February 4th, 2010
We recently spent two weeks up the Sunshine Coast at Caloundra and as a treat we went to Spirit House for an extended lunch. Luckily most of the tables have a view of a pond teaming with wildlife which kept the kids distracted. We started with a couple of entrées:
- Miang of smoked Chicken with Lime, Golden Shallots & Peanuts: served on betel leaves that were quite bitter, and was a bit overwhelming for me
- Crispy Pork Belly with Citrus Caramel Sauce: awesome – beautiful texture and flavours. No recipe in their cookbook for this one, but David Thompson has one that I will try soon.
We then shared four mains:
- Coconut Braised Duck with Three Flavor Sauce & Spiced Salt: excellent – the salt seemed to release lots of flavours
- Chargrilled Beef Ribs with Sweet Chilli Dressing & Orange, Mint & Tomato Salad: excellent too – son #2 loved this
- BBQ Deep Water Prawns with Golden Shallot, Ginger & Mint Salad: very good, perhaps the prawns were a little too charred, and the salad was refreshing rather than flavoursome. I think I should have tried this before the duck and the beef ribs
- Issan Curry of Smoked Pork Shoulder with Roasted Pumpkin, Kaffir Lime & Dill: very good, though pumpkin isn’t my favourite vegetable
After a short break, we shared one dessert:
- Wicked Chocolate with Gingerbread Ice Cream & Spiced Cherries: most excellent
So, it was a three hour lunch. Service was very good. Cannot really comment on the wine list – pretty standard stuff from memory. Overall, a lovely dining experience.
Posted in Restaurant Talk | No Comments »
February 4th, 2010
No picture for this wine; it can be a pain in the arse to find bottle shots, then edit and upload them. Anyways, this wine was bottled October-ish last year, and though I did wait a couple of months for it to settle, there was still a touch of sulfur lurking in the corners. Moving on, the nose was gorgeous, big peaches and figs, glossy lemons, with some vanilla and cream. The palate is nicely textured, with peaches and grapefruit, minerals, and finishing with lemony pith. Excellent length. At times the midpalate seemed a bit lean, but this didn’t trouble me as the wine is so young and I don’t like wines that are too fruity. One glass wasn’t enough. 13.5% abv. Drink 2011-2014. 92 points. Screwcap. Finally, the RRP is $22, which surprises me – good value here.
Posted in $20 to $50, Australia, Chardonnay, Hunter Valley, Notes, Price, Varietal/Style | 1 Comment »
January 5th, 2010
A blend of 85% Shiraz and 15% Sangiovese. Consumed over 3 days and was one of those wines that got better and softened with time. In fact, I found it almost painful to drink on the first night, so most of it was consumed over the two succeeding days. A bulky nose, with rich red fruits, cola, plums, mulberries and spices; packed with fruits and flavours and goodness. The palate is also plummy, but also showed red cherry, black cherry, raspberries, peppery spices and acid. Tannins are ripe but big and plentiful. Should easily take a few years of cellaring.
Other vintages: 2007
Rated : 90 Points
Tasted : Dec09
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : $19
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2012-2016
Source : Cellar Door
Website : Primo Estate
Posted in Australia, McLaren Vale, Notes, Price, Shiraz, Varietal/Style, up to $20 | No Comments »
January 5th, 2010
I had to get the camera out for this wine because I couldn’t find any decent pictures on the net. Any tips to take a better bottle shot would be appreciated. Sweetly perfumed, with cherry, raspberry, earth and a touch of oak spice: all soft and delicate. The palate is clear and clean: linear fruits, cherries and raspberries, with some spice. Supple with good persistence and no hard tannins. Quite a lovely wine, with the perfume being the highlight for me.
Rated : 87 Points
Tasted : Jan10
Alcohol : 13%
Price : $80
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2012-2017
Source : Eurocentric Wine
Posted in $50 to $100, Burgundy, France, Notes, Pinot Noir, Price, Varietal/Style | No Comments »
December 30th, 2009
Another taster purchased over a year ago; it is a familiar story. Served with a Mediterranean meal, which I think is the way to go. A relatively simple nose, red fruits and new leather, spice and some earth, with a lick of polish. The palate is medium weight and tangy, leathery plump red cherries, with earth and sweet and savoury finish. Good depth of fruit and a decent food wine. Better than the 2003 vintage wine, which I thought was too acidic and rustic – rated about 83 points from memory.
Rated : 87 Points
Tasted : Dec09
Alcohol : 13.5%
Price : $21
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2009-2011
Source : Cellar
Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »
December 29th, 2009
I have had this a couple of times in the past few months, and either the wine has settled and improved significantly in those intervening months, or is it just a cork variance. Either way, I think I have consumed both of these bottles too early. I reckon 8 years (or thereabouts) is a good ballpark figure to the start of its drinking window. A bright nose, lively fruits, plums, fruitcake, Christmas spices, cinnamon, with a touch of caramel and earth, and some varnish and spice. The palate is strongly flavoured, robust black fruits, plums, spices, earth, new leather, caramel and something not unlike stalk. Enjoyable now, and though there certainly is a lot to contemplate when swirling the wine, it should be better with another 5 years.
Other vintages: 2004
Rated : 92+ Points
Tasted : Sep09 and Dec09
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : $51
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2015+
Source : Cellar
Website : Rockford
Posted in $50 to $100, Australia, Barossa Valley, Notes, Price, Shiraz, Varietal/Style | 3 Comments »
December 29th, 2009
I am back now. Sorry for the lack of notes but I haven’t been well. Anyway, I hope you all had a good Christmas and are planning an even better New Year’s. Cheers!
Posted in Waffle | No Comments »
December 16th, 2009
As with the 2007 wine, this wine had 50% whole bunch (stalks included) fermentation and then was treated to 100% new French Hogsheads. Unlike the 2007 wine, this wine was made from fruit from the Canberra District instead of the Hunter Valley. An inky red. Red currants and red plums, neatly interwoven with stalks, spices, red liquorice and smoke. There is also a salty, rockish quality too. After a couple of hours, it also showed some blueberries. A rounded texture, with pervasive stalks, peppery dryness and some sap on the finish. A style I like.
Other vintages: 2007
Rated : 91 Points
Tasted : Nov09
Alcohol : 14.5%
Price : $40
Closure : Screwcap
Drink : 2012-2018+
Source : Winery Sample
Website : Meerea Park
Posted in $20 to $50, Australia, Canberra, Notes, Price, Shiraz, Varietal/Style | No Comments »
December 15th, 2009
Red in colour, but with a brownish tinge. A mature nose, leather, pepper, dark cherries, plums, dried herbs and dried spices, with just a touch of alcohol lift. On the palate, red fruits, dried herbs and an earthy savouriness, with a touch of cherry liqueur. Has a soft spirity edge – but nothing aggressive. Some harsh tannins on the finish, though harsh is too strong a word. Where’s my Roget’s when I need it? A pleasant wine, drinking well now but should go a few more years.
Rated : 87 Points
Tasted : Dec09
Alcohol :14,5 %
Price : $35
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2009-2012
Source : Cellar
Website : Domaine Santa Duc
Posted in $20 to $50, France, Grenache, Notes, Price, Rhone, Varietal/Style | 1 Comment »
December 13th, 2009
A release direct from the cellar door. And at, as you can see, quite a remarkable price. A complex nose, stewed strawberries, beetroot, red cherries, undergrowth and brown spices, a touch of butter and a bit of varnish. A mellow palate, red cherries, beetrooty earthiness with rounded brown fruits and a pleasant shake of spice. Pretty good length, but the fruit is a bit dull and loose. I think I would have preferred it a couple of years ago. Drink now.
Rated : 88 Points
Tasted : Dec09
Alcohol : 14%
Price : $42
Closure : Cork
Drink : 2009-2011
Source : The Wine Emporium
Website : Fromm
Posted in $20 to $50, Marlborough, New Zealand, Notes, Pinot Noir, Price, Varietal/Style | No Comments »