Sydney Offline January

[TiggerK]

Yep, we're all good for 10 people @ 6.30pm this Wednesday 21st at Rubyos in Newtown.

Scott - 1976 LvS Spatlese & a Champagne
Tim -
Kevin -
Dave - Marsanne Mini Vertical & Wendouree Shiraz 08
Alex - 2002 Fortified Grenache & 2004 Rifle Range OR 2013 HC 1er Pinot Noir
Malcolm - 1998 Coonawarra
Brett - 1991 Leeuwin Cab & 1990 St George Cab
Daniel - Marsanne & a Pinot

We can go with the flow, but if people want to nominate either their wines, or just the style (white, light red, bubbles etc), might help us get a nice progression sorted.....

Two Spots Available!

[mjs]

Hmm, might struggle to be there by 6:30

likely to have some 98 Coonawarra

[TiggerK]

No prob if you're a bit late Malcolm...

[maybs]

Looking forward to trying a new restaurant, food sounds good.

I will bring a 1976 Langwerth Von Simmern Hattenheimer Mannberg Rheingau Spatlese and I will also bring something fizzy, possibly the 2008 Franck Bonville Blanc de Blanc, although if I can find one of the 2002 Pol BdB I have in time I will probably bring that instead.

[Croquet King]

I'll bring the 91 Leeuwin Cab and 90 St George Cab.
I'll be leaving from town but will decant in the morning and return it back to the bottle.

See you there
Brett

[TiggerK]

Nice work guys, a classy lineup is coming together nicely!

By the way, a few of us usually bring our own glassware, so feel free to do so if you wish. I'll bring a few spittoons as well.

[catchnrelease]

2002 Pirramimma Fortified Grenache
2004 Rockford Rifle Range OR 2013 Hoddles Creek 1er Pinot Noir if it arrives in time

[Krusty]

Am currently sitting only a few hundred metres from Rubyos thinking about Wednesday night. Sadly, the place i am sitting in is the ermegency department of RPA, have been trying to shake a bug for a few days to no avail, looks like viral pneumonia and will be out of action for some time. I am going to have to pull the pin gents I am sorry.

I hope you have a great night, I would be interested in a bit of a food review too if it is worthwhile ( looking at you Tim/Dave).

Gutted.

[TiggerK]

So sorry to hear that Matt... hope the recovery goes speedily....

[maybs]

Am currently sitting only a few hundred metres from Rubyos thinking about Wednesday night. Sadly, the place i am sitting in is the ermegency department of RPA, have been trying to shake a bug for a few days to no avail, looks like viral pneumonia and will be out of action for some time. I am going to have to pull the pin gents I am sorry.

I hope you have a great night, I would be interested in a bit of a food review too if it is worthwhile ( looking at you Tim/Dave).

Gutted.

Geez that's a shocker mate, nasty stuff. Look after yourself and best of luck for a quick recovery

[9redpens]

Get well Matt. For a second or more as I read your story and was expecting a dinner attendee to rock up bottle in one hand, IV into the other!!!!!!

Ill probably bring something to add to the vino mans marsanne addiction and a aussie pinot, as there's the gap, it will probably go for four however and not into the stands.

[dave vino]

Mini-Marsanne Vertical (89,96,02)
Lots of Cabernets coming so I'll bring a
2008 Wendouree Shiraz

[mjs]

my 98 Coonawarra is a Michael shiraz

[griff]

Perhaps a light red and maybe a sweetie.

[griff]

Found it. I'll be bringing a 1991 Bodegas Muga Rioja Gran Reserva Prado Enea.

[griff]

Guys, woke up this morning with a fever and aches. I will have to pull out as well as I certainly wont be good company. I appreciate it is late notice so if I need to pay for food then let me know and I can transfer funds etc. I shall drink my lemon tea tonight and wish it were a marsanne

[Croquet King]

Double decanted both bottles this morning and put the corks back in.
Both seem like good examples.

See you all tonight

[TiggerK]

Sorry to hear that Carl, hope you and Matt both recover quickly!

I'll see if I can rustle up another attendee or two, anyone out there who wishes to join us tonight, please speak up ASAP!

Otherwise will confirm for 8 after lunch.

Not sure what I'll bring yet, likely a Chardonnay and a red.

Cheers
Tim

[maybs]

In a fortuitous piece of timin my Durand just arrived at my office in the post today

[pc79]

Gents, if you're desperate for numbers (so that those late withdrawals don't have to cover any potential costs) I can help fill the quota. It will be my debut at an offline.

I won't be able to get to my storage facility, however can have a rummage through the wine fridge at home to find something that may be of worth. Also, 6:30pm may be a marginal stretch for me.

If you need a fill in, let me know what sort of varietal you'd like me to bring and I'll see what I can do.

Cheers Paul

[TiggerK]

Nice one Paul, would be nice to see you! Malcolm may be later than 6.30 as well, so we'll have a bubbly or a beer and kick of once everyone is there, and if running quite late, we'll save a pour of anything we try in the early stages.

Any wine style is fine that you'd like to bring, we got plenty of variety already! I do note we've got nothing sweeter (except for the Spatlese) to finish with, so that's a thought, but anything is fine, no problem with anything you think is interesting and keen to share.

Let me know a confirmation and I'll let the restaurant know final numbers ASAP..

Cheers
Tim

[pc79]

Confirmed.
I don't have much on the sweet spectrum, apart from a few NV Seppetsfield Grand Muscats, and a Gundog Muscat and some crappy gewurtztraminer. I'm quite sure I'll be able to find a bottle of 2010 Hentley Farm Clos Otto.

[Polymer]

Tim - Alex is bringing a Fortified...I'll bring something two sweet things as well...one is just a punt though...

I'm struggling to decide what to bring....I have a Cahors I want to try but not sure how it'll be....Might do the Seppelt Great Western Reserve 98 instead...

[TiggerK]

Yeah, true on the fortified, and if you're bringing something sweet too that's all good, thanks Kev.

Ooh nice one Paul, keen to try the Clos Otto.

Have confirmed with the restaurant, all friendly and good there. Happy days, see you all soon!

[dave vino]

Had a great time last night. Some really interesting wines and good conversations.

Food was a bit hit and miss which I think we caused by asking them to slow down, so am thinking some were left on the hot bar for a bit too long. Although for the price and the fact it was a good constant supply throughout the night we could hardly complain. Dessert was really good and shows they do the proper portion dishes really well. Service was very attentive, they made sure we always had water and I think they are starting to 'get us'

We met Krusty's doppelganger in Paul (pc79) when he walked in I was thinking wtf I thought he was laid up in hospital until he got closer and realised it wasn't him.

Didn't take any notes, it was a good mix of old and new, classic favourites and offbeat ones in the mix. Poor old Maybs rizza was badly corked, looked OK colour wise and you could taste what it might have been. The Wendouree is travelling well, no need to touch the next one for another 5 years. I enjoyed the stemminess of the LEAS Cab, bit different to the usual MR Cabs. The Rockford CabSav was humming along nicely and the two champers were young tight and focused.

[pc79]

Jeez, Krusty must be a good looking unit!

A great night and thanks for welcoming me into the foray so warmly. Some good chat, decent food and the overall generosity of everyone sharing some fantastic wines was a delight to be a part of.

Pick of the dishes for mine was the pork belly
Wine of the night probably the 98 Seppelt, closely followed by the 08 Wendouree. Special mention to the 69 Redman claret that was still holding on and showing superbly for a 45yo wine.

Some young lasses enjoying a chat outside the front of their terrace received a half bottle of Pirammimma fortified grenache on the walk home from Alex. Smooth operator!

[dave vino]

Wine of the night probably the 98 Seppelt,

Oops forgot to mention that and in total agreement. Lovely wine, it was so smooth and supple with fine grained tannins, drinking very young for it's age, inky black in colour with gobs of fruit.

[maybs]

Very good night fellas, the time really flew which is always a sign of fun times.

Haha you are right about Krusty and Paul Dave, I was thinking wow, discharged himself in the name of wine. Respect

I agree that the food was a bit hit and miss, a few of the dishes were a bit ho hum for me, but some were also quite good. The explanations are probably spot on. I also thought that portion size for a 9 course banquet was good, not too much food, and it having lots of small fishes suited a tasting, so that was great. Service was certainly very friendly and attentive and I would be quite happy to go back for an offline anytime.

I do fear I however will be getting a reputation for bringing only corked wines! Next time I am bringing 5 bottles just in case

For me the WOTN was the 1998 Seppelt Reserve Shiraz, classy and drinking really well, it is just my preferred style of shiraz I think. Also particularly enjoyed the 2004 Rockford Rifle Range and the '09 Kumeu Hunting Hill (though I think it needs a decant or some time in glass to come out of its shell a bit). As per usual though all the wines (other than the couple of corked ones) were excellent and interesting (except the fortified Grenache haha, it was very very ordinary, those poor girls thought they were getting a gift but it was a curse! )

Special mention to Dave also for the very interesting (and for me eye opening) Tahbilk Marsanne mini vertical and the 1969 Redman's claret. Both a real treat.

Thanks everyone for your time and generosity, will look forward to the next one.

[mjs]

Thanks guys for a very enjoyable night, I was very pleased as an out-of–towner to be able to attend and meet you guys. Restaurant was a good venue for the night. Food was not bad, though the serves were certainly “shareable”, don’t think I would serve potatoes as a course in a mini-degustation! Salmon, peas, pork belly were all good.

I did endeavor to taken some very brief notes on the iPad and these are provided below. A considerable number of wines and styles. I missed the last couple of stickies/fortifieds … it was getting late

Lenoble cuvée intense NV Champagne
Nice structure, bit toasty, some citrus

2008 Franck Bonville Grand Cru Millesme
Bit of volatility, beautiful creamy mouthfeel,

1989 Ch Tahbilk Marsanne
Deep bright gold, chlorine, flat, nice developed flavour but not enough acid

1996 Ch Tahbilk Marsanne
Straw gold, complex, treacle mouthfeel, soft, complexity

2002 Ch Tahbilk Marsanne
Green straw, bit grassy, maybe some stone fruit, medium acid, maybe even a bit thin later

Masked wine
Yellow straw with touch of green, bit doughy, Slight spritz for me, not chardy for me, but similar, bit buttery, not much acid,

Revealed as 2009 Lillian Rousanne, Pemberton WA

1976 Freiherr Langwerth von Simmern Eltville Spatlese (correct ?)
Colour of urine when dehydrated, sadly corked

2009 Kumeu River Hunting Hill Chardonnay
Pale pale straw, nice melon, stone fruit bouquet, buttered toast, acid ok, some oak treatment, bit minerally, quite enjoyable

Another Masked Wine
Pinot, pale salmon, cherry, light red fruits, Victorian maybe, stylish, attractive but a bit light for me,

Revealed as 2010 Dromana Estate

2004 Witchmount Shiraz
Deep red black, bit of pepper, black red fruits, complexity, beautiful fruit in the mouth,

1998 Seppelts Great Western Reserve Shiraz
Deep red black, bit of mint, black fruits, long flavour, some oak but well integrated, fruit still lively, beautiful wine

1998 Wynns Michael Shiraz
Deep red purple, beautiful bouquet, some black fruit, little bit of dustiness, still some tannins, great fruit, well balanced, again beautiful wine

2008 Wendouree Shiraz
Black, slight whiff of malty vinegar, grippy, black fruits, tannins,

2004 Rockford Rifle Range Cabernet
Deep red purple, closed, opened up later, softer fruit

1991 Leeuwin Estate Cabernet
Deep red purple, beautiful black fruits, maybe dropping off with time,

1990 Lindemans St. George Cabernet
Deep red purple, just a bit of tca unfortunately, it's trying to come through, but edge taken off

Masked wine
Thought was a cabernet, maybe Coonawarra, some thought cabernet blend, one thought shiraz

Revealed as …. 1969 Redman Claret f@%k me!!!

Still fresh, some fruit, not terribly complex, easy to drink, definitely a surprise.

Will see if I can post my pic of this bottle a bit later (its already on twitter (@m_j_short)

2009 Mount Horrocks Cordon Cut Riesling

no further notes at this stage, iPad batteries sadly carked it and I had the attention span of a gnat by then

A great night with an interesting and eclectic range of wines. The Seppelts was WOTN by universal consensus. Michael was right behind for me (little surprised others haven't mentioned this). Kumeu was good as well. Have to give Dave big kudos for the Ch Tahbilk and especially for the Redman, was a real surprise, in great nick for a 45yo red, just didn’t taste that old!! From a family winery and lineage that has been a part of Coonawarra for almost ever through some four generations, a winery that I first visited in 1973 and where I cut my teeth on Coonawarra reds. Almost brought a tear to my eye ☺

[mjs]

Here is the Redman '69 Claret, thanks Dave