The Fish and Hippo Review

This is a blog of Reviews on Food, Drink, Music, Art, Events and occasional Sport. Based in The North East although their will be wanderings's else where. Formerly a Wine Blog

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Welcome: The 3rd Reincarnation of My Blog

This the 3rd Reincarnation of this damn blog. this time it is back to the begging and reviewing everything and anything that is an interest is me. There will be few re-blogs and some article post but mostly all my own posts. Occasionally I will promote or express a large opinion on something in the news (mostly sport).  There will be reviews of mostly food and drink in various formats, then comes music and theater then comes art and events.  Style is more likely to be look what I bought and outfit inspiration, although expect the odd rant over Primark inconstancy of sizes.

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16 Little Black Pigs Vintage:2015 Grape: Pinot Grigio Country: Australia Region: South Eastern Australia Vol: 11.5% Price (Inc.VAT): £8.99 (Virgin Wines) The Black Pigs Estate in South Eastern Australia produce a lot of top notch wines and this young Pinot is a fine example of what the new world has to offer.  Very clear with the slightest of peach tinges with a very thin body and no leg at all but that is not unusual for such a young Pinot.  A faint smell of pistachio and pineapple with summer fruits.  On the palette the pineapple is there lingering all the time giving an initial punch but with a sweet peachy aftertaste that's gentle. It’s very young and could do with a couple of years aging just to have the flavours blend a little more but I would not drink much older.  Lay down for too long and this drink will mellow out and be an ordinary Pinot Plonk.  It will be interesting to see what its big brother ‘Black Pig’ will be like when it is released if the estate feels there crop is good enough.  The Australian whites are getting close to where New Zealand were 10 years ago so high hopes. Pair this Pinot with more delicate flavored dishes, goes especially well with white fish, shell fish and classic french chicken dishes.  Would loose out to strong spices and tomato based dishes but anything creamy or herby it would be delightful partner. Bouquet - 7/10 Taste - 7/10 Quality - 7/10 Value - 9/10 Personal - 7/10 Overall - 37/50

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Pieroth Platinum Kreuznacher Kronenberg Vintage: 2013 Grape: Riesling Grade: Pradikatswein, Spatlese Country: Germany Region: Nahe Vol: 8% Price (Inc. VAT): £19.19 Another from Pieroth, this time a late harvest 2013 Riesling. It is pineapple in color with a medium body and good legs.  It has a great nose warm apple sauce with a hint of peach, you can almost taste the wine before you sip it.  You get that sharp apple flavour that is so typical of Rieslings as it first hits your tongue and transform into softer notes of pears and peach that linger.

There is no doubting the quality of the wine it self however it is a little pricey for what it is and very easy drinking.  I prefer something a little stronger just slow down a little but because of it’s 8% volume I’d recommend for that all day party.  However if your want a well balanced fruity white to stand up to strong Asian flavors this Riesling is one of the best and lingers.  Would go with any pork dish, most cream based sauces and even sweeter sponge and cheesecakes.

Bouquet - 8/10 Taste - 9/10 Quality - 10/10 Value - 8/10 Personal - 7/10 Overall - 42/10

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Dragon Hills Vintage: 2014 Grape: Syrah Country: Romania Vol: 12.5% Price (inc.VAT): £8.99 (Virgin Wines) This is a light bodied  fruity Syrah from the heartlands of Romania, under the shadows of Carpathian mountains,  It is a cherry color with hues of violet and strawberry.  The wine doesn’t really have any legs and it’s bouquet although complex is a little weak.  The tinge of liquorice on the nose transforms into vanilla on the tongue other than that the blubbery and all spice go right through this wine.  Leaves a slight lingering taste of black olives, This is not the most impressive of syrah but its fruitiness and bite makes up for the lack of punch.  Lay it down for 5 or more years and it will develop that peppery punch put its fruitiness will become a bit sour so best drank young.  Will go with almost any red meat especially Lamb or duck.  Best with with a roast meal and classic French dishes.  Will loose out to strong spicy foods but will cope with strong cheeses, Bouquet - 6/10 Taste - 7/10 Quality- 7/10 Value - 7/10 Personal - 8/10 Overall - 35/50

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Food Pairing Chart from http://winefolly.com/ properly one the best online source for all things wine, this is one of many diagrams I will be posting occasionally from Wine Folly.

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Golden Grape Estate Wooded Chardonnay

Vintage: 2014 Grape: Chardonnay Country: Australia Region: Hunter Valley Vol: 13% Price (inc VAT); £16.79 Supplier: Pieroth Ltd. UK

This is a big full bodied, well rounded white from the Golden Grape Estate in the heart of the Hunter Valley just north of Sydney.  The este itself has been producing wines for more than 50 years now and over the last 10 years has produced some real gems when it comes to white wines.  Like much of the New World wines Australia’s wines are starting show a strong character that rivals that of the French, Italians and Germans. The wine it self is almost the color of groundnut oil and has a thick viscous body which is not always associated with high vol whites.  The fermentation in oak barrels has given this chardonnay strong vanilla essence with a slight smokey note.  This with its body gives it resemblance to a very light young single malt.  On the tounge aganin you get that oak reminiscence with a warm  bite of vanilla pods.  Well round flavours thant linger in your mouth and would go well with meaty fish and roast poultry.  A good compliment rich creamy dishes but certainly a show stopper for Christmas dinner. Bouquet - 9/10 Taste - 8/10 Quality - 9/10 Value - 10/10 Personal - 8/10 Overall - 44/50

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Pierotth Blue Burg Layern Schlosskapelle Vintage: 2014 Grape: Kerner Grade: Pradikatswein, Kabinett

Country: Germany Region: Nahe Vol: 8.0% Price (inc vat): £16.79 Supplier: Pieroth Ltd. UK Pierotth are a exclusive wine company born in the heart of the Nahe region in Germany and specialize in first press wines from all around the world.  Here is there flagship Blue Bottle with a wine that they have been making for over 300 years, in this 2014 vintage is the Kerner grape earlier batches were made using Bacchus with a slighting higher volume. This is a typical German wine, light easy drinking and fruity.  A medium sweet white with a very pale lemon juice color with good legs for a white.  The bouquet isn’t the most impressive, a little timid but notes of floral citrus fruits.  As for taste it has a summery complex with a peachyness being cut through at the end with a tangy apple. The flavors are crisp and  gentle on the taste buds bur strong enough to stand up to lightly spiced chicken and fish dishes.  Would go will with roast pork or a paella style dishes.  Could drink this wine and still have sensible hours later. Bouquet - 7/10 Taste - 8/10 Quality- 9/10 Value - 9/10 Personal - 7/10 Overall - 40/50