A Couple of Reasonable Bargains For A Couple of Excellent Reds

Okay, I have to admit these aren't great bargains (compared to some recently) but would be excellent additions to anybody's cellar at the price.  The Eaglehawk Inn has specials on a regular basis and it is always worth a look.  The "Couple of Excellent Reds" are the Penfolds Bin 407 for $35.00 (RRP $55+) and the Bowen Estate Cabernet & Shiraz for $20.00 ($33).  Assuming the Bin 407 is the 2008 vintage, it is a wine that is fine to drink when young but cellars very well.  I bought some of this through a different (on-line) outlet AND, it was on special AND, it was more expensive than this AND, I had to pay postage.  Hopefully both of the Bowen Estate Reds are from the 2009 vintage because I had the pleasure of tasting them at a Coonawarra Roadshow a couple of months ago.  The 2009 vintage was an absolute ripper in Coonawarra, plus, with Bowen Estate (BE) being a family owned winery and not a large corporation churning out homogenised (but sometimes good) wines, I expect great things from these two wines.  I opened a 2001 vintage of the BE shiraz about 3 months ago and it was very, very good...still.  Anyway, as I said earlier, I realise it is not a massive 75% off bargain like I picked up recently but, it works out to be about 33% off and you know they will be bloody good wines.  'Til next time and remember to live simply, laugh often, wine alot.

Looking After Those Precious Bottles of Liquid

Firstly, sorry about the boring blog today but, after the strange weather we have been having, I thought about how those 750ml bottles of palate pleasure would be coping. The cooler weather isn't such a problem, it's the warmer days that could pose a problem. You don't have to have a fancy cellar or room to give them a chance of surviving summer (if you don't drink them obviously). My advice is not complicated. Keep them out of warm/hot areas, out of direct sunlight and out of your living areas. If you like to have them handy, the pantry or at the bottom of a kitchen cupboard is fine but keep them in a cardboard box. Cardboard, believe it or not acts as a thermal barrier and, while in the pantry or cupboard, is in darkness. If you're lucky enough to have heaps of bottles, this advice still applies except you need a bigger cupboard. Don't be afraid to walk into a bottle shop & ask for a box because they have heaps of them & are more than happy to get them out of the way. Besides, it's a form of recycling isn't it? The other advice I have is much more practical, enjoyable & less of a bother. Drink 'em of course. 'Til next time and remember, live simply, laugh often, wine alot.

A Great Bargain To Start The Week

Dan Murphys have an on-line only off of Rex Watson McKie 3 Coonawarra Cabernet or Chardonnay for $3.90 a bottle with a flat $7.00 delivery fee. I have had Rex Watson reds before and they are excellent wines. I have not had the Chardonnay but I have had Coonawarra chardy and, believe me, there have been some good flavoursome wines come out of the district. Note from DM's email says, "The Cabernet shows limitless mint, plum and blackcurrant while the Chardonnay has mouth-watering characters of citrus and fresh lime". My advice if you want some of the red is to get in early because the last time this was offered it sold out pretty quickly. 'Til next time and remember to live simply, laugh often, wine alot.

A Classic Penfolds Bin Red

When it comes to the Australian wine scene, everybody knows Penfolds right? If you don't, you must be living in a Tibetan monastery (and probably wouldn't be reading this anyway). Last night I had the last glass of a 2002 Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz which I had been trying over the last week over three different nights. First night it was black-fruity & dry and lucky I had it with a steak (cooked perfectly I might add). Two nights later it was much smoother & more mellow fruit characters. The dryness was still there but, it was softer (best description, sorry). Now, last nights glass. I can honestly say I have learnt something from this. Decant this wine 2 hours (minimum) if you intend serving a bottle at a dinner with friends. It was still a magnificent colour in the glass, no specific flavour/s dominated, silky smooth to drink & the taste lingered. The whole experience was like driving on the Midlands Highway, then the Pacific Highway and finally a German Autobahn. The last journey being the best & the one you wish you could do again and again. 'Til next time and remember to live simply, laugh often, wine alot.

A Sparkling Tassie Special

Jansz NV $16.99. Again. Jansz NV $16.99. Kemenys.com.au have this special at the moment & they say RRP is $30 but I have seen it as low as $22 locally but never under 20 bucks. Needless to say I have ordered a case along with four others for friends. I don't know how long the deal is on for so, if you want to stock up for a special occasion or get some quality Christmas bubbles early, now's the time. I am more than happy to grab some for you or otherwise, go to their website or ring them on 138881. 'Til next time and remember to live simply, laugh often, wine alot.

Bargain Barossan Beauty

Here is an absolute beauty of a Barossan red worth "investing" in. It is ideal as a BBQ quaffer, to accompany steak or Roast Beef or stir fry beef or, strangely enough, old gold chocolate. This is truly an excellent wine from an excellent vintage in the Barossa. $60 a box & $8 delivery to your door when normally it would be $240 + delivery. I've ordered 9 cases for friends, colleagues and myself of course. Go to Winemarket.com.au, reds, Shiraz then Naked Owl. When I last looked the were only 149 cases left from about 550 so either let me know if you would like me to get you some or get on the website yourself it's an easy place to navigate through. 'Til next time and remember, live simply, laugh often, wine alot.

Wine South White Wine Weekend 15th & 16th October IXL Atrium

Wine South Tasmania is hosting the White Wine Weekend this Saturday and Sunday at the Henry Jones, IXL Atrium.  It costs $20 to get in and it is a very inexpensive way to try many excellent Tassie whites.  12 midday to 5pm both days.  I am pleased it is at a different venue.  As much as last years venue was fine, the IXL Atrium is much more spacious to better cater for the numbers that will attend.  A "not to be missed" event for my money.  'Till next time and remember, live simply, laugh often, wine alot.

Some Wines Tasted & Shared Over The Last Few Days

Had some friends for dinner on Friday night (7/10/11).  Home made pizzas were on the menu with three different types of shiraz from three different produces from three different areas.
Pizza 1.  Wholemeal pitta bread, tomato paste, shaved ham, capsicum, cherry tomatoes, red onion, low fat ricotta cheese, fresh basil and baby rocket leaves
Pizza 2.  Similar to the above but also had caramelised onion, mild salami, Italian herbs, a touch of garlic, bocconcini and a mix of shredded cheeses.
The wines were a 2002 Journeys End Arrival Shiraz from McLaren Vale (RRP $49.50), a 2005 Penfolds Koonunga Hill Shiraz (RRP $15) from various SA vineyards, and a 2007 Craneford Barossa Shiraz (RRP $30).
Needless to say the pizzas were excellent and healthy as well (okay so salami isn't so low-fat).
The Journeys was the surprise.  No aged characteristics at all. Still sort of fruity, plummy and silky smooth in the mouth which to me means very well integrated tannins (wine-wanker speek, sorry). Shame it was my last bottle.
The Penfolds was okay but probably didn't help tasting it after the Journeys.  Pretty basic wine to be honest. If you have any, drink up would be my suggestion.
The Craneford was obviously pretty young.  When I smelt and tasted it there were lots of blackberries, black currant jam, blood plums with a certain fruit sweetness to it. I really enjoyed this wine.  Just a pity I don't have any more to put away to see how it develops.
Till next time and remember to live simply, laugh often, wine alot.

Bargain Reserve Shiraz Auction Purchase

What a bargain!!!  6 bottles of 2005 Talijancich (pronounce Tally-are-nich) 'Peter Talijanicich' Reserve Shiraz for $9.00 a bottle.  The current release is $29.95 a bottle.  This wine is made from vines planted in 1932 in the Swan Valley.  It may take up to three weeks to get here (apparently) but, I reckon it will be worth the wait.  These guys have been making fortified wines for a long time and if their table wine is made with the same precision, it should be spot on.  'Til next time and remember, live simply, laugh often, wine alot.

A NZ Sav Blanc for the lady in your life maybe?

I have found a Sav Blanc that sounds pretty good value for money.  Now, I am not a New Zealand Savvy man at all so I am not normally the right person to listen to.  However.  Malborough Sav Blanc, normally $20 down to $7, free delivery.   Tasting note from the website, "This is more than just an average Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, it is a defining example that stimulates the senses and is amazingly satisfying!"  What more could you ask for?  It even sounds good to me.  If you want to know more just ask. 'Til next time and remember to live simply, laugh often, wine alot.

2001 Journeys End Ascent Shiraz

Anybody heard of Journeys End Ascent Shiraz?  Had a 2001 yesterday watching the AFL Grand Final with simple finger food and it was fine.  The wine was like drinking freshly picked blackberries off the bush and eating them.  There were those berry flavours but it had an earthy, dusty character to it.  For a 10 year old McLaren Vale shiraz I found it to be in a perfect place of drinkability without being too fruity nor past it's best. 'Til next time and remember, live simply, laugh often, wine alot.

Enthusiastic Consumer Enters The Blogging World

Hello all wine drinkers. I am not a grape grower, wine maker, wine journo, wine seller, wine expert(far from it) or wine wanker. I am an enthusiastic consumer and hoarder nothing more than that. This blog will give you news of wine bargains, basic wine tasting notes (with very little use of wine jargon) and simple food & wine matching successes and/or failures. Please let me know about any good or bad wine experiences regardless of the nature of them. Oh and as an aside, I don't mind a beer either.  'Til next time and remember, live simply, laugh often, wine alot.