Scarborough 2009 yellow label Chardonnay (magnum)

That's a BIG bottle! No,  I didn't drink it all... 

Well, sadly,  I'm just not sold on this one. Which is a pity because Scarborough do some outstanding bottles of Chardonnay. 

It's overly rich,  it is frighteningly heavy, yellow, and leaves a slimey bitter taste at the end. 

Saying that,  I reckon this is a great bottle for  a party.  It is a good quoff if you like a typical Ozzie Chardonnay, and just because it isn't too my palate doesn't mean it is a bad bottle.  

Liqourland: McGuigan Black label 2014 (red)

RRP:  $8.00

Lets start by stating the bloody obvious.  This wine was $8.  Yup, 8 dollars. Furthermore, a quick search on good old google brings up the 2013 for a mere $5 on Dan Murphy's.  

I'll be blunt; I tend to not buy wines that don't list the the grape varieties used on its label, and i'll be honest in saying that I didn't buy this bottle.  The bloke needed a cooking wine and bought it without supervision. I'm so glad he did as what a lovely surprise!!  It is drinkable, it is fruity, it is medium bodied with a nice finish and it has no real harsh chemical toilet taste either. Win win so far... I could happily have a glass or two of this by itself, and I reckon it would go lovely with pasta.

  

Having a guess at the grapes used, I'd say that there is a decent dollop of merlot and cab sav.  Possibly some grenache or colder climate shiraz as it does have some length.  This wine is definitely NOT a harsh, young, full of tannin hunter shiraz that scrapes down the back of your throat. Give it a shot, its enjoyable and versatile enough for drinking AND cooking!  That's a first for me :)

Warning: it is def not a dry red, and some might say it is sweet.  I don't think so, it is just a lot more flavoursome that some might expect.

I reckon it will give you a stonking headache though... hopefully there will be some left after cooking for the test!

42 degrees south pinot noir 2014

What to buy at the bottlo? 

You can pick this bottle up for $23 at Dan Murphy's or $18.99 at wineonline.com.  It's a pretty good pinot.  Nothing too fruity or chemically.  It's average in alcohol at 13.5% vol and you don't taste even a hint of it.   

I had this with a fig pizza,  and it was light enough to be complimentary to the gentle boccinci cheese.  

Get this to take to a party if you don't want a hangover the following day,  but want a nice wine.  This comes into its own when sharing with friends.  It's non offensive in every way and it is a nice glass to share! .  

   

In the future...

Here is a list of my up coming reviews for bottles suggested by friends, other wine lovers and because I like the label! 

Grant Burge:  Bussell JG 2011 Cabernet Merlot from Margaret River

Meerea Park Black Shiraz 2011

"There is nothing but goodness in this glass..."

RRP: $190

 

GOOSEBUMPS!  Its quite simple.  You should just go and buy it.  

Nothing I can say can really do this wine justice.  It is creamy, rich and fruity.  The overwhelming pepper that ruins most hunter Shiraz's can be found only as a slight background acid; there to compliment the lingering blackberry flavour that develops and goes on and on and on.  Nothing beats a beautiful full bodied wine like this.

You can drink now and be blown away with it, or cellar it nicely for at least 10 years.  To me this means buy a case and try one every two years :)

Food: I had this with one of my awful (I'm no cook) spag bolls and left the food to just drink the wine.  It would obviously be a perfect accompaniment to most meats, but next time I'm going to have it with the tempura veggies & soy sauce from Mongers fish shop.  

It is quite expensive so for me it is a wine for special occasions, and not drinking every day.  If you buy for investment or this is your normal wine price range, I can't recommend it highly enough.  Much nicer than a grange in my humble opinion.

"For a young bottle of wine, it shows a maturity beyond its years!"
 

Moss Wood Chardonnay 2011 Margaret River

This is an absolute cracker.  Just buy it.  A friend recommended this over the Petaluma Chardy and I should have listened.

The smell is heavy fruit with the undertone of no nonsense lime.  I get a lot of citrus from this glass without it being an overripe sickening Verdelho.  It is just downright tasty and I genuinely could not stop drinking it.  I personally found it to be medium bodied.  It wasn't light and didn't disappear, yet it wasn't a heavy awkward glass that sat at the back of your throat like a bad mouthwash.  Everything about this Moss wood is just perfection.  The initial taste is spectacular, the finish is lingering yet not overpowering and the build of different fruit throughout the journey is interesting.  

It is a wine that can be drank in most situations, with most foods.  It is just an excellent, outstanding chardonnay.  More please!

Chateau De Maligny Petit Chablis 2012 and 2009

Nicest white I've tested this year  

Chateau De Maligny Petit Chablis 2012

Let me set the scene: 32oC,  nothing but the sound of the wind through the palms trees.  Branches groaning under the weight of the ripe coconuts and a gentle breeze running over my rashie (tans are not cool!).   I needed a glass of wine,  but not any glass of wine,  I fancied a white wine! Wonders will never cease.  My change in heart was 100% down to being on the gorgeous island of ile des pins.   For those in the know, ile des pins is an "overseas collectivity" (COM) of France so it has plenty of French wines to drink.  After a long consultation with the sommelier,  (because I know nothing about French wine) we decided I should try the 2012 Petit Chablis from Chateau De Maligny.
The wine is crisp and has a lovely vanilla fudge flavour.  It sits a light golden colour in the glass and smells a faintly of freshly baked fairy cake.  Initial taste is subtle and builds in the mouth.  It lingers  just long enough to be remembered,  but no chemical entails are left.

 This is a great alternative to Montrachet at a fraction of the price.

As a side note,  I was lucky enough to try the 2009.  If you can,  but this over the 2012. However,  the sommelier opened one and it was corked.  Guess that's just the problem with older cork stopper white wine.
Lastly,  I also tried the  2013 and it wasn't a patch on either of the above.

Gemstone Chardonnay 2014 South Australia

This is an organic wine from the Gem Tree winery in McLaren Vale,  and as much as I want to like it,  I just can't.   I bought the bottle from the pizza shop for $20 (their wines are generally fairly good),  but this one was way off the mark.
No real taste to talk of and a slight chemical end to it which made me feel I was in space,  drinking clean,  recycled peewater.  (I follow @astrosamantha and @astroterry on twitter.  They are on the international space station right now and they post the most amazing photos!). 

Shaw and Smith Savignon Blanc 2014 Adelaide Hills

 

S&S. I love you

Tonight's tipple is the illustrious Shaw and Smith Sav blanc.  I haven't any of their stuff before, but having this lovely sav has put them on my radar.
On initial contact, it has the tiniest-weeniest little bit of fizz which dissipates to a nice honey and pear finish.  There is no nasty acid and it has a pleasantly long lasting finish.

One thing that I found interesting, is that the wine has zero colour.  It is really really pale.  I initially thought, oh dear! another wishy-washy white (can you tell i'm not a white fan?!?!), but oh my, its delics.

Clear as the light of day

I had this wine with a plate of heirloom tomatoes and bocconcini.  It was delicious, however I'd like to pair it with a tart lemon chicken or sweet potato dish.  I reckon the honey taste would compliment starcy potato or soften the acid lemon.

For a change (and this rarely happens!), I am actually very pleased with my choice.  If its hot, you can't stomach a red, or you just fancy a white, then start here.  You won't be disappointed.
 

Hunter Valley: Where to go?

Update:  20th Jan 2018

A+:  Lakes Folly
http://www.lakesfolly.com.au

20/1/18 Update:  Phone ahead to see if cellar door is open as they don't have much stock left.

My personal favourite.  This is a boutique winery and produces a rather small 4500 (approx) cases each year.  They only have 2 wines, and both French style red and white are amazing.  This is my Hunter valley true love winery because they only use grapes from their own block so no buying in from big producers.  I like this.  Their cabernets and chardonnays are amongst the best in Australia.  If you want to visit here, I would suggest that you call ahead.  They run out of stock fairly quickly and close the cellar door to avoid disappointment.  If you do sadly miss the opportunity to taste the glorious cab, then come again another year and come at the right time of year (April). 

Lakes Folly

1.  Meerea Park (cellar door is at the tempus two winery)
https://meereapark.com.au/

Meerea park is outstanding.  It is famous for its Alexander Munro (the grandfather) and Hell Hole, and rightly so.  These are brilliant long lasting wines.  Not quaffing, only cellaring and for enjoying with the right people.  

Definitely try their cheaper Shiraz and XYZ Shiraz if available for tasting.  If you like, grab a dozen as they are great to take to bbq's, but cellar a couple for 5+yrs and I reckon they will be super tasty!
 **I was lucky enough to try the 'Black'.  If you are a wine snob you *must* try it, but be warned that you will want to buy a bottle and it is expensive.

2. Petersons at 552 Mount View Road
http://www.petersonswines.com.au/

So pretty up on the hill

Not to be confused with Petersons Champagne House!  Try and get an audience with Jon the Pom.  He eats breathes and sleeps these gorgeous wines and if you get to taste "The Pom" you will be trying a wine that matches his brilliance.  If you like a hunter Shiraz, ask for their old block tastings.  These bottles retail $50 upwards so they don't always have them available to try.  
This is one of the few family run and owned vineyards in the hunter valley, so please support them buying a bottle if you do go on a tasting there.  
Their wine club is great and gives you decent examples of their releases so you know what to buy.  
Lastly, they occasionally have a delicious sparkling moscato.  Get it if they have it.

That's Jon the Pom.  He rocks!

3.  Piggs Peake
http://www.piggspeake.com/

Go here for the grenache ($70).  The crew are a lovely bunch, and they will take you out the back if you ask nicely.  They are a small producer so please again, buy a bottle if you taste.

4.  Gun dog estate
http://www.gundogestate.com.au/

This is one that I found very recently.  I like their Shiraz, in that it is not the traditional peppery strong hunter version.  Try here if you fancy dipping your toe into a different type of hunter wine. 

And now for the bubbles!!

A+ Pierre Wines

www.pierrewines.com

20/1/18 Update:  Finished off my last bottle of this celebrating 2018 NYE.  The zero dosage was a hit with everyone, including the folk who "don't like champagne".   It is time to pop up again, say hi to Peter and get another case.

Over Easter I discovered Pierre wines.   This tiny producer has the best champagne style fizz in the Hunter. 

Don't be put off by the 10 min drive from the hunter valley gardens at the Broke & McDonald junction to Branxton,  it really isn't that far and it is so worth it. 

My personal fav (unusually so as I'm a blanc de blanc girl)  is the Chardonnay Pinot mix with zero dosage.  It fizzes delightfully on the tongue,  with suitably small bubbles and the taste development is second to none.  At only $40 a bottle,  get it now before he falls prey to the stupid price hikes that is becoming the norm in the Hunter. 

Stonehurst 
http://www.cedarcreekcottages.com.au/site/index.cfm?display=217555


This is THE best place to get bubbles (because they are methode champenoise), and whilst it is not in Pokolbin, it is on the way.  You can find this brilliant bubbles producer on Wollombi road which is part of the scenic route drive into the hunter from Sydney.  I suspect that this is one of the smallest places you will visit, so please help support them and go buy their bubbles.  They are also organic.  

Map for you:



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Brokenwood Wade Block 2 Shiraz 2010

Good one? you betcha!

RRP: $65.00

Being on the expensive side I thought, what the hell! let's do this properly and decant it.  Thank god I did because it really comes into its own after about 30 mins.

When opened, I was pleasantly surprised by the abundance of fruity goodness that came billowing out.  This was going to be a very yummy wine.  Pouring it into the decanter, the shiraz showed the normal glorious purpley red colour, and none of the brown tinge that would hint at overmaturity.   (I just don't trust my wine fridge, and with recent temperatures of 40C+ in my kitchen, who knows what is going on with my poor wine!!!).  In the decanter, the smell relaxed into a rounded peppery rose.  The alcohol level is 14.5%, which gives you a touch of CBN (chemical burn nose) but don't let this distract you.

It is purpley. Trust me.

Drinking:  Wade is full bodied.  By this I mean that the initial taste explodes in your mouth, develops and leaves a gorgeous long follow up.  This is a wine that wants to be taken seriously, and will not just pass wishy-washy through your mouth.  Its rich flavour is cherry heavy, ending in the rose that you get from the initial smell.  I also get a wee touch of bergamot. Not orange, but bergamot.  It is spicier.  This wine has only the tiniest bit of tannin which is my book, makes it magnificent!  You are, however,  talking to a lass that can't really stomach Hunter Shiraz's for that tannic reason, so it is just my taste.

Food:  I had it with a tomato based bean dish, and it was terrible.  Brokenwood recommend beef, so I'll update this if and when I try it with meat.  I had a few squares of dairy milk and the sweetness was lovely with the pepper, however I'd love to try it as an accompaniment to a veggie burger with grilled (not fried, who on earth wants fried) halloumi sides. 

In summary:  buy a case of this.  Put half down for long term cellaring, knowing that whenever you choose to open it you will have a sterling Shiraz ready to go.  Drink half now with people who like a decent tipple and will appreciate it.  This is NOT a wine to be used in mulled wine.  Or sangria.  Ever.

Check out my posh decanter. I haven't broken it yet!!

Petaluma Piccadilly Valley Chardonnay 2013

RRP $39.99 
Its from the Piccadilly Valley in the Adelaide Hills.  How cute a name is that?

What a tasty little chardy.  Personally I prefer less of a smack in the mouth from my whites, however if you want something that will match a spicy pasta (Amatricana anyone?) or a carpaccio di manzo then this is your glass.  
The oak is significant, yet not horrible and I get a touch of pear followed by a not unpleasant gingery bite to the back of your throat,

This wine isn't to my taste, but it's not a bad full-blown-good-old-aussie chardy if that is what you are craving.

Philip Shaw No. 8 Pinot Noir 2012

It definitely says no. 8...

RRP: $40.00

Not your normal pinot noir. No.8 lingers on the tongue and packs an exquisite fruit punch that you don't expect with a pinot. The honey gold tinge belies the strawberry and cherry taste and hints at the gentle oak that plays in the background.

Enjoy this by itself or with some salmon and cream cheese.  I reckon it goes nicely with a bit of galaxy chocolate, but others disagreed.

Lastly, this gets my vote for its beautiful label.  Definitely one to have in your label collection.

Stunning label art

Check out those golden honey tones... smell the oak!