September 2, 2007
August 29, 2007
August 22, 2007
August 21, 2007
July 29, 2007
Dubonnet Black
Dubonnet, the famous French aperative comprising of a mixture of both Grenache and Muscat grapes. This drop weighs in at 14.5% alcohol.The colour is dark brown at first glance, light mahogany when put to light, rose. The nose is a bouquet of brandy, port barrel, with hints of apricot and damp French oak.The palate is a light-bodied, medicinal mouthful, with flavours that are most unusual and hard to pinpoint. The mid-palate is very complex, yet subtle, offering sweetness at first, followed by vanilla and spice. The finish is medicinal again, followed by apricot, then oak. It is intense and long, revealing hints of white pepper, and offering a forever lingering mouthful that is warm going down.
Price: $20-30
Source: Cellarbrations
Rating: 85 pts
July 17, 2007
July 12, 2007
July 11, 2007
July 5, 2007
Penfolds 'Rawson's Retreat' Shiraz Cab Sauv 2000
Grapes for this wine were sourced from Magill, whereas nowadays they are drawn from various South Australian wine regions, particularly Padthaway, Langhorne, Riverland and McLaren Vale. I wonder if this is why the vintage bottles taste so much better, perhaps it is really Magill Estate disguised as Rawson’s Retreat?!Exercising precaution, I used a decanter solely for removing sediment, and not for oxidisation. Two glasses were poured, and the rest foil-wrapped and refrigerated.
The colour is deep ruby, with mahogany on the edges. This is an all so gentle wine, with subtle perfume, expressing raspberry, mulberry, and oak. The style is light-bodied, with lots of red fruit; raspberry again, and hints of strawberry on the mid-palate. Very tight tannin structure, and only becomes more so as the clock ticks on. Definitely needs to be drunk with food.
The finish is as long as it is elegant, offering a touch of spice, and then softening it with a touch of vanilla. Impeccable balance throughout.
I have always enjoyed drinking these cheap, vintage Penfolds delights - particularly the Koonunga Hill label. I think Penfolds must have been more humble back then.
RR Price: $10
Source: Family Cellar
Rating: 91 pts
Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz 1996 - Re-visited
Excellent wine. Perfumed aromas of clove, musk . .To be continued...
Primo Estate 'La Biondina' Sauv Blanc 2006
Grapes are sourced from Adelaide Hills.The colour is light-pear.
The palate is full of tropical fruits; passionfruit being the most distinct characteristic, followed by grapeberries.
The finish is long, acidic, and the fruit is rather overpowering.
RR Price: $17
Source: Family cellar
Rating: 82 pts
North @ Sky City, North Terrace, SA.
We made a booking for lunch at what was supposed to be Adelaide's premier wine bar - Universal Wine Bar. We were surprised to find that there was literally nobody there, and judging by what the waitperson said; they didn't exactly expect that to change either. It really was a hole. The menu was unappealing, slightly over-priced, the wine list was likewise over-priced, and relatively limited (especially for a premier wine bar!) Most of all, my pet hate.. GOBLETS! As you can guess - we made a quick getaway!Later that evening... I popped over to the casino to see what it had to offer. One of its restaurants is called 'North'. Here I was met with over 200 wines, a wine-rack that holds a total of 1,160 wines when full, 5 beers on tap, and many more by the bottle. The wine selection is quite good; typical well-knowns, though nothing really out of the ordinary. On the bright side, however, the stemware they use is Reidel's, and the wall of wines is temperature controlled and set to 15 degrees C.
The restaurant is part of a refurbished heritage building. It has gorgeous high-ceilings, gold metal chandeliers, wooden dining tables and chairs, and red candles on tables. The bench top of the bar is made of marble, and leather armrest chairs are only a few steps away from the bar. The lighting is quite nice (tick), but the music was a little ordinary if you like (cross).
The bathroom is lovely, and of decent size. It has nice hand basins, good lighting, beautiful wooden doors, and self-flushing urinals. Very responsible restaurant too: “Please wash your hands” sticker stuck onto the mirror! Just outside the bathrooms, where the inner-entrance is, I was met with a very grumpy and rude matride. It doesn't make for a very good first-impression when you walk in, nor does the impression improve when it's time to leave.
Food 4 /5
Service 3 /5
Décor 4.25 /5
Bathroom 2 /2
X-Factor 1.75 /3
Total: 15 /20
There is another bar located towards the main entrance of Sky City - it's called the 'Loco Bar'. A little boring, though would probably be better when a bit busier. The décor is not too bad; very modern/funky. The good thing about it was that the staff here seem to be friendlier and more laid-back. There is also a variety of happy hour specials that run Wednesday through to Sunday.
For more info:
http://www.skycityadelaide.com.au/skycity/adelaide/bars-&-restaurants/loco/loco_home.cfm
Jim Barry 'The Cover Drive' Cab Sauv 2005
I can't recall having tried a Jim Barry yet, but it certainly did make a very good impression, and gave me an idea of what one may expect from "The Armagh" (Jim Barry's flagship wine, which is a Shiraz - RRP~$200). Grapes for "The Cover Drive" are sourced from both Clare Valley, and the Coonawarra region.The colour is deep-brick purple, violet on the rim. Right from the start, the wine begins to express lovely strong aromas of dark fruits and jam, and hints of cherry and eucalyptus.
The palate is full of luscious and young dark fruit; blackberry, plum,mulberry, and fresh cherry - offering an intense mouthful of jam, spice, and a hint of mocha and eucalyptus. It is remarkably well-poised for such a young wine; offering a combination of fruit/jam/spice with such elegant style.
The finish is well-balanced, long, and smooth. The primary notes follow through all the way to the end.
This truly is an exceptional wine, and exceptionally good value for money. The style is probably more true of Clare, though you can definitely spot the Coonawarra. This would have to be my best value red under $50!
It is excellent drinking now, though I'm sure 5-7 years down the track is possible. You could expect to bite to soften up, though I actually quite like this.
RR Price: $25
Source: Restarant, SA.
Rating: 93 pts
July 3, 2007
Allinda 'Cabernets' Cab Sauv Merlot Cab Franc 2001
This wine is made from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, and 11% Cabernet Franc. I think the may be one of the first ones I have had from he Yarra Valley.The colour is deep-brick purple in the middle, and lighter so on the edges.
This wine displays incredible finesse and elegance. The perfumed nose smells of deep, dark fruits; blackberries, and cherries, and is extremely approachable as the perfume is light. On the second, it starts to reveal some chocolate. The nose is just remarkable, and the cherries are as lovely as they are refreshing (being quite a rare characteristic. Given the composure of the bouquet, it may be fair to say that this wine is peak drinking now.
On the palate, the primary characteristics are dark fruits, cherry being most notable, then there is chocolate, followed by cigar-box. The style is light-bodied, though still very intense (more like what you would expect from a vintage Shiraz). The finish is long and smooth; opening up signs of forest floor and further cigar-box. It is unbelievably well-balanced. This wine would definitely be up there with the super-premium Australian wines, however, though the palate and nose was on par with the big guns; it did lack that edge, the tightly-knit structure. Nonetheless, it is a small compromise to make in order to save you a lot of money!!
RR Price: Unknown: $20-30?
Source: Family cellar
Rating: 96 pts
The Grill, Royal Hotel. (South Australia)
2 North Terrace, Kent Town, South Australia.
Reservations: (08) 8363 4888.
This is the first restaurant I have visited on this trip to South Australia. I had a hard time finding the place to say the least, though this is more likely than not due to a lack of good navigational skills! Nonetheless, the experience made the journey well worthwhile. Upon arrival I was swiftly and kindly greeted by the name that my reservation was made, and without further ado was led to my table.
D̩cor Рmodern/colonial. The Grill restaurant itself is on the second floor of the building, giving it a view of passing cars and the National Wine Museum. Not the most attractive view, but still a view! The bathroom is very impressive Рmodern, extremely clean, and lights turn on as you enter.
Drinks – The drinks list was not terribly extensive, especially in the way of beers (which was a little surprising considering that it appears to be a pub/grill). However, the basic wine list is satisfactory, and offers a reasonable choice of familiar wines, by the glass, and at a reasonable price. Better yet, ask for the reserve wine list and you will find even more attractive and familiar wines: BIN 389, Ebenezer, Menzies, and so on.
The ‘Grilled Atlantic Salmon’ was delicious! It is served with baked potatoes on the bottom, and asparagus on the top. The salmon was lovely and incredibly soft, on the other hand, the skin was perhaps slightly overcooked; which made the skin difficult to cut/breakaway, as a consequence, allowing the meat to fall apart. The asparagus was long, soft, and tasty, and the potato had a nice subtle flavour that was also nice. Whilst eating the fish, I was swapping between my beer and red (I know, not the most appropriate, but none of the whites were familiar nor appealing to me). This observation was picked up by the waitperson, and I was asked if I would like a white. I explained what I was after, one was recommended, and rightly so.
(Wine Name), - palate was fruity, whilst not overpowering, followed by well-balanced acidity. (92 points). The ‘Grilled Beef’ was the highlight of the course – absolutely delicious. The tenderloin of beef was cooked perfectly, and the gravy-based sauce was full of rich flavours. It was served with large mushrooms and spinach that was neither chewy nor soggy, and the mushrooms were an absolute delight. The gourmet butter melted away nicely throughout the duration of the meal and further added to the flavour of the sauce. The exterior of the beef had a nice grilled/charcoal texture, whilst leaving the centre incredibly tender and juicy. The sauce was too delicious to waste, and a fresh bread roll was duly given.
My wine to accompany the beef was a Tapestry Shiraz 2005, which comes from the SA region of McLaren Vale. The wine has been aged in oak for 18 months, and is surprisingly elegant for such a young Shiraz; particularly coming from McLaren Vale (which in my opinion tends to produce bold wines). The palate was smooth like velvet, with intense and well-balanced fruit that follows through to the finish, which is pleasant, and leaves you wanting more. Perfectly fine drinking now, though would make for even better drinking with 4-7 years cellaring. (96 points). The wine was served in a decanter, properly poured, and regularly topped up. The stemware is not 5-star grade, though they are perfectly functional glasses, and are of a nice, and relatively large size.
Post-meal – They had 3 types of Cognac (much to my pleasant surprise, being a Grill). I ordered a double shot of Hennessy XO with ice served separately. The waitperson possessed a sound knowledge of spirits and Cognac. The serving size was generous, the cubes were of good size, with smooth edges. A small glass of ice was also presented with a teaspoon to scoop cubes at my discretion. Price-wise I was impressed ($5-10 cheaper per shot than elsewhere, compared to Perth at least).
My Cognac was then followed by a coffee that was made just as I had requested; a strong flat white. Usually this can be a recipe for disaster, and you can expect a revoltingly strong coffee. This on the other hand was perfect. A separate sugar bowl was also presented on the side.
Mains average $20-25.
Food 5 /5
Service 5 /5
Décor 4.25 /5
Bathroom 2 /2
X-Factor 0.5 /3
Total: 16.75 /20
Reservations: (08) 8363 4888.
This is the first restaurant I have visited on this trip to South Australia. I had a hard time finding the place to say the least, though this is more likely than not due to a lack of good navigational skills! Nonetheless, the experience made the journey well worthwhile. Upon arrival I was swiftly and kindly greeted by the name that my reservation was made, and without further ado was led to my table.
D̩cor Рmodern/colonial. The Grill restaurant itself is on the second floor of the building, giving it a view of passing cars and the National Wine Museum. Not the most attractive view, but still a view! The bathroom is very impressive Рmodern, extremely clean, and lights turn on as you enter.
Drinks – The drinks list was not terribly extensive, especially in the way of beers (which was a little surprising considering that it appears to be a pub/grill). However, the basic wine list is satisfactory, and offers a reasonable choice of familiar wines, by the glass, and at a reasonable price. Better yet, ask for the reserve wine list and you will find even more attractive and familiar wines: BIN 389, Ebenezer, Menzies, and so on.
The ‘Grilled Atlantic Salmon’ was delicious! It is served with baked potatoes on the bottom, and asparagus on the top. The salmon was lovely and incredibly soft, on the other hand, the skin was perhaps slightly overcooked; which made the skin difficult to cut/breakaway, as a consequence, allowing the meat to fall apart. The asparagus was long, soft, and tasty, and the potato had a nice subtle flavour that was also nice. Whilst eating the fish, I was swapping between my beer and red (I know, not the most appropriate, but none of the whites were familiar nor appealing to me). This observation was picked up by the waitperson, and I was asked if I would like a white. I explained what I was after, one was recommended, and rightly so.
(Wine Name), - palate was fruity, whilst not overpowering, followed by well-balanced acidity. (92 points). The ‘Grilled Beef’ was the highlight of the course – absolutely delicious. The tenderloin of beef was cooked perfectly, and the gravy-based sauce was full of rich flavours. It was served with large mushrooms and spinach that was neither chewy nor soggy, and the mushrooms were an absolute delight. The gourmet butter melted away nicely throughout the duration of the meal and further added to the flavour of the sauce. The exterior of the beef had a nice grilled/charcoal texture, whilst leaving the centre incredibly tender and juicy. The sauce was too delicious to waste, and a fresh bread roll was duly given.
My wine to accompany the beef was a Tapestry Shiraz 2005, which comes from the SA region of McLaren Vale. The wine has been aged in oak for 18 months, and is surprisingly elegant for such a young Shiraz; particularly coming from McLaren Vale (which in my opinion tends to produce bold wines). The palate was smooth like velvet, with intense and well-balanced fruit that follows through to the finish, which is pleasant, and leaves you wanting more. Perfectly fine drinking now, though would make for even better drinking with 4-7 years cellaring. (96 points). The wine was served in a decanter, properly poured, and regularly topped up. The stemware is not 5-star grade, though they are perfectly functional glasses, and are of a nice, and relatively large size.
Post-meal – They had 3 types of Cognac (much to my pleasant surprise, being a Grill). I ordered a double shot of Hennessy XO with ice served separately. The waitperson possessed a sound knowledge of spirits and Cognac. The serving size was generous, the cubes were of good size, with smooth edges. A small glass of ice was also presented with a teaspoon to scoop cubes at my discretion. Price-wise I was impressed ($5-10 cheaper per shot than elsewhere, compared to Perth at least).
My Cognac was then followed by a coffee that was made just as I had requested; a strong flat white. Usually this can be a recipe for disaster, and you can expect a revoltingly strong coffee. This on the other hand was perfect. A separate sugar bowl was also presented on the side.
Mains average $20-25.
Food 5 /5
Service 5 /5
Décor 4.25 /5
Bathroom 2 /2
X-Factor 0.5 /3
Total: 16.75 /20
Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz 2002
This wine is a bit of a diverse fella, having had its grapes sourced from Barossa, Clare, and McLaren Vale. Fermentation was in both American and French oak barrels for 18 months. The colour is of deep brick purple, and the nose is as spicy as it is complex, displaying aromas of pepper, brandy, and vintage port. It is a bold, full-bodied Shiraz (as is typical of Wolf Blass). There is hints of chocolate and jam on the mid-palate and this also comes through on the second nose, making itself more, and more well-known. The finish is very long, and pepper is the most notable characteristic.This wine is recommended to be drunk between 6-10 years, but given its almost unapproachable youth, I would probably opt for 10-12 yrs and hope it mellows out. The wine was decantered for about 1 hour, though 1-2 hours may do it more justice.
RR Price: $40-45
Source: Personal cellar
Rating: 88+ pts
June 6, 2007
May 26, 2007
May 25, 2007
Oyster Bar, South Perth. (Western Australia)
Food 4.25/5
Service 3.75/5
Decor 3.5/5
Bathroom 1.25/2
X-Factor 0/3
Total: 12.5/20
May 14, 2007
May 13, 2007
Must Wine Bar. (Western Australia)
I have decided to include reviews of spirits, and worthwhile restaurants to this blog.
Let’s start it off with the Must Wine Bar, Perth. I have had the pleasure of visitng this place on several occasions now, and I cannot stress enough how fabulous I think it is. It is great for almost any occasion... whether it be for business, a date, dinner with friends, family, or even a birthday or wedding! The venue is capable of catering to any of these events. I can tend to be a very fussy person when I am eating out, with the price of a restaurant meal these days; it's simply unacceptable to receive anything less than you would be able to do yourself at home. When you add poor service to a poor meal; it simply does not go down very well with me. However, on all occasions I have been to the Must bar... it has been a most pleasurable experience each time. Every aspect of the restaurant is spot on! They have a very extensive wine list that includes over 500 wines that come from all around the world, they have skilled barpersons that make excellent cocktails and the like, as well as a reasonable variety of spirits, champagne (includes a reasonable selection of bubbly by the glass), as well as fortifieds. One of the other great things about this restaurant is that the staff actually have knowledge of the food and wine, and typically possess a passion for it. I have encountered waitpersons that have explained that a wine was a red, when asked what type of wine it was - so this is a real step up from Perth restaurant standards. Drinks are all at reasonable prices, and their spirits (especially Cognac) are at prices considerably cheaper than you would find anywhere else in Perth. So that's the drinks.
The food and service is also excellent. The staff there tend to be of mature age, and this is reflective of their attitude and demeanor... you are made to feel how a guest should feel. They start you off with a generous serving of complementary bread - which is incredibly fresh and delicious. I like how dishes have their own unique touch (something about the dish that you would not likely find elsewhere, or be able to prepare at home), for example, their 270g Sirloin steak that has been aged for 28 days - the end result is a deliciously flavoursome steak.
A brief summary... you are looking at about $15 for an entree, $35 for a main, $7 for sides, and $15 for desserts. The style of cooking is French rotisserie. The atmosphere is wonderful... a very relaxed yet upbeat mood, with staff that are both professional and laid-back at the same time. It is a popular event on almost every night of the week, so it is advisable to make bookings beforehand. I strongly recommended this place!
Food: 5 /5
Service: 4.5 /5
Decor: 4.25 /5
Bathroom: 2 /2
X-Factor: 2.75 /3
Total: 18.5 /20
Address: 519 Beaufort St, Highgate
Telephone: 9328 8255
Let’s start it off with the Must Wine Bar, Perth. I have had the pleasure of visitng this place on several occasions now, and I cannot stress enough how fabulous I think it is. It is great for almost any occasion... whether it be for business, a date, dinner with friends, family, or even a birthday or wedding! The venue is capable of catering to any of these events. I can tend to be a very fussy person when I am eating out, with the price of a restaurant meal these days; it's simply unacceptable to receive anything less than you would be able to do yourself at home. When you add poor service to a poor meal; it simply does not go down very well with me. However, on all occasions I have been to the Must bar... it has been a most pleasurable experience each time. Every aspect of the restaurant is spot on! They have a very extensive wine list that includes over 500 wines that come from all around the world, they have skilled barpersons that make excellent cocktails and the like, as well as a reasonable variety of spirits, champagne (includes a reasonable selection of bubbly by the glass), as well as fortifieds. One of the other great things about this restaurant is that the staff actually have knowledge of the food and wine, and typically possess a passion for it. I have encountered waitpersons that have explained that a wine was a red, when asked what type of wine it was - so this is a real step up from Perth restaurant standards. Drinks are all at reasonable prices, and their spirits (especially Cognac) are at prices considerably cheaper than you would find anywhere else in Perth. So that's the drinks.
The food and service is also excellent. The staff there tend to be of mature age, and this is reflective of their attitude and demeanor... you are made to feel how a guest should feel. They start you off with a generous serving of complementary bread - which is incredibly fresh and delicious. I like how dishes have their own unique touch (something about the dish that you would not likely find elsewhere, or be able to prepare at home), for example, their 270g Sirloin steak that has been aged for 28 days - the end result is a deliciously flavoursome steak.
A brief summary... you are looking at about $15 for an entree, $35 for a main, $7 for sides, and $15 for desserts. The style of cooking is French rotisserie. The atmosphere is wonderful... a very relaxed yet upbeat mood, with staff that are both professional and laid-back at the same time. It is a popular event on almost every night of the week, so it is advisable to make bookings beforehand. I strongly recommended this place!
Food: 5 /5
Service: 4.5 /5
Decor: 4.25 /5
Bathroom: 2 /2
X-Factor: 2.75 /3
Total: 18.5 /20
Address: 519 Beaufort St, Highgate
Telephone: 9328 8255
May 12, 2007
Remy Martin Louis XIII Grande Champagne Cognac
COMING SOON
RR Price: AU$1,700 upward
Source: Hotel bar
Rating:
May 11, 2007
A Passion For Cognac
Often you will hear people ask "what kind of drink are you?". In case this has never happened to you, and you have absolutely no idea what I am talking about - it refers to your personality, and the personality of what you like to drink (assuming that there is a strong correlation). I myself; am a Cognac drinker. Why do I like it? Simply, because it is so intense! I must admit, however, it is not a drink for everyone. If you refer to my earlier photos of 3 different brands of popular VSOP Cognac; Remy Martin, Courvoisier, and Hennessy.. you will observe very noticeable differences in their colour. Another reason why I like Cognac is because I can modify it to please me according to my mood. For example, many people like beer or white wine because it is refreshing, red wine because of its aphrodisiac or sedative properties, or bubbly because it's fun and goes right to your head! Depending on how you choose to serve your Cognac you will experience very noticeable differences in your mood. Personally, I like to feel stimulated and uplifted - so icing my spirit is the way to go. But hey, you're in a good partying mood and want to add a bit more fun to it: add some fizz. Or maybe you've just had a long day and simply want to relax: heat the glass and sip on it slowly. However you choose to drink it; it is a beautiful drink in many ways. Back to the intensity - I find many of my friends saying that they enjoy spirits so much because of its intense flavour, or wine for its bouquet. In my opinion, all of these qualities can be found in Cognac. Of all drinks, I believe it possesses the most intense colour, bouquet, flavour, and overall complexity.I would have to say that of the 3 VSOP's I mentioned, Remy Martin would have to be the overall winner as it is very diverse and suitable for any occasion. However, it does severely lack in the colour department, and can grow to be a little boring. Hennessy definitely holds the most prestige as it is the most famous and most consumed Cognac in the world, though it is a little too spicy for my liking, and lacks excitement. Courvoisier on the other hand is a little rough on the edges, but it has the intensity which you look for in a Cognac. The colour is simply amazing, the bouquet is raw, yet appealing, and the palate very fruit-driven. My personal preference is the Remy neat, and the Courvoisier with Coke.
Hennessy VSOP RR Price: approx AU$80-90
Remy Martin VSOP RR Price: approx AU$80-90
Courvoisier VSOP RR Price: approx AU$70
Grant Burge Meshach Shiraz: '90 vs '98
RR Price: AU$200 ('90), AU$100+ ('98)
Source: Bottle store
Rating: 96 pts ('90) vs 98 pts ('98)
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