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.