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Apr
18

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A big German cheers to a sweeter life!

Category: Features, NV Sparkling, Rose, Sparkling, sweet Tags: , Leave a Comment

 

What does a charming German gentleman, a luxurious high tea fit for any queen and a glorious Autumnal day at gentile The Langham, Sydney have in common? Henkell Sekt! The leading German brand for bubbles, Henkell, was reminding us to give a big ‘Cheers to Life!’ Certainly a good philosophy to take to heart and even sweeter in light of just how well the Henkell Trocken, Rosé & Sparkling Riesling matched that high tea piled high with sandwiches and petit titbits.

Henkell brand ambassador, Klaus Kuerten, highlighted the fact that while Australia’s consumption in bubbles is growing, our friends in Germany drink more bubbles than anywhere else in the world. I have fond memories of being able to enjoy a glass of Sekt in many places where my friend enjoyed an expresso while travelling through Germany and Switzerland. Sekt is as plentiful, as it is refreshing. It is also true however, that if an Australian drinker thinks of German wine at all, Read More

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Apr
12

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Five interesting wines to try this week

Category: bold reds, elegant reds, Fortified, fruity white, Musings Tags: , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

 

 

Shaw Vineyard Estate Riscato – ($15) made in the style of moscato however Shaw from Murrumbateman have used a pleasing blend of semillon, riesling and a tint of shiraz. Instead of the floral, Turkish delight of the muscat family that is the normal realm of moscato expect to find orange blossom and fresh citrus. Sweet and frothy, a refreshing quaffer for sharing with friends or unwinding the stress of the day.

919 Dry Apera – ($29) A pale dry Apera created in the style of Fino Sherry from Spain via the Barossa Valley, Australia. This is a well styled wine with yeasty apple and nut characters in abundance. A little rounder than its Spanish counterparts but offers length and structure to enjoy with tapas, antipasta or just a bowl of warm almonds with flaked salt.

Pizzini Nebbiolo 2009 – ($48) The Northern Italian Nebbiolo is still finding its feet in Australia, however in the hands of families such as the Pizzinis it will find its niche. This Nebbi is rich with cherry, exotic spice and perfume while remaining elegantly bodied & lingers along the palate. The varietal tannins are ripe and provide structure to flesh out the palate.  One to savour as the weather gets cooler and enjoy with venison and truffled mash.

Krinklewood Wild White 2012 - ($16) Set in the gorgeous Broke Fordwich region, the gardens and the cellar door is a like a little slice of Provence in the Hunter Valley….. a little slice of Biodynamic Hunter Valley. It definitely should be on your visit list. The Wild White has some spicy floral character coming from a dollop of fragrant gewurwtraminer to the ripe tropical stonefruit verdelho making up this year’s blend. Fresh, dry & fleshy on the palate. A wine made for crisp summer drinking – right now.

Meerea Park Indie Shiraz Pinot 2010 – ($36)  There are very few pockets of Hunter Pinot left and the brothers Eather at Meerea Park have put this batch to good use.  The Pinot Noir gives the blend a lightness & freshness as well as some raspberry fruit and lemon thyme herbs. The shiraz adds its juicy cherry fruit. The Indie is densely packed with complex and soft fruit with a hint of firmness on the spicy cinnamon finish.  Try it for yourself. It is enjoyable now or in seven odd years.

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Mar
26

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Easter – no bunnies here!

Category: bold reds, elegant reds, Features, Fizz, Fortified, fruity white, Red Wine, savoury whites, Sparkling, sweet, Vintage Sparkling, White Wine Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Leave a Comment

After the thrill of Easter eggs and frill of Easter baskets comes the meal to celebrate the spirit of new life.  For some more orthodox religions, this also means the breaking of the fast in a traditional feast with all the trimmings.  Where ever you live, whether Northern or Southern hemisphere the milder weather is welcomed.  Like we just needed another reason to celebrate!

Easter menu’s range from traditional ham, roast pork or lamb with seasonal vegetables to more modern styles.  Don’t forget the seafood/fish feasts for Good Friday (this, I confess, is when we aim to have fish and chips by the beach as a family). Dessert is always the height of anticipation on any celebratory menu and may well be a simnel cake or at least the last slices of it or a simple repast of hot cross buns. These never last long in my house for some reason and perhaps if they did, I would turn them into a bread and butter pudding with a Topaque or Liqueur Muscat sticky caramel sauce.

Whatever your plans, here are a few wine suggestions to make your Easter more memorable …… Read More

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Mar
26

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Taltarni Brut 2009

Category: Fizz, Vintage Sparkling Tags: , Leave a Comment

Taltarni produce some very approachable and generous wines with their pink hued Brut Tache being one of Australia’s most popular sparkling rosé wines. This vintage Sparkling wine is made using the traditional method, which is used to produce Champagne using traditional trio of grapes used for the finest of fizz – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir with some Pinot Meunier from Victoria’s cool climate Pyrenees and Macedon Ranges regions.

Ripe, fruity, with a white peach and melon fruit core wrapped up with some zesty lemon and bready yeast. The creamy texture generously fills your mouth and pleases the senses while the lively acid leaves it fresh. You simply cannot resist the next sip.

Date: January 2013  Price:  $25   Value:  $$     Drink: Now

Image: taltarni.com.au

 

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Mar
4

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Wine of the Month: Mitchell Harris Sabre 2008

Category: Fizz, Vintage Sparkling, Wine of the Month Tags: , Leave a Comment

There is always room for quality sparkling in my fridge & Sabre has an open invitation.  At last, John Harris has released a sparkler under his own label having recently left Mt Avoca to focus solely on Mitchell Harris.  However, he did not leave the neighbourhood and has set about making sure that the Pyrenees is duly recognized as a region producing sumptuous wines.

Sabre is an Australian sparkling made the traditional way of Champagne using Chardonnay from both Macedon & Pyrenees and some Macedon Pinot Noir.  It is soft & gently rounded with absolutely none of the pointy bits the name suggests. Instead the bubbles are languid forming a creamy mousse.

Nutty apple & citrus characters are joined by a fresh bready yeast that complements the ripe fruit.  There is line & length to this wine with a crisp, dry & long finish.  A good wine as an aperitif or why not pop a bottle to enjoy with some irresistibly delicate canapés.

If you are touring the Pyrenees region & Ballarat make sure that you drop in to Mitchell Harris’ new cellar door opening in Ballarat in March 2013.

Distribution:  on-line, fine wine stores, restaurants & cellar door.

Value:  $40.00

www.mitchellharris.com.au

This review was originally published on www.winediva.com.au in August 2012

 

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