Stephen John Blanc de Blanc

EASILY OUR BIGGEST SELLER AT THIS PRICE and once you taste it you'll understand why. Here are Stephen's notes
"WINE STYLE
Our Blanc de Blanc, as the name implies, is a sparkling white made from white grapes. A blend of Chardonnay and Semillon from selected vineyards and picked early in the season to capture the freshness and elegance.
TASTING NOTES
Medium straw colour. Excellent mousse and fine bead. The nose shows fresh creamy fruit, whilst the palate is delicate with balanced acid/sweetness. An aperitif style displaying elegant structure balanced acid and lovely soft integrated flavours."

Our Price: $12 per bottle by the dozen

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Stephen John 2006 Shiraz

TRADITIONAL BASKET PRESS -
5 STAR WINERY RATING 2008 JAMES HALLIDAY

Our old friend Stephen John doesn't just make your favourite everyday fizz. He's just released his 2006 Shiraz and it's an absolute cracker. It's simultaneously opulent and elegant and considerably underpriced. This is a perfect exampe of the heights that Clare Shiraz can hit. Enjoy it now or cellar for 5-10 years.


Our Price: $20 per bottle by the doz

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Champagne Gremillet Brut Selection

Two Champagnes were submitted this week from the House of Gremillet. I knew I could sell one at $50 and one at $35 but wasn't sure which. Tasted them and thought it was pretty obvious which was which, thought I'd check anyway and discovered that as far as I was concerned the better one was the $35. So talk about win/win. We get to quaff two terrific fizzes and you get a crack at an absolute gem. It's yeasty, developed and complex and at $35 it will go down as one of the bargains of the year
Our Price: $35 per bottle by the dozen

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Gotham 2008 Clare Valley Riesling

It's made by Neil Pike and the overwhelming response was WOW! I've been very well behaved in recent times resisting the urge to fill the cellar door with stacks of my favourite white variety but this one couldn't be ignored. This opens quite shyly with a reserved delicacy and then takes off. It combines a crisp acidic dryness with an intensity of fruit that out blancs the sauvignons. As much as I enjoy sauv blancs it's rieslings ike this that really excite me with their character and versatility. A superb wine that delivers well into the $20+ territory.


Our Price: $15 per bottle by the doz

OUT OF STOCK

Gotham 2006 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon

I may have told you this story before but regardless it's worthy of being told again. Not so long ago a VERY senior winemaker employed by a VERY voluminous producer was asked for the secret of making successful Cabernet Sauvignon. His reply was "Make it taste like Shiraz".
Which goes along way to explaining the long time shortage of finding cabernets that actually taste like the grape from which they were made. I want to taste Cabernets with tannin and acid that ooze blackcurrant. And don't cost the earth.

Last week the Gotham 2006 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon was submitted and it's a cracker. You have no idea [actually you probably do] of how tempted I was to do a "Crazy Coonawarra, Batman" as a heading.. It's a crazy name with one of the wackiest labels we've seen in a longtime and neither do the wine justice. It opens with a fairly overt cool climate nose. There's a fair bit of capsicum and a touch of earthiness which I'm glad disappears within 20 minutes or so. There's none of that on the palate which starts off reasonably subdued and then just blossoms. Wood is there but it's the rich cabernet fruit and acid balance that make this such a top drop. Alcohol is a sensible 13.5% and the winemaker is Peter Douglas which goes a long way to explaining the quality of this wine. We road tested it over 4 days and it just kept on getting better so it's one to consider for the cellar. Very highly recommended.

Our Price: $15 per bottle by the doz

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Tamar Ridge 2006 Pinot Noir

IS THIS THE BEST VALUE OZ PINOT ON THE MARKET?

Let's not beat around the bush. This is a great red.
It's soft and welcoming and then hits you with the palate impact and length that lasts until the next sip - even if you can resist it for 5 minutes! I've even converted one doubting Michael to the joys of Pinot with this one.
I'm also hiding a few bottles away to share with the Pinotphile son-in-law when he returns from his Asian sojourn

Our Price: $23 per bottle

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Benwarin 2005 Hunter Valley Chardonnay

GOLD MEDAL WINNER: Hunter Valley Wine Show 2006
This is a very fine "New Age" chardonnay which achieves its impact through great winemaking rather than being hit over the head with a lump of a oak. Lovely citrus fruit, quality oak and steely acid make this one to enjoy now or confidently cellar

Our Price: $17 per bottle

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Aspen Estate 2009 Cabernet Merlot

For our money this is one of the best budget reds available at the moment. Great BBQ wine and can hold it's head high in much more expensive company.

RRP: $????
Our Price: $5 a bottle by the dozen

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Staying at the VIC in Rutherglen

So...
what happens when my passionate Richmond supporter sibling suggests we ALL go to Melbourne to contribute to the effort to achieve 100G at the G. Great idea to celebrate the club's centenary.
The response started at coach load, eased into a mini bus and ended up with just the two of us in a Barina called Chester.
Given that both the game and result were ugly, the undisputed highlight was our overnight stay in Rutherglen. What a top spot.
There are three pubs in Rutherglen and I was really pleased I booked at the Victoria. It's a 140 year old pub that's two years into a 10 year renovation project. Sarah and Sean have undertaken a huge enterprise along with the help of their mate Jim. The best part of all is that the end result will be a traditional old pub, not something glammed up to be something it never was. The rooms are basic and comfortable even though Sarah rather humbly calls the accommodation "like camping under a roof."
We'll be returning as soon as possible not only to see how the renovations proceed but to further the Rutherglen experience. It has to be one of the most welcoming, fascinating vineyard areas I've ever visited. We'll also try and plan the next visit to co-incide with one of the VIC's food and wine weekends. Sarah and Sean are planning six events each year and we suspect they might be rather special.
If you'd like to contact the Victoria Hotel:
http://www.rutherglenvic.com

Not so enthaicing wine descriptions

Back in 2006 we found ourselves overnighting at the Grand China Princess Hotel in Bangkok. Great hotel with one of those truly inspiring Asian breakfast buffets and a rooftop pool that let you soak in just how huge the city really is.
I borrowed one of their wine lists which I've just come across in an early spring clean.
At around $25 - $50 a bottle these were easy to resist:

Chenin Blanc White Wine 2003
"A medium sweet wine: deep colour, golden, mushroom and fungus on the nose. Enjoy with very hot and spicy seafood, Thai dishes or as a spicy aperitif. Serve well very chilled."

Chenin Blanc Extra Dry 2003
"With a fresh and fragrant bouquet. Typical aged Chenin characteristics on nose and clean fruit on the palate. Perfect with popular fish, seafood Thai dishes."

Shiraz Red Wine 2004
"Light, soft and sweet with a bitter after taste. Oak on the nose and palate with a very light middle palate match perfect with any meat dish or spicy one."

Sparkling Wine De Loei
"Honey nose, very rich on the palate, a very fine mousse on the palate. It is produced firstly by the traditional method " a bottle fermented" and aged nearly two years from the best selection of chenin blanc. Perfect for any occasion and with special house cocktail Thai ingredients (mango or lychee liqueur)"