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Archive for category Wine

Heathcote Cellar & Store

Jun 23

Posted by Waitersfriend in Social Bites, Wine

  

On a tour through the Victorian wine fields Waitersfriend was more than impressed by the wines of Heathcote.  Something that really caught our attention was the wonderful Cellar & Store.  The team here represents Heathcote extremely well with an abundance of local produce and of course excellent coverage of the region’s wines.  Throughout the year Heathcote Cellar & Store hold a great many events and tastings and have agreed to keep Waitersfriend up to date with all the goings ons.  Rachel Paterson is also supplying us with all the background information on Cellar & Store and is promising a wrap [read more...]

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Cos Restaurant Adelaide

Jun 16

Posted by Lee Middendorf in Social Bites, Wine

Great longish lunch today at Adelaide’s Leigh Street Cos Restaurant.  Specializing in aged beef they have a nifty beverage list and a charming dining room. On arrival a Mac’s brewery “Black Mac” from NZ was a great starting point.  Torbreck Semillon from the Barossa and 42 Degrees South bubbles from Tassies Frogmore Creek winery made a great accompaniment to the Cos shared entrée tasting plate.  

A Coonawarra 05 Parker Estate Cab Sav was superb with aged Scotch Fillet accompanied by truffled mash and a Gorgonzola Brandy butter sauce.  Just know I’m going to end up in Hell via cardiac arrest from that [read more...]

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Food and Wine Night

Jun 3

Posted by Waitersfriend in Social Bites, Wine

Portobello Food.Kitchen.Bar is hosting their first food and wine night. Having been open only 4 months they are teaming up with Australian wine industry legend Robin Moody for what promises to be a great evening. Owner Gio Musolino tells us there will be eight wines to sample while the kitchen does it’s thing sending out some truly delicious food. The cost is $20 and you will need to book to secure a spot for the event which will run from 6.30 - 8.30pm.

 

Right on the water at New Port Keys, Portobello Food.Kitchen.Bar is a great spot to indulge in the [read more...]

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A little gem on the Coast

May 29

Posted by Mark Wilson in Social Bites, Wine

 

We recently hosted international Winemaker Bert Salomon at Links Hope Island for a wine dinner to show off some of his Austrian whites & Australian reds. The event was wonderful and the wines were just great.

Bert was only in town for a few days and wanted to take advantage of his time here and get out and see a couple of his clients so he made arrangements to do a couple of tastings. One of the customers was Bubbles on Cove bottle shop at Sanctuary Cove. It was a humble little affair over the afternoon. Obviously the wines were great [read more...]

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Coonawarra Wine Tasting Roadshow

Mar 11

Posted by Waitersfriend in Industry Info, Wine

COONAWARRA HEADS OUT OF TOWN TO YOUR CITY!

Coonawarra is ready for it’s annual road trip and is stopping in 6 different cities around the nation!  Come and enjoy a wine tasting like no other. Coonawarra wineries, featuring the personalities behind these iconic brands, have you taste their iconic wines, all in one place!

Brisbane Monday, August 16th Vino’s Restaurant & Bar, 1 Eagle Street

Sydney Tuesday, August 17th The Menzies Hotel, 14 Carrington Street

Canberra Wednesday, August 18th University House, Balmain Crescent, Acton

Melbourne Thursday, August 19th Melbourne Town Hall, The Main Hall, Level 1, Cnr of Swanston & Collins Streets

Adelaide Monday, August 23th [read more...]

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David Hohnen - McHenry Hohnen Wines

Feb 24

Posted by Waitersfriend in Industry Info, Wine

Waitersfriend was recently fortunate enough to catch up with David Hohnen. 

David was the man behind Cape Mentelle and after selling Cape Mentelle, he went into partnership with his brother-in-law Murray McHenry & his daughter Freya to start ‘McHenry Hohnen Wines.’

He showed us some pictures of the deer he had roaming around the vineyard.  They assisted in weed control and aided grass/clover cover which in turn created a good nitrogen injection into the soil.  He is now culling the deer as he feels they are a hazard being so close to the main road and the potential for a very nasty accident [read more...]

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2009 Penfolds Bin 23 Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir

Feb 22

Posted by Mark Wilson in Wine

The first release of Penfolds Bin 23 Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir. 

‘Bold’ is the company line and ‘unexpected’ was my first reaction to Penfolds doing Pinot Noir.  I first tried a Penfolds Pinot Noir last year at the Cellar Reserve launch.  I must say I was surprised that it was such good quality.  It seemed unusual that a company synonymous with BIG REDS would venture into this area.  As we all know, the Pinot Noir grape is one of the most difficult to grow and one of the most temperamental styles in the red wine world.  Alas, Penfolds have decided to [read more...]

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Arete Wine - Barossa Valley

Feb 16

Posted by Lee Middendorf in Wine

Do we really need another winemaker out there producing even more wine, giving us another label to look out for, filling our heads with even more contemplating to undertake as we search through region, style, price point and at the end of it all enjoyability?  The search for a response to this quandary could undoubtedly lead us to many a debated conversation.  But as we refine our analysis and focus on the Arete Wines of Richard Bate, we at Waitersfriend say, ‘..go ahead Richard - make your wines!’  Tantalise us with your style and interpretation of winemaking, seduce us with the [read more...]

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2007 Penfolds Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz

Feb 15

Posted by Mark Wilson in Wine

After having talked about the Coonawarra Bin 128 in the previous review I thought it was best to discuss another of the Shiraz that we tried - The Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz.

The fruit was selected from vineyards across South Australia including the Limestone Coast, McLaren Vale, Langhorne Creek and of course the Barossa Valley.

After experiencing the cool climate  2008 Bin 128 Coonawarra Shiraz, which I thought was very good, I was much more at home with the warm climate full flavoured Bin 28 Kalimna Shiraz.  The 2007 growing season also challenged the viticluturists with some searing heat and low rainfall but [read more...]

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2008 Penfolds Coonawarra Bin 128 Shiraz

Feb 12

Posted by Mark Wilson in Wine

It is that time of year again.  The annual release of the Penfolds Bin range.  Yesterday I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak of the entire range plus a few little extras.  We are now starting to see some of the 2008 season’s fruit come through in some of the wines.  Overall I think Penfolds’ fastidious vineyard management prevented any damage to the grapes and they have come out with great intensity and wonderfully ripe flavours.

The 2008 Coonawarra  Bin 128 Shiraz is a great example.  It is a deep, dark purple and quite restrained on the nose with [read more...]

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