There aren’t a lot of Australian made sparkling whites that rival those of the Champagne region in France, but the Hanging Rock Macedon Cuvée XII is certainly one such creature. Being from outside the famous French appellation, we can’t refer to it as “champagne”, but the rich characters, creamy texture and lingering yeastiness bear all…
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South Australia’s McLaren Vale may be best known for its full-bodied reds, but it’s also a region that can also produce a good quality chardy – and at a very reasonable price tag. The 2011 Red Knot Chardonnay is made by Shingleback and hits the shelves at around only $15.00 a bottle. It’s light in…
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There’s little doubt that the average red wine consumer demands a “drink now” style that exhibits lively fruit and a well-balanced finale, but if you’re prepared to be patient, then the 2009 “The Gate” Shiraz (by Shingleback) will be very rewarding. I could be wrong about this, but I get the impression that the current…
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I’m not sure why Vasse Felix brand it their “Classic Dry White” as the 2008 version of their Semillon Sauvignon Blanc (S.S.B.) is such a fruit driven and aromatic style that you’d swear it was more Sauvignon Blanc than Semillon! The Margaret River region of W.A. consistently produces great S.S.B., but the 2008 vintage was…
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The fastest growing wine region in New Zealand is the Waipara Valley – situated only about 40 mins north of Christchurch and boasting about 1,200 hectares of vineyards. The climate and geography are ideally suited to fruiting vines, and there is no more obvious beneficiary than the Greystone Sand Dollar Pinot Gris. Where some Pinot…
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Most Sunshine Coasters would know Trevor Harch as a founder of the Evans Harch construction company, but in his “retirement”, he’s apparently exchanged his spirit level and measuring tape for some pruning shears and a tasting glass! Trevor (and wife, Marilyn) have long been Barossa-philes and have recently added to their business interests with a…
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You might call me a “Pinot-phile”, but I can never get enough of those really good cool climate Pinots that present an aromatic nose, fragrant berries and which finish just a touch dry. The Kiwis have always done Pinot well and the Greystone Waipara Pinot Noir 2008 is no exception to the rule. What is…
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There’s no better time of year to grab a bottle of red and curl up in front of the fire with a big block of chocolate; and there’s not too many better candidates for the role than the 2009 Clonakilla Hilltops Shiraz. While I love the fruit driven, over-ripe blockbusting styles that we often see…
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Bright as a button, the vibrancy of the colour is overshadowed only by the spicy sweetness of the fruit. Lifted violets on the nose pre-empt the prettiness of the wine but it’s the plump red cherries in the middle that give this wine its mojo. There are fine tannins at the end, but they struggle…
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The term ‘Marlborough Sauv Blanc’ has become synonymous with tropical fruit nose, gooseberry and nectarine flavours on the palate and a crisp, clean finish. But while the basics are always the same, there is little doubt that like most things in life, you only get what you pay for! A classic example is the Brancott…
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