In January, with a small vintage predicted, the wine glut appeared to be over. Grape growers along the Murray and Murrumbidgee feared the worst. Winemakers expected supply to fall in line with demand – good news for them. As a consequence, it seemed as if wine drinkers might have to pay a little extra for … Continue reading Pressure on wine prices ahead of major industry change
Dear readers, Foster’s has just announced the sale of the historic Barossa property, Seppeltsfield, home of one of the world’s great fortified wine cellars to a group of investors led by Kilikanoon Wines. Reproduced below is Foster’s press release and a question and answer sheet issued by Nathan Waks, Managing Director of Kilikanoon Wines. Foster’s … Continue reading Press release + Q&A — Foster’s and Kilikanoon agree Seppeltsfield sale
Coonawarra reds fetch a premium today. But behind their reputation lies a twisting, sometimes profitless and often frustrating struggle that stretches back to the 1890s. Indeed, had it not been for the foresight of Samuel and David Wynn in 1951, our most famous cabernet region might be a sheep paddock today. The ‘estate that made … Continue reading Coonawarra — almost a sheep paddock
Cumulus Wine Climbing Orange Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 $19.99 At last year’s Orange District wine show judges James Halliday, Celine Rousseau and I pushed this wine to the top of the cabernet class – meaning a trophy as well as a gold medal. Away from the sip-and-spit pressure of a wine show and six months on, … Continue reading Wine review — Cumulus, Fox Creek & Eileen Hardy
As far north and as coastal as it is, the lower Hunter Valley ought to be too warm, too wet, too humid — and with Sydney so close — too expensive to make wine. But it’s done so for 170 years and is today probably more varied and more innovative than at any time in … Continue reading Hunter paradox
It’s amazing what a bit of altitude and rainfall can do to a wine region. To see what I mean, hop in the car one weekend for the three-hour drive to Orange, via Yass, Boorawa, Cowra, Canowindra and Cargo. I did this last week to judge at the Orange Region Wine Show. In the forty-minute … Continue reading Orange wine region — high-altitude, high-quality wine
Penley Estate Coonawarra Phoenix Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 $19.99 At last year’s Limestone Coast Show, Singapore based writer, Ch’ng Poh Tiong awarded Phoenix the International Judge’s Trophy as his favoured wine of the show. Together with James Halliday, we’d ranked it at the top of the small 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon class, noting its vibrant, sweet, fruity … Continue reading Wine review — Penley Estate, Rochford & Madfish
There’s never been a better time to buy wine. Equally, there’s never been a more confusing time for wine drinkers. For the very glut of producers and labels currently forcing prices down forms an intimidating wall of brands that confounds even professional wine judges. The diversity of choice and competition-driven low pricing is good, of … Continue reading There’s gold in them thar liquor stores
The Limestone Coast wine zone takes in all of South Australia south of Lake Alexandrina, bounded to the east by the Victorian border and to the west and south by the sea. This unique limestone plain is home to The Coorong, Naracoorte World Heritage caves, the extinct volcano, Mount Gambier, the Robe crayfish industry, vast … Continue reading Winners from the Limestone Coast show
Penley Estate Coonawarra Phoenix Cabernet Sauvignon 2004 $19.99 At last week’s Limestone Coast Show, Singapore based writer, Ch’ng Poh Tiong awarded Phoenix the International Judge’s Trophy as his favoured wine of the show. Together with James Halliday, we’d ranked it at the top of the small 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon class, noting its vibrant, sweet, fruity … Continue reading Wine review — Penley Estate, Wynns & Ladbroke Grove