The Auswine Forum

The other week Gavin organised a Pinot and Duck night here in Adelaide. Ying Chow was chosen as the resteraunt because they have a reputation for some damn fine duck and plus their corkage is one of the cheapest in town ($1.50 per bottle!). 8 of us turned up and squeezed around the table.

We started the night with a 2004 Leo Buring Clare Valley reisling.. Lovely fresh, clean acids, zesty lime and lemon fruit flavours and a nice slately finish.. excellent.

Next off the ranks was a 2004 Mr Riggs Adelaide Hills Reisling. A lovely nose of lime, lemon, steel and lanolin. The palate was quite fruity and sweet with passionfruit, pear and a bit of pineapple. A very nice reisling was the general concensus around the table (Although I much prefered the LB). Good timing as the salt and pepper squid came out about this time and the sweet soft palate of the Mr Riggs was a great contrast to the peppery, spiciness of the squid.

Gavin pre-ordered a few serves of Peking duck which came out to the table next and prompted the opening of the Pinot. The notes here are quite brief, mainly because I was too busy having a nice time gasbagging to everyone.

2001 Seville Estate reserve pinot
flavours of cherry, good fruit intensity with drying tannins.

2002 Mt Difficulty , central otago pinot
Quite dry, medium bodied, cherry, some strawberry and black tea.

1998 Paringa Estate, Mornington Peninsula Pinot
Browning on the edge, aged nose and flavour

Bannockburn 1999 Pinot
My favourite for the evening. Light red with some slight browning. Medium body, wonderful balance of fruits, tannins and acid. Deep, layered strawberry and rasberry flavours, hints of rich peppery tannins on the finish.

Sandows End 2002 reserve pinot
My other favourite for the evening, although I must admit to a slight prejudice since I brought this one
Rich nose, full bodied flood of strawberry, hints of pepper and rich, textured finish.

2000 Felton Rd, central otago pinot
Quite different by comparison to the others served. Deep and rich body, great fruit intensity and depth of flavour. Flavours of strawberry, black tea, a hint of mint and some lavender.

Sometime during the night the Aniseed tea duck came out - Wow, what delicious flavours and it went superb with the pinot.

Chris should remember to bring a cloth and a change of clothes next time as she seemed to attract other peoples drinks to her side of the table.

A great night had by all, thank you again to Gavin for organising it!

I was there for the duck of course not for the Pinot but can agree this was a great night at the incomparable Ying Chow. Cost for the evening including corkage was $50 per couple I seem to remember!

Nice one Mark, you forgot the other top wine of the night, the 2002 Ashton Hills which was superb, Stephen George really knows how to make Pinot and I think the 2002 must rate with his great 1997.

Hi

I was there too, great night and great company.

My WOTN, once the initial stink blew off, was the Bannockburn great very complex wine.

Made most of the others, albeit younger wines, seem simple, even the Mt Difficulty I took, Sandows etc.

There are 3 things i miss about Adelaide since leaving in 1999 (i used to work at the Tiser..but dont hold that against me )

Ying Chow , The Fish Manse (and Bernhards amazing sauces!) and being able to drive to Rockfords cellar door in an hour an a bit...Byron has its advantages...but the thought of Ying Chow has my tummy rumbling.

Sounds like a good night. Did you like any of the other pinot's 707? That Ashton Hills wine is certainly a corker. I think The Adelaide Hills represents a very promising area for pinots..muscular yet varietal and ageworthy. You guys are lucky in SA!

Cheers

Paul

Whoops, sorry about missing the Ashton Hills - It was a great wine but I didn't take any notes by the looks of it ?? And yes, absolutely fantastic value at $25 per head !!

Paul, as a notorious BIG red bigot I need to be careful about committing to print comments and feelings about a C Through like Pinot but wines like Ashton Hills and Bannockburn are consistently of a high standard and they were my pick at Ying Chow.

You're right of course, we are lucky to live in Adelaide, centre of the wine universe!!

707 wrote:Paul, as a notorious BIG red bigot I need to be careful about committing to print comments and feelings about a C Through like Pinot but wines like Ashton Hills and Bannockburn are consistently of a high standard and they were my pick at Ying Chow.

You're right of course, we are lucky to live in Adelaide, centre of the wine universe!!

I do think I saw you sip at some of the reisling Steve....