I’ve often said that there’s no such thing as a good cheap Pinot Noir but having tried the Jardim Do Bomfim 2009 Pinot Noir, I suspect that I might have to accept that I could have been wrong! The unusual name “Jardim Do Bomfim” means “Garden of Good End” and the name is fitting for…
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Although Merlot is the most common variety of grape grown in France, it’s never really hit its straps as a single varietal in the Australian wine market. Perhaps that’s because Merlot grapes tend to ripen too quickly in warm climates, or because Aussies just prefer the softness that it brings when blended with Cabernet and…
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Question: When is a GSM not a GSM? Answer: When it comes from the Barossa Valley. While the blend of Grenache Shiraz (or Syrah) and Mouvedre (also called Mataro) (“GSM”) is the calling card of the southern Rhone region in France, some Australian producers have also had remarkable success with the marriage of the “Holy…
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If ever you needed proof that bigger is not better, look no further than the Westlake Eleazar Vineyard in South Australia’s Barossa Valley. Their flagship Shiraz, the “Eleazar”, sells at around $55 a bottle but is as good a Barossa Shiraz as I’ve tried in the last year. They only produce about 70 cases of…
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The 2009 edition of the John Duval Plexus is a colourful affair – not just because of the lively purple hue of the wine in the glass, but the vibrancy and playfulness of the perfumed fruits as they hit the nose and then pass across the palate. John Duval is perhaps best known for his…
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Big, bold Shiraz is synonymous with the Barossa Valley and it’s difficult to think of a more prominent winemaker from the region than Peter Lehmann. The Stonewell Shiraz may be his flagship, but as the style goes, his second-stringers do much more than make up the numbers. The latest release of the Peter Lehmann Art…
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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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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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