Once upon a time, the Hunter Valley produced enjoyable wines that only became top shelf once you got past the forest floor dirtiness that tended to dominate the nose and taint the front palate. But the new generation of Hunter Valley winemaker has purged the barrels of any yeasty residue and developed a clean, unadulterated…
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When I threw together a prawn and avocado risotto for last Sunday night’s dinner, my recipe needed a cup and a half of a dry style of white wine. While it’s not difficult to find an ingredient of that description, I wanted one that was aromatic enough to give flavour to this delicate dish, yet…
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You’ve got to love Australian wine regions and more so, their diversity. From the gravelly loam soils of the Margaret River to the cool windy climate of Tasmania and the temperate Mediterranean feel of South Australia’s McLaren Vale. The regional traits of the wines our country produces are remarkably varied, but their wildly different character…
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Pinot Noir is probably my favourite red varietal, but my penchant for the style is tempered somewhat by the price point of most good examples of the style. So, when I recently cracked a bottle of the Sticks Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2011 that a friend had left after a Sunday lunch, I assumed, given…
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With the worst of winter behind us and the buds and blooms of Spring poking their reluctant heads out to sun themselves in anticipation of clear blue skies, it’s a perfect time of year to put some pink (Rosé that is) on your table at your next Sunday lunch. Rosé is an obvious compromise between…
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I’d never heard of Captains Paddock Winery until a friend recently returned from a work trip to Kingaroy and hastily thrust a bottle of their 2012 Shiraz Merlot Cabernet in my direction. My research suggests that the winery is only 8 kms north-east of Kingaroy and offers a cellar door outlet, café and a B&B…
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Despite being one of the oldest wine producing regions in the world, Lebanon’s wine industry is somewhat underdeveloped. And it’s hard not to smirk at the irony given that it was the ancient Venetians from the same region who, according to ancient history, were largely responsible for spreading viticulture across Europe. I had never had…
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It’s been years since I last braved the cool westerly winds and Dagwood Dog fuelled crowds of the Brisbane “Ekka”, but this year I’ll be there with bells on! And not because of sideshow alley, the 350 different show bags on offer, or the fashion and farm animals, but rather, simply to indulge my love…
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There are a lot of tricks and traps in this wine buying caper and it’s true that a lot of new players often overlook the fact that seasonal variations can have a dramatic impact on the quality of the same wine year by year. So when a region experiences a season with perfect climatic conditions…
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I’ve often said that good Pinot isn’t cheap and that cheap Pinot isn’t good, but having recently tried the Nanny Goat Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012, I might have to modify my mantra! At only $25 a bottle, I wasn’t expecting anything above average, but the Nanny Goat certainly delivers well above its very reasonable price…
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