Australia Day

[Innkeeper]

Well I went down to see what from Oz would go with the steak. My eyes fell on the '98 Rosemount Hill of Gold Mudgee Cabernet Sauvignon. Just two months ago I popped one and found it wound as tight as a drum. Didn't see a better candidate, so here's what happened. Opened it and poured it into a wide mouth carafe four hours before dinner. Fifteen minutes before dinner I poured the first round into wide mouth wine glasses. Then I grillpanned the steak and called Mother. The wine was wide open and fantastic. A ton of cassis dominated fruit on the nose, and upfront. Great structure and varietal complexity across the palate. Mostly tame tannins and well integrated oak complete the picture. Very nice finish, particularly while we sipped the last two glasses before dessert. Happy Birthday Australia.