Mornington/Geelong Visit
Posted: Sun Sep 14, 2008 8:42 pm
Mornington Peninsula and Geelong quick visit. (the drive up Arthurs Seat is amazing for the view).
Eldridge – nice Chardonnay’s, the pinot range had one done by clone (MV6) which was a bit different as opposed to vineyard/block etc. The other Pinot on tasting was a blend of the clones. Lighter more delicate flavours with good length were the characteristic across the range.
Main Ridge – Chardonnay is superb (very Giaconda-like imho). Pinot Half Acre and Acre were very nice. The Acre seeming to have more fruit but the Half Acre better length and back palate.
Paringa – Estate Pinot was great, couldn’t see the value in the Reserve at $90. Had lunch there on a tip from Rosalie at Main Ridge. Had a glass of the Estate Pinot with it (Twice cooked, crackling pork belly, shaved jamon, pomme salardaise, spinach, apple puree, jus) it was sensational. The Pinot just came to life with the food, it took on a whole different character and complexity. The pinot’s here are a lot more fruit forward than Main Ridge and Eldridge.
Kooyong/Port Phillip Estate – Only had the normal stuff left (new release in Oct 1). Actually thought the SavBlanc was very nice. Rest of the range was nice but nothing with the wow factor.
Quick dash back to Main Ridge to pick up some wine for dinner in Torquay along with a Paringa Estate PN, as well as some Red Hill Cheese across the road.
Geelong – was mainly an afterthought since I was in the area. (so probably didn’t do it justice)
Scotchman’s Hill – Quite enjoyed the Riesling there, very full and nice tartness. Enjoyed the CabSav which I think is sourced near Bannoockburn? (could be wrong). But then I had the Cornelius Syrah which was a really interesting wine, it had heaps of character, nice fruit and just a hint of something I couldn’t put my finger on (bacon fat/smoke meat?)
Had brekky at Orange in Barwon Heads, which was great.
Bellbrae – this was on the way back to Melbourne so I had a quick stop and enjoyed their SavBlanc nice tart flavours with a bit of residual sweetness. The also had a nice Moscato made with Muscat grapes from Rutherglen, not as cloying as Innocent Bystander. Also had a nice shiraz with nice cool climate characteristics. and a sparkling cabsav but wasn’t for tasting, but I grabbed a bottle to try it.
Eldridge – nice Chardonnay’s, the pinot range had one done by clone (MV6) which was a bit different as opposed to vineyard/block etc. The other Pinot on tasting was a blend of the clones. Lighter more delicate flavours with good length were the characteristic across the range.
Main Ridge – Chardonnay is superb (very Giaconda-like imho). Pinot Half Acre and Acre were very nice. The Acre seeming to have more fruit but the Half Acre better length and back palate.
Paringa – Estate Pinot was great, couldn’t see the value in the Reserve at $90. Had lunch there on a tip from Rosalie at Main Ridge. Had a glass of the Estate Pinot with it (Twice cooked, crackling pork belly, shaved jamon, pomme salardaise, spinach, apple puree, jus) it was sensational. The Pinot just came to life with the food, it took on a whole different character and complexity. The pinot’s here are a lot more fruit forward than Main Ridge and Eldridge.
Kooyong/Port Phillip Estate – Only had the normal stuff left (new release in Oct 1). Actually thought the SavBlanc was very nice. Rest of the range was nice but nothing with the wow factor.
Quick dash back to Main Ridge to pick up some wine for dinner in Torquay along with a Paringa Estate PN, as well as some Red Hill Cheese across the road.
Geelong – was mainly an afterthought since I was in the area. (so probably didn’t do it justice)
Scotchman’s Hill – Quite enjoyed the Riesling there, very full and nice tartness. Enjoyed the CabSav which I think is sourced near Bannoockburn? (could be wrong). But then I had the Cornelius Syrah which was a really interesting wine, it had heaps of character, nice fruit and just a hint of something I couldn’t put my finger on (bacon fat/smoke meat?)
Had brekky at Orange in Barwon Heads, which was great.
Bellbrae – this was on the way back to Melbourne so I had a quick stop and enjoyed their SavBlanc nice tart flavours with a bit of residual sweetness. The also had a nice Moscato made with Muscat grapes from Rutherglen, not as cloying as Innocent Bystander. Also had a nice shiraz with nice cool climate characteristics. and a sparkling cabsav but wasn’t for tasting, but I grabbed a bottle to try it.
