Monday 25 August 2014

La La Land Malbec and Tempranillo - HOWARD Vineyard Pinot Gris

LA LA LAND’S MALBEC IS A LULU

David Ellis

DO as the Argentinians do –
enjoy Malbec with barbecued
beef short ribs.
WINGARA Wine Group have released a new and somewhat quirkily-named La La Land label, with a 2013 Tempranillo and a 2013 Malbec from its Victorian vineyards the first two to hit the shelves under the novel and certainly eye-catching moniker.

And both live up nicely to the claims of Winemaker Phil Spillman as to their great generosity of flavour, and giving good reason to also look forward to a La La Land white that Phil says he has planned for release later in the year.

The Malbec is a particularly rewarding buy-now/drink-now wine with plump dark-fruit flavours, suggestions of spice and chocolate, and vanilla undertones. Phil suggests it as an ideal match with slow-cooked Argentinian-style barbecued beef short ribs – what else, with Argentina now producing 75% of the world's Malbec, and BBQ beef ribs somewhat of a national dish over there (where they marinate it in red wine, sprinkle with rock salt, slow-cook over a medium fire, and put on the table with the Malbec… certainly a match worth giving a thought to yourself.)

At $16 each, both the La La Land Malbec and Tempranillo are good-value buying.

GETTING itself an almost-cult
following in less than ten years.
ONE TO NOTE: HOWARD Vineyard that was established near Nairne in the Adelaide Hills less than ten years ago, is gaining itself an almost cult-following with some exceptional single-vineyard wines that are crafted with food very much in front of mind.

One such is their 2013 Pinot Gris made from fruit from a vineyard at Schoenthal, 450m up in the Hills, and which shows just how well the variety does here – in fact the Adelaide Hills could be said to have the perfect climate for making some of the finest Pinot Gris in Australia, the fruit enjoying a long cold ripening period that ensures flavour intensity and perfect acid development.

Pay $22 at Howard Vineyard's cellar door for this beaut drop, and enjoy chilled with seafoods or a Sunday roast pork. Buy via  www.howardvineyard.com


                                              
NEED A FOOD/DRINK IDEA? Check out http://www.vintnews.com We're also on Australian Good Food Guide http://www.agfg.com.au  in main blog.
  


Wc25Aug14

Thursday 21 August 2014

Have a Hunter Christmas With Mercure Hunter Valley Resort

Media Release

Celebrate the end of the year festivities in unforgettable style with Mercure Hunter Valley Resort's unique company Christmas packages.

For a convivial outdoor experience, a 'Pool-side Paella & Pinatas Party Package' is available. Set at the magnificent Mediterranean Pool, embrace festivities in a true Spanish celebratory style.

For a more elegant party experience, a 'Working Winery Dinner Package' is available. This exclusive dining experience is set amongst vintage wine barrels at the international award-winning McGuigan Barrel Room, which is a working winery.

Both are suitable for parties from 15 up to 160 people.

Packages can be customised with menus from $55 per person and a special accommodation rate from $169 per twin share room. All accommodation includes entry to the Christmas Lights Spectacular at Hunter Valley Gardens, which is right where Mercure Hunter Valley Resort is located. Terms & conditions apply.

Menus are created by Executive Chef Jean Marc Pollet, combining the best local produce from the Hunter Valley with seasonal flavour.

Mercure Hunter Valley Resort is located only 35 minutes from Newcastle, 45 minutes from the Central Coast and under 2 hours from Sydney. It is within walking distance to all the unique offerings of the Hunter Valley Gardens.

There are 72 beautifully appointed guestrooms that open out to a private balcony or courtyard, taking in the wonderful Hunter Valley views and magnificent gardens surrounding the property.

Bookings available now. To book and for more information, contact the events team by calling 02-4998 2000 or email events@mercurehuntervalley.com.au.

For more information on the Resort, visit www.mercurehuntervalley.com.au.

Wednesday 20 August 2014

Your Invitation to Outstanding on the Pier - 2014 NSW Wine Awards Tasting


We’re Back on the Pier- #OOTPier14


Outstanding on the Pier 2014 #OOTPier14We had such a great time last year, we’re back again with our favourite NSW foodies, with what promises to be another outstanding event!

Taste and critique with some of the State’s finest winemakers, the
 #topwines of NSW as judged at the 2014 NSW Wine Awards.

From north, south and west, an #outstanding line up of wines on tasting; the best of our regions.

Vote for the “People's Choice” Award of 2014 for a chance to win 
a #topwines package, whilst enjoying the best of NSW Wine & produce in a unique landmark Sydney location.

When: Thursday 30th October 2014, 5.00 -9.00pm

Where: Pier 2/3, 13A Hickson Road, Walsh Bay

Entry: $45 Early Bird + Booking Fee [Available until 5th October]

Entry Price: Includes a Riedel tasting glass [RRP $20], NSW Regional produce and tastings with the best of the NSW Wine Industry of 2014.

Don't miss out on this #outstanding event
Purchase your tickets here

Monday 18 August 2014

Signature Wines Barossa Valley Shiraz - Rob Geddes 2015 edition Australian Wine Vintages

SAVE $7 a bottle on the winery's
own price with this one.
TEAM EFFORT CAN MEAN VALUE BUYING

David Ellis

AN interesting company called Travelling Vineyards Australia has teamed up with the prestigious Australian Good Food Guide to provide that organisation's substantial following with premium drops from some 500 Australian wineries at prices that can be substantially below those wineries' very own.

One such of their offerings that we recently tasted was a more-ish 2009 Reserve Barossa Valley Shiraz from Signature Wines, whose forward berry and blackcurrant flavours, and beautiful richness, virtually shouted an ideal match with spicy foods.

Normally selling at $336 for a 12-bottle case, through AGFG its presently on discount at $295 – but hop onto www.ourwines.com.au and you'll also find a bonus $50 Gift Coupon that brings it down to an even lower $245… and with free delivery Australia-wide as well. That's an overall saving of $7 a bottle on the winery's own price.

That website also links directly to an extensive range of other reds and whites available at discounted prices through the Australian Good Food Guide.

A GREAT thought on Father's Day for wine
aficionado and enthusiastic novice alike.
ONE TO NOTE: IF you've a Dad with a more than passing interest in wine, a thought for Father's Day (September 7) is the 2015 edition of Australian Wine Vintages that goes on sale on September 1.

Author Rob Geddes, one of just a handful of Australian Masters of Wine, tasted his way through an extraordinary 8,000 wines for this 32nd edition of the pocket-size guide that's packed with incisive tasting notes, vintage reports and indicative prices for over 6,000 wines from 317 of Australia's best makers... and Rob's judgment on what he considered the Top 100 of all those thousands that he tasted.

There's advice as well on cellar doors worth visiting, and an App that's available also includes interactive maps and tips on where to eat and stay in Australia's wine regions. Priced at $34.95 it's a must-have for aficionado and enthusiastic novice alike; available at bookstores or www.australianwinevintages.com.au

NEED A FOOD/DRINK IDEA? Check out http://www.vintnews.com We're also on Australian Good Food Guide http://www.agfg.com.au  in main blog.

Wc18 Aug 14


                                                


Monday 11 August 2014

Mistletoe Semillon - Duff Beer

SNAP UP this one when visiting Mistletoe's
Hunter Valley cellar door
– it's perfect with seafoods.
SWEET JUSTICE FOR WINES ONCE-SCORNED

David Ellis

WE were reminded the other day of how the Hunter Valley's Mistletoe Wines was somewhat scorned by some fellow Hunter makers, and not the odd cellar door visitor too, when back in the late 1990s the company launched a series of Semillons that had varying degrees of sweetness – much like Germany does its Rieslings.

These ranged from an almost extremely-dry The Reserve Semillon to an off-dry Home Vineyard and a Silvereye Semillon that was close-to Mosel-like sweet. And while critics had a field day then, it's a different matter today: many other Hunter makers now also make sweeter-style Semillons, including some of those original critics, and customers today heap praise on Mistletoe's at its Cellar Door.

Owners, Ken and Gwen Sloan and their Winemaker, Nick Paterson say this has achieved one of their original goals: to have those who initially lean towards sweeter wines try these sweeter Hunter Semillons, and as their palates mature, progress to Mistletoe's (and the Hunter's generally) drier-style Semillons.

We recently tried all three Mistletoes and loved the off-dry 2013 Home Vineyard Semillon from a vintage many consider one of the best in 20 years for Hunter whites. It's a wine with wonderful lemony grapefruit flavours and a perfect harmony between sweetness and crisp acidity, to us a perfect drop at $22 with all manner of seafoods. Available cellar-door and select restaurants; see www.mistletoewines.com.au

HOMER'S favourite drop is now available
here in six-packs and cartons.
ONE TO NOTE: FOR twenty-odd years we've remained true in this column to our favourite tipple, wine – be it red or white, still or bubbly, chilled or room temperature.

But we mentioned enjoying the occasional "cleansing ale" the other day to a beer-loving mate who also happens to be a long-time fan of TV show, The Simpsons – and to our surprise he offered us bozo Homer's favourite drop, a Duff Beer which we didn't even know existed. USA-made, it now sells here through BWS and Dan Murphy's at $17 for a 355ml cans 6-pack. Lager in style with a hint of fruit on the palate, it'll doubtless have fans sharing one with Homer… what'll they think of next?

NEED A FOOD/DRINK IDEA? Check out http://www.vintnews.com We're also on Australian Good Food Guide http://www.agfg.com.au  in main blog.


                                               
Wc11 Aug 14


Monday 4 August 2014

Rosemount MV GSM - Cherry Tree Hill Rosé


GSM A GREAT WINTER’S RED-MEAT WINE

David Ellis

WONDERFUL drop with
winter-time red meat
or game dishes.

CHIEF Winemaker, Matt Koch and his team have done a fantastic job with their recently-released Rosemount MV Collection of top drops from McLaren Vale, a region that's been an essential part of the company since the 1980s – and the more-so since it acquired the 100-year-old Ryecroft winery and vineyards there in 1991.

They've four wines under the MV label, a Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon from the 2012 vintage and a Chardonnay and GSM from the 2013 – and it was the GSM that really grabbed our attention: here is a wine that absolutely bursts in the mouth with raspberry and strawberry flavours foremost, followed by some spice and nice earthiness to round out to a lovely soft finish.

Matt Koch readily talks-up McLaren Vale as one of the company's most dynamic regions, producing fruit of regular consistency and quality. And that certainly was the case for this 2013 GSM (Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvedre,) which came from a particularly hot vintage, but was shielded to a nice degree by a strong leaf canopy resulting from heavy winter rains and a mild spring preceding a hot summer.

A wonderful drop for winter-time red meat or game dishes, and with a good jug on the side of a pepper- or mushroom-heavy gravy. Well recommended at $25.


CURRY favour with this one: an ideal
wine served chilled with Indian curries.
ONE TO NOTE: USUALLY thought of as a great slurper on hot summer's days, Rosé in our book is equally one that we like to take along any time of year to share at the table with warm to hot curries at our favourite Indian eateries.

And one we found a ripper just recently was a 2011 Cherry Tree Hill label blended from Cabernet, Merlot and Sauvignon Blanc fruit off that company's vineyard at Sutton Forest in the NSW Southern Highland, its flavours a perfect foil when served chilled with our spread of curry choices. Priced at $18 plus $12 freight (for any number from 1 to 48;) for full range, prices and "Club Discounts" of up to 30% check out www.cherrytreehill.com.au A Cellar Door is planned for opening in Spring.

NEED A FOOD/DRINK IDEA? Check out http://www.vintnews.com We're also on Australian Good Food Guide http://www.agfg.com.au in main blog.

WcO4 Aug 14