Tag: 2013

Paxis 2013 Red Blend Review

Portuguese Wine – Paxis 2013 Red Blend

When we think about Portuguese wine, it is fair to say that most of us can identify Port as their premier style of fortified, but beyond that, draw a blank. The Country has developed a reputation across the globe for the quality of the cork it produces as a seal for wine vessels, but I…
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McGuigan Wines

Langhorne Creek and McGuigan Hand Made Shiraz 2013

Despite living in the shadows of South Australia’s high profile wine regions, Langhorne Creek boasts a remarkable history and has been a prolific contributor to the development of the Australian wine industry. The region is thought to have first been settled by cattle drover, Alfred Langhorne in about 1840 and by 1981, the first Shiraz…
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Wynns Coonawarra Harold Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Review

Wynns Coonawarra Harold Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

IT’S been a while (perhaps 15 years or so) since Wynns released a single vineyard “Harold” Cabernet. But after a lengthy hiatus, the 2013 iteration is bottled, labelled and soon to hit the shelves. And it seems that winemaker Sue Hodder is taking a new direction with the fruit from this premium parcel of Coonawarra vines. Where…
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Steels Creek Estate Cabernet Franc 2013 Review

Steels Creek Estate, Cabernet Franc 2013

Cabernet Franc is not a style that we often see vinified as a single varietal, but when it’s done well, it can be at least the equal of its better-known cousin, Cabernet Sauvignon.  Most frequently, Cabernet Franc is used in the classic Bordeaux blends to provide charm, aromatics and fragrance to what is my all-time…
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Chard Farm, River Run Pinot Noir 2013 Review

Chard Farm, River Run Pinot Noir 2013

Whilst wines stored in your cellar need constant, if not coolish temperatures, it’s an entirely different rule for winemakers applying their viticultural skills to the developing fruit in the vineyard.  Around the world, growing regions with the greatest variation in daily and seasonal temperatures tend to produce the best fruit for winemaking purposes and there’s…
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Pepper Tree Estate - Wrattonbully Merlot 2013 Review

Pepper Tree Estate, Wrattonbully Merlot 2013

The Wrattonbully wine region is sandwiched between Coonawarra and Padthaway in South Eastern South Australia and, just like its neighbouring districts, enjoys regionally distinctive terroir and abundant underground water.  The Terra Rossa soils and limestone ridges have proven to be an ideal environment for growing Cabernet and Shiraz, but also Merlot wines of unusual power…
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Penfolds, Bin 9 Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Review

Penfolds, Bin 9 Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Penfolds Cabernet Sauvignon, like the Shiraz and red wine blends, is renowned for its high quality, but notorious for its exorbitant price tag.  Their Bin 407 retails at close to $100.00 a bottle while its big brother, the Bin 707 sits in a Grange-esque range of around $300 to $500, depending on the vintage. Against…
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Taylors - Reserve Parcel Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Review

Taylors, Reserve Parcel Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

I’ve always had tremendous respect for Mitchell Taylor and the wine-making team at the family-owned Taylors Wines in South Australia’s Clare Valley, but with a St Andrews Reserve Cabernet pitched at around $55, I struggle to understand the reason for recently releasing a “Reserve Parcel” Cabernet at its $25 price point! Perhaps it’s just the…
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Henri Bourgeois - Pouilly-Fume en Travertin 2013 Review

TarraWarra Estate, Chardonnay 2013

It may be a style that waxes and wanes in its popularity, but at least from my palate’s perspective, good Chardonnay never goes out of style. And I accept that at times Chardonnay can be pricey and occasionally become over-oaked and sometimes even fall flat, but if you stick to cool climate regions, you’ll seldom…
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Henri Bourgeois - Pouilly-Fume en Travertin 2013 Review

Henri Bourgeois, Pouilly-Fume en Travertin 2013

If you’re a devotee to the Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc style but feel like being a tad adventurous, why not take a punt next time you’re at the bottle shop and look for something from the Pouilly-Fumé region instead. The Upper Loire Valley in central France has two pre-eminent wine production regions, Pouilly-Fumé and Sancerre. And…
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