Archive | September, 2009
Rhone Ranger, g’day mate!
Just out of a fun blind tasting at McHenry Hohnen of 22 Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre-dominated blends, 11 from the Barossa, 1 from McLaren Vale, 3 from Margaret River and 7 from the Southern Rhone. My big picture conclusion – Margaret River sits neatly between the New World GSMs and the Rhone with well-defined, fresh red [...]
Continue reading...Western Australia – week one
Posted Saturday 26th September 2009
It’s the end of my first week of three in Western Australia. Today the sun is shining and it’s a beautiful day in Margaret River, but my arrival coincided with some unseasonal wet and windy weather. Couldn’t help wondering if that’s why the Wine Industry Association of Western Australia have a file on me entitled “Sarah Ahmed Regional Challenge?!! Cold [...]
Continue reading...Fraser Gallop – a runaway success?
Posted Saturday 19th September 2009
I’m off to Western Australia today on various journo missions, also guesting at the Howard Park International Riesling tasting and judging Qantas Wine Show of Western Australia. It’s a region which I love to visit – very beautiful and great wines of course! Speaking of which, in the current edition of Decanter, bulging with award [...]
Continue reading...Cullen Kevin John Chardonnay 2007 & Rustenberg John X Merriman 2006
Posted Friday 18th September 2009
Cullen Kevin John Chardonnay 2007, Margaret River, Western Australia – I must declare an interest, albeit minor…my biceps played some part in the batonnage when I did 2 weeks cellar ratting at Cullen in 2007. I well remember the floral and grapefruit perfume of the Chardy room and the meditative tonic of lees-stirring in between [...]
Continue reading...The Douro Boys – 2007 table wines & port report
Posted Friday 18th September 2009
Just to say I’ve posted my full report of my visit earlier this month to meet with the Douro Boys here. It features tasting notes of new releases (2008 whites, 2007 reds and ports) and a report of vertical tastings with each of the famous five – Quintas do Vallado, do Crasto, do Vale Dona [...]
Continue reading...Shaw & Smith 20th Anniversary tasting
Posted Tuesday 15th September 2009
Cousins Michael Hill-Smith MW and Martin Shaw started making wine together in the Adelaide Hills under their Shaw & Smith label in 1989. Last week they were in town to celebrate their 20th anniversary with a tasting of mini-verticals that struck right at the heart of Australia’s winemaking spirit – rigorous in approach yet open-minded [...]
Continue reading...Palladius & pumpkin, a PS
Posted Sunday 13th September 2009
Hey, hot tip for a Palladius food match – have just confirmed in the most delicious way that its honeyed sweetness, girth and complexity find a perfect match in roast squash with porcini. Halve the squash, remove the seeds and fibre, smear the flesh with butter then fill with porcini (I’m no Rockefeller, of the [...]
Continue reading...High Timber!!!!!!
Posted Sunday 13th September 2009
I presented my South African Rhone blends with a twist tasting at High Timber restaurant in July, reported here. The Sadie Family Palladius 2008, the 2007 of which was voted favourite white of the night, has recently been crowned White Wine of the Year in the 2010 John Platter South African wine guide. Made by [...]
Continue reading...The real amber nectar: De Bortoli Noble One vertical
Posted Wednesday 9th September 2009
Forget the beer, this is what I call amber nectar! If you’ve ever wondered how that bottle of Noble One you’ve stashed away might age, or how the wine once labelled De Bortoli Sauternes stacks up against Sauternes from Bordeaux, now’s your chance to find out. In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Noble One, [...]
Continue reading...The Douro nose to tail…
Posted Tuesday 8th September 2009
So I’m back from the Douro Valley visit with the Douro Boys. No matter how many times I go, its scale and rugged beauty blow me away. One wag queried “Boys,” but this is why I think it remains an apt title. The Douro’s most famous product is port, so maybe you’re thinking pipe and [...]
Continue reading...The Douro Boys – the 2007 releases
Posted Tuesday 1st September 2009
Hey, just to let you know I’m off to see the wizards today a.k.a. the Douro Boys! I’ll be reviewing the latest 07 vintage releases - I had a sneak preview when I visited with Dirk Niepoort in June and the wines were looking pretty fab though just bottled. As for the ports, check out [...]
Continue reading...
Posted Wednesday 30th September 2009
2 Comments