Tag: South Australia

Brockenchack, Mackenzie William 1896 Riesling 2010 Review

Brockenchack, Mackenzie William 1896 Riesling 2010

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…
Read more

Linfield Road, "The Black Hammer" Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 Review

Linfield Road, “The Black Hammer” Cabernet Sauvignon 2006

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…
Read more

Shingleback, Chardonnay 2010 Review

Shingleback, Chardonnay 2010

We’ve always been ‘the Lucky Country’, but if you ever needed to be reminded just how lucky…grab a bottle of the Shingleback 2010 Chardonnay and see for yourself! The wine hails from the McLaren Vale region in South Australia, which is renowned for its uncanny resemblance to the Mediterranean climate with wet winters, dry summers…
Read more

Shingleback, Haycutters Shiraz Viognier 2008 Review

Shingleback, Haycutters Shiraz Viognier 2008

If you’re a fan of McLaren Vale Shiraz, but don’t appreciate the overwhelming “sweetness” that can creep into some South Australian versions of the style, then this may be a wine for you. The fruit is full and rich and offers a hint of smokey chocolate; the texture is more glide than chew; and the…
Read more

Fat Fish, Barossa Shiraz 2008 Review

Fat Fish, Barossa Shiraz 2008

There really is something fishy about the 2008 Fat Fish Shiraz from the irrepressible Barossa Valley. It’s not the dark (if not almost black!) colour of the wine that beguiles the palate. And there’s nothing unusual about a wine conceived in the region showing such deep ripe berries that rise to a crescendo on the…
Read more

 Shingleback, McLaren Vale Shiraz 2007 Review

Shingleback, McLaren Vale Shiraz 2007

The Shingleback McLaren Vale Shiraz is a wonderfully consistent wine and the 2007 release is no exception. It’s bright in the glass, bold up front with dark berries and mocha on the front palate, savoury cedar in the middle and has just a hint of spiciness in the finale. In its youthful state the obvious…
Read more

Taylors, Eighty Acres Chardonnay Review

Taylors, Eighty Acres Chardonnay

If there’s one thing better than finding the perfectly fitting bargain at a Boxing Day sale, it’s stumbling across an exceptionally good wine at a price point that means you don’t have to wait for a special occasion to enjoy it. Australians are blessed to have so many really good wines available at budget price…
Read more

Bethany, Shiraz 2006 Review

Bethany, Shiraz 2006

There aren’t too many winemakers around who hold back their reds for over five years before releasing them, but the Schrapel family from Bethany Wines are one of those rare breeds. The 2006 Bethany Shiraz shows the benefits of age from the nose to the toes and in fact, right across the palate. Some softness…
Read more