I trust IW&FS events to be a few things: Incredibly curated, gastronomic, and a whole lot of fun.
The 2018 Wine Crawl was no exception. A yearly event, the IW&FS Wine Crawl is an opportunity for people to sample fantastic wines and purchase them at a discount.
Here are my favourite finds from the 2018 crawl:
Corte Riva Mabuhay (Napa Valley, USA)
Born in California and proudly Philippine made, this iconic label is a testament to the winemakers’ pinoy roots. It’s dark fruit forward, has delicate tannins and has hints of dark chocolate. It’s also got enough structure making it perfect for ageing.
Moët and Chandon Ice Imperial
Its claim to fame is being “the first and only champagne especially created to be enjoyed over ice.” I especially enjoyed the cocktail I had, which involved Moët Ice, a slice of strawberry, and a mint leaf.
Clos du Val Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley, USA)
This is a no-holds barred wine: Big, powerful, robust, silky, and fruit forward. I teasingly called it a breakfast wine because of its flavours of coffee, blueberry, and toast. One of my favourites in the event.
Domaine de Mauperthuis Chablis
Confession: It was a hot day and I was craving for a white wine. The notion of a properly chilled white wine, coupled with my endless search for a proper Chablis (because I’m sincerely missing France) brought me to this rich, beautiful wine, which was everything a Chablis was supposed to be.
Funky Goose (Adelaide Hills)
One of my wino friends eagerly dragged me to sample this baby, and for good reason. True to its name, it was particularly funky on the nose, but in a fantastic, off the beaten track way. It was a delightful mix of crisp, green fruits with an element of stone fruits, making it a wonderfully multifaceted wine.
Heartland Dolcetto and Lagrein (Australia)
I’ve never heard of Lagrein prior to that event, and normally, I tend to associate Docletto with something incredibly fragrant and red fruit forward. After doing research, I discovered that Lagrein typically has flavours of dark plums, grass, and bitter cherries. This obscure Italian grape is hardly ever seen outside of Italy, but thrives in the Trentino-Adige region. That said, Heartland has made a pretty good wine in that it was well balanced, with equal parts fruit, fragrance, and concentration.
Calera Central Coast Pinot Noir
I’m always on the lookout for a good Pinot Noir, and admit that I enjoyed Calera. It’s got a good balance of floral notes, red fruits, and a hint of what a colleague calls “balsamic”. He’s Italian, and this is his all-encompassing term for all flavours pertaining to Italy: herbs, tomato leaves, etc.
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rosé
Here I am again with my love affair for all things rosé. I normally gravitate towards the Provence style, mostly because the price tag for a good Bandol is not for the faint hearted. However, I fell in love with this wine, mostly made with Mourverde grapes. It was intensely fruity and refreshing, with a hint of spice anchoring the wine, making it a perfect summer wine.
At this point, readers are probably wondering, “These are all tasting notes, where was the fun in IW&FS?” My answer, as illustrated through this video, which is shows what happens when a Spanish guy, a Frencman, and a pinoy try to saber a bottle. Cheers!
