Column: Tasting Notes & Menu from the Interview with Australian Ambassador Steven J. Robinson

In my recent column for The Manila Bulletin, I had the lovely opportunity to get to know Australian Ambassador to the Philippines’ Steven J. Robinson. We talked about wine and great food coming from his home country and how quality doesn’t always have to come with such a heavy price.

It was so refreshing to meet someone who truly loves wine but is also easygoing with it. There are no rules, no wrong answers – it’s about what you like, no matter the color or the price point of your drink. “So in the old days, people used to say that you could only drink white wine with chicken and fish,” he said. “And then you could only drink red wine with beef and lamb. That’s actually not true at all. You do what you want to do.”

I used to discriminate against screw-top wines. I feel like most of us have been conditioned to think that corked wines will always be better, fancier. Turns out that’s not always the case. Also, corked wines need more care when stored. We all know what happens to wine when the cork dries up – one never has that problem with screw-tops. I learned so many things that evening but I think I’ll have to save them for another post.

For now, let me fulfill my promise at the end of my column, I’m sharing the wines and the food that we had and all the details about them – from price to where they’re available. Hopefully, these will be helpful for your media noche plans!

Wines below Php 1,000

1. GRANT BURGE Benchmark
   Varietal: Shiraz
   Region: South Australia
   Year: 2019
   Tasting notes: Deep red with vibrant purple hues. A complex nose showing soft plum fruit aromas and a touch of sweet vanilla. The palate is soft and generous, bursting with dark berry fruit and festive cake, savoury yet subtle peppered spice adds to the complexity.
   Available at: Lazada, Ralph’s Wines & Spirits, The Marketplace, Landers, SM
   Price: Php 650.00

2. HARDYS VR
   Varietal: Shiraz
   Region: South Eastern Australia
   Year: 2019
   Tasting notes: Beautiful cherry aromas complemented by spicy pepper characters and sweet vanilla. The palate is rich plum and dark berry with velvety chocolate flavours. There is a well-rounded, soft palate with light tannin and fruit sweetness.
   Available at: Lazada, Booze Shop, The Marketplace, Landers, SM
   Price: Php 320.00 – 350.00
3. RIVER RETREAT
   Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
   Region: Murray Darling
   Year: NV
   Tasting notes: Light green showing lifted tropical fruit aromas of sweet pineapple, the delicious and balanced palate shows soft pawpaw, lemongrass, and sweet green basil; a zesty style to enjoy on any occasion. 
   Available at: The Marketplace, GoRobinsons, MetroMart
   Price: Php 499

4. TAMBURLAINE
   Varietal: Shiraz
   Region: Orange
   Year: 2017
   Tasting notes: Grown in the high altitude vineyards of Orange, this cool climate Shiraz shows classic ripe plum. A vibrant bouquet of violets, raspberries and cinnamon. The palate is medium-bodied with dark berries, plums, hints of licorice, black pepper and vanilla. 
   Available at: The Marketplace, GoRobinsons, MetroMart
   Price: Php 699

5. WOOMERA
   Varietal: White Moscato
   Region: Griffith, Southeast Australia
   Year: NV
   Tasting notes: Woomera is a wooden Australian Aboriginal spear-throwing device which is a clear homage to this wine’s origins. A no-frills sweet, white rich with peach & tropical fruit characters. This is a nice crowd-pleasing, starter wine for those no occasion, impromptu gatherings & get-togethers. Peach, guava, pineapple, and tangerine.
   Available at: Landers Superstores, SM Supermarkets, Robinsons Supermarket, Lazada, Shopee, BoozyPH, Winery.PH
   Price: Php 479.00
6. PIKES Eastside
   Varietal: Shiraz
   Region: Clare Valley
   Year: 2018
   Tasting notes: Deep black-purple colour with a bright dark purple hue. Flowing out of the glass are aromatics of liquorice, dark cherry and plum trailed by vanillin cedar and pepper notes. Medium to full-bodied the palate is flush with generous liquorice, dark cherry and plum fruits which meld into smoky vanillin oak and spicy pepper characters. Sturdy yet well-integrated tannins with a juicy like medium to long aftertaste.
   Available at: Wine Depot’s stores and online shop, Lazada, Winery PH
   Price: Php 900.00

7. PRINTHIE MOUNTAIN RANGE
   Varietal: Shiraz
   Region: Orange
   Year: 2018
   Tasting notes: Printhie Mountain Range Shiraz offers drinkers a medium-weighted cool climate Shiraz with a silky smooth texture, black pepper notes and red fruits through a long palate.
   Available at: Winery.PH
   Price: Php 895.00

8. BAILY & BAILY SILHOUETTE
   Varietal: Shiraz
   Region: South Australia
   Year: NV
   Tasting notes: This is Bingo Call Shiraz No.35 Jump & Jive because while it jives with traditional winemaking techniques it also jumps high in quality because of the finest Shiraz fruit sourced from Australia’s superior terroirs makes this wine. It is soft and easy drinking with blackcurrant and spicy plum and a distinctive perfumed nose. Drink it at your next get together with friends.
   Available at: The Market Place, MetroMart, GoRobinsons
   Price: Php 499.00

9. MINCHINBURY
   Varietal: Moscato Cuvee
   Region: NSW
   Year: 2019
   Tasting notes: Another Italian-style wine made with an Australian twist and Minchinbury flair. For those who love something sweet with their sparkling, Moscato is the wine for you. Moscato is light on the sparkle, making it a delightfully refreshing and versatile sparkling choice. This one exudes subtle sweetness with a palate of musk and candied strawberries and finishes with racing acidity.
   Available at: The Market Place, MetroMart, GoRobinsons
   Price: Php 319.00

10. VINACEOUS RACONTEUR
    Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
    Region: Margaret River
    Year: 2017
    Tasting notes: The wine is matured in oak and selected by Vinaceous winemakers Mike Kerrigan and Nick Stacy for finishing, fining, blending and bottling by Vinaceous. The Raconteur typifies classic Margaret River cabernet; lush, rich and deep purple in colour with bright hues, the aroma leaps from the glass with violets and black berry and mocha notes.
    Available at: ZEN Asia Shopify, Winery.PH
    Price: Php 654.00

Wines above Php 1000 (but well worth it)

1. ADELAIDE HILLS
   Varietal: Chardonnay
   Region: McLaren Vale, South Australia
   Year: 2019
   Tasting notes: Pale straw in colour with aromas of peaches, nectarine, yellow apple & honeysuckle.  Complex flavours or nectarine, yellow apple, ripe pear & white peach. Refined with balanced acidity, subtle creaminess & excellent defined long finish.
   Available at: Lazada, Don Revy’s Shopify
   Price: Php 1,485.00
2. CLAYMORE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON MAGNUM
   Varietal: Shiraz
   Region: Clare Valley
   Year: 2017
   Tasting notes: Perfumed lifted fresh oak integrates with nuances of brambly forest fruits and dark olive tapenade. Dark and opulent, juicy dark fruit flavours of blood plums and blackcurrants, with persistent, mouth-coating tannins and balanced oak.
   Available at: ZEN Asia Shopify, Winery.PH
   Price: Php 1,750.00
3. PENFOLDS BIN 389
   Varietal: Cabernet Shiraz
   Region: Padthaway, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Wrattonbully, Barossa Valley
   Year: 2019
   Tasting notes: Color: Bright, crimson red Aromas: Lifted, fragrant. Immediately Penfolds. Aficionados may quickly identify and proclaim 389. Tasting Profile: Balance of the sweet (cabernet) and the savoury (shiraz). Possesses what has now often been referred to as a black forest cake 2018 vintage flavour profile. Darker fruits – closer to that of a black cherry liqueur than a crème de cassis component of kirsch.
   Available at: S&R, Winery.ph
   Price: Php 4,399.00
4. MITOLO 7TH SON
   Varietal: Grenache/ Shiraz/ Sagrantino 
   Region: McLaren Vale
   Year: 2018
   Tasting notes: Medium ruby with purple hues. Gorgeously expressive with lifted aromas of spiced plum, strawberry, black cherry, violet and cedar. Lovely weight with equal elements of sweet spice and ripe fruit. Satsuma plum, cherry, cinnamon and vanilla mesh perfectly with refreshing acidity and fine-grained tannins. Full-bodied, but soft and harmonious, it finishes long with a silky mouthfeel. Our best 7th Son to date.
   Available at: ZEN Asia Shopify, Winery.PH
   Price: Php 1,140.00
5. GLAETZER BISHOP
   Varietal: Shiraz
   Region: Barrosa Valley
   Year: 2017
   Tasting notes: Dark red with garnet edges. Black cherries, dried spice and blackcurrant. Plush yet focussed, ripe tannins provide structure to the flavours of blackberry and plum.
   Available at: ZEN Asia Shopify, Winery.PH
   Price: Php 1,173.00

Food Selection

The food we had that night was prepared by famed Australian restaurant in Manila, Bondi & Bourke. It’s been on my list for quite a while so this was quite another treat. Chef Wade Watson himself delivered the dishes and prepped them on the table. Each one, made using Australian products – I was floored by the steak and the salmon. The King Island Dairy Roaring Forties Blue Cheese was highly addictive. I couldn’t stop popping it in my mouth along with the grapes.

While they don’t serve Filipino dishes, their kitchen made an exception for the dinner to showcase how Australian wine can be paired with Filipino food. The Ambassador loved the Cebu-style adobo so much, he said he may just order it in advance next time he plans to come to the restaurant. I’ll prolly try my luck and do the same.

Pairing wine with Filipino food

Since the holiday season is about indulging, why not take this as a chance to explore Australian wines and pair them with the food you’re having? There are no hard and fast rules and we’re all encouraged to drink what we think goes with the food we love but here are some suggestions to help you start:

Western food 

• All kinds of wine can be paired with seafood, not just whites 
• Rosé goes with all kinds of food, but not so well with beef. 
• Pinot Noir and Shiraz with steak 

Filipino food 

• Crisp chardonnay goes well with Lechon 
• Light Pinot Noir with Adobo
• Merlot or shiraz with Kare-Kare
• Riesling with Lumpia 

Happy holidays, everyone!