The Wine List - Darkinsons 2009

Having recently returned from holiday with our great friends Toby and Kathryn, one of the things we took to doing was photographing the next morning the previous nights wine consumption.

What follows is, hopefully, the full chronological list of the wines (full bottles only, not covering tastings) consumed on Darkinsons 2009 (Darkinsons is the collective name given to Darkins/ Robinson holidays):

Katoomba, NSW - Monday 16th February (Order of Preference, not tasting)
1. Two Churches, Barossa Valley Rose, 2007
2. Banrock Station, Sparkling White Shiraz, NV
3. Penfolds, Thomas Hyland Shiraz, 2006
4. Phillip, Mount Pleasant Shiraz. 2006
5. Dalfarras, Shiraz Viognier, 2004
6. d'Arenberg, "d'Arry's Original" Shiraz Grenache, 2006
7. d'Arenberg, "Laughing Magpie" Shiraz Viognier, 2006

Apollo Bay, VIC - Thursday 19th February
1. Shadowfax, Riesling, 2008
2. Shadowfax, Werribee Shiraz, 2005
3. Shadowfax, Heathcote "One Eye" Shiraz, 2005
4. Yering Station, Shiraz Viognier, 2006

Robe, SA - Saturday 21st February
1. Balnaves, Sparkling Cabernet, NV
2. Sahdowfax, Sauvingnon Blanc, 2008
3. Balnaves, "Cheeky Red", 2008
4. di Giorgio, "Sterita" Shiraz, 2005
McLaren Vale, SA - Sunday 22nd February

1. Katnook Estate, Sauvignon Blanc, 2008
2. Wynns Coonawarra Estate, Coonawarra Riesling, 2008
3. Bannockburn Geelong, Shiraz, 2004
4. Wynns Coonawarra Estate, "Black Label" Shiraz, 2006

McLaren Vale, SA - Monday 23rd February
1. Gemtree, "Cadenzia" Grenache Tempranillo Shiraz, 2007
2. Red Heads. The Back Shed Shiraz Grenache, 2006
3. Tapestry. "Cadenzia" Old Vine Grenache, 2007
4. d'Arenberg, "Sticks & Stones" Tempranillo Grenache Shiraz. 2005
5. d'Arenberg, "The Last Ditch" Viognier, 2008

Barossa Valley, SA - Tuesday 24th February
1. Red Heads, "Lazy Ballerina" Shiraz Viognier, 2006
2. Red Heads, "The Back Shed" Shiraz Grenache, 2006
3. Wirra Wirra, "Sparrow's Lodge" Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006

Appelation Restaurant, Barossa Valley, SA Wednesday 25th February
1. Pelorus, Sparkling, NV
2. Radford Dale, Eden Valley Riesling, 2007
3. Cooper Burns, Barossa Valley Grenache, 2006
4. Deisen, Barossa Shiraz, 2005

Bay of Shoals, KI - Thursday 26th February
1. Wirra Wirra "Scrubby Rise" Unwooded Chardonnay, 2008
2. d'Arenberg, "The Stump Jump" Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Marsanne, Viognier, Chardonnay, 2007
3. Hardy's, Oomoo Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre, 2006
4. Pertaringa, "Over The Top" Shiraz, 2006

Bay of Shoals, KI - Friday 27th February
1. Majella, "Melody" Rose, 2008
2. Bannockburn Geelong, Pinot Noir, 2005
3. Gemtree, "Obsidian" Shiraz, 2005
4. Peter Lehmann, "Clancy's" Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot (Magnum), 2004
5. d'arenberg, "The Noble Mod Pie", Viognier Pinot Gris Marsanne, 2008

Bay of Shoals, KI - Saturday 28th February
1. Two Hands, Gnarly Dudes Shiraz, 2007
2. Turkey Flat, Rose, 2008
3. Pertaringa, "Scarecrow" Sauvignon Blanc, 2008
4. Woop Woop, Verdelho, 2008
5. Katnook Estate, Chardonnay Brut Blanc de Blancs, 2007
6. Chateau Tanunda, Terroirs Ebenezer Shiraz, 200?
7. Kaesler, "Reid's Rasp" Shiraz, 2008
8. Wynn's, Samuel Port, NV

Brisbane, QLD - Sunday 1st March
1. Langmeil, "Fifth Wave" Grenache, 2006
2. Langmeil, "Orphan Bank" Shiraz, 2006

Brisbane, QLD - Monday 2nd March
1. Isabel, Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, 2008
2. Turkey Flat, Rose, 2008
3. The Black Chook, Sparkling Shiraz, NV
4. Two Hands, Bella's Garden Shiraz, 2006
5. Red Heads, "Yard Dog" Petit Verdot merlot Cabernet Sauvignon, 2006
6. Wirra Wirra, "Catapult" Shiraz Viognier, 2006
7. Langmeil, Fortified Shiraz
8. Wynns, Samuel Port

Better late than never.....

It has been some time.

Since the last post, I have been on a fantastic trip to India, with our good friends the Darkins'. It does seem such a long time ago now, well we have been back about 6-7 weeks, and it took an age to get over. India is rather infectious and I think the Doris and I have planned return itineraries multiple times over.

I am not quite sure that the small selection of images really does justice to the place. Well it will have to do for now.

Not long after returning from India, J of the W came over on a visit and we paid the H a little visit ourselves over in NZ. I had a top time catching up with both of them having been away from the UK for over a year. It was the first time I had spent any length of time (if a long weekend constitutes that?) in the North Island. I certainly saw it in a different light compared to the two days (Rotorua, Auckland) from when I was there two years ago. I have resolved to take the Doris at some point although I may have difficulty getting her over to Wellington having heard many horror stories about landing there.....

What else is there....well, those of you who know me well may be surprised to learn that I undertook some exercise. I represented my company in the Corporate Games. I played football (that's a game where a round ball is primarily kicked with the foot, with 11 opponents on each side).

The Doris and I have also found our cooking mojo, getting into cooking and resuming our visits to the farmers' market. We shall be there this weekend, affording the Doris an opportunity to be on the front deck of the City Cat, a place she loves very much.

Life's a Beach

Well if 2007 and my first nine months in Australia represented little in the way of exploration - Hervey Bay, Toowomba and Melbourne and Sydney trips with work excepted - then Em and I were determined to ensure that 2008 offered a contrast to and have made a pact this will be a year of discovery. So this fine Australia day long weekend saw some firsts. Well for a start it was my first Australia Day in Australia. This was celebrated at the Story Bridge Hotel where they held the 27th annual cockie races! This was a an event not to be missed in my eyes and I was glad when Em agreed to come along to this, as did a colleague. The races themselves actually are little more than a fringe element of what is essentially an excuse to get thoroughly twatted, and by jove we did. As two of her majesty's loyal subjects (Em wasn't drinking) my colleague and I saw to that we would show our respects to the Australian national day and join in the merriment. It wasn't all just beer and cockroaches, there were also some boobs! Some Aussie girls saw fit to share with the general public their mammaries, some good , some bad but nonetheless they were shared. There's only so much boob and beer two men can take (by this time Em and had left to go to somewhere a little more sober lady friendly with another friend - female - who had shown up) and so my colleague and I decided to move on to where Em was. However, due to said excessive consumption of some of Australia's finest I don't recall too much of this point. Sunday, well that wasn't really worth writing about as I just recovered around the house due to the previous days efforts. As Australia Day itself fell on a Saturday, we were granted Monday 28th January as a public holiday. This day shall be marked in the annals of Robinson history as it was our first proper foray to a beach. We have been to Mooloolaba and to Sunshine Beach, the former was just a sojourn whilst on the way to Hervey and was in Winter and the latter was where we spent Christmas and experienced generally poor weather. This outing was one where I actually lay on the beach and even swam in the sea! The location for this momentous occasion was Bribie Island, about 50 miles/ 80 KMs north of Brisbane. This trip has instilled in me a desire to go more often and to really seek out some nice beaches (it was OK, the water was warm but could do with being a little bluer for my liking!). All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable weekend all round.

Rogues Gallery: If Seen, Do NOT Approach!

We have arrived in Singapore! I wanted my first post on my journey to Brisbane to actually be my rogues gallery, the mugshots of all those individuals who we managed to catch up with in the last four weeks in the UK. You're all great pals and this is my way of showing my appreciation. xx