Irregular Update
Sydney Time
Copyright © Ric Einstein 2009
Welcome to this weeks Irregular Update which features Chapter One of the Victorian 2008 Tour Diary; more on that later.
I can't pick it! I was sure the last article, Scary Stuff would generate a storm of feedback when people saw the horrific cork failure rate documented in the story. No idea why there was an almost complete lack of response. Is it because people are so fed up with corks that nothing surprises them anymore? Or were there other reasons?
A new Snippet has recently been added. Titled POME Wowsers at it Again came about as yet still more stories hit the UK press extolling the evils of the demon drink. This time the British Medical Association has had a collective dose of brain flatulence and have come with yet another cockamamie idea to reduce the consumption of wine. If its implemented, it will be about as successful as at dog turd and balsamic vinegar flavoured chips.
In February, Red Bigot and I spent a gruelling, but most enjoyable, eight days touring though the Western and North Eastern wine regions of Victoria. The trip was an eye opener. Anyone who thinks all Australian red wine taste the same and are high alcohol, over-ripe, intense blackberry flavoured vanilla or coffee American oak-shakes, and can not be enjoyed with tucker, needs to have this story poked into their myopic eyes and a few bottles of these delightful wines forcibly poured down their throats. At the time of writing this, I already have RSI from typing the words "elegant, restrained, classy, refined, and food friendly. Many labels are lower in alcohol than a few years ago. That is not as a result of the reactionary, politically correct, mummy-state elements inflicting their do good opinions; its a by-product of the strive for more elegant, food friendly wines. In total, there will be well over 200 tasting notes, as well as all the gory details on the meals consumed.
Chapter One covers getting there and our first full day in Ararat (Great Western/Grampians). We visited Mount Langi which has had a new lease of life since the new owners took over and installed a new winemaker. Kimbarra was a disappointment. We had a great time with Simon Clayfield and his wines get a big thumbs up. Best's gave us the Royal Tour and a right royal tasting. Its a pity there are not more people like Viv Thomson around, and I learnt loads from talking to him. Its all detailed here. We went from one historic gem to another. The visit to Seppelt was another brilliant experience. Emma Wood went all out and opened (multiple vintages of most of) the whole range. And then of course there was the food; and I need to warn you some of it was uglier than Phyllis Diller. Chapter One is here.
Chapter Two is unlikely to be out in the middle of next week and that's not because I have been slack. At this stage it is already bigger than Chapter One and I still have to (taste) and add tasting notes on over twenty wines and a details on one winery. That will make it the biggest chapter. Ever!
Appologies to those wineries that have sent me samples that have not been reviewed yet. As soon as Chapter Two is out of the way, I will catch up on the backlog.
The News section has been a little quiet over the past couple of weeks. Stories of possible interest are:
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Health expert wants smaller bottles to stop binge-drinking
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Foster's spurns UK wine market
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American merchants wary of Bordeaux 2007
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Australian wine giant goes under
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Wine on the rocks has hopes
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Taint, oxidation forces Leeuwin to re-bottle old vintages
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Women targeted in new campaign
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Tesco, Asda binge drinking announcements welcomed
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Wine heavyweights attack heavy bottles
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World's first 'diet' wine that gives you less of a hangover to be available in UK
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Foster's went for wine pizazz when it should have stuck to boring old beer
Those stories and more can be found here.
This weeks quote. "I think it is a great error to consider a heavy tax on wines
as a tax on luxury. On the contrary, it is a tax on the health of our citizens."
- Thomas Jefferson
Until next time .... Cheers!
Ric
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Copyright © Ric Einstein 2008