Nice wines I have drunk recently - Red or White

[UpInTheAir:)]

The current release Cape Mentelle SSB is lovely. IMHO better than the S&S.

Oh dear.. Too many choices lol
Think I'll just have to stick with champagne

 

[AdMEL]

I've never met a Sav Blanc that I've enjoyed

Not even Shaw+Smith?

Haven't tried it as I generally don't like them.. it's something about the nose that puts me off.. too floral or something If I'm going to try one to change my mind is this the one you suggest? (no pressure lol)

Not a matter of changing minds, but it is, IMHO, a very good example of a crisp, non-floral modern Aus SB (from the Adelaide Hills, if you are not familiar with it.) Definitely a SB that I can happily go back to.

I acknowledge that Shaw & Smith SB is regarded as one of Australia's best and is more subtle than the kiwi version, it's still very much in the same style and in my opinion is unlikely to sway someone that doesn't like SB.

The Bannockburn I mentioned is very different - made in a French style and if you didn't know it was SB, you might not pick it. Very different and interesting. Very savoury and not so fruity.

 

[JohnM]

I acknowledge that Shaw & Smith SB is regarded as one of Australia's best and is more subtle than the kiwi version, it's still very much in the same style and in my opinion is unlikely to sway someone that doesn't like SB.

The Bannockburn I mentioned is very different - made in a French style and if you didn't know it was SB, you might not pick it. Very different and interesting. Very savoury and not so fruity.

When you say French style, which of the two main ones do you mean: Sancerre or Pouilly Fume?

Sancerre is the unwooded, steely style; Pouilly Fume is oaked and gives a more smoky wine. In all cases French SB does not show the tropical fruits falvours of Aus and, much more particularly NZ, SBs.

Looking at the Bannockburn website, the SB is quite unusual in that it contains about 12% Riesling and 2% Chardonnay - as well as being matured in oak for a while. So just what primarily gives it the characters you like is probably a bit moot. Sounds very interesting; must see if I can source a bottle retail in PER.

There are a few Australian Fume styles. A notable one is Cape Mentelle 'Wallcliffe'. It's made in fairly small quantities and sells out every year. Great food wine; not really an aperitif style. Another fairly new producer making a big name with a Fume Blanc (that's how they label it) is Singlefile, located at Denmark on the WA S coast but the SB grapes for it are grown at Pemberton, further inland where winters are colder, in the lower SW of WA.

I'd suggest UITA try Shaw + Smith as a good example of a 'clean' unwooded aperitif style, the Bannockburn for something that sounds really interesting, even if it isn't a straight SB, and one of the Fume Blanc styles, if she can source it, for a funky food wine.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

When you say French style, which of the two main ones do you mean: Sancerre or Pouilly Fume?

Sancerre is the unwooded, steely style; Pouilly Fume is oaked and gives a more smoky wine. In all cases French SB does not show the tropical fruits falvours of Aus and, much more particularly NZ, SBs.

Looking at the Bannockburn website, the SB is quite unusual in that it contains about 12% Riesling and 2% Chardonnay - as well as being matured in oak for a while. So just what primarily gives it the characters you like is probably a bit moot. Sounds very interesting; must see if I can source a bottle retail in PER.

There are a few Australian Fume styles. A notable one is Cape Mentelle 'Wallcliffe'. It's made in fairly small quantities and sells out every year. Great food wine; not really an aperitif style. Another fairly new producer making a big name with a Fume Blanc (that's how they label it) is Singlefile, located at Denmark on the WA S coast but the SB grapes for it are grown at Pemberton, further inland where winters are colder, in the lower SW of WA.

I'd suggest UITA try Shaw + Smith as a good example of a 'clean' unwooded aperitif style, the Bannockburn for something that sounds really interesting, even if it isn't a straight SB, and one of the Fume Blanc styles, if she can source it, for a funky food wine.

Wow!! What a lot of helpful information... I think there is only one solution.. A Sav Blanc taste off
The only problem is that JohnM is in Perth, TheRealTMA is in Brisbane and AdMEL and I are in Melbourne... Maybe we should meet half way in Alice Springs??

 

[JohnM]

This is the 5th Malbec from the Arg 6-pack.



It was good - about the middle of the five so far in overall appeal - but they all cluster pretty tightly.

There has not been one so far that I would describe as poor.

 

[AdMEL]

When you say French style, which of the two main ones do you mean: Sancerre or Pouilly Fume?

Sancerre is the unwooded, steely style; Pouilly Fume is oaked and gives a more smoky wine. In all cases French SB does not show the tropical fruits falvours of Aus and, much more particularly NZ, SBs.

Looking at the Bannockburn website, the SB is quite unusual in that it contains about 12% Riesling and 2% Chardonnay - as well as being matured in oak for a while. So just what primarily gives it the characters you like is probably a bit moot. Sounds very interesting; must see if I can source a bottle retail in PER.

There are a few Australian Fume styles. A notable one is Cape Mentelle 'Wallcliffe'. It's made in fairly small quantities and sells out every year. Great food wine; not really an aperitif style. Another fairly new producer making a big name with a Fume Blanc (that's how they label it) is Singlefile, located at Denmark on the WA S coast but the SB grapes for it are grown at Pemberton, further inland where winters are colder, in the lower SW of WA.

I'd suggest UITA try Shaw + Smith as a good example of a 'clean' unwooded aperitif style, the Bannockburn for something that sounds really interesting, even if it isn't a straight SB, and one of the Fume Blanc styles, if she can source it, for a funky food wine.

You've exceeded my knowledge on french wine significantly! Perhaps I should have said more in a french style, which, looking at some of the reviews of past vintages on their website, has been mentioned. Having said that, I did mean in the Pouilly Fume style, i.e. oaked, with texture. I wouldn't have called it smoky, though I do note that one of the reviews mentioned smoky. Given the addition of Riesling and Chardonnay, it's probably more a style of its own. If you can get your hands on a bottle, definitely worth a try, though it's hard to get in Melbourne, so might be very difficult in Perth! I can get it from one Dan's near me, but most don't have it. A quick check of the three Dan's that come up when I choose 6000 as my postcode, shows none have it (though they have the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), but it is available for delivery. I'll have to keep my eye out for some other Aussies of this style.

I do like some sancerre style wines too, though probably not as much.

There are some other great wines from the Geelong region - Bannockburn Chardonnay, Farr Chardonnay, Lethbridge Riesling and Pinot Gris, Austins Riesling. I understand these wineries also make great Pinot Noir, but I'm not a fan of Pinot Noir.

Wow!! What a lot of helpful information... I think there is only one solution.. A Sav Blanc taste off
The only problem is that JohnM is in Perth, TheRealTMA is in Brisbane and AdMEL and I are in Melbourne... Maybe we should meet half way in Alice Springs??

Whilst Alice is probably geographically in the centre, they're not known for wine there! Perhaps Adelaide would be more appropriate?

 

[JohnM]

If you can get your hands on a bottle, definitely worth a try, though it's hard to get in Melbourne, so might be very difficult in Perth! I can get it from one Dan's near me, but most don't have it. A quick check of the three Dan's that come up when I choose 6000 as my postcode, shows none have it (though they have the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), but it is available for delivery. I'll have to keep my eye out for some other Aussies of this style.

I also came up negative at the PER Dan's and Vintage Cellars. Sounds like limited production and probably mainly sold into the restaurant trade.

 

[QF WP]

Wow!! What a lot of helpful information... I think there is only one solution.. A Sav Blanc taste off
The only problem is that JohnM is in Perth, TheRealTMA is in Brisbane and AdMEL and I are in Melbourne... Maybe we should meet half way in Alice Springs??

So you didn't mention me because I don't drink Whites - clever UITA. I agree with ADL being the mid-point meeting.

You're making me think what I take to dinner on Saturday night with some AFF'ers Need to take a Red and White. Hmmm..

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

So you didn't mention me because I don't drink Whites - clever UITA. I agree with ADL being the mid-point meeting.

You're making me think what I take to dinner on Saturday night with some AFF'ers Need to take a Red and White. Hmmm..

Didn't invite you QF WP because as usual you were snubbing me and not contributing to the conversation

 

[AdMEL]

I also came up negative at the PER Dan's and Vintage Cellars. Sounds like limited production and probably mainly sold into the restaurant trade.

You might just have to sneak one in a dozen delivered from Dan's! It is a small winery, but I can even get their Chardonnay at a few local BWS! I had forgotten about the restaurant trade, but now that you mention it, both the first time I had it a few years ago and the last I had it a few weeks ago, were at restaurants - First at The Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld when Dan Hunter was the chef and it had a chef's hat; last at a relatively new wine bar in Melbourne CBD.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

There are some other great wines from the Geelong region - Bannockburn Chardonnay, Farr Chardonnay, Lethbridge Riesling and Pinot Gris, Austins Riesling. I understand these wineries also make great Pinot Noir, but I'm not a fan of Pinot Noir.

Although I like Chardonnay and don't mind a good Riesling I'm not sure we can be friends if you don't like Pinot Noir and do like Sav Blanc:shock:! Oh well I guess the point is to share our thoughts and become more accepting of people with different tastes
And to be honest most of my friends do like Sav Blanc and don't like Chardonnay What are your feelings towards Champagne AdMEL?
Not that it's a deal breaker... Look at the beautiful relationship QF WP and I have...
Actually....

 

[drron]

I do like some sancerre style wines too, though probably not as much.

Whilst Alice is probably geographically in the centre, they're not known for wine there! Perhaps Adelaide would be more appropriate?

We prefer the Sancerre style.
When we were in the Alice many years ago we went to a vineyard-Chateau Hornsby.Gone now.But it has been replaced-
Red Centre Wines Wine & Winery | Australian Wine Companion

 

[TheRealTMA]

Oh dear.. Too many choices lol
Think I'll just have to stick with champagne

the SSB is cheaper than DOM

 

[TheRealTMA]

Wow!! What a lot of helpful information... I think there is only one solution.. A Sav Blanc taste off
The only problem is that JohnM is in Perth, TheRealTMA is in Brisbane and AdMEL and I are in Melbourne... Maybe we should meet half way in Alice Springs??

But in the NT have they not made a law that one can't buy from drivein bottle shops unless you have a car?
A wine area such as the hunter is a possibility!
or just meet in the EK 380 lounge?

 

[TheRealTMA]

Actually on Sancerre, there's four (or more) distinct styles depending on the geology of sand, clay, gravel , limestone soil types. But agreed the Pouilly Fume from North of the river are quite different and generally oak influenced. A French course in the village of Sancerre is highly recommended. Lots to do out of class!

 

[Steady]

Friday night and another Tassie Pinot for me. Not as good as the 2010 Tamar Ridge last week but still nice.

2011 Ninth Island

 

[JessicaTam]

Wow!! What a lot of helpful information... I think there is only one solution.. A Sav Blanc taste off
The only problem is that JohnM is in Perth, TheRealTMA is in Brisbane and AdMEL and I are in Melbourne... Maybe we should meet half way in Alice Springs??

If there are SBs involved (and none of those silly PNs) count me in.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

Taits for me tonight.. With a fun (but no Queensland) thunderstorm..so enjoying some rain in the MEL summer.. enjoy!

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

If there are SBs involved (and none of those silly PNs) count me in.

I'll be talking to you Wednesday...

 

[blackcat20]

I'd happily take a Pinot Noir over a Sav Blanc. The only white I drink has bubbles in it....