Local Rules

Whilst talking about the current fixation of golf's ruling bodies with technology and professional golf on The Pro Shop recently, the subject of the growth of the game came up. And of course, the stats over the last decade show a steady decline in rounds played across Australia.

The 'fiddling whilst Rome burns' analogy comes immediately to mind, but the reasons for the numbers going backwards are more complex than simply attention deficit. I mention a few of those in this article, but one ongoing issue that golf needs to deal with sooner rather than later is its fixation with the past and ongoing attachment to elitism. Read it here.

On the Bench #11

Wandin Valley Estate Pavilion Rose' 2009 ( $18) v Gundog Estate Rose' 2009 ($18)


I've been fortunate enough to try Matt Burton's wines ( Wandin Valley Estate) for a few years now and they've always been good. Not showy, but honest (not in a damning with faint praise way) and with drinkability to the fore.

I found a bottle of his rose' in the pile tonight, and just happened at the same time to see another rose' from Gundog Estate, a brand that I had never heard of before. A moment of investigation and, lo and behold, I find that Gundog Estate belongs to his parents.

So what a perfect opportunity to pit a family against each other in a vinous, Canberra v Hunter Valley, last man standing, smack down. Lets not mention that Matt makes both wines, it spoils the story!

Actually, it is a pretty clear win to mum and dad, although if your personal preference is for a more full fruited style the Wandin Valley may be more your go. But the Gundog Rose' is a really classy wine, restrained and savoury, pale in colour with a touch of barrel work adding a textural factor. It is drying and quenching at the same time, oh so easy to drink and great with summer foods like fish and chips, salads and antipasto.

As mentioned, the Wandin Valley wine is brighter, with more primary, youthful red fruit flavours- really fresh and lovely summer drinking but in this case, art imitates life because Mum and Dad (again) get the last word.

On the Bench #10

Scarborough 'Green Label' Semillon 2009 $18

Bit of a quiet achiever, are Scarborough. Tucked away in the Hunter Valley, making little noise but lots of very good wine. This is a different take on the classically lean, tight Hunter Semillon style, with a slightly riper profile that lends more consumer friendly, tropical fruit orientated flavours. The drinkability factor is high- think of it as a Sauvignon Blanc for intellectuals. Winery Sample, 91 points, drink 2010+

Tiger- After the Reign

As far as public relations disasters go, the Tiger Woods debacle over the last seven weeks takes the cake. Marketing courses and MBA programs for decades to come will be using this as an example of exactly how not to go about dealing with a PR crisis.

Amazingly, no-one has sighted Woods since news of the late night car crash on Nov 27 broke. It is a bizarre saga which seems to be heading further into La-La land with every passing day.

This months Golf Digest article takes a look at the past, present, and immediate future for Tiger Woods.

Pick the odd guy out

Exactly...the South African. I had lunch today at The Grand GC on the Gold Coast, and I'm not sure if I've been back since the 2001 Australian Open when this round was shot.

Anyway, the picture was worth taking for posterity's sake. I'm pretty sure it is the first and last time my name will be included in any list involving the roll call posted on this honour board!

On the Bench #9

Frankland Estate 'Isolation Ridge' Shiraz 2007 $35

If there is any justice in the world (there isn't, I know) then brands from off the beaten track who have stuck to their style guns through the last 15 years and produced regionally specific, authentic, personality driven wines will find their moment in the sun in the near future.

That may be wishful thinking, but labels like Frankland Estate fit that bill to a tee. Cool climate operators struggled for attention when size was king, but there was never any question about the quality of the wines that this Great Southern producer turned out.

And if anything, they're just getting better. You could smell the nose on this all day- pepper, florals, spice rack, rocks and black cherries. Relaxed but powerful in the mouth, lots of deep black flavours but without any heaviness and spicy persistence. Grainy, imperfect tannins in keeping with the rustic personality of the wine. And you just keep reaching for another glass. Winery Sample, 94+ points, drink 2011+

On the Bench #8

Cape Mentelle 'Wallcliffe' Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2007 $40

I lost count of the number of times I heard Len Evans lament the 'cult of dimension' that had crept into the appreciation and assessment of Australian wine through the 90's and early noughties. Almost from the first time I heard him speak on wine, any wine, this was an abiding concern of his.

To be honest, I had no idea what he meant at the time. Well, an idea, but no real tasting experience to use as a barometer from which to base my own assessment. Wine was wine, and to be honest, the more juicy and concentrated the better as far as I was concerned.

Tastes change; in fashion, music, food, and wine. The wines I liked then are different to what I drink now. And I have no doubt that ten years ago, I would have thought that this wine was a waste of glass.

Fortunately, wine redemption is available to all. This is as good a 'Graves/White Bordeaux' style as you will find in Australia, and won't be shamed by anything varietally similar with a French label on it. The use of oak, and the integration of it, is basically perfect. It's there, but not intrusive, and the textural component that comes with the 'oaked white' territory adds interest and complexity. Best of all, there is a seamlessness and purity about this wine that sets it apart- it's dry, lean, savoury yet quenching, and the silken flow of it is magnificent.

This is a poster boy for what is possible in Australian wine- different, ambitious, imaginative, outside the box, elegant, packed to the gills with interest and excellence. Not wanting to put words in the old bloke's mouth, but I reckon Len would have loved it. Winery Sample, 95+ points, drink 2011+

A new Pooch

We have a new addition to the family. Oscar, a mutt of indeterminate origins, has become a Dodd.

If he looks like a pound or junkyard dog, that's because he is. Our last rescue effort, Jackie, was found in a heroin addict's care (or lack of it) and though it was a lot of hard work to rehabilitate her after the abuse she had received, she turned into a wonderful dog and a much loved part of our life.

Sadly, she ate some poison berries a year or so ago, fell very sick, and ended up with chronic epilepsy. We nursed her for a while, tried every drug in the book but in the end she was fitting violently every hour or so and we had to do that horrible but humane thing and put her down.

Oscar very nearly met an early end. Deciding that he needs to chew everything in sight, he set to task on an electrical cord. The burns on his back were horrific, but he has survived, the wounds have healed, he's in good form and has now decided that expensive runners and Oakley sunglasses are more his flavour.

Anyway, we enjoy the chaos that he brings to our life, and also that beautiful brand of whole hearted, selfless love that only dogs can give.

Now to stop him jumping the fence.

Happy New Year !!!

A happy new year to everyone. 2009 was a tough year all round in a lot of ways, hopefully we have seen the back of what it represents and things are on the up.

Had an enjoyable but quiet NYE. Some very nice wines, Chandon NV, Yarrabank 2005 and Pommery NV for bubbles to start the night, and then two Ten Minutes by Tractor pinot's from 2007 with some lamb and a cheese plate afterwards. More notes on the reds later.

Hope everyone isn't too seedy today. Here's to a great 2010.