Message from a bottle

February 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Afternoon all,

This week I was tricked into purchasing a Hawthorn membership. As some of you know,
I am surrounded by Hawthorn supporters at home and with the first round being a
home game against the mighty pies (and as tickets are in hot demand), I was
advised to buy a 3 game family pass for security. It hurt as much as receiving
a corked wine and a little more than last year’s grand final loss.

At times I feel as though our family resembles a mini political party, most of the
time we go over our budget and we all love to travel, but the difference is, we
know it’s our 3 year old daughter (Bonnie PM ) that has been overseeing the
running of the house since she could talk, her 2IC position has recently been
filled by our 2 year old Ollie who’s only policy seems to be ‘it’s my way or no
way’. Taz fills most of the other main rolls including financial controller,
shopper, membership adviser and final decision maker. I am called the handyman,
which I am told is currently a permanent position but can be made redundant if
benchmarks are not achieved.

As I never get tricked when it comes to buying wine due to my try before I buy
policy, I thought this week we should look at a wine that you guy’s may never
of thought of trying or have been too scared to buy untasted. I am prepared to
say this is one of the best $25 wines I have ever had, so if you are up for
something a little different why not give the Handyman a call for a case or
come in and try (don’t be scared anymore).

2008 Old Vine Grenache from Yangarra (McLaren Vale)

$25 a Bottle or $140 a 6pk

I had some the other night and ended up sockless with a smile on my face
Come, have a taste and pick up a case”

Tasting Time

5-9PM Thursday

If your Cellar needs a few extra bottles in it drop me a line and I will send out
some amazing wines to meet your budget but exceed you expectations.

 

What Pau’s eating and drinking this weekend

Friday Spaghetti Carbonara – Pondalowie Tempranillo $20

Saturday Scotch Fillet with Diane  Sauce – Bethany 2006 Shiraz $25

Sunday Barbecued chicken with mango salad – Jeanneret Riesling $20

My February Specials

Koonara 2008 Cabernet Ambriel’s Gift $30 (I believe would have won
Jimmy Watson if entered)

Bress Pinot $20

Tim Gramp Clare Valley Shiraz $20 (In the words of Bruce McAvaney “Delicious”)

 

Handy Hints: During the Pre-Season get as many of those jobs on the fridge
door completed (especially if you follow Collingwood) because putting off until
October can put you in the redundancy program.

Quote: Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.

Filed Under: Grenache, McLaren Vale

Message from a bottle

February 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Morning all,

 

As I am the last to know what is going on in our house, this week I am feeling a
tiny amount of something for the criticism our PM is getting. I myself
apparently have trouble with remembering things that I may mention or get told.
This by all means isn’t a common trait in all humans as my beautiful wife (she
proof read my emails sometime) Taz has the extraordinary ability to remember
everything. We often have discussions where I get told (in her words) what my
words were, but we quickly forget and move forward as we both have a family to
run and jobs to do. Happy to send a leaf from our book to all in Canberra and
the Australian media so we don’t end up like a Italian cruise
liner.

This week we learnt of the sad passing of Whitney, I have never told anyone and
you’re all the first to know (will not admit in public), but the movie The Body
Guard was one of my favourites, I will say this first for the sake of my
reputation, that I am a huge Kevin Costner fan from movies like Tin Cup and
Field of dreams, but as I followed his work he introduced me to Whitney in that
movie. Hubba Hubba was my response (same as when I meet Taz for the first time)
and thanks to you Kevin she will be sadly missed by at least one member of our
house. So as we wish one of the all-time great singers goodbye I thought it
would be fitting to have a taste of an old favourite of our the 2005 Songlines
from McLaren Vale. Speaking of greats, this wine just happens to be made by
John Duval (Penfolds winemaker for 29 years) and this vintage of this wine has
been classed as the Latour (On of the best wines to come from France) of
McLaren Vale. Sadly I believe John sold the label 2 years ago and any current
wines from Songlines are way off the mark and you will find are priced
accordingly

What you need to know: The 2005 exhibits a
bright, dark red colour, saturated to the rim with ruby ripe plum colours
indicative of youthful freshness. The intense primary fruit aroma reveals
elegance and sophistication in its balance of concentrated, regional purity of
fresh cranberry, cherry, blackberry and spice backed by judicious cedary oak.
The palate is full of vibrant charm unfolding with fresh red fruits, cranberry
and cherry, followed by aniseed, liquorice, spices and coffee. The structure
supports the flavours with a well-controlled volume of silky grape and subtle
fine-grained oak tannins giving length in a tight structure all the way to the
finish revealing the definition and authority of a complex wine capable of
extended ageing

Normally
$ 80+

Tonight
only $55

This might just be the greatest wine you have ever tasted…………….

Filed Under: Shiraz

A Message from the Bottle

February 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Welcome Back all,

Hope you all had a great festive season and enjoyed the well deserved break.

As we put 2011 in the History cupboard, I have noticed that a few things have
changed on the home front.

The other night while unpacking the groceries (no change there) I notice a lot of
salad mix, vegies and fruit. After asking Taz if she may have picked up someone
else’s shopping and getting a no, I ventured outside hoping to find a pet
rabbit in the backyard. This can’t be happening and my next thought was ‘#@!#
The Cellar’, surely not and god bless her it was untouched and we remain
happily married. Our February fast is a little different to most as we “watch
what we eat and enjoy what we drink”.

So any changes or new things happening with Burwood Cellars I hear you ask, well
as a matter of fact there is. Over the coming weeks, we will be launching our
new website (burwoodcellars.com.au) which will have regular blog posts, we will have a Facebook page and I will be on tweeting on Twitter (‘BurwoodCellars’). As we all know social media and the web has become the major avenue to keeping up to date with information and we believe it’s time we ventured into that world a little more so that our nearest
and dearest (YOU) can keep track of what’s happening (if you want) more than
the weekly email.

Speaking of the ‘keeping up to date’, from next week you will see a new title as the
Subject. The weekly tasting and specials will come under the heading “A
Message from the Bottle” if anyone else thinks they have a better title and
it’s clean enough to publish I would consider you thought’s.

As a few of you know I am always on the hunt for wines that represent value and I
believe I have just found what I would call a cracker from Heathcote. The Pacha
Mama 2010 Shiraz represents the region so well with traditional Heathcote
flavours aplenty. So after trying it I did some research and this is what I
found. Dave Jemmeson is the man behind the brand. That’s right the guy that has
spent 30 years in the wine industry helping create and nurture some of Australia
and New Zealand’s most successful brands such as Cape Mentelle, Catalina
Sounds, Cloudy Bay, Felton Rd, Mojo, Mt Langi, Rockbare and Shaw & Smith,
just to name a few. He has decided to go back to his roots and focus on making
small quantities of premium wine, which not only reflect vintage, varietal and
regional characteristics but also stand apart from the crowd. I thought we would kick
the year of with this, so see you tomorrow night.

What you need to know: It’s elegant. It’s got finesse. In the glass its medium to dark ruby in colour, with a complex nose of mulberries and blood plums backed with earth and spice, and just a hint of violets. She’s soft and fleshy and full of all the good dark fruits; plum and
mulberry. It’s seamless in the mouth with juicy fruit favours on the palate. A light tannic structure, vibrant acid and a long savoury finish.

$25 a bottle or $135 a six pack.

Filed Under: Region, Shiraz

Weekly Newsletter

January 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Afternoon all,

Happy new year number 26 to you all. Yep as we enter our 26th year at Burwood Cellars again I have
been asked the 2 questions I am always asked in January. 1st being my New Year’s Resolutions List
and 2nd my stand out wine over the festive season.

This year again has been no different with Taz proofreading my list of this year’s resolutions.

My Original List                                                                          The List I got Back after being Proof Read.

Golf game to around 80 shots                                                      Weight to around 80kgs
Spending time at more wineries                                                  Spending a little more time with the family
Learn more about Australian wines                                            Read to the kids more before they go to bed.
Family Holiday in the Barossa Valley                                         Family Holiday in Bali
Educate people about how good small wineries are                Don’t wake wife during the night to tell her how good a wine was

Continue being the best Wine Merchant in the World           Continue being the best Wine Merchant in the World

What about the stand out wine I hear you say.. Well true to form I had a lot and have selected my top 6.

1995 Vat 9 Shiraz from Tyrrell’s ($60), 1995 Virgin Hills Blend ($35), 1994 St Andrews Riesling from Taylor’s($50), 2005 Gomersal from Murray Street ($50), 2009 Pinot Gris  (Macedon) from Rochford ($25), and the Leo Buring 1997 Shiraz ($40).

Where’s Epis, Massena and Standish, I hear you ask, by now you of all people should know how good they are and it’s time I stopped telling you and you all start or continue drinking them.

So over the next 6 weeks we will be tasting one of them each week starting with tonight the Leo Buring Shiraz (Bad luck to all you Feb
fasters)

What you need to know: Very deep crimson colour. Aromas of ripe plums, stewed fruit, leather and cedar with an earthy Rhone finish. Generous palate with pronounced plum, vanilla and spice flavours followed by a peppery back palate. Good length with near perfect balance, soft fine grained tannins followed by long vanilla, plum and spice aftertaste.

$40 a bottle or $200 a six pack

 

“Come, have a taste and pick up a case”

Tasting Time

5-9PM Thursday

Congratulations to Neil Curry the winner of the Day at Epis Winery

Thank you to that entered and when I have a spare seat on my next adventures, I will let you know.

Filed Under: Newsletter, Shiraz

Burwood Cellars Newsletter

December 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Evening all,

Like death and taxes, there is always a last email of the year.  There is a three-week break so I can study (drink wine) and more importantly give you guy’s a break from my weekly words. The good news is that there is always a bottle open to taste on the Thursday night over the Christmas New Year break.

On behalf of the Team and our families, I would like to thank you for your support over the last 12 months, it has only encouraged us to strive harder in our search for great wine and continue our 25 year journey in supporting small wine producers.

To you all, we wish you, your family and cellar a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Safe New Year.

As the Sun beings to shine (a little), I thought we should have a look at a couple of nice value plus whites. Both these are from Windance in Margaret River (exclusive to us in Victoria) and we will have on tasting the unoaked Chardonnay and the award winning Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon.

Unoaked Chardonnay

Clear and very pale straw colour. A delightful wine that opens with aromas of pear blossom, nashi and lychee that carries through to pineapple on the palate. This wine has a refreshingly crisp finish with just a hint of residual sweetness. Perfect for summer days, salad and tasty foods.

 Sauvignon/Semillon

75% Sauvignon Blanc, 25% Semillon. Appearing very pale straw with a hint of green in the glass. Aromas of passionfruit, kiwi, gooseberry and star fruit. Balanced acids on the palate, with green tropical flavours finishing with lemon and lime zest. A refreshing wine perfect for those hot summer days and long lunches.

 Both $15 a Bottle

 Don’t forget as time is running out and so are the tickets

Best Competition the World has ever seen.

Buy this three pack of Epis wines between now and the 24th December 2011 to enter

Epis 2010 Chardonnay

Epis 2004 Cabernet

Epis 2009 Pinot Noir

Ticket cost = $180 includes 3 pack of wine

Tickets are limited……

 

What you get….

Transport to and from a Melbourne based address

Lunch with current and back vintage wines

Tour of the Holly Grail.

A bottle of your favourite wine of the Day to take home (Winner Only)

Escorted by two of the best (Graham and Myself)

Date TBA (A date that suits all parties)

Drawn Christmas Eve at Burwood Cellars

 

“Come, have a taste and pick up a case”

Tasting Time

5-9PM Thursday

 

Arrivals and Departures 

Gate A Santa

Gate D Credit on Taryn’s Credit Cards

Paul’s December Dozen Specials

Arakoon Sellicks Beach Shiraz $180 a case

Bethany 2006 Shiraz $280 a case

Watershed Cabernet Shiraz $15 a bottle

Cleanskin Pinot $180 (a case of 12) Drinks like it should be $30 a bottle

 Quote of the Year “Compromises are for relationships, not wine”. 

Family Owned, Family Run, Supporting Family Owned Wineries since 1986.

Filed Under: Newsletter, Sauvignon Blanc/Semillon, Unoaked Chardonnay

Burwood Cellars Newsletter 7/12/11

December 7, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Evening all,

 As December is upon us and the wish list to Santa is posted by my two kids, I began thinking of what I wish for this Christmas. Apart from you all and my family having a Safe and Happy one these days I find it hard to put together a wish list. My days of wishing that Collingwood would call to join them in pre season are long gone and my opportunity to join the World Tennis Tour has also past. So these days my list is simple and achievable – there are only 13 this year as the rest I have managed to sneak past Taz (my wife) and put in our cellar.

 Yep you guessed it’s the list of Paul’s twelve wines for the lunch table this Christmas.

1 Mount Avoca Sparkling Shiraz @ $25

2 Bethany Chardonnay @ $15

3 Bladen Sav Blanc NZ @ $20

4 Windance Chennin Blanc $15

5 Stringy Brae Riesling @ $25

6 Murray Street Shiraz @ $20

7 Willow Creek Pinot Noir @ $20

8 Fraser Gallop Cabernet @ $35

9 Paringa Shiraz @ $25

10 Monichino Cabernet @ $15

11 Liebich Tempernillo @ $20

12 Pedro Ximenez @ $40 (Amazing to finish off a great day)

13 To be surround by family and great food (Standard)

Not all these wines need to be consumed before 3pm nap on couch…

 The mixed Dozen @ $240 will make your Christmas special.

Wineries that I also suggest you look at if you want to go that extra step and SHOW that brother, sister in law or family member that thinks their it and a bit.

Epis, Standish, Massena, Woodlands and Torbreck

This week we will be tasting two wines from Paringa Estate (One of them being No 9 in the dozen just to show you how great the dozen is), over the past few years I have never really followed what Paringa were up to, but after a taste last week of these wines I knew I had to lift my game as these are value plus and bloody delicious .

Chardonnay- The bouquet of this wine is fruit driven with citrus and stonefruit characteristics, nectarine and peach in particular. The palate has similar tropical and stonefruit flavours combined with subtle nutty barrel ferment characters and crisp acidity.

Shiraz- The bouquet of this wine has spicy blackberry fruit combined with the subtle lifted floral viognier aromatics. The soft fine grained tannins allow for early drinking.

A wine that can be used for current drinking, but will reward short term cellaring.

 Both Wines are $25 a bottle or

Paringa Peninsula Series Chardonnay $270 a case

Paringa Peninsula Series Shiraz $270 a case

Twin Pack $45 (Great gift for your clients or that special someone….)

 

Forget your well known (Brands that have a lot of advertising bucks) Champagnes this Christmas why not buy a bottle of Vve Fourny & Fils Premier Cru. @ $65 a bottle the Blanc de Blanc or the Grande Reserve leave the Moet’s, Mumm’s etc behind as far as value for money goes. You will think you drinking a top vintage Champagne at half the price.. Do yourself a favour you deserve it..

 

Question: If a speed camera vehicle is parked in the middle of the footpath, is it wrong while running, to run into it, just to give the operator a fright??

 

Best Competition the World has ever seen.

Buy this three pack of Epis wines between now and the 24th December 2011 to enter

Epis 2010 Chardonnay

Epis 2004 Cabernet

Epis 2009 Pinot Noir

Ticket cost = $180 includes 3 pack of wine

Tickets are limited……

 What you get….

Transport to and from a Melbourne based address

Lunch with current and back vintage wines

Tour of the wholly grail.

A bottle of your favourite wine of the Day to take home (Winner Only)

Escorted by two of the best (Graham and Myself)

Date TBA (A date that suits all parties)

Drawn Christmas Eve at Burwood Cellars

 “Come, have a taste and pick up a case”

Tasting Time

5-9PM Thursday

 

If you missed previous weeks emails please view at http://burwoodcellars.com.au/our-blog

 

Arrivals and Departures

Gate A Torbreck 2009 The Struie $60 a bottle. My summary in 3 words, “Oh My God”

 Paul’s December Dozen Specials

Arakoon Sellicks Beach Shiraz $180 a case

Bethany 2006 Shiraz $280 a case

Watershed Cabernet Shiraz $15 a bottle

Cleanskin Pinot $180 (a case of 12) Drinks like it should be $30 a bottle

 Quote “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt”.

Filed Under: Chardonnay, Christmas Dozen, Shiraz

Burwood Cellars Newsletter 1/12/11

December 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Morning all,

It was sad to turn on the TV the other night and learn that the great people of Margaret River were battling a massive fire that had destroyed 40 homes and affected a lot people. Our thoughts are with them as they begin bouncing back. There has been no reports of any damage to wineries. Again I ask you to get behind our great Aussie wine (best in the world) when you next purchase a bottle and for your next bottle may you chose a wine from Margaret River. I did just that at the weekend while thinking of their loss, I had a bottle of Windance 2007 Shiraz and those thoughts turned into prayers as it would be devastating if anything was to happen to Region.      

The wine we are tasting this week is the 2007 Shiraz from Windance (we are the only stockiest of their wines in Victoria).  This wine has more accolades then I ever got in my junior tennis days and having sneaked a case pass the boss (Taz) I think while I do my weekly polish of my 2 trophies I might just drink another.

Top Gold – Scoop Wine Awards 08, Top 5 STARS Winestate Magazine, Trophy & Gold – MRWIA Show 08, Gold – Qantas Wine Awards 
95 Points – James Halliday

What you need to Know: Aged 9 months on French oak. Intense colour ,a nose of plum and mulberries with a gaggle of five-spice. Charry, non-dominant oak. Red currant, plum and mulberry, with dark chocolate. A plump, middle palate with cedar and vanilla toasty oak to follow. Finishes with fine grained, persistent tannins. $35 a bottle or $200 a 6pk

 Please Read

There’s raffles to win houses, raffles to win cars, holidays of a life time, but between Burwood Cellars and The Great Man (Alec Epis) those raffles today have become insignificant and look worthless against this once in a life time bragging opportunity. The Brains trust of Epis and Burwood Cellars have come up with a chance to win a once in a life time experience for you and three of your closest friends.

Buy these three pack of Epis wines between now and the 24/12/2011 to enter

Epis 2010 Chardonnay

Epis 2004 Cabernet

Epis 2009 Pinot Noir

Ticket cost = $180 includes 3 pack of wine

Tickets are limited……

 

What you get….

Transport to and from a Melbourne based address

Lunch with current and back vintage wines

Tour of the wholly grail.

A bottle of your favourite wine of the Day to take home

Escorted by two of the best (Graham and Myself)

Date TBA (A date that suits all parties)

Drawn Christmas Eve at Burwood Cellars

  “Come, have a taste and pick up a case”

Tasting Time

5-9PM Thursday

 Arrivals and Departures 

Gate A Windance Semillon Sav Blanc, Chennin Blanc and Unoaked Chardonnay all 3 wines priced at $15 each

Gate D Passing Clouds 2006 Reserve Shiraz

 Paul’s December Dozen Specials

Arakoon Sellicks Beach Shiraz $180 a case

Bethany 2006 Shiraz $280 a case

Samuels Gorge 2009 Shiraz 6pk $210

Bladen Sav Blanc NZ $240 a case

Paringa Chardonnay $280 a case

Paringa Shiraz $280 a case

Cleanskin Pinot $180 (a case of 12) Drinks like it should be $30 a bottle

Filed Under: Magaret River, Mount Macedon, Newsletter, Pinot Noir

Burwood Newletter 24/11/11

November 24, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Morning all,

Yesterday I had the absolute pleasure of celebrating a friends 85th Birthday with some of his close friends. This guy was involved in the wine industry for over 60 years and to this day, loves and understands great wines and has the ability to store, retain, and recall information and experiences which I am certain my memory at 36 doesn’t. It was a fantastic lunch learning about the industry pre my arrival and how many lunches on a Friday’s turned into dinners.

As I arrived back to the shop I began thinking where will my retirement take me….. My ideal plan is to buy a small place in McLaren Vale (not Adelaide) on Sellicks Beach, while spending my days playing golf, having lunches (that turn into
dinners) at the Victory Hotel and fulfilling the list of jobs Taz has for me, while being surrounded by friends and family enjoying the best of what Australia has to offer and possibly by then, the odd sherry.

Speaking of the best and Sellicks beach, I have recently come across Arakoon’s 2007 Sellicks Beach Shiraz and after purchasing a little I would like you to try it. The
price I am offering on this wine will probably put my retirement back a little but as always you guy’s come first.

Before I tell you about what I think could be the offer of the year so far, I was informed by a few customers that they didn’t receive last weeks email. I forwarded my concern to our technical department (Taz) who took some convincing
that people would miss receiving the weekly email, but inturn we have produced an website that you can view the weekly email from 10pm on Wednesday’s. After our latest meeting I think you need to stay tuned as the department have a few
things in the pipe line. Go to http://burwoodcellars.com.au/our-blog

2007 Arakoon Sellicks Beach Shiraz from McLaren Vale

What you need to know: Aromas of chocolate and plums, lifted spice
and layers of varietal complexity. A dashing wine, colourful on the palate,
ribbons of flavour ranging in colours from meaty brown to silky violet. The
texture is almost creamy, while the fruit intensity not unlike that of a rich,
red sorbet. A fine balance of American and French oak lends a smoky depth and
additional lick of spice to this utterly enjoyable Shiraz. “A deeply
cherried wine with spice, chocolate and mud aromas that leads onto a viscous
palate of plum, cherry and bitter cocoa.

I plan to reduce this weeks funding to my Technical department (Taz) in order to sell this wine at $15 a bottle or $170 and still keep my retirement plans intact.  This wine normally sell for $20+ a bottle and drinks like some $30 wine I have tried and might just be the wine for December to pull out when those free loading friends arrive for a Christmas drink.

$15 a bottle $170 a case

 

Filed Under: McLaren Vale, Newsletter, Shiraz

Weekly Newsletter – 17/11/11

November 22, 2011 By Leave a Comment

It is interesting that Barack Obama has come all this way and hasn’t chosen to come into our store (who is advising him) let alone visiting the rest of Melbourne, this only reaffirms that Politian’s abroad are the same as here when it comes to decision making. The only thing I know about Darwin and Canberra is that one doesn’t make wine and the other shouldn’t make it (my opinion). For a small fee I would have been happy to take him for a drive in the ute out to Epis for some lunch and wine or I could have got in touch with Dan Standish so Barack could have a look at his wines, but no call was made and I am not about to go out of my way. So like Opera, Meatloaf and the occupying Melbourne protesters, he too will wonder off home while us hard working tax payers are left with the bill… I know telephone bills are going up, but surely a conference call would be cheaper!

This week I was reminded that my decision making wasn’t so good, last night I was asked from Taz if I knew what you receive for your 6th year wedding anniversary. To all husbands out there never bring up these words “surely it’s parole”. To her credit she did eventually laugh and take a look at me sore ribs.

Anyway moving onto this week’s tasting, with the festive season upon us and our Carnegie store this week having it’s 1st birthday, I naturally thought we should pop some bubbles and also have a look at something special from the cellar. Ok I will tell you what the bubbles are but the wine remains a secret.

Trentham Non-Vintage Pinot Chardonnay from Mount Macedon

What you need to know: Creamy white mousse with fine persistent bead. Pale straw colour base wine. Aromas of biscuit, grapefruit and yeast lees followed by some toast end notes. The palate displays flavours of baked bread, winter strawberries, yeast lees and cashew followed by a touch of toast. Creamy palate texture with clean crisp dry finish. Aftertaste of baked bread, yeast lees and cashew. $140 a six pack Trust me, had a bottle or two it’s good….

Filed Under: Mount Macedon, Newsletter, Pinot Chardonnay