If I had to bet the house on one of the so-called “alternative” grape varieties it’d be Spain’s tempranillo. We crushed only about 3000 tonnes a year in Australia (equivalent to perhaps 225 thousand dozen bottles) – a mere splash compared to the more familiar varieties we grow. In 2012, Australian vintners processed almost 380,00 … Continue reading Tempranillo — Spaniard with big future in Australia
Tim Smith Wines Mataro 2012 $36 Greenock and Light Pass, Barossa Valley, South Australia Tim Smith made wine at Yalumba for 15 years, but now produces his own delicious reds, like this one, discovered at Tanunda’s exciting FermentAsian restaurant. Smith says he loves mataro (aka mourvedre) and sees good cellaring potential in the variety, thanks … Continue reading Wine review — Tim Smith Wines, Dr Loosen, John Duval, Domain Day, Ashton Hills and Redbank
Barrel-strength malt whisky isn’t “a dram for the feint hearted”, declares a recent Scotch Malt Whisky Society press release. I’m sure they meant faint hearted. But we get their drift. We could also add that making, maturing and marketing luxury goods, like malt whisky, isn’t for faint-of-heart businesses. Success requires loads of capital, patience, global … Continue reading Making and marketing single-barrel whisky
Brand’s Laira One Seven One Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 $65 No. 1 block, Brand’s Laira vineyard, Coonawarra, South Australia Reminiscent of a digger on Anzac Day, the bottle bristles with hard-won gongs; 19 golden stickers, representing 12 gold medals and seven trophies. The wine, previously released as The Patron, comes from a block of vines planted … Continue reading Wine review — Brand’s Laira, Tar and Roses, Juniper Crossing, Holm Oak, Katnook Estate and Marchand and Burch
On Valentine’s Day, Canberra vignerons took the district’s white darling, riesling, on a date. Not a romantic, love-you, can’t-get-enough-of-you fling, but a forensic examination, under the stark spotlights inside Mount Majura’s squeaky-clean cellar. Critics, show judges and increasing numbers of drinkers love our rieslings. But they’re enjoying mainly youthful, fresh, just-released wines, within months or … Continue reading Canberra riesling — lining up the veterans
Angoves Vineyard Select Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 $18 South Australia’s 2010 vintage produced excellent red wines, with vibrant fruit flavours and smooth, round tannins. We see this from the Barossa in the north to Coonawarra in the south. In this instance Angove’s Vineyard Select gives us the true Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon experience at a comparatively … Continue reading Wine review — Angoves, Lindeman and Cherubino
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
Annie’s Lane Clare Valley Riesling 2012 $13.30–$21 Annie’s Lane, part of Treasury Wine Estates (spun out of Foster’s), provides a comparatively full, soft style of riesling (made by Alex McKenzie). I tasted, liked and reviewed the wine on its release in June. However, since then the fruit aromas and flavours have really blossomed, revealing a … Continue reading Wine review — Annie’s Lane and Amberley Estate
Skillogalee Riesling 2012 $21–$25 Skillogalee vineyard, Clare Valley, South Australia Skillogalee, established in the early 1970s, first caught my attention when the 1978 vintage won a trophy at the national wine show. Its dazzling freshness and shimmering fruit character sent a ripple of excitement across the wine trade. The now mature vines, planted at around … Continue reading Wine review — Skillogalee, Hahndorf Hill, Mount Majura, Chrismont, Mount Langi Ghiran and Cracroft Chase
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