jamie goode's wine blog: Aussie Zinfandel?

Friday, February 16, 2007

Aussie Zinfandel?

Had a rather disturbing experience on the way home this evening. I was perhaps a couple of minutes later than usual on my regular route along Regent's Street down to Oxford Circus Station, because I'd forgotten a file and had to go back for it. This couple of minutes could have proved significant. As I turned the corner round All Soul's Langham Place I saw a crowd of people gathered around one of the crossings I use. A car had mounted the pavement and ploughed into a group of pedestrians (news report here) - this was rush hour. There were bits of car strewn around, and bodies on the ground. I didn't look too carefully, but quickly moved on, not wishing to be part of the rubbernecking throng. But it's a chilling thought: one minute you are minding your own business, the next...

Back to wine. This evening I'm drinking an Australian Zinfandel from Mudgee, in New South Wales. It deserves a mention because it is so unusual.

Lowe Zinfandel 2004 Mudgee, Australia
Deep coloured. The nose is really striking, combining ginger and pepper with a taut sort of herbal dimension, along with a bit of leather and some dark fruits. The palate has more of the ginger spice character, together with some savoury, spicy tannic structure and more tobacco and herb notes, along with curranty berry fruit. It finishes quite dry and dusty. It's not your usual Aussie fruit bomb: there's more savoury depth here. I think it needs food to show its best, but it's good to see something with a bit of individuality to it. Very good+ 89/100 (in the UK this is available from www.strathardlefinewines.co.uk)

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4 Comments:

At 10:50 AM, Blogger Richard & Catherine said...

Here's the BBC story on the crash you saw.

Not a pleasant thing to see - and very 'sobering' (if that's the right word on a wine blog...).

 
At 7:48 PM, Blogger Jamie said...

Yes, it was very unpleasant - particularly because the emergency services hadn't yet arrived. It must have just happened.

 
At 5:16 AM, Blogger Joe said...

I suppose it was inevitable that Zin would make it to Oz - every other grape (I have even seen Touriga Nacional!) has made it there. Great blog, cheers!

 
At 11:21 AM, Anonymous D said...

Cape Mentelle have made a flavoursome Zin for yonks, not too headbanging either.

 

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