Miles’ Blog » Wines to drink in 2006

I moved my wine rack from the lounge to our bedroom recently, in preparation to repaint our lounge sometime in the near future.

Oh, that’s not a feat! I hear you cry. Well it is when it holds 120 bottles, and it’s full.

In making the migration from one room to the next, wiping down with a damp cloth and drying each bottle, I realised I have a hoarding issue. I am not like that with books or anything else – I can eventually let go – but why is it I hold wines forever, and well by their use by dates?

Nearly all of the bottles have been saved for sentimental reasons – I visited just about all of the wineries on various trips to Victoria, Margaret River or Pemberton regions, and they tasted great at the time.

This has provoked me to consider drinking a pre-2000 vintage bottle every weekend until I catch up to the more recent ones, 49 bottles in all. My wife will be pleased to see these space wasting items gone, so corked or otherwise tainted wines will see the sink, but otherwise I’ll attempt to drink every bottle, no matter what the occasion (or lack thereof).

I’m keen to share them too - If you see a bottle in this list that you just have to try, email me, bring the cheese and crackers, and perhaps we’ll organise to share it together.

The hit list of wines are:

• 1992 Killerby Cabernet Sauvignon
• 1993 Killerby Cabernet Sauvignon
• 1994 Orlando Russet Ridge Cabernet Shiraz Merlot
• 1994 Yarra Ridge Cabernet Sauvignon
• 1994 Warren Vineyard Riesling
• 1995 Killerby Shiraz
• 1995 Killerby Cabernet Sauvignon x 2
• 1996 Kalgan Valley Shiraz
• 1996 Killerby Semillon x 2
• 1996 Goundrey Cabernet Sauvignon
• 1996 Killerby Cabernet Sauvignon x2
• 1996 Devils Lair Cabernet Sauvignon
• 1997 Killerby Shiraz x2
• 1997 Goundrey Unwooded Chardonnay x3
• 1997 Killerby Cabernet Sauvignon
• 1997 Goundrey Shiraz Grenache
• 1997 Gloucester Ridge Cabernets
• 1997 Fire Gully Cabernet Merlot
• 1997 Amberton Shiraz
• 1997 Rosemount Shiraz Cabernet x2
• 1997 Gnangara Shiraz
• 1998 Leeuwin Estate Riesling
• 1998 St Huberts Cabernet Merlot x3
• 1998 Killerby Shiraz
• 1998 Alkoomi Classic Red
• 1998 Voyager Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
• 1998 Killerby Semillon x2
• 1998 Killerby Chardonnay
• 1999 Vasse Felix Classic White
• 1999 Killerby Chardonnay
• 1999 Edwards & Chaffey Cabernet Sauvignon
• 1999 Rockford Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot
• 1999 Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon
• 1999 Killerby Shiraz x2
• 1999 Yering Station Shiraz
• 1999 Killerby Cabernet Sauvignon x2
• 2000 Vasse Felix Cabernet Merlot

I’ll report on my progress this time next year – 49 bottles in 52 weeks should certainly be achievable!

Image: wine bottle rack at home.