With production of a mere 3,000 tonnes annually, it’s tempting to dismiss tempranillo (a Spanish red variety) as a footnote to Australia’s 1.5 million tonne wine industry. But as the industry repeatedly demonstrates, big new things, and even niche new things, grow from modest beginnings, often driven by producer enthusiasm. Great modern examples include the … Continue reading Tempranillo — a growing taste
Chablis (Michel Bouchard) 2009 $14.99 This is one of three French chardonnays we bought from Cosco recently – a direct import, along with other two, Chablis (William Fevre) 2009 $18.99 and Puligny-Montrachet (Louis Latour) 2008 $42.99, already reviewed in my Wednesday column. Like the other two, Michel Bouchard’s wine presents really good value as it … Continue reading Wine review — Chablis Michel Bouchard, Chapel Hill and Shaw Vineyard Estate
Rutherglen Estates Rutherglen Durif 2008 $19–$21.95 This is a comparatively tame expression of durif, a variety noted for its impenetrable colour, colossal tannins and high alcohol – endearing features to its die-hard fans. The estate’s marketing manager, Patrick Gehrig writes the wine, “is deliberately picked at varying levels of ripeness, not only to maximise the … Continue reading Wine review — Rutherglen Estates, Bowen Estate and Jim Barry
Red Knot by Shingleback McLaren Vale Shiraz 2010 $9.40–$14.95 Shaw and Smith Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2009 $40 Brothers Kym and John Davey own and manage the 100-hectare Shingleback vineyard – a big enough operation to produce outstanding regional wines across a range of price points. Their entry-level Red Knot shiraz presents a bright and … Continue reading Wine review — Red Knot by Shingleback, Shaw and Smith, Tahbilk and Tulloch
Lark Hill Gruner Veltliner 2011 $40 Lake George Escarpment, Canberra District, New South Wales Following a suggestion from Jancis Robinson, a visit to Austria tasting its signature variety – and the fortuitous discovery of two vines in Tasmania – the Carpenters of Lark Hill propagated gruner veltliner from cuttings, then planted 1,000 vines in 2006. … Continue reading Wine review — Lark Hill, Maipenrai Amungula Creek, Balnaves, Majella and Peter Lehmann
Jacob’s Creek Reserve Chardonnay 2008 $10.90–$17.99 Adelaide Hills, South Australia Reflecting the growing trend to regional marketing, Jacob’s Creek, part of French-owned Pernod-Ricard, recently moved to regional labelling on its reserve range. The range was originally launched in 2000 as multi-region blends. They’ve always hit the sweet spot for quality and value – especially during … Continue reading Wine review — Jacob’s Creek, Yalumba, Picardy, Coriole, Wynns and Robert Stein
What an awesome sight the Casella family’s Griffith winery is from the air – a glittering expanse of massive stainless steel tanks housing tens of millions of litres of wine destined for the highly successful Yellow Tail label. It might smack of homogeneity. But in fact the wine inside those tanks represents a vast network … Continue reading Pinnaroo partners and the Yellowtail connection
There’s always a buzz of excitement at the release of a new Grange vintage. It’s a global event now and a confident Penfolds includes in the release its other flagship wines – Yattarna Chardonnay, Reserve Bin Adelaide Hills Chardonnay, St Henri Shiraz, Magill Estate Shiraz, RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz and Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon. This … Continue reading Penfolds releases Grange, St Henri, Magill, RWT and Bin 707
Widespread predictions of a dramatic, disease-driven collapse in grape production this year proved way off the mark. The Winemakers Federation of Australia estimates a total wine-grape intake of 1.62 million tonnes in 2011 – one per cent up on 2010 and marginally short of the five-year average of 1.63 million tonnes. Production remained well short … Continue reading Vintage 2011 — rain, disease fail to dampen grape output
Yangarra Estate Vineyard Roussanne 2010 $25 McLaren Vale, South Australia Roussanne, a Rhone Valley white variety, occasionally appears on its own in Australia, but more often in tandem with viognier or marsanne. Jancis Robinson called it the “shy” member of the trio as it avoids the viscosity of viognier or tannins of marsanne. In this … Continue reading Wine review — Yangarra, Hewitson, Cullen and Shelmerdine