Wine

[Do_As_Infinity]

I will be going Sydney during July. Will be heading to hunter valley, anyone been there before, got any reccomendations about which wineries to visit? It's my first time visiting wineries. Thanks!

 

[iluvtiani]

anyone has a good wine apps to recommend to review on the move?

 

[iluvtiani]

recently bought Chateau Latour~Martilia from ntuc finest. not bad but slightly short.

any comments?

 

[looiwte]

Latour-Martillac of Pessac Leognan, should be pretty enjoyable. Label looks pretty cool. What vintage is this?

Wines are usually slightly lighter than the Medoc, with tell-tale mineral or 'wet rocks' notes.

You can check out the TN of Wine Doctor: Chateau Latour-Martillac

The man RP says 'the reds remain somewhat monolithic, rich in fruit and powerful, but rather straightforward.' 89 pts for 2005.

 

[looiwte]

I will be going Sydney during July. Will be heading to hunter valley, anyone been there before, got any reccomendations about which wineries to visit? It's my first time visiting wineries. Thanks!

I've not been to Australia before, but here are some general tips with regards to vineyard visits in general:

- Any particular wines, type of wine that you want to seek out? Something that you like enough to find out where it was 'born'?
- Maybe you can try to find some small vineyards whose wines are not available here, or try a broader range of wines from big labels like Wyndham Estate than are available locally.
- Do your price comparison (wine-searcher.com) if you plan to buy, not all Aus wines are cheaper over there due to their equalisation tax.
- Some wineries choose to focus on a smaller portfolio of wines, rather than producing every varietal possible. You may want to take this into consideration for tastings.

Hunter Valley notes:
- The Hunter Valley is famous for its age-worthy Semillions and a distinct style of Shiraz.
- Some of the better producers: Brokenwood, Tyrrell's, McWilliam's and Lakes Folly
- Some of the big name, recognisable producers: Wyndham Estate, Rosemount, Lindemans.
- You can check which vineyards have restaurants with the style of food you like, eg. Italian, BBQ etc. Having good food, great wine, with beautiful landscapes surrounding you, will make for a memorable experience.

Here are some nice write-ups from Australia's James Halliday:
Hunter Valley Essentials:
Winepros - Region in Focus
Producers A-Z:
Winepros - Region in Focus

Some googled links:
http://www.winecountry.com.au/
http://www.wineanorak.com/trhunter.htm
http://www.cnngo.com/sydney/drink/thirsty-tours-hunter-valley-wineries-495029

 

[looiwte]

Feeling bored? I had fun with this - random tasting note generator.

Random Wine Review Generator

 

[zip113]

what's the difference between wine in screw cap and wine with cork?

 

[MuthuCurry]

Feeling bored? I had fun with this - random tasting note generator.

Random Wine Review Generator

This is pretty cool!! It really helps killing time!

 

[Do_As_Infinity]

Thanks looiwte! Wonderful list! Found quite a number of nice restaurants and vineyards!

 

[ikileo]

helloooooooo......hey guys. my wine hiatus is over as of today. it has been about 6-7 weeks of no alcohol consumption, no visitations to wine stores, no opening of wine emails and no researching on wine. pretty fascinating 6-7 weeks.

this coming week is my birthday week so i have about 4 wine dinners in store.

Tuesday: dinner with gf @ gattopardo. tuesdays are free corkage
Wednesday: dinner with family & gf - location dunno
Thursday: Wine dinner with some kakis
Saturday: Dinner & wine at my house with my close friends.

hope my liver doesn't die next week....

 

[Baggio10]

helloooooooo......hey guys. my wine hiatus is over as of today. it has been about 6-7 weeks of no alcohol consumption, no visitations to wine stores, no opening of wine emails and no researching on wine. pretty fascinating 6-7 weeks.

this coming week is my birthday week so i have about 4 wine dinners in store.

Tuesday: dinner with gf @ gattopardo. tuesdays are free corkage
Wednesday: dinner with family & gf - location dunno
Thursday: Wine dinner with some kakis
Saturday: Dinner & wine at my house with my close friends.

hope my liver doesn't die next week....

welcome back!

What will the the wines for the occasions?

 

[ikileo]

Tuesday: 09 Shaw and Smith Chardonnay M3 Vineyard and I will be splitting a bottle of 04 Vina Fuentenarro Ribera del Duero Reserva (my gf bought this spanish wine for me when her family went to spain for holiday about 2 years ago) - the cuisine will have seafood and some animal meat so i needed both a white and a red (but smaller one)

Wed: dunno yet...dunno where we going. if chinese seafood it will likely be a muscadet. if anything else, i can bring the other half bottle of the spanish red from tuesday

thursday: theme is non-burgundy pinot noir. so i brought a Bindi Pinot Noir Original Vineyard from Port Philip, Australia. Cost me about AUD$95

Sat: I am preparing a 6 course dinner thing:
- 01 Nyetimber Premiere Cuvee Blanc de Blancs (British sparkling wine!)
- undecided, but would probably be an off dry riesling
- 1990 Castello di Monstanto NEMO (100% cab)
- A friend is bringing a red
- 2008 Celler Pinol Josefina Vin Dolce Tinto (red dessert wine from spain)

 

[iluvtiani]

helloooooooo......hey guys. my wine hiatus is over as of today. it has been about 6-7 weeks of no alcohol consumption, no visitations to wine stores, no opening of wine emails and no researching on wine. pretty fascinating 6-7 weeks.

this coming week is my birthday week so i have about 4 wine dinners in store.

Tuesday: dinner with gf @ gattopardo. tuesdays are free corkage
Wednesday: dinner with family & gf - location dunno
Thursday: Wine dinner with some kakis
Saturday: Dinner & wine at my house with my close friends.

hope my liver doesn't die next week....

oohh... what happened?

 

[Beta_Tester]

BTW.. I went to San Pellegrino water n wine tasting session at Savour. This water they have can actually make wine tasting different.

 

[ikileo]

oohh... what happened?

it was for religious reasons. during the period of lent for the 40 days leading up to Easter (not counting sundays), I fasted from alcohol and my wine hobby to focus on the meaning of the days leading up to good friday and easter sunday.

it was a good 40 days.

 

[ikileo]

anyone has a good wine apps to recommend to review on the move?

the app version of cellartracker.com: Cor.kz is very useful. you have to pay, but if u are very into wine, it's very very useful on the go.

 

[ikileo]

I will be going Sydney during July. Will be heading to hunter valley, anyone been there before, got any reccomendations about which wineries to visit? It's my first time visiting wineries. Thanks!

the stuff that looiwte wrote will cover enough. take the time to try the semillons, especially the high end ones. if u have the opportunity to buy aged higher end ones, please do so.

hunter shiraz is doing great things and it's a different wine from it's barossa cousins; which is a good thing.

 

[MuthuCurry]

it was for religious reasons. during the period of lent for the 40 days leading up to Easter (not counting sundays), I fasted from alcohol and my wine hobby to focus on the meaning of the days leading up to good friday and easter sunday.

it was a good 40 days.

welcome back!! we missed you alot.. this forum seems a lot more quiet without you ... hehe..

 

[ikileo]

i had always hoped the forum would be self-sustaining...which it sorta has, everyone's gotta keep pumping in new info.

 

[ikileo]

guys...we should have another wine session!

the theme i would like to propose is: "Wines from countries/regions/varietals that you've never had"

you cool with that?