Henschke Mount Edelstone 2009 $95–$125 Mount Edelstone vineyard, Eden Valley, South Australia Ronald Angas planted the Mount Edelstone vineyard in 1912 using cuttings from shiraz vines imported from France by James Busby in the early 1830s. The Henschke family made the first Mount Edelstone in 1952 – a line winemaker Stephen Henschke continues while wife … Continue reading Wine review — Henschke, Centennial Vineyards, Veritas, Rolf Binder, Riposte and Kirrihill →

Tertini Reserve Pinot Noir 20009 $58 Tertini Yaraandoo vineyard, Southern Highlands, NSW Tertini’s 2009 reserve pinot noir won gold medals in the 2012 Boutique Wine Awards and 2012 NSW Wine Awards. In the latter it won the trophy for best pinot, beating the gold-medal-winning Tertini Pinot Noir 2010 in the taste. I tasted the reserve … Continue reading Wine review — Tertini, Centennial, Vionta and Devil’s Lair →

Bremerton Langhorne Creek Coulthard Cabernet Sauvignon 2010 $22–$27 In a line up of cabernets, including the $60 Voyager Estate below, Bremerton appealed for the volume of flavour it delivered at a realistic price. Langhorne Creek seems to do this with cabernet sauvignon effortlessly and reliably. Bremerton Coulthard shows the regional thumbprint – full body, fleshy … Continue reading Wine review — Bremerton, Beurrot by Kooyong and Voyager Estate →

Penfolds Koonunga Hill Chardonnay 2011 $12.35–$16 What do you drink on a camping trip around the Northern Territory? We recently stocked up on this in Darwin and again in Katherine as the seeming best value white at Woolies Liquor. Even up there we paid just $12.35 and it easily passed the campfire taste test, night … Continue reading Wine review — Penfolds, Illuminati and Bremerton →

Turkey Flat Mourvedre 2010 $32 Turkey Flat vineyard, Barossa Valley, South Australia In 1847 Johann Fiedler planted shiraz on the southern slopes of Tanunda Creek. In 1865, the Schultz family bought the site and 125 years later, fourth generation Peter Schultz and wife Christie became winemakers as well as grape growers. Today they grow, make … Continue reading Wine review — Turkey Flat, Helm, Peppertree, Kooyong Estate and Chapel Hill →

De Bortoli Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2011 $21–$30 The recommend price is $30, but as I write Dan Murphy’s charges $23.75 as part of a six-bottle buy, beaten by Costco Canberra’s $20.99, no quantity hurdle. The wine comes from mature vines, average age 20 years, says winemakers Steve Webber. He crushes the grape bunches, stalks and … Continue reading Wine review — De Bortoli and Oxford Landing Estates →

Turkey Flat Mourvedre 2010 $32 Turkey Flat vineyard, Barossa Valley, South Australia In 1847 Johann Fiedler planted shiraz on the southern slopes of Tanunda Creek. In 1865, the Schultz family bought the site and 125 years later, fourth generation Peter Schultz and wife Christie became winemakers as well as grape growers. Today they grow, make … Continue reading Wine review — Turkey Flat, Helm, Peppertree, Kooyong Estate and Chapel Hill →

De Bortoli Windy Peak Shiraz 2010 $12–$14 – wine of the week Heathcote, Victoria Sometimes less is more. And that’s what makes three-star Windy Peak wine of the week. It isn’t over-oaked. It isn’t over extracted. It isn’t tricked up in any way as some cheaper wines can be. It simply delivers what it says … Continue reading Wine review — De Bortoli Windy Peak, Tar and Roses, Tim Adams, Coriole and Holm Oak →

Zeppelin Eden Valley Riesling 2010 $16–$20 Zeppelin wines are made by Barossa specialists Kym Teusner and Corey Ryan and distributed by McWilliams. Ryan made this wine and writes, “Sourced from a 25 year old, low yielding, dry grown vineyard. Hand picked and then whole bunch pressed with only the lowest yielding free run juice used”. … Continue reading Wine review — Zeppelin, Hewitson and Bleasdale →