Category:Organic

June 2
Christmas Countdown – Benjamin Leroux Bourgogne Blanc 2016

Oh the joys of Christmas. For me it’s the lead up that excites me; only 206 Days to go. The excitement is palpable I tell ya!!!

But sometimes you just cannot wait, and I doubt anyone could wait to crack this ripper on Christmas day to smash it down with a dozen or so freshly shucked oysters; Oh dear NO-NO-NO!!!! And that ripper would be the Benjamin Leroux Bourgogne Blanc 2016 which I recently tasted along with most of Benjamin’s 2016 Burgundies. This one for me was the highlight of the day. With fruit mostly sourced from Puligny-Montrachet, the wine on the nose offers lovely creamy notes followed by bright citrus and stonefruit; I picked up nectarine and tangarine. The palate has a quick whack of green apple followed by plenty of length with the citrus and stonefruit flavours dancing over my tongue.

Just a stunning wine. I seriously doubt that this will still be here, even more so that it is currently by the glass at $17 with the bottle price at $68. What a ripper indeed.

February 25
#Drank/Drunk This Week – Vasco’s Mistress Loureiro Vinho Verde DOC Portugal 2014

There is nothing better than drinking a wine and really seeing its provenance in the flavour. Me, well I’m a big wrap for wines that mimic their origin and this wine, the awesomely new Vasco’s Mistress Loureiro Vinho Verde from northern Portugal is all and everything that this region is. And I love it!!!! vasco

Straight away the nose throws crunchy and briney preserved lemon and bitter melon which totally  takes you to northern Portugal. The palate follows the nose with an instant hit of citrus – think lemon rind and tart comquat – and holds long with the help of lip smacking acid and white tannins. All of the fruit for this wine is grown organically with minimal SO2 used just prior to bottling, so if you want to hold on to summer just a little bit longer, this wine will do the trick.

So smashble with Fish + Chips and always $24.

February 5
2016 Is turning out to be Unconsciously Organic

Every week I would probably taste anywhere between 50-150 wines that will either find a home here or not. And with every tasting I sit down with wine maker or wine rep and ask questions about each of the wines we taste; how was the vintage? how much new oak? any MLF? is it vegan friendly? organic1

Information is king in pretty much anything we do, and information about what we eat and drink on a daily basis should not be something that is a second thought: I wouldn’t buy cask wine like I wouldn’t buy lettuce that has been pre-packaged.

The most frequently asked question I put to wine makers and wine reps is what vineyard strategies are in place i.e. is the fruit grown using organic/biodynamic/sustainable principles? More often than not the answer is yes. Having a degree in Wine/Viticulture Science also helps as it is a veritable mine field organic regulations. It is also important to know that vineyards do not have to get certification to use and practice organic, biodynamic or sustainable principles: there is not one grower I know in Australia who uses synthetic sprays in the vineyard. There are so many natural remedies to maintaining a healthy vineyard.

So, the wines tasted so far in 2016. Every new wine – yes, every new wine – to hit the shelves/fridge this year is either certified organic/biodynamic or users these principles. There are even some new Suplfur free wines too. And most importantly they taste great and are #TickityBooAce. So swing on by the store and have a chat about some smoking new hot wines that are new in 2016