Not a club exactly, but a site that specialises in giving you advice for organising your office drinks or that special occasion – corporate or personal. There are pages full of tips and advice plus a blog with heaps of wine reviews to help you make your wine choices or if you need to make a decision in a hurry use the handy ‘Quick Lists’. The reviews may be of the same wines as www.winemuse.com.au but are cut down versions. To save you time, I have complied lists of wine suggestions to suit different occasions. Please feel free to leave comments and to email me directly for advice, too.
Lisa
It’s the first weekend of Spring and though La Nina may rain just a little on your parade, why not just get out and enjoy it. If you are headed to the wine regions – check out Mudgee Wine Festival or Theatrefest at the Hunter. Or just recover from last months gourmet extravagances in Melbourne. This week is also about [re]discovering little gems.
White: Mount Horrocks Semillon 08 $27 (because it is a great food wine)
Red: St Hallett Gamekeeper’s Reserve Shiraz Grenache 09 $14
Treat of the Week: Di Giorgio Sparkling Pinot Noir 08 $26
Have a great weekend!
There is plenty of berries with some floral violets coming from the 8.5% Touriga Nacional and a hint of savoury meatiness. It has enough structure and body to go well with food but that sweetly ripe firm fruit gives it a real more-ishness.
Date: 17th July 2010 Price: $14 Value: $$$$ Drink: Now – 7 years
After all the disappointing political guff over the past week, it is going to be a great weekend to get out and start visiting some cellar doors. If you need to find some that are coming to you why not head to Bondi for TasteOrange @ Bondi, Taste of Melbourne or the Sunbury Wine Festival.
White: Freeman Pinot Gris Plus Fortuna 08 $25
Red: Glandore Estate Wines Tempranillo 08 $25
Treat of the Week: Pikes ‘The Merle’ Riesling 09 $38
Have a great weekend!
A great example of Tempranillo – all cherry and cinnamon spice made in the fruity Joven (meaning ‘young’) style. It is dry, medium bodied and soft & supple. There is enough structure to complement food very nicely – bring out your BBQ.
Date: 17th July 2010 Price: $25 Value: $$$ Drink: Now – 5 years
This is the weekend where Australia decides. Is it going to be a sparkling red moment or a Cab Sav kind of weekend. With the weather, it is ideal to start breaking out the bubbles but… there is still a chill in the air so there is still time for a solid red night. What ever the outcome – I am sure that there will be some sour tastes left in our mouths.
Let’s do a quick recap of your choices here:
Tony A is obviously a Cabernet Sauvignon = all structure & brawn, a little unsure of himself and can be difficult to swallow when young but does mellow a little with age but will be still squeaky minty clean.
Wine: Katnook Estate Founders Block Cabernet Sauvignon 08 $20 (a friendly Cab Sauv with plenty to give)
Julia G is a little like a Sparkling red = which looks like it can be sweet & sometimes is, but has a not so subtle backbone, grippy tannins and really packs a punch without you knowing it.
Wine: Majella Sparkling Shiraz 05 $35 (looks classy in a crown but has some serious backbone so that you cannot forget where it comes from)
Have a great weekend!
Is everyone ready for the Coonawarra Roadshow over the next couple of weeks? Maybe I will see you at the Sydney event. I am really looking forward to it and next week will make sure that the It’s Friday! selection will be Coonawarra bound.
White: Lark Hill 2009 Gruner Veltliner ( go searching for this one)
Red: O’leary Walker Blue Cutting Road 2008 Cabernet Merlot $15
Treat of the Week: Grant Burge Filsell 2008 Barossa Old Vine Shiraz $35
Have a great weekend!
Plush with spicy plum, juicy blackberry and chocolate, this wine will soon become a staple in your wine repertoire. 
A good food style that will work well with a gourmet beef pot pie with grilled veges.
Date: 17th July 2010 Price: $15 Value: $$$ Drink: Now – 5 years
Is there a glimpse of Spring in the air or am I just being over optimistic! Either way, I am thinking that it is a good weekend to get out and about. Afternoon Tea complete with Champagne is an option – particularly if you are down in Melbourne and only have one day left for the Langham’s Chocolate Winter Wonderland…. What are all the Dry Julyers going to do at 12am Saturday night? Perhaps you need some suggestions?
White: Dog Ridge Sauvignon Blanc 10 $18 (something to ease you back after a month of such self-restraint)
Red: Majella Merlot 08 $25
Treat of the Week: Primo Joseph NV sparkling red $65 (will go well with early bacon & eggs!)
Have a great weekend!
The nose has the perfumed berry fruit nose of Cab Franc but also has some dried rose notes. For those who might be chasing a wine with less or no oak, look no further – no oak has been used in this wine so that the fruit is fresh and looking bright. The Procrastinator fits the bill as a good food wine, is medium bodied, dry and has chalky tannins and a noticeably lower alcohol than previous vintage. Could be just the wine to send a tongue in cheek message to a colleague….
Date: 17th July 2010 Price: $18 Value: $$ Drink: Now – 5 years
IT’S FRIDAY …..
Any Dry Julyers out there wondering just why July had to be sooooo long and that the 31st is on a Saturday night…. Well, there is only one week and one day to go, so be strong. Hopefully you all have been abstaining and getting fit for the City2Surf which is the week after!!!
Anyone out there celebrating Christmas in July this weekend? The treat of the week is just for you!
White: Grant Burge Kraft Sauvignon Blanc 09 $24
Red: Chalk Hill Barbera 08 $18
Treat of the Week: Majella ‘The Malleea ‘ any vintage!
Have a great weekend!
