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The Wine thread

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MoscowHawk said:
tl;dr What's people's opinions on French wine?
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Its a whole different kettle of fish. Different philosophy and wine making methods means you just dont really know what you are going to get when buying blind. The best ive had is excellent. But the rate of either ordinary or just plain undrinkable is significantly higher than new world wine. French whites are excellent and affordable. Especially Chablis. French Reds, its hard to justify the spend unless trying before buying and knowing im not going to get something that tastes like liquified mud blended with horse hair.
 
I've also found that whenever I introduce someone to Aussie wine (again, living in Russia, so not a lot of people choose Australian over the more familiar French/Italian/Spanish), they totally convert to it, and never want to drink anything else.

Perhaps it's a case of understanding French wine. Those who've drunk it a lot can pick up the nuances of it (tones, flavours, aromas and all that) and this makes it not only delicious for such people, but also interesting. Whereas most of us just want to drink something tasty, and that's where Aussie wine wins. Tasty, accessible and affordable. Nothing complicated.

I'd have to say, I've had some amazing Californian reds recently as well. Two Vines CabSav. Saffer wine is also pretty good.

Don't care much for South American though
 
MoscowHawk said:
Perhaps it's a case of understanding French wine. Those who've drunk it a lot can pick up the nuances of it (tones, flavours, aromas and all that) and this makes it not only delicious for such people, but also interesting. Whereas most of us just want to drink something tasty, and that's where Aussie wine wins.
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I think its more to do with wine making methods and the huge difference between old world and new world methods. We remove oxygen from the process from start to finish. European wines promote oxidative wine making. We hold the grape character as king. European wines promote the vineyard site/soil/terroir as king.

When your used to buying a Shiraz or Cabernet and knowing pretty much exactly what its going to taste like before youve even opened it, to buying a Bordeaux or Rhone and in many cases, tasting zero fruit character at all, it can be confronting.

And thats why new world drinkers can find it hard to get into old world wines, and vice versa, its why old world drinkers can consider new world wine to be boring etc.
 
Macca19 said:
I think its more to do with wine making methods and the huge difference between old world and new world methods. We remove oxygen from the process from start to finish. European wines promote oxidative wine making. We hold the grape character as king. European wines promote the vineyard site/soil/terroir as king.
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Depends on the particular Winemaker imo. We pumped air into our white ferments, because air is important for yeast growth and splashed our red ferments over the over the skin cap which is important for color and flavor extraction. Avoiding oxidation is far more important once the wine has finished fermenting, although we do allow controlled oxidation whilst wine in oak.

Our regions are very important for making great wines, the renowned terra rossa soil of Coonawarra for instance and well aged vines. Many other regions in Australia make great wines because of their soil and climate combination.
 

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I like wine. In fact I drink far too much of it to be honest... Though only red or rose. I know a little, but I cant pick up nuances very well. I just enjoy it.

I do know one thing, the French Burgundy you buy in Aus that costs you $30-40 will cost you 3 or 4 euros in France. And for between 5-10 euro you can get a kick ass red that even an Australian equivalent will be 20 plus.

Its more confusing here for sure, but oh so more affordable and fulfilling.

On a side note I love Argentenian Reds!!! A good Malbec with a quality raw rib fillet, or beef capaccio will have me drooling with lust.
 
JimDocker said:
I know a serious, serious wine buff who drinks almost exclusively top level premium wines. He travels to Europe regularly and spends a lot of time and money at top wineries.

I had a discussion with him about the wines and he said that we here in Australia have far, far better quaffers and mid range wines which most of us drink, but the absolute top quality wines, the French do better.

We are so lucky in Australia to have such good quality affordable wines.

I found the same in Italy as far as wines go. The everyday stuff that was cheap was nowhere near as good as the wine here, but I went to a really good winery in Florence and bought a few bottles of good stuff (about $50 a bottle) and it was really, really good.
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Best value quaffers are southern french & southern italian wines. Oz govt puts too much tax on them though
 
Sanders said:
Best value quaffers are southern french & southern italian wines. Oz govt puts too much tax on them though
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Sanders said:
Best value quaffers are southern french & southern italian wines. Oz govt puts too much tax on them though
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A summer drinking rose from La Côte du Rhône was my last summer.. Winter is being spent on Raclette, Foie Gras and Burgundy. The price of wine, beer and spirits astound me...
 
JimDocker said:
Ok - we have been given the "line up" for next week's wine club.

I shall show James Halliday's rating for each one.

Eileen Hardy Shiraz 1996 (94 points)
Bin 389 - 1996 (95)
Duval Entity Barossa Shiraz 2006 (96)
Houghton Show Reserve Shiraz 1995(Cannot find a rating, but many comparable wines on the Houghton list are 94/95)
Richmond Grove Barossa Vineyards Shiraz 2002 - Limited Release (95)
Penfolds Grange – 1993 (94)

We are going to finish off with a couple of aged De Bortoli Botrytis Semillon (No ratings but similar are 94/95)

Not too upset that there is no Hill of Grace as the selection is pretty special.
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It was a special night last night after a poor start.

The Grange was past it's best. not a great wine. Plus the Duval was not available.

After that, the Eilleen Hardy, Bin 389, Houghton Show Reserve and Richmond Grove Shiraz were all incredible. Absolutely top shelf stuff. Could not really separate them.

Finished off with a McWilliams 1977 vintage port and a 1987 De Bortoli Sauternes Semillon Botrytis.

It was a great night. The wine club itself is just a group of guys who all already knew each other apart from one guy who lives next door to my uncle so he snagged an invite. It is a once a month chance to get away, drink some nice wines, eat some nice food and chat among mates.
 
I may be biased due to location but when it comes to big reds Rutherglen is the go. Do yourselves a favour and try a Warrabilla Durif. Will remove your socks for you. Valhalla is also quite a smart little winery.
And if you ever need to buy a fortified then any Rutherglen one will probably be better than most.
Also if you are chasing some quite good quality wine look at some Bullers wine as they just went into administration
 

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I love a Warabilla Durif. My brother in law is from Yarrawonga and has given Durifs as presents. Still a fan of more subtle reds but like to try a broad range.
 
I'm thinking about buying Blue Pyrenees Richardson Shiraz Cleanskin 2008 at $20 each. They say its the winery's iconic pinnacle Shiraz and on the show circuit it has outpointed many of Australia's best including:
Wolf Blass Platinum Label Shiraz 2007 $175 (94pts James Halliday).
Hardys Eileen Hardy Shiraz 2007 (96pts James Halliday).
d'arenberg The Dead Arm 2008 (96pts James Halliday).
Annie's Lane Copper Trial Shiraz 2008 (93pts James Halliday).
Taylors St Andrews Shiraz 2006 (94pts James Halliday).
Leasingham Classic Clare Shiraz 2007 (94pts James Halliday).
Grant Burge Wines Meshach 2008 ($110).
Yalumba The Octavius 2008 ($100).
Tahbilk Eric Stevens Purbrick 2008 ($50).

What do you think?
 
Why are they selling their iconic wine as a cleanskin?

Whats wrong with it?

Thats some questions I'd be asking.
 

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Im finding French wines, while cheap and do the job, a lot lighter in flavour and alcohol. Its common to see a 14.5-15 percent australian cab sav or shiraz, but here its quite rare. And especially in summer the super markets will have 4 isles of Rose.

Also when I do see an Aussie wine here its usually Yellowtail at around 10 euros... I find it really depressing that this is the wine most french consumers get to sample from Aus.

On the flip side you can spend under 10 for a brilliant wine here.
 
Macca19 said:
Why are they selling their iconic wine as a cleanskin?

Whats wrong with it?

Thats some questions I'd be asking.
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Only cleanskins I've bought where when I worked for Stanley's and it was only $13 for a box(employees only) of big oaky Chard. Never been keen on alot of oak in Chard untill that, they where awesome, just whish I'd bought more. But this is different, $240 a box, so I'm a bit unsure.
 
Copeland said:
Only cleanskins I've bought where when I worked for Stanley's and it was only $13 for a box(employees only) of big oaky Chard. Never been keen on alot of oak in Chard untill that, they where awesome, just whish I'd bought more. But this is different, $240 a box, so I'm a bit unsure.
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There is no such thing as a cleanskin, its a myth - or at least they are never just the same wine unlabelled, despite what the sales guy is telling you.

What does matter is that regardless of what it really is, do you like it?

If you have tasted it, and you enjoy it them go for it.

Just don't believe the myth making about a secret way to beat the system.
 

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