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

[Wozza]

Cannot guarantee yet but will definitely try and get along.

Once I firm up some details I will pm my email details.

Here's hoping you can make it, CJEMNMAC. You'll be the 9th person to confirm if you do ...

That's 9 amazing Cabernets to sample and savour with 9 friendly, wine loving folk!

 

[Buzzard]

Very generous


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

Be careful you're not standing on Buzz's toes...

+1 and I did consider organising a tour there but it became too difficult and expensive.
A shame as we had a good "conversation" with Katnook.
Assuming ownership has not changed we know a great place to stay, having spent a few days there ourselves.

If somebody would like to organise, we would be very interested.

 

[Wozza]

Okay, I’m in!



As one of the winners from the previous meetup, I must admit that I was quite embarrassed by walking away with so much wine, while other left empty handed. I know it’s not really my place to be dictating the rules of engagement, but I’d like to suggest an alternate, more egalitarian, prize scheme. I would like to see an arrangement, where everybody that brings along a wine to share, also gets to take a bottle home. The first prize winner would get first pick of the wines on offer, second place gets second pick and so on. The only real problem with this scheme is that the last place getter may end up taking their own wine home again, but I don’t see this as a big stumbling block.

However, I do understand that some people are highly motivated by competition, and may be less reluctant to share a top-rated wine if their potential winnings were reduced. But there may be other ways of creatively solving this particular conundrum. Any suggestions would be warmly welcomed.

Anyway, just something to think about. I'm more than happy to stick with the existing rules if people think that the competitive aspect is likely to deliver better wines than the egalitarian approach.

Awesome news, DB. Really pleased you are joining us again.

It's a tricky one.

- Maybe I could donate a bottle of something nice so everybody walks away with something. Depending on numbers, I am happy to do that.

- Maybe we go egalitarian as you suggest - it's a good compromise, but it may result in less fantastic wines being brought along.

- Maybe we only bring one bottle of Cabernet, and get everybody to contribute (say $35) to a prize pool instead, so everybody gets something (again the standard might drop in terms of the prize pool, although it won't be too hard to give everybody something of 95 points and above, with the top three getting something nicer).

- Maybe we ditch the whole idea of competition and just enjoy the wine and company.

- Maybe we stick with what we did last time. Everybody gets to win anyway as they get to sample some amazing wines and share a fantastic meal with like minded people.

I am open to suggestions, and very relaxed on what we do. For me, it's about the company and sharing a meal and fine wines with like minded people.

And just so people know what DB and I are talking about. Last time we had 11 people attend, each bringing two bottles of the same wine. One wine was blind tasted, one wine was entered into the prize draw. The four people that brought along the top four tasted wines, as decided by the group, got to take away 4 wines (winner), 3 wines (second place), 2 wines (third place) and 2 wines (fourth place) on the night.

Thoughts from the floor, especially from those that are intending to come ...??

 

[Jef6050]

I am open to suggestions, and very relaxed on what we do. For me, it's about the company and sharing a meal and fine wines with like minded people.

Thoughts from the floor, especially from those that are intending to come ...??

Personally meeting some fellow wine loving people, trying some AFF recommended wines and hoping to impress with my 'killer' wine appeals to me (e.g. the competition is fun but is not dependent necessarily on the prize)

But, I am relaxed and don't mind either way - since this will be my first wine-tasting dinner too.

Other more seasoned wine tasting competitors may feel more strongly

 

[penegal]

The difference between 1 bottle and 2 bottles isn't much in the context of a good night!

I am not too fussed whatever the consensus is. The competition is what it is - You might win, you might not. In any case you will need to be willing to accept either scenario.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

+1 and I did consider organising a tour there but it became too difficult and expensive.
A shame as we had a good "conversation" with Katnook.
Assuming ownership has not changed we know a great place to stay, having spent a few days there ourselves.

If somebody would like to organise, we would be very interested.

Yep.. Katnook is fantastic!

 

[penegal]

Yep.. Katnook is fantastic!

Their wine is okay too

 

[CaptJCool]

Perhaps we could donate the odd bottle or two to "enhance" The PMs wine cellar at Kirribilli House, and QF could donate the services of an apprentice sommelier lol

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's wine list is embarrassing and boring: industry experts

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Perhaps we could donate the odd bottle or two to "enhance" The PMs wine cellar at Kirribilli House, and QF could donate the services of an apprentice sommelier lol

Pretty sure they don't serve any of that stuff to actual guests. They'd get in proper catering for that.

 

[DrSammyLee]

I have my two bottles selected and ready to go!

 

[Wozza]

Okay. Good Wine Lover people. It's time to make your final booking at the 13 May Cabernet dinner in Sydney.

Bar Reggio is locked in. It's a great Italian, a 10 minute walk from the CBD, renowned for its group meals and relaxed atmosphere.

We even have booked local celebrity, DrSammyLee (the man who started the mof_ thread that spurned the gazillion posts and views it has to date). We even have interstate celebrities too, with none other than Penegal coming, along with the hugely knowledgeable Delectable Blue.

I also hear there are some amazing Cabernets. We have an 06 legend that's a star attraction on the Langtons scene. There's a 97 pointer beast of a wine from a famous Aussie winery. And no doubt there's more great wines, young, old, reasonably priced and Exy.

So far, I have 11 confirmed with a booking for 12. I'm sure I can bump it up, but probably only if I do so in the next week. If you haven't responded so far, and would love to join us, then please let me know.

Date: Friday, 13 May 2016

Time: 6:30 pm onwards

Venue: Bar Reggio - Darlinghurst, Sydney

Theme: Cabernet Sauvignon

What to bring: you, and 2 bottles of the same Cab Sauv (straight or dominant blend) (one concealed). Plus bring cash.

Likely cost: around $40 a head including corkage

How to book: PM me your confirmation and email address in the next 7 days

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Oh dear... you called Penegal a celebrity...
It's ok for you Wozza... you live in Sydney

 

[Steady]

I'm still working on attending- don't count me out yet.

IME it's easier to book a few extra seats and reduce by 2 or 3 a day before than the other way around

 

[Wozza]

I'm still working on attending- don't count me out yet.

IME it's easier to book a few extra seats and reduce by 2 or 3 a day before than the other way around

Yes. I'll up the number to 15 and work down from there. Thank you for the helpful suggestion. It was be amazing if we had another interstate legend join the crew! Hopefully you can make it.

 

[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!

AND I forgot to mention, JMPhoto, Marketing Manager for the Coonawarra, has very kindly organised to send us some wine. And they come with the promise of being Cellar Door only wines. So it's highly likely we'll be trying some brand new wines. I can't wait.

Thank you to JMPhoto for organising this. Greatly appreciated. And we'll see if we can get DrSammyLee with his pro camera and pro skills to take some marketing shots as a little thank you from the attending group.

 

[Steady]

I'm still working on attending- don't count me out yet.

IME it's easier to book a few extra seats and reduce by 2 or 3 a day before than the other way around

I have manually aligned the stars, please put me down as platinum.

With the out lay on attendance my Cab Sauv's will only be cheapy's again.

(shouldn't this thread be in "Meetings and Social events"?)

 

[Delectable Blue]

I have manually aligned the stars, please put me down as platinum.

Excellent news Steady. Looking forward to catching up with you again.

 

[penegal]

... Cab Sauv's will only be cheapy's again.

The one I am thinking of was "cheap" when I purchased it (several years ago), but has grown into a great wine at last tasting... I hope it is still okay.

Unfortunately I only have 2 btls left, so can't "test" one.

 

[Katy]

I may be able to convince +1 to come along and you can bet if I do that "his" contribution will not be expensive!

 

[Wozza]

I have manually aligned the stars, please put me down as platinum.

With the out lay on attendance my Cab Sauv's will only be cheapy's again.

(shouldn't this thread be in "Meetings and Social events"?)

Awesome news, Steady.

I'll post a sister thread in Meetings to see if there are others that can join us. I think we picked up two extra last time.

Well priced wines are going to be the order of the night for most people. Most of the wines last time were reasonably priced. Blind tasting seems to level the playing field. At least it did last time in the main. I'm more interested in catching up anyway, and am grateful you and others are making such an effort to come interstate.

And I seem to recall my 99/98 pointer last time received a lukewarm reception! I'm actually not expecting too much from my 97 point Cab. It's a Grays auction wine and there is very little blurb on the wine.

With the numbers heading up, we may need to split into young Cabs (maybe 12 and younger) and old Cabs (maybe 11 and older). Or maybe we'll split by region. We'll see what the final numbers are and what turns up on the night. Remember we'll have some yummy Coonawarra wines to try too!

I'll be switching to email on the final run in. But will be monitoring this thread too.

Can't wait. See you all soon ...