We had some friends pop over for dinner recently and they brought with them a couple of bottles of 2011 Stonier Mornington Peninsular Pinot Noir. It was funny how the hand-over of said bottles went… “We weren’t sure what wine to bring over. You used to be just the guy into wine, now you’re a wine wanker, so in the end we just decided to bring wine we like” lol. There’s some confirmation in that, but aside, I’ll drink any wine a guest brings over and if it’s a wine they like then that’s an added bonus. Actually, I’d be a bit worried if they brought a wine they didn’t like, but hey, I’d drink that too!
Our friends are fans of light red wine and this was the perfect light red evening, a balmy 27 degrees or so (in proper Celsius that is, and sorry to our friends from Canada and the US who are currently suffering living in an iceberg, and to those living in the recent cold wet swamp conditions of the UK and Ireland, you poor people… 😛 ). So we decided to set up out on the deck and enjoy an array of cheeses from goats to sheep. Mmmmmm.
Seeing as we had some Pinot fans on our hands I decided to pull out a couple of 1970 Burgundies that I’d picked up from auction for about $35 or so each. I’d been waiting to compare a modern light Aussie Pinot against an age-old Frenchy. To be honest, I didn’t hold too much hope for the 43 year old wines but it was a gamble I was always willing to take because success would make these are bargain.
First up was the Stonier Mornington Peninsular Pinot Noir, a wine that sells for around $27 and was awarded a very honourable 94 points by James Halliday. The Mornington Peninsular, east of Melbourne, is known for producing some of the best examples of Aussie Pinot. This was an extremely light red in the glass and the comment was made that it even looked like a Rosé. It gave off wonderful floral aromas and the berries were well there and inviting you to tuck right in.
On the sip the lightness was confirmed with it being very easy to drink and quite inoffensive. Even though it was very light it handed over enough flavours to make it enjoyable, with hints of cherry and currants along with a very obvious backdrop of spice on top of oak. Although not anything overly special at all it fitted in perfectly with the ambience of the balmy evening outdoors. I’d happily drink it again.
So sitting back enjoying the cheeses, but being out of Stonier, I poured us all a glass of the 1970 Prosper Maufoux Beaune 1er Cru ‘Les Greves’ Red Burgundy. Looking at the condition of the label, the capsule, and the level of wine in the bottle, surely this wine would be no good? On the nose there was no hint of oxidation at all, none! Yes it was a little musty, and probably could have done with a little longer in the decanter so as to throw that off a bit, but there was so much fruit aroma still apparent.
Sipping it was a joy. There was lots of fruit left in the wine but it had become quite complex and nutty… almost Christmas cake like. And in there was the spice along with an enjoyable smoky backdrop. Strangely, it was a rather heavy wine but the flavour just lasted and lasted. It was an amazing match with the cheeses, especially the spicy sheep’s cheese. Yummo!
Even if the other Burgundy was to let us down we’d already been rewarded! Maybe luck was to be on our side?
Sadly we fully drained the first bottle of Burgundy so I poured us all a glass of the 1970 Bouchard Freres Mercurey. This bottle was in much better condition with a perfect capsule, one of the thickest and strongest I’ve seen, along with a cork in top condition and a high level of wine still in the bottle. In the glass it smelled so similar to the ‘Les Greves’ and was the exact same very dark red. Again, no vinegar smells, a good sign! Amazingly it also tasted very similar to the first bottle only a little spicier but not quite as long-lasting. We savoured this one and sipped it slowly enjoying just how well it too went with the cheeses.
Both of the Burgundy Pinots were so far removed from the Stonier but there was a common connection that several of us could sense, and that was the background of spice and tang that was very similar in nature across all three wines, and very enjoyable in both styles of wine. It was the distant family connection, the hint of the Pinot clan!
Author: Conrad
I want on a dinner date with the mom tonight. We went to a wine and cheese bar. I don’t even know we got, but it was 16$ a glass. It better have been good wine!
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lol. As long as it’s fun you can probably forgive the $16/glass, but it is a bit exy!
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We bought a case of Pinot from Eastern Switzerland for Christmas ….astonishing, I know….Eastern Switzerland? Who would have thought!!!!!!! Soooooo fine 🙂
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Wow, that would have been an experience! I love trying new wine and new wine regions even moreso. 😛
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We were at a (one of the many 😉 ) wine tastings here in Nov (tis the season) and were so surprised to walk away with a Swiss wine, even though we live here lol!
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I was intrigued by the opening gambit, ‘just a guy into wine’ becoming a ‘wine wanker’. Since I have been reading, nay savouring, each pearl of wisdom you guys espouse (wonderful blog) I aspire to become a wine wanker. Not a wine snob, they’re like the sociopaths of the wine world, whereas you guys have empathy.
AV
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The whole “wine wanker” thing came from us just having a dig at ourselves for our passion for wine. We’d like to think of it is ironic. Someone on Twitter summed us up well recently by saying “they don’t take themselves too seriously but they are very serious about wine”. That’s the key! 😉
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In my part of the planet you might be called a “wine geek” or more derisively, a “cork dork.” Anyway, love the blog. Hoping you can expand my horizons on New World wines. Best regards from California.
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Awesome post Conrad, but please stop reminding us about the weather!!!
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HAHAHA… Thanks!
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Vicariously enjoying those ancient bottles, and the cool decanter…not to mention your balmy temperatures!
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Thanks Linnet! It’s one of the first gifts my wife got me so I better not break it! It gets a lot of use.
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You had me at “I’ll drink any wine…” 😉 I knew I loved you from the get-go 🙂
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If it’s free booze it’s always good! 😉
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I agree with your guests because you are a wine wanker, Iwould let you choose the wine and I would supply the appies. Too intimidating. 🙂
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Please no Shelley! That’s the last thing I want to have happen. I want to experience other people’s thoughts on wine too, and I’ll happily enjoy any bottle someone else brings and has with me. 🙂
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The bottles make me homesick!
And the mention of the cheese tray too!
I love red wine, especially light, which can be an issue to find here in California where reds are heavier due to more sugar.
You’ve been lucky with such old wines. My dad used to keep red wine in his cellar and once in a while we tasted a true gem while sometimes it was awful.
I’m far from being a pro at wine but I truly enjoy reading about your journey through wine and life.
Cheers to you and everyone reading your lively blog.
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Thanks Evelyne! I got very lucky with these two bottles indeed. A gamble that well and truly paid off. 😛
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Oops, I read 1970 Bouchard Freddie Mercury first 😉 It might be bed-time… 🙂
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Just between you and me miss Linda, I kept seeing the same thing when I looked at the bottle, especially the more I drunk! 😉
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Ha ha ha!
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As you probably realize, I’m not much of a wine connoisseur. Having said that, I’m all for the older fighter having one last good bout, so I was pulling for the 1970 Prosper Maufoux Beaune 1er Cru ’Les Greves’ Red Burgundy. According to my wife, I’m complex, nutty, fruity and a tad heavy, so that wine seems to be the perfect fit for me.
Enjoyable post!
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That’s brilliant! Love it!! 😛
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Given the non-trivial age of these bottled ladies and their ability to attract your eye, perhaps you should refer to them as wine cougars.
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WOW, good stuff! LOLZ 😉
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I am sure your friends think you are very gracious to accept their wine. Well done. Hugs, Barbara
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Thanks Barbara! 🙂
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“Our friends are fans of light red wine and this was the perfect light red evening, a balmy 27 degrees or so… So we decided to set up out on the deck and enjoy an array of cheeses from goats to sheep. Mmmmmm.”…rub it in why don’t you. Enjoyed the post from Canada anyway!
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I just had to. 😉
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That’s the term I’ve been looking for the past two months: a cold, wet swamp. Truly a delightful winter for Finland (not). Back on topic though: What could be a good starter red wine for a person, who does not like it that much? I would really like to learn to appreciate the red color of the wine spectrum. I typically go for the light, fruity, citric white wines… But my color blindness is starting to get annoying for myself as well.
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Actually, Pinots like the first one we had are often quite light and approachable. The Primitivo/Zinfandel wines are often slightly sweeter like an Italian we had here –> http://thewinewankers.com.au/2013/12/11/italian-wine-and-pizza-party-conrads/
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The light red wine sounds nice, I might recommend it to those in my family who drink. Though I must say they are not big fans of cheeses, so they might have different opinions on the drink 🙂
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Hi Mabel. Pinot is usually rather light and there’s quite a few decent ones from the Mornington Peninsular and the Yarra Valley (as well as Tasmania). 🙂
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Yes – I’m one of those Canadians in the cold so I am jealous of your 27! Great post – thanks for the commentary. 🙂
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And thank you for dropping in Lynette! 🙂
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It’s amaizing the wine were still fine. Those old bottles are difficult to store properly!
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Yes, I got lucky! Thanks for dropping in. Cheers!
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You’ve got a knack for describing wines! And like many others I’m jealous of your weather.
Thanks for stopping by my page and for the like! 🙂
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Thanks! And thank you for stopping by. 😛
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I got into wine when I lived in Aus and I still side with new world more than old!
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I’ve discovered good and bad in all wine regions. I suppose I’m lucky that I’ve built up a tiny bit of knowledge that helps me to pick a decent bottle or two. Salud! 🙂
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😉
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I come for the words, not the wine. Love the way you guys write and express yourself!!
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That’s like a man buying the mens magazine for the stories not the images! 😉
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Ha ha, true 😉 and who would believe him 😉
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This for instance, is just beautiful: “Even though it was very light it handed over enough flavours to make it enjoyable, with hints of cherry and currants along with a very obvious backdrop of spice on top of oak.”
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It’s always great seeing you appear here on our little blog Heila. Thank you! 😛
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Thanks dear Conrad 😉 😉
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Getting famous as a Wanker eh… LoL.
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lol… famous.
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LoL. You are talking to a world leader in #Influence! I have to call the President later to discuss potato futures n pork bellies! 😉
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I opened my fridge after Christmas day to discover a bottle of Passion Pop sitting next to my very nice sparkling shiraz.
I am a little scared to open it..
Also, is there any truth to the theory that you don’t get a hangover from organic wine?
Just picked up a case and that is what I was told. It is a shiraz so I am holding off my scientific testing until the weather cools
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LOL, Passion Pop… it was once my wife’s favourite drink, until she grew out of it! To be honest, if it’s there it’s to be drunk so it won’t hurt giving it a go. I’d love to know how the experience goes for you. Oh, and check this out… http://perthectian.wordpress.com/2013/11/07/passion-pop/
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Conrad,
Your wine blog is taking off! Great to see that.
Wayne
Luvsiesous.com
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Cheers Wayne! 🙂
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Looks absolutely delicious!!
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Yes, they were. Thanks for dropping in on us. Salud!
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When I graduated from college in 1977, I thought I would become a wine connoisseur. It didn’t work out. I couldn’t find any wines that I liked! Now that I am much older, I do have a greater appreciation for wine, but I’m pretty much a white zinfandel guy, although not afraid to try anything out there.
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White Zin makes a decent drop! At least you set your path well. 😉
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Love wine and am thinking of taking a one-day course to better acquaint myself with its subtle complexities; however, I still defer to your wineliness!
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Courses can be fun, lots of fun if they are practical. Go for it!! 😛
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As I envision all this taking place, it seems to me you have a pretty good life. I bet there are about a billion of the 7 billion on this planet who would trade places with you.
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I think it is important to be reminded from time to time just how lucky we are. It helps to keep grounded and to appreciate life more. Thank you!
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