Welcome to my second wine review and giveaway in my {Crash Test Wine} Women and Wine series. Before I introduce this week’s woman and wine, here’s the winner of the Alta wine 3-pack:
Congratulations to Leila Matthews!
You’ve won a bottle each of the Alta “For Elsie Pinot Noir Rosé, the Sauvignon Blanc and the Pinot Grigio
Our next woman of wine is Kate McIntyre of Moorooduc Estate on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.
Kate McIntyre MW
Kate is an MW, or a Master of Wine. There are 299 MWs in the world and only 87 of them are women.
What is a Master of Wine?
A Master of Wine (MW) is someone who has demonstrated, by way of rigorous examination,a thorough knowledge of all aspects of wine and an ability to communicate clearly. A Master of Wine will actively encourage others in the pursuit of knowledge as well as seek to bring wine communities together.
Kate is the Marketing Manager for Moorooduc Estate, her father Richard is the winemaker (and also pizza and sourdough baker extraordinaire!)
McIntyre Vineyard, Moorooduc Estate
Tips from a Master of Wine to a novice in wine
If you’re just starting to take an interest in learning more about wine, here are Kate’s three top tips to help you get started on your journey:
- Go to tastings – many are free, or very inexpensive – and then when you find something you like, buy a bottle and take it home and drink it in your own environment with your own food. If you still like it, buy a box!
- Find a palate that you trust and build a relationship – be it a wine writer, a retailer, a sommelier who has put you onto things you like – keep going back to grow the dialogue and discover new things!
- If you are drinking something new, write down what it is – variety, producer and vintage – or even better, take a photo of the label with your phone! Then you’ll remember what it was when you go back to buy it again!
And now on to the wine itself . . .
2009 Moorooduc Estate “McIntyre Vineyard” Pinot Noir
2009 Moorooduc
I chose this wine to review because I’m being indulgent. Pinot Noir is my favourite drop. It’s also a good Summer wine for red wine drinkers because it is much lighter than a big Shiraz or Cab Sauv.
This particular Pinot survived the hot weather that brought us Black Saturday, and while half the crop was damaged the remainder made an excellent quality wine.
For me, this wine is a rich, silky pool of black cherry lusciousness that I gladly dive into after a hard day on the job wrangling the CrashKids. I like my Pinot to be a little bit funky and charred, like a bit of burnt toffee. On this occasion the interest comes from a lovely spicy finish.
It is ready to drink now, but if you cellar it for a while the silk will become velvet and you’ll be rewarded for your patience. Silk is good enough for me ;)
Would I recommend it?
Absolutely, but at a recommended price of $36 it’s not going to be on everyone’s list for everyday drinking. I would choose it for a nice dinner at home with friends. Savour it with a meal, it’s perfect match being duck.
Where can I get it?
You’ll find this wine at your specialist wine store, or direct from the winery www.moorooducestate.com.au.
How will I remember the name?
Think food matching ie beef, kangaroo and duck – Moo-roo-duc ;)
Giveaway
I have a twin pack of the Moorooduc Estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay to give away to a lucky reader:
To enter:
- You must be 18 years or older to enter
- To qualify you need to be following Crash Test Mummy via RSS or Email or on the Facebook page.
- Ask me a question about wine in the comments below.
We had some really great questions last week, and even I learned something. So, don’t be shy about asking a question.
I’m using Rafflecopter (scroll down) so once you’ve followed me and commented, make sure you click “I did this” next to each. There are also options for extra entries. Entries close at 3pm on Thursday 27th of October.
Laney
Hosted by Three Lil Princesses
You have such good taste! Who makes your favourite Pinot Noir?
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My very favourite Pinot is made by winemaker Rudi Bauer in Central Otago, NZ. It’s called Quartz Reef and is stunning. I have many other favourites too though.
What year is the best of the Pinot Noir?
Do you mean of the Moorooduc Pinot? I’ve only had the latest vintage. I’ll see if CrashHubby has tasted the other vintages and get back to you ;)
How long can you cellar this wine?
Easily 5-10 years Jasmine. The screw cap slows the ageing process (less air comes into contact with the wine).
I’m not a huge red drinker, because most of them are too ‘much’ for me but this sounds lovely. Tell me, what gives a red the ‘spicy’ or ‘smoky’ finish that you talk about?
The spicy finish comes from the oak barrel it is matured in.
I usually only like shiraz for reds, but last night went to dinner with friends and loved the Pinot Noir they brought. It was exactly as you described – “lighter” than the Shiraz. Will definitely be looking to try more of them.
My question is about cellaring – how do you find out when is best to open a bottle of stored wine. Often there is a recommendation on the bottle that offers a range. We have a special bottle or 2 stored and I always worry if we will open it too soon or too late (my biggest fear is the too late!). Is there a database somewhere?? or a secret?
Deb @ Home life simplified’s last post..5 Tips to encourage Siblings without Rivalry
James Halliday and Jeremy Oliver are both renowned wine critics whose tasting notes offer a very good recommendation for the best time to drink a wine. Their tasting databases go back several years. I hope you can find your special bottles in their lists! Definitely better to drink it too early!!!
I shall have to get over my Rafflecopter issues – it’s becoming more widespread!! Okay – a wine question for you. Give me some good basic not to pricey wines to cut my teeth on. Where should I start to learn :)
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Try the Yalumba Y series, with half a dozen different varieties at or the Thorn Clarke Sandpiper range, all at $10-15 and readily available. Good luck!
Thanks for the tips. I like the packaging of this 2009 Moorooduc Estate “McIntyre Vineyard” Pinot Noir. Haven’t tried one yet but I hope that chance will assign me the opportunity.
Good luck!
Wine…….one word = YUM!
I visited MP this year and fell in LOVE with it…….Pinot is a HUGE fav of mine. (Pinot and Pizza a traditional Friday night at our house!)
So, a question…..”what vintages are the best for the Mornington Peninsular region?”
Jods
Fingers, toes,
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2010 was an excellent vintage throughout South Eastern Australia and you’ll see some great wines from the MP. Have fun finding some!
Hi Laney Loving this series. Hmm, what are your top 3 recommended Tasmanian pinot noirs? J x
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I haven’t tried all of them (yet), but on a trip to Tassie we came home with Dalrymple Estate and Holm Oak Pinot after visiting quite a few Tamar Valley vineyards. I also like Frogmore Creek Pinot in the Coal River Valley outside of Hobart.
Thanks for the wonderful win :)
Would these wines appeal to the untrained (as in never been a wine drinker) palate?
I’m thinking that this is a great way to find new wines for some wonderful Christmas presents…after i try them of course :)
Pinot Noir’s characteristics are quite subtle and may not be picked up and enjoyed by a new wine drinker. My recommendation would be to go for something a bit more obvious like a Shiraz, but not a really big one.
PS your wine should be delivered this Thurs or Friday :)
Organic wines are becoming more popular do you have a favorite ?
Serge Carlei is a winemaker in Heathcote and make some good organic wines under the Green Vineyards label. I like his biodynamic Shiraz.
What fox goes best with this Pinot Noir ?
Trish’s last post..A few more to keep you company My Pigeon Pair, Mum-ments , Muddled Up Mumma, The…
That would be food
Definitely duck!
I love Happs Garnet dessert wine. Can you recommend any others?
Try the Sticks Botrytis Semillon :)
Are there certain kinds of wine that you can keep longer?
Which wine do you recommend if its a gift to a couple that is going to celebrate their 40th anniversary?
Hi Yvonne. I won’t make a specific recommendation because I don’t know anything about the couple or their tastes. Here are a few ideas to help you decide though. Do they have any affiliation with a particular area that happens to make wine? For example did they get married in an area that has vineyards, did they enjoy a holiday to a wine making region? You have two choices re the vintage of the wine you buy. You could buy them something with a bit of age ready to drink now, or you could buy them a current vintage red that would cellar well for 10 years so they can enjoy your gift at their 50th anniversary. Again, find something that suits their tastes, are they red or white drinkers? Would they enjoy a vintage champagne? Good luck!
they are more of a red wine drinker! and i think the idea of buying them a current vintage so they can enjoy it at their 50th anniversary..will be a great idea! thanks!
how much would you usually spend on a bottle of wine for drinking at home (without guests)?
I’m actually quite spoiled for wine because of CrashHubby’s job. He brings home wine left over from tastings, tries new wines with me that he is going to sell, and also has a pretty impressive ‘cellar’ of wines he has collected over the last 15 years or so. I haven’t bought a bottle of wine for a while now ;)
If I was buying for us to drink at home I’d probably pay between $20-30. However, I also used to work in a Cleanskin wine store which had fabulous wines for around $8-12.
Buy what tastes good is my motto. Given I only have a glass or two a week, I want it to be good, so I don’t worry if it’s costs a little more.
I always seem to get a headache from drinking red wine (and not because I drink it excessively, LOL)… Am I doing it wrong? Is there a red that is less likely to give me headaches?
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Look for lighter styles of red wine like Pinot Noir and Merlot. Generally the cheaper the wine the more sulphites and additives, which are often the culprits for the red wine headache. Better wines treat you better!
Any giveaway with wine is a good idea
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Can’t disagree with you there Zoey ;)
What are some nice sweet wines?
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Try some Moscato – perfect for Summer. There are some good recommendations in the comments of this post:
http://www.crashtestmummy.com.au/2011/10/14/crash-test-wine-alta-rose-review-and-giveaway/
I love Pinots What regions of Australia makes yummiest ones.
The cooler regions, specifically Mornington Peninsula and Tasmania. Also look to NZ for Pinot, particularly Central Otago.
Would it go well with Italian or did you feel it was too summery?
Yep, it would be good with tomato based dishes!
What is your favourite wine/food partnership?
It would have to be a Tokay with blue cheese.
Living in the tropics, we keep all wine in the fridge, even the reds. I’ve become used to having chilled reds, but am guessing people might think that odd. Do you have a recommendation for a red that should be chilled?
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Hi Shelly, Beaujolais is great chilled down, Pinot Noir too. Sweet reds are good chilled too – check out Brown Brothers. With other reds, you can always get them out of the fridge and let them come up in temp before serving them.