The mood was electric, the gowns glittering, and the bow ties were very black. This is the Barossa night of nights and being my first, I wasn’t gong to miss a thing. Well, almost missing, as a glass of Billecart-Salmon, a late cab and a feisty Colin Gaetjens meant we missed the Yalumba Old Show Reserve Fino and oysters! Blast!!
But having slid into a Yalumba “D” black and being entertained by Tony Pilkington, local SA radio identity, the night effortlessly slipped away, except for the duck cassoulet…those beans will haunt me forever. By the way, by some form of luck, both Merrilyn and I were placed on the head table, but right on the very end.
Mr Gaetjens was in fine form as always, controlling the at times noisy audience with his charm, wit and awfully loud voice. The biding was keen and spirited and the prices achieved performing beyond expectation. You may not know, but all proceeds from this sale went to local charities. The achieved prices per bottle were,
Lot 1: 1 doz 2004 trophy winning whites - $100
Lot 2: 1 doz 2004 trophy winning reds - $110
Lot 3: 1 doz 2004 trophy winning and gold medal fortifieds - $100
Lot 4: 6 bottles 1997 Black Barossa Sparkling Shiraz, blend of the Barossa’s finest shiraz wines - $100
Lot 5: as above - $100
Lot 6: as above - $100
Lot 7: Dinner for six at Vintners bar & Grill - $4,000
Lot 8: The Jimmy Watson/Stodart Magnum Double – 1989 Peter Lehmann Stonewell shiraz and Peter Lehmann cabernet/malbec/merlot/shiraz - $850
It was magic, just about all the trophy wines kept mysteriously appearing on table, I wonder why? Anyway, the standout wine of the night for me, was the exquisite 02 Peter Lehmann Reserve riesling from the Eden Valley, its been a long time since I’ve seen an Aussie rielsing this good, electrifying acidity, very intensive fruit and such length.
Other notables included the 04 Leo Buring Eden Valley riesling, tight and very refined, the 03 Yalumba Eden Valley viognier, excellent mouthfeel and balanced alcohol, the 03 Cimicky ‘The Autograph’ shiraz, surprisingly not fully Parkerised and the excellent Yalumba 50yo Tawny Port, the spirit is so fresh, the rancio so balanced.
Best dry white riesling current vintage - 2004 Leo Buring Eden Valley riesling
Best dry white riesling, 1 year & older - 2002 Peter Lehmann Reserve riesling
Best dry white semillon - 1999 Peter Lehmann semillon
Best dry white chardonnay- Beringer Blass 2003 Shadowood chardonnay
Best dry white, variety or blend - 2003 Yalumba Eden Valley viognier
Best sweet white - not awarded
Best young dry red shiraz - 2003 Cimicky The Autograph shiraz
Best mature dry red shiraz - 2001 Richmond Grove Barossa shiraz
Best dry red, cabernet sauvignon - not awarded
Best dry red merlot - 2003 Cellarmaster Rohrlach Family Reserve Barossa Valley merlot
Best red varieties and blends of shiraz, grenache and mataro - 2003 Yalumba MGS
Best red other varieties and blends - 2002 Yalumba Reserve
Best fortified wine - 1999 Seppelt GR54 vintage port
Best museum white wine - 1999 Pewsey Vale Contours riesling
Best museum dry red wine - 2001 Kaesler Old Vine shiraz
Best Museum white fortified wine - Yalumba Old Show Reserve Fino
Best Museum red fortified wine - Saltram Show Tawny Port
Best wine small producer premium class - 2004 Trevor Jones Reserve riesling
Most Successful Exhibitor - Saltram Wine Estates
Most Outstanding Barossa White Wine - 2002 Peter Lehmann Reserve riesling
Most Outstanding Barossa Red Wine - 2003 Cimicky Autograph shiraz
Most Outstanding Barossa Wine - 2002 Peter Lehmann Reserve riesling
It's always the fortified’s that kill you in end...
Cheers,
Graham Wright
graham@oddbins.com.au