The Auswine Forum

Mike Hawkins wrote: ↑Wed Oct 01, 2025 2:54 pm In speaking to a few winemakers from the Barossa, they all spoke in glowing terms of 2022, less so of 2023.

Definitely. 2021 and 2022 are strong vintages. 2023 suffered with cool wet weather, buy with caution.

Matt, had a very good chat with Steve B. The 2025 Merle will be something else. i have 2022 Naked Run, the first and place in time, but not much else. Might have to get a few. The 2025 Merle is something else now, let alone in 10-15 years. His 2025 wines from his own vineyard are worth exploring. A...

One of my favourite times of year in the Clare Valley is the Annual Wine Show which was held on Friday. The presentation lunch is a highlight. This year catered for by Slate Restaurant, the food was excellent. Nick Stock has been the Chair of Judges for quite a few years now, it will be his last yea...

JamieAdelaide wrote: ↑Wed Aug 27, 2025 12:28 pm Why no 24B?

no real reason, just happy with the other wines.

I have been on the list for 15+ years, card only got hit on Monday. Picked my order up yesterday, looked to be plenty of stock still there and they were still processing orders. I received everything I ordered, but no Malbec, as previously mentioned, sold out. I didn't order any 24B this year.

Have a few friends coming over Saturday evening, hopefully after the Mighty Double Blues win their last minor round game, to be the first side since Port Adelaide in 1912 to go through undefeated! It's been a remarkable season for Sturt, win Saturday and the just 2 more wins for the flag. Certainly...

A few notes and impressions from the last few months. Have reached into cellar for a few too. Dinner at the Rising Sun at Auburn. With new owners, the pub has had a tasteful make over which is long overdue. New menu and a great wine list, albeit some of the pricing is a bit exxy. 2024 Jim Barry Assy...

Arrived today.
24b is back on the list.
Prices from $60 to $80 this year.

2023 Wynns BL Cab New livery is awful, why don't the muppet marketers leave well alone. Now known as the original...whatever next. Will have a chat to the winemaker on Wednesday, see what he thinks. At $21 through the chains last week, so not a bad buy. Cheers Craig Had a quick look side by side of...

G'day This remains a case buy every year since sometime late last century. I don't drink as much Australian riesling as I used to (partially because my partner isn't a fan) so I need to make a conscious effort :D Very pale lemon with green flashes. A delicate nose with the usual lemon/lime, mandari...

I have given Agricola Wines a go in the past. It’s a smart looking product, a good story and some wine scribes are going ‘ga ga’ for it, but for my tastes the wines under deliver. The wines generally speaking feel unfinished/incomplete, lacking polish, and a bit weird. I have been part of a number o...

I think its great that people are talking positively about Australian Chardonnay.

I am not a big drinker of chardonnay, but my go to wines are typically from the Adelaide Hills, they are not block busters or show stoppers, but do the job, recent wines have been Sidewood, Bird In Hand & Goldings.

I think most SA winemakers & regions are going to be very happy with the quality of the vintage. Well managed vineyards & terrior will important factors of the success/quality. These vineyards/producers should fair well considering the dry conditions. Quantity will likely be down on average ...

Conventional inflation is not a fair measure for the appreciation of luxury items. It’s as simple as that! We can all find better wines as wine lovers and often tell a great story to go with them. In the case of Grange and Hill of Grace, arguably the greatest wine of Italy, which until the 2004 vin...

I'll pop a red in the fridge prior to opening to bring it down to an optimal temperature to drink, if the bottle warms up.

A mate of mine, apart from beer, only drinks reds fridge temperature or on ice.

Pretty happy - just picked up a mixed doz. - 6 & 6 - of the '24 Drumborg and '24 Leo Buring EV for $15 each. Probably one of my best buys in recent times. Love both these wines. Stock up on the '24's you enjoy, because of the hottest year / driest year in history, '25's might show some stress. ...

Pikes Merle Clos Clare Barry Boys Florita Anything by KT (Kerri Thompson) Crabtree Kroener Kenny Pauletts And probably a heap more Cheers Craig 2024 was an excellent vintage and should be highly regarded. I've tasted a number on Craig's list and concur. You can safely add Naked Run to the list, Ste...

Hi All

I am heading to the Hunter in a few weeks time, only have a short stay there. There are some good suggestions here, I like the look of Audrey Wilkinson and Tyrells.

looking for recommendations for one more with good food, does not need to be fine dining.

TIA.

No real notes, but some good drinking wines: 2024 Riesling Freak No. 34, beautiful balance. Very good value 2020 St Hugo Cabernet Sauvignon, heavily discounted price. Great drinking at this price, good fruit, distinctly Coonawarra, perhaps a touch short on the finish. Better than Wynns BL in my view...

An amazing tasting held at Pikes Slate Restaurant on Tuesday 19/11 entitled “Cabernet & Friends”, $75 per head including morning tea and lunch. Designed as a Benchmark tasting for Clare Valley Cabernet. Wines were served blind in a bracket of 6 wines with only vintage(s) indicated prior to tasti...

A couple of note worthy wines in recent weeks: 2023 Setiono Lowke Shiraz, Ebenezer, Barossa Valley Decanted for 2 hours prior to service, immediately I could smell the waft of wonderful fruit and spice notes. A fruit forward wine with impeccable balance showing very good complexity - cloves, nutmeg,...

...wrong thread

i was alerted to this today

Wendouree Private Collection (102 BOTTLES) for sale, $21K!

www.skyecellars.com.au/privatecellar/weendouree-private-collection-102-bottles

(its not mine)

2022 and 2023 Setionos. Looking forward to tasting them shortly.

JamieAdelaide wrote: ↑Fri Oct 18, 2024 5:20 pm Anyone try the 2021 BP? 89pts over at the Wine Front!

My palate isn’t good enough to work out if the BP a good wine or bad, with a thimble serve at cellar door.

Who tasted it and gave it the score from TWF?

Depends on your individual circumstance. If dropping $500 on a bottle is a drop in the ocean, go for it. If not, $500 worth of wine over numerous producers opens up heaps of opportunities. Buy from 2021 or 2022 vintages over 2018. 2017 was wet, cold and a flood year - avoid.

6 x 2022 Taylors Jaraman Shiraz (Clare Valley/McLaren Vale). Tried before I buyed, plush fruit with very good length and lovely ripe tannins.

12 x 2021 Claymore Bitter Sweet Symphony Cabernet Claymore are producing some excellent wines. I am a fan of the London Calling Cab/Malbec with its medium bodied/mid-weight palate. The Dark Side of the Moon Shiraz is a regular mid-weeker at our house. The 2021 and the new 2022 release are very good...

On the subject of ports - and I love Morris VP's also - finished last night, 1969 Taylors Late Bottled Vintage Port (bottled 1974) .... in a word glorious! Thoroughly mature but not tired, aromatic, racy and showing classic aged Touriga characters with integrated spirit. We love our fortified's and...

The crazy new paradigm of white under stelvin. I’ve been super impressed. We are now seeing 20 year examples of all the varietals. One factor I’m starting to notice is loads of primary fruit versus a loss of strututal energy. It seems a little lopsided. Look, the result is ways better than cork, it...