Saturday, August 19th- Teusner, Paringa

It could be Wednesday for all we know. We check out of the Barossa Novotel Resort and stop at the former location of one of Australia’s best restaurants, Barr-Vinum. Barr-Vinum is co-owned by Bob McLean and Chris Ringland and was lead in the kitchen by Sandor Palmai, one of Australia’s most brilliant chefs. Located in the tiny town of Angaston in the Barossa, it appears the restaurant was too big for the town. It is closed until further notice.
We met Kym Teusner of Teusner Wines in the restaurant for a tasting. The Teusner wines are some of my personal favorites.

We tasted through the new releases of…
2005 Joshua (65% Grenache, 25% Mataro and 10% Shiraz, no oak treatment)
2004 Avatar (60% Grenache, 30% Mataro, 10% Shiraz aged in seasoned oak for over 16 months)
2004 The Riebke (Shiraz from the northern Barossa sub region of Ebenezer)
2003 Albert (100% shiraz cuvee from vines between 45 and 90 years old)
Barrel sample of a 2005 vintage shiraz that will be a super-premium single vineyard release.

Before we started on our 2 hour drive to Paringa, was stopped by the Barossa Farmer’s Market for a look. At Dan’s suggestion most of us stood in line for the best bacon, egg and cheese sandwich we have ever eaten. I washed mine down with some farm-fresh milk (clotted lumps and all) before hitting the bus.

We arrived at David Higginbotham’s Paringa vineyard for a light lunch and a vineyard tour. The vineyard is 5 square MILES of neatly trellised vines and red dirt on the banks of the Murray River. After the bus tour of the vineyard, no walking here, we headed to Mildura for dinner with David at his favorite restaurant, Stefano’s, at the Mildura Grand Hotel. We also spent the night at the Grand where every room was unique. We started the evening with a reception in the garden where we quaffed 2005 Paringa White and 2004 Paringa Sparkling Shiraz. When it was time for dinner was ascended into the hotel’s old wine cellar (must have been 2,500 sq. ft.) for supper.

With our Italian styled banquet dinner we drank…
2006 Bon Bon Rose
2000, 2002, 2005 Paringa Merlot
2000, 2002, 2005 Paringa Cabernet Sauvignon
1999, 2002, 2005 Paringa Shiraz