Wine Oh’s and More!

So Michael began his wine notes on March 22nd. He has faithfully updated notes with each wine consumed. Instead of putting the information on here, he will be putting it into msquaredwines.com as soon as he figures out the best way to do it.

On the other hand I gave up trying to write my own notes and just try to make sure I get at least one sip of every wine opened. It is a difficult job but someones has to do it!

The interesting first blog was our drive back from The Pinnacle Desert to Perth going through Swan River. I realized that is less than a month ago and in many ways it feels light years away and others about a week ago. We have been in our little home in Prevelly Beach now for four weeks on Monday. We have not driven each other crazy yet and I hope all of you still have your sanity (more or less) too!

A few of Michael’s notes included:

Australian wine blog: Consumed March 22^nd.  Drove up to the Pinnacle Desert today and on the way back stopped on the Swan River at Olive Farm wines.  Mostly for a break but purchased several bottles of wine and some cheese and crackers to go with it.  The Swan River runs into Perth from the north and is dotted with small wineries and vineyards of which this is one.  It is supposed to be the oldest wine area in Australia started in 1829. The tasting room was packed and tables outside on a deck were filled with young people enjoying the experience.We purchased two bottles here one a Verdelho 2020 and the other was G.S.T. “THE TAXMAN” a blend of Grenache, Shiraz and Tempranillo 2019.

My input here is – Australians have to be the most creative wine companies in the world. Like the above wine Michael mentioned is “THE TAXMAN”. Really? Like I guess I’d rather drink it than pay them, but alas in this trying virus time the taxman will come knocking to all of us…just a little later.

6ft6 its a pinot noir. Every winemaker I know thinks of a pinot noir as feminine. so why the name? The back label says, “We’ve gone to great lengths with this alluring, exotic and perfumed Pinot.” It is made in Victoria and their handle is #feeling6ft6. I guess we’ll all grow when we drink it.

Michael’s notes for 6ft 6 included – Consumed March 26^th: Tonight we ate Buttered chicken on riced cauliflower accompanied by a Young and Company generic California Chardonnay (Jacque liked the label and didn’t know it was California) and a Pinot Noir from Geelong in southern Victoria Australia.  We picked it up in a shop in Margaret River because Jacque thought this label was also cute.  It is called 6Ft6 with the front descriptor of “It’s the length of the finish”.  I figured it was just a very tall winemaker because it actually finished quite short.  A rather flat wine with little charm.  It was true to the Pinot Noir varietal character but didn’t offer anything interesting.  The chicken was great though.

• 

• 

• 

In actuality, I have left out many of Michael’s extensive notes and will only comment on some of his blog. Some of this information we have written about in previous blogs. There was no toilet paper on our first trip to the grocery store (Coles) but we were able to buy 6 bottles of wine each. The next trip we tried the next grocery store (Woolworths’s called Woolies down here) and found we could also buy 6 bottles each. The very next trip the checker said no no no…put half of that back – the new edict says only 3 bottles each, one six pack of beer and one 750ml of hard alcohol. Hence we hit three bottle shops in town, bought 18 instead of 12 wines and felt satisfied. We have slowly filled up what we are using as a wine rack and finally felt we can visit a few cellar doors and buy their wines too.

Ha ha ha. First day at a cellar door (winery tasting room) we could buy three each, next time a case but only after the edict went through at 4 pm that day. …and supposedly we could only buy a case a month or maybe it was a week. We still have not understood why they feel the need to “limit” without true limits available on wine and spirits. They call it all booze down here. In the USA we wineries hated wine called booze but in reality, call a spade a spade. We have taken a week off from over filling our coffers and just today bought a few more.

Michael’s notes – a few more – Consumed March 24^th. I believe we opened this wine on the 23^rd and sipped on it over several days.  It was a present from our Margaret River rental agency and much appreciated.  It was the Voyager Estate 2017 Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon from Margaret River.  Jacque and I actually visited here last October when we were here for a few days.  I find New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs to be very aggressive and high acid.  This area is just that much warmer that it drives the grassiness down in flavor and then to blend it with Semillon, which many times adds a green fig note, helps to fatten both the nose and the texture up.  This wine was stunning and was in the true style of the Margaret River. 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Running With Bulls – Singing erupts from a sea of white and red. Viva San Fermin! Its 8:00 am. Snake and Herring is a wine safari searching for grapes from West Australian vineyards. Fifth Leg likes to explore great questions over a good wine like, ‘How did the remains of five Tasmanian tigers end up in the Devil’s Lair cave in WA? Australia – amazing creative labels, the ability to laugh at themselves and make mostly delicious and affordable wines.

Consumed April 1: Wow a Rocky Road Semillon Sauvignon blanc blend.  Opened it on the beach while watching the sun set. All is fantastic. Finished it off while Jacque cooked dinner of a fresh cabbage and sausage stir fry that Paige taught us and we love.  Had to go back up to the chocolate factory for a resupply and spotted a fresh grow vegie place along the road so we stopped in.  Man did it smell good so we bought fresh Basil, Cabbage and they had sausage so we went for it. Had it with a Running With The Bulls Tempranillo 2018 from Barossa.  This is really a different wine. Smells like black cherry jam and has a sweet mouth maybe even 1g/100ml sugar but it went great with dinner.  I’d consider this on a hot afternoon with ice cubes. 

Michael’s notes – Consumed April 2: The aperitif wine was a Rocky Road (not ice cream) 2018 Chardonnay Margaret River.  I’m not a huge Chardonnay fan but this was alright.  There was some butter, honey and golden delicious apple.  It was medium weight and quite pleasant to drink.Then came dinner with two  two-inch Rib Eyes bone in and smothered in a thick spicy sweet shiraz marinade, charred on the outside and rare on the inside.  BARBIE’d cauliflower and broccoli rabe with a garlic olive oil drizzle and a bottle of Tasmanian 2018 42 Degrees S Pinot Noir.  Had this wine in October in Tasmania and loved it.  It didn’t disappoint.  Medium bodied it is full of spice but the fruit is that classic leaf mulch and pheasant blood earthiness.  The tannins are sort of prickly in the mouth indicating it has some time to go.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Take it to the Grave has a great shaped back label and when we die we take it to the grave! Providore only allows Amiga and Firetail’s Elsa wanted to go with me and unfortunately I had to say no!

The beauty of the beach is always stunning. I end today’s blog with this sunset. Tonight’s is full of dark grey clouds with rain potential. Larkin can’t wait. Sleep tight, social distance and stay healthy!