I was joined by the “heir apparent” for dinner at the Booth Street Bistro BSB.
Entrees included a shared meat board and crunchy fried calamari. I had a delicious de-constructed spatchcock pie whilst the lads had beef cheeks and a Black Angus eye fillet.
Blondie echoed softly as background music to a serious discussion about new cars and Ashes cricket.
The BSB has an extensive wine list but not so many by the glass, luckily I chose to bring along a bottle of MMQ.
The 2012 Mount Mary quintet is quite a mouthful!
This vintage is a blend of 42% Cabernet sauvignon, 17% Cabernet franc, 33% Merlot, 4% Malbec, 4% Petit verdot.
Subtle aromas featuring blood plum, dark cherries and cloves.
Slightly tart @ 12.9% alcohol it grows into a deep complex wine after decanting and has a cellaring potential is up to 20 years.
According to the winemakers the percentage of each variety that goes into the final blend changes with the season as factors such as fruitfulness and fruit set vary.
The greatest influence they have over the quality of this wine is deciding when to pick each variety. This determines not only the flavours but the quality of tannins, and the acid and alcohol levels.
The fermentation regime is similar to that of the Pinot, although slightly longer fermentations are employed (up to 12 days). This is followed by 22 months of barrel maturation, with 25% of the blend in large format oak (1500L or larger), and 30% in new barriques (225L).
Contacts
Booth Street Bistro
Address: 127 Booth Street, Annandale,
Tel: 9660 6652
Website: boothstbistro.com
Open: Breakfast and lunch, Sat-Sun; dinner, Tues-Sun
Licensed (BYO Tues-Wed, corkage $10 a bottle)
Cost: About $100 for two, plus wine
Mount Mary Vineyard:
P O BOX 626
Lilydale VIC 3140
Australia
Email admin@mountmary.com.au
Ph +61 3 9739 1761
Fax +61 3 9739 0137
Expect to pay around $130/bottle for the Mount Mary Quintet.
