Giving Thanks

A day to be thankful for...

Having recently returned from living in New York, one of the US holidays I vowed to loyally observe henceforth was Thanksgiving. It's such a lovely time to spend with friends and think of all the things in your life you are grateful for - friends, family and wine were my three thanks for the day; although I think that may have very well been in the reverse order. 
I had invited a few of my close friends over for a late lunch/early Sunday dinner and after I finished cooking my very first turkey... 

Molasses Glazed Turkey

... we got down to the important things - the wine. The perfect start to the day was a refreshing bottle of Taittinger in all it's crisp and creamy bubbly goodness. Conversation flowing and relaxation settling in, we followed that with the opening of the obligatory work gift I'd recently received; a bottle of Moet & Chandon. Glasses spiked with blushing strawberries to add some sweetness to the occasion, we grazed on a fruit platter awaiting the time to eat. Another bottle depleted and the food ready and laid out, we moved on to a Little Birdwood Semillon Sauvignon Blanc which was an adequate quaffer to throw down while we indulged ourselves in the overconsumption of the turkey and all its accompaniments.  

The meal complete, yet our thirst still unquenched, a quick trip to the fridge produced a chilled Peterson's Fume Blanc; which I had picked up a few years ago in the Hunter Valley and have had resting in my cellar awaiting such an occasion. The Fume Blanc was divine, notes of peach, pear and citrus tantalising our senses. Regrettably, I had only bought one bottle, so at its demise we sent the men in our party off on a mission to secure us ladies more wine... 'something perhaps from Alsace' was our only suggestion. 

After a failed attempt at a closed Dan Murphy's, then a quick reroute to the local Celebrations, they returned with an Alsace 2007 Cave de Beblenheim Au Chateau Pinot Blanc. Being a 2007, the wine was rather aged for teh varietal and almost ready to meet its maker; a thick consistency with the colouring of dehydrated pee. Highly aromatic with toasted honey treacle flavours, it would, in its youth had been a lovely wine, in its maturity however, it was an acquired taste, one of which my friends did not enjoy, and thus I was left to finish the bottle on my own - I didn't complain. 

The Line Up

As a final nightcap, the Glenguin Semillon Botrytis lived up to its Hunter reputation; a lovely syrupy wine, with a perfect balance of acidity and sweetness of fruits. It was the perfect end, to a fabulous friend-filled thankful day, and fortunately there's still some Botyrtis left, so I may just go and pour myself a glass, cheers!

The Wines...

Taittinger Brut Reserve 

http://www.taittinger.com/#/en/TheChampagnes/CuveesGallery/BrutReserve

Moet & Chandon

http://moet-hennessy-collection.com.au/moet-chandon/imp%C3%A9rial/750ml/1041041.html

Little Birdwood Semillon Sauvignon Blanc

http://www.aldiliquor.com.au/little-birdwood-semillon-sauvignon-blanc

Peterson's Fume Blanc 

http://www.petersonswines.com.au/shop/product.php?productid=203

Cave de Beblenheim Au Chateau Pinot Blanc 

http://www.cave-beblenheim.com/nos-vins.php?sid=LhGlJ6cDEIvYctB#

Glenguin 'The Sticky' Botrytis Semillion

http://www.glenguinestate.com.au/index.html

Sunday, bloody Sunday

Sunday, bloody Sunday...

Ever since I was a child Sundays were synonymous with roast dinners. We would spend our Sundays at my grandmothers house; she would cook up the most delicious roast dinners with crispy potatoes and perfectly salted gravy, we'd all sit down to eat. Occasionally I would get to sip some of my parents wine, which was always red for beef and lamb and white for chicken and on the odd occasion pork.

As the years have passed, the tradition of a Sunday roast has always held, although these days I tend to be flying solo when sitting down to eat it. Sunday roasts make me happy, they're my comfort at the end of each week. Besides, the actual cooking and eating of the roast, one of the main joys is the selection of the accompanying wine. Unlike my nan, I'm not really set on the white for white, red for red food/wine matching, I'm more of a "what will I fancy drinking after the meal is over?" kind of girl, afterall the meal is gone in a few minutes, while the bottle of wine can stretch through the evening.

Tonight was a roast beef night, and with the change in the weather from a scorching 40 degrees celcius to a dreary rain spattered afternoon, the thought of cosying up on the couch with a movie and my blog would go great with a Shiraz. I had a bottle of red I'd bought earlier in the week on hand, a 2011 French Syrah - that would do the job perfectly. Pouring myself a hefty  serve, I set the wine aside to breathe while I prepared my dinner. With my beef happily roasting away, the time had come to snuff the wine of its breathing and get to the important task of drinking. 

As I swirl the glass the of inky goodness, the wines luscious legs dance down the glass. Aromas of berries and spice unleash. My first taste shows this not to be a big bold red but rather uncomplicated yet completely satisfying. The mouthfeel is full and lingering, soft tannins allowing for a little chew. An all together pleasurable wine, nothing fancy, but simply a perfect companion to my roast and my evening for < $20.  

Les Jamelles Syrah 2011