#foodandwineblog – Crumbs and Corks

Let’s Taste!

Hi there!! Happy new year and gong xi fa cai! Sorry it’s been a while since I shared here but I aim to try and remedy that! The start of the year has been a whirlwind of family emergencies and lockdowns but I’m back!

To start off the year here’s some of what I’ve been drinking this 2021 so far and some drops you should definitely taste!

Idée Fixe

Vasse Felix

Margaret River, WA

From a mysterious clone of Chardonnay discovered in the Vasse Felix wine estate in Karridale in the Margaret River region comes this gorgeous Blanc de Blanc. It has beautiful mousse and fine bubbles, apple and lemon pith, almond notes. So beautiful and it was the perfect New Years Eve bubbles! Definitely going to be my favourite bubbles for the year!

Long Way Around

Ravensworth,

Murrumbateman, NSW

From Ravensworth in Murrumbateman comes 2020 ‘Long Way Around’ Bianco.
Ravensworth made no wine from their vineyard last year due to the impact of smoke taint on their fruit from the bushfires. Friends in wine from WA helped out including Dormilona wines , Forest Hill, and viticulturist Lee Haselgrove with some fruit to make this delicious blend. Fruit travelled 4500 km across from WA, five trucks, one train and a boat carried eight varieties, from five regions to Murrumbateman.
This is mostly Trebbiano from the Swan Valley with some time on skins and barrel fermented blended with Gewurztraminer from Frankland River and Riesling from Porongorups.
Smells like apricot and ginger, with peach, almond and citrus on the palate, it’s textural and complex with hint of spice. A beautiful example of the wine community coming together to create something special.

2018 CHN Chenin Blanc

Brash Higgins

Blewitt Springs, South Australia

Chenin love from Brash Higgins, the 2018 ‘CHN’ Chenin Blanc is gorgeous. I’m a huge fan of Chenin. This is made from fruit in the Blewitt Springs subregion of McLaren Vale, and was fermented wild in barrel for 12 months. Gorgeous gold in the glass, with aromas of honey and apricot, notes of lemon and peach on the palate with a delicate saline finish. Matches perfect with Thai food!

2020 Highbury Fields Sauvignon Blanc

Forest Hill Vineyard

Mount Barker, Western Australia

Summer in a bottle is the best descriptor for Forest Hill Vineyard 2020 Highbury Fields Sauvignon Blanc. This is a cool climate Sauvignon Blanc from Mt Barker. The aromas of citrus and passionfruit waft from your glass into a balmy summer evening. Fresh and bright with passionfruit, citrus and herbs on the palate. Quite textural, so delicious and was given 90 points by Ray Jordan and in his Top 100 whites for 2020. Purchased on visit to their gorgeous cellar door in September last year. One of my favourite wine regions.

Liberté Dreams

I dreamt of eating at Liberté restaurant in Albany in Western Australia’s Great Southern since it opened. It is renowned as a national darling, and was named best bar in Australia in 2019. I’m always excited when dreams come true!

Housed in the historic London Hotel in Albany, which was built in the early 1900’s, it is a bar and restaurant with Parisian decor, antique furniture and gilded mirrors.

Liberté’s menu is a fusion of French and Vietnamese bold flavours, that deserve all the chef hats. Most famous for its chilli crab and garlic noodles, these are the must have dish, and after trying them I would actually sell up and move to Albany for them.

I also tried their delicious kingfish crudo with ginger, chilli oil and lime served with seaweed crackle, it was fresh and zingy with lots of crunch. On the menu also sizzling squid, prawn and pork dumplings, crispy pork belly with a delicious remoulade of apple, brussel sprouts, mint and sesame, and for dessert ginger brûlée complete with toffee and dragonfruit.

Crispy Pork Belly with Brussel Sprout, Granny Smith Apple, Mint and Toasted Sesame Remoulade

For drinks, the cocktails are extensive and there’s something for everyone from spritzes to smoky drinks. I had a special “West of the Tracks” with gin, makrut lime vermouth, orange juice and samphire bitters.

A beautiful meal with memorable flavours and definitely worth the visit if you are in the region.

Meet Sloane

I’m Sloane, and here you’ll find me writing on all the things I love to eat and cook and sometimes drink. I’m known for the best Monday bakes in my work office, I have also freelanced in my spare time for local publishers on the latest bars and restaurants around Perth. I love to travel and explore food and wine and love learning in this space. I am a home cook who is all about nourishing your soul, exploring flavours and I don’t think that calories count on weekends. I look forward to sharing with you my thoughts, recipes and writing. You can also find me on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/crumbs_and_corks/?hl=en