Box Stallion Shiraz

Date: 28th March, 2011

Who: Chambo

What: 2006 Box Stallion Shiraz, Mornington Peninsula

Purchased: cellar door, $30

Food: home made souva, Monday night

Comments: Quite enjoyed it, particularly after it opened up a bit. Both fruity and savoury on the nose.  Lots of pepper and forest fruits and good length.  Does it get a touch sweet?  Maybe, but enough savoury to keep it in check.  Good stuff - kind of a high end quaffer, if that makes any sense.  Bought enough to put in the cellar so will be interested to see the next couple of years.

Cave de Beblenheim Gewurztraminer

Date: 19th March, 2011

Who: Lina

What: 09, Cave de Beblenheim 'Reserve Particuliere' Gewurztraminer,Alsace France

Purchased: at glass at Matteo's $10

Food: the seafood part of the Matteo's degustation menu, included kingfish, scallop, tuna

Comments: The wine was a lot sweeter than I expected, more like a Riesling and almost a sticky. I think that might say more about how little I know about Gewurztraminers. But, I have a sweet tooth so I was quite happy by the sweet surprise.

Pyrette Shiraz

Date: 12 March 2011
Who: Chambo
What: 2009 Pyrette Shiraz, Heathcote
Purchased: Blackhearts and Sparrows a few weeks ago; $45 (I think)
Food: gnocchi with sundried tomato and meat ragu
Comments: Not really what I was expecting.  Nice purpley colour but not opaque at all and bouquet likewise not big.  For a Heathcote shiraz (even if a relatively low 13.5%) it was very tame - but not in a good ooh-they're-doing-the-refined-syrah-rhone-thing kind of way. Even the chocolate thing I love in Heathcote shiraz only turned up after a long wait. A long way from the worst thing I've drunk but not $45 worth.