The Auswine Forum

Thanks Allen. Great notes on an emerging wine region. My limited exposure to GS wines has continued to impress. The cabs and blends show wines that are approachable in their youth with the ability to age nicely. Shiraz are good too. Don't know much about the rizza but worth a look soon. On a cool we...

Dowie Doole 2022 Cali Road McLaren Vale Shiraz (Cork). Intensely fruited. Fruit perfectly ripe. Plum, blackberry, lots of US oak. Powdery tannins and good acidity. Full bodied but balanced. 14% ABV pulls it back into line. Needs time but quite approachable in its youth.

6 x Brand & Son 2023 Yates Single Vineyard Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon.

Great to see that the judges got it right this year at the Limestone Coast Wine Show. Majella 2022 wine of show and its a cracker. Along with Parker small batch 2024 Cabernet Franc, 2022 Wynns Childs, 2021 Yalumba Menzies and a bit of love for the 2022 Lindies trio...all excellent wines. Cheers Cra...

Thanks for the great notes again Craig. Your passion for Coonawarra shows and the great run of excellent recent vintages 21, 22, 24, 25 is a plus for the area. Will keep a lookout.

2 x Yalumba Galway Pipe Tawny Port. From auction. Made before label was sold by Yalumba to a big name winery (Wolf Blass I think) that trashed it using name for cheap crap ports. These old Yalumba bottles are a bit hit and miss but well worth the misses. Good bottles can be great. Still have one wit...

Interesting articles and announcements yesterday that the shine on Treasury Wine Estates (Penfolds, Wynns etc) is no longer bright in China. Government crack down on excesses of business entertainment and younger drinkers moving to beer and spirits. Share price at 10 year low. Hopefully there will b...

Another 6-pack of Wynns 2021 Black Label Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wynns 2021 Black Label Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon (13.4%). First of a 6-pack and the first BL bought since the 2012 vintage. Thought it would be way too young to open but was interested in what could be done from a great vintage. Let breath in decanter for 2 hours. Fruit was perfectly ripe, not ...

Wynns 2021 Black Label Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon (13.4%). First of a 6-pack and the first BL bought since the 2012 vintage. Thought it would be way too young to open but was interested in what could be done from a great vintage. Let breath in decanter for 2 hours. Fruit was perfectly ripe, not a...

Great notes again Allan. Frankland River continue to impress with Malbec. Whilst I have not had many 100% malbec wines from there it has been great as a blender with cabernet which also grows well there. The Houghton CW Ferguson Cabernet Malbec is a stunning wine across many vintages. It adds a fles...

Agree Allan. Black Label Cabernet ageing is glacial. A recently opened 2012 model showed little development. Primary fruit flavours dominate. A tough gig. Even a 2008 bottle seemed just a pup. I am questioning my recent purchase of the 2021 vintage given my less that perfect cellaring conditions. Go...

I'm finding 22 Barossa Shiraz quite good. Only a smidgeon below 21 but that was a once in a decade (or more) vintage IMO. Can't fault the fruit ripeness and quality. Agree 23 not as good.

Great notes Allan. Way above my pay grade. I checked out Lulu and it looks great for a meal and BYO is a bonus. I'm getting tired of paying exorbitant prices for average wines with no age. Paying 3 to 4 times bottle shop prices is wrong. Much prefer to dine in these days although there are a few res...

Byron & Harold 2017 Gravity Margaret River Cabernet. JH site says it has 15% Great Southern fruit. Last bottle recently was decanted for a few hours and it was thin and insipid. Bottle last night was popped and poured and it was a completely different wine. Lots of black current that is a hallma...

Thanks for your great notes. Always look forward to then.

6 x Wynns 2021 Black Label Coonawarra Cabernet.

Corryton Burge 2018 The Brigadier Cabernet Sauvignon. This is run by Grant Burge's son Trent after Grant sold his wine business. Under Grant Burge Wines the Corryton Park Cabernet was a staple in our household with the grapes coming from Eden Valley where the Corryton Park homestead is situated. No...

Corryton Burge 2018 The Brigadier Cabernet Sauvignon. This is run by Grant Burge's son Trent after Grant sold his wine business. Under Grant Burge Wines the Corryton Park Cabernet was a staple in our household with the grapes coming from Eden Valley where the Corryton Park homestead is situated. Not...

Another 6 x Arila Gardens 2022 Gardens of Moppa Barossa Shiraz. Very nice drop that has potential to age over the medium term. Nice tannin profile

Lindeman's 2012 St George Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. 2nd last of a 6-pack bought when the conglomerate owner was considering the future of the Lindeman's trio. Each time I'm hoping for more however it seems to be flatlining with nice enough fruit from a good vintage and some good oak but it see...

Hi Craig The '86 Bin 389 was an epiphany wine for me back when we moved to Adelaide in 1990. Wow, fruit, power. I think it cost $8.99. Went back for another 6-pack and was convinced the '87 was as good as. Tried one and returned to store (old Bailey and Bailey on Goodwood road; you might remember t...

Had a look at a couple of Pennies releases today 2023 Bin 51 EV Riesling... texture is like water, as is the flavour...where is the acidity...yeah nah 2023 Bin 28, ok, nice mouthfeel good depth, will cellar well 2023 Bin 389 can't see the value here at $100+ remember paying $10-12. A fraction green...

Lindeman's 2012 St George Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon. 2nd last of a 6-pack bought when the conglomerate owner was considering the future of the Lindeman's trio. Each time I'm hoping for more however it seems to be flatlining with nice enough fruit from a good vintage and some good oak but it seem...

Yes never been a fan of the Bombers, so good to get one over them. Preparing for 2026 with no TDK, Curnow and maybe a couple of others. Adelaide will throw the kitchen sink against Sturt tomorrow. Expecting 5-6000 at the game. Cheers Craig Do miss watching Sturt play at Unley Oval. Should be a crac...

Chuck, am interested if you open a Grounded Cru...thinking of getting some myself. Off the old Ingoldby vineyard that Jim started in MV in the 1970s Cheers Craighave been extr Hi Craig. They have been put to bed for a few years despite being keen to try them now. But only a few years. Current home ...

6 x Grounded Cru Inc 2022 McLaren Vale Shiraz

Enjoyed a bottle of the 45 Grandfather with my uncle to celebrate his 70th birthday in 2015. Great stuff. A great moment. Just returned from a tour of the Kimberley region with all booze free with meals. Tried a current release which was quite ordinary. Maybe open too long. Heat affected? Moved to t...

12 x Mike Press 2021 Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon

6 x Schild Estate 2021 Three Springs Barossa Shiraz

Chuck, Which batch of the Glengoyne Cask Strength was it?. I have bought two of them, a Batch 8 and a Batch 10, though I have yet to try one. My collection of cask strength whiskies continues to grow, and it includes, believe it or not, thee different Indian whiskies! Apologies for not responding e...