Tuesday, 1 May 2012

Alternate Varieties


Our fourth evening.....19th April, Pebbles was the perfect party host!

The theme – Alternate Varieties.  I find it a nice change to try something different other than the varieties we are all used to drinking on a regular basis.  April represents a change in seasons and this Grapenights was a change to our usual favourites and we had some amazing wines, enjoy!
The wines we enjoyed tonight ranged from sparkling dessert wine to an unforgettable Zinfandel from Barossa Valley and unique varieties in between.  Tonight the food matches were exceptional, careful consideration was given to contrast the flavours and textures of the food with the wine.
The wines we enjoyed were...

2011 Pikes Pinot Gris (Clare Valley):  This wine was very fresh, floral, easy to drink.  Food match was dips plate, natural yogurt based beetroot dip & veggie sticks

2011 Houghton Chardonnay Verdelho (WA): Well balanced wine, chardonnay style with Verdelho provided additional stone fruit flavours.  Smoked salmon & horseradish provided a nice contrast to the flavours in the wine, very tasty!

2010 Tscharke Savagnin (Barossa Valley): This surprised the crowd, demonstrating apricot & oak characters we thought it could be a Viogner, the new variety Savagnin (otherwise known as Alberino) was a good match with satay chicken skewers.

2006 Temple Bruer Shiraz Malbec (Langhorne Creek): The Malbec was distinctive on the nose, blended with Shiraz provided a subtle finish and perfect match with dark chocolate for a post dinner delight!

2006 Irvine Zinfandel (Barossa Valley): A very distinctive nose, beautifully developed fruit characters, a truly great wine.  Food match was toasted sourdough with Kangaroo Island Source beetroot relish, Island Pure Haloumi & fresh rocket.

Nebbilo: In traditional Italian style, this is a light style red wine, good for a summer red or well suited to dessert – caramel tarts & chocolate covered fruit delights.

D’arenberg The Stump Jump Fizzy Sticky (McLaren Vale): A botrytis style, subtle sticky honey flavours, good food match with cheese platter – Mersey Valley cheese & fig paste on lavosh!

Pick of the Day.....2006 Irvine Zinfandel, another great Barossa wine!!
Value Wine........D’arenberg the Stump Jump Fizzy Sticky which was purchased at $11

Special Mention....
To Cherrie – “you can put that on your cornflakes” was said about several of the wines tasted, particularly of the Stump Jump Fizzy Sticky
Our next Grapenight’s is a Grape Escape to Clare Valley for Gourmet Weekend – 19th & 20th May 2012.  See you there!!

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