The Auswine Forum

3 x 2024 Tolpuddle Chardonnay. Missed out on Giaconda this year, but between this, the Savaterre and Sorrenberg, I’m still very happy with my high end Chardonnay purchases. Don't overlook Penfolds Bin A Chardonnay - it's my Giaconda replacement. Even their Bin 311 with a few years bottle-age are pr...

I agree with Mike Felix and Ian. I find the DM very over rated. But as has been said, a lot of wine critics rave about it. I’ve just never got it at all.

Each to their own I guess….

3 x 2024 Tolpuddle Chardonnay.

Missed out on Giaconda this year, but between this, the Savaterre and Sorrenberg, I’m still very happy with my high end Chardonnay purchases.

How is the 4 and 8 acre Shiraz from Tyrrell’s? Have had my eye on it Also for better or worse convinced the wife to let me get the 10x 24 grosset polish hill Rieslings. Understand it may not be the best use of points, but I get them free through credit card bonuses and don’t have any flights to upg...

3 x 2024 Vinya Vella Old Bush Vine Grenache 3 x 2022 Giant Steps Tarraford Vineyard Chardonnay Wendouree order, 3 of all the reds and 6 Cab Malbecs. But we ended up with no Malbec and 9 Cab Malbec. Not worried as Cab Malbec our favourite. 3 x 2024 Tyrrell’s 4 Acre Shiraz 3 x 2024 Tyrrell’s 8 Acre Sh...

Credit Card hit yesterday for what looks like the full amount.
3 of everything and 6 Cab Malbec.
Red Crayon NSW
Missed out on 24b last year.

'98 is still the best BP I've had. Only been luck enough to have it 4 or 5 times, but every time it impresses me greatly.

I tried this release from tank just before bottling. The Flaxman, K Sands and Ebenezer are excellent. Didn’t try the Helen. Like others, I like to support the smaller wineries as well. Plus Callum is a really nice young fella who deserves every success. 3 of each for me.

Cheers
Ian

2009 Greenock Creek Wines Apricot Block Shiraz Barossa Valley. I have had quite a few of the Apricot Blocks over the years and when Greenock Creek get it right, they are quite good. Sadly this vintage doesn’t appeal to me. At 14% I had high hopes for this, as it’s at the lower end of the alc% for G...

JamieAdelaide wrote: ↑Fri Jun 27, 2025 9:43 am I’ve grabbed a 02 Basket Press to try in the next few days to hopefully get a better experience . Found a magnum of the 02 Basket Press I didn’t know I had and then knocked over and smashed a rare Italian magnum in the process.

Ouch. Hope the BP delivers….

Thanks Ian, As someone who has hosted number BP verticals over the years, its nice to read about other experiences. Of the ones you listed, I’ve always liked the 10, 12 and 04 releases, and like you, found the 08 (and 01) to have a fair amount of heat. Thanks for the write up and the excellent phot...

tempImageEokLyz.gif Recently I hosted the Brisbane offline crew at my place for a Rockford night. I raided the cellar and put on 10 vintages of Basket Press and 6 vintages of Moppa Springs plus a few other Rockford wines. The Basket Press vintages were '02, '04, '05, '06, '07, '08, '09, '10, '11, '...

The front label says, like raised braille, “We adore you baby Tui and thank you for entering our lives in 2012. This is for you, your mum, your nana and your great nana moten (I can’t quite decipher that word, sorry Fraser) four amazing women. xxxx”. I have opened a bottle and it has been sitting i...

Shows the quality of the 2022 vintage in Barossa/Eden Valley. Some amazing wines made.

Cheers
Ian

Trip to the Barossa yielded these: 2 x 2019 Rockford Dry Country Grenache 2 x 2021 Rockford Rod and Spur 2 x Rockford Black Shiraz 3 x 2023 Eperosa 1903 Krondorf Grenache 3 x 2022 Eperosa Magnolia 1950 Grenache 4 x 2021 Sons of Eden Romulus Shiraz 4 x 2021 Sons of Eden Remus Shiraz 4 x 2022 Sons of ...

I tried the ‘24’s from tank recently and they were excellent. Lovely fragrant nose and excellent tannin. Nice bright colour and I would expect them to be even better once bottled. I haven’t tried any of the ‘23’s yet but as Mike said, after ‘21 & ‘22, ‘23 is not quite as good a vintage. A lot co...

Having a red to celebrate the reds win over Tottenham to secure the premier league.Takes us to 20 wins equal with Man united. A great day. I had a 2021 Claymore YNWA Boot Room Shiraz to celebrate. YNWA and up the mighty Reds!! Cheers Ian I’m kicking myself…. Had a choice between going to the Arsena...

hmmm, was 2020 really a "disastrous" vintage in the Barossa?. I thought yields were low, but quality ok. I'm genuinely asking, not that I have tried any 2020 Barossa wines. I’m no winemaker and very far from an expert, but like any vintage in any region, there were some great wines made a...

saturn5519 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 28, 2025 4:02 pm Having a red to celebrate the reds win over Tottenham to secure the premier league.Takes us to 20 wins equal with Man united.

A great day. I had a 2021 Claymore YNWA Boot Room Shiraz to celebrate. YNWA and up the mighty Reds!!

Cheers
Ian

Like a couple above have said, I bought more than normal of the ‘21 & ‘22. I ordered my usual mixed 6 pack of Lamella and Schubert of the ‘23’s. We are tasting at the winery next week and if anything blows our socks off, I’ll get a few more. Love Dan’s wines and one of the few Barossa Shiraz I r...

I console myself missing out on Giaconda 3 years in a row by buying Savaterre and Sorrenberg. Amazing Chardonnay’s from Beechworth. But I’m finding I’m going more towards Yarra Valley Chardonnay these days. Mount Mary, Giant Steps and Oakridge make great wines but Hoddles Creek is my go to now. The ...

Felix I’ve been politely hounded on wine social media sites that Rick is one of the good guys. Keeps pricing fair so his loyal list still has access. If you can pay a $1000 for a six pack of Chardonnay, I reckon you can pay $500 a bottle too, in a few vintages when this is what the wine will be! Ye...

3 x 2022 Eisenstone Hoffmann X11 Shiraz 2 x 2022 Eisenstone d’or X10 Shiraz 1 x 2022 Eisenstone Richardson X12 Shiraz 2 x 2022 Yarra Yering Dry Red #2 3 x 2023 Aphelion Wait Vineyard Grenache 2 x 2022 MMAD Grenache (topping up, stunning wine) 1 x 2022 Comando G Navatalgordo Garnacha 1 x 2022 Comando...

Bytown Rick wrote: ↑Fri Mar 14, 2025 11:34 am 1998 Rockford Cabernet Sauvignon. Absolutely wonderful wine. Only bottle. Drinking well now or hold.

One of my top 10 wines of all time.

Kennards West End is upstairs on the second level so I’m assuming it will be fine.

If my personal cellar at home floods, the rest of the Gold Coast will need scuba gear….

Seriously though, I hope everyone stays safe and I hope Mother Nature is feeling kind.

Cheers
Ian

I was thinking Leeuwin Prelude too Ian. (Btw, only 7 more wins for the good guys). Had some nice Bay of fires some years ago that were nice. Not sure of the price these days The ‘23 Prelude is exceptional. Yep, we are in charge of our own destiny now. Need to improve to beat PSG at home though. The...

Hoddle’s Creek Estate at $26 is hard to beat
Dappled Appelation is stunning
Penfolds Bin 311 when on sale at CellarDoor.com
Seppelt Drumborg when on sale at CellarDoor.com
Leeuwin Estate Prelude

are our go to quaffer Chardonnay’s

Cheers
Ian

My favourite 10 would be (only ones I've actually tasted a few times):

Leeuwin Estate Art Series
Penfolds Yattarna
Pierro
Tyrrell's Vat 47
Mount Mary
Hoddles Creek Syberia
Giaconda
Savaterre
Lakes Folly
Sorrenberg

In roughly that order too.

Cheers
Ian

6 x 2021 Produttori Del Barberesco
3 x 2024 Tyrrell’s Special Release Cabernet
3 x 2023 Hoddles Creek 1’er Chardonnay
3 x 2021 Paolo Manzone Barberesco ‘San Guiliano’
6 x 2022 Mount Pleasant 1965 Rosehill Shiraz
3 x 2021 Eisenstone d'Or X10 Shiraz

Cheers
Ian

I regularly ask for an ice bucket for my reds at restaurants. I get some funny looks, but if I'm spending decent money on wine, I want it served at the optimal temperature. There is nothing that turns me off a good restaurant more than seeing stacks of red wine stored on shelves right near a hot kit...