Bruce Thiele Red Wine Club

Fifty two members, guests and partners enjoyed Tina’s hospitality for our Christmas function at Kies Family Wines. On arrival we were offered three wines to go with the seafood ‘entrée’ of fresh prawns, Oysters Kil-patrick and natural oysters (there was also cheese and meats for the non seafood people). The wines were Kies Sparkling Tina, a sparkling Monkey Nut Tree Merlot and their SSB Semillon Sauvignon Blanc.

Bob welcomed everyone and invited Kate Richards, Kies event organiser to tell us something about our initial wines. She informed us most of the grapes for the wines came from their own vineyards. The Sparkling Tina was from the vineyards we could see from the windows. Kies was one of the few wineries producing a sparkling merlot. The Semillon came from the local vineyard and the Sauvi-

gnon Blanc from the Adelaide Hills. She also mentioned the excellent specials that were available to members and guests.

Christmas at Kies with our partners

Bruce Thiele Red Wine Club

DECEMBER 2017

Coming up—January at Home on 2th January.

Once we had had our fill of seafood we were served the main course—Bastardo Glaze Ham and Maple Glazed Turkey served with roast pota-toes , carrots and beans and fresh salad. With this we drank Kies 2015 Klauber Block Shiraz and their 2014 Dedication Shiraz.

Tina explained that that Klauber Block Shiraz was well received in Chi-na winning a ‘double gold medal at their wine show. The Dedication Shiraz is dedicated to Tina’s father in law Ken, with whom she had a “love-hate” relationship. Sadly he passed away in 1996 while on a cruise in Canada.

At this stage we had our first prize draw—or rather lucky plate. Col-leen Granfield was the one with the ticket under her plate and re-ceived a twin pack of Kies Shiraz.

Tina them provided us with some remi-niscences of our founder Bruce. Thirty

seven years ago Tina went out with Bruce.– and had a really good time (she blushed). He was an inspirational person who lived life to the fullest. He had a love for life and people—and also wine! The latter was the reason Tina felt they could not stay together, they both liked alcohol to much. However, she learned a lot from Bruce, particularly from his ’can-do’ attitude that you can do anything.

Tins then related the amazing occurrence on the day Bruce passed away. They were at the cellar door when suddenly it seemed if one of the trees outside was on fire. While it was not actually burn-ing it looked as thought it was. Several of them saw it and at that moment one of them received a phone call to say Bruce had died.

Tina congratulated the club for keeping Bruce’s memory alive.

Dessert was either an individual Christmas pudding with brandy custard or an individual pavlova with fresh cream and fruit. These were accompanied by their Bastardo ‘port’ or their Ratafia ‘sticky white’.

Bob took the opportunity to thank the Monkey Nut staff Caffi, Garry, Meg and Celeste.

The door prizes were drawn going to Brian Fechner, Mick Schilling and John Albrecht.

Altogether it was a great Christmas at Kies!

Christmas at Kies (Cont.)


Photos


More Photos

Kies Sparkling Tina A sweet sparkling Frontenac of distinctive varietal lychee, rose petal and lemonade flavours; primary, fruity and simple. It will appeal to Moscato lovers looking for a little less sugar. Halliday 87 points

Wine Analysis: Alc/Vol: 11.5 %, Price: $20.00

Sparkling Monkey Nut Tree Merlot This sparkling Merlot exhibits classic Merlot fruit flavours with characters of jam, black-currant and raspberry lifted by soft tannins. The perfect aperitif, this wine is best served well chilled.

Wine Analysis: Alc/Vol: 12.5%, Price: $35.00

2017 SSB Semillon Sauvignon Blanc Delightfully crisp and fresh, the light citrus flavours of the Semillon marry perfectly with the classic gooseberry and asparagus characters of the Sauvignon Blanc.

Halliday Wine Companion tasting note: Ball of fruit flavour, complete with grass in-flections, but it falls away on the finish. 86 Points. Campbell Mattinson


2015 Klauber Block Shiraz An abundance of fruit mid palate, with quite a dry finish. This wine will grow with time in the cellar. Comes from a strong pedigree having won Silver at the International Wine Show for the prestigious 2002 vintage.

James Halliday: 90 points


2014 Dedication Shiraz Rich old Barossa shiraz with mulberry, tobacco, leather, and light oak overtones. A big wine with long flavours and rewarding characteristics, full of plumy fruit balanced by abundant soft tannins. Very small production runs of each vintage have been done to retain the uniqueness of this wine.

Halliday Wine Companion tasting note: Has a bit of swagger to it. The fruit struts, the tannin crashes, the flavours curl on and out through the finish. We're talking red and black berries, liquorice, smoky/cedary oak and drills of graphite. It's a substantial wine, the premium price entirely warranted. 95 Points. Campbell Mattinson


The Wines

Bastardo "Bastardo" is a rare varietal port, which, along with the vine, is of Portuguese origin. Listed as one of the blackest and sweetest of the red wine grape varieties, this ruby port exhibits deep rose highlights with a soft floral bouquet and raspberry characters.

Halliday Wine Companion tasting note: Relatively youthful ruby style port, full of inter-est with its fragrant spicy fruits and very long palate; especially pleasing is its relatively dry finish. A great bargain. 93 Points. James Halliday


Ratafia Our sweet, peachy Ratafia is a tribute to Helen, who lovingly looked after Ken Kies and the Kies cellar door in the 1980's and early 1990's. Many of our customers remi-nisce over her full of life personality.

Halliday Wine Companion tasting note: Fortified Semillon pressings aged for 2-5 years in barrel; not without merit, even if its real pitch is the cellar door. 86 Points. James Halliday.

Wine Analysis: Alc/Vol: %, Price: $20.00

Photos by Ian Cooper & Rex Way

The Wines (Cont.)

Bruce Thiele Red Wine Club

Documents

Transcript of Bruce Thiele Red Wine Club