Spitz, Wachau, Austria. Grüner veltliner. 12%. Cork. Approx $A40.
Despite the heart clogging layer of butter that shines in the late afternoon sun, I found this version of coq au vin quite delicious.
With the approach of Summer and another Christmas, I start to think about prawn cocktails. Growing up in Australia in the 1970's, I recall my parents making this. It seemed to be the culinary height of fashion and sophistication.
Burgenland, Austria. Blaufränkisch. 12.5%. Cork. Approx $A45.
Similar in age, weight and colour, it was interesting to taste both wines together.
Chambolle-Musigny, Burgundy, France. Pinot noir. 13.5%. Cork. Approx $A150.
Macedon, Victoria, Australia. Chardonnay. 14%. Diam. Approx $A70
Maison de Grand Esprit Les Petites Vignettes Alsace Pinot gris 2007. 13.5%. Screwcap. Approx $A35. An interesting idea and quite a good late harvest wine. A collaboration between Fosters (T'Gallant's Kevin McCarthy) and Frederic Blanck of Domaine Paul Blanck. Ginger spice, dried apricots and baked pear.' [...] 
Champagne, France. Pinot noir (69%), Chardonnay (31%). 12%. Cork. Source: Cellar.
One day on, and with the aid of a handful of corks, a brace of mostly empty bottles, scraps of paper, and left over food for brunch, I'm starting to reconstruct the night before. . .
South Australia. Cabernet sauvignon (54%), Shiraz (46%). Screwcap. Approx $A25.
I've been reading and viewing Smalltown. A beautiful book about the ugliness of small Australian towns. Curiously most of the ugliness seems isolated to South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania. There are no images from Victoria or Queensland and only a few from New South Wales' [...] 
It's been a while since I came across one of these, I think this might be the 5th one in over 3 years and 820 bottles. . . This one reminded me of how stiff and ungainly they are. Have you ever tried to reseal' [...] 
Jumilla, Spain. Monastrell (0.4), Tempranillo (0.4), Cabernet sauvignon (0.2). 14% alcohol. Plastic cork. Approx $A25.
A lazy meal with family, pizza and slow roasted goat.
Porongurup, Great Southern, Western Australia. Pinot noir. 13.5%. Approx $A20. Screwcap.
Eden Valley, South Australia. Chardonnay. 13.5%. Screwcap. Approx $A15.
Simple, but made with care and, dare I say, love. A plate of Tortelli ($A16) from il Circolo (Angove St, North Perth).
Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. Sangiovese, Shiraz and Pinot noir. 13.5%. Screwcap. Approx $A31.
Frankland River, Great Southern, Western Australia. Riesling. 12%. Screwcap. Approx $A30.
Coonawarra, South Australia. Cabernet sauvignon. 13% alcohol. Cork. Approx $A25 on release.
Eden Valley, South Australia. Riesling. 12%. Screwcap. Approx $A25
Victoria, Australia. Muscat (Gordo and Black). 5.5%. Crown seal. Approx $A14.
Margaret River, Western Australia. Cabernet sauvignon. 14.5%. Cork. Source: Cellar.
Macedon, Victoria, Australia. Pinot noir. 14%. Diam. Half bottle.
Minervois, Languedoc, France. Grenache. 14.5%. Cork. Approx $A35.
Dromana, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. Pinot noir. 13.5%. Screwcap. Approx $A60 (though currently available for $A42 through one particular national retailer).
Murrumbateman, Canberra, Australia. Riesling. 12%. Screwcap. Approx $35
It would seem that I was too harsh on this when I last tried it. I thought it short and unworthy. One year on I can see how wrong and impatient I was. The flavours are similar, but the striking thing now is the step [...] 
Adelaide Hills, South Australia. Chardonnay. 13.5%. SCrewcap. Approx $A40.
A lazy lunch in the City and the most notable thing is the ongoing construction. Little by little Perth is being remade. It's paradoxical then that there seems to be such debate about whether to extend retail trading hours.
Macedon, Victoria. Pinot noir. 13.5%. Diam. Source: Cellar.
Mosel, Germany. Riesling. 7.5%. Screwcap. Approx $A35.
Margaret River, Western Australia. Cabernet sauvignon, Merlot. 14.5%. Screwcap. Source: Cellar.
I thought I'd try a slightly different way of presenting my tasting notes (click on the image). Please let me know what you think.http://feeds.feedburner.com/WinoSapien
Support Wino sapien and click here for the original context' [...] 
Langhe, Piedmonte, Italy. Dolcetto. 13.5%. Cork (tight and hard to remove). Approx $A45.
I've been dipping my nose into these three books for several weeks. I started with The Periodic Table, which is beautiful and harrowing. Each story is tinged with sadness and tragedy and yet there is a lightness to the words and more than a trace of' [...] 
Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia. Pinot noir. 13.5%. Diam. Approx $A65
I bought my first 'crop' of Spring 2009 Australian asparagus on the weekend. Right at the moment, I can think of no other seasonal vegetable I look forward to more keenly.
The sight triggers a whole series of greedy, mostly dribble producing, associations. The first [...]
Burgundy, France. Pinot noir, Gamay. 12.5%. Cork (fully stained). Approx $A30.
Canberra, Australia. Viognier. 14%. Screwcap. Approx $A25-30
Pflaz, Germany. Riesling. 12%. Screwcap. Approx $A24
Mount Barker, Great Southern, Western Australia. Pinot noir. 13.5%. Screwcap. Approx $A85.
Roussillon, France. Carignan, Grenache, Shiraz. 15%. Cork. Approx $A80 from restaurant wine list
