Sterling Wine Auctions Australia

Every now and then, you start off in top gear and just keep going faster. A very generous and modest wine guru of Italian origin, sometimes known as M, threw a little party to let off some steam, welcome some interstate guests and settle up on a lost bet. With his ever vigilant trainee guru in tow, the delightful and outspoken AM, there was a need to make an effort, after all it was Wednesday night.

The food. Inspired. The team at Shenton Park’s (Perth) Galileo put on a blinder. There must have been ten courses, each one better than the last.

Then there was the wine...

Dom Perignon 1990 from Magnum
Heaven in a glass, the most amazing fine and persistent bead fizzing away almost too small for the naked eye. So fresh and clean on the palate, crisp bready characters, the citrus turning from sharp lemon and lime to developed Marmalade and Madera cake.

1986 Vouverey
A recent release 20 year old wonder wine, a touch of sweet Chenin Blanc fruit rolled up into the most amazing neck oil, a slippery kaleidescope of seductive sensation.

Mount Mary Quintet 2003
Just buy it and drink it! Great wine, a miracle wine with food. It provided the alter upon which to worship and packs in the London Philharmonic for mood music.

Moss Wood Cabernet 2003
They just keep on coming, a blessed vineyard, wonderous fruit and a heritage that embraces unyielding excellence. This Moss Wood was rich and elegant, full of promise and sinful indulgence on the tongue.

Cos d’Estournel 2003
Every now and then the big picture, edge to edge, tone perfect and perfectly detailed becomes clear. Drink this wine and know that there is a God. Maybe contrary to popular English belief God may even be French. Good wine? No, certified religious experience.

Gaja Sori San Lorenzo Barbaresco 1982
The delightful, softly outspoken AM was celebrating a birthday, so her birth year wine was on the list. Its hard to understand just how different, special and memorable a wine can be. Sadly I can’t tell you to go out and buy this one. Very Rare, Very special, The current release is worth over $US500. If you were to dine with Mona Lisa (as immortalized by DaVinci) this is the wine you would have.

Penfolds Grange Hermitage 1969
More birthdays wines, 1969 Grange is a bit tired. Still some nice mocha choc and porty raisin. Lovely curio and the birthday boy was chuffed.

Chateau Coutet Barsac 1980
A dignified wine educator in our midst, a very proper fellow, understood the need to bring us back to earth ever so gently, and the Coutet was just the ticket. A sublime silken parachute billowing around us, sharpening the senses and tricking the mind. All the comfort of “lieb frau milch” but adding the luscious indulgence that tempts us to explore beyond the limits of safety.

Then as we began, turned onto the cold and dark street homeward bound, sobered by a brilliance of a new life long memory.

Thank you M and AM, What’s happening next Wednesday Night?

October 2006