The Wine Detective Archives: December 2009
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28 December 2009
Domaine Huet’s 2008 releases – a triumph over adversity & an excuse for a Demi-sec vertical
During September, I had a fantastic run of vertical tastings – De Bortoli Noble One, Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier, Shaw & Smith M3 Chardonnay and Shiraz. As if things could not get any better, Noel Pinguet (pictured), Domaine Huet’s winemaker, arrived in town to show off no less than 10 different vintages of Huet’s Demi-sec Vouvray, [...]
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23 December 2009
McHenry Hohnen – from vine to swine
Following on from my Howard Park write up here, I’ve posted my second regional report of my Western Australia trip here. It focuses on my September visit to McHenry Hohnen and, as you’ll gather from the picture and the title of this post, there’s more to this family-owned producer than wine.
In fact, when David Hohnen, [...]
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19 December 2009
The X factor, including the new Y-front…quintessential Aussie quaffing
Presented my final tasting of the year last night. A couple of the wines, Innocent Bystander Moscato (pictured) and St Hallett Gamekeeper’s Reserve 2008, prompted this post.
The Gamekeeper’s Reserve, a winsome blend of Shiraz Grenache Touriga Nacional, is well nigh perfect for someone who loves Aussie and Portuguese wines like yours truly! As winemaker Toby [...]
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17 December 2009
HP sauce is delicious of course – a visit with Howard Park
After a full on Portugal-focused month, this week, I’ve finalised my 50 Great Portuguese Wines for the 2010 annual tasting and updated the Portugal entries for Hugh Johnson Pocket Wine 2011 – hurrah!
And my thoughts have now magically reverted to my Western Australia trip of September/October. You’ll find here the first of my detailed regional [...]
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14 December 2009
Beetroot, horseradish and white wine…a good match!
Just thought I’d share a great veggie/wine food match for a salad of beetroot, pink fir potatoes and mixed leaves, topped with a soft-boiled egg.
Earthy beetroot, the bite and kick horseradish & mustard leaves together with an unctuous soft boiled egg make for a challenging wine match. I pondered and came up with Covela [...]
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11 December 2009
The Douro – staying in, eating out
En route home from a few days in the Douro, followed by a visit to Esporao in Alentejo, wine report to follow.
In the meantime, should you be travelling out that way, oenotourism is progressing in leaps and bounds here. I’ve just added a couple of places to stay that I’d recommend to my September Douro report here [...]
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7 December 2009
A Christmas selection box…naughty and nice!
It’s that time of year to go for it on the wine front and, if you’re in need of some vinous inspiration, here are some of my favourite wines of the year for each of my areas of focus and a couple more besides, starting with Champagne of course!
Champagne
Taittinger Comtes de Champagne 1998 – very [...]