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%

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%

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%

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%

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%

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%

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%

WINE: MORRIS Liqueur Tokay NV

Type: Fortified, Tokay
Origin: Rutherglend, Victoria
Approx Cost: $20
http://www.morriswines.com/

I have so many tasting notes scattered on my desk it’s starting to get annoying. They’re on envelopes, receipts and on the back of shopping lists. Hell, I even have some typed into my phone when I can’t find a pen and paper.

But on with the show. And what a show! This is a bloody brilliant drop which gave me no end of pleasure. Morris are absolute legends at making fortifieds in Australia, but this still surprised me.

A fine but rich amber with gold and green edges. Incredible flavours of caramel, raisin, smokey malt and toffee. Delicious finish with the perfect amount of acidity that sits perfectly on the palate.

This is great. A textbook example of what an entry level tokay should taste like. Fortifieds might not be very popular anymore, but if the product was all like this then I’m sure it would change.

92%

WINE: COOKOOTHAMA Botrytis Semillon 2005

Type: Sweet White, Dessert
Origin: Riverina, NSW (?)
Approx Cost: $25

Yum. Time to drink another dessert wine. It really is the sweetest time of the week.

Golden amber colour. Fruity nose. Palate is great. Caramelised lemons, oranges and pears; citrus peel. A little different to the normal dessert wines in that it has a real sour tang to it. But what makes it unique also holds it back a bit. It’s curious and inviting, but just a bit too much.

Still, while there are other wines similar to this that I probably prefer, this was extremely tasty and I could see myself going back for more.

89%

WINE: POMMERY Brut Royale NV

Type: Champagne
Origin: France
Approx Cost: $60
http://www.pommery.com/

My first encounter with Pommery if I’m not mistaken.

Gold with a hint of green in colour. Average mousse, bead is medium-fine and persists well. So-so palate of lime, lemon and a lot of creamy, yeasty, toasty notes. Decent depth and length on the finish.

It’s okay, but really nothing special. Perhaps it’s because it’s an almost even mix of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinor meuniere grapes that always seems to fall short. Can't see myself going back to try more Pommery for a while.

86%

WINE: SEIFRIED Riesling Ice Wine 2006

Type: Ice wine, dessert, sweet white
Origin: New Zealand
Approx Cost: $30 (375ml)
http://www.seifried.co.nz/

For those that don’t know, ice wines are something like the freak of the wine community. The grapes are left to freeze on the vine so the sugars intensify, then it gets picked. The picking needs to be timed perfectly, and because it has to be done in near freezing temperatures you don’t see too many ice wines on the market.

I’ve wanted to try one for ages, and this one was my first. Splendid. I couldn’t wait to crack it. So I didn’t wait.

Pale gold in colour. Not as intense as a normal dessert wine and much less viscous. Great palate. Great great great. Citrus, tart green apples, rich honey and nice a floral edge. Not as cloying as a fortified or botrytis. Very smooth finish.

This is towards the lower end of the ice wine market, but I enjoyed it so much that I think I might go for one of the more expensive options.

90%

RESTAURANT: Narita Teppanyaki

Type: Japanese/Teppanyaki
Location: 78-86 Harbour St, Sydney
Booking Required: Usually

Fuck, I went to this place so long ago. I can’t believe it has taken me so long to get around to typing up the review. I’ll be surprised if I remember it accurately. Actually, I won’t be that surprised because I HAVE THE MEMORY OF A CHAMP.

You enter this place that sits opposite the Entertainment Centre, walk up a flight of stairs and find a new world. A world of barbeques, of wood, of brick, of flying food. It was my first teppanyaki experience and I was transfixed.

A lot of the appeal of teppanyaki seems to lie in the spectacle. The only thing that separates you from the chef—YOUR chef—is a fiery hotplate. Our chef stood there that night and cook a variety of tasty treats on his hotplate, periodically throwing things at us, while we sat their, drank Japanese beer and watched.

The food isn’t outstanding. It really is just food cooked on a BBQ with basic seasoning. It’s not the place to come to find innovative cooking techniques, amazing flavour combinations or hidden sauces. It’s all there in front of you, cooking on the hotplate.

Service was patchy, but we still had fun. It’s strange to see people I’m dining with get behind the hotplate and cook things or throw eggs at me. Strange but fun. With a big crowd this place would go off.

Prices weren’t as high as I was expecting and portions not as small. For about $40 a head we were very well fed. Still, while the spectacle of it all was good, the food wasn’t great. I’d go back with a dozen or so mates for a fun night, but not with one or two people.

RATING: Okay, may go back

WINE: RUINART Blanc de Blancs NV

Type: Champagne
Origin: France
Approx Cost: $115
http://www.ruinart.com/

My first taste of something from the world’s first champagne house. Where better to start but with a lovely blanc de blanc, my favourite type of sparkling.

Attractive packaging with a clear, UV-resistant bottle. Not a lot of colour in the packaging. An albino bottle perhaps.

Light gold in colour. Medium mousse, persistent bead that isn’t as fine as I would expect. But all that matters is what’s inside, and it has some excellent flavours. Apricot, honey and a slight nuttiness. Good, clean finish that rounds everything off and shows a lot of depth.

It’s a very nice champagne, but not quite exceptional.

92%

WINE: BIMBADGEN ESTATE Verdelho 2006

Type: White
Origin: Hunter Valley, NSW
Approx Cost: $18
http://www.bimbadgen.com.au/

I enjoy Bimbadgen’s wines for some reason. They’re never spectacular, but they’re solid for the price. Maybe it’s just my adoration for their Botrytis Semillon that causes it.

This one is quite nice. Very “alive” palate of mango, fruits from trees and grass. It’s quite refreshing and crisp and goes down well.

Lacks the depth of a quality wine, but not bad value at under $20.

86%

WINE: COLDSTREAM HILLS Cabernet Sauvignon 2005

Type: Red
Origin: Yarra Valley, Victoria
Approx Cost: $25
http://www.coldstreamhills.com.au/

This bottle sat around for fucking ages. Most of the wine I get is turned over pretty quickly, but this has sat idle in my box for two months, collecting dust. Probably because I’ve gone off Cab Savs lately, and I’m still angry at it because I wanted the Pinot Noir but they didn’t have it. WHY CAN’T YOU JUST BE PINOT?

But it’s all good, friends. Deep crimson purple. Nice dark, fruity aroma. Tasty palate of plums, blueberries, earth, dark chocolate and a tiny amount of oak and spice. Excellent length on the finish, the the berry flavours lingering for ages.

I think the RRP for this wine is around the $30, but it’s sold in a lot of places for under $20. At that price it’s awesome value. Coldstream Hills are a pretty steady producer, and this is no exception. My Cab Sav blues are cured.

90%

RESTAURANT: Akaneya

Type: Japanese
Location: 347 Kent St, Sydney (enter via King St)
Booking Required: Rarely
http://www.akaneya.com.au/

With the obligatory miso soup out of the way, the was only one thing on our mind: THE SUPER COMBO ($60). The only combo that sounds better would be the AWESOME NUMBER ONE COMBO but they don’t appear to have this option at Akaneya, a mid-range Jap eatery between Town Hall and Darling Harbour.

But the super combo was a great way of sampling a lot of everything upon my first visit here. It comes loaded with sushi, sashimi, teriyaki chicken, chicken katsu and tempura stuff. You’d be a fool to order anything else! Intended for 2-3 people (closer to 3), Calypso and I powered through this, enjoying the nice tastes on offer.

The service wasn’t really there, but we didn’t need it. Our food was brought quickly and with a smile. They were right to leave us to our own devices and not bother us.

It might not be the most amazing value, but the food is definitely passable and a step above many other places. Nice décor too.

I was very unsure what to rate this, but I think I’ll settle on a…

RATING: Okay, may go back

RESTAURANT: Diethnes Greek Restaurant

Type: Greek
Location: 336 Pitt St, Sydney
Booking Required: Sometimes
http://www.diethnes.com.au/

With the amount of wine reviews lately you’d be forgiven for thinking that I’d given up on leaving the house, preferring to stay home and drink. Not quite.

I was stunned when Calypso suggested this place. Gobsmacked. We’re cursed when it comes to Greek food, you see. Every meal together at a Greek restaurant has been seriously flawed. I think we pissed off a Greek gypsy or something. Are there even Greek gypsies?

Anyway, we headed to this place with a couple of old acquaintences from way back in high school on a chilly Thursday evening for a bit of lamb and dip and bread and whatever it is that those Greeks make.

First thing that hit me was how shit the place looked. Really awful décor. Apparently the place has been going for 50 years. I don’t think it’s been done up since 1970, such was the feel of the place, that can only be described as “brown” and “faux wood”.

Getting past that, we order the banquet and hit up a nice bottle of shiraz. Off to a decent start with some nice stuffed vine leaves and tasty haloumi. The other starters were good but hardly great.

Another bottle of shiraz and we’re ready for the mains. Okay squid, nice octopus, homely moussaka and tasty but, again, homely, slow baked lamb. A pretty average dessert and a coffee round off the meal.

I really wanted to like this place. The staff seem really friendly and eager, the prices are very good, people seem to be enjoying themselves here and the food has a real homemade feel to it. But the décor and lack of spark in the food just didn’t do it for me.

RATING: Will probably not return to

WINE: BRANDS OF COONAWARRA Shiraz 2001

Type: Red
Origin: Coonawarra, SA
Approx Cost: $20
http://www.mcwilliams.com.au/

Coonawarra are doing quite well for themselves these days, with a lot of good labels producing great reds. Unfortunately, this isn’t one of them.

Some people may like the taste of stewed plums, but I do not. There’s a touch of pepper and oak in the background but it’s really nominal. Decent length on the finish, but it’s of stewed plums.

Not for me.

83%

VARIOUS: End of Financial Year Excess

Working in a bank means that the End of Financial Year brings on a massive rush of people wanting shit. On those last two days, we’re literally twice as busy as normal (according to the stats). Considering that we’re normally working flat out as it is, these last days and hours involve a massive effort from all involved. After last year I learned that on that final evening you have to unwind in a massive way. So I thought what the fuck I’ll get some Krug.

But then one thing led to another and I found myself knocking back quite a lot of food and wine with Calypso, pretty much going through what I had on hand. Let me tell you about it, friends, in order that I tasted.


KRUG Grande Cuvee MV

Type: Champagne
Origin: France
Approx Cost: $250
http://www.krug.com/

I don’t quite know why Krug call their NV an MV (Multi-Vintage), when nearly all Non-Vintages are made from Multiple Vintages. Maybe they just want to be special.

The Grande Cuvee is made by blending fifty of more wines from 20-25 vineyards and 6-10 different years. The result is one of the most exceptional and individual non-vintage wines out there.

The first thing you notice when you pour it is that this wine is a technical masterpiece. It’s a glorious bright, light gold in colour, with a fine, creamy mousse and a fine, persistent bead. I could watch it for hours if I didn’t want to taste it so bad. Mmm yeah it’s good. It packs a nice punch on the palate with some powerful, yet delicate flavous. A lot of nut and toast. Very creamy texture. I don’t know the balance of the grapes but it tastes more on the Pinot Noir side. The finish is just incredible. Lasts for ages and opens up even more.

Now here’s the problem. This wine is damn good, without question. It’s the best NV I’ve ever had. BUT I don’t know if I enjoy as much as I should for the price. If this was $100-$150 then it would be fantastic and I’d constantly drink it (when I had money). But at $250 I’m not convinced that it has the goods. Considering that Dom and La Grande Dame cost the same, I don’t prefer this over Dom. And my rating reflects that.

Still, extremely happy that I had it and now I see why Krug is King.

92%



MAJELLA Sparkling Shiraz 2004

Type: Sparkling Red:
Origin: Coonawarra, South Australia
Approx Cost: $35
http://www.majellawines.com.au/

A few weeks ago I found out that they make some of this vintage under crown seal. I was determined to get some, so get some I did.

It’s all pretty similar to the cork version (or is it Diam? I can’t remember) but there are differences. The berries don’t taste as overripe under crown seal, and the minty notes at the end aren’t there this time. A lot more blueberry in this one, it really comes to the front.

Still awesome.

91%



LILLYDALE ESTATE Yarra Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2006

Type: White
Origin: Yarra Valley, Victoria
Approx Cost: $17
http://www.lillydaleestate.com.au/

Bit of a random pickup. Turned out well.

Light gold with a bit of green in there. Palate of pineapple, passionfruit, strawberry, citrus and oak. Finish of grass and unripe fruits.

It’s nice and fruity. Nothing exceptional about it, but a solid, good value Sav Blanc. A bit too oaky and grassy for my tastes though.

87%



MEEREA PARK Shiraz Viognier 2005

Type: Red
Origin: Hunter Valley, NSW
Approx Cost: $17
http://www.meereapark.com.au/

Calypso and I both enjoy the Shiraz Viognier blends, so there was a bit of interest over this one, with neither of us having tried it before.

More transparent crimson purple than I was expecting. Quite nice. Ripe plum, blackberry, blueberry, apricot, stone fruit and a bit of spice at the end. Fine, fine tannins.

Only 5% Viognier in this, but it’s very well balanced. Initially it was average, but it opened up nicely with some time in the glass. A very good value Hunter Shiraz Viognier.

88%



DE BORTOLI Black Noble NV

Already reviewed

92%



THE GLENLIVET 18 yo Single-Malt Scotch

Type: Single-Malt
Origin: Speyside, Scotland
Approx Cost: $80
http://www.theglenlivet.com/

Ahhh a lovely finish to the evening.

Deep amber with gold touches. Heavy nose of nuts, flowers, oak and a slight sweetness. Starts off sweet then introduces flowers, nuts, stone fruits, a little peatiness, before it finishes of dry and spicy.

88%



An enjoyable evening.

WINE: DE BORTOLI Black Noble NV

Type: Fortified
Origin: Riverina, NSW
Approx Cost: $30 (375ml)

Now this is interesting! Made from botrytis Semillon, but tastes unlike any other botrytis Semillon that I’ve had.

Deep amber and maple in colour. Nose is a lovely maple and caramel. The palate is wonderful. Maple syrup, smoke, coffee, caramalised fruits (peaces, orange, pears) and toffee. Viscous and sweet. Lovely sweet finish that lingers for ages.

It doesn’t have that “wow” factor but it’s damn nice and well worth picking up.

92%