Wine thread

[Bazal]

For my second bottle (brother pinched half the first ) I have cracked a 2009 Henry Fessy Beaujolais. Been looking forward to trying this, after Georges DuBouef said that 09 was the best vintage he had seen in Beaujolais. I think it's excellent, very soft, almost sweet cherry fruit, very fine tannins. Well worth the 50% staff discount

 

[Twizzle]

can you buy my wine for me Baz ?

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

50% off, bastard! I get it at cost.

 

[_Johnsy]

Well worth the 50% staff discount

50% off, bastard! I get it at cost.

I really feel for both of you poor souls, how do you cope? :roll:

 

[Bazal]

Hehehe...to be fair, the 50% is only off our own products...everything else is 30%

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

I'm sure if you ever pass through Palmy Twiz, I can work something out...

 

[Twizzle]

which Bottle O ?

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Get ready to write it down, it's a toughie:

Palm Beach Cellars

At the moment I'm only there on Mondays (had surgery recently so I'm on light duties), but after the 6th December I should be there more often.

 

[Twizzle]

so no cricket this season ?

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Nah, didn't play last season either. At the end of the day, getting toweled week in - week out just wasn't that appealing. We won 2 games in 09-10, and both were against Cudgen White.

 

[Bazal]

Back to the wine....celebrating my promotion with a 2009 Te Mata Awatea from Hawkes Bay in NZ. 45% Cab sav, 40% merlot, 15% cab franc. I mentioned earlier I picked up a dozen mispriced bottles, and it was well worth it. It's a cracker, really. Very elegant, very long, cherry, earthy dried herbs beautiful tannins and structure.

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

Never been a fan of Cab Merlot blends (really dislike Merlot). I'm willing to try different brands, but I'm yet to find one which will make me buy more.

 

[Bazal]

I'm a bit the same...in general there are only a handful of Cab Merlots I will buy (stuff like the Brands Laira). But add some cabernet franc and I am there, like lightning. It changes the blend from soft and insipid to elegant and tightly structured if done right. I think the cool climate merlot from Hawkes Bay helps as well, no watery soft stuff there

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

My big problem is that Merlots are too sweet + bland for me.

 

[Bazal]

Cool climate merlot hasn't got that issue...the problem is, we grow shit merlot It's a cool climate grape (Bordeaux, especially Pomerol, is not a particularly warm place) so it gets fat and flabby in Australia. Done properly, merlot is a tannic, structured, peppery thing completely removed from the flabby shit we get from the Barossa or Riverina.

If you ever have a chance, try the Giant Steps Yarra Valley Merlot. I highly recommend it; it's a real medium bodied, very tannic, very peppery and spicy wine that most people wouldn't even pick as a merlot.

Plus, I love cabernet franc no matter what it's blended with

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

I'm happy to give it a shot, but I'm still not convinced you can convert me.

 

[Bazal]

I was once a merlot hater...the wine that converted me was a Bird in Hand Adelaide Hills job, and then the Giant Steps was brought in by a rep and blew my mind.

Also, a Pomerol at the Negociants Import tasting helped change my mind...especially when they let me take a bottle home

 

[Scott Gourley's Lovechild]

I know Bird in the Hand, had a white and a rose of theirs (pretty sure it was a rose). I'll hit up my Wine Tradition / Cuttings rep for a sample of their Merlot.

 

[Bazal]

On a slightly unrelated note...I am finally heading out to Clonakilla this weekend, with a fistful of cash. I plan to come back with lots of Shiraz-Viognier for my Vintec

 

[Twizzle]

I agree Merlot is a bit bland but I do like some of the blends its used in.