Extolling The Virtues of Tasmanian Pinot Noir

I realise it has been a while since I posted a special, well anything for that matter but, I have been pretty darn busy of late and time was an issue. Unfortunately, there haven't really been any great, or even good, specials to crow about.  As we get closer to Christmas and New Year I'm sure there will be plenty.
Anyway, this time around I want to bring to your attention the under-rated, regularly forgotten but very rewarding Pinot Noir (that's pee-no nwah) variety.  It may come as a surprise to you but Pinot has been cultivated in Europe for at least 2000 years and, it first came to Australia in 1831 with the first cuttings planted in the Hunter Valley.  Let's just say, it was not successful and as such, other areas of the country were tested and the cooler areas proved to be ideal.  Tasmania's renaissance began in 1956 at the Providence vineyard east of Launceston with Claudio Alcorso starting Moorilla Estate in 1956 on the outskirts of Hobart.  Since then a number of areas of Tasmania now grow Pinot and is rapidly asserting itself as the best region for this variety.  Don't get me wrong, I love my Barossa Shiraz and Coonawarra Cabernet but cool climate Pinot is just as interesting and cellar-worthy.  At the recent Royal Hobart Wine Show, there were a record number of entries for the Pinot classes with Tassie drops being awarded 8 Gold, 21 Silver & 40 Bronze medals.  To top it off, a Tassie Pinot from a winery called Blustery Banks took out the Wine Show Trophy and top gold medal in it's class.  Okay, so they can be expensive sometimes but, wait until the bottle shops have their pre-Christmas sales and buy some and give them a try. You will not be disappointed.  'Til next time and remember to live simply, laugh often, wine alot.

The Best Shiraz In The World...Cheap!!!!

How would you like some of the best shiraz in the world?  What if I told you it has a RRP of $220 a bottle.  That would surely put you off I reckon.  But, Get Wines Direct have it for $30 a bottle (plus delivery).  To quote their website, it beat "...9632 wines submitted from 1487 producers out of 36 nations".  It is called The Colonial Estate Exile 2009 Barossa Shiraz.  I have some of this, tried it and believe me, it is a big wine.  You definitely need to decant it for a couple of days.  Okay so that was an exageration but it will need some air before you drink it.  If you don't have the time to decant it, grab a knife and fork to "consume" it with a rich osso bucco.  Stop the Press!!!  My advice is to decant it while the osso bucco is cooking.  How's that?  Sometimes I surprise myself.  Might have a drink to celebrate.  'Til next time and remember to live simply, laugh often, wine alot.

Chardonnay, Yes, Chardonnay for $45 a Dozen

Okay, Okay.  Don't panic.  I realise I have said the Chardonnay word.  There you go, I said it again. But at $45 a dozen plus $8 postage I am sure you have become a little curious.  I know that chardonnay has become a little old fashioned because New Zealand Sav Blanc is so trendy but the good ole Chardy is so, so bloody reliable.  The bloke who made this has only been in the wine industry since 1995 but has worked in some pretty shmick places which gives him some vineyard cred as far as I'm concerned.  This normally retails for $168 a dozen so, at this price makes it a nice cheap summer white to have on the deck (or other outdoor entertainment area you have) with some BBQ scallops with a fresh rocket, roasted pine nuts and parmesan salad. Oh, and by the way, there ain't much of it.  Log onto Winemarket.com.au/WHITES/AU-SEA-CHARDONNAY-2009-12 to pick up some of this classic Aussie white.  Go on. You know you want to.  'Til next time and remember to live simply, laugh often, wine alot.

Wine Is Good For Weight Loss

Here we go again.  Scientists and their "studies".  Results say...  What is going to be next?  Wine is not good for you.  Wine is good for you.  Wines is good for weeds.  Somebody please sort this stuff out.  What we need is a scientist or a school teacher or a pilot or a tribal elder to tell us something else.  For pete's sake, what next?  So many studies.  I reckon it is just a "scientist" coming up with an excuse to check out what wine does to us.  No doubt he has a "couple" of bottles so he can have a glass or two every day during the 20 year study to qualify the study.  What the?????  The only thing that has been proven is that wine, or for that matter alcohol, in moderation is good for us.  If it is of any help, they say that one standard drink for females and two standard drinks a day for blokes is what is deemed to be good for us.  A little bit of advice.  It doesn't count when you save them up for a rainy day.  When they say, "a day", they mean a day.  The only way I can see that it contributes to weight loss is because you have a glass of wine in your hand instead of a cheese and chilli hot dog.  I don't do studies, I don't do research into studies.  I enjoy wine, and beer, and, well...the liberating beverage called alcohol.  'Til next time and remember to live simply, laugh often, wine alot.

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.