Helm Riesling 2008
Murrumbateman, Canberra, Australia. Riesling. 12%. Screwcap. Approx $35Two interesting things on the back label. First the choice of preservatives - this contains 224 and 300. Potassium metabisulphate and Ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). I'm pretty sure this...
Petaluma Hanlin Hill Riesling 2008
It would seem that I was too harsh on this when I last tried it. I thought it short and unworthy. One year on I can see how wrong and impatient I was. The flavours are similar, but the striking thing now is the step up in intensity. It's like sucking o...
Shaw and Smith M3 Chardonnay 2008
Adelaide Hills, South Australia. Chardonnay. 13.5%. SCrewcap. Approx $A40.As I sip, my head is pounding and my concentration is elsewhere. Is it any wonder I find this slightly less compelling the previous vintage? The spectrum of flavours is similar w...
Bindi Original Vineyard Pinot Noir 2005
Macedon, Victoria. Pinot noir. 13.5%. Diam. Source: Cellar.The fruit of Ficus macrophylla (The Moreton Bay Fig) are edible, but unrewardingly dry and gritty. I spent a lazy afternoon with my children collecting them from Hyde park, along with discarded...
Dr Loosen Bernkaster Lay Kabinett 2007
Mosel, Germany. Riesling. 7.5%. Screwcap. Approx $A35.There is nothing particularly complex or intriguing about this, the pleasure lies in the simplicity and balance. It's apple puree cut with lime juice, with an initial spritzig and the obligatory sug...
Voyager Estate Cabernet Merlot 2001
Margaret River, Western Australia. Cabernet sauvignon, Merlot. 14.5%. Screwcap. Source: Cellar.I've started reading Nick Hornby's latest book - Juliet Naked. I'd strongly recommend it to all my fellow bloggers. One of the main characters, Duncan, maint...
Flametree Cabernet Merlot 2008
I thought I'd try a slightly different way of presenting my tasting notes (click on the image). Please let me know what you think.http://feeds.feedburner.com/WinoSapien
Poderi Aldo Conterno Masante Langhe Dolcetto 2007
Langhe, Piedmonte, Italy. Dolcetto. 13.5%. Cork (tight and hard to remove). Approx $A45.Matured in stainless steel, there is nothing blurred or ill-defined about this. It is sharp and acid laden, primary and quite delicious. Scented with rose petal, ju...
September books
I've been dipping my nose into these three books for several weeks. I started with The Periodic Table, which is beautiful and harrowing. Each is story tinged with sadness and tragedy and yet there is a lightness to the words and more than a trace of wh...
Kooyong Meres Pinot noir 2006
Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. Pinot noir. 13.5%. Diam. Approx $A65Image: Wine bottle with freshly prepared but unproven pizza dough.I wish I could remember exactly what the Kooyong Ferrous tasted like, instead I must rely on a two month ol...
Chinese roast duck calzone
I think it is fair to say that I've become slightly obsessed with making pizza. It seems to be all I've cooked for the last month. I've borrowed and read half a dozen books, the best is still the one by Lanzafame, which Australia Post is currently sell...
