Mac Forbes Grüner Veltliner 2006

Carnuntum, Austria. 12.5%. Screwcap. Approx $A28.

Sometime last year I had dinner with three good Catholic lads. It was a wine and expletive filled night that I recall fondly. I had a repeat dose tonight, though things seemed a little more sedate (just as much wine and fun, but less colourful language). Perhaps that is what happens when you get closer to 40. . .

This time the venue was Piccolo, on Angove St, in North Perth. It's a small corner restaurant with very comforting and hearty food. Though not sophisticated, the serves are abundant, well made and quite charming. I had the 300g rib eye steak, (they do also offer a 1000g version, which I understand no one has ever ordered) which was lovely and succulent.

Several bottles of wine were consumed including the brisk and refreshing 2006 Mac Forbes Grüner Veltliner (An Austrian Grüner made by an Australian!). This was an excellent, svelte, apple and pear laden wine. (Drink now, 91/100). Also enjoyed was a deceptive bottle of 2003 Pierro Pinot noir (Margaret River 14%, screwcap) which I could have sworn was Victorian in taste and profile. It was certainly one of the better pinots that I have tasted from Margaret river, with a lovely and fragrant nose and plenty of zip and polish, (90/100). Also misleading (to me at least) was the lovely and approachable 2003 St Hugo Cabernet sauvignon (14.5%, Cork) which I thought was a shiraz. Even in retrospect, it seemed too ginger spice and earthy to be anything else, (91/100). More typical was the mature and elegant 1992 Penfold St Henri Shiraz. Which was showing ginger, leather, iron and saffron, along with lovely sweetness, brisk acid and firm gripping tannins, (90/100).

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