Thanks to my friend Anthony for introdcuing me to this. The best pinot I've had all year by a large margin. Gentle and subtle and never overpowering, the bouquet is complex and mushroom influenced. The liquid is gentle, silken and deeply satisfying. Over several bottles I've just found myself just sitting and smelling this wine, it is such a joy. Illustrious wine reviewers such as James Halliday might gravitiate towards the Paringe Estates of the world, but for me, this is kind. the only wines I can think of that were in the same league included an one unusually good Gevry Chambertin that I had in 1993 (the wine that put me onto pinot in the first place), Main Ridge Estate, and one reserve Candlebark Hill pinot that they cannot reproduce.
One month after Anthony introduced me to this wine I was in the winery buying six more. I'll be there at New Year. My custom is assured.
Box Stallion Shiraz (Mornington Peninsula), $35
We only went to Box Stallion because we wanted to go to a winery we'd not been to before. I was not intending to have shiraz at all there, intending to concentrate on the pinots and the more exotic grape varieties (they are trying arneis here, which is unusual for the Mornington Peninsula region). So I was unsuspecting when this shiraz hit me. Full of licorice this wine is perfectly balanced and drinking wonderfully at the moment. Let's face it many a wine at $30 lives on the reputation of teh winery or region and is often forgettable. This one is not. A wonderful wine for a special occassion or with special people. Available from teh cellar door and from the bottle shop on Queen Street in Melbourne CBD.
Sam Miranda Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2004 (King Valley), about $20
Definately my favourite sparkling of the year and ata very good price. This wine had no acidic hard edges whatsoever. Perfect integration of flavours with leads to a gentle, creamy and subtle sparkling wine. This is too good for a chatty afternoon between bored mothers on a school day. One to enjoy as a couple as the late afternoon heat dissapates though an unctuously lazy evening.
Best's Great Western Bin 0 Shiraz 2000 (?) (Grampians)
Came as shock this one as it came on the coat tails of two bottles of Felton Road pinot noir. The Best's outshone the pinot. Had the whole crowd nodding with appreciation.
Those that nearly made it to exalted status
- Box Stallion Pinot Meunier 2006 (Mornington Peninsula), $23
- Chrismont Riesling 2005 (King Valley), $16
- Chrismont Chardonnay 2005 (King Valley), $17
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