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Wine House - Old & Rare Wines
Newsletter
Thursday 22nd March, 2007
Dear Criss,
It has been a very busy week here at Wine House, so hold on as we try
to compact it all into our newsletter.
For one:
We're still giddy with excitement after receiving Stephen Downes'
Wine House review this week! Describing our restaurant as an
"Excellent, high-end yet reasonably priced, table near the CBD...
it's a ripper and I recommend it heartily" we just had to
share the good news!
Secondly: We're down to our last few seats for next week's
Wendouree Dinner. Places will be sold on a first-in first-served
basis so we urge you to act fast - particularly after this week's
review! Call 03 9698 8000 to attend this rare wine opportunity.
Third: A 97 point review from Jeremy Oliver, who is arguably
Australia's best (but defiantly the most frugal) wine judge, for
Orlando's 2002 Centenary Hill Shiraz has caused quite a
commotion. It's our Wine of the Week with a special price to
match, be sure to get some.
Fourth:
7 years of
waiting has finally reaped rewards as Spanish importer Scott Wasley
has finally managed to secure and expand into Portugal,
including Quinta do Crasto. We have limited stock of this
great old world winery, our attraction born from the Victorian
connection; their Bendigo Winemaker.
Not to forget:
This
weekend tasting will follow on the imported theme with an
Affordable Imports tasting. It's a massive 10 wines from
across France. It's free, filling and not to be missed.
As always:
Our Friday
night drinks will complement the weekend tasting. This Friday
we'll have the Levin Gamay, recently featured in Epicure,
here's a chance to try a nice Loire Valley French red as you ease
into the weekend.
Of course:
The Wine
Trivia question got a few guesses but no one was quite close
enough (pun intended) so it goes around again this week. The
Lunch Special for Two is also up again.
Eighth layer:
And we
can't forget the April dinner is getting closer. On the 17th
we'll host winemaker Jane
Ferrari from Yalumba.
She'll graciously take us through some of their Old & Rare Wines.
Email us at
sales@winehouse.com.au for advance details.
That's enough for now!
The Team at Wine House.
 Stephen
Downes Reviews Wine House!
Renowned Herald Sun
restaurant critic Stephen Downes dined at Wine House several weeks
ago. Whilst we were expecting a favourable review, we were
quite simply bowled over by Tuesday's review:
"Another one for your very long list of our town's top tables,
Wine House Brasserie serves excellent, inventive, contemporary
tucker. Its platings are also pretty. The wine list is long,
brilliant and very generously priced...
I can't wait to return.
Score 18/20"
Click here to read Stephen Downes
full review of Wine House.
A big hats off to the
team at Wine House Brasserie for their well deserved critique.
Bookings: 03 9698 8000 or
brasserie@winehouse.com.au
 Wendouree
Dinner
with Max Allen
7pm Wednesday 28th March
Wine House,
Brasserie
A couple of seats remain available for
the Wendouree dinner. Call 03 9698 8000 to book for this night of
inspiring wine. Over $800 worth of wine, four courses and
educational insights into the rarest of Australian wine by
wine aficionado Max Allen. We hope you can join us.
On Arrival
Bindi
Cuvee 5 sparkling - Chardonnay / Pinot Noir
First Course
Pork terrine,
braised leeks, figs, onion marmalade and
crostini
Wendouree
Cabernet Malbec 1997, 2003
Wendouree
Inspired Heritage Cabernet Malbec 2004
Second Course
Veal fillet with
chestnut mushrooms, tomato confit and
truffled potato gnocchi
Wendouree
Shiraz Malbec 1999, 2004
Wendouree
Inspired Wild Duck Creek Shiraz Malbec
2002
Third Course
Roast saddle of
hare with confit leg stuffed cabbage,
potato and beetroot fondants
Wendouree
Shiraz 1992, 1998, 2002
Cheese
Somerset farmhouse
cheddar (England), Cashel blue (Ireland)
Wendouree
Muscat Alexandria 2002
Only payment can secure
your seat and 48 hours notice is required should you be unable to
addend.
Wendouree with Max Allen $195 per person
Wine of the Week
Orlando Centenary Hill Shiraz
2002
Barossa Valley,
South Australia
Jeremy Oliver 97 points!
"A
truly exceptional Barossa shiraz whose superlative expression of
vibrant fruit integrates tightly with excellent oak and fine, bony
tannins. Its violet-like perfume of cassis, plums and raspberries is
unusually floral and heady, revealing superbly measured walnut and
cedar-like oak. Long, fine and elegant, it offers classic Barossa
intensity and spiciness, with cloves, cinnamon and white pepper
highlighting its lingering core of pristine fruit. Finishing long
and savoury, it's an essay in intensity, balance and harmony. Drink
2022-2032."
Jeremy Oliver, OnWine.
$40.46 mixed dozen | $44.95 per bottle
Quinta do Crasto
Douro Valley, Portugal
Years of
reviews and global demand have not helped speed up the importation
of Portugal's leading table wine producer, Quinta do Crasto. Scott
Wasley, a Spanish importing specialist, has worked hard to branch
out and get the best Portuguese wines into the country. Seven years
of work has now paid off and, along with Quintas Niepoort, Meao and
Pellada, the outstanding Quinta do Crasto is in the country for the
first time! Crasto has been under the winemaking guidance of
Bendigo's Dominic Morris, of Pondalowie fame, for over ten years and
the winery has gone from strength to strength in that time.
A long list of awards
(including best Portuguese producer and international wine of the
year) was enhanced a couple of weeks ago with a stunning review in
the Wine Advocate. No only were ten of the top thirty wines reviewed
from Crasto, but the top three were all Crasto and the three
are available here. It's limited, it's the first we have ever got to
see them, and they are all very, very, good.
Quinta do Crasto
Douro Red 2005
As is the tradition in Portugal wines are not listed by grape
variety. The wines are are loyal to their region and to the land by
proudly proclaiming the location of the vineyard rather than the
vine type planted there. However we can tell you Tempranillo plays a
bit part with Touriga Nacional one of the other ingredients. What
you can expect from this "Douro Red" is the typical Dominic Morris
influence with luscious fruit added to the spice of the region. As
Scott describes it "There's a silky dark tube of fruit, with
blackbean, plum, cranberry, some meatiness and lovely plush tannins,
tobacco and heather." You may compare it to a hearty Merlot. A
terrific introduction to this Qunita.
$29.95 per bottle
 Quinta do Crasto
Douro Reserva 2004
Mark
Squires 94 points!
"Intense on the attack,
with fine depth, this beautifully constructed wine projects flavor
with focus. It has good concentration, and a lingering finish, with
some grip provided by the tannins that sneak up on you. The longer
it is open, the more apparent the structure becomes...simply one of
the best and most consistent wines that you can get for reasonable
money in the Douro. The 2004 is a very young wine, of course, rather
tight and closed, going through multiple stages at the moment. It
was fun watching it wake up and expand in the glass after four hours
of decanting, which finally allowed the structure to show, and the
wine to flesh out." Wine Advocate #169 (Feb 2007)
$59.95 per bottle
Quinta do Crasto "Vinha
Ponte" 2004
Mark
Squires 95 points!
"The "Vinha da Ponte" is a
field blend from a vineyard first planted in 1914 by the current
owners' grandfather.
Fragrant and seductive,
this is a wine you can have fun just smelling at the outset. Its
nose is one of its best features and worth a couple of points right
there. The tannins are relatively refined, but clearly there,
providing grip on the lingering finish, and becoming more obvious as
the wine airs out and wakes up.
The mid-palate is
elegantly crafted, not particularly thick, but with significant
aeration, it fleshes out, expands and becomes lusher and more
flavorful. This does not wins first prize in any category - depth,
intensity, power - but it is impeccably balanced, very flavorful,
refined and a pleasure to drink. It projects a suave feel, and the
purity of its bright, flavorful fruit is a wonderful thing.
Drink 2010-2024." Wine
Advocate #169 (Feb 2007)
$250 per bottle
Affordable Imports
FREE!
Saturday 25th March -
1:00pm to 4:00pm
Imported wine can often be
quite expensive and confusing when browsing the label. Why not try
before you buy as we unveil ten Imports that won't break the bank.
This tasting is absolutely free and all are welcome to join us at
Old & Rare Wines.
The
tasting, like the learning, is free.
Wines on tasting will include:
: :
Guigal Cotes du Rhone Blanc 2000
: :
Ch. Bonnet Dry White 2002
: :
Pfaffenheim Pinot Gris 2004
: :
Georges Deboeuf Chiroubles 2000
: :
Georges Deboeuf Macon Villages 2001
: :
Chanson Bourgogne 2003
: :
Domaine Les Genestas Cotes du Rhone 2001
: :
Guigal Cotes du Rhone Rouge 2003
: :
Dona Paula Los Cardos Malbec 2004
: :
Chataignier Luberon Rouge 2004
We look forward
to seeing you this Saturday!
Wine Trivia
Last week's and this week's question is...
On my next holidays, I wish to visit
three particular vineyards/wineries... so this
week I need to know:
"What are the
closest vineyards/wineries to the two Ends of the world and to the
Middle?"
Names, places and any other details
would help!
For your chance to win a
Lunch Special for Two at Wine House, or a $20 voucher at Old
& Rare Wines, email your correct answer to
sales@winehouse.com.au !
Your Questions?
Have
you got a wine question which will keep us guessing? Or do you
want to know the answer to a wine mystery which you haven't managed
to answer?
If you
send your wine orientated question in to us and we publish it, you
will win
Lunch Special for Two at Wine House,
or a $20 voucher at Old & Rare Wines!
Guidelines: the question must have a wine focus and it can't be
easily 'googleable' ie it must require some research.
Send
questions to
sales@winehouse.com.au
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Spirits of the
Week
Malt of
the Week
Tamdhu Fine Single Malt 700ml
Made from the
water of their own spring and at their own distillery Tamdhu
is one of the grant old Speyside distilleries. Founded in
1897 this it classic Scotland malt whisky.
$51 per bottle
Vodka of the Week
Ketel One 700ml
For ten
generations, the Nobet family in Holland has been distilling
the finest hand-made spirits using techniques and recipes
perfected by Joannes Nolet and his successors since 1691.
$44 per bottle
Liqueur of the Week
Baitz Cherry Advokaat
750ml
100%
Australian owned and produced, celebrates 50 years as
Australia's most prestigious award winning liqueurist.
$29 per bottle
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