Moorebank "Sheila" Black Sheep Shiraz 2009

Moorebank Private Vineyard

“Sheila” Black Sheep Shiraz 2009

Pokolbin (Hunter Valley), New South Wales

Wine maker: Gary Reed

Price: $30 a bottle

I like winemakers of the relaxed type. Gary Reed, you have done well. Sheila is a deep purple-red shiraz originating from Pokolbin in the Hunter Valley Wine Region of  New South Wales.

I drank this bottle over a few days and I have found it to be a versatile dinner-party-friendly wine. There’s been green chicken curry, roasted five spice chicken, stir-fry, chocolate, bruschetta, and steak (with a jus made from the Sheila Shiraz) The nose reminds me of warm cherry pie I once bought on a long drive from Sydney to Brisbane. It’s relatively sweet and the aromas continue into the mouth and develops depth that is added by the oak it is preserved in (only a slight sweek soft oak.. not like you’re drinking wood at all). The velvety tannins are a genius finish as the wine pulls away so as you swallow you’re left salivating and wanting another taste so that you can experience the journey all over again.

At $30 a bottle I would recommend you to keep 1 or 2 in your cellar to drink in the next year if you want to impress. It’s one of those bottles that will make you look like an avid wine critic as it seems quite hard to find now. Nevertheless, poke around the website and see what you can find :)

 

Oliver Brown - Top Ryde

It's 9pm and one of those nights where you go out with a friend and you come to the realisation that dinner just wasn't enough.
Thank goodness Oliver Brown had arrived in Top Ryde.
Chocolate always has the ability to hit the spot and it was open til late which suited us perfectly. Oliver Brown opened in Top Ryde late 2010 but this was my first visit to the chocolate cafe.

The atmosphere was one where friendships were consolidated. Small happy groups gathered around tables laden with mugs of steaming hot chocolate and plates of waffles.
Lots of waffles.

So we ordered the waffles to see what all the fuss was about.
2 waffles with ice cream please! Nice and simple.

Yum. yum yum yum. 2 thick crispy waffles came out with TWO scoops of ice cream and strawberries all over.
I absolutely loved the chocolate ice cream - decadent and creamy with choc chips.
The vanilla was nice and creamy and went so well with the waffles.

Oh the waffles.

2 waffles with ice cream

Waffles.
They were amazing. Crunchy on the outside with bits of chocolate all the way through. Paired with the drizzled chocolate and I was in heaven.
(and then the gym afterwards)

Iced Chocolate

I ordered the iced chocolate and I have to say it was competitive with Lindt's. And $1-2 cheaper....it came out infront.




My friend ordered a skinny capp (calorie balancing) which came with drizzled chocolate over the top and a cute teaspoon filled with mini chocolate buttons.

I can't wait to go back again
Mmmm....waffles....



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