On the back of two consecutive, bountiful, high quality vintages, winemakers in Canberra and the neighbouring NSW high-country released an amazing wealth of classy wines in 2016. Regional specialties lighted the way. Canberra 2015 shiraz and 2016 riesling sit with Australia’s best. So does chardonnay from Tumbarumba and shiraz and cabernet sauvignon from Hilltops. But … Continue reading Five top Canberra and NSW high-country wines
Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 – wine of the week Moss Wood vineyard, Wilyabrup, Margaret River, Western Australia $95–$125 Moss Wood cabernet rates among Australia’s greatest wines. It’s of a quality Hemingway surely had in mind when he wrote, “Wine is one of the most civilised things in the world and one of the most … Continue reading Wine review – Moss Wood, Grove Estate, Lerida Estate, Mr Riggs, Mount Monster, Greywacke
Helm Wines Premium Riesling 2016 – wine of the week Helm 1832 vineyard, Murrumbateman, Canberra District, NSW $52 Although not released until October, Ken Helm’s 2016 Premium Riesling deserves a great blare of publicity. The wine marks Helm’s fortieth vintage and, largely through his tireless efforts, the rise of riesling to become Canberra’s signature white … Continue reading Wine reviews – Helm, Grove Estate, Dal Zotto, Chrismont
Mount Majura Graciano 2015, Touriga 2015 – wines of the week Mount Majura vineyard, Canberra District, ACT $29 Winemaker Frank van de Loo’s latest releases show the impact of Canberra’s changing climate. “We’re picking earlier every year”, writes van de Loo, “but it allows us to explore varieties that might previously have been too late-ripening … Continue reading Wine review – Mount Majura, Murrumbateman, Ross Hill, Taylors, Ad Hoc
Pierre Peters Cuvee de Reserve Blanc de Blancs Brut NV Champagne $64–$80 Melbourne-based Prince Wine Store imports Pierre Peters’ impressive Champagne and offers it at $80, discounted occasionally to around $64. Few Champagnes at this price offer such stunning quality. Refined, delicate and utterly delicious – with the impressive structure that comes only from prolonged … Continue reading Wine review – Pierre Peters, Pikes, Ross Hill
Eldridge Estate Pinot Noir 2014 – wine of the week Eldridge Estate vineyard, Red Hill, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria $60 David Lloyd’s wines demonstrate the power of growing grape varieties in the right climate, then mastering vineyard management and winemaking. His 3.8-hectare vineyard, at around 200-metres altitude and 38 degrees south, provides the cool growing and … Continue reading Wine review – Eldridge Estate, Bremerton, Billecart-Salmon, Murrumbateman Winery, Arrogant Frog, Sandalford
WilliamsWarn Brewmaster In 2011 New Zealanders Ian Williams and Anders Warn launched what they claimed was “the world’s first all-in-one brewing appliance”. Following success of the WilliamsWarn Brewmaster in New Zealand, the inventors have now released it in Australia Their launch of the WilliamsWarn Brewmaster beat America’s PicoBrew Zymatic to the punch by about three … Continue reading New Zealanders launch home brew machine in Australia
Hungerford Hill Classic Tumbarumba Pinot Noir 2014 $26–$36 An Anzac weekend sweep through Batlow and Tumbarumba turned up several appealing wines. Batlow, of course, makes apple cider, while Tumbarumba, originally planted to vines for sparkling wines, now makes appealing, elegant table wines, too. Tumbarumba’s Café Nest–movie theatre offers fresh local produce, some grown on site, … Continue reading Wine review – Hungerford Hill, Mount Tumbarumba, Coppabella
Mr Riggs “The Truant” McLaren Vale Shiraz 2014 $17–$19 For a winery producing just 20 thousand dozen bottle a year, Mr Riggs offers a surprisingly large number of labels, albeit of a very high quality. Riggs’ starting point for McLaren Vale shiraz, “The Truant”, sells for a modest $17 or so. His website also offers … Continue reading Wine review – Mr Riggs, Mount Majura, Tower Estate
Hardys Bastard Hill Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2013 Bastard Hill vineyard, Yarra Valley, Victoria $60 Formerly released under parent company Accolade Wines’ Yarra Burn label, this gorgeous chardonnay comes from a single block of the very cool Bastard Hill vineyard. “At something like 32 degrees it’s a hard hill to work on”, says winemaker Paul Lapsley … Continue reading Wine review – Hardys, Domain Day, Eden Road, Stella Bella, Moppity Vineyards, West Cape Howe