20
Sep
2012
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
Just 5 months ago I sat at a table in Bravi Ristorante and tasted through a number of Banfi wines with general manager Enrico Viglierchio and export manager Javier Rodriguez during a delicious lunch … I can tell you without a doubt that these wines are primarily food wines as today’s stand-alone tasting did not impress me as much – though the wines remain as impressive as ever, the food really bought out what they could do to enhance a meal. On their own some wines showed better than others did last time.
We started with the Aurora Rose (bubbles) – still a great starter that needs no introduction, if you read my previous report.
One of the wines that stood up better today than five months ago was ... (to read more and see pictures of the wines, click here)
To read about more interesting adventures thru the world of wine check out the On the Road With the Grape Guy blog.
18
Sep
2012
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Category: On the Road with the Grape Guy
The title of this article refers to Victoria, Australia – not the life and times in the Victorian age … just in case you were wondering.
Australia has seen a fall off of sales lately, it’s tough to fall from the top dog position, but even tougher to make your way back to the top. So these days, instead of making what one Australia referred to as “Wanker Wines” (high alcohol fruit bombs) a style they have been known for all these years, Australia is now starting to think about showing regional diversity in the glass – starting with Victoria.
Interesting things to note about Victoria …
Victoria is diverse and densely populated (winery wise); there are more wineries and regions in this state than in South Australia.
Other than Tasmania, Victoria is the smallest state, but has the greatest diversity of site climates and wine styles in Australia. 23 of 64 geographic indicators are cooler than Bordeaux.
Phylloxera is almost non-existent in many areas of Australia, and they have some of the oldest plantings of Shiraz, Mourvedre and Grenache, many still un-grafted; and some date back to the 1840’s.
The Wines …
(to find out which wines ranked where click here - and to to see the pics)
To read about more interesting adventures thru the world of wine check out the On the Road With the Grape Guy blog.
