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May already?
Really! One third of the year is gone in the blink of an eye. It seems like last week when the Easter Bilby came calling, and the supplies of all varieties of chocolate reached their yearly high. We celebrated the day with smoked salmon, soft cheeses, crusty home baked bread and slow roasted tomatoes, accompanied beautifully by a delicious bottle of Organic French Champagne of course. But enough of living in the past...
Thinking about what to drink now?
Well, as we slip deep into to Autumn it’s time to start thinking red! Down here in the south east there have been a few genuinely cool evenings recently and there is nothing better than curling up on the couch with a good book, or with good company, and a glass of tasty red. It’s also the time of year when hearty pasta dishes, roast dinners and warming soups make a comeback on the dinner menu, why not pair them with an organic red wine and make a night of it? And just to make sure you sleep soundly and wake up fresh as a daisy, a preservative free wine (or No Added Preservative NAP as we also call them) could be an even better idea. So this issue we are featuring some new preservative free reds and some organic reds as well.
A new wine from Temple Bruer, the 621 MSG, has got me debating whether it is the best preservative free wine ever?...it is certainly my current favourite, and perhaps the now is all we really should worry about. We also have a couple of NAP cleanskin offerings that make a glass during the week very affordable.
Keep an eye out for our next newsletter if you are a fan of the Paxton wines. Hoping to have a special offer on a couple of their reds.
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Temple Bruer Preservative Free 621 Mataro Shiraz Grenache
A newby from Temple Bruer the TB 621 MSG (Mataro, Shiraz, Grenache) is an absolute cracker. As the (intentionally ironic) name suggests this is packed full of flavour, but unlike the other 621 MSG it’s all natural! We had a little tasting fairly recently and were really blown away by the infinite drinkability of this wine.
It’s all raspberry confection, liquorice, leather, fennel seeds, white pepper and smokiness. With low acidity and fine, silky tannins this wine is ticking just about every box. We highly recommend that you include a bottle (or three!) of the TB 621 in your next order. Yum!
$23.00 in a straight case buy now
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OWS NAP Biodynamic Shiraz 2012
Alas the very popular OWS NAP Biodynamic Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 has run out, but luckily we have a Shiraz from the same vineyard to replace it! This wine is the pure natural product of 100% biodynamic grapes. Nothing has been added to it, and only the minimum (skins, seeds and dead yeast cells) removed.
A medium bodied shiraz with aromas of aniseed, white pepper hints of cedar. On the palate the flavours are quite savoury & dense; liquorice, sarsaparilla and fine-grained tannins with a lingering finish. It is not fruit drive, but has a gentle savouriness & softness that makes it very easy to drink.
$11.00 in a straight case buy now
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OWS No Added Preservative Yarra Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
This wine was destined for a proper labelled bottle and a retail price of around $20, but storage space issues at the winery means a bargain for you. Ruby red in colour, the aromas are of ripe dark juicy fruits with a touch of dried herbs. This is a soft medium bodied wine with enough age to have smoothed out the fine tannins. The palate has a lovely texture with balanced acidity and a touch of oak. Very easy to drink and a cracker of a preservative free quaffer.
$10.50 in a straight case buy now
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Kalleske Clarry's GSM 2014
While you’re ordering a case of red you might like to consider a Kalleske Clarry's GSM (Grenache Shiraz Mataro) 2014. It always drinks well, and is dressed to impress. You can take this bottle anywhere you please and people will be stoked by the sheer weight and heft of the glass vessel, not to mention the content. It’s an appealing drop, vivid purple in colour. There are inviting and lifted aromatics of wild berries, rose perfume, marzipan, all-spice, raspberry, musk, liquorice and a touch of forest earth. Want to read more about this opulent wine?
$19.00 in a straight case buy now
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Wine 101 - GSM - Good Stuff Mate?
Well yes it is good, but the real meaning of the acronym GSM in wine terms is a blend of Grenache, Shiraz, & Mataro. And Mataro is also known as Mourvedre, so it could be referred to as Grenache, Shiraz, & Mourvedre.
This blend originated in the southern Rhone Valley in France. Usually Grenache and Shiraz make up the bulk of the mix, with a little Mourvedre. The perfume, spice and red fruit flavours come from the Grenache. The Shiraz gives it the structure, power, darker fruit and pepper spice, while my favourite earthiness and dried herb elements come from the Mataro. Together we have a seamless complete blend that is more than the sum of its parts.
This beguiling blend has been readily adopted by many new world winemaking countries (i.e. not Europe), and here in Australia has found its home in SA and the Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale in particular. Kalleske's example of this is their Clarry's GSM, a superb wine that always over-delivers on value for money. Temple Bruer has also recently released a preservative free offering, their TB 621 MSG, which is also very impressive.
Buy GSM Blends
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Extra bits and bobs!
Yes, it’s time to remind you of the fruits and vegies that are in season in Australia at the moment, and what you might like to plant. It’s cooling down, so brassicas like broccoli and cauliflower are great right now. You may also notice that pomegranate trees around the neighbourhood (well, my neighbourhood) are covered in ripening fruit. It’s the perfect time to make a delicious grain salad topped with labne and pomegranate.
Try this recipe from George Colombaris…it’s on the menu at Hellenic Republic and is to die for! I always pair this with a lighter style red, try the Vincent Gandia Tempranillo, or Switch Pinot Noir.
In the garden it's also a good time to plant lettuce and coriander. The cooler weather means they won’t go to seed so quickly. There is always room for lettuce in your diet, and coriander is essential if cooking a curry. Try a spicy Indian number with the Brogsitter Reisling. Bam!
In other news a couple of the team members here at Organic Wine are off on overseas adventures…jealous? I know I am! Our social media director plans to take us all away with her via Facebook and Instagram, so stay tuned for European delights, even if they are being enjoyed vicariously. |
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Gift cards now available
If you can't decide or want to leave the choosing to your recipient, why not buy them a Gift Card? An Organic Wine Gift Card is the perfect gift for 'Hard to buy for' people - we have 140+ wines to choose from!...more info |
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