Tag Archives: travel

A day at the Perth Cup

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I keep a pretty quiet new year’s eve most times now, Perth can be a bit crowded on new year’s eve. Especially after 1 am, the nightlife at Northbridge and Perth city can get a bit alcohol fuelled and dangerous. There have been plenty of examples where violence has flared and innocent people cop a coward punch and end up in hospital with a brain bleed, I do not want that to be me.

I like to be out during the day, so I reckon the best place to be on new year’s day is the Perth Cup at Ascot Racecourse. Whilst not exactly the social event of the year, you would expect to see around 25,000 people attend. As I am getting older now, I cannot have a big night out on new year’s eve and bounce back for a day in the sun in the middle of summer. The Perth Cup is typically a hot day, so it is not the place I want to be with a hangover, I will do that on the 2nd where I can lock myself inside with the air-conditioner on.

This year was no exception, a good day was had, it was warm but not too hot and the sparkling wine flowed freely. I do not bet on horse racing, I just go for the social side. I might like to watch the race when I am there, but that is pretty much it. For me, the best fun is to wander around and see different views of the racecourse, sure, I will watch the race, I like to get over to the mounting/dismount area where I can see the trainer parade the horse, the jockey mount before the race and then come back in later for the weigh-in. It makes for a fun day out, as I sail in summer, this is the only chance I get to get to the races.

The 2001 Vasse Felix Classic Dry Red

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I was a big fan of the Vasse Felix Classic Dry Red range of wines for a long time, the older vintages back in 2001 were Shiraz/Cabernet Sauvignon blends. They also had a Cabernet Merlot that was a step up in price and quality, but somehow I preferred the Classic Dry Red more as a quaffer. It was not a fine wine by any means, it was never meant to be and was great value for money. 

Vasse Felix now markets their substantial wines under four collections of Icon, Premier, Filius and Classic. Vasse Felix produces some pretty amazing drops from their Tom Cullity and Heytesbury ranges, they are pretty expensive though. At $20 per bottle, this is a decent drop of Margaret River winemaking, this had been matured for 9 months in French and American oak cask.

The 2001 was rated at 88/100 and had 14% alcohol, was dark red in colour and blackcurrant palette with a slight violet aftertaste. I found the tannins in the Classic Dry Red to be a little tannic in the aftertaste, it did not have big legs and was not a cellaring option, this was a drink now wine that was purchased on the way to a barbecue or dinner with friends.