Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher, Wall Street Journal columnists, created Open That Bottle Night (OTBN) in 2000 with the aim to motivate people to connect over a bottle of wine. In 2022 #OTBN is a global event that brings people together to drink that special bottle they’ve been saving.
Held on the last Saturday in February, OTBN is your cue to check your cellar for any bottles that are hitting their prime, and a reminder that we can create memories without needing a reason to celebrate. Add these wines to your list.
2020 Clyde Park Estate Pinot Noir
Bright, pale ruby in the glass. Lean, angular body balanced with juicy acidity and firm tannins. Exhibits aromatic notes of blackcurrant leaf with crunchy red currants, cranberry and red cherry, with hints of vanilla and toast on the lengthy finish.How is this wine best enjoyed?
V. It's pinot with a partial whole bunch press, so find some food with a savoury or earthy element to it – like truffles or mushrooms – to really complement the flavours of the wine.
Why is it perfect for OTBN?
V. Unless you're talking Grand Cru Burgundy, there's no need to wait on a bottle of pinot. Opening a young bottle really highlights the fruit, brightness and elegance.
Suggested food pairing: Seared duck breast with a mushroom duxelle.
RRP: $48 | Vinomofo price $45 | shop here | 5 ★ winery
2018 Journey Wines Yarra Valley Chardonnay
Pale-straw in colour with green tints. The elegant yet intense nose has floral notes of stone fruit and flinty aromas. The front palate exhibits restrained white peach flavours, followed by a tight line of citrus acid and lightly spiced oak. The excellent flavour intensity leads to a persistent finish. Halliday Wine Companion, 94 points.How is this wine best enjoyed?
V. Grab some mates and a few other bottles of chardy from around Australia. The grape is so versatile, it expresses itself differently depending on the maker and the region. Experiencing that diversity while enjoying a few glasses is always a good time.
Why is it perfect for OTBN?
V. Good chardonnay hits a sweet spot a few years in, this one is four years old, so that tight, citrusy acid is starting to make way for the nuttiness and flintiness. The balance will be just right.
Suggested food pairing: Roast pork tenderloin with root vegetables.
RRP: $40 | Vinomofo price $36 | shop here | 5 ★ winery
2019 Jim Barry Lodge Hill Shiraz
The palate is dominated by dark fruits and brambles, spice and a hint of warming oak, with a seamless flow and integrated tannin. Juicy dark fruit flavours persist through the finish, with a hint of violet to close.How is this wine best enjoyed?
V. On the couch with a movie. It feels like a nice way to wind down after a busy day. If it's a cold night and you can get the fire roaring, even better.
Why is it perfect for OTBN?
V. This is Jim Barry's ready to drink shiraz, the fruit is vibrant and the tannins are silky smooth. While it will age well for a decade, there's no need to wait.
Suggested food pairing: A well-marbled cut of beef from your local butcher.
RRP: $25 | Vinomofo price: $23.90 | shop here | 5 ★ winery
2016 Shiraz Barossa Valley Vinomofo Black Market Deal
Rich, sweet flavours of wild raspberry, strawberry and rhubarb coat the mouth. Dusty French oak tannins encompass the sweet red fruit. A nice, fine acid line provides focus and direction. Subtle viognier and peach flavours add to the complexity. Halliday Wine Companion, 96 points.How is this wine best enjoyed?
V. This is a big wine, as you'd expect from fine Barossa shiraz (with a touch of viognier to lift the aromatics), so make sure there's some hearty food on the table and some friends with you to share the bottle.
Why is it perfect for OTBN?
V. If you love the power and drive of Barossa shiraz, then this is just right after six years of age. It needed a bit of time and is just now hitting its prime.
Suggested food pairing: Slow-cooked lamb with a spicy dry rub.
RRP: $100 | Vinomofo price: $49.90 | shop here | 4 ★ winery
2019 Cabernet Blend Margaret River Vinomofo Black Market Deal
Tight, concentrated and restrained. The palate has sweet fruit and raspberry flavours. Lovely fine, chalky tannins persist in the mouth, leaving a residue of lingering flavours. This wine is very much a product of the cool 2019 season, which has produced wines which are cool-climate in style. In general, this is a very fresh, balanced and seamless wine that displays very subtle oak and the influence of a high percentage of petit verdot, which serves to bring greater weight and presence to the palate. Halliday Wine Companion, 97 points.How is this wine best enjoyed?
V. This is a weekend wine to ponder with other wine lovers and geeks. It's modelled after the great wines of the Left Bank of Bordeaux. Complexity, structure and length are all there in spades to drive the conversation.
Why is it perfect for OTBN?
V. After the last two years of uncertainty, it's time to catch up with those you've missed, and opening a special bottle like this is definitely one way to celebrate.
Suggested food pairing: It's a classic style of wine, so let's go with a classic dish – beef wellington.
RRP: $100 | Vinomofo price: $49.90 | shop here | 5 ★ winery
2017 Ettore Germano Barolo DOCG del Comune di Serralunga d'Alba
Strawberry, cherry, pomegranate and rose petals on the nose. Red fruits on the palate, which pack a punch of energy and power that persists through to the finish of elegant tannins.How is this wine best enjoyed?
V. This is one to impress, we’re talking about one of the best producers of Barolo. If you’re keen to be the talk of the table, take a bottle of this to dinner.
Why is it perfect for OTBN?
V. Barolo is traditionally a wine that benefits from ageing, but the characteristics of the 2017 vintage beget wines with brighter fruit and softer tannins. The result? A rare instance of a Barolo that’s ready to go after just a few years.
Suggested food pairing: Roast chicken or pasta with a tomato-based sauce.
RRP: $100 | Vinomofo price: $59.90 | shop here
For more details visit vinomofo.com.
Top image credit: Vinomofo
