This is from the Yarra Valley in Victoria and is a blend of 81% Chardonnay, 14% Viognier and 5% Sauvignon Blanc. There is also a “Red Hat” blend that I didn’t get the chance to try. The marketing angle is quite clever with the two wines in the range easily identifiable and a link to […]
Category: Australia
A recent farewell to a friend who will be living in Burgundy for a year. So some of our usual group of wine lovers came together to send him off as best we could. Veuve Cliquot La Grande Dame 1996 Opened pretty powerfully on the nose, but seemed to become reclusive after a few minutes […]
This is one of three 2006 Rieslings from this producer based in Pemberton, Western Australia, the others being a Dry and an Auslese version. This sits in between the other two versions, very much in the off-dry style. A clean, perfumed nose of musk, floral notes, stonefruit and citrus. Very good balance between some slightly […]
A friend asked me along to a wine dinner in Sydney that he was organising for some visiting Norwegian wine enthusiasts that had spoken to friends of his living in England through the Jancis Robinson message boards … The aim of the dinner was to bring some Australian wines of interest. Some wines didn’t show […]
A great eight hour long dinner at a friends place to enjoy and compare various bottles of Krug and then to try some various wines afterward. The food was as follows; -Amuse bouche: fresh oysters, salmon and avocado tartare, confit of ocean trout, duck and beetroot tartlet. -Terrine au Saumon -Roast Rainbow Trout -Kangaroo Fillet […]
N.V. Bruno Michel Champagne “Cuvée Rebelle” Extra Brut A little bit of toast, cashew and chocolate on the nose. Refreshing mouth-feel with decent length, but not very complex or deep. 86/100 2000 Leonildo Pieropan Soave Classico Superiore La Rocca Light golden in colour. Lemon zest, almonds, butter, a touch of cheese and sulfur. Interesting texture, […]
Some long-lost notes from a dinner early last year. 1979 Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill Champagne A tarnished gold colour with very fine bead evident. Initially the nose gave off some oxidative, varnishy burnt almond characters, but these came around to mostly caramel, mushroom, apricot and nuttiness. A wave of flavour envelops your mouth on […]
I’m jumping back on board the Hunter Valley Semillon train after the stunning 1986 Lovedale the other night, and while this isn’t quite in the same league – it is interesting, pretty darn enjoyable and a steal at $11AUD. Straw, lemon, wax, acacia florals and some toast just starting to develop on the nose. Medium […]
A great night last weekend with a friend flying in some fresh Perigord Black Truffles from France and people bringing along some great wines to match. The food was fairly simple, letting the truffles take centre stage. The flavours and aromas of the food were incredible and a number of the wines really complimented the […]