Centenary of Canberra Chardonnay Pinot Noir Cuvee Centenary $30 In 2008 a group of local winemakers produced a shiraz and a riesling for release in Canberra’s centenary year, 2013. But, writes vigneron Allan Pankhurst, “Only about 300 cases of each were produced of which half is already earmarked for use by the ACT government and … Continue reading Wine review — Centenary of Canberra
No contrast could’ve been starker. Next to a tired and heavy Eden Valley riesling 1999 a Mosel of the same year seduced with its sweet, delicate freshness. Australia’s Storton Vineyard Rhine Riesling 1999 didn’t get a second sniff. But Dr Weins-Prum Spaetlese Riesling 1999, from the great Sonnenuhr vineyard at Wehlen, showed the true beauty … Continue reading Tasting perspectives
From a little valley near Braidwood comes the outsider that blitzed this year’s Canberra regional wine show. Half Moon Riesling 2010 won the ‘best riesling’ trophy, beating some of our hottest local riesling makers, including Helm, Clonakilla, Four Winds, Ravensworth, Gallagher and Nick O’Leary. Half Moon then secured the ‘best white’ trophy then won a … Continue reading A little valley somewhere
Canberra’s Ravensworth Wines topped the honours list at the Canberra International Riesling Challenge 2012. Ravensworth Riesling 2012, made by Food and Wine columnist Bryan Martin, and owned by Martin and his wife Jocelyn, won a gold medal and three trophies. The judges rated it best Canberra District riesling, best Australian riesling and, in a first … Continue reading Canberra’s Ravensworth conquers 2012 International Riesling Challenge
In this year’s regional wine show, judged in September, riesling and shiraz once again dominated the medal strike rate, barring a couple of oddities – for example, in class 22 the lone chardonnay won a medal, giving the variety a 100 per cent strike rate. Reduced numbers of entries overall probably reflects smaller production resulting … Continue reading Canberra regional wine show 2012
James Halliday: Australian wine companion 2013 edition Hardie Grant Books. RRP $34.95 (paperback) James Halliday: A life in wine Hardie Grant Books. RRP $45 (hardcover) This year’s review copy of Australian wine companion 2013 arrived with a bonus – James Halliday’s easy-reading autobiography, A life in wine. The companion’s just as the name suggests – … Continue reading Book review — Halliday wine companion and autobiography
The history of Australian wine: Stories from the vineyard to the cellar door Max Allen, Victory Books 2012, $49.99 Canberra readers might wonder at first, as I did, why Max Allen’s new book excises us, and surrounding wine regions, from Australian wine history. Local industry founders, Edgar Riek and John Kirk don’t rate a mention. … Continue reading Book review — Max Allen
Andrew Thomas Kiss Shiraz 2010 $60 Pokolbin Estate Vineyard, Pokolbin, Lower Hunter Valley, NSW On 4 May, Andrew Thomas released four outstanding single vineyard Hunter shirazes, including the two reviewed today – the drink-now DJV and potentially long-lived Kiss. From a vineyard planted in 1969, Kiss reminds me, in its finesse and understatement, of the … Continue reading Wine review — Andrew Thomas, Brown Brothers, Cumulus Wines and Balnaves
Canberra’s vintage from hell, or vintage of a lifetime, turned out to be both, and bit in between as well. Canberra vignerons wrote off swathes of diseased fruit, adding to shiraz crop losses caused by poor fruit set early in the season. But by carefully handpicking healthy fruit, and in some cases weeding out diseased … Continue reading Canberra’s vintage of a lifetime
Is Ken Helm pushing it up hill? Or does cabernet really have a future in Canberra? I mean not just as a nice wine – but in the sense, as Helm sees it, that it might snap at the heals of our regional top dog, shiraz? Releasing his 2009 vintage recently, Helm wrote, “Cabernet sauvignon … Continue reading Is it worth talking up Canberra cabernet?