Wine without BS

Centennial Vineyards - 2016 Bong Bong Pinot Noir

Centennial Vineyards 2016 Bong Bong Pinot Noir

I've had the pleasure of visiting the Centennial Vineyards Cellar Door on a few occasions but my most recent visit was the first time back in a number of years. Based on my most recent experience it will definitely become a more regular stop on newly increased travel within the area due to family now living in the vicinity. Centennial Vineyards has a vast range of wines available to taste, and I recommend you try them all, but let's talk about this Pinot!

Lighter in colour than your standard Pinot Noir with an almost 'lolly' red hue. Truth be told I've had rosé wines darker in colour than this. On the nose I'll admit, I was reaching to get anything distinctive but I got some faint earthy notes and red berry fruits. On the palate, it was like silk! It is just so damn easy to drink that it could go something like this - one sip, two sips.... bottle! There are fresh, juicy red fruits and just a whole lotta 'smooth' going on here. In some ways, I see it as being a red wine that even 'white only' drinkers may like, without suggesting it tastes anything like a white wine.

 

Centennial Vineyards 2016 Bong Bong Pinot Noir
Price - $20 from Centennial Vineyards website 
Region - NSW Southern Highlands
Final Sip - Lighter and just different to many of the Pinot's I've been drinking lately, but in a good way! I'll definitely be ordering more!

 

 

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No BS Events - A Pineapple for a Pinot

 

It's been over five years since I've hosted a wine event in Australia so I am very excited to announce my Pineapple for a Pinot event to be held back where it all began in 2009... at Fix Wine bar in Sydney, on May 18th.

This event idea all started when I was sent two Pinot's to try and I noticed both were priced at exactly $50. I then got talking to some wino friends of mine, all who seemed to have a $50 bottle or Pinot, or two, lying around and we discussed a simple tasting of these wines to see which we thought was the best for $50.

To cut a short story even shorter, that tasting concept is now my first 'No BS' event since returning to Sydney after a few years in California. Drawing on the growth of the 'shared economy' this is also my first BYO event with all guests kindly asked to bring a bottle of Pinot Noir that has a recommended retail price of $50 (give or take a fiver) that will be shared with the group.

Fix Wine Bar have kindly offered to create a matching four-course dinner for just $95 including our corkage charges

Tickets must be purchased in advance from my Event Brite page here

Seats will be limited to 14 and once you've purchased your ticket I kindly ask that you let me know via email what Pinot you'd like to bring and I'll be keeping a list of wines so that there are little to no double ups. Please also keep in mind that for the event to be fair it is BYO a $50 bottle per person.

I look forward to seeing a few old faces and some new ones as well!

 

 

 

Mayhem & Co. 2012 McLaren Vale Small Berries Shiraz

Funny story about how I came to try this wine recently in that I had heard the Mayhem & Co. story from a good friend of mine in Los Angeles. Upon making my first return to Australia since my relocation to California in 2013 I arrived at my mothers place and the first thing I saw was a bottle of Mayhem & Co. wine in her cupboard! I was intrigued and learnt that it was a bottle from a dinner party that a guest had brought over and not been opened so I got stuck into it straight away.

In the glass this wine is a very deep cherry red colour with a purple tinge. It has an attractive aroma of ripe, juicy berry fruits with notes of spices, oak, pepper and faint vanilla. It drinks really well with an initial hit of pepper on the front palate that soon meets with juicy dark and red berry fruits as well as hints of various spices. This wine is a near perfect example of how Australian Shiraz, even those from warm climate regions, are not all big fruit bombs that are 14.5%+ alcohol. This particular Shiraz comes in at 13.8%.

This is a very enjoyable wine and I do agree with the winemakers comments that it is best enjoyed the day after opening. I am also highly confident of its ageing potential and wouldn't hesitate to buy a few extra for my own collection for enjoyment at the 8+ year mark.

Mayhem & Co. 2012 McLaren Vale (Small Berries) Shiraz
Price - $42 at Mayhem & Co. Wines 
Region - McLaren Vale, South Australia
Final Sip - An exciting wine that I'd not only buy again without hesitation but it also makes me want to try more wines from the Mayhem & Co. line-up! 

 

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Don & Sons 2010 Chardonnay

 

In the state of California Chardonnay is everywhere and the second most popular grape variety behind Cabernet Sauvignon. It also happens to be one of my most preferred white varieties and so I've had my fair share of California Chardonnay's in my time here in the Golden State. Many of these have been cheap and cheerful wines that are most often found on the typical restaurant wine list and available by the glass. Many have been average at best, a few have been disappointing and every now and again one will stand out from the crowd. These standouts often have a price tag to match so I was thrilled to recently discover the Don & Son's 2010 Chardonnay, from Sonoma Coast, on sale at an independent liquor retailer for $19.99. For the time being this is the best Californian Chardonnay I've enjoyed that comes in at under $25 and I've seen it a few bucks under $20 online. 

In the glass it has a nice, lemony gold colour and has a beautifully enticing aroma. On the nose are hints of tropical fruits, honey, oak and the effects of a process called Malolatic Fermentation. You can read up on what that means exactly via the hyperlink and all I can say is that it has taken me many years of research/drinking to notice when this process has been used in Chardonnay. Many newer styles of Chardonnay won't use this process at all and the description of the wine on the back label suggests this wine has only gone through the process for a short period, resulting in its effects being noticeable but not over powering. 

It is simply delicious to drink and I found myself enjoying it in smaller sips and allowing the experience to linger a bit before the next taste. It has a creaminess to it that is also the result of the Malolatic Fermentation and you should also enjoy hints of green apple and pear that all meld into a truly great, medium bodied, cool climate Chardonnay. 

Don & Sons 2010 Chardonnay
Price - $20 at selected retailers
Region - Sonoma Coast, California
Final Sip - Easily one of the best Chardonnay's I've had for $20 and given it doesn't appear a current vintage of the wine is being sold by the winery I better get back to the store I brought it from and stock up!

 

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Strawberry and Jalapeño Margarita

Ok, so this has nothing to do with wine but I don't know too many wine lovers that don't like to have the odd cocktail or two!

On a recent trip to San Diego I came across this drink at a restaurant called Sear Sucker in the Gaslamp district. Within a few sips I had a new all time favourite mixed drink! Big statement you may say, but it is honestly my new all time favourite cocktail. I ended up returning to Sear Sucker on three different nights during my stay simply to have this drink. On the final visit I got chatting to the bar tender who told me it is rather easy to do and having now successfully re-created this at home myself I gladly share the recipe!

Step 1 - The Infusion

Not surprisingly this is the most crucial step and while you can experiment yourself with different ratios and quantities the below is exactly what I did.

In a 1.5L airtight jar put a whole punnet of fresh strawberries and 3 Jalapeños and fill to the top with a 100% Blue Agave Tequila. It took just under one and half 750Ml bottles of Tequila and it doesn't make sense to use anything overly expensive given the flavour is being modified so heavily and isn't even enjoyed on its own in the end anyway. Leave to infuse for four days on the counter at room temperature but away from direct sunlight.

(Day 1)

(Day 4 side by side with original Tequila)

After four days simply strain the liquid to leave the fruit behind and then I just re-poured the infused Tequila back into the jar for storing in the fridge.

Step 2 - The Recipe

45ml/1.5 ounces of the infused Tequila
30 ml/1 ounce of freshly squeezed lime juice
15 ml/0.5 ounces of Agave Nectar (Available in most supermarkets in the US and in certain supermarkets health food sections or health food stores in Australia)

Pour all the above ingredients over ice in a cocktail shaker and shake vigirously 

Fill a glass tumbler (without or without a salt rim based on your preference) with ice and pour over contents of cocktail shaker

Garnish with two slices of freshly cut Jalapeño and enjoy!

Piedrasassi 2012 Syrah

It has been a little while since I last posted something here so for my regular readers out there I do apologise. Moving to the other side of the world does tend to eat up a lot of spare time but now that I am setup and settled in Los Angeles I wanted to share this great Californian wine with you all.

The Piedrasassi 2012 Syrah was actually introduced to me by Sommelier, Tom Donegan, formerly from Stokehouse Melbourne and now living in Los Angeles. The first thing that stood out to me when I saw the wine on the shelf was the unique bottle shape. I refereed to it as a squashed Napa Cabernet bottle but a friend suggested it is actually closer to what some port wines are bottled in. I can't say I've seen any wine in Australia in such a bottle and it's much shorter than a traditional 750Ml bottle and widens out quite a bit just before the neck.

Once poured out of its funky bottle this wine is all class. Deep ruby red in colour and aromas of ripe red berry fruits with wood and oak notes amongst other things. It drinks really well although I wouldn't say this is a overly subtle wine in any way. I experienced some alcohol warmth at the back of my throat, not in an unpleasant way but I did notice it and the wine comes in at 14.1%. Along with the fruit there is some pepper and spice on the palate and I did experience a really enjoyable after taste that lingered for quite some time. Overall it was a really great wine and is made in very limited amounts so you have to keep an eye out for it and seize the opportunity to buy it while stocks last.

 

Piedrasassi 2012 Syrah
Region - California Central Coast
Price - $20 (plus tax) from Elvino Wine Store, Venice, CA
Final Sip - This is probably the best Syrah I have had out of the United States and given it is just $20 plus tax it is something all Syrah/Shiraz lovers should try!

 

 

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Wirra Wirra Wines 2012 'Hiding Champion' Sauvignon Blanc

I have said before that Sauvignon Blanc is far down the list when it comes to white varieties that I drink regularly or look forward to drinking. However, I must confess that if more of them end up being as enjoyable to drink as this latest release from Wirra Wira Wines then that is likely to change.

Classic pale straw in colour what is not so 'classic' is the rather softer and restrained aroma. At some points I could smell almost nothing and at times troipcal fruits were clearly present. A very elegant drinking Sauvignon Blanc with evidence of passionfruit and many tropical fruits for which I am highly confident many would end in word 'berry'.

Everything about it is simply softer, more refined and more elegant than I've previously associated with most Sauvignon Blancs. I just loved it!

Wirra Wirra Wines 2012 'Hiding Champion' Sauvignon Blanc
Price - $22 available from many fine wine retailers.
Region - Fruit from Adelaide Hills, South Australia, winery is located in McLaren Vale.
Final Sip - For me this is easily up there with the best Sauv Blanc's I've ever had!

My Most Memorable Wines of 2012

(Islander Estate, Kangaroo Island)

Another year gone by, another few hundred wines enjoyed and a few not so enjoyed. This year saw my Odd & Rare Varieties event introduce me to dozens of totally new wine varieties that I had never tried before which without a doubt helped make this years list a little more interesting. My first trip to Kangaroo Island in the final days of 2011 also introduced me to the great wines of Islander Estate who, interestingly, impressed me far more with their cheaper wines than their flagships.

In no particular order here are the wines I will look back on most fondly from 2012

Primo Estate The Fronti V
Islander Estate 2009 Shiraz
Geoff Hardy 2009 Langrein
Chapel Hill 2011 Chardonnay
Islander Estate 2008 The Red
Eloquesta 2009 Shiraz Petite Verdot
Mandoleto 2009 Nero d'Avola
Best's Wines 2010 'Old Vine' Pinot Meunier
Brokenwood 2010 'Quail' Shiraz
Tertini 2010 Arneis
Martinborough Vineyard 2009 Pinot Noir
Torbreck 2010 'The Struie' Shiraz
Arizona Stronghold 2010 'Nachise' Red blend 
Arizona Stronghold 2010 'Tazi' White blend 
Outpost 2004 'Howell Mountain' Zinfandel
Zema Estate 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
Galafrey 2012 Dry Land Reserve Riesling
Lake's Folly 2011 Chardonnay
Te-Aro Estate 2005 'Two Charlies' GSM 

(The white varieties lined up at the Odd & Rare event)

Zema Estate 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon

I'm going to keep this pretty short and sweet as not much more has to be said other than this is a bloody brilliant Cabernet from the ever consistent Zema Estate.

Clearly 2009 was kind to the Coonawarra region and this wine has a perfect balance of fruit, oak and the classic Cabernet Capsicum notes. For those wondering if I've gone all 'BS' with the Cabernet and Capsicum reference take note. Cabernet grapes and Capsicums actually share common chemical compounds that will lead to similarities in the aroma in certain cases. So on this occasion you can blame science and not wine writers :)

Zema Estate 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon
Price - $28.95 and available in most good bottle shops
Region - Coonwarra, South Australia
Final Sip - Delicious now and I can't wait to try it in 8-10 years

 

Tertini Wines 2010 Arneis

This Italian grape variety, grown in the Southern Highlands of NSW and made by Tertini wines, is a great example of how tasting something at a cellar door doesn't always translate as the winery would hope. I tried this wine at their cellar door back in 2010 and thought it was good, but nothing beyond good. It was then recently and generously donated for an event I held that focused on alternative wine varieties. Having the chance then to enjoy the wine in the usual way with normal wine glasses and a normal serving I absolutely loved it! I'm not the only one either. This wine was picked by two serious winos at the event as their favourite white wine. Furthermore, one of the least wine knowledgeable mates of mine tried it recently and said it was one of the better white wines he'd ever tried!

It has a colour of light gold and pale lemon yellow accompanied by an aroma of apple and pear-like fruits. I also get a faint whif of honey as well. It is very enjoyable to drink and as you'd expect the flavours flow on from the aroma with apple and pear with some citrus fruits also noticeable. However, I find with so many Italian white varieties and even blends  that it can be rather hard to describe, and define them into singular components for use in tasting notes. I think that may be part of why I enjoy them so much! 

 

Tertini 2010 Arneis
Price - $35 from Tertini Wines
Region - Southern Highlands, NSW
Final Sip -  I've had the pleasure of enjoying this wine quite a few times now and with a diverse group of people and as yet I have not come across one single person who didn't enjoy it! 

PS - The variety is pronounced 'Ar-Nay'