Riecine Chianti Classico 2008

My love of Chianti started when I was travelling around the Italian country side eating regional food, mostly cooked by someones grandma, on a little table that had a candle jammed into an empty squat bottle that had been encased in straw.  I never knew what type of wine would have been served in straw but I wanted to find out.  I still haven't tried one so this beautiful Chianti will have to do.
 
Riecine Chianti Classico 2008

Welcome to tannin town! This could only be Italian as the chalky tannins envelop your mouth in a magnificent manner.  In needs an extra few years in the cellar but otherwise there is brightness and intrigue embossed all over the sophisticated liquid.  While those looking for full bodied enjoyment will have to look elsewhere, you get drink-ability galore in a food friendly manner.  I could see myself finishing the whole bottle by myself no worries, it’s that inviting.

Alcohol: 14%
Price: $40
Rated: 92
Drink: 2013 - 2022

Cullen Cabernet Merlot 2008

Cullen has converted all of their vineyards to bio-dynamic practices and they make some brilliant wild ferment wines.  This is one of them.  I normally keep my hands off my Cullens, as they are the Diana Madeline, but I get the feeling I could be trying a few of these while I wait. 

Cullen Cabernet Merlot 2008

What a lovely wine and 12% alcohol to boot.  You have to sit quietly to hear the voice of the wine but when you do oh baby does it talk.  Very similar to my wife last night in fact. When she got home she was absolutely stuffed so she lay on the floor in front of the fire watching TV.  She was half a sleep yet awake and watching whatever was on the box.  As soon as we went to bed she wanted to tell me the stories of the day.  For about half an hour I don’t think she took a breath.  Now, back to the wine…if you listen well enough this is what the wine will do. At 39 bucks it is good value for a Margaret River Cab and I would drink this all the time if I could. Love it.

Alcohol: 12%
Price: $39
Rated: 87
Drink: now - 2020

The Willows Vineyard Semillon 2004

The Willows Vineyard is situated in the Light Pass sub-region of the Barossa Valley.  The region derives its name from Colonel William Light who was trying to find a pass through the ranges.  The current architectural attractions include two grand churches, one of which was built around the 1860s which is about 80 years before some of the Willows Vineyards were planted. 

The Willows Semillon 2004

Brilliantly rich yet not as rich as some Barossa examples of this variety.  Everything is working together and it pairs perfectly with Thai curry.  There is a touch of wood plumping up the middle palate adding extra interests to the wine.  Yummo!

Alcohol: 12%
Price: $16
Rated: 87
Drink: Now

Prosciutto crudo

Everyone needs to try this at least once in their life.

1 pork leg tunnel boned

20 k cooking salt

Make sure ever inch of the leg is covered with salt, both inside and out.

Place in plastic container with 5 cm of salt underneath and over the top. Leave for 1 week per kilo of pork in a cool place such as a fridge.  Remove pork and wash salt off and hang for 6 months in a cool place such as a fridge. 

My plastic container. Don't use the lid as the gases need to escape.

Tucked away!

Penfolds St Henri 2001

St Henri takes up a large proportion of my cellar.  It was the first wine my wife and I seriously enjoyed.  We were at Magill Estate Restaurant for the degustation menu with matching wines some years ago.   What an event! For the fourth wine they served two wines blind. Jamie Sach was the Sommelier at the time and he provided the entertainment for the event.  Both my wife and I picked the first wine as the one we preferred.  Jamie revealed that it was the 82 St Henri.  It blew us away.  So what was the second wine? The 82 Grange.  Ever since I've collected St Henri.

Penfolds St Henri 2001

All rocking and ready to go! Raspberry coolade, chocolate, leather and menthol are the main features of this beauty.  There are soft and cuddly components to the wine which makes me feel like it has hit its peak.  Like most of the Penfolds stable you don't have to rush to drink it, just wait for a special event to crack this with friends or a loved one.  The 01 would not rank as a top St Henri but it does provide a lot of enjoyment at the moment.

Alcohol: 14.5%
Price: $45 (on release)
Rated: 89
Drink: whenever you like

Stefano Lubiana Riesling 2010

I don't think Stefano knows how to make a bad wine! They just keep on rocking my world every year.  It was a brave move for Stefano to go from South Australia to freezing cold Tasmania to pursue cool climate wine-making, yet I am so glad he did.

Stefano Lubiana Riesling 2010

Let's keep the Riesling theme going with this wine.  This wine tilts its hat towards Germany as you get intense apples, grapefruit and lime on a long palate, perfectly balanced by acid and sweetness. It's lovely and would work well as soon as spring hits.

Alcohol: 12%
Price: $24
Rated: 89
Drink: now - 2024