Grant Burge Moscato Rosa sparkling rose 2007

Barossa, $14

Not really sparkling, more a light spritz.   A light and sweet rose from grenache and frontignac.  Vibrant rose colour.  Strawberries and a bit of lime.  Great summer afternoon / picnic wine.

Cellar list

We invested in some good wine in the Barossa and we're going to cellar it down in Canberra where we won't be tempted to drink it!

What we're cellaring:

1. Grant Burge Filsell Barossa Old Vine Shiraz 2005 ($30, JH 94 pts, to 2019)
2. Grant Burge Shadrach Cab Sauv 2005
3. Bethany Cab Sauv 2004 (to 2030)
4. Yalumba The Menzies Cab Sauv 2005 (Coonawarra) to 2022
5. Henschke Keyneton Estate Euphonium (Shiraz Cab Merlot Cab Franc) 2005 ($37, 
6. Henschke Tappa Pass Shiraz 2004 ($57, 
7. Henschke Julius Riesling 2007 ($24,
8. Langmeil Blacksmith Cab Sauv 2006
9. Langmeil Hangin' Snakes Shiraz Viognier 2007 (
10. Two Hands Branson Coach House Greenock Shiraz 2005 ($35, 
11. Arrowfield Estate Show Reserve Cab Sauv 2004 ($20, to 2014) X 2

Cumulus Climbing Cabernet Sauvignon

This wine is an easy drinking, medium bodied red.  Halliday describes the flavours as 'powerful blackcurrent, cassis and cedar, with touches of bitter chocolate; fractionally green tannins', which is pretty accurate. Quite nice - recommended medium bodied red.  13.5 % alcohol, approx $17.

Stone House 2007 Coonawarra Rose

Dave won't let me drink any more wine until I write tasting notes.  We drank this Rose on a Saturday night - it was our second bottle after a bottle of chardonnay (the most of which I drank). We wanted something a little sweeter to have with the yummy duck curry I bought.  This wine went well, was pretty tasty and cheap at $6 a bottle from Dan Murphys. Recommended.

Trip to Barossa Valley

We've just returned from six blissful days in the Barossa Valley.  Staying in beautiful Greenock, we had easy access to numerous fab wineries, and sampled wines from about 15 - 20 during our stay.  My favourite winery was Henschke in Keyneton, and Dave named Langmeil winery in Tanunda as his pick of the bunch.  We bought two and a half cases: half a case of mixed, gorgeous wines from Henschke, a mixed case from Langmeil, and random others.  We'll write them all up as we sample them over the next few months.

The Barossa is the home of big, flavoursome, high alcohol Shirazes.  We bought a few of these really big wines, ranging in price from $35 - approximately $60, that according to the wineries from which we bought them will be at their peak in 10 - 30 years!  We intend to cellar these and will write up the details for each as we cellar them.

Wine: Pooles Rock Firestick Late Harvest Shiraz 2006

Hunter Valley, $16ish

Well this is an unusual one.  Chocolate, plum and berry aromas.  Similar flavours.  Smooth almost syrupy texture.  And it's sweet!  Almost a dessert wine.  Nice.  Apparently it's good chilled too.

Wine: Wine Society Vineyard Selection Chardonnay 2007

Multi-region, $9

I never thought I'd say this, but there's too much alcohol in this wine.  14% is big for a red, let alone a white, and it overpowers the fruit, making it taste a little rough.  Flavours otherwise good, but hard to taste.