Wine thread

[Bazal]

Tbh, the best thing for the industry right now is for both the monolithic arseholes to fall over. The shelf space taken up by Pinnacle in Dans, BWS and Busby Wines in Liquorland has effectively cruelled the industry horrifically.

A massive reset is needed.

Absolutely agreed. Unfortunately, all that will happen from here is a total monopoly IMO as Cole Liquor completely disintegrates. I mean Liquorland will kick in as a convenience thing, but that's it. I genuinely see it going that way.

Funnily enough, my read of the market is people in general are more interested in quirky little local stores than say 15 years ago, not less.
Uncle Dan's does a good job of offering the right range to fill that need for many, so they will continue to roll on as long as they don't f**k up.

 

[horrie hastings]

Yummmmmm, DeBortoli Windy Peak as the white wine on the economy Qantas offerings from Melbourne to Sydney
Didn't either bother checking what the red was as it would have also been Windy Peak.

 

[Drew-Sta]

Absolutely agreed. Unfortunately, all that will happen from here is a total monopoly IMO as Cole Liquor completely disintegrates. I mean Liquorland will kick in as a convenience thing, but that's it. I genuinely see it going that way.

Funnily enough, my read of the market is people in general are more interested in quirky little local stores than say 15 years ago, not less.
Uncle Dan's does a good job of offering the right range to fill that need for many, so they will continue to roll on as long as they don't f**k up.

I kinda disagree. Endeavours new CEO is an arselicking bitch and I don't think she rights the ship. I also think Dan's selection has eroded over years. It's so same same and people are over it.

Your assessment of the quickly liquor store is right - and a consequence of the above. People want points of difference and those offering that are winning. Thirroul Cellars and Leura are good examples of that.

 

[Drew-Sta]

I don't think you realise how much damage Steve Donohue did too. He really f**ked the place. Appointing a Tennis CEO is possibly the worst thing they could have done IMHO as the problem is DNA related and how Endeavour helps lift the market out of its quagmire. She has zero understanding and I think will get lapped.

The number of vipers in that nest is staggering and they'll eat each other alive.

 

[Bazal]

I kinda disagree. Endeavours new CEO is an arselicking bitch and I don't think she rights the ship. I also think Dan's selection has eroded over years. It's so same same and people are over it.

Your assessment of the quickly liquor store is right - and a consequence of the above. People want points of difference and those offering that are winning. Thirroul Cellars and Leura are good examples of that.

Maybe I'm lucky, having the Phillip store with a reasonably good range. I don't know what many others are like. But I guess what I mean is that for the average half cluey or interested wine drinker these days, the majority of the stores in the market in general are so far away from being interesting that if you walk into a Dans like that one and can pick up some Billy Button Rosso, and some Thistledown Grenache Blanc, and a Massolino Langhe Nebbiolo for the dinner party like I grabbed last weekend...it's not a bad option when you're doing the groceries across the road and when you maybe don't have that quirky or knowledgeable local cellars. Whiskey range is killer too.

It's definitely not what it was and Endeavour are definitely corporate stooges with no integrity, but I just think the position they're in now is nearly unbeatable not because they're doing a lot right, but because the only company that ever came close to competing has burned itself to the ground.

 

[horrie hastings]

I also think Dan's selection has eroded over years. It's so same same and people are over it.

Exactly, i walk into Dan's looking for something different but end up walking out empty handed.

With the other blood sucking leach company i am waiting to see how they completely kill off Vintage Cellars,which is the only decent thing under their banner now Was down in Lygon St the last week and was actually impressed with the store there how it was set up and where you could actually purchase a wine there and sit and drink it, not sure if many other VC's do that but it was a bit of a point of difference on that strip, now if they end up bastardrising that and turn it a combo Liquorland/Vintage Cellars or whatever the hell they are trying to do, it will be total crash and burn with two well placed BWS's with in about 300-400 mtrs of each other.

 

[Drew-Sta]

Maybe I'm lucky, having the Phillip store with a reasonably good range. I don't know what many others are like. But I guess what I mean is that for the average half cluey or interested wine drinker these days, the majority of the stores in the market in general are so far away from being interesting that if you walk into a Dans like that one and can pick up some Billy Button Rosso, and some Thistledown Grenache Blanc, and a Massolino Langhe Nebbiolo for the dinner party like I grabbed last weekend...it's not a bad option when you're doing the groceries across the road and when you maybe don't have that quirky or knowledgeable local cellars. Whiskey range is killer too.

It's definitely not what it was and Endeavour are definitely corporate stooges with no integrity, but I just think the position they're in now is nearly unbeatable not because they're doing a lot right, but because the only company that ever came close to competing has burned itself to the ground.

It may play out for the reasons you say. Very big possibility.

Exactly, i walk into Dan's looking for something different but end up walking out empty handed.

With the other blood sucking leach company i am waiting to see how they completely kill off Vintage Cellars,which is the only decent thing under their banner. now Was down in Lygon St the last week and was actually impressed with the store there how it was set up and where you could actually purchase a wine there and sit and drink it, not sure if many other VC's do that but it was a bit of a point of difference on that strip, now if they end up bastardrising that and turn it a combo Liquorland/Vintage Cellars or whatever the hell they are trying to do, it will be total crash and burn with two well placed BWS's with in about 300-400 mtrs of each other.

See, that's a really cool idea. All that - gone. For a corporate dime.

 

[Drew-Sta]

Claymore's Nirvana drunk last night. Lastest vintage. Smooth, silky, soft on palate yet big on flavour. Great oak.

 

[Bazal]

Now this I can get behind, in theory anyway

“Ripe for change”: Wine critic and Dan Murphy’s co-founder spy opportunity in wine retail - Winetitles

Dan Murphy’s co-founder Tony Leon and wine critic Jeremy Oliver have announced their plans for a new bricks and mortar wine retailer.

winetitles.com.au

 

[Drew-Sta]

Now this I can get behind, in theory anyway

“Ripe for change”: Wine critic and Dan Murphy’s co-founder spy opportunity in wine retail - Winetitles

Dan Murphy’s co-founder Tony Leon and wine critic Jeremy Oliver have announced their plans for a new bricks and mortar wine retailer.

winetitles.com.au

Calling Tony Leon co-founder of Dan Murphy's is pretty ludicrous but fits with his gigantic ego. I'm surprised the bloke fits through doors these days.

I reckon Tony is looking to bring in Steve's Liquor at some level and leverage the work he's done there to build out the footprint.

In any case, getting back to proper wine merchants is good. We need it. The industry craves the change.

 

[Bazal]

Haha yeah I defs don't disagree on Tony...but he knows his shit. Tbh I think Oliver is a weird unit too but again, hard to argue his wine knowledge.

I have hopes for any venture they're serious about. Tony surely sees the gaping hole Coles will leave in the market even just by closing VC

 

[horrie hastings]

For once the Liquorland give away for staff seems a decent one.

Vickery Watervale Riesling

 

[Bazal]

St Hugo Cabernet 2020. Was gifted a bottle at work.

Intense nose, dried oregano, tobacco leaf, black fruit, leather, liquorice. It's a big wine, predictably, lots of grip and body. Classic cassis, eucalyptus, olive, black tea and chocolate.

A good big name crowd pleaser for sure, especially when it's still sub-$50 while Penfolds prices keep climbing. I'd be vaguely interested to compare it to Wynns but, tbh, I think it's also another sign that cab sav isn't for me in my old age. Well, not South Australian cabernet anyway. Absolutely nothing wrong with the wine for a cabernet drinker, and I'll certainly never say no if someone's pouring it, but I think it's just too over the top for me.

 

[Bazal]

Chapel Hill MV Bush Vine Grenache 2022. Felt like a grenache, shockingly had none in my collection.

Dark, inky grenache. Nose is bright jammy red fruit, juniper, rosemary and winter spices. More elegant on the palate, quite precise actually. Clean red berries, dark cherry, the same black winter spices and a ribbon of chocolate oak. It finishes quite long too, lean tannins and lingering cherry. Really nice Grenache for around $30

 

[Drew-Sta]

Chapel Hill MV Bush Vine Grenache 2022. Felt like a grenache, shockingly had none in my collection.

Dark, inky grenache. Nose is bright jammy red fruit, juniper, rosemary and winter spices. More elegant on the palate, quite precise actually. Clean red berries, dark cherry, the same black winter spices and a ribbon of chocolate oak. It finishes quite long too, lean tannins and lingering cherry. Really nice Grenache for around $30

Buying Pinnacle brands?

 

[Bazal]

Buying Pinnacle brands?

View attachment 102802

Look it's not my preference...but Chapel Hill man. Sometimes shit companies buy great wineries, sadly.

Plus the range of grenache at the BWS three mins walk from my house is hardly going to have much that isn't Pinnacle or exclusive import but the nearest independent is 10 mins drive.

The list of great wineries on Pinnacle/Endeavours books is unfortunate though. Josef Chromy was the one that physically hurt, but I'll still drink it occasionally.

 

[Bazal]

Anyway...

2019 Peter Drayton Tyrian. A CSIRO original grape, a hybrid of cab sauv and a Spanish grape called Sumoll.

Got a bit of a cold, but defs needed a glass of red or six. Warm and spicy nose, a little purple jellybean. Might be clearer if I could breathe through my nose properly lol. I can taste it fine though, full bodied, dark berries in the blackberry/mulberry direction, cinnamon, briar or tomato leaf with a bit dried herb, and the finish is earthy fruit. Good stuff.

 

[Drew-Sta]

Look it's not my preference...but Chapel Hill man. Sometimes shit companies buy great wineries, sadly.

Plus the range of grenache at the BWS three mins walk from my house is hardly going to have much that isn't Pinnacle or exclusive import but the nearest independent is 10 mins drive.

The list of great wineries on Pinnacle/Endeavours books is unfortunate though. Josef Chromy was the one that physically hurt, but I'll still drink it occasionally.

Yeah, I can't argue. Just never like supporting them these days. Endeavour, that is.

Chapel Hills Mouvedre is actually quite sound too. Worth a go.

/sigh - all my brand roadmap came to life too with them. The Devil, the rebranded labels, the Vinedresser etc etc. Good brand.

Anyway...

2019 Peter Drayton Tyrian. A CSIRO original grape, a hybrid of cab sauv and a Spanish grape called Sumoll.

Got a bit of a cold, but defs needed a glass of red or six. Warm and spicy nose, a little purple jellybean. Might be clearer if I could breathe through my nose properly lol. I can taste it fine though, full bodied, dark berries in the blackberry/mulberry direction, cinnamon, briar or tomato leaf with a bit dried herb, and the finish is earthy fruit. Good stuff.

Tyrian is an interesting grape. Many thought it would excel in the Australian market. Has done diddly, really. I think Draytons is the only group that sells it as the varietal. Most blend it away.