A remarkable day of tasting wine

australia

A remarkable day of tasting wine

Today was one of those days where I had to pinch myself. How come a dude with an interest in wine and a hobby website can end up writing about the subject for a living? How is it that I’ve been fluky enough to land some very nice gigs? How come I get paid to do the sort of thing that in the past I would have paid to do?

Today began with a vertical tasting of Opus One, the famous Napa Valley wine that began in 1979 as a collaboration between Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Robert Mondavi. It was quite a formal event: I met with winemaker Michael Silacci (below) and communications guy Roger Asleson in the formal settings of the Eton Suite at the Capital Hotel to taste through a range of vintages from 1987 to 2007.

Then it was off to family therapy. Long story. Then, back into town for a tasting I’d been looking forward to for a long time. It was a Wendouree-fest, put on by new UK merchant Find Wine. Find Wine’s Martin Jeffery has accumulated the most amazing selection of wines from this cult Australian winery, and put on 14 for this tasting.

To taste 14 Wendouree wines is probably unprecedented in the UK, and I don’t suppose it happens very often in Australia. (Read more about Wendouree here.) They were thrillingly good, but also quite challenging. Wines for wine lovers.

Also showing at the Find Wine tasting were some seriously lovely offerings from elsewhere in Australia. Ferngrove from Frankland River in Western Australia; Dahlwhinnie from the Pyrenees in Victoria; Mount Mary from the Yarra; Adelina Estate’s brilliantly elegant Clare reds; and ex-pro cricketer Miles Corish’s (above)superb Hunter Valley reds (Finch’s Line). It was a real treat, and will be written up in detail soon.

5 Comments on A remarkable day of tasting wineTagged
wine journalist and flavour obsessive

5 thoughts on “A remarkable day of tasting wine

  1. The most recent vintage I have had of Opus was a ’94…and it was a delightful wine. But, then again I am quite partial to Oakville wines. Was there a vintage that stood out for you?

  2. This new merchant have a very impressive list of wines.
    Been trying to get in touch with them but so far no success.Do you think you could email me any contact details you may have Jamie?

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