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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February 7, 2009

Phildo Massey
Solid episode, am off to Binny’s tomorrow to pick up the Hermit Crab.

QOTD: Definitely Glatzier’s GoDolphin, what a marvelous wine!
February 6, 2009

C-Lo
QOTD: I don’t really drink enough aussie wines to have a favorite. Just the other night i cracked open a 2004 Green Point Shiraz which was pretty complex and tasty.

I really want to get some of that Hermit Crab….
February 6, 2009

Jayhitek
QOTD: Dammnit! So many to choose from. I love Aussie wines.
I do like the Yalumba and Penfolds vineyards.
February 6, 2009

innA
Very good show – I have had the Hermit Crab and really loved it, but I’m still yet to try an Australian pinot noir that really impressed me.. I feel they are highly overrated and way behind NZ in terms of the new world.

QOTD – heaps to chose from, but possibly the Pewsey Vale riesling.. especially in terms of value. There are so many fantastic rieslings from Eden and Clare Valley.
February 6, 2009

Sonia
Great guest! I used to be a Yellow tail drinker… it was the first red I ever could handle, it made me brave enough to try others, but sadly I lack experience with the Aussie wines, only had a one other Shiraz and some Sauvignon Blacs that I don’t remember…
February 6, 2009

thecobalt9
great episode – love the aussie whites – that hermit crab is a great weeknight QPR stunner – good call – keep on rocking!
February 6, 2009

Keith Brown
Good Show! QOTD: Ironically, D’arenberg Darry’s Original, fantastic wine for the price. Wish I’d bought more when I had the chance. Waiting for the next vintage. Second runner up is Mak Coonwarra Cab/Shiraz.
February 5, 2009

Brian
QOTD: Betts & Scholl “Black Betty” Shiraz
February 5, 2009

Mr.Ambassador
Another fun guest and a fine show.

I really enjoy sampling any new wine I can find from Australia with the goal of always expanding the pal. That being said we did go a bit crazy a few years ago and really enjoyed the Amon Ra (and Goldolphin too); I’ve enjoyed most of the Killikanoon wines I’ve tried as well.
February 5, 2009

Adonis
A big fan of the Mollydooker wines
February 5, 2009

Alex M
Great show, good to see you back on form and to see your passion get you all tongue-tied.

Hate to pick you up on this one but it’s a cricket bat dude, not a paddle.

QOTD: So many faves, Charles Melton Nine Popes, Turkey Flat Shiraz and Penfolds St Henri to name but a few. Pretty much any Eden Valley riesling.
February 4, 2009

Dessert Wine Nerd
Good episode. Fun chef and I love the Aussie lingo. QOTD: Yalumba Museum Reserve Muscat.
February 4, 2009

DH
QOTD: I do enjoy Sauvignon Blanc from Australia/New Zealand. No favorite brand jumps to mind.

Recently I tried a JOHN DUVAL ENTITY Shiraz 2006 and didn’t like it. It was very dry and the fruit didn’t come forward at all. I wonder if anyone alse tried it and liked/disliked it. This wont keep me from trying Aussie wine again. Actually, I have a bottle of Yellowtail Shiraz 2007 in the bar and I’m curious to see how it performs.
February 4, 2009

pawncop
Good episode and great guest.

QOTD – I am a big fan of Kaesler “Stonehorse” shiraz.
February 4, 2009

Alisdair
QOTD: Tyrrells 4 Acres Shiraz – wine made from century old vines from original pre phyloxera cuttings in hermitage. It’s elegant and medium bodied Hunter Valley shiraz at its best.

Great episode! But it could be hard for a wine like 389 to show its “terroir:” (however you spell it) as it is most likely a multi regional blend – like grange. Penfolds make very few single vineyard wines.
February 4, 2009

bbouche10
QOTD: 2005 Layer Cake Shiraz…would love to try 2005 Ancient Way Shiraz
February 4, 2009

epistemiac
great episode. I’m a big fan of Chester Osborn’s wines!

QOTD: Red- Mitolo “G.A.M.” Shiraz 2006
White- Torbreck “Woodcutter’s” Semillon 2007
February 4, 2009

Ryan Miller
Marquis Phillips 2006 Sarah’s Blend.
February 4, 2009

canadapete
Great show. Awesome guest, my favorite in a long time!

QOTD – love Nugan’s Durif
February 4, 2009

Ryan D
QotD: The best and most memorable Australian wine I’ve had was a 2004 Long Flat Cabernet-Merlot. It came from a tetra pack! But had fruit for days and was really one of the first wines that made me react and go “Whoa!”
February 4, 2009

apj_bobswineguy
20%-30% NEW oak (300L American oak hogshead). Not sure where you are getting the oak-monster from in the Bin 389????
That is a bigger barrel and they use 70%-80% 1-2 yr old hogshead.
I’m going to pull a btl tomorrow to see if I get what you are saying.
Loved the past couple Hermit Crab btls I’ve tasted. Another good reminder.
As for the Pinot, had to get out the World Atlas to find Mornington Peninsula.
Another educational show and good guest.
February 3, 2009

A dumb Rhine king
Awesome show Gary. Great job Benjamin

QOTD: Yellow Tail Shiraz will always hold a special place for me. When I was first starting out in the wine world, it was the first wine that I actually really liked and picked out on my own. Probably to this day, I have bought more bottles of that than anything else. Although I would have to supplement that statement by saying that I haven’t bought many of the same wines within the last year or so because I like trying different things.
February 3, 2009

JD in DC
Gary, couldn’t agree more with your points about the dangers of over-oaking. Let’s hope some winemakers were watching.
February 3, 2009

Richard Ritter
That was a wicked googley!
February 3, 2009

Mike C
Can’t wait to try Hermit Crab.

I like Piedmont Shiraz.