On the twelfth day of Christmas my wine rack gave to me a Catena Malbec

Malbec Monday

Malbec is a grape variety that hails from France, and is usually blended in Bordeaux wines. While the grape hails from France, the country that really makes this variety shine is Argentina.
In France, the weather and soil conditions are not ideal for Malbec, and tends to be very prone to disease, which is why the variety is used in many blends. Pop the grape in Argentina, and it thrives – the hot, high altitude climate is perfect for Malbec.

Malbec is quite similar to a Merlot, with its plum like flavours, but with a little more character and depth.

The wine that takes out number 12 in the wine advent calendar is the 2014 Catena Malbec.

Deep, and rich in burgandy colour (typical of a Malbec), the Catena has a very fragrant, earthy aroma. It’s smooth and silky, and has distinct oak and pepper notes.

Go on, treat yourself to a Malbec Monday. You deserve it!

Until next time winos

Cheers!

On the eleventh day of Christmas my wine rack gave to me a sparkling water

Sparkling wine Saturday has now passed. For Sunday, the sparkling wine now turns to sparkling water.

With 25 days of wine, it’s only sensible to break up the month with a glass of hydrating, and refreshing sparkling water.

If the water on its own is a little bland, add a splash of cordial. My pick is the Bickford’s Ginger beer.

Until next time winos

Cheers

On the tenth day of Christmas my wine rack gave to me an Oakdene Matilda Sparkling

Hello Saturday!

Last week I featured a champagne style sparkling from Jansz wines. This time I’m moving Sparkling Saturday to Oakdene winery in the Bellarine Penisula. Number 10 in the advent wine calendar is the 2012 Oakdene Matilda Sparkling Blanc de Noirs.

This sparkling wine is a 100% sparkling Pinot Noir. While you may think it would be a sparking red, which I love, this one is a white!

With many classic wine varieties on the Oakdene shelf, I sampled this wine at the Pinot Palooza festival.

Pinot Palooza is a festival of Pinot Noir, in the style of a music festival; all the superstars of Pinot Noir in one spot where you can rock out to the music playing while you taste!

Now, back to the wine…

The Oakdene Matilda Sparkling is a crisp but not an overly dry sparkling. It’s slightly sweet, with a subtle creaminess. The super small bubbles will have you rocking out your Saturday like The Weekend!

“Pale straw with a salmon blush. Lifted notes of stone fruit, and bright red fruit aromas, followed by brioche and toast characters. Fine persistent mousse, with obvious bready autolysis, and red fruit Pinot Noir influence, balanced by firm acidity and a long, dry finish.” http://www.oakdene.com.au

Until next time winos,

Cheers

On the ninth day of Christmas, my wine rack gave to me a Robert Oatley GSM

Welcome Friyay!

Wine number 9 in the advent calendar, and this wine gives me the same happy feels as Friday happy feels – it’s the Robert Oatley 2015 GSM. I’ve featured this wine previously in my blog ‘three wise men, three brilliant wines for Christmas dinner’

Australia is renowned for mixing up the grape varieties, and blending them to make some new and interesting creations. This GSM is no exception. As the acronym suggests it’s a mixture of Grenache, Shiraz and Mourvèdre. Each of these grapes adds it’s character and personality to the wine.This wine blend is like having a party with a great bunch of friends!

Grenache adds the berry and sublte peppery flavours to the wine and the depth of colour. This is like the host of the party that puts on the food

Shiraz adds more of the peppery notes and also throws in some tannin. This friend is more like the one that brings dessert along to go with the food.

Mourvèdre mellows the wine out, and creates a smoothness. This friend is more like the one that creates the rockin dance list for the party.

So. Much. Fun!

Hailing from Robert Oatley winery, the face behind the wines, Robert Oatley unfortunately passed away earlier this year. This man was a great influence on the Australian wine industry, and introduced many styles and varieties to the market – he’s even been crowed as the ‘father of Australian Chardonnay’.

“Macerated red fruits and musk from Grenache, structure and longevity via Shiraz, Mouvèdre’s gamey notes and minerality.” http://www.robertoatley.com.au

I hope you enjoy this wine as much as I do, and I hope it gives you those Friday happy feels.

Until next time winos

 

Cheers

On the eighth day of Christmas my wine rack gave to me a Tahbilk Grand Tawny

To settle you in to Thursday evening, and prepare you for Friyay, a cheeky Tawny after dinner is a great choice!

I’ve featured this wine on my blog before – ‘hop yourself to nagambie over the Easter long weekend for some great wine’ It’s so good that it deserves a place in the advent wine calendar – It’s the Tahbilk Grand Tawny.
From one of Australia’s oldest wineries, founded in 1860, this port delivers all the deliciousness and stickiness that you look for in a port.

The historic buildings at Tahbilk Winery

Pour yourself a glass of this, and it will feel like you’re sipping on Christmas cake. What better wine to get you excited and geared up for the day the man in the big red suit arrives!

The other beauty is that it comes in a 750ml bottle, which means it will keep providing you with little glasses of joy for a while. Generally, when you do open one a bottle of port, consumption should happen in 3 months for it to be at its optimum level, which is plenty of time to savor and enjoy it.

“This impressive fortified has had extended ageing in seasoned oak barrels and shows classic tawny colour. The nose exhibits distinguished aromas of walnut and prune with a complex mix of dried fruits. The palate is deeply flavoured and concentrated with characteristic caramel, toffee, walnut and fruitcake flavours, whilst the finish is long and lingers well into an evening of quiet contemplation!” www.tahbilk.com.au

Until next time winos

Cheers

On the sixth day of of Christmas my wine rack gave to me a Rob Dolan Cabernet Shiraz Merlot

Growing up back in the country, Tuesday night used to be pizza night. It was from here where my obsession and love for the round piece of dough topped with every bit of deliciousness grew.

To celebrate Tuesday night pizza night, a good pizza wine is required.

This wine I came across at the Williamstown Wine and Cheese festival. The Rob Dolan 2013 Cabernet, Shiraz, Merlot
Rob Dolan winery is a relatively new winery, and was crowned as best newcomer winery by James Halliday in 2014.
If you’re wondering who Rob Dolan is, he was the face behind Sticks and Punt Road wines in the Yarra Valley – wineries with spectacular wines, particularly the Sticks Pinot Noir which is an absolute cracker.

At the festival it was recommended by cellar door assistant manager Courtney that this wine would be paired well with pizza, and is known as THE pizza wine.

To test it out, a pizza was consumed (quite quickly) alongside a bottle of the Cabernet Shiraz Merlot.
And Courtney was right.

The spiciness from the Shiraz paired well with the tomato, and had a smoothness from the Merlot. It was rich and deep in colour, and was an absolute delight to drink.

If you’re looking for your next pizza wine, I’d recommend going for a Rob Dolan 2013 Cabernet, Shiraz, Merlot.

Until next time winos

Cheers

On the fifth day of Christmas my wine rack gave to me a Geppetto Shiraz

Monday after work, and wine is calling my name.

The best way to kick back after the first day of the working week, is with one of my favourite wines – a Shiraz.

The wine that’s accompanying me on the couch tonight is the 2016 Geppetto Shiraz from Crittenden Estate.

Those couch feels when pouring a Geppetto Shiraz

Crittenden Estate has a range of labels alongside the Geppetto wine range – Crittenden Estate, Los Hermanos, and Pinocchio. Each of these wines were created to reflect the variety of wine, with a touch of quirkiness to it.

The Geppetto Shiraz is smooth, medium bodied wine, spiced with flavours such as pepper, and aniseed. Its smoothness makes for a good quaffing wine, which means it’s easy to drink, without breaking the bank account.

It will turn your Monday blues in to Monday woo’s as soon as you crack this one!

“On the palate you’ll find mouth filling structure, juicy acidity and those most desirable of attributes: cherries, pepper and liquorice. This wine has it all in abundance.” http://www.crittendenwines.com

Until next time winos

Cheers

On the fourth day of Christmas my wine rack gave to me, a 2016 Mr Mick Vermentino

The sunny weather here in Melbourne today has made me think it’s the perfect temperature to crack a crisp, refreshing white wine. What sort of crisp, refreshing white wine do you ask? A Vermentino that’s what!

A Vermentino is an Italian variety, that’s not all that common here in Australia – similar to the Fiano, which was my second wine in the advent calendar.

This wine hails from Mr Mick in the Clare Valley located in South Australia. It’s here where the climate is perfect for Italian varieties to grow in, as it’s hot and dry.

This Vermentino has a slight acidity to it from the citrus and a smoothness from the pear. Once finished sipping you’re left a lingering finish. An absolute delight!

 

“This wine has grapefruit, apple and nashi pear aromas and flavours, modelled in the classic Italian style with just a touch of fruit sweetness to balance the refreshing minerality and spritely natural acidity” http://www.mrmick.com.au

Serve this one from an ice bucket and you’ll be saying bellissimo in no time!

Until next time winos

Cheers

On the third day of Christmas my wine rack gave to me a Jansz Brut Vintage

Day 3 in the Christmas wine advent calendar.

A Saturday night is one of those nights where a nice sparkling wine is in order, and a great drink to take to a Christmas party. 

This sparkling wine is one for the ladies to get those heels on for, and for the gents to throw on that shirt.

A Jansz Tasmania 2010 Vintage Cuvee

There’s a few varieties in the Jansz range, including a Premium Cuvee, a Premium Rose, Vintage Cuvee, a Vintage Rose plus a few more.

The Vintage Cuvee is a good ‘middle of the range’ sparkling from the Jansz range. It’s silky, smooth and creamy, with a freshness to it that will make you want to pop another bottle!

Using the classic method of making sparkling wine (dare I say it, Champagne style), the conditions that this wine is grown in,is similar to that of the Champagne region.

Hope you enjoy!

“Very pale gold with a delicate bead. Aromas of lemon curd and white flowers with underlying hints of freshly baked brioche and clotted cream. Elegant, layered and powerful with creme brûlée notes and candied citrus peel.” http://www.jansz.com.au

Until next time wino’s

Cheers

 

On the second day of Christmas my wine rack gave to me an Olivier’s Taranga Fiano

Day 2 in the advent wine calendar and this calls for a bit of Friday fun, a Friday Fun Fiano

Hello Friday Fun Fiano!

 

This here is Olivier’s Taranga 2016 Fiano

 

I tasted this wine at the Flemington grazing trail a couple of years ago and it was love at first Fiano.

An Italian variety, this type is not a widely common one here in Australia, although it is gaining momentum. Hailing from McLaren Vale in South Australia, the Fiano is a really crisp and refreshing wine. Slightly floral with notes of pear and zest makes this wine for one fun Friday drink. A great alternative to the Pinot Grigio you may usually sip on for your Friday’s.

“Pears and nutty aromas, almost like cashew, some honey and white peach skin. More time reveals some citrus flower and leaf. In the mouth and poached pears drive the bus followed by a subdued ginger and cinnamon like spice. Flavours are long and mouth filling – some delicious textural interest. I’d happily have a couple of glasses.” http://www.oliverstaranga.com

Until next time winos

Cheers