The Auswine Forum

I attended the Clare Valley Wine show presentation lunch recently. Always a great regional event and chance to try a wide spectrum of Wines. Highlights for me were: 2026 Pikes Traditional Riesling 2026 Barry's Florita Riesling 2026 Hill River Sangiovese Rose (a cracking wine) 2021 Pikes Merle Riesl...

Dr Lindemans used to make us smile. Sadly no longer.

And for those interested, the ads are on YouTube for a trip down memory lane, as is the one with LRB (who was enormously popular globally at the time). Kinda sad…..

It’s fairly easy to see how this will be turned around. Keep flogging labels and wineries, retain the decent vineyards, and reallocate those grapes to Penfolds given the decent margins. I can see a time where Penfolds volumes will double or triple, particularly at the lower ‘bin’ levels. It will be ...

Hi, how does this differ to winesearcher? Cheers Hi Mike, Fair question. There’s overlap today. Both help you find a wine and see who’s selling it. Wine-Searcher Pro (free tier isn’t really comparable) has to serve everyone, everywhere. That means a huge messy catalogue, sponsored results, and over...

Hi, how does this differ to winesearcher? Cheers

This is a winery that perplexes me at times. Some of their wines are stupendous. But I recently had two bottles from the same six pack of the 2010 Johann George. One was awesome… balanced and linear, whereas the other was super ripe with a bit of alcohol burn on the finish. Both bottles were consume...

I only had this once and recall saying unbalanced fruit bomb. Glad your bottle was better than mine…

Thanks for a great read. Some of my multi year observations…. 71,76, 86 my favourite black labels, particularly the 76. Still in a superb spot. A great wine for those observing their half ton this year. 96 both black and JR are duds given vintage conditions 91 black is better than JR 86 JR is bette...

Thanks for a great read. Some of my multi year observations…. 71,76, 86 my favourite black labels, particularly the 76. Still in a superb spot. A great wine for those observing their half ton this year. 96 both black and JR are duds given vintage conditions 91 black is better than JR 86 JR is better...

1995 Taittinger Comtes BdB…. Figured it was appropriate to consume something good following decades of ineptitude and pain…. But the NY Knicks finally won the NBA. To repeat, they actually won. I genuinely thought I’d never see this in my lifetime. The Comtes was as good as the Knicks. A little more...

Cape Mentelle …. cheap wine with a ridiculous price tag

I agree Felix. I’ve been saying for the past five years this has the potential to be the best wine in Oz. As long as they resist the urge to overproduce …..

2008 Taittinger Comtes BDB. I’ve always maintained the 76 and 96 are the two greatest releases of this particular champagne, but having had the 08 a number of times, I’ll expand the GOAT status to a vinous triumvirate. The nose flows through a full array of citrus fruits, with a touch of floral note...

Add Seaview, Jamiesons Run and Lindemans to the list. Plus Mildara is another on death row...the sub $10 garbage masquerading as SE Australia is a joke. 1980s TR222, TR16, Rouge Homme Cabernet and Claret, plus KS Red Ribbon Shiraz and Green Ribbon EV Riesling were our staples. Yes 1994 Rouge Homme ...

I couldn’t get in…. Never mind, will buy LEAS instead

In retrospect, I think 1990 was the pick of the nineties vintages for SA, and particularly the Barossa. Probably narrowly in front of 91. The better wines from both vintages are still drinking superbly and have plenty of life left.

JamieAdelaide wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2026 12:50 pm WET and GST will remain so I doubt wine prices would change at all?

Probably only the 5% (circa) import duty. WET is the killer

The new Turnberry is absolutely stupendous, and my mates keep raving about the new NSW

those three? genuinely: RM Composite (best course in the world) RM West New South Wales Kingston Heap Wickham Victoria PK North Royal Adelaide ..... all better than them, I haven't played seven mile beach yet, but I'm told that also is amazing. I have a soft spot for Merion, plenty of members where...

Tough crowd, Felix! Even the old courses? Oakmont, Baltusrol, Merion? I can accept the verdict on Augusta - it was never really meant to be a "championship course", though, was it? Bob Jones' private club was the idea. It's probably thirty years since I played a handful of the top Melbour...

I heard the player pays for the food and the wine if it isnt in their cellar

No Mike, the wines are not from the Augusta cellar, they come from the reigning Masters champion. As I understand it, the champ chooses, and the Clun organises. Augusta has an incredible cellar, and the wines are ridiculously cheap if you look carefully at the list... the Cali cabs are prevelant, b...

2012 Seppelts Show Sparkling Shiraz. Third bottle so far and all have been duds. Not hard to see why it has been heavily discounted. Massive mid palate hole with an underlying bitterness masked by the dosage. This is a label I’ve enjoyed many, many times in decades gone by, but they really whiffed o...

I believe Augusta has a very good cellar. Others have told me so. I'm guessing these wines will come from it? Mike, all the reason to hone your golfing skills! I'm sure Mr. Tickle may be closer to it than you or I. I'm no way near it! Rockford Golf Days don't count :mrgreen: . Although I would love...

1990 Lafite (though I think it was the weakest of the firsts that year) I guess it’s why I miss the HKG wines scene so much, as I tried the 1990’s Firsts a few times in horizontals. I was a mad man for top Barolo at the so my opinion may lack refinement. I found Mouton poked out a bit in clumsy fas...

Hacker wrote: ↑Thu Mar 19, 2026 4:21 pm I believe Augusta has a very good cellar. Others have told me so. I'm guessing these wines will come from it? Mike, all the reason to hone your golfing skills! I'm sure Mr. Tickle may be closer to it than you or I.

Adam Scott had them source 05 Grange and 09 Yattarna from memory

I believe Augusta has a very good cellar. Others have told me so. I'm guessing these wines will come from it? Mike, all the reason to hone your golfing skills! I'm sure Mr. Tickle may be closer to it than you or I. I’ve blown out to 9 and in my late 50s, so my golf is only going to go one way sadly...

Some years the wine choices at the Champion’s Dinner are a bit puzzling, especially with some of the Cali fruit bombs. While I’m not a fan of Rory per se, it’s a nice line up this year. 2015 Salon 1989 d’Yquem 1990 Lafite (though I think it was the weakest of the firsts that year) 2022 Leflaive Bata...

6x 21 Nelder road Shiraz And two at auction 1x 2004 Greenock Creek Vineyard & Cellars Cabernet Sauvignion 1x 1990 Parker Coonawarra Estate Terra Rossa First Growth Cabernet Sauvignon About 60pb each :D I really like the 21 Neldner (Neldner) and bought 24. Very approachable now, lovely silky tan...

Thanks Rossco.

I buy Fleur de Passion in the good vintages, but missed out on the 08 as it sold out quickly. After reading your note i don't feel so bad now.