Upcoming Offering – Tupelo Pinot Noir 2009

I have to admit that many Pinot Noir wines I drink outside of Burgundy tend to be one-dimensional.  They lack the aromatic profile and textural appeal of their French counterparts.  However, this wine from Tupelo succeeds where many fail.  The aromas are a subtle mix of dark cherries, subtle oak, earthy complexity and restrained fruit.  The palate is quite full …

Upcoming Offering – Somerled Chardonnay 2010

The best examples of Adelaide Hills Chardonnay can rank with the best examples from any region in Australia.  The cool central hills and careful slope selection is key to producing a sophisticated example of the variety.  This wine shows a vibrant array of aromas ranging from roasted cashew nuts, ripe nectarines, toasty oak and a lively citrus lift.  The palate …

Upcoming Offering – Scott Wines Fiano 2011

Fiano is a relatively unknown white grape outside its home of in Southern Italy.  However, its thick skin and small berries make it an ideal candidate for high quality winemaking in the Adelaide Hills.  The aromas show medium intensity with notes of honey, hazelnut, cloves and lemons.  The palate is full bodied with waxy intensity and a long crisp finish. …

Upcoming Offering – Robert Johnson Vineyard, Alan and Veitch Sauvignon Blanc 2010

I think some of the best white wines in the world are the result of barrel fermenting Sauvignon Blanc e.g. Bordeaux, Margaret River, Pouilly Fumé.   I feel this is an excellent style for the Adelaide Hills to differentiate itself from the multitudes of unoaked Sauvignon Blancs coming from New Zealand.  The wine shows a complex range of aromas including pears, gooseberries, natural …

Upcoming Offering – Deviation Road Loftia Vintage Brut 2010

Australian born Kate Laurie is a classically trained (Champagne) winemaker and her skills are evident here. The blend is made up of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay selected from the high altitude (600m) southern facing vineyard in the Adelaide Hills.  The base wine went through malo-lactic fermentation prior to extended ageing on lees in the bottle.  The result is …

Upcoming Offering – Tupelo Pinot Noir Rosé 2009

I have always been a fan of dry rosé made from Pinot Noir and this wine reminds me why. It has a wonderful blend of strawberry and raspberry aromas with just a hint of earthiness. The palate shows classic Pinot Noir balance with that important mid palate weight, (without utilising residual sugar). The grapes were harvested quite early (~20 Brix), …

Father’s Day Food & Wine Pairing

Food – 2 Hour Food & Wine Pairing After many unsuccessful and lengthy attempts at making ribs, this is the method I have settled on for making delicious tender ribs in under 2 hours. 2 large back ribs (~2lb) MARINADE: 1 cup orange juice ¼ cup balsamic vinegar 1 tbsp Franks hot sauce 1 cup brown sugar ¼ cup soy …

Father’s Day Wine tip

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to put some wines in your cellar that you could drink with your children when they come of age? Here are 10 wines/regions/vintages, which are sure to age well into the 2020’s. 1) 2009 Bordeaux reds – best vintage since 1982, yes they are expensive but worth the wait. 2) 2007 Vintage port – …

Upcoming Offering – Adelaide Hills, South Australia

Many people think of South Australian wines as big, bold and brash expressions of warm climate viticulture.  However, the Adelaide Hills (lying 400m above sea level) have a fascinating range of topography and microclimates suitable for producing some of the most delicate wines in Australia. Only 30 minutes from Adelaide the region is a labyrinth of tiny valleys and interconnected …

Mother’s Day Food & Wine Pairing

Wine- Russian River Chardonnay (Foggy Valley 2009) Food- Barbecue Bacon wrapped Chicken breasts stuffed with roasted pine nuts, Camembert and cherry tomatoes. This is one of my personal favourite bbq recipes as it combines the rich complex flavours of barrel fermented Chardonnay with smokey bacon notes, succulent chicken breasts and tangy melted cheese…and it only takes 20 min to make! …