Tamar Ridge Tasmania Devil’s Corner Pinot Noir 2009 $18–$21 Kayena Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008 $28–$31 Devil’s Corner still seems more like grapes than wine, but give it another six months in bottle and it should’ve turned the corner. The fruit flavour’s terrific – pure, ripe, musky pinot backed by fine, dry tannins. It’s sourced from … Continue reading Wine review — Tamar Ridge, Bleasdale and Chalkers Crossing
Ant Moore Marlborough Pinot Gris 2009 $22 In 2002 former AIS student, Anthony Moore, moved to New Zealand, made wine at Isabella Estate, established his own vineyards in Marlborough’s Awatere, Waihopai and Wairau Valleys, later launching his own label. His delicious, pinot gris, from the Ant’s Nest vineyard, Waihopai Valley, delivers a fresh-pear like varietal … Continue reading Wine review — Ant Moore, Hewitson, Bleasdale, Barwang, Amisfield and Balnaves
In an international context the latest Penfolds red releases, led by Grange, look very attractive. Grange 2005’s $550 price tag, or St Henri 2006’s $90, seem modest in comparison to Bordeaux heavyweight Chateau Latour 2005, a cabernet blend, at $US1,250 a bottle in New York; or next to it on the shelf Domaine de la … Continue reading Penfolds reds in a class of their own
Chapel Hill McLaren Vale Verdelho 2009 $16–$20 Cabernet Sauvignon 2008 $27–$30 Verdelho, one of the classic Madeira varieties, made its way to Australia in the nineteenth century. It thrived as both a fortified and table variety. Today it’s valued as niche white variety, partly because it retains acidity in our warm growing regions. This example … Continue reading Wine review — Chapel Hill, Barwang, Chalkers Crossing and Bremerton
What do we look for in back labels and how much help do they give us when we buy wine? Can we rely on the information they provide? In an Australian study in 1999 Larry Lockshin and Tim Unwin found that almost 60 per cent of their respondents said they read back labels regularly when … Continue reading Language of the label
Observatory Hill Tasmania Pinot Noir 2008 $29 We discovered this gem at the excellent Piccalilly Restaurant, Battery Point, Hobart, late last year. It’s a fine, elegant style of some depth and complexity, sourced from Glenn Richardson’s Observatory Hill vineyard at Mount Rumney – just 10 kilometres from Hobart at the entrance to the Coal River … Continue reading Wine review — Observatory Hill, Perrier Jouet and Thorn Clarke
Dog Trap Vineyard Canberra District Shiraz 2008 $18 Tony Shiraz 2008 $27 Lyn Shiraz 2008 $27 Dog trap wines are grown by Denis Hart and Julian White at Yass and made by Roger Harris and Brian Sinclair at Brindabella Hills, Hall. The three wines come from the same batch of grapes but represent different oak … Continue reading Wine review — Dog Trap, De Bortoli and various beautiful Australian rieslings
Bream Creek Tasmania Riesling 2007 $22 Chardonnay 2007 $23 Pinot Noir 2008 $30 Visit a few Tasmanian wineries and you’ll soon hear the name Fred Peacock, owner of the beautiful Bream Creek Vineyard at Marion Bay, just to the east of Hobart, and one of the state’s most widely consulted vine experts. Fred grows his … Continue reading
Australian winemaking 2009 – it’s a tale of two industries: mature, vibrant, small and medium producers with their strong regional identities; and the headline-grabbing wreckage of the ‘brand Australia’ juggernaut. A recent Winemakers’ Federation of Australia (WFA) report, Wine industry must confront the reality of oversupply, detailed the horror behind the chilling headlines. The report … Continue reading Brilliant regional wines emerging from Oz wine wreck
Taittinger Prelude Grand Crus Champagne $130 There’s a lovable elegance and creamy richness to the Taittinger Champagnes. And with the non-vintage Prelude blend comes the extra flavour dimension from some of the most highly rated pinot noir and chardonnay vineyards of the Montagne de Reims and Cotes des Blancs sub regions respectively. A gentle, creamy … Continue reading A Christmas wine wish list