I occasionally hear Barossa Valley Shiraz described as “too ripe”, “too powerful” or “too expensive”, and while I don’t agree with those descriptors, there is a nice compromise currently available that exhibits the Barossa nose but in a medium-bodied style which won’t blow the budget. The 2009 The Father in Law Shiraz is made by…
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If you’ve never heard of Saperavi, then I’m possibly not alone! No, it’s not a Spanish swear word, but rather a grape native to Georgia (as in the former Soviet Bloc State) and as old as the hills it grows in! I’d never tried one until I recently happened upon the Massena Saperavi (2010) at…
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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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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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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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From vines first planted in 1860 in the Southern Barossa Valley, the Linfield Road wines certainly have maturity of vines on their side! The 2006 “The Black Hammer” Cabernet Sauvignon ($18-22 a bottle) is slightly dirty in the glass but has a herbaceous, cedary nose that invites immediate imbibement. At first, the rich fruit titillates…
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