Sunday, September 30, 2007

WINE: MORRIS Liqueur Muscat NV

Type: Fortified, Muscat
Origin: Rutherglen, Victoria
Approx Cost: $20 (500 ml)
http://www.morriswines.com

Finally stop on the Morris fortified train and we’re left standing at muscat station. I quite like muscats so I was looking forward to this.

Reddy-gold amber. Nice flavours of orange, marmalade and raisin. Nice finish, but it’s a little hollow.

Really good for an entry level muscat, but lacking anything exceptional to take it up. Still, I know I’d get it again when on the lookout for a cheap muscat.

88%

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

WINE: BROKENWOOD Semillon 2005

Type: White, Semillon
Origin: Hunter Valley, NSW
Approx Cost: $25
http://www.brokenwood.com.au/

Very clear gold. Almost transparent. Inviting nose. Crisp citrus flavours and some creamy oak in the background and a little grass.

It’s refreshing, no fuss and good value. I like it.

88%

Saturday, September 22, 2007

WINE: BEELGARA ESTATE “Bianca” Sun Dried Botrytis Semillon 2004

Type: Dessert, Sweet, White
Origin: Riverina, NSW
Approx Cost: $20 (375ml)
http://www.beelgaraestate.com.au/

My purchase of this wine has somehow entered the folklore of this house and my housemates will not let up about it. “Apparently” the chick (who looked like an elf) that sold it to me was trying to crack on to me (running game pretty hard), but I was taking no notice as I was too consumed with the case of port under the counter or, as one housemate thought, I was staring at the floor.

But what I do recall of that evening was her saying that this was a very nice drop. And I’d tend to agree. I have no idea if it was actually “sun dried” more than a normal sweet Semillon, but it did look and taste a lot more concentrated than normal. Nice nose. Palate was a good mix of apple, citrus, orange, marmalade and sultana. All flavours were very intense. And I think that’s what let it down. It was a very tasty wine, but the flavours were a little out of balance. I wouldn’t regret buying it, but at the price there is a lot of strong(er) competition.

Like my chance at love, my rating for this wine was misplaced that night. But from memory it was around...

88%

Monday, September 17, 2007

WINE: MORRIS Liqueur Tawny Port NV

Type: Fortified, Tawny port
Origin: Rutherglen, Victoria
Approx Cost: $20 (500 ml)
http://www.morriswines.com

Part two of the three part exploration into Morris’ entry level fortified wines. This stop takes us to tawny port country, which is probably my least favourite compared to muscat and the delicious tokay.

Pale, dark amber in colour. That sounds like a contradiction but I swear it isn’t. Although this wine did perplex me somewhat. Smokey and hot. The alcohol doesn’t hide as well as the other Morris wines. Palate of spiced wood, floral characters and burnt palm sugar. Lacking a little depth and didn’t last too well after a couple of days.

It’s really nice, but not great.

87%

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

WINE: OYSTER BAY Sauvignon Blanc 2006

Type: White, Sauvignon Blanc
Origin: Marlborough, New Zealand
Approx Cost: $20
http://www.oysterbaywines.com/

This is probably the ultimate chick wine at the moment. NZ Sav Blancs are just ridiculously popular with the fairer sex right now. But that’s neither here nor there.

Light gold with green edges. This is a textbook sav blanc on the palate. A lot of citrus at the start with lemon and orange rind. That makes way for guava, sharp floral and gardeny flavours, with a bit of oak at the end. A long, creamy finish.

It’s good, it’s clean, it’s sharp. But it just didn’t knock me over.

86%

Sunday, September 09, 2007

WINE: TREVOR JONES Sparkling Red NV

Type: Sparkling red
Origin: Barossa Valley, South Australia
Approx Cost: $20
http://www.kellermeister.com.au/

I’ve wanted to try this for quite a while, and managed to get my hands on a bottle last weekend to enjoy with some Mexican food.

Medium-fine mousse and bead. Bead dies off pretty quickly, as most reds tend to. Tasty though. Strawberry, blueberry and blackberry. With all that fruit it’s no surprise that this is a very refreshing, light and juicy sparkling wine.

It’s not in the upper level of sparkling reds being produced in this country, but it’s a great, refreshing wine at an irresistible price.

88%

Thursday, September 06, 2007

WINE: VEUVE CLICQUOT Brut 1988

Type: Champagne
Origin: France
Approx Cost: $200
http://www.veuve-clicquot.com/

Veuve Clicquot have brought out a couple of cellar-aged releases this year. The 88 Brut and the 85 Rose. I decided to get one.

Despite consuming many champagnes and a fair few decent bottles in my (short) time, this is the first champagne I’ve ever had that has any sort of age to it. And what a revelation it was.

Fine, light mousse. Superfine bead that died out quickly. Light gold in colour. Interest and inviting nose of honey, apricot and nuts. Great palate of wild honey, caramelised citrus and orange rind. Sweet, toasty finish that is nice but a little off.

It was such a great experience, but it wasn’t an extraordinary wine.

91%