Helm Classic Dry Riesling 2011 $30 – wine of the week Murrumbateman, Canberra District, New South Wales The two Canberra District 2011 rieslings reviewed here today probably share more similarities than differences – although there are distinctions. Both show the high acidity of the cool, wet growing season. But the high acidity seems to intensify … Continue reading Wine review — Helm, Clonakilla, De Bortoli and Brokenwood →

Willow Creek Vineyard Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay 2009 $40 Willow Creek is one of many beautiful Mornington Peninsula vineyards to make stunning chardonnay and pinot noir. Winemaker Geraldine McFaul writes that the wine is estate-grown, whole-bunch pressed, fermented in oak barrels (25 per cent new) and matured on yeast lees in the barrels, with regular lees … Continue reading Wine review — Willow Creek, Clonakilla and Coriole →

Clonakilla Canberra District Shiraz Viognier 2009 $85–$100 Murrumbateman, New South Wales Today we review two of the best arguments for growing shiraz around Canberra – two sensational Clonakilla reds from the outstanding 2009 vintage. The flagship, made from shiraz and viognier grown on Clonakilla’s original vines and the adjacent T and L vineyard, shows the … Continue reading Wine review — Clonakilla, Best’s, Jones Road, Kerrigan + Berry, Cardinham Estate →

Helm Canberra District Half Dry Riesling 2010 $20 Here’s the full bottle on Ken Helm’s half-dry riesling – it ain’t ‘alf bad. Inspired by a time-proven German winemaking trick, Helm knocked the yeasts on their heads before they’d gobbled up all the natural grape sugar – arresting the wine at a moderate 10.5 per cent … Continue reading Wine review — Helm, Clonakilla and Shaw & Smith →

McWilliams Mount Pleasant Elizabeth Semillon 2006 $14–$22 Hunter Valley, New South Wales Surprisingly for such a northerly, warm region, the lower Hunter produces delicate, low-alcohol semillon of great flavour, individuality and longevity. If the idiosyncratic style is to your taste (tart and lemony when young; toasty and honeyed with great age), then top-notch Hunter semillon, … Continue reading Wine reviews — McWilliams, Helm, Clonakilla, Mount Avoca and Cofield →

Best’s Great Western Riesling 2009 $22, Bin 1 Shiraz 2008 $25, Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 $25 Best’s, founded by Henry Best in 1866, was acquired by Frederick Thomson in 1913 and is today run by Ben Thomson, the family’s fifth generation in the business. It’s a must visit for its wonderful old vineyards, dating to 1868, … Continue reading Wine review — Best’s Great Western, Jeir Creek and Clonakilla →

Clonakilla Canberra District Jack Reidy Shiraz 2008 $27–$30 Clonakilla’s Tim Kirk made this blend for the Wesfarmer owned Vintage Cellars chain, using fruit from the Long Rail Gully, Dean Terrell and Phil Williams vineyards. It’s a close cellar mate to Clonakilla O’Riada Shiraz ($35 cellar door) – but without the benefit of declassified components from … Continue reading Wine review — Clonakilla, Overstone, Annie’s Lane and d’Arenberg →

Ravensworth Murrumbateman Riesling 2008 about $18 Clonakilla Canberra District Riesling 2008 $25–$30 After the frost-ravaged 2007 vintage, the prolific and good 2008 vintage brought smiles of pleasure (and relief) to our local vignerons. These are two very good examples of what’s in store from our district. While they have similarities in purity of varietal expression, … Continue reading Wine review — Ravensworth & Clonakilla →

Bay of Fires Tasmania Riesling 2007 $30 The 2007 rieslings look terrific, right across the country – from Mount Barker in the West to the variety’s Clare and Eden Valley heartland, to Canberra, and way down south to Tassie. In a recent tasting Bay of Fires stole the show, even from stars like Grosset and … Continue reading Wine review — Bay of Fires, Peter Lehmann & Clonakilla →

Yalumba Barossa Valley Bush Vine Grenache 2006 Yalumba Eden Valley Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2006 $17.95 They call it grenache in France and Australia and garnacha in Spain. By whatever name, it’s is an interesting red variety, tending to a pale colour and very high sugar levels (and therefore alcohol) when ripe. It’s fragrant and spicy, … Continue reading Wine review — Yalumba, Clonakilla & Innocent Bystander →