Bandreas

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• chatters says:

  4/22/2024 5:32:00 AM - How lovely to hear from you, yes it was a splendid evening. I'm so happy you are settling in. I hope to get over next year at some stage so I will keep you posted.

• chatters says:

  12/30/2023 12:06:00 AM - Finally stuck my notes up! I hope you are still having a lovely time, cheers, chatters

• Rote Kappelle says:

  12/25/2023 10:22:00 PM - Comrade B, you should indeed open up that '88! The DRC was the better wine, but the Neb moved me more. Either was heaven. The Clemens Busch 2020 Felsterrasse got things off to a very fine start. All the best for 2024.

• chatters says:

  12/19/2023 3:44:00 PM - Thank you so much for a lovely evening, Bandreas. The wines I brought along (that we consumed) were the Savaterre Chardonnay Frère Cadet 2021, Two Tonne Tasmania Pinot Noir The Dog & Wolf 2017 and the Wynns Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label 2019. The latter wine was double splash decanted to help it to open up - 2019 is still (for me) very young (and slightly reductive) direct from the bottle so I gave it a little air to help it pop. Safe journey to Melbourne and good luck with your move. I will track you down next time I am in Europe I hope. cheers, chatters

• Rote Kappelle says:

  12/18/2023 10:51:00 PM - Tasmania - Quiet Mutiny - a very good Riesling and, depending on vintage, the Shiraz (of all things can be worth finding). Holm Hill for their pinots, Holm Oak (at the other end of the state) for a lovely setting and great people and doing some very good things with a range of Pinot styles. Clemens Hill for Pinot. Good restaurant setting at Janz. All the best, Sinclair Whitbourne, the Red 'Worrier'.

• Rote Kappelle says:

  12/18/2023 9:02:00 PM - If you can find it either of the Ochota Barrels Chardonnays are very intriguing wines that I find get me back. They have unusual names - Slint is about $45 and Control is about $60-$80. Annandale Cellars in Sydney did have some, though I may have reduced their stock considerably. Dr Edge from Tasmania makes some intriguing wines and the Dukes Magpie Hill Riesling is one I find quite impressive and pleasing. There's some foment in the ferment in Oz right now with makers experimenting with more textural wines, others looking at more risky approaches (orange wines etc.) and others sticking to the very clean, technical approach. Identity crisis or healthy experimentation? Sorry about being slow to reply but the run in to Christmas is always very busy in my line of work. On an unrelated matter, I am excited to have a 2010 DRC Grands Echezeaux to drink on Chris Moss day alongside a Bartolo Mascarello 2010 Barolo. I am going to test my suspicion that for me, Neb is the more complex, pleasing grape. I remain a lover of Pinot but ... What do you have lined up for 25 December?

• Rote Kappelle says:

  12/17/2023 9:21:00 PM - Give my respects to Chatters, very much an ornament to this website! Glad you are enjoying your time here. Yalumba are something of a mystery to me. They make a lot of wine that is quite outstanding for the money, yet they rarely excite me. Some of that is probably down to my own image of them - the subjective element of wine. However, I agree on the Menzies - even with my hesitancies, I buy it from time to time. I have lost the taste for Oz Riesling on the whole since I became enamored of the dread German. It is unfair, it is unfortunate but there it is. Agree re the tawny ports - there are some terrific 'Sherry' styles made here as well. They are their own thing but they are very good. Needless to say, the vile, heaving mass neither respect or appreciate them. Have a great trip.

• chatters says:

  12/16/2023 4:32:00 PM - Welcome to Sydney!

• chatters says:

  12/16/2023 1:40:00 AM - Hi bud, there will just be the three of us - I'll bring along a white and a red and perhaps a spare aand we can cherry pick what to open :-)

• chatters says:

  12/14/2023 4:01:00 PM - Hi Bandreas, Rex bistro booked for 6pm I'll see you there. As regards wine, where you are staying there is a bottle shop two doors down - the concierge can show you were it is - I think it's called Australian Wine Centre/Red Bottle - my friend Michael works there 9-5 (he'll know me as "David who did the diploma with Yuko") and he will certainly give you a steer to some good Australian wines that would suit your palate. cheers, chatters

• chatters says:

  12/13/2023 10:05:00 PM - Bistro Rex it is, 6pm work for you?

• chatters says:

  12/13/2023 1:35:00 AM - Hi Bandreas, How about the Tuesday 19th December at this place - https://fixwine.com.au/bar-restaurant/? The food is okay, it's about a 14 minute walk from where you're staying and they allow BYO. Another alternative would be to jump in an uber and head here - https://www.bistrorex.com.au/ - nice food and, again, BYO. Let me know what you think and, if either of these look attractive, which you prefer and I'll book for us. cheers, chatters

• Harley1199 says:

  11/10/2023 2:02:00 PM - My pleasure dear Bernardo. About Down Under, I am jealous, among so many places to be visited, please consider to go to Yarra Yering, a boutique winery very close to Melbourne. Seriously speaking their cab and shiraz wines, specially in antique vintages are tasty and delicious at all ranges including 'Under the Hill'. Ring in advance to close a meeting. At my time I asked for Bailey Carrodus. Firmly recomendation. As you can appreciate I am in love with these wines yet ;-) I visited those lovely Aussies long ago in 2007, mainly for scuba diving and of course for wine. Cheers,

• Harley1199 says:

  11/10/2023 10:43:00 AM - Amigo Bernardo, this is a new marketing operation drove by Luis Gutiérrez strongly linked with Niepoort in order to make more money from incautious people involving people like Jancis Robinson. It is well known that Gutiérrez was a Robinson's collaborator until 2013. So what they're promoting now are bottles from winemakers abducted by the smell of money introducing novelties in the wine saturated market. A new offer that wine drinkers are not demanding. As simple as that. During centuries people in Jerez were fortification their wines being conscious of the low quality of palomino grape, only wide planted because its abundant, generous branches. That's the same story in Andalusia and Galicia. On the other hand, IMHO Jancis Robinson acts as a parrot in this particular case, repeating common places. Still remember when when I directly asked her why she was considering that topping vanilla ice cream with PX was not a wasting of wine. Also why she didn't considering RibeiroTostado wine in the 'spanish greatest sweet wines'. Those were the times when I followed up her at FT. No more. So I am not particularly interested in this kindf wines but as ever, widely open minded to new tastes. Hoping my point of view has been crystal clear exposed, my dear friend. Un abrazo. Cheers,

• graemeg says:

  10/29/2023 2:43:00 AM - Joining the pile on, in response! - I've never visited Coonawarra, so it's hard to make a call. For Rutherglen, if you want the fortifieds, then it's Morris for value, Chambers for the sheer range (+value @ the lower/mid range). And the tasting experience generally - it's about as rustic as things get in the modern world of wine - if you visited in the 70s you'll recognise it easily! Campbells were always pretty good too, but no bargains particularly. I visited in Jan Baileys further south in Glenrowan - it's a smaller range, and only of couple of 'syrups' but decent + value wines all round. Not been to All Saints or Stanton & Killeen, who are the other obvious stand-outs in the region.

• chatters says:

  10/28/2023 4:03:00 AM - Hi Bandreas, I think Rote has pretty much covered all I'd say about Rutherglen (my personal favourite is Morris) and Coonawarra (I'd add McLaren Vale - Yangarra, Ministry of Clouds - and the Adelaide Hills - Shaw & Smith - as other options that are a far easier commute from Adelaide should you be there). As regards Sydney, well, I am more than happy to catch up. You can reach me via email on dwchatfield@gmail.com and we can work on plans from there; there are plenty of BYO restaurants here as well if you fancy a bite to eat. cheers, chatters

• Rote Kappelle says:

  10/24/2023 7:21:00 PM - Coonawarra - in many ways it is about the big boys there. I have been very impressed by the Wynns 2021 V&A Lane range of Shiraz and Shiraz blends. The bulk standard white label is really good for what it is and the black label is excellent. If you are good with wood then the Michael is worth it, but really wants time. A lot depends on the style you like. Without knowing that it is hard to be specific. A bigger, softer style can be found at Zema Estate and across the road it is a more usual Coonawarra style at Bowen Estate. Punter's Corner and Majella offer polished styles, with fresh acid, good fruit and well handled oak. I also love Lindemans, but their Coonawarra shiraz blend - Limestone Ridge- needs time for the oak to integrate. 2019 is an outstanding vintage in Coonawarra and 2020 and 2021 are very good, slightly cooler vintages. 2021 might turn out to be a sensational year with a very long life. I am cautious on 2022 because across Oz I have found the wines a little green. That is an outlier view though, so see for yourself. Coonawarra is regarded as 'Cabernet is King' country, but in truth it is just good agricultural land and it has always made really fantastic Shiraz and underrated Oz style Riesling and Chardonnay. It is a bit of a boring place, being flat and on an endless plain - if Montanna did vines ... It is basically large production wine and some sheep and fruit. Not a lot of there, there. The flip side is that it is also quintessentially Oz - big sky, a view that goes forever and a sense of space. If you got the chance, I think the area around Hamilton and Portland has some fascinating vineyards but it is about two hours' drive from Coonawarra and probably not feasible. Crawford River, Hochkirch are two wineries in that area that merit attention and are very different to the fare you will be enjoying. You can always look out for them in bottle shops and on wine lists. If you like peppery type Shiraz look out for Central Victoria and especially Seppelts, Mount Langhi Giran. All the best.

• Rote Kappelle says:

  10/24/2023 2:47:00 AM - Comrade Bandreas, I checked in on my chum re Rutherglen, land of the free. Chambers remains excellent, Campbells, Stanton and Killeen, Morris and Gehrig all got mentions from him and he spoke of St George, which is the only one of the above that I have not previously encountered. All Saints and Cofield have also had their moments. I am not sure how deep you are into the area but All Saints, Gehrig, Chambers strike me as being the epitome of deep history and character. The strength of the area is fortified styles (and if you can find any old 'sherries' they can be excellent, although as different to Sherry as Oz port is to the original model). Enjoy the trip.

• Rote Kappelle says:

  10/7/2023 8:50:00 PM - Comrade, I am afraid that I am not strong when it comes to Rutherglen, which is naughty of me. I will make some enquiries, for I know a couple who seem to go there to rekindle various passions, including for Rutherglen. If you don't hear from me in the next week send me another message, accusing me of being a revanchist swine and a closet AfD supporter. That should stir me up!

• Harley1199 says:

  8/3/2023 11:33:00 AM - Understood Bernardo. Have a nice and safe trip down under. Keep in touch.

• Harley1199 says:

  8/3/2023 11:14:00 AM - Hi there B, September is coming and knowing how much you luv to plan I am starting to think everything is cancelled. Please let me know what's going on. Just drop me a line. Greetings from Madrid

• Rote Kappelle says:

  2/1/2023 1:27:00 PM - Dear Bandreas, always happy to drink wine with people, so by all means feel free to make contact if you end up in the region. Just shoot a message to my Message Board on this site and we can work from there. In the meantime, drink well, drink long and drink often! Abusive wine drinkers of the world, you have nothing to lose but your brains!

• Bandreas says:

  9/24/2022 9:15:00 AM - Thank you very much for everything last night, Manuel! It was fantastic!

• Harley1199 says:

  9/24/2022 6:12:00 AM - Just in case ... https://www.wineterroirs.com/2014/08/mark_angeli_ferme-de-le-sansonniere_anjou_loire.html

• Harley1199 says:

  9/24/2022 4:51:00 AM - B&B, my entire pleasure to meet you yesterday. Just hoping you enjoyed the evening as much as I did. All the best, Harley1199

• Harley1199 says:

  7/11/2022 1:58:00 PM - Five or six is fine. Alright. alright ... do not worry about it but consider dinner around half past eight or nine PM or even later. I will try my best. Besides lunch time usually starts at 03.00 PM. Spain is really different. In spite of our peculiar eating timetable, I assume your spanish skills are improving. You all are welcome.

• Harley1199 says:

  7/11/2022 1:21:00 PM - Understood dear Bandreas, too soon to say but 23th Friday nite sounds great after the jet lag. I assume you know Spanish time for eating is a bit different ;-) How many are we going to be at the table? Just in order to plan where to reserve for people ready to cross the Potomac ... Best regards from Spain,

• Harley1199 says:

  7/7/2022 8:12:00 PM - No problem at all ... it is almost public :-) m_rcarlavilla@hotmail.com I am glad your plans are still alive confirming I shall be in Madrid but coming and going so dates are key. Best regards from Madrid Harley1199

• Bandreas says:

  7/7/2022 6:46:00 PM - Hello Harley, thank you for touching base... We are still on track with our trip in September. I am traveling at the moment so do not have our dates for Madrid with me at the moment. can you give me your e-mail address so I can contact you by e-mail when we get a little closer...Would love to meet you over a nice meal and a couple of good bottles of wine...

• Harley1199 says:

  7/5/2022 9:06:00 AM - September is coming ... No news, good news?

• Harley1199 says:

  1/31/2022 9:47:00 AM - Of course Bandreas .. check out these: García de la Navarra, Angelita, Cuenllas, Laredo, taberna Palo Cortado ... All with a great wine refinement. But at the same time this is only a minuscule part of what Madrid can offer you. Sincerely I hope to be there at least one nite in order to share good time together. Maybe it is time for an improvement of your Spanish skills. Keep in touch amigo,

• Harley1199 says:

  1/31/2022 3:25:00 AM - Estimated Bandreas, I remember very well. We are finishing January so you're plenty of time to organise your visit. López de Heredia is situated at 'Barrio de la Estación' (Station District) in Haro aside another six famous wineries (Muga, La Rioja Alta, CVNE, Gómez Cruzado, Roda and Bilbainas). Most of them are offering tasting events and visits for a fee. Moreover, the village of Haro has an splendid area full of tapa bars and taverns called "la herradura" (horseshoe) which are a terrific value. In Logroño you have, once again, more wine zones and wineries as Franco-Españolas o Murrieta also offering visits and tastings. Just check their webpages. Supposed you travel by a hire automobile just a few kilometres north you have Riscal (El Ciego village), Remirez de Gamuza and Baigorri (Samaniego) and Remelluri (Labastida) .. all easily close by car. Don't hesitate to ask any further question needed. Finally if I am in Madrid it will be a pleasure to meet you to share a couple or a dozen of BOTTLES and giving you some address where wine lovers are really appreciated. Welcome to Spain, you all in advance,

• Jace says:

  10/12/2021 10:01:00 AM - Bandreas, did you bring a similar Auslesen troken to Q a couple of years ago?

• Bandreas says:

  6/14/2021 12:48:00 PM - Thanks Harley! As soon as I know the exact dates I'll be in contact with you. Hopefully it will work out for a get-together, And yes: I am in touch with 12Glotones about Bilbao and Rioja. We are much looking forward to doing this trip which was planned for last year. Alas, Covid came in between....

• Harley1199 says:

  6/14/2021 12:21:00 PM - Bandreas, usually right in the middle, in Madrid. You're welcome anytime, anywhere. If possible give me more details as soon as possible. Sounds a great trip. I assume you've contacted with 12Glotones in otder a good starting at Bilbao.

• Canoehead says:

  12/7/2020 12:59:00 PM - Bandreas, you summed it up very well there... "Cheers to my heirs". VP is ultimately not bought for oneself its bought for your descendants and friends to drink in your honour and memory. Have a good holiday season!

• Grinner says:

  11/28/2017 8:58:00 AM - Oregon Pinots as we all know are rarely "cheap", but for good value: Broadley (hidden gem?), Patty Green (bless her soul, recently passed), and St Innocent (Mark V. keeping his prices below other top producers). Mark

• cbuhlman says:

  3/9/2015 5:25:00 PM - thanks for the note. still have a few left.

• diamond shamrock says:

  12/22/2013 5:20:00 PM - Badreas, organizing a wine dinner in the Potomac, MD area so reach out to me at james.cahill@am.jll.com.

• Los 12 Glotones says:

  9/4/2013 2:25:00 AM - Hi Badreas, thanks for add me as a fan. Salud!!!!

• diamond shamrock says:

  4/12/2011 5:44:00 PM - Bandreas, saw your note with interest in a D.C. area tasting group that is serious but not obsessed. I know of a group that you may interested in. Friend me and we will connect.