Adelaide Cellar Door's Blog

Cape d’Estaing Wines

adelaidecellardoor — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:31:55 +0000

When I think of Cabernet Sauvignon, I can’t help but think of the experience of tasting First Growth wines from the Bordeaux region in France. Almost always blended with other grape varieties like Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot, these complex, opulent and expensive wines are an experience one rarely forgets. The good news though is that you don’t need to take your taste buds to France or take advantage of the current low interest rates to experience quality Cabernet Sauvignon. When you have wines like the 2004 Cape d’Estaing at your disposal, you can access high quality Cabernet Sauvignon and experience the complexity and finesse that this grape is capable of.
When I tasted this wine with a fantastic home cooked roast beef and roast vegetables meal I was treated to a complex cornucopia of blackberries, eucalypt and pencil shavings. The use of new French oak was apparent but the ripe black fruit and fine grained tannins balanced the wine to perfection. The long finish with cedar and eucalypt hints and very satisfying bramble berry notes complemented the meal and had us wringing the bottle out for the last few drops.
Though the bottle says it will be peaking around 2008-2009, I think it will be drinking nicely for a few years yet but equally I would be happy having a case or two right now for drinking. … Rhys Moult

What’s On!

adelaidecellardoor — Wed, 20 May 2009 01:03:45 +0000

This Sunday you can pop along to the South Australian Aviation Museum at Port Adelaide to have a look at their display of historic aircraft and helicopters, engines, artwork, models and more.

Jane will be there, with winemakers, from 12:00 till 4:00pm presenting wines for tasting from Golding Wineries and Little Brampton Wines.

There is an admission charge of $8 for adults, $5 for concession card holders (children are free) which helps the volunteers in their restoration work. The museum will present a door prize on the day.

HOFEX – Hong Kong Food & Hospitality Expo

adelaidecellardoor — Wed, 20 May 2009 00:40:04 +0000

Jane has returned from an exhausting and exhilarating Expo, show casing some of SA’s great wines. Four days, 1,800 exhibitors, over 30,000 trade buyers. Adelaide Cellar Door had a very large presence at the expo with a stand staffed by 13 people, including winemakers from Bundaleer, Redden Bridge, Tim Adams and Kidman wineries.

Incredible interest from the greater Chinese community in Australian Wines kept the team running with enquiries. Some very good reports by local media boosted interest in the tastings and much food was consumed in after expo business meetings.

A number of containers of wine have been ordered for immediate despatch, with further meetings behing held in China over the next two weeks.

With droughts, fires and floods…..the next concern might be finding enough wine.

What’s On

adelaidecellardoor — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 01:15:55 +0000

This weekend (May 1st to 3rd), the Adelaide Hills celebrates WINES OF GOLD where they will showcase Chardonnay, a wine that some consider to have dropped out of favour with the Sauvignon Blanc set.

Wine tastings, Master Class, Cellar Doors, Great Food all on show and a great opportunity to spend a relaxing day with family and friends.

For more information and upcoming events have a look at the Adelaide Hills Wines web site

Little Brampton Wines

adelaidecellardoor — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 06:03:13 +0000

Little Brampton 2003 Shiraz, Clare Valley, South Australia 14.2%ABV

After quaffing a couple of well known and well written about wines earlier at a celebratory session, I came home to a quiet house. On went the stereo and out came this bottle which I have been meaning to take a closer look at. “Now finally, there’s something interesting.” This was that thought that first struck me when I took my first big whiff of this Clare Valley Shiraz from Little Brampton Wines.

Shiraz is the most loved and prolific of all Australian red grapes. The Clare is not the most popular of Shiraz producing regions. Nor is it the best known. But it does produce some real crackers and this wine fits into that category.

It had been generously exposed to quality American Oak and sufficiently aged to give a well rounded mouth feel but not too aged to take it past the point of no return. Smoke, vanilla, white pepper and soft cinnamon spice were all apparent on the nose. The palate was ripe and full and delivered all that the nose promised. The finish was long and provided a very satisfying and full end to this quality wine which accompanied my cranking stereo to perfection. … Rhys Moult

Introducing Rhys Moult

adelaidecellardoor — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:57:00 +0000

Rhys Moult has a connection with wine stretching back even before his marriage in Margaret River at Vasse Felix. He worked as a bar tender and wannabe sommelier at the now defunct Subiaco Wine Room in WA, before deciding to move with his wife to the UK where he worked for a couple of years in wine retail and completed his Advanced Certificate in Wines and Spirits through the WSET.

Working for several years at Harvey Nichols in Edinburgh as a Sommelier and Assistant Bar Manager, Rhys was responsible for wine and cocktail training for the staff and was awarded runner up in the Wine International Magazine, Sommelier of the Year and also judged in the International Wine Challenge before moving back to Australia with a young family.

Rhys has since worked for two large Hotel Groups as the wine and hospitality trainer in South Australia and computer based educator.

Rhys will be writing Wine Reviews for our blog from time to time so keep a look out and see how his thoughts compare to yours.

Tasting at the Railway Hotel

adelaidecellardoor — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:13:36 +0000

Our next tasting is to be be held on Sunday April 19th at the Historic Railway Hotel, 247 St Vincent Street, Port Adelaide between 1.00pm and 4.00pm. You wil have an opportunity to meet the Winemakers from Redden Bridge and Vincognita Wines and taste their award winning wines.

A bonus meal voucher will be available with each 24 bottles ordered on the day.

If you can’t make it to this event, pencil Sunday May 24th into your diary when we will be holding a wine tasting at the Aviation Museum, Port Adelaide.

New Cellar

adelaidecellardoor — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 05:06:16 +0000

Keen to try out our new cellar at Butler Street, Port Adelaide, we invited Adelaidians to taste some of our range of Boutique Wines on Sunday April 3rd.

The event was well attended by many familiar and some new faces, with some great wines being sampled in the humbly lit cellar (some would call it atmospheric lighting).

Greatly encouraged, we plan to hold many similar events once the finishing touches are applied so keep your eyes peeled for up-coming announcements.

Good gets even better!

adelaidecellardoor — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:53:34 +0000

What an incredible saving on one of our most popular wines. The d’Estree Bay Wrattonbully Shiraz, from the vineyard of Greg Koch, has been reduced by $36 a case to $122. At just over $10 a bottle this wine is tremendous value and not to be missed.

This deep, rich red wine shows typical ripe Shiraz, spicey aromas beautifully complimented with oak and has intense flavours of spice and berries, backed up by fine tannins.

This Shiraz is already complex. It will mature well, improving for 5-7 years, but will go on cellaring well after that (if you can keep your hands off it that is!)

Cruise Ships

adelaidecellardoor — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 21:23:59 +0000

Adelaide Cellar Door has been asked by Tourism SA and the Port Adelaide Council to present wine tastings of SA wines for visiting Cruise Ships. To date, 13 Cruise Ships have passed through the port with two more due this weekend carrying around 2,500 passengers.

Passengers have been able to taste the wines and meet and chat to some of the Wine Makers.

Jane will be showcasing more of SA’s great wines on Saturday but unfortunately public access to the docks is not permitted. You can however buy a ticket for the world cruise and get a free taste of Jane’s wines as you depart.