September
Chalk and Fromage
The JAM team are usually a united front, but this was not the case during September. We were divided, not just by the equator, but by intent. While the “A” in JAM sauntered around Southern France, indulging in fromage, baguettes, truffles and, oui, oui, oui, fine french wine, the “J” & “M” embarked upon, and successfully completed, an alcohol free month (a ridiculous annual pilgrimage, designed by “M”, to cleanse the body and clear the mind) (Clear the mind? I went stir crazy!!!)
Anyway, at the end of September, “A” returned to her alcohol-free (and slightly self-righteous) friends in Melbourne, with news of a new love...french reds.
More than ready for a drop, J & M allowed A to share a few of her little french gems, and pretty soon we were oui oui-ing all the way home.
Merci Mademoiselle!
Two French reds of note are from the Cotes du Rhone region; the 2006 Tardieu-Laurent by Guy Louis and the 2007 Pascal Chalon, La Petite Ourse. (Pascal Chalon makes biodynamic Cotes-du-Rhone vintages in his Grandmother's garage!)
We tasted the two together for the sake of comparing wines from the same region.
La Petite Ourse is 60% Syrah and 40% Grenache. On the nose, it was a nice balance of subtle musky perfume with a slight meatiness, followed by pure fruit aromas. I detected a peachy, apple aroma which would make this wine perfect with a pork roast. On the palate it was pure fruit with supple but gripping tannins.
The 2006 Guy Louis Tardieu-Laurent wasn’t quite as elegant and maybe not as complex as the La Petite Ourse. It was all about vanilla and cigars, with darker fruit flavours - still very drinkable with our lamb roast, oui?
October
What a Dal Winner!
Well and truly back in the wine drinking saddle, the JAM team ventured to the Grampians for a little hiking and wine tasting. The highlight was a visit to the vines of Dalwhinnie, set in the stunning Pyrenees. We tasted through the small range of classic wines and surprised ourselves by agreeing on a Shiraz as the pick of the day. At $150 you’d have to love it and so, utterly convinced by the rare and luscious beauty of this 2003 Dalwhinnie Eagle Series Shiraz, we threw in $50 each and purchased a bottle.
You’ll be happy to know that, on 2 December, when we eagerly popped the cork, it was every bit as full bodied and graceful as we remembered. The thing that got me about this dark, blackberry, licorice shiraz was the rich and long lasting finish. A delicious, not-so-long-lasting, $150 experience!
November/December
JAM Estate Vineyard Update
Santa has been early to JAM Estate Vineyard and, as you can see in the picture above, our gift is in the post! Yes, the wires and posts have finally been erected and our thriving vines are looking happy and healthy. It won’t be long before they make themselves at home by curling their tiny tendrils along the wires, and before we know it, they’ll be flopping with plump grapes. (I wonder if Santa would be kind enough to drop in and help us at harvest time)
Hands protected with crusty garden gloves, the JAM team spent the first weekend in December at JAM Estate, tidying, weeding, mulching and admiring Santa’s trellis work. There'll be more hands on in the coming weeks as I head down there to give the vines some New Year lovin'.
Written by Jo Broom (c)
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