November 13, 2015 · 9:00 am

The Vincast with Shashi Singh from Avani

https://player.whooshkaa.com/episode?id=81350

Shashi Singh moved to Australia from India when she was 21 years old, to marry her husband of over 30 years Devendra. Her family in India to this day are involved with agriculture (growing sugar cane and wheat), but before she left India she completed a Master’s degree in Chemistry. After running a succesful Indian restaurant in Frankston for many years, and having visited many producers on the nearby Mornington Peninsula, Shashi and Devendra decided to purchase a vineyard in the region and carve out their own story. While studying viticulture and oenology with Charles Sturt University, Shashi’s real education came from working with Phillip Jones, the man behind cult pinot noir producer Bass Phillip. Since 2009 the Avani story has been all about syrah, and though small in production has turned a lot of heads.

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Subscribe to the Intrepid Wino channel on YouTube and like a few videos, check out my tasting of the 2014 Avani Syrah!

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Shashi Singh from Avani

Shashi Singh from Avani

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Video

Let’s Taste – Avani Syrah 2014

I was very blessed to have Shashi Singh from Avani on the Mornington Peninsula on my podcast The Vincast (episode available Friday November 13th), and she was very generous in giving me a bottle of her unreleased 2014 Syrah to taste. I couldn’t wait and opened it that evening. Have you tried the Avani Syrah before? What have been your impressions? Let me know in the comments, and don’t forget to like this video and subscribe to the IntrepidWino channel.

Avant Syrah 2014

Avant Syrah 2014

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November 11, 2015 · 4:59 pm
Video

Let’s Taste – Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz 1998

Back when I was scouring the Langtons auctions for good wine with a bit of age on it, I managed to secure a lot of six bottles of the Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz 1998. This is the last of those six bottles, and I’ve enjoyed all of them to varying levels. This was probably the best of the six, and I was happy to share why. Let me know in the comments what you thought of this tasting, if you’ve had a chance to taste this wine, and what experiences you’ve had with mature Australian shiraz.

Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz 1998

Mount Langi Ghiran Langi Shiraz 1998

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November 11, 2015 · 9:52 am
Video

Let’s Taste -Thick as Thieves Sylvaner 2014

Wanting to pick up a nice fresh white wine on a warm Sunday evening, I stopped in at my locol independant wine store, Rathdowne Cellars. I spotted the Thick as Thieves Sylvaner 2014 in the fridge, and was intrigues as I didn’t know the variety was in Australia. I had encountered it on my travels in Europe, particularly in Germany. After a chat with Jeffrey I brought it home and opened it up! Let me know what your thoughts are on this wine in the comments!

Thick as Thieves Sylvaner 2014

Thick as Thieves Sylvaner 2014

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November 11, 2015 · 9:34 am
Video

Plonk – Season 2

If you are a wine lover with a sense of humour, and you haven’t heard of the digital series Plonk, then I have to ask, have you been living under a rock? You have even less excuses to make considering that the series creator and one of the stars, Nathan Earl, was a guest on my podcast The Vincast! Go on, have a listen to the episode here. Nathan has an incredible background in television and was one of the most important people behind the scenes on the iconic ABC Chaser shows. He was so thrilled to be able to incorporate his Hunter Valley roots and love of wine onto this irreverent look at wine and lifestyle shows.

The exciting news is that the second season of this hilarious program, after a successful first-run on Stan, is now available on the Plonk YouTube channel. They’ve broken up the six episodes into ten minute chunks, making them easier to digest. One of the biggest highlights for me was seeing so many awesome wine industry people make some cameos, and in some cases really show off their acting chops! So many moments take a good-natured piss-take on some of the ridiculous things that we do in the business which have the potential of putting people off as being a bit pretentious. So give it a watch now!

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November 10, 2015 · 9:59 am
Video

Let’s Taste – Tahbilk New Releases November 2015

You may have heard my recent interview of Alister Purbrick, CEO and owner of Tahbilk Winery, on Episode 069 of The Vincast podcast. It was preceded by an incredible vertical tasting of the 1860 Vines Shiraz and a lunch at Vue de Monde. If you didn’t I highly recommend heading to intrepidwino.com to hear the interview and check out my tasting notes on the wines.
The wonderful team at Fireworks PR sent me bottles of the Tahbilk new releases, and I decided to open them and share my impressions. Have you had a chance to taste them yet? What were your impressions?

Tahbilk Marsanne 2015 and Tahbilk Eric Stevens Purbrick Shiraz & Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

Tahbilk Marsanne 2015 and Tahbilk Eric Stevens Purbrick Shiraz & Cabernet Sauvignon 2010

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November 9, 2015 · 10:06 am
November 5, 2015 · 10:00 am

The Vincast with James Scarcebrook | Australian Wine Companion

Source: The Vincast with James Scarcebrook | Australian Wine Companion

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Video

Let’s Taste – Sang de Lune Shiraz 2014

I bought a bottle of the Sang de Lune Shiraz 2014 (RRP $22.00) from my good friend Alex at Blackhearts & Sparrows, who was actually one of the winemakers of this wine! Here are my impressions, I hope you enjoy. Let me know in the comments if you would like to share your impressions of this wine, or you have a wine you’d like me to taste!

Sang de Lune Shiraz 2014

Sang de Lune Shiraz 2014

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November 4, 2015 · 12:05 pm
November 4, 2015 · 11:59 am

Let’s Taste – Deviation Road Loftia Vintage Brut 2013 & Altair Brut Rosé NV

The guys from Deviation Road sent me two of their Sparkling Wines to taste, no doubt in the lead up to the Festive Season. They are experts in methode traditionelle sparkling wines, and these two perfectly exhibit that. The wines are the Loftia Vintage Brut 2013 (RRP $45.00) and the Altair Brut Rosé NV (RRP $32.00). Here are my impressions!

Deviation Road Loftia Vintage Brut 2013 & Altair Brut Rosé NV

Deviation Road Loftia Vintage Brut 2013 & Altair Brut Rosé NV

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November 1, 2015 · 9:26 am

Let’s Taste – Azahara Sparkling Chardonnay PN & Katnook Founder’s Block Sparkling Shiraz 2013

The guys from the Wingara Wine Group sent me a few bottles of bubbles in the lead up to the Spring Racing Carnival to see what I thought of them. Unfortunately I couldn’t taste them until I got back from Italy, which happened to be DURING the Spring Racing Carnival. The wines were the Azahara Sparkling Chardonnay Pinot Noir NV (RRP $15.00) and the Katnook Estate Founder’s Block Sparkling Shiraz 2013 (RRP $25.00). Check out my impressions!

Screen Shot 2015-10-31 at 7.49.15 PM

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