Wine Tasting Video: Australian Sparkling Wine
The Spee’Wah Cuvée Chardonnay NV, Murray Darling (£9.50 The Drinkmonger, Bibendum) Simple, sherbetty style, has a honeyed edge to the cooked apple fruit, quite broad and biscuity, but lacks freshness. C Jansz Tasmania Premium Non Vintage Cuvée (
Tamar Ridge Kayena Reserve 2007
Tamar, Northern Tasmania, Australia. Pinot noir. 14%. Screwcap. Approx $A60.After a string of hot days, a relatively mild 31.2 (88 degrees F) and time to open something red. . . the pleasure and form were enhanced by an hour of tactical refrigeration.A...
Baba ghanoush
I've been thinking and trying to make baba ghanoush since tasting a deliciously smoky and creamy version last year at the Prophet.This attempt is closest I've come. . .Take one aubergine and pierce 6-7 times with a fork and placed on a stove hob and ch...
Snake + Herring High and Dry Riesling 2011
Porongurup, Great Southern, Western Australia. Riesling. 12%. Screwcap. Approx $A29.A beautiful label and evocative name, this particular wine reminds me most of the Cherubino Riesling. Coming from the same patch of earth, it has a similar aching inten...
Ngeringa Pinot noir 2008
Adelaide Hills, South Australia. Pinot noir. 13%. Screwcap. Approx $A30 for a half.Last night was a restless caffeine affected one. I dreamt of mushrooms and risotto and some time in the early hours, I woke to read Niki Segnit's wonderful book. She has...
Streicker Chardonnay 2009
Wilyabrup, Margaret River, Western Australia. Chardonnay. 14%. Screwcap. Approx $A35.Something new and quite delicious. Bottle 2098 of 3400. It has a beautiful shape without ever appearing artificial or augmented. Complete and complex, made from the Gi...
Bress Harcourt Valley Cider Brut
Yarra Valley, Victoria. 10%. Crown seal. Approx $A20 for 750ml bottle.Delicious and complex. At first and with the bubbles it smells of gum and confection. I'm sure this is not just a framing error. Green apple, sour dough, blue vein cheese and the fai...
Knappstein Enterprise Cabernet 1998
Clare Valley, South Australia. Cabernet sauvignon, Malbec 3%. Cork. Cellar.Last tried as a 9 year old, this seems unchanged. It still smells and feels like a Clare red. It's sharp with blackcurrant, eucalyptus and bay leaf. There is something bushy and...
Petaluma Coonawara 2000
12 years is not a long time to live, but I've slept rough, at the feet of a wino, under a desk laden with books and wires, corks and bottles. In a box with strangers I've been waiting. . . I still smell of blackcurrant and herbs and the warmth of my bi...
Domaine Lucci Sauvignon blanc 2011
Adelaide Hills, South Australia. Sauvignon blanc. 12.5%. Diam. Approx $A25.Last year I tried a trio of pinot noir (1,2,3) from the maker, all interesting wines with distinctive labels and personalities, though once on the tongue they all seemed fleetin...
