or with Lordson's name in it somewhere

Bless him! where's he gone?

Best Red: 2004 Cullen Di Madeline/ 2004 Henschke Hill of Grace
Best White: 2001 Pierro chard, 2007? Te Mata savblanc
Best value: 1996 Clairault Reserve cab sav (from auction $21)
Honourable mentions: 2005 Wynns John Riddoch, 2004 389, 1996 Petaluma cabmerlt, Houghton Jack Mann 2002, Mosswood 2005 cab
Biggest disappointments: 1996 389. Second try and second dud bottle. Will keep trying.
Worst wine without a technical fault:
Most memorable thread


Will edit and add later.

Best Red: Henschke Cyril Henschke 2001 (I think)
Best White: William Fevre Bougerots Grand Cru Chablis 2005 (I think)

Yes, I find the best wines are often when I can't quite remember afterwards

Best Red: Yalumba 1994 Signature
Best White: Yarraburn 2006 Viognier
Best value: Saltram Mamre Brook Cab. Sav. 2002
Honourable mentions: Cuttaway Hills Pinot 2006, Westend 3 Bridges duriff 2005
Biggest disappointments: Knappstein Enterprise Cab. Sav. 2000
Worst wine without a technical fault: same as above
Most memorable thread "What's the point" - Lordson

Best Red: Penfolds Bin 28 90- may not be the absolute best but it exceeded my expectations the most.
Best White: Penfolds Yattarna 2000
Best Value: I was impressed with both Bick's and S_F's suggestions, but bought more of the Mamre Brook Shiraz 05, so that gets the vote.
Honourable mentions: LEAS Chardonnay 05
Biggest Disappointment: Penfolds Bin 28 86- corked!
Worst wine without a technical fault: De Bortoli Windy Peak Pinot Noir 2008
Most memorable thread: Anything with lordson

Best Red: 2006 Trinity Hill Homage Syrah
Best White: 2007 Le Fou Riesling by Gibbston Valley
Best Value: 2005 Church Rd Reserve Cabernet Merlot
Honourable mentions: 2007 Neudorf Moutere Chardonnay
Biggest Disappointment: 1994 Jim Barry Amargh - perhaps as i realise I am so over that style of wine not that it is was bad per se, and that I have too many more in the cellar to endure. Also the continual need for Pinot Noir producers to produce a $100 super bottle. Also 2008 Sauvignon Blancs
Worst wine without a technical fault: Lindaeur Cuvee Riche. Does anyone apart from teenie bopper girls think this is right? Any number of 2008 Sauvignon Blancs. Most Pinot Gris.
Most memorable thread: 2008 Kiwi Wine Fan Club Wines of the Year. What wisdom, what genius. (Who is Lordson anyway? Another flash in the pan two minute wonder like Serge)
Most Boring Thread: Anything to do with Corks or "Critic x gave it 98 when critic Y only gave it 88 so im not sure whether I should like it or not (or whether I have any self worth by owning it)"

PS. Bring Back Serge

deleted

Best red -
Penfolds Special Bin 7 Cabernet Shiraz Coonawarra/Kalimna 1967
This was stupendous from the wonderfully vibrant and still youthful deep blood red colour with considerable bricking apparent in the edges, to a monumental bouquet and palate brimming with the most beautiful array of pristine small berried fruits, surrounded with a melange of other complex smells and flavours such as sweaty road tar, mocha, cedar, well-hung meat and polished leather. An amazingly well-structured wine bursting with vivaciousness and, most-probably, continued extended longevity. Profoundly good fine-grained tannins perfectly aligned to the wealth of fruit linger on a firm and powerful finale. This bottle rates as one of the finest Australian reds I’ve ever had the pleasure of trying. 97 points.

Best white -
Fritz Haag 1983 Juffer-Sonnenuhr Auslese Riesling Gold Capsule displaying a most incredibly youthful bright lemon-tinged yellow colour, this wine leaped from the glass with beautifully-honed aromas of freshly-squeezed limes, perfectly-ripened nectarines, redcurrants and a beguiling minerality as a top note. A most hauntingly fresh, complete and polished performance. The palate sings on a similarly impressive level - precise, vivacious, wondrous, complete and impeccable are all descriptors that came to mind as this nectar glided down the throat. Revealing an incredible array of penetrating flavours aka the nose but with added contributions from ripe green pears, crisp apples and lemon curd which culminated in an extravagant array of crisp punchy mineral acidity awash with the gorgeous cornucopia of fruit and a terrifically long, mouth-watering finish. This wine had it all, including the ability to continue for many years, even decades down the track. Superb, sublime, a most memorable beginning to the evening! 96 points.

Best value wine - Seppelt Show Reserve Rutherglan Muscat DP57 - $15 delivered to my door

Honourable mention - Penfolds Grange Hermitage 1962
- like the Bin 7 above, opened with a perplexing deep colour for its age, albeit, somewhat more brick red. The bouquet opened with a worrying degree of volatile acidity, a trait all to common to Penfolds red wines but this dissipated somewhat over time to reveal a wondrous old grand dame clothed in her best regalia. Without trying to unravel this wine’s dna with a plethora of descriptor and hyperbole, this was one of the most beautiful and moving moments in my life, especially with Tom’s daughters in attendance, capping a magnificent flight of classic Australian red wine. One could be forgiven that this forty-six-year old bottle was marginally past its very best, but, amazingly held such remarkable composure and delivered a marvellous, complete and, dare might I say it, on such an occasion, even thrilling drinking experience. One of Tom’s oldest wine’s dug out his under house cellar and, without a doubt, one of his best. Bravo! 95 points.

Biggest disappointment - Thoroughly corked bottle of 1982 Chateau La Conseillante

Worst wine without a technical fault - FWIW - 1991 Wynns John Riddoch - Mature hue. Planky, volatile nose with a distinct “aged” green bean character over weak greenish fruit. Big, lumpy, varnishy oak-dominant palate over tired, fading green herbaceous fruit followed by a rather rough, soulless, hard tannic finish. Barely drinkable! 70 points.

Most memorable thread - Would just like to thank Ian (n4sir) on the wealth of well-written and informative tasting notes throughout the year.

Bick wrote:

Wayno wrote:Most memorable thread: anything by Lordson or with Lordson's name in it somewhere

Bless him! where's he gone?

I don't know and don't care.

Best Red: Thomas 'Kiss' Shiraz 06
Best White: Meerea Park 'Terracotta' Semillon 99
Best value: Chateau Francois Shiraz 99
Honourable mentions: Meerea Park 'Alexander Munro' Shiraz 05, Keith Tulloch 'Kester' Shiraz 04/05, Mount Pleasant OP&OH Shiraz 03
Biggest disappointments: Mount Pleasant Rosehill Shiraz 03 - rather overripe
Worst wine without a technical fault: A forgettable sauv blanc

Can you tell a had a very hunter year?

# Best red - 2005 Longhop Old Vine Reserve Cab Sav/Shiraz
# Best white - 2007 Shaw and Smith M3 Chardonnay and several New Zealand Pinot Gris’s (eg: Isabel)
# Best value wine - 2003 Saltram Mamre Brook Cab Sav
# Honourable mention - 2005 Chapel Hill Shiraz and Cab Sav.
# Biggest disappointment - 2006 Hewitson Mad Hatter Shiraz
# Worst wine without a technical fault - Several Pinot Gris’s I tasted during 2008. Very ordinary!.
# Most memorable thread- Everyone seems to mention “Lordsen”. I believe he was some fictious character who has now moved on to annoying some other forum. I don't even think he drinks wine. Just drugs!

To all the Auswine forum members including Gav and Brian (Red Bigot) may I take this opportunity to wish you and your family a safe and wonderful Christmas and a positive start to 2009.

Cheers
Leigh

Shit, this is really difficult. I've had some bloody good wines this year, just about all of those bloody good value. Anyway, here goes:

Best Red: Tahbilk Shiraz 1986
Best White: Forest Hill Vineyard Block 8 Chardonnay 2005
Best value/s: Mike Press Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, 2007 and Charles Sturt University Chardonnay 2007
Honourable mentions: The Story Westgate Vineyard Grampians Shiraz 2006, Paxton AAA Shiraz Grenache 2006, Howard Park Riesling 2005, Tahbilk Roussanne 2008, Polleters Pyrenees Cabernet Sauvignon 2005, Forest Hill Vineyard Block 1 Riesling 2007, Tin Shed The Melting Pot Shiraz 2006, Kilikanoon The Oracle Shiraz 2002, Blue Poles Hopping Stone Tempranillo 2007
Biggest disappointments: Cullen Diana Madeline Cabernet Merlot 2001 and Jeanneret Denis Reserve Shiraz 2002 both corked - these are high-end wines for me so were particularly, extremely disappointing
Worst wine without a technical fault: 9th Island Pinot Noir (forget the vintage - it was just a glass at a restaurant)
Most memorable thread/s: The forgettable ones

Cheers

daz

P.S. Sorry about so many honourable mentions but I did say it was difficult to choose - all of these wines impressed me for their quality firstly and in a number of cases, their value

Best Red: Tim Adams Aberfeldy Shiraz 02 or Rockford Basket Press 98
Best White: Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 07
Best value: El Coto Crianza 04
Honourable mentions: Henschke Tappa Pass Shiraz 03, John Riddoch 99
Biggest disappointments: Penfolds St Henri 01
Worst wine without a technical fault: Cape Jaffa Shiraz
Most memorable thread

Best Red: Houghton Jack Mann 2002
Best White: Cullen Vineyard SBS 2007
Best value: Chateau Francois Semillon 2001 (I think)
Honourable mentions: Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier 2006, Penfolds Bin 389 2005, Sandalford Reserve Shiraz 2005
Biggest disappointments: Tatler Over The Ditch SSB 2007
Worst wine without a technical fault: Chard Farm Finla Mor Pinot Noir 2006 (I think)

Daryl Douglas wrote:[Biggest disappointments: Cullen Diana Madeline Cabernet Merlot 2004 and Jeanneret Denis Reserve Shiraz 2002 both corked - these are high-end wines for me so were particularly, extremely disappointing
[Cheers

daz

I do feel for you with the Cullen because it is great. Didnt notice any 2004 vintage under cork though (Guess they must of). Hope you do have another crack at it down the track.

Sam

# Best red -

# Best white- white Burgundy is Queen. Many good bottles.

# Best value wine - Ch Musar 2000 @ $20AUD

# Honourable mention - Anything Australian with the low currency.

# Biggest disappointment- Many red Burgundies

# Worst wine without a technical fault- Oyster BAy sav blanc.

# Most memorable thread- Mahmoud the bank robber

# Best red - 2000 Wendouree Shiraz
# Best white - 2002 Giaconda Chardonnay
# Best value wine - 2005 Bests GW Bin 1 Shiraz
# Honourable mention - 2006 Clonakilla Syrah
# Biggest disappointment - 1994 Grange
# Worst wine without a technical fault - Ribbet Red
# Most memorable thread - not sure.

BEST RED..HENSCHKE HOG 2002, When this hits its peak: To say its a world class Shiraz, maybe doing it injustice as its a world class wine.

BEST WHITE..GIACONDA CHARD 2005, LEUWIN ART CHARD 2005, Majic cannot wait to see the hyped 06.. TE MATA CAPE CREST SAUV BLANC/GRIS 2005 , So much Balance/structure for a Sauv Blanc...Lovely now

BEST VALUE WINE...VIETTI MOSCATO DI ASTI, Such great value because (MAYBE?) alot of peoples palates have been poisened by very poor sweet style wines from across the world, (infact a very good article on the topic in the new Gormet Traveller Wine Dec/Jan By Jancis Robinson)...Great Summer stuff

HONOURABLE MENTION... Gaja Sperss Barolo 2000, Majella Cab 2004, Balnaves The Tally 2004 (this one sure to fill the best Red catergory plenty of times in the future)

Best Red: Rudsden Black guts Shiraz 2002
Best White:Petuluma Tiers Chardonnay 1998
Best Value: Seven Hills Inigo Shiraz 2005
Honorable Mention: Greenock Barossa Valley shz 2006
Biggest Disspointment: E&E balck Pepper shiraz 1998
Worst wine without techanical fault: Torbreck Steading 2006
Most memorable thread: 2004 Langmeil Freedom Shiraz
Cheers
Boyeah

Daryl Douglas wrote:
Worst wine without a technical fault: 9th Island Pinot Noir (forget the vintage - it was just a glass at a restaurant)

Last time I had this it evoked bilgeyness. Muddy and unimpressive compared to it's pricepoint peers.

Wow, tough ask, but here goes-

Best Red: La Mission Haut Brion 2004
Best White: Shaw & smith M3 2007/ Leeuwin Art Chard 2003
Best Sparkling: Bollinger RD 1995
Best Value: Red- Bleasdale Malbec White - Over the shoulder Chard 2007
Honorable Mention: Hardys Blewitt Springs 2004/ Marc Bredif Vouvray 1986
Biggest Disspointment: My visit to Moet in Epernay (boring)
Worst wine without techanical fault: a little Italian number i bought in Tuscany, scary, used it the next day in pasta.
Most memorable thread: none yet, but certainly going to look
up this Lordsen character..

Merry Christmas to all!!!

Partagas wrote:

Daryl Douglas wrote:[Biggest disappointments: Cullen Diana Madeline Cabernet Merlot 2004 and Jeanneret Denis Reserve Shiraz 2002 both corked - these are high-end wines for me so were particularly, extremely disappointing
[Cheers

daz

I do feel for you with the Cullen because it is great. Didnt notice any 2004 vintage under cork though (Guess they must of). Hope you do have another crack at it down the track.

Sam

My mistake Sam - it was the 2nd last of my DM 01 - post edited. I thought I'd try it because there were lots of negative comments about it around at one stage. Hopefully, the last bottle will be OK. I stopped buying Cullen partly because of the issues associated with the cork seals that were being used and partly because it's vfm factor was decreasing as the price increased. I did get a couple of the 04 and they're sealed with scewcaps, as you mentioned.

Thanks for illuminating my error.

Cheers

daz

dlo wrote:

Bick wrote:

Wayno wrote:Most memorable thread: anything by Lordson or with Lordson's name in it somewhere

Bless him! where's he gone?

I don't know and don't care.

I suspect he's got bored, picked up his bucket and spade, and moved to a different sandpit.

Best Red and best wine: 74 Yalumba Christobel’s Blend, Signature Series ‘Claret’
Best White: 96 Raveneau Chablis Blanchots
Honourable mentions: 04 St Henri, 87 Quinta Do Noval Nacional, 00 Gaja Darmajo Langhe, 99 Ch Margaux, 02 La Conseillante, 96 Remoissenet Chambertin-Clos de Bèze, 00 Produttori del Barbaresco Moccagatta, 88 John Riddoch, 65 Wynns Cabernet (magnum), 96 Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Elizabeth Salmon, NV Krug, 02 Grosset Polish Hill Riesling
Best value: 07 Mike Press Wines Cabernet Sauvignon
Biggest disappointment: Clare Valley trip.
Worst wine without a technical fault: 2001 Penfolds RWT (cloves anyone?)
Most memorable thread I really liked ACG's post recently about the Tets dinner. RB's "is a warm finish a bad thing" & the Winespectator restaurant awards farce would be the other most memorable posts (and I have to add there were a few rippers at the other place too).

Cheers,
Ian

Best Red: 04 Bouchard Baby Jesus
Best White: 1997 JJ Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Spatlese
Best value: 2006 Hoddles Creek Pinot
Honourable mentions: 2004 DRC Echezeaux
Biggest disappointments: 02 Shaw and Smith Shiraz, the most brett infested wine I have ever tasted.
Worst wine without a technical fault: 08 Brown Brothers Moscato.
Most memorable thread Craig vs Brian is always entertaining.

Best Red: 2002 St. Henri
Best White: 2008 St Clair Awatere Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
Best value: 2002 Seppelt Chalambar
Honourable mentions: 2005 Ata Rangi, 2006 Teusner Moppa Grenache
Biggest disappointments: 2006 S C Pannell Grenache
Worst wine without a technical fault: 2006 Holyman Pinot Noir

Tristram Shandy

Best Red: 1971 Bin 389
Best White: 1976 Dom Perignon, 1996 Salon
Best value: 2004 Penfolds Bin 28 ($8pb), 98 Jacaranda Ridge ($20pb)
Honourable mentions: 86 Penfolds Bin 389; 82, 85, 96 Dom Perignon; 90 Krug; 82, 86 Mt Edelstone; 82 Grange; 05 Penfolds Cellar Reserve Cabernet Shiraz; 90 Pichon Baron; 04 Ornellaia; 96, 98 Rockford Basket Press, 90 Penfolds Bin 90a
Biggest disappointments: A couple of bottles of 97 Tignanello. Just weren't what they should be. Corked 89 Pichon Lalande and Penfolds Bin 90a.
Worst wine without a technical fault: Anything from Burgundy.