Home Cured Bacon

I'm making my own home cured bacon.  It is so easy and they say will change your buying life.  I'll tell you how it goes but here is the recipe so you can give it a go.

1/2 Pork Belly
1 Kg Fine Salt
200g Brown Sugar
25g White Pepper pounded in a mortar and pestle
A handful of Juniper Berries
6 Bay Leaves crushed

Mix salt, sugar, pepper, berries  and bay leaves together then lightly rub mixture into pork belly. Cover every inch. Let sit in an air tight container in the frig. for a day.  Drain liquid and rub again for 5 days.
Mmm bacon!

Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Shiraz 1995

I had this at the end of last year but I found my notes so I thought I'd write it up as I have an 04 Apricot block to write up as well.  On release Greenock Creek wines are so big and brash that it can be difficult to drink a glass.  The Roennfeldt Road is now drinking beautifully!

Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Shiraz 1995

This wine is right in its groove. There is a huge amount of coco mixed with leather dominating my palate. Parker gave this a perfect score but I don't see that there is a beautiful length and line to the wine.  Everything is soft and accessible so I would start opening these whenever you feel like it. A rare wine brilliantly constructed and a joy to drink. I didn't write down the alcohol content but there is no discernible effect on the palate.


Alcohol: ?
Price: $450 (Auction)
Rated: 94
Drink: now - 2021

Wendouree Shiraz 2009

Wendouree must hold a special place in many wine drinkers' hearts.  Each year they produce a variety of wines, sell them directly to their mailing list customers, some wine retail and restaurant folk.  I've heard rumors that you can pick for Tony Brady but you must have a Degree in Philosophy.  Bugger as I'm only doing my Honours in Psychology at the moment.  These wines are built to age so they definitely don't look flashy compared to some of the young guns.  What you do get is a wine that is classically put together that amazes with a decade or 3 in the cellar.

Each year you get your form explaining the current release.  Well, you don't get much info but I don't think it really matters.  I want to open one of each when they arrive!


Wendouree Shiraz 2009

 Tight, Tight and Tight! For now the wine is all coiled up but still maintains a beautiful balance between acidity, tannin and flavour.  It will be monumental with time in a cave.  If you want to open it now slide the vinous liquid into a decanter for 24 hour before sampling the beauty.  What is most marvelous about this wine is the intensity you get without heaviness.  Vibrant flavours of menthol, cloves, spice, dutch licorice and ironstone beautifully balance the cherry and blood plum fruit.   The tannins meld perfectly into the wine adding a chocolatey component.  I just want to lick the inside of the glass to get every last drop of this beautiful elixir. 

Alcohol: 13.8%
Price: $55
Rated: 94+
Drink: 2024 - 2041

 Simplicity is best

 The new Guala closure

Lucy Margaux Vineyards Monomeith Vineyard Pinot Noir 2010

Anton Van Klopper makes some of the most profound Adelaide Hills Pinots that I've tasted, right up with Ashton Hills. I've tried a few vintages of the Monomeith and each year it is the favorite of his individual vineyard series.  They are made with great care and foresight. 


Lucy Margaux Vineyards Monomeith Vineyard Pinot Noir 2010

Oh Baby this bursts from the bottle with cinnamon, crushed rock and smokey rhubarb.  Complexity is not an issue as there is brightness and a little crunchiness that I love while the flavours are rolling on top of each other for my enjoyment.  I would serve this with a rabbit pie as the acidity would cut through the fatty pastry, leaving me with all things good!


Alcohol: 13.8%
Price: $45
Rated: 91
Drink: 2012 - 2016

Wild Duck Creek Estate Alan's Cabernet 2008

Lou Preston from Preston vineyards said “It takes a lot of beer to make good wine” but I could see David Anderson saying this about his wines.  He is a self-taught wine maker who proclaims that every year he has to reteach himself how to do it. His wines reflect the growing season beautifully.

Wild Duck Creek Estate Alan's Cabernet 2008

 Another drought year for Wild Duck so there is more power here than is normal.  The flavour spectrum is divine with cinnamon, black pepper, roast lamb and red liquorish that gives way to pungent red fruits and a floral Indian curry.  I just want to eat it! The tannins are soft yet consistent and pervasive.  What more could I ask for in a young wine.

Alcohol: 14.5%
Price: $42
Rated: 91
Drink: 2018 - 2024