As another week of lockdown drags on here in Sydney, I’m looking for inspiration on what to drink. So I’m asking you – what delicious alcoholic drinks have you been buying (and drinking) this month?
For some bizarre reason I decided I needed more Amarone in my life recently (because I clearly like sinking shitloads of money into a wine I may not love), but eyeing off more Sforzato from Tenuta Scersce instead…
Otherwise, after diving into a whole smorgasbord of Alsace samples recently (more on that in the next few weeks), I’ve ended up buying some 2019 Weinbach Riesling (because it’s delicious), and some Jean Louis Chave Saint Joseph.
On Riesling, I was all geared up to buy some 2021 Grosset Polish Hill Riesling until I saw the price ($72? I’d rather drink 3 bottles of this Torzi Matthews instead).
Meanwhile, on the beer front, I was underwhelmed by the slightly unbalanced new Modus Operandi Neon Nectar Hzy (Modus are slipping FWIW) and the less said about the middling new Buckettys West Coast IPA the better (why did I buy so many?). I absolutely loved the Balter Cryomofo West Coast IPA, and the new Electric Wonderland is also good (but has a distracting pineapple vibe too).
If there is a single star beer performer, it is surely Mountain Culture. Please, just take my money for all your beer. The ‘Less Culty’ IPA I had on the weekend is another winner, although it was a close tussle between that and the superhero that is the White Bay Brewing Co. West Coast IPA (of which I’m just about to finish a second case).
Enough about me, what beer/wine/drinks have you been buying, drinking (and loving)?
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Riesling (Helm) and chardonnay (Collector, Nick O’Leary, Eden Road, Clonakilla, Charles Sturt and Obssession) from Tumbarumba. By the bucketload. As for beers, the three that have really blown me away in the last few months are the Mr Wong Hefeweizen from Hemingways Brewery, the Oatmeal Stout from One Drop and the Hazy Pale from Bridge Road Brewers.
Forgot to mention, I also bought a dozen of that Torzi Matthews riesling after reading your review of it (Gary Walsh gave it a huge wrap too) and some more of the Coola Road Riesling from Mt Gambier.
As a big fan of anything from Clare/Eden valley, I’ve been buying lots of Kilikanoon wines. When they are on special (often) they are great value for money. How dare you knock Grosset’s rieslings! A bit pricey, but possibly the best in the country. I always get as much as I can of Wendouree’s releases, but as I am sure you know, unless you’ve been on their wine list for centuries, you get what you get and be thankful.
I love Yangarra’s GSMs (that’s a bit disingenuous, I love everything they make, just can’t afford the High Sands), then going further south, Langhorne Creek remains one of the lesser appreciated regions, which is good for us consumers of course. Potts, Bleasedale, Lake Breeze and more, some I haven’t visited yet.
How’s that for starters? Enjoy your lockdown Andrew …. we are very lucky here in Canberra (I hope I haven’t jinxed us). Peter
Fingers crossed it stays non locked down in Canberra Peter!
PS I don’t drink beer. well, not often anyway.
Andrew – can’t believe Grosset’s pricing delusions when there’s so much good reisling out there.
Beer – Gage Roads in WA and their various varieties always good
Wine – Oakridge and Montalto pinot noir (Merricks Block is superb). Also Balgownie pinot good, anything with Yangarra on the front (Noir is special) and Tokar reds pretty good too. Also a fan of Yabby Lake.
Keep up the good work – you and the UK Daily Sceptics keep me going in these loony times.
Cheers
Paul
Rouleur Chardonnay, Duke’s Riesling and Savaterre Pinot
Just bought a quirky mix yesterday – Traviarti Rosso, Hahndorf Hill Zweigelt and Aussie Kerner that should be interesting (The Traviarti is a gem, no cab sav now!)
Just shop around more online Andrew 😉 https://nationalwinecentre.com.au/shop/products/2019-grosset-polish-hill-riesling (still pricey mind you but $65 better than elsewhere for the 2019/2020)
The price inflation of Grosset is what does me. The 2017 was $45 a bottle. In FOUR VINTAGES the price has almost doubled.
Yeah, nah.
Grenache! Tim Geddes Seldom Inn for $25 is a steal. Such a super wine from a little known producer. As for beer, I’ve loving the sours. You’re not going to knock back a heap at once but one is very refreshing. A couple of Sunshine Coast breweries are producing the goods. Boiling Pot has a Guava Sour and a Mango Passion Sour. Both delish. 10 Toes have a Pine Lime Creamsicle based on the pine lime splice and they’ve nailed it. Pine Lime Splice in a can – thank you very much!
Small doses on the sours for me too. But Grenache? Larger doses 🙂
Ah I getcha, I haven’t gotten to them yet but if that’s the rate of inflation damn. Particularly when high quality clare and eden valley is so reasonable… 🙁
I’m just drinking a 2018 Terre a Terre Cabernet Franc Shiraz, which is very good. So I expect I’ll get more. I’ve also bought a few bottles at auction, mostly Margaret River SSB or SBs with some new oak in the blend, like the 2016 Flowstone SB which is excellent but too young.
It’s still cool in Canberra so I’ve mainly been drinking dark beer. I’m still savouring my Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock I bought in July, but also enjoying some dark IPAs like Aether and Prancing Pony.
Just starting to get into Spring and lighter styles of red – but speaking of GSM – try a small producer from Adelaide Hills – Jericho – a great GSM and one of the best I’ve tried for a while now. I was so impressed I’ve tried their Tempranillo – excellent. I’m yet to try their Shiraz but if the other two are anything to go by, then it’s likely to be excellent. Not sure who may stock this in eastern states – I’m in Adelaide. Website perhaps.
And, I tried a Fury & Son pilsener yesterday. It made the road trip back from Canberra and south coast of NSW from March this year. I did a search today to try to purchase here in Adelaide – no go. I’ve gone straight to their website to purchase. An excellent pilsener.
All the Jericho Grenache-based reds are good. They make handy rosé too