AFF Wine Lovers Meet Up - 13th May 2016 in Sydney

[Wozza]

Inspired by the excellent pictures posted by DrSammyLee for the January event, it's time to organise another AFF Wine Lovers Meet Up in Sydney. Details below:

Date - Friday, 13 May (Friday the 13th!)

Time - 6pm onwards

Venue - [Bar Reggio - the rustic Italian we wanted in Jan that was shut] or [Spice I Am] (both walkable from the city) Sydney.

Theme - King of Grapes (Cabernet Sauvignon)

Rules - Blind tasting. Bring two identical bottles of Cab Sauv of your choice (one concealed). Can be a Cab Sauv straight or a Cab Sauv dominant blend. Can be from anywhere and any vintage of your choosing. Owners of the top picked wines will take away a stash of wine. Dress-up (optional for the brave!).

Inspiration - there were some amazing Cab Sauv 12s many of us acquired from the Fo last year, including:

- Amelia Park Reserve
- Devils Lair
- Robert Bowen
- Wynns Black Label

(all under $30 a bottle from memory).

Then there's the classics, like (to name but a few from Aus):

- Balnaves The Tally
- Domaine A
- Fox Creek Reserve
- Howard Park Abercrombie
- Lindemans St George
- Lakes Folly
- Leeuwin Estate Art Series
- Moss Wood
- Parker First Growth
- Penfolds 407
- Penfolds 169
- Petaluma
- Woodlands
- Wynns John Riddoch

AND then there's the:

- Penfolds 707

(can someone, PLEASE bring one?! I've never had a 707 before ...!!)

Next steps - Please save the date, and PM me your email address if you would like to join us, as I struggled last time with the 25 email limit on here. I'll book the venue and keep you all posted on this thread as details firm up.

 

[Katy]

Rules - Blind tasting. Bring two identical bottles of Cab Sauv of your choice (one concealed). Can be a Cab Sauv straight or a Cab Sauv dominant blend. Can be from anywhere and any vintage of your choosing. Owners of the top picked wines will take away a stash of wine. Dress-up (optional for the brave!).

Will there be prizes for dressing up? I could see how far I can push the boundaries of 'casual Friday' at work!

I'm in - let me know if you need a hand with any of the planning.

 

[Wozza]

Will there be prizes for dressing up? I could see how far I can push the boundaries of 'casual Friday' at work!

I'm in - let me know if you need a hand with any of the planning.

Yes please. You did an amazing job last time.

Fancy dress prizes is also a good idea! Not sure I'll participate, but I'm happy to organise the prizes!

 

[Viridianne]

Nooo I won't be around! Otherwise I would have loved to join in ;'(

 

[penegal]

As posted here, I plan to attend, and have PMed you my email address.

Sounds great. That date is fairly inoffensive to me, so it is now in all the calendars.

I should be there.

 

[Steady]

I don't think I will make it but you never know - it looks like I have some more DRW trips on my horizon and I normally transit through SYD for these so you never know...

 

[penegal]

I don't think I will make it but you never know - it looks like I have some more DRW trips on my horizon and I normally transit through SYD for these so you never know...

Hopefully you can make it!

 

[TDC]

I've plonked the date in the calendar.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Depending on how many people attend, it may be worth dividing into brackets e.g. Cabernets 2011 or younger vs. Cabernets 2010 or older, as the taste of older cabernet varies (IMHO anyway) significantly from younger cabernets.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Soooooo tempted but I am heading to the US on that weekend so I think I would be stretching the friendship at home (don't want the dogs to bite me!).
Will watch enviously from the side-lines

 

[blackcat20]

If only it was Saturday...

 

[Buzzard]

If only it was Saturday...

I know the feeling BC, I know the feeling

 

[Wozza]

If only it was Saturday...

I know the feeling BC, I know the feeling

Sorry Blackcat20 and Buzzard. It would have been so nice to finally meet each of you. I'm sure there'll be more opportunities to do so in the near future.

 

[Wozza]

Depending on how many people attend, it may be worth dividing into brackets e.g. Cabernets 2011 or younger vs. Cabernets 2010 or older, as the taste of older cabernet varies (IMHO anyway) significantly from younger cabernets.

Good idea, AC. You'll see from my opening post I'm kind of thinking along the same lines. But all will depend on final numbers and what people bring.

Although if I was a betting man, I would anticipate that a Cab with some middle or old age is likely to have the crowd baying for more. That said, some of those young Fo purchases I mentioned above were already drinking really nicely last year. I'm relaxed on what turns up on the night. I found the AFF fellowship was much more enjoyable than the lovely wines we had in the end.

Are you intending to come?

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Good idea, AC. You'll see from my opening post I'm kind of thinking along the same lines. But all will depend on final numbers and what people bring.

Agreed. With say, 10 or so people, it's probably not worth it. But building on the success of the previous event you organised, there might be significantly more! Trying to sample (for argument's sake) 20 cabernets would be difficult. If we end up in that situation, I think we should find some way to break them into brackets (whether by age, or region, or whatever). Age was only my suggestion as I find the younger cabs more fruity, and the older cabs with other flavours. But WA, SA, everywhere else, or similar criteria would work too.

Are you intending to come?

At this stage yes - already trying to evaluate what bottle people will like. All depends on the vagaries of young toddlers though unfortunately.

 

[ste667]

already trying to evaluate what bottle people will like. All depends on the vagaries of young toddlers though unfortunately.

What a way to talk about the younger AFF crowd!

 

[AnonymousCoward]

What a way to talk about the younger AFF crowd!

I did LOL

 

[jmphoto]

I just found the Wine Lovers thread! After a few years of flying around constantly from London and Sydney I've moved to Coonawarra. As a consequence I've seen my status levels drop and drop, so I'm glad I've found somewhere on the AFF board where I still belong!

I am the Marketing Manager for the Coonawarra region, so if anyone attending wants to PM me I'm happy to send a couple of bottles along to represent!

 

[Steady]

I just found the Wine Lovers thread! After a few years of flying around constantly from London and Sydney I've moved to Coonawarra. As a consequence I've seen my status levels drop and drop, so I'm glad I've found somewhere on the AFF board where I still belong!

I am the Marketing Manager for the Coonawarra region, so if anyone attending wants to PM me I'm happy to send a couple of bottles along to represent!

Very generous


PS. what's your thoughts on organising an AFF wine tour of the Coonawarra region...... ?

 

[Wozza]

I just found the Wine Lovers thread! After a few years of flying around constantly from London and Sydney I've moved to Coonawarra. As a consequence I've seen my status levels drop and drop, so I'm glad I've found somewhere on the AFF board where I still belong!

I am the Marketing Manager for the Coonawarra region, so if anyone attending wants to PM me I'm happy to send a couple of bottles along to represent!

Welcome aboard the AFF Wine Lovers gravy train, JMPhoto! That's a very generous offer.

I'll PM you so we can have an offline chat.

If you could join us that would be amazing. 3 or 4 flew inter-state for the last dinner.

And I look forward to your Wine Lover contributions given your job and connections. No doubt they will be greatly appreciated.