Wine Code Breaker #405

2022 Tupelo Pinot Gris Riesling Pinot Blanc Gewurtztraminer Stargazer, Tasmania “Would you like some fruit salad”? “No thanks, I already have some” as I sniff and swirl a glass of wine. Does a wine with four or more varieties count as fruit salad? Blending multiple varieties together is to build on the synergies, ensure theContinue reading “Wine Code Breaker #405”

Wine Code Breaker #404

2022 Longview Macclesfield Grüner Veltliner, Adelaide Hills, South Australia The recent elevation in grunting from the TV speakers marks the arrival of the tennis season to our shores. Why all this noise? Well, there is scientific evidence that proves the dynamic velocity and isometric force of both serves and forehand strokes increases with grunting. ThatContinue reading “Wine Code Breaker #404”

Wine Code Breaker #403

2019 Windows Estate Basket Pressed Petit Lot Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaret River, Western Australia “One Day Like This” by Elbow, an English band, is a song that builds and lingers gloriously. Starting with piano and strings, the lyrics begin with thoughts of a dawning day. Ultimately it is a song that muses about falling in loveContinue reading “Wine Code Breaker #403”

Wine Code Breaker #402

2019 SC Pannell Aglianico, McLaren Vale South Australia Nebbiolo and Sangiovese are probably the two most oft Italian wine varieties mentioned in the Australian context. Others though are catching up. Aglianico is one and it is surprising to learn that, in Italy, it is considered the third greatest wine after the aforementioned Nebbiolo and Sangiovese.Continue reading “Wine Code Breaker #402”

Wine Code Breaker #401

2021 Coriole Sangiovese, McLaren Vale, South Australia Sangiovese is a grape that has its origins in Tuscany, Italy, but it was not until the 18th century in this region that it would gain widespread attention. Coriole is one of the first Australian vineyards to give this grape a go and has vines dating back toContinue reading “Wine Code Breaker #401”

Wine Code Breaker #400

2019 Penfolds Bin 389 Cabernet Sauvignon Shiraz, South Australia Great Southern Land, a masterpiece by Icehouse was released 40 years ago. It is a song that celebrates the vastness and wonder of this land and tells you a story if you listen hard enough. And so too does the classic Australian blend of Cabernet SauvignonContinue reading “Wine Code Breaker #400”

Wine Code Breaker #399

2021 Mayer Gamay, Yarra Valley, Victoria Pinot Noir gains in popularity and Shiraz maintains its place. What if you could put the two together? One is the dancer, it hails from Burgundy. The other a prancer with origins from Rhone. There is a place in between. It is a place where the prancer’s attitude softensContinue reading “Wine Code Breaker #399”

Wine Code Breaker #398

2021 Ghost Rock Pinot Gris, Tasmania The forbidden fruit can be many things. Your own forbidden fruit appears to depend upon your cultural leanings, educational curiosity and life experiences. Figs, apples, pears, pomegranates and grapes all get a mention. As an aside, it is highly amusing to discover that apple in Latin means apple, butContinue reading “Wine Code Breaker #398”

Wine Code Breaker #397

2019 Bird in Hand Montepulciano, Adelaide Hills, South Australia We first meet Zorii Bliss on the frozen planet Kijimi. Of course, her fame as a spice runner is well known. Her passion for Italian varietals, not as much. During her years running spices around the galaxies, she had been known to drop into the AdelaideContinue reading “Wine Code Breaker #397”

Wine Code Breaker #396

2018 Mount Monument Pinot Noir, Macedon Ranges, Victoria The most famous mamelon is a breast-shaped hillock in Sevastopol. It was made so during the Crimean War of 1853-1856 (a war that is reported to have been started over an argument about a key) due to its strategic location.  A less famous mamelon was formed eonsContinue reading “Wine Code Breaker #396”