An Aussie wine tasting with a visiting Aussie Chef

An Aussie wine tasting with a visiting Aussie Chef – Episode #616

February 2, 2009

Chef Benjamin Christie and Gary Vaynerchuk taste 3 Australian wines that are widely available.

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Comments on this episode(207) Leave a comment ›

“If you like the D’arenberg Hermit Crab, you should try their “Dry Dam …” by Gavin
“I think you’re right on point, Gary. The bin 407 is also ridiculously…” by ulu ulu ulu ulu
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Wines tasted in this episode:

2007 D’arenberg The Hermit CrabAustralian White Meritage
2006 Kooyong Massale Pinot NoirAustralian Pinot Noir
2005 Penfolds Cab/shiraz Bin 389Australian Red Meritage

Links mentioned in today’s episode.

Benjamin Christie . com

207 Responses

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October 12, 2009

Gavin
If you like the D’arenberg Hermit Crab, you should try their “Dry Dam Riesling”. I loved it when I had it earlier this year. Also, if you get a chance, having a meal at their Cellar Door restaurant is amazing.

My favourite Australian wines seem to change quite a lot, but at the moment:
WHITE
Pewsey Vale – Riesling (Eden Valley)
RED
Kay Brothers Amery – Block 6 Shiraz (Mcarenvale)
Penley Estate- Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon (Coonawarra)
September 13, 2009

ulu ulu ulu ulu
I think you’re right on point, Gary. The bin 407 is also ridiculously oaked. It smells like my face is coated in butter. That being said, my favorite Australian wine could be Penfolds’ Grange
August 31, 2009

DRJ
I enjoy WLTV but would love to see Garry try some of the wines listed by Miles to dispel any generic myths he may have about Australian wines. As with all wines around the world try and source out good vintages. But as with most great Aussie wines they will need time in a dark cool place. Garry might want to follow this link http://www.langtons.com.au/Wine/ClassificationView.aspx for some ideas on Australian wines and vintages to try. However this is just the tip of the iceberg for great Australian wines.

I can fully understand Bill’s frustration when Garry drinks a very young wine especially a Bin 389. Never drink these wines young! I personally do not like them at all when they are young. Wines in this style are made for the long haul. I drank a 96 & 98 Bin 389 in the past month and both these wines are still another 10-20+ years from their peak. I have also seen Garry drinking young Grange from a poor vintage. Why bother? A. Go for a top Vintage and B. Drink it in 30-50 years time when it is designed to peak. I recently drank a 71 & 76 Grange (both awesome wines!) and both still have a few years left in them yet. Even at 38 & 33 years old I don’t doubt these wines will still be drinking well at their 50th birthdays.

QOTD:
WHITE
2008 macforbes RS37 Riesling (Strathbogie Ranges) – (Cellar Door in Yarra Valley)
2008 Galli Estate Artigiano Chardonnay (Sunbury)

RED
2005 Curley Flat Pinot Noir (Macedon Ranges)
2003 Domaine A Cabernet Sauvignon (Coal River Valley in Southern Tasmania)
July 30, 2009

Monica
QOTD:

A Wednesday – Hope Estate 2007 Hunter Valley Shiraz

A birthday dinner – McGuigans 2005 Personal Reserve Shiraz
June 8, 2009

nnothing
qotd: jim barry lodge hill shiraz
May 1, 2009

Jon
Favorite Australian wine would have to be the Petaluma Coonawarra Cabernet Merlot.

I have to say I agree with you on the Kooyong Massale Pinot Noir, there really is not anything compelling on the pallet of this wine. It’s inoffensive at best.

In regards to the Penfolds Cab/shiraz Bin 389 I think you have to realize it’s not really a wine made to be drunk so young. I personally don’t enjoy drinking these wines when they are young, as you say the oak is overpowering. After they have aged a few years it is a very different matter. The oak that was overpowering as a young wine will mellow to create a beautifully balanced older wine with everything in harmony.
April 25, 2009

ian
Bream Creak Pinot 2007 (Tasmanian winery, hard to find outside Tasmania)
April 23, 2009

Miles
G’day Gary-

As an aussie i feel our wines have been typecast as over-oaked fruit bombs!
Of the wines you’ve tasted I most certainly agree, but you mainly focus on the hudge brands that make wine in this style for the U.S. export market, usually from Barossa/Mclaren Vale etc, some of which we never see here (thankfully)!

See if you can get your hands on good vintages of the following (although they are usually quite consistent)

Bass Phillip, pinot noir (Reserve or premium),(Gippsland, Vic)
Savaterre, Chardonnay (Beechworth,Vic)
Wendouree, Shiraz (Clare Valley, S.A.)
Mount Mary, Quintet Cabernets (Yarra Valley,Vic)
Bindi, Quartz Chardonnay (Macedon Ranges,Vic)
Yeringberg, Cabernets
Craiglee, Shiraz (Sunbury,Vic)
Moss Wood, Cabernet (margaret River,W.A)

Thanks for WLTV, very entertaining

Cheers,
Miles Fraser
April 16, 2009

Heather
QOTD: Langmeil 5th Wave, Charles Melton Nine Popes
March 4, 2009

Yopee
Great Show!
I Wish I’d bought more when I had the chance.
Thanks anyway
March 4, 2009

JudeMurphy
I can’t have favorites because I never drink the same wine more than once- how could I possibly when there’s so much out there to try?! ; )
February 15, 2009

JayZee
Great show – nice job, Benjamin! I love Australia and a lot of their wines, although I tend to side with Gary that there is an awful lot of over-the-top Aussie wines on the market. But, to be fair, they are darn delicious for the most part.

QOTD: My favorite Australian wine is Aman-Ra Godolphin Shiraz-Cab blend.
February 15, 2009

Brian
QOTD Pewsey vale riesling rox my sox
February 9, 2009

Keith
I like the value wines from Oz, they tend to have less oak. Terra Barossa Shiraz, even Yellowtail Reserve is good.
February 8, 2009

KMurph
Great guest GV! And I really appreciated your passion about not over-oaking wines: I hope people were listening. Let the fruit speak for itself!

QOTD: Alas, I have had some Australian wines, but I haven’t had many that stand out to me. I’ve had some good Rieslings and a few Chards though, just can’t remember the names.
February 8, 2009

yowens
Great guest, really nice guy to put up with you GV! QOTD: I have always dreamed it would be Grange.
February 8, 2009

Bill
Gary – WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO LEARN!!
Penfolds is one of the last makers, probably in the WORLD, who consistently make wine that is NOT designed for early consumption (within 8-10 years). That 389 should not even be thought about untill 2015 at the EARLIEST!! Even the cheapo Penfolds like Koonunga Hill needs at least 5 years (forget Rawson’s – that is not worthy of anything much). Its so unfair to rail against the oak – SO BOREINGLY – every time when you NEVER taste one of these wines that has the age the maker WANTS it to have on it. I have been asking you to tast some of these with 10 – 15 years on them consistently ever since WLTV started and you NEVER HAVE! I have even given you specific suggestions. Never, and yet EVERY time, the same old tired “oak monster”! Jesus, people have been making wines utilising oak for thousands of years now, is everyone else other than you just wrong?
PLEASE, for God’s sake, put it in perspective!! Taste some OLDER Aussie fruit/oak-bombs!! Only then will you get it! Until then all you are doing is helping eradicate these last bastions of how wine USED to be made in Oz. Don’t be partially responsible for that demise!
February 8, 2009

Jimmy T
Very good show!
February 8, 2009

YoungDave
QOTD: For QPR maybe the Two Hands 2006 “The Angel’s Share” Shiraz. Not mind-blowing, but for the reputation of this producer, and the lack of new wood flavors, extraction of fruit balanced with good acidity and complex mineral notes, the price of this wine is right for what it delivers.
February 7, 2009

Fresno State Viticulture
Great episode, I’ve been watching for a while and this is my first comment.

QOTD: Had a few real good ones, but I’m gonna say to anybody reading this, you need to try Yellow Tail’s sparkling wine. Surprising good. Hate Yellow Tail, very impressed with their sparkling. Don’t know how widely available it is yet, but they have it here some local grocery stores on the west coast.
February 7, 2009

Lord Nouda
Good show. I wish I had the money and time to taste more wines… the time will come, though.

qotd: cannot recall any specific wine… they were all acceptable quaffing wines, though.
February 7, 2009

Gumfrat
QOTD: Torbreck’s The Struie was great, tried at a wine tasting. Also tried their Juveniles and would rather have 2 bottles of that. Gave the Ball Buster to my son as a gift.
February 7, 2009

Dan-o
GV – good show – enjoyed the guest. I think that he could take you though.

QOTD – White – Leeuwin Estate Artist Series Chardonnay Margaret River
- Red – a tie – BVE E&E Black Pepper Shiraz, Elderton Command Shiraz
February 7, 2009

Matthew Bellamy
QOTD:

My favourite Australian wines would have to be:

1) Yarra Yerring No.2
2) Giaconda Pinot Noir
3) D’Arenberg Dead Arm
February 7, 2009

Andrew D
Go Australia

QOTD – can I do a few
1. Clover Hill Vintage Brut
2. Tim Adams Reserve Riesling
3. Grosset Polish Hill Riesling
4. Hoddles Creek Chardonnay
5. Domaine A Pinot (in a good year)
6. Samuals’ Gorge Tempranillo
7. Balgownie Estate Bendigo Shiraz
8. Dalwhinnie Cabernet
9. De Bortoli Noble One
10. Chambers fortifieds

Cheers
Andrew