I’m normally a sucker for a Margaret River Chardonnay, but they really should have called this one “The Verse 1 Doughnut”, because I reckon there’s a really big hole in the middle. The French Oak and yeast lees are evident on the nose from the moment that you raise your glass. At first, the front…
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Bob Oatley has made some great calls in his time. Firstly, in 2003 there was the sale of his Rosemount Estate empire to Southcorp for $1.5 billion; then there was his Wild Oats II yachting team which won five line honours in the Sydney to Hobart Race and remain race record holder to this day;…
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If you ask a dozen wine critics to prepare a list of their “top 10” iconic Australian wines, there’s little doubt that the Giaconda Chardonnay from Rick Kinzbrunner’s vineyard in Beechworth, Victoria would feature prominently on almost all of them. Just ask James Halliday who consistently rates it as a 95 plus pointer. Its richness…
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The west of this great land may best be renowned for its mineral riches, the Kimberleys and wildflowers, but in years to come, I suspect that its SSB (Semillon Sauvignon Blanc) will become just as well known. The Margaret River region is perhaps the State’s premier wine district and along with its Cabernet, the SSB…
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Life is full of surprises, and there has been no bigger surprise this year than when a member of our wine club, known affectionately as “Mr Vinegar”, brought an exceptional wine to share at last week’s regular club dinner. Best known for his corked chardonnays and aged white burgundys that are beyond creating even a…
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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…
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