About Me

I live in the tropical state of Queensland in Australia and I have been married for over 43 years to my wonderful husband. We have two grown-up daughters and two grandsons and a very bossy granddaughter I was born in England, brought up in Nigeria on the West coast of Africa, then my parents emigrated to Australia in 1970 and brought me with them! Hubby and I are owned by a cat and a dog - and love reading, socialising and travelling.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Hamelin Bay - Rampant White - 2006

Another Western Australian winery from Margaret River. Picturesque drive into the tasting rooms - then a beautiful vista down into a valley over part of their vinyards.

Once again another winery that has staff that makes you feel welcome - and do not talk down to or at you.

This white blend has 3 whites in it - Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay - and they all combine to make a very yummy sit in the pool after work on a hot day drink. James Halliday has given this 90 points - and though I don't always agree with him - in this instance I do. As you have gathered by now I don't really do nose or taste - but this definitely had a kiwi fruit nose :) is light in the mouth - but stayed there for a while. I drank it by itself.

Here is a link to the winery - be sure to put it on your must visit list

Windance Estate - Shiraz - Clearskin

This clearskin is going to be their 2006 vintage if I understood the owner properly.

What a wonderful wine it is to. The 2005 vintage is winning all sorts of awards and I will be very surprised if this one doesn't as well.

Found the winery by complete chance as we were driving around Margaret River, and will have to say that the owner made us feel like part of the family. Wasn't so much of a wine tasting as a good old chat.

This wine is very drinkable - but still young - does not make your mouth pucker with tannin, very smooth.

This is the link to the winery - their other wines are very good too - but haven't started to drink the stash we came home with.

Monday, November 5, 2007

St Hallett Blackwell Shiraz - 2005

The last wine I loved from the red wine night at Night school.

I was amazed how young it was - because it tastes like an old wine - this one will be around for a few years yet. I am going to by more as it is not often I find a South Australian Shiraz that is to my taste.

Rich, fruity with meaty highlights. A hint of black pepper - but not so strong that it destroys the wine.

there is a big trend for South Australian wines to be overpoweringly Black pepperish - yuk yuk yuk!!!

This one - YUM!!!

Chain of Ponds Amadeus Cabernet Sauvignon 2002

This vintage the wine was 100% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Rich and berry fruity - with a hint of liquorish - I thought I smelt a nutty smell as well.

I could have demolished this whole bottle - all I got was one glass as my share - and it left me wanting more.

Will keep my eye out for more of these - I think there may be a bottle in my husbands cellar :)

Petaluma Coonawarra Cabernet Merlot 2004

Tasted this one at the wine appreciation course I have been attending - was lovely

65% Cabernet Sauvignon with the balance being Merlot - it is still a bit young - but oh so drinkable. I could taste the cherry, and it lasted a long time in the mouth - very fruity with low tannin. Well balanced - will try it again in a few years - but I could drink it now quite happily

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Xanadu - Secession - White Cabernets - 2006

This is a beautiful Rose - a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Shiraz - is not a sickeningly sweet rose like a lot of this wine seems to be like.

This wine is perfect for sitting in the pool and sipping on a Sunday afternoon. Or watching the sun set into the west.

A delicate pinky red - clear and crisp tasting - strawberry lolly with a bite :)

Would never get tired of this wine

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Jacob's Creek - Three Vines - Semillon/ Sauvignon Blanc /Viognier

Jacob's Creek - Three Vines - Semillon/ Sauvignon Blanc /Viognier 2006

What a yummy wine this was. It caught my eye at the wineshop recently so added it quitely to the stash. I thought it looked like an interesting blend.

Was delicious!!!!

I guess yummy and delicious aren't proper wine terms. It lasted a long time in the mouth - was light and easy to drink - what I would call a quaffer. I thought it was very florally on the nose - with a whiff of peaches and maybe apricots. Was a pale yellow with green tinge - chrisp and clear.

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Wine

I like wine - my husband is a bit of a connoisseur and can talk about vintages, and wineries at length and with knowledge.

Me? Well I just know what I like. I can use words like nose and bouquet and length in the mouth. I understand what people mean when the say that. But I have to admit when someone says "...Ooh smell the peaches in this..." I can take a cautious sniff and think "...What the..?"

So this blog is for me. If I taste a wine and I think it is first rate, or at least a wonderful little quaffer then I will put the name of it here so I can remember it.