The final frontier, The Full Fronti

I always think that there’s something slightly sad about looking forward to a long haul flight, but the last month has been crazy and I need a bit of peace and quiet!  I’ve been more or less full tilt updating Wine behind the Label for the next (8th) edition which means, today, I shall be dervish-like packing my suitcase, clearing my desk and psyching myself up for three weeks of super-intense tasting  in Australia.     To be incommunicado for almost 24 hours, fed and watered, with movies on tap strikes me as no bad thing! 

Yes, today’s the day I head off for next week’s Landmark Tutorial in the Yarra Valley.   After that, I’ll be tasting my way around Mornington Peninsula, Canberra District, Orange, the Hunter Valley, Grampians, Heathcote and Macedon ranges with a couple of generic tastings (Mudgee/Geelong) in and amongst.    So excuse me if I fail to maintain the daily flow of blogs!

Returning to Landmark however, do watch this space and @sarahwine (tweeps) since I’m fulling intending to report on the week’s sweet spots, which culminate in the literal sweet spot of next Friday’s presentation on fortified wines.  These will include Rutherglen’s unique Muscat and Tokay, through to aged Tawnies and other classic styles from historic cellars presented by Colin Campbell, Winemaker,Campells Wines and Stephen Chambers,Winemaker, Chambers Rosewood Wines. 

I was pretty bowled over by the Rutherglen fortifieds I tasted at The Big Fortified Tasting earlier this year (see my report here).  The top wines are incredibly intense and it will be a great privilege to taste rare back vintages.  Time distilled in hedonistic fashion…a civilised finale to the proceedings.  Meantime, I leave you with a tip for a cheeky little number on the fortified front, this one from McLaren Vale:

Pertaringa Vineyards The Full Fronti 20 Year Old McLaren Vale Liqueur Frontignac – as the name suggests, this Muscat a Petit Grains is not subtle, but it’s no less delicious for it.  Deep amber, with red flashes, it sports a toffee apple nose and palate, which builds in richness and viscosity, adding dates, dark molasses and spicy fruitcake to its repertoire, before concluding with a long, nutty spine to its warm, lingering finish.  This is Bonfire Night fare for adults – a snip at £13.99 for a 50cl bottle at Fareham Wine Cellars.