After a glut of recent reds, I was going to write up a white this week. I swear.
But Brisbane is suddenly experiencing some Pearl Harbour-like weather, and I am in need of something to warm me up.
So, instead of hearing about a multi-award winning chardonnay, you will have to make do with a slightly less medalled (but frankly, to me, better) Cab Merlot.
Both were from Stella Bella, and to give this mob their dues, I must say I don’t really ever recall drinking a bad wine from their hand.
The Cabernet Merlot pours with a stygian splash that is deep and dense, and looks more suited to knife and fork than to mere stem and bowl.
Despite being armed with only a delicate little Riedel, I dived in. Obviously.
The nose is a belligerent collision of bright, jammy goodness balanced with a savoury dusting of oak and herbs. It promises a decent hit of tannin, and then delivers it in spades.
I only need one word to describe the drinking. Solid.
Ok, maybe a few more – well-balanced, long, and bloody delicious.
Above all though, this is just a genuinely good drinking wine. You can drink it with food. You can drink it by itself. By yourself. Or just to keep your brass monkeys warm on a chilly night.
I was lucky enough to drink this with the winemaker at a nice little tasting organised by the Bar Barossa boys. Tasting events are great but, if I’m honest, you never really get enough in your glass. And so, of course, I bought a few more bottles just to help me see out the long, cold winter ahead.
A mere nine days into June, and with the mercury already hitting an all time Bris-Vegas low, I’ve had to crack another one tonight. Just to generate some body heat of course. Teamed it up with a generous slab of eye fillet that was as rare as a virgin rabbit. Double delicious.
One glass. Two glass. Three glass. Four. Before I knew it, the Stella Bella had done a Keyser Söze on me.
And like that.........it was gone.
http://www.stellabella.com.au/
http://www.purplepalate.com/barbarossa/
But Brisbane is suddenly experiencing some Pearl Harbour-like weather, and I am in need of something to warm me up.
So, instead of hearing about a multi-award winning chardonnay, you will have to make do with a slightly less medalled (but frankly, to me, better) Cab Merlot.
Both were from Stella Bella, and to give this mob their dues, I must say I don’t really ever recall drinking a bad wine from their hand.
The Cabernet Merlot pours with a stygian splash that is deep and dense, and looks more suited to knife and fork than to mere stem and bowl.
Despite being armed with only a delicate little Riedel, I dived in. Obviously.
The nose is a belligerent collision of bright, jammy goodness balanced with a savoury dusting of oak and herbs. It promises a decent hit of tannin, and then delivers it in spades.
I only need one word to describe the drinking. Solid.
Ok, maybe a few more – well-balanced, long, and bloody delicious.
Above all though, this is just a genuinely good drinking wine. You can drink it with food. You can drink it by itself. By yourself. Or just to keep your brass monkeys warm on a chilly night.
I was lucky enough to drink this with the winemaker at a nice little tasting organised by the Bar Barossa boys. Tasting events are great but, if I’m honest, you never really get enough in your glass. And so, of course, I bought a few more bottles just to help me see out the long, cold winter ahead.
A mere nine days into June, and with the mercury already hitting an all time Bris-Vegas low, I’ve had to crack another one tonight. Just to generate some body heat of course. Teamed it up with a generous slab of eye fillet that was as rare as a virgin rabbit. Double delicious.
One glass. Two glass. Three glass. Four. Before I knew it, the Stella Bella had done a Keyser Söze on me.
And like that.........it was gone.
Rating: 8.75
Drink with: A nasty nip in the air
Price: $32
http://www.stellabella.com.au/
http://www.purplepalate.com/barbarossa/
Pearl harbour?
ReplyDeleteMD
Their 2004 is top draw in quality. Still got a couple left and and a few 07s.
ReplyDeleteThey get the double thumbs up from me.