Dinner at Kelvin's

Excellent cuisine of baked chicken in special sauce, baked potatoes / pumpkins with herbs , creamy mushroom pasta and oxtail stew prepared by Kelvin finishing with a cheese platter I prepared. Interesting mix of wines for the night.

• 2006 Nobilo Pinot Noir Icon Central Otago 85 Points

  New Zealand, South Island, Otago, Central Otago

  (9/27/2009)

  At first , typical NZ fresh pretty strawberries which evloved into scented plums, hawthorne berries and preserved salted vegetables with exotic spices . The final evolution on the nose saw it gain flinty gunsmoke, hot zinc roof, rustyness and muskiness. Beautiful depth of fruits throughout, just nicely ripened with freshness and deliciousness. I just love the evolution this wine provided. Not necessarily classical burgundian but definitely an exceptional wine to drink if you have the patience to see it evolve in the glass over half an hour.

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• 2004 Antinori Chianti Classico Marchese Antinori Riserva 85 Points

  Italy, Tuscany, Chianti, Chianti Classico DOCG

  (9/27/2009)

  Full of barnyardish nose of green horse manure, leathery undertones and evolving into lots of tobacco leaves. Lovely plums thrown in savory beefy stock . Quite elegant with firm but smooth structure.

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• 2005 Massena Shiraz The Eleventh Hour 80 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  (9/27/2009)

  This is truly a big typical aussie fruit bomb! When first tasted out from the bottle, this was juicy black fruits and plums but still reigned in by a streak of bitter tannins. Once decanted, this wine really put on a lot of baby fat fruit weight. Jam paste of black berries, black raspberries, black ripe plums, vanilla cream and peppered with fruited dark choc. Very juicy , confected wine to drink and shouts for a dry steak for it to "juicify". Subsequently does calm down with more restrained fruits. Needs more structure and acidity to balance out. Beware old world drinkers, embrace it new world wine junkies.

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• 2007 Pirathon Shiraz by Kalleske 83 Points

  Australia, South Australia, Barossa, Barossa Valley

  (9/27/2009)

  Compared to the Massena tasted alongside, this has much finer cooler ripe dark fruits nicely lifted by french classical oak tones. Ripe black cherries, black plums and spices. Still quite fruited and big but has structure to support it. Excellent example of barossa shiraz.

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• NV The Berry Farm Port No.7 93 Points

  Australia, Western Australia, South West Australia, Margaret River

  (9/27/2009)

  A special limited edition port styled dessert wine made entirely from melons! This is indeed very unique. The nose is just fantastic! It perfumes the entire room within 5 seconds of being popped open . Alc lifted notes of Melons! - Rock melons, honey melons, water melons, japanese honey dews ...its the whole melon workz! It also has a streak of brandy like smokyness backing up the main melon nose. As beautiful on the palate with sweet yuzu, choya japanese plum liquer, dash of honeysuckle and lots of ripe juicy melons. This is just an estactic and thoroughly enjoyable wine. Finishing with a clean vodka like finish. This is like a hybrid of whisky / brandy , japanese choya, fruit liquer and a squeeze of botrytis. Yummy wine! As unique a port that only Australia can make.

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