[LONG] I come from a land down under ...
 

G'day mates - how are yew?
So I'm back, after crossing 8 timezones, starting at at 8 am n Sidney and
landing at 8 am in Copenhagen the next day - or s it the previous? after a
voyage of 32 hs. My first visit to someplace outside Europe and, I must say,
not an experience I would have been without.
The land of Oz - very welcoming, language related to English, currency razoo
(?), the males are called 'mate' or 'bloke', while the females apparently
can be called 'love', or, rather not, 'sheila' which latter appears
pejorative. A group, regardless of gender, is 'you guys'. If the group is
composed of kangaroos it is called a 'mob'.
Main produce appears to be kangaroo skin hats, and slighlty oaked
Chardonnays capped under stelvin.

Our first meal was, not surprisingly since we lived in China town, in a
Chinese restaurant, the House of Guangzhou, which had a fairly good and
comprehensive wine list. This apparently was more rule than exception - the
only place we did NOT find an acceptable wine list was in a Japanese
teppanyaki, Ichiban, where you had the choice of one white and one red, both
from Lindemans. Not spoiled for choice, there.
To a Swede, wine prices in the restaurants were seriously affordable, and
not much different from what we found in the few bottle shops we visited.
Prices stayed mostly in the range AUD 25 - 35, with an outlier of AUD 67 for
a PInot Noir from TAsmania, Fire Gully 2001, which on the one hand was quite
enjoyable but on the other did not taste muchlike a PN. Lots of chocolate
and mocha, black berries, but if somebody had told me it was made of Merlot
rather than PN I would have accepted that without hesitation.
Following the advice of Salil, we took a coach tour to Hunter Valley with
Boutique Wine Tours, and visited in all 4 producers. Thank you for the tip,
Salil, it was great. Favorite palces were the very small family run Ernest
Hill, and the largish Brokenwood, where our experiences were better than
yours (yes, we got to taste the Graveyard Shiraz which to my mind will need
some serious cellar time to reach its potential) - place was rowdy and
boisterous, but the service was, as almost everywhere, warm and friendly,
and well-informed.

Obviously the producers are busily converting to stelvin caps - out of 13
bottles brought home, 8 were uNDer stelvin.

Varietal on the move: verdelho - they all had one, or several. Verdelho is
of course most known as one of the 4 classical Madeira grapes - here it was
vinified as a white dry table wine, with lots of tropical fruit, spicyness,
soemwhat like a Muscat d' Alsace but more notes of orange zest.
Recommendations were to serve it with shellfish and oriental spicy food,
which may be a good idea. I wouldn't save any of these wines for the long
haul - they appear to be for early drinking.
Reception everywhere was on the
'I'll-put-another-shrimp-on-the-barbi-for-you' standard. And then we heard
that in Oz, the Sidney-ites are noted for being a bit reserved and stuck-up.
Oh dear.

Favorite restaurant was 'Fish At the Rocks', the Rocks being a part of the
town with a certain notoriety for good eating and drinking places. A bit
like "Ma cuisine" in Beaune, but even friendlier service.
Also loved 'Kobe Jones' in Darling Harbour, but don't order their house wine
which we found rather uninteresting.

Loved the city. Loved (what I saw of) the country. That I, besides the wine,
ahve added 32 bird species to my list of firm observations, is not beside
the point and next time I'll bring my binoculars.

Too bad it is not reachable by Volvo.

Cheers

Nils Gustaf

--
Respond to nils dot lindgren at drchips dot se

I come from a land down under ...
 

Hi Nils, good to see you back - and glad you enjoyed the trip Down
Under.

Nils Gustaf Lindgren wrote:
> Following the advice of Salil, we took a coach tour to Hunter Valley with
> Boutique Wine Tours, and visited in all 4 producers. Thank you for the tip,
> Salil, it was great. Favorite palces were the very small family run Ernest
> Hill, and the largish Brokenwood, where our experiences were better than
> yours (yes, we got to taste the Graveyard Shiraz which to my mind will need
> some serious cellar time to reach its potential) - place was rowdy and
> boisterous, but the service was, as almost everywhere, warm and friendly,
> and well-informed.

Just curious as to how you did the Brokenwood tour - was it with the
Boutique Wine Tours group, or were you dropped off to see it alone?
Either way, from what I've heard from many others, my experience there
last time was a bit of an anomaly there - so when I'm next in Sydney,
I'll be paying it another visit. Which were the other 2 wineries you
went to?

> Reception everywhere was on the
> 'I'll-put-another-shrimp-on-the-barbi-for-you' standard. And then we heard
> that in Oz, the Sidney-ites are noted for being a bit reserved and stuck-up.
> Oh dear.

Yep, still can't figure why. The people (both in the HV and the city)
are very friendly and welcoming (and this was when I'd gone by in the
tourist off-season). As far as hospitality goes, haven't seen many
places that compare to Sydney or New Zealand for sheer warmth and
friendliness.

> Favorite restaurant was 'Fish At the Rocks', the Rocks being a part of the
> town with a certain notoriety for good eating and drinking places. A bit
> like "Ma cuisine" in Beaune, but even friendlier service.
> Also loved 'Kobe Jones' in Darling Harbour, but don't order their house wine
> which we found rather uninteresting.

Can't go wrong with the Rocks. I'd had a number of very good meals
there, including some very good pizza at Zia Pina and Italian Village.
Quite envious of the dining and wining options most Sydneysiders have.

Salil

I come from a land down under ...
 

"Salil" > skrev i meddelandet
oups.com...
> Hi Nils, good to see you back - and glad you enjoyed the trip Down
> Under.
>
>
> Just curious as to how you did the Brokenwood tour - was it with the
> Boutique Wine Tours group, or were you dropped off to see it alone?
> Either way, from what I've heard from many others, my experience there
> last time was a bit of an anomaly there - so when I'm next in Sydney,
> I'll be paying it another visit. Which were the other 2 wineries you
> went to?
>


After a hasty lunch, we scooted over to Brokenwood on our own. We had a
meagre hour to visit the unlisted wineries, so we asked our driver (Klaus)
which was the best and he said Brokenwood. We footed over the vineyard (saw
two Crested Pigeons en route, BTW) and dived in. No worries.

With the tour proper, we visited Irongate (uninteresting), Audrey Wilkinson
(good Merlot, good Dessert Semillon, some acceptable whites), and Ernest
Hill.

Cheers

Nils Gsutaf

--
Respond to nils dot lindgren at drchips dot se

I come from a land down under ...
 

Nils Gustaf Lindgren wrote:
> After a hasty lunch, we scooted over to Brokenwood on our own. We had a
> meagre hour to visit the unlisted wineries, so we asked our driver (Klaus)
> which was the best and he said Brokenwood. We footed over the vineyard (saw
> two Crested Pigeons en route, BTW) and dived in. No worries.

Nice. Had gone there with a friend on a separate day trip, after first
spending a couple of hours at Tempus Two.

> With the tour proper, we visited Irongate (uninteresting), Audrey Wilkinson
> (good Merlot, good Dessert Semillon, some acceptable whites), and Ernest
> Hill.

Skipped Iron Gates for Mount Pleasant, which IMO is definitely worth
visiting for the dessert semillon alone. Had picked up a couple of
bottles of the 98 late harvest at very reasonable prices, and they were
quite stunning. Would suggest putting it on the agenda if there's a
trip back to the Hunter in the future.

Liked Wilkinson, particularly the dessert semillon and the liqueur
verdelho. Was the Merlot in question their 03 Coonawarra Merlot?

Salil

I come from a land down under ...
 

"Salil" > skrev i meddelandet
oups.com...
>

> Skipped Iron Gates for Mount Pleasant, which IMO is definitely worth
> visiting for the dessert semillon alone. Had picked up a couple of
> bottles of the 98 late harvest at very reasonable prices, and they were
> quite stunning. Would suggest putting it on the agenda if there's a
> trip back to the Hunter in the future.

Noted. Certainly hope to get back to Oz, but will probably be Melbourne next
time.

>
> Liked Wilkinson, particularly the dessert semillon and the liqueur
> verdelho. Was the Merlot in question their 03 Coonawarra Merlot?

Don't remember vintage but was definitely Coonawarra. Funny, really,
Coonawarra being mostly nioted for CabSauv - this is not the first Merlot
from Cw that tickles me fncy.

Cheers

Nils Gustaf

I come from a land down under ...
 

Nils Gustaf Lindgren wrote:
> Noted. Certainly hope to get back to Oz, but will probably be Melbourne next
> time.

Great minds thinking alike, fools differing, etc, etc.

Actually looking at a couple of day trips into the Yarra Valley/around
the Heathcote for this December. I'm planning to head down for the
cricket on Boxing Day in Melbourne, so will almost certainly see some
of the wineries in the region (and definitely do the Yarra). Keep me
posted if you are heading back; might be able to provide some info from
this trip as well.

Ditto for Tasmania in fact, which we'll probably head to after
Melbourne - not sure about how many of the wine regions we'll explore,
but there'll definitely be a winery or two on the itinerary.

Salil

I come from a land down under ...
 

On Mon, 18 Sep 2006 06:27:06 GMT, "Nils Gustaf Lindgren"
> wrote:

>
>"Salil" > skrev i meddelandet
roups.com...
>>
>
>> Skipped Iron Gates for Mount Pleasant, which IMO is definitely worth
>> visiting for the dessert semillon alone. Had picked up a couple of
>> bottles of the 98 late harvest at very reasonable prices, and they were
>> quite stunning. Would suggest putting it on the agenda if there's a
>> trip back to the Hunter in the future.
>
>Noted. Certainly hope to get back to Oz, but will probably be Melbourne next
>time.
>
Excellent. You will see the "cultured" side of Oz, mate...:>)

hooroo....
>>
>> Liked Wilkinson, particularly the dessert semillon and the liqueur
>> verdelho. Was the Merlot in question their 03 Coonawarra Merlot?
>
>Don't remember vintage but was definitely Coonawarra. Funny, really,
>Coonawarra being mostly nioted for CabSauv - this is not the first Merlot
>from Cw that tickles me fncy.
>
>Cheers
>
>Nils Gustaf
>

I come from a land down under ...
 

"Matt S" > skrev i meddelandet
...

> Excellent. You will see the "cultured" side of Oz, mate...:>)

What yew bleedin' talking about? I've been to the Sydney Opera house, me!
That's as cultured as it gets, mate!
Seriously, you have any suggestions in a wineous direction for Melbourne?
Yarra valley would appear a given, at least.

Cheers!

I come from a land down under ...
 

Nils Gustaf Lindgren wrote:
> Seriously, you have any suggestions in a wineous direction for Melbourne?
> Yarra valley would appear a given, at least.

Hanging Rock's a popular picnic site an hour outside, and the Hanging
Rock Winery there is known for some great wines. I've tasted their
Heathcote Shiraz before, and it blew me away.

It's definitely on my list for this December, whether I'll have time
with the cricket on is another issue.

Salil

I come from a land down under ...
 

On Wed, 20 Sep 2006 09:56:41 GMT, "Nils Gustaf Lindgren"
> wrote:

>
>"Matt S" > skrev i meddelandet
.. .
>
>> Excellent. You will see the "cultured" side of Oz, mate...:>)
>
>What yew bleedin' talking about? I've been to the Sydney Opera house, me!
>That's as cultured as it gets, mate!
>Seriously, you have any suggestions in a wineous direction for Melbourne?
>Yarra valley would appear a given, at least.
>
>Cheers!
>
Yarra Valley is my backyard, so obviously I am biased. If you like
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet blends, hit the Valley!! If
pepper and spice style shiraz is is your poison, you need to go to
Heathcote (this regions Shiraz's ARE flavour of the month, and ARE
fantastic), or perhaps more to your liking Nils would be the
magnificent fortifieds of the Rutherglen region. The first two
regions are day trips from Melbourne Central, the Rutherglen region
can be done in a day, but best suited to an overnighter!

Melbourne is also the greatest city in Oz for dining... arts...and
sport, wheras Sydney excite with eatin', kulcha, water sports and
rugger...:>)

hooroo.....

I come from a land down under ...
 

Hello Matt;
I have taken note of your suggestions - of course, there is more than a year
till that voyage will bceome reality. Still: I have so far only tasted one
of the majestic Rutherford Muscats. As a rule, I don't go heavy on the
fortifieds, they being too alcoholic for my delicate palate - the one I
tried had a certain similarity to the Portuguese Moscatel de Setubal. So
help me, I find a note of curry in them both. Very good with dark chocolate,
I'd say. HAd it as dessert wine in excellent eatery Fish at the ROcks.
There is little comparison with the third ilk of fortified Muscats, thsoe of
Southern France (Beaume-de-Venise, Fron tignac etc).
IIRC, Yarra is the coldest wine producing area in Australia - I believe it
can be _really_ cold there.
We will hit the area late November - beginning of summer down under, then.
TAsting Australian wines on their homeground has certainly widened my
perspectives a lot, the ones we get up here tend to be too fruity-sweety,
too oakey-pokey ... those we had there were as a rule much more interesting,
not to mention palatable. It IS a pity you can't drive to Australia with
your Volovo. SOmebody will have to look into that. As well as this crazy
thing with the clock, you'd expect them to have sorted that out by now? I
mean, that the sun is shining brightly when it is obviously just a little
past midnight?

Cheers

Nils Gustaf

I come from a land down under ...
 

Matt S wrote:
> Yarra Valley is my backyard, so obviously I am biased. If you like
> Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet blends, hit the Valley!! If
> pepper and spice style shiraz is is your poison, you need to go to
> Heathcote (this regions Shiraz's ARE flavour of the month, and ARE
> fantastic)

Agree; I was at a tasting for a range of Heathcote Shirazes from 01 to
04 a couple of months ago, and I was simply blown away. Love that
earthier, spicy character they seem to have.

> Melbourne is also the greatest city in Oz for dining... arts...and
> sport, wheras Sydney excite with eatin', kulcha, water sports and
> rugger...:>)

Must disagree here. You lot are obsessed with the footy. At least
there's some high quality cricket in Sydney! :-p

I come from a land down under ...
 

"Salil" > skrev i meddelandet
oups.com...


> Must disagree here. You lot are obsessed with the footy. At least
> there's some high quality cricket in Sydney! :-p

Cricket? Little insect that goes chirp chirp at high frequencies?
;)

Cheers

Nils Gustaf[1]

[1] I once saw about twenty minutes of a cricket game.
Unbe-defile-grandmother-lievable. Didn't get anything. You probably have to
be raised with it. As bad as baseball.
--
Respond to nils dot lindgren at drchips dot se

I come from a land down under ...
 

Mike Tommasi wrote:
> Nils Gustaf Lindgren wrote:
>> "Salil" > skrev i meddelandet
>> oups.com...
>>
>>
>>
>>> Must disagree here. You lot are obsessed with the footy. At least
>>> there's some high quality cricket in Sydney! :-p
>>
>>
>> Cricket? Little insect that goes chirp chirp at high frequencies?
>
> Give the man a cigale... ;-)
>
>

Huh? I thought the cigale was what we Anglophones call a cicada.
Though the image of a "chante cigale" would make more sense to me if it
were the more euphonious gryllidae.

Mark Lipton
Orthoptera Rules!

I come from a land down under ...
 

"Mike Tommasi" wrote ...............
>>
>>
>> Cricket? Little insect that goes chirp chirp at high frequencies?
>
> Give the man a cigale... ;-)
>


If that man keeps defiling grandmothers, he will get more than a cigale.....

Besides, nothing beats watching a game which lasts for 5 days (six hours per
day) - where there is a probability that the game will finish in a draw
......

Only the English could invent such a game - and only we of Anglo-Saxon
heritage (or ex-colonialists) could perpetuate it, and truly appreciate its
eccentricities.

I say. good shot olde chap!!!

--

st.helier

I come from a land down under ...
 

st.helier wrote:
> Besides, nothing beats watching a game which lasts for 5 days (six hours per
> day) - where there is a probability that the game will finish in a draw

Ha! You're from New Zealand, what would you know of
A) Test cricket, given that you lot have more or less ceased to play
it?
B) Five day games, when the Black Caps usually last about three, max?
:-)

Salil

I come from a land down under ...
 

"Salil" wrote ..........
>
>> Besides, nothing beats watching a game which lasts for 5 days (six hours
>> per day) - where there is a probability that the game will finish in a
>> draw
>
> Ha! You're from New Zealand, what would you know of
> A) Test cricket, given that you lot have more or less ceased to play
> it?
> B) Five day games, when the Black Caps usually last about three, max?
> :-)
>


Quiet in the cheap seats (bloody ex-colonials) - I'll bet we NZ could run
the Singapore one-legged, half blind national team close!!!!!!!!!

Besides, I personally know several Indian bookmakers who pay me lots of
rupees to ensure these games are over in 3 days!!!!!

I can offer you inside information - payable in wine!!!!!

--

st.helier

I come from a land down under ...
 

st.helier wrote:
> Quiet in the cheap seats (bloody ex-colonials) - I'll bet we NZ could run
> the Singapore one-legged, half blind national team close!!!!!!!!!

Aye. Then again, you did beat the Indian side we sent by in 02-03 on
those weather hit pitches. Terrible tour, that was. Rain all over the
place, lots of cloud and moisture...

So just how did the 03 vintage turn out around NZ?
[Not seen much of that vintage in shops anywhere, in fact. Seen a
handful of 02s, lots of 04s and 05s and now starting to see the 06s.]

> Besides, I personally know several Indian bookmakers who pay me lots of
> rupees to ensure these games are over in 3 days!!!!!

I thought the money went to the opposition to help keep the games going
for that long!