It's always great to get Robert back here in the store to taste his wines. he lives locally here and manages his Robert Whale Selections/ New World Wines ( 202-232-5200, www.robertwhaleselections.com ) from Washington D.c. As I have said Robert and I have known each other for years and watched the Australian as well as world wine business grow here in the U.S. since the early 80's. I guess you could refer to us as wine mates growing old together here in the wine business. Robert brings us some great cold-climate/food-friendly/food-almost-perfect Aussie and Kiwi wine selections at really reasonable prices. His wines have been represented by the Henry Wine Group which has just been purchased by Country Vintners in Ashland, Virginia. I predict we will do even more business with Robert's wines with this new development. I cannot say enough good things about the Country Vintners and their excellent sales staff with Chris Pigott at the head of the line for us at least.
Last night Robert tasted two wines from YARRAMAN ( South Eastern Australia, www.yarramanestate.com, Wybong, NSW 2333 , 700 Yarraman Road ) : the " Hell Raiser " red 2005 blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and 50% Merlot - softer, rounder, nice elegant nuances of spice and earth, and the " Hay Burner " 2005 Chardonnay white that is a new addition to the category in Chardonnay - lovely ripe, exotic fruit overtones that have some grounding, hints of spices and acids but all wrapped beautifully in a thick cushion of lush, lilting, rippling Chardonnay flavors. BOTH wines sell for $13.49 a bottle and are well-worth the price in my humble opinion. BOTH will really complement a meal and be good for at least two glasses before any food appears before you.
Robert also tasted his " own " creation the RAFFERTY'S RULES " the ringer " 2002 70% Shiraz and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon ( South Eastern Australia, www.raffertysrules.com, Wamberal, NSW 2260 ) , $19.99 that is much more developed, more complex, more earthy and in need of food to round / flesh it out so that it, too rests really nicely on and over the palate. It's more European in style to me reminding me more of a really nice medium-bodied Italian wine that I would pair with some white meats, anything vegetable or meat, grain grilled and nicely seasoned. Some cheese would also be a simple treat. Don't work harder than you have to in the enjoyment of this RAFFERTY'S : find a comfortable perch and chill for as long as things allow it!
Robert also tasted Agnes Seifried's excellent Nelson, New Zealand SEIFRIED 2007 ( www.seifried.co.nz ) Sauvignon Blanc which has really flowered nicely in the bottle to produce a richer, creamier yet quite impressively accented Sauvignon Blanc that registers nicely over the complete length of one's palate not missing any areas. It's medium-bodied and is a milder, less-strong gooseberry flavoring that exudes a brilliant ripe sunshine-quality in taste. Excellent.
The other afternoon, perhaps a week or so ago Robert came by to say " hello " with Suzanne Barros who is the Marketing Development Manager , East Coast U.S. for WINE AUSTRALIA . Suzanne wanted to know how the Aussie business was faring and see if I had any thoughts? I had many, not all positive but most were. I can't stress enough how well the Aussie's have supported their wines here, at least in our store over the years. As a country they have really done more than almost anyone to keep their wines strong and selling here. If you have attended our weekly tastings here you know that they the owners and the winemakers are often here themselves pouring their wines and signing their bottles for you. Kudos to them for that. It really helps to have this support, I cannot say enough in thanks. And the ones that come and pour here are making really well-focused, balanced, food-friendly wines that add to the equation of the meal/gathering/event and do not detract or try and steal the show. I like that. Cheers! Suzanne, you have a really nice smile and personality. It was great to have you here with Robert the other day. Come again anytime.
I have known Robert as I said since the beginning. Back in 1984 there were less than five thousand cases of Aussie wines sold in the entire U.S. Wow! How things have changed. Robert has been really instrumental in all of this.
Here are some pictures of Robert and Suzanne that I took. They are seen through the wine glass that amplifies, distorts, adds-detracts?!? What do you think? I kind of like them a lot. Cheers Robert and Suzane. I apologize for the pictures were both Suzanne and Robert are blinking, but they are still interesting. Suzanne is holding a bottle of Robert's PETER HOWLAND Individual Vineyard " Parson's Vineyard " 2004 Shiraz Frankland River, western Australia, $36.49 that is about as silky and lovely as any touch that a grapes' skin can provide us and our palates with - a big treat. Peter Howland has tasted his wines here now with customers at least twice. He makes three Shiraz wines all from different regions in western Australia that capture that area's terroir( go to: www.peterhowlandwines.com for more technical information. I will do better on the pictures next time. TONY
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