Our French Impressions: a taste of France, virtually...
Wine
How good a meal would be without wine?
Let's explore this together.
Let's explore this together.
Pinot Noir
On two recent occasions, I had the pleasure and privilege to taste two different Pinots, one from Burgundy and one from...New Zealand.
Ultimo Wine Centre Hospice de Beaune Savigny Les Beaune 1er Cru ‘Cuvee Forneret’, 2007
Ultimo Wine Centre bought a barrel at auction in November, and this is the result. At last count 186 bottles left. Just run and buy some. At A$79.95, it is a bargain. We drank it for Mother's Day Dinner. see menu and recipe here.
“Purple-red of medium depth, with open, fresh aromatic nose. On the palate this has pure fruitiness, flesh and fine tannins. It is a lovely Savigny for early to mid-term drinking.” (Anthony Hanson, Auctioneer Christies)
Tarras Vineyards Pinot Noir 2008, Central Otago
We had this wine for my birthday recently at Capital Grill. I wish the food had been up to it. See review here
A blend of Pinot Noir from The Steppes and The Canyon Vineyards. Deep, concentrated dark cherry fruits integrated with fine ripe tannins.
5 Stars Cuisine Magazine (November 2009)
Top 10 New Zealand Pinot Noir - Wine New Zealand Magazine (October 2009)
BEST IMPORT 94/100 Sydney Morning Herald, March 2010
An exciting new producer with two $50 reserve wines as well as this excellent estate blend. Foresty, earthy, black-fruit complexities and a savoury, burgundy-like palate with power and structure. Classy flavour and good concentration, with less oak than the reserve wines. Now to five years.
Huon Hooke, SMH Good Living
Huon Hooke has also put this wine in his newly published list of the 50 best wines for 2010.
Definitely up there with the French!
Ultimo Wine Centre Hospice de Beaune Savigny Les Beaune 1er Cru ‘Cuvee Forneret’, 2007
Ultimo Wine Centre bought a barrel at auction in November, and this is the result. At last count 186 bottles left. Just run and buy some. At A$79.95, it is a bargain. We drank it for Mother's Day Dinner. see menu and recipe here.
“Purple-red of medium depth, with open, fresh aromatic nose. On the palate this has pure fruitiness, flesh and fine tannins. It is a lovely Savigny for early to mid-term drinking.” (Anthony Hanson, Auctioneer Christies)
Tarras Vineyards Pinot Noir 2008, Central Otago
We had this wine for my birthday recently at Capital Grill. I wish the food had been up to it. See review here
A blend of Pinot Noir from The Steppes and The Canyon Vineyards. Deep, concentrated dark cherry fruits integrated with fine ripe tannins.
5 Stars Cuisine Magazine (November 2009)
Top 10 New Zealand Pinot Noir - Wine New Zealand Magazine (October 2009)
BEST IMPORT 94/100 Sydney Morning Herald, March 2010
An exciting new producer with two $50 reserve wines as well as this excellent estate blend. Foresty, earthy, black-fruit complexities and a savoury, burgundy-like palate with power and structure. Classy flavour and good concentration, with less oak than the reserve wines. Now to five years.
Huon Hooke, SMH Good Living
Huon Hooke has also put this wine in his newly published list of the 50 best wines for 2010.
Definitely up there with the French!
Pessac Leognan - The Heart of Bordeaux
Over the years, I have had the chance to drink wines from three Chateaux from that region:
Chateau Haut Brion red - can't remember the vintage, sorry,
Domaine de Chevalier 1975 white
and for Valentine Day in 2010, Chateau Carbonnieux 2005 White.
This is a very good example of a Sauvignon Semillon blend (60%-40%), the aromas of white fruits and almonds being a perfect companion for the spicy scallops, as it has strength and depth.
It was maybe even more in tune with the burnt fig, caramel, and honeycomb ice cream from Maggie Beer
Chateau Haut Brion red - can't remember the vintage, sorry,
Domaine de Chevalier 1975 white
and for Valentine Day in 2010, Chateau Carbonnieux 2005 White.
This is a very good example of a Sauvignon Semillon blend (60%-40%), the aromas of white fruits and almonds being a perfect companion for the spicy scallops, as it has strength and depth.
It was maybe even more in tune with the burnt fig, caramel, and honeycomb ice cream from Maggie Beer
My favourite Cotes-du-Rhone
Well, this is my favourite wine for everyday (almost...). It is perfect with meat, Thai food, Indian food, cheese, bien sur... It cost a mere 20A$ in Sydney by the bottle and you can easily save up to 30% in a dozen. To upgrade and stay in the Rhone Valley, you would have to spend twice as much for a St Joseph, a Chateunuef-du-Pape or a Gigondas or even more for a Cote Rotie...
I have entertained many of my guests over the years with several vintages of this wine. We currently drink the 2007, as the 2005 seems to have been all drunk, at least in Sydney! The 2005 is actually rounder, less tannic than the 2007.
On the photo, ready to drink with a selection of goat cheese from Willowbrae Cheese, recently featured on MasterChef and loaf from the Moana Bakery in Rozelle: a treat!
I have entertained many of my guests over the years with several vintages of this wine. We currently drink the 2007, as the 2005 seems to have been all drunk, at least in Sydney! The 2005 is actually rounder, less tannic than the 2007.
On the photo, ready to drink with a selection of goat cheese from Willowbrae Cheese, recently featured on MasterChef and loaf from the Moana Bakery in Rozelle: a treat!
