Menu for january
Aussie Wines
Plantagenet 2005 Riesling 16.99 : Plantagenet crafts an almost brutally dry version of the varietal with such lip smacking minerality you’re not quite sure you’re drinking Riesling. This wine is all citrus…lemon peel, lime juice and kumquat. Don’t EVEN think of pairing this with anything but the freshest shellfish you can find. If you have negative perceptions about Riesling being too sweet, this wine will certainly call those prejudices into question.
Tscharke 2006 Albariño Girl Talk 15.99 : Australian Albariño, huh! At first, the concept offends my traditionalist attitudes, sort of like California Sangiovese. I’m trying to be more open minded in a “new world” wine sort of way, so I gave it a try. Wow Wee…this is Albariño to the 10th power. Girl Talk has all that gorgeous, juicy peach, apricot fruit and sweet citrus flavors like it’s Spanish big sister, only in a more voluptuous body. I guarantee once you taste this wine your mouth will water, pucker up and only a juicy piece of grilled tuna or bowl of freshly steamed mussels will do. I suggest you gals or guys call a few of your mates and get together for a little Girl Talk.
Rusden 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Bakery Hill 19.99 : This wine caused quite a stir at the 2006 New Year’s Eve Eve dinner at the Cafe. Customers went crazy for this delicious Barossa Cabernet from one of Australia’s young rising star winemakers. “Made from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from 20-year-old vines and aged in neutral French and American wood, the 2005 Bakery Hill possesses a dense ruby/purple color as well as licorice, underbrush, black currant, and tar-like aromas. With fabulous fruit and richness along with medium to full body, it tastes like a $75 Napa Valley Cabernet. Enjoy this beauty over the next 7-10 years.” 91 points, Wine Advocate Issue 167
Lengs and Cooter 2004 The Victor 16.99 : Lengs and Cooter started out as garage winemakers and took their passion to the next level. Their entrylevel wine, The Victor, is a Rhone-styled blend that balances great juicy red fruit with restrained oak influence. A fabulous choice for any meat or pasta dish. “The 2004 The Victor, a blend of 86% Shiraz and 14% Grenache, possesses big, sweet, voluptuous black cherry and cassis fruit, hints of herbs, licorice, and flowers, low acidity, soft tannin, and a big, chunky, fleshy finish.” 89 points, Wine Advocate Issue 161
Torbreck 2004 The Struie 45.99 : Few winemakers garner the superstar status of David Powell. His wines are larger than life versions of Shiraz, Grenache and assorted Rhone inspired varietals. The Struie is 100% Barossa Shiraz from extremely old vines. A perennial favorite of Robert Parker, he writes, “An exotic bouquet of blackberries and other sweet fruits is followed by a full-bodied, powerful, rich red with great purity as well as focus, a laser-like precision, huge intensity, and a blockbuster finish that lasts nearly a minute. It will be even better with 2-3 more years of bottle age, and should last for two decades.” 96 points, Wine Advocate Issue 167
Loan 2003 Semillon 19.99 : Semillon is one of the many wines I love, but have an extremely difficult time selling. I love the weight. It is a white wine that has presence. Truly not for sissies or Chardonnay only drinkers. It’s a lovely light golden color with flavors of honey and citrus and lingering aromas of spring flowers, narcissus and mock orange. I know Robert Parker doesn’t agree, but some of the most spectacular white wines I tasted in Australia were aged Semillons. Their flavors intensify into the most wonderful goodness that is reminiscent of chewing on honeycomb. Rick and Jessie Loan have cultivated the only 100% certified organic vineyard in the Barossa and along with winemaker Chris Ringland are producing some of the finest wines from that area.
Henry’s Drive Shiraz 2005 Dead Letter Office 34.99 : Henry’s Drive produces wines I drink for flat-out hedonistic pleasure at an affordable price. It’s all about concentration and fruit quality. The silky, sexy texture and luscious fruit really does it for me. “This 100% Shiraz was aged in 100% American oak, of which 80% was new. It is one of those modern-styled, exuberant, super-concentrated Aussie Shiraz that drives Eurocentric wine tasters crazy. The wine is too good to be true, does not have to be explained, and does not make any pretension to being a terroir wine. It offers oodles of blackberry and cassis fruit, smoky oak, an unctuous, opulent texture, and thrilling levels of fruit and glycerin. This is exactly what wine should be all about ... fun and pleasure.” 93 points, Wine Advocate Issue 167
Longhop 2005 Boomerang Shiraz 14.99 : This price range always gives me pause. If you’re going to spend fifteen dollars, the wine should be significantly better than it’s 10.99 counterpart or why not spend the extra money and buy a much better twenty dollar bottle. This is the quandary of the fifteen-dollar bottle…not quite worth the extra money of a ten-dollar wine and certainly not as good as what you get for twenty bucks. Well, enter Boomerang Shiraz, a delightfully rich, black fruit laden wine that will make you feel like you hit the jackpot. Let’s keep this one a secret. I don’t want to run out.
R Winery 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Evil 10.99 : R Winery is a collaboration between Chris Ringland and Dan Philips of the Grateful Palate. The winemakers for this endeavor are Lisa Wetherell and our hero Chris Ringland. This is a sassy, inexpensive Cabernet full of juicy exuberant fruit. I always say if a winemaker can excel with their entry level, affordable wines then their upper tier wines are likely to be outta sight.
McLlean’s Farm 2005 Riesling 14.99 : It’s summer in South Australia and I’m quite sure there’s a plethora of Riesling being drunk at cafes all around Adelaide. One of the finest available, and at a steal, is this Riesling from former St. Hallet genius, Bob McLean. Once a giant conglomerate gobbled up that winery, it was time for Bob McLean to go solo. This little gem has tart, juicy flavors that remind me of the Winds fresh squeezed grapefruit juice. When I’m having difficulty thinking of something to write, I log on to weather.com. It’s a mental vacation. Today it’s 89 degrees in Adelaide. I picture myself snacking on some ultra fresh seafood at one of the numerous Rundle Street cafes and quaffing McLean’s Farm Riesling. Sounds delicious, maybe it’s time to log on to Quantas.com.
