A winning wine, maybe, I was watching the Wallabies Tri Nations win on Saturday night with Acepfv and The Pensioner and the wine we drank was a 1997 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape and it was way better than the last time I tasted it, a bit like the previous time we watched the Wallabies play the All Blacks, a night to forget. Much more youthful with some secondary flavours coming through which unlike the previous bottle where they dominated, these added to the subtle red and dark fruits flavours, giving the wine a nice balance.

This was followed at the dinner table by a bottle of 2008 Picardy Pinot Noir, No notes, was more interested in enjoying the Rugby win and the food, must have been good as it did not last long.

2007 Ten minutes by tractor Judd Vineyard Pinot Noir This was consumed with the nieces at their new abode and their “rents”. Rave reviews all round a very approachable wine that is also more complex than one first thinks, the dark cherry nose and palate really do jump out at first, but this only because they are so well balanced with light and supple tannins and a touch of acidity that lifts the fruit up without becoming jammy in style, light and subtle as is the colour.

1997 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Langton’s wine auction $77.00
Château de Beaucastel

2008 Picardy Pinot Noir
Retail via Acepfv $35.00
Picardy Wines

2007 Ten Minutes by Tractor Judd Vineyard Pinot Noir
Winery Direct via website order $75.00
Ten Minutes by Tractor