AFF Wine Lovers Meet-Up 6 Jan 2016 in Sydney

[Steady]

Everyone except for Moir

 

[Steady]

The evenings wine

 

[Steady]

The after party wines generously provided by Wozza

 

[boomy]

Looks like it was an excellent event with first class wines, literally!

Now I'm even more sorry that I've missed it. Will do my best to attend the next one and meanwhile hope to see everyone in the Hunter Valley wine tour next month.

 

[DrSammyLee]

Was a great night! Thanks for organizing Wozza.

Summary from the event was, next is at Mary's and Katy should post more!

Cheers.

 

[Katy]

A fabulous night but ohhh it was hard getting out of bed this morning!

 

[Leuke]

A fabulous night but ohhh it was hard getting out of bed this morning!

Seconded.
Thanks all, was lovely to meet some friendly faces. And wine!

 

[penegal]

WOW. Looks like a fabulous event with mostly new faces, and some excellent wine.

I am very jealous. Bring on the next event!!!

---

I am very sad that I missed it, but glad that I did pull out given my workshop dragged on and on, so I would have definitely missed my "Plan B" flight anyway. Certainly looking forward to the next one!

 

[Steady]

I would like to add my thanks to Wozza and Katy for the work they put into organising this event. The extra wine Wozza contributed both during and after - along with an extra from Beefarmer to open the night was very generous, thank you.

It was good to meet so many new AFFers and put faces to handles, the night was excellent with so much good wine and fellowship, it was my privilege to attend.

 

[Bundy Bear]

WOW. Looks like a fabulous event with mostly new faces, and some excellent wine.

I am very jealous. Bring on the next event!!
I am very sad that I missed it, but glad that I did pull out given my workshop dragged on and on, so I would have definitely missed my "Plan B" flight anyway. Certainly looking forward to the next one!

Must have been tough for Penegal to miss an event that involved wine.

 

[TDC]

It was a lot of fun! Thank you, Wozza and Katy, for organising the event.

We were slower leaving the restaurant than DB so security kindly provided assistance - even without asking - so that we could safely exit the maze that is Westfield.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

The evenings wine

Did someone make a list - I recognise some of the labels/brands but not all? And which one won the judging?

Sorry to have not been able to make this event - hopefully another in the future.

 

[Delectable Blue]

Did someone make a list

Okay, here is the wine list as I have it.

The Warm up
a) Tallarook 2008 Roussanne (Beefarmer)
b) Escarpment 2013 Kupe Pinot Noir (Wozza)


The Main Event
1) Mount View Estate 2009 Late Harvest Semillon
2) Baron Amarillo 2010 Rioja Gran Reserva
3) d’Arenberg 2010 Shiraz Roussanne The Wild Pixie
4) James Irvine 2008 Grand Merlot
5) Coriole 2008 Lloyd Reserve Shiraz
6) Cape Mentelle 2009 'Trinders' Cabernet Merlot
7) Gapstead 2009 Limited Release Saperavi
8) St Hallett 2010 Barossa Single Vineyard Shiraz
9) Hemera 2008 Tier 1 Barossa Shiraz
10) Wirra Wirra 2010 Woodhenge Shiraz
11) Wynns 2010 Coonawarra Cabernet Shiraz Merlot

The Warm Down


Cullen Diana Madeline 2008
Hardy's Thomas Hardy Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Lou Miranda Estate Le One Shiraz Cabernet 2012


The Results

I'm sure there will be more commentary to come, but it was an extremely close competition with many terrific wines. Towards the end of the night it became increasingly difficult to separate many of the fine wines being tasted. The final placings were:

1st - Hemera 2008 Tier 1 Barossa Shiraz (26 points) Wozza
2nd - James Irvine 2008 Grand Merlot (23 points) Delectable Blue
3rd - Coriole 2008 Lloyd Reserve Shiraz

I'm happy to include the contributors names against the wines if people are comfortable forwarding me those details.

 

[Steady]

Some close ups



The one in red paper is a Grand Merlot that I will post separately


There is another but the app won't let me post it so I will try again shortly

 

[Wozza]

Did someone make a list - I recognise some of the labels/brands but not all? And which one won the judging?

Sorry to have not been able to make this event - hopefully another in the future.

I will let Delectable Blue complete his list, suffice to say, AC, the winner was: the event itself.

There was constant laughter, lots of banter, some pretty decent Chinese food, some amazing wines that actually made it really hard to choose a top three, and great-great company. It was such a good night, we ended up leaving after most of the staff had gone (hence the escort out of Westfield)!

I was very happy to provide some additional wines, especially given some of you had made a special effort to travel interstate for the night. Amazing.

Despite my reservations, the venue was an excellent choice in the end. Sky Phoenix hosted us really well, and the way the food came out slowly over the course of two hours worked quite well. Shame the waiter kept spilling the wine though - he has got to be sacked for next time!

And the winner of the wine: I nick-named it the Nigella Lawson!! Delectable Blue will tell all soon ...

 

[Steady]

The final wine from my previous post

This is the Grand Merlot - my favourite and 2nd place (I think)

 

[DrSammyLee]

Some of the wines from last night:


I'll have some people shots a bit a later.

 

[Wozza]

Okay, here is the wine list as I have it.

The Warm up
a) Tallarook 2008 Roussanne (Beefarmer)
b) Escarpment 2013 Kupe Pinot Noir (Wozza)


The Main Event
1) Mount View Estate 2009 Late Harvest Semillon
2) Baron Amarillo 2010 Rioja Gran Reserva
3) d’Arenberg 2010 Shiraz Roussanne The Wild Pixie
4) James Irvine 2008 Grand Merlot
5) Coriole 2008 Lloyd Reserve Shiraz
6) Cape Mentelle 2009 'Trinders' Cabernet Merlot
7) Gapstead 2009 Limited Release Saperavi
8) St Hallett 2010 Barossa Single Vineyard Shiraz
9) Hemera 2008 Tier 1 Barossa Shiraz
10) Wirra Wirra 2010 Woodhenge Shiraz
11) Wynns 2010 Coonawarra Cabernet Shiraz Merlot

The Results

I'm sure there will be more commentary to come, but it was an extremely close competition with many terrific wines. Towards the end of the night it became increasingly difficult to separate many of the fine wines being tasted. The final placings were:

1st - Hemera 2008 Tier 1 Barossa Shiraz (26 points) Wozza
2nd - James Irvine 2008 Grand Merlot (23 points) Delectable Blue
3rd - ??? (sorry I was too busy celebrating my podium finish to get the details of this wine)

If someone could kindly send me the details of the 3rd place (I think it may have been Beefarmer?) I'll add that info to the list. I'm also happy to include the contributors names against the wines if people are comfortable forwarding me those details.

3rd place went to wine number 5: the Coriole 2008 Lloyd Reserve Shiraz (not sure who brought it though) (10 points)

The Warm Down

Cullen Diana Madeline 2008
Hardy's Thomas Hardy Cabernet Sauvignon 2012
Lou Miranda Estate Le One Shiraz Cabernet 2012

 

[samh004]

How was the Diana Madeline?

I received a bottle from P1 in 2014 and laid it down to rest. Unsure when I should open it.

 

[Wozza]

How was the Diana Madeline?

I received a bottle from P1 in 2014 and laid it down to rest. Unsure when I should open it.

It was very nice, and drinking really well for my tastes. A number said it would have been their winner if it was in the Main 11. I was toying between the DM and the Tier 1, and went for the Tier 1 purely on the basis it would stand out more in a blind tasting.

In answer to your question, it will depend on the vintage and it will depend on your preference for young, developing or aged characteristics. If you got the 2008 then - for me - it's right in its sweet spot but will no doubt be a classic for another 5 years (and it will no doubt live much longer, but I prefer my wines with a mix of primary and secondary characteristics). The 2008 is not a particularly big wine. It's more refined and elegant than other vintages. I had the 2005 vintage over Christmas and this was a much bigger wine, and - for me - it needed longer in the bottle to get that balance between primary and secondary flavours. If it's less than 5 years old, then definitely keep it tucked away, unless your will power gives out! Hope that helps a little. Enjoy when you do open it ...