Ara: A Pathway to Marlborough

While New Zealand is a toddler in the world of viticulture, Marlborough is younger still and yet despite this, it has managed its fair share of veterans. None more noted that the creator of the Marlborough's first "Grand Cru" estate, ARA, Jeff Clarke. Despite, Marlborough's haphazard discovery as a terroirist dream as recently as the late sixties, Jeff has a long history of involvement in the budding Kiwi wine industry, punching in well over 50 vintages with the Kiwi wine industry. To boot, he's ex-Penfolds and has been at the helm of Brancott during what could be called it's quality peak. Think you'll agree this guy doesn't submit to the term green.

A Hard Day's Riesling

Jim Barry, The Lodge Hill Riesling 2007

Sometimes big and bold is quite simply better. This Riesling is a testament to that fact. Jim Barry rave about the Lodge Hill site, saying that its high elevation brings a unique intensity to the grapes grown there. I for one happily agree, this wine certainly is intense.  

The colour is inviting, reminding me of the straw bales which are everywhere right now. The nose is striking, with tart citrus fruits and orange blossom sending the senses into overdrive. Minerality and lime create a mouth watering palette. The real treat however is a tingly acidity which can’t help but re-energise the soul.

For me this wine is the essence of Australia. Brash and beautiful, it storms its way into your heart and leaves a big old smile on your face. This is the sort of wine you want to come home to after a hard day. It peps you up for the evening and will go excellently with any asian food; provided it lasts that long of course.

Score: B+ (88)

(Available widely for €19.99)

~ Will Blumlein

Question Time With Empty

It's a good simple and concise question that John Wilson summed up recently by pointing out had we always used Stelvin we would never move to cork, yet is the answer really that simple? Having sat down to do a blind tasting of a wine Shane had left, I was presented with a dull and dead nose and a palate of harsh acidity... A fault no less, the blind tasting had been oxidised. Provoked by this and indeed the impending arrival of guests and Shane himself, I decided while the topic was hot and many opinions could be had, that I ought to crack open a pair of wines I had picked up in The Corkscrew Wine Merchants on Dublin's Chatham Street. What was so interesting about this? They were both the same vintage no less and to boot one was under cork and the other under Stelvin. 

Empty's Full Glass on Wine Australia

Rob and Shane give a post-mortem on Monday's wine Australia trade fair marking any notables from the day. Comments on the master classes, the Riesling table. We'll also be updating this in the near future with a podcast of the opinions of the guys. For now read way! Hope you enjoy, and as always comments and debate welcome!  

An Irish Twist, El Commandate Wines

Cold and biting as the morning wind in Dublin was, it could not detract from warm welcome offered by Tom Lynch outside the traditional meeting spot of Dublin for strangers, Beweleys. Coffees poured, Tom opened on friendly terms, producing two bottles of his wine, from his bag as a gift. I wondered as to whether these would play up to the same standard as two Bronze medallist wines he and winemaker David Kingsbury have already been behind  (The 2009 Malbec and 2010 Chardonnay for those of you who are unfamiliar with the wines  won the aforementioned medals at the London wine fair. No small feat, not to mention this was their first entry). A friendly laugh and an acknowledgement the he has still yet to enter the wines, something he also adds he ought to do.