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Canberra Wine Dinner Notes
A recent dinner with some friends in Canberra, including the very best red wine I have been lucky enough to taste. I know I have been talking about a fair few international wines recently which is a...
View ArticleLeo Buring, Curlewis, Bannockburn, Fox Creek and some German Riesling
Leo Buring Leonay DWU13 Watervale Riesling 1991 (Clare Valley, South Australia): Light golden in colour which seems to hint away from the age. On the slightly shy nose it had freshly squeezed lime...
View ArticleDinner at Sakana-Ya
I went to a hastily arranged dinner at Sakana-Ya in Crows Nest following the Torbreck tasting at North Sydney Cellars that I wrote about here. The quality of the dishes was good and there was some...
View ArticleMore hijinks in Canberra
Some quick notes from an excellent evening hosted by David Lole in Canberra. All wines were tasted and scored blind except for the Curlewis, the St. Henri and the Petaluma Essence. Rockford Sparkling...
View ArticleBirthyear Wine Dinner
A fun night recently with some of my wine drinking associates where we celebrated the birthyear (and in one case the conception year) of the people attending with wines from that vintage. The years we...
View ArticleThe Wilson Vineyard “Gallery Series” Riesling 1998
Fast Facts: Variety: Riesling Region: Clare Valley Country: Australia Winemaker: John Wilson Closure: Cork Alcohol: 12.5% Source: Gift from friend Winery Website: Wilson Vineyard Tasting Note: Straw...
View ArticleAustralian “Cult” Wines and a Mystery Outsider
A fun offline in Sydney focusing on “Cult” wines – generally defined as small production (and often hard to obtain) wines that receive large scores from prominent overseas wine critics. All wines...
View ArticleBrief Notes: Paul Bara, Crabtree, Tahbilk, Yalumba and Cooper
Paul Bara Brut Reserve Grand Cru NV – (Champagne, France): Medium bead with a very light mousse. Smoke, rose petal, lime and a light overlay of roasted nuts form the nose. The palate has a nice...
View ArticleQuick notes: Two Hands Moscato 2006, Eldridge Estate Chardonnay 2004, Kracher...
Two Hands “Brilliant Disguise” 2006 – (Barossa Valley, South Australia): The nose is bursting with lime, mango, floral notes and tropical fruit. The light fizz leads the wine into a dance across the...
View ArticleGiaconda: An Australian Wine Icon
Giaconda is one of the biggest names in boutique Australian wineries, especially for their Chardonnay. While they were not the first wine producer in Beechworth in Victoria, winemaker Rick Kinzbrunner...
View ArticleOffline: A little bit of everything
There was no theme chosen for this small, informal get together by four of us last Saturday. I had a very good time thanks to some great company, food and wine. Bruno Michel “Cuvee Rebelle” Extra Brut...
View ArticleAustralian Cabernet Legends Dinner 2: Mount Mary and 707
In November of last year a tasting was held to compare two of Australia’s most prominent Cabernet Sauvignons. It was expected that we would see two very different styles of Cabernet with the family...
View ArticleEight Bottles of Krug, and then things got silly
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,...
View ArticleTwo Hands “Brilliant Disguise” Moscato 2007
2007 Two Hands Moscato Brilliant Disguise – Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley 500ml bottle, 7% alcohol, $18AUD from cellar door. From 80-100 year old White Frontignac/Muscat vines....
View Article1995 Peter Lehmann Riesling Reserve
A wonderful surprise. Light golden colour. Lovely nose of honey, toast and citrus. Silky palate with depth and richness. Long, every element in balance. At its peak now, this is a world-class wine....
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