#BYOFavesBdayBash

#BYOFavesBdayBash

  11:16    Stu.

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So the #BYOFaves crew got together again on Friday 11th March to share a few bottles of the good stuff and to celebrate the recent birthdays of NickOs and Ryn of Ryn & Cordie fame.

There was no particular theme this time around with regards to wine, although there's always the general principle of less wank and more wine, something this wannabe wanker sometimes struggles with!

Wine 1: Rockford Black Shiraz 2010 Disgorgement

Wine 2: Mount Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon 2002

Wine 3: Polished Adelaide Hills Pinot Gris 2010

Wine 4: Domaine Vincent Bouzerau Mersault 1er Cru 2004

Wine 5: Isolee Olena Cepparello 1999

Wine 6: Rockford Moppa Springs GMS 2006

Wine 7: Massena Moonlight Run GSMC 2008

Wine 8: d'Arenberg Derelict Vineyard Grenache 2007

Wine 9: Boireann The Lurnea 2009

Wine 10: Summerfield Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

Wine 11: Blue Poles Merlot Cab Franc 2005

So, yet another stonking night of good wine and even better company - just how it should be.

Source: Friends and Love

Price: $ Priceless

Alcohol: Much

Closure: About 23:00 when the restaurant closed and sent me on my merry way

Website: http://thevinsomniac.com

Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

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The Wine List

The Wine List

  09:18    Stu.

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A holiday in 2009 was a major turning point for me.  I finally managed to visit some of Australia's great wine regions and taste some of its great wines. 

On that holiday, with my travelling companions, we took to photographing each day the wines that we consumed.  What follows is, hopefully, the full chronological list of the wines (full bottles only, not covering tastings at Cellar Doors) consumed on that holiday in 2009.  All bottles (with the exception of those consumed in Katoomba; the Bannockburns and Yering Station) were purchased at the Cellar Door of the winery listed.

Katoomba, NSW - Monday 16th February

1. Two Churches, Barossa Valley Rose, 2007

2. Banrock Station, Sparkling White Shiraz, NV

3. Penfolds, Thomas Hyland Shiraz, 2006

4. Mount Pleasant Philip Shiraz. 2006

5. Dalfarras, Shiraz Viognier, 2004

6. d'Arenberg, "d'Arry's Original" Shiraz Grenache, 2006

7. d'Arenberg, "Laughing Magpie" Shiraz Viognier, 2006

Apollo Bay, VIC - Thursday 19th February

1. Shadowfax, Riesling, 2008

2. Shadowfax, Werribee Shiraz, 2005

3. Shadowfax, Heathcote "One Eye" Shiraz, 2005

4. Yering Station, Shiraz Viognier, 2006

Robe, SA - Saturday 21st February

1. Balnaves, Sparkling Cabernet, NV

2. Shadowfax, Sauvignon Blanc, 2008

3. Balnaves, "Cheeky Red", 2008

4. di Giorgio, "Sterita" Shiraz, 2005

McLaren Vale, SA - Sunday 22nd February

1. Katnook Estate, Sauvignon Blanc, 2008

2. Wynns Coonawarra Estate, Coonawarra Riesling, 2008

3. Bannockburn Geelong, Shiraz, 2004

4. Wynns Coonawarra Estate, "Black Label" Shiraz, 2006

McLaren Vale, SA - Monday 23rd February

1. Gemtree, "Cadenzia" Grenache Tempranillo Shiraz, 2007

2. Red Heads. The Back Shed Shiraz Grenache, 2006

3. Tapestry. "Cadenzia" Old Vine Grenache, 2007

4. d'Arenberg, "Sticks & Stones" Tempranillo Grenache Shiraz. 2005

5. d'Arenberg, "The Last Ditch" Viognier, 2008

Barossa Valley, SA - Tuesday 24th February

1. "Lazy Ballerina" Shiraz Viognier, 2006

2. Red Heads, "The Back Shed" Shiraz Grenache, 2006

3. Wirra Wirra, "Sparrow's Lodge" Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006

Appelation Restaurant, Barossa Valley, SA Wednesday 25th February

1. Pelorus, Sparkling, NV

2. Radford Dale, Eden Valley Riesling, 2007

3. Cooper Burns, Barossa Valley Grenache, 2006

4. Deisen, Barossa Shiraz, 2005

Bay of Shoals, KI - Thursday 26th February

1. Wirra Wirra "Scrubby Rise" Unwooded Chardonnay, 2008

2. d'Arenberg, "The Stump Jump" Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Marsanne, Viognier, Chardonnay, 2007

3. Hardy's, Oomoo Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre, 2006

4. Pertaringa, "Over The Top" Shiraz, 2006

Bay of Shoals, KI - Friday 27th February

1. Majella, "Melody" Rose, 2008

2. Bannockburn Geelong, Pinot Noir, 2005

3. Gemtree, "Obsidian" Shiraz, 2005

4. Peter Lehmann, "Clancy's" Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot (Magnum), 2004

5. d'arenberg, "The Noble Mud Pie", Viognier Pinot Gris Marsanne, 2008

Bay of Shoals, KI - Saturday 28th February

1. Two Hands, Gnarly Dudes Shiraz, 2007

2. Turkey Flat, Rose, 2008

3. Pertaringa, "Scarecrow" Sauvignon Blanc, 2008

4. Woop Woop, Verdelho, 2008

5. Katnook Estate, Chardonnay Brut Blanc de Blancs, 2007

6. Chateau Tanunda, Terroirs Ebenezer Shiraz, 200?

7. Kaesler, "Reid's Rasp" Shiraz, 2008

8. Wynn's, Samuel Port, NV

Brisbane, QLD - Sunday 1st March

1. Langmeil, "Fifth Wave" Grenache, 2006

2. Langmeil, "Orphan Bank" Shiraz, 2006

Brisbane, QLD - Monday 2nd March

1. Isabel, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, 2008

2. Turkey Flat, Rose, 2008

3. The Black Chook, Sparkling Shiraz, NV

4. Two Hands, Bella's Garden Shiraz, 2006

5. Red Heads, "Yard Dog" Petit Verdot merlot Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006

6. Wirra Wirra, "Catapult" Shiraz Viognier, 2006

7. Langmeil, Fortified Shiraz

8. Wynns, Samuel Port

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Australian Wine Trade Flood Relief Raffle

Australian Wine Trade Flood Relief Raffle

  08:16    Stu.

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Well respected Queensland wine scribe Tyson Stelzer, with the generous support of the Australian wine community, has put together an amazing raffle to raise funds for those hit by recent tragedies.

The prize lists reads like a who's who of the Australian Wine Community.  The aim is to try and raise over $1m through sales of raffle tickets.

Tickets are $30 each and can be purchased via www.winefloodrelief.com.au, the prize tally is approximately $240,000 worth of wine over 200 prize lots. 

Do it!  Be in for a chance to win some awesome wine AND help raise funds for a good cause.

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Mike Press Wines Dinner

Mike Press Wines Dinner

  12:25    Stu.

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A distinguished 42 year career working for some of Australia's biggest names (Penfolds, Seppelts, Krondorf), Chief Winemaker for Mildara Blass, Jimmy Watson winner...some pretty impressive stuff, thus an opportunity to taste Mike's range of wines including verticals of Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon wasn't to be turned down.

Thoughts of retiring to the Adelaide Hills on 85 acres, 30 of which Mike and Judy planted in 1998 with Shiraz (10), Cabernet (10), Merlot (5) and Pinot Noir (5) plus a further 30 (20 Merlot and Chardonnay 10) the following year, the intent was to grow premium grapes and on-sell to South Australian wineries.

A downturn in grape prices led to the decision to make the wine themselves, with a conscious decision to price to what they had expected to receive for the grapes plus a small margin.  That decision, plus a sales strategy of selling direct and through selected retailers only, has led to a growing number of fans.  This blog is one of them.  It was the profile-raising work of Tyson Stelzer and Matthew Jukes, and their influential, and now sorely missed missed (for it is now longer published) annual publication Taste, that brought MP Wines to my attention.

I didn't take any notes of own on the night, preferring to enjoy the wines.  Instead when Mike and Tyson introduced the Shiraz and Cabernet flights I took the time to record some of their words.

2005 Shiraz: 2-3 years left in it, 100% American Oak and become a bit refined in its old age.

2006 Shiraz: A different wine, Mike wasn't sure why.  Developing into a lovely elegant European styled Shiraz.  Will go a long way.

2007 Shiraz: Fuller than previous years, lovely sweet wood - uses American Oak and lots of it.

2008 Shiraz: a hot year (15.5% on the label), out of a miserable year this was salvaged, will last the least of the Shiraz.

2009 Shiraz: Developing now and showing glimpses of how it will become.  Elegant, beautiful tannins, a wine with much potential.  Look at it in 5 years time.

Mike fielded some questions from the floor, one of which was on the extensive use of American Oak, Mike's response received a warm response: "American Oak suits Shiraz, I'm a product of Shiraz and Penfolds"

My notes on the Cabernets are less detailed than the Shiraz.  Being the 2nd flight of the night, I cannot think why that may be...

Tyson was of the firm opinion that the "Cabernet is the star variety here" and emphasised that Mike's wines are from his own fruit off a single vineyard.  On the 2009 Cabernet it was offered that "to really appreciate what this wine's about, cellar it, look at in 5-10 years time.  Treat it like a serious, expensive wine". 

That the Cabernet is available direct for $167 per dozen, delivered, makes this a tempting proposition.  A few retailers still have the Shiraz available for around $150 a case plus delivery.  Do it, you know you want to.

Source: http://www.clearaboutwine.com.au/wp/

Price: $80

Closure: About midnight.

Website: http://www.mikepresswines.com.au/

Follow me: http://twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

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Hoddles Creek Estate Chardonnay 2005

Hoddles Creek Estate Chardonnay 2005

  10:46    Stu.

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I've little frame of reference for Aussie Chardonnay.  I don't subscribe to the "Anything But Chardonnay" group, preferring to think of Aussie Beautiful Chardonnay instead.  That said, this wine is exactly how I like Chardonnay to be.

Aroma of varietal stonefruit: peach and nectarine; a touch of grapefruit and some good quality lightly toasted oak present.  The palate takes things to another level.  The oak is present again, supporting the fruit to deliver a taut, slightly minerally, driven wine.  It thrusts back towards the back plate and a finish that delivers more toasty, spicy oak and the fruit that was present on the nose.

A seriously good wine - the best thing is it still available from Bocaccio, and at only $24.99 is a steal.  I've single bottles of the 2006 and 2007 too and I'm really looking forward to seeing how those look.

Source: Retail, Boccacio Cellars

Price: $24.99

Closure: Screwcap

Website: http://www.hoddlescreekestate.com.au/

Follow me: twitter.com/TheVinsomniac

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