Yalumba Y Series Pinot Grigio 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 $11.95; Galway Vintage Shiraz 2005 $13.95 Yalumba’s on a roll with these mid-priced wines. They offer outstanding value and will almost certainly be discounted below the recommended prices given above. Pinot Grigio is a strong, distinctive expression of the variety with pear-like flavour, crispness and rich … Continue reading Wine review — Yalumba, Thomas & Chrismont
We’ve all heard of Seppelt, Penfolds, Saltram, Yalumba and Orlando – great and enduring Barossa names. But what do we know of Tuesner, Tscharke, Lienert, Hentley Farm, Clos Otto, Gibson, Schild, Jenke, Haan, Kabinye, Langmeil, The Willows, Whistler, Kaesler, Kalleske, Torbreck, Three Rivers, Rockford, Veritas, Turkey Flat, Greenock Creek and Murray Street Vineyards? – to … Continue reading Micro makers focus on individual Barossa vineyards
The quality and style of several great Australian wine brands owned by Foster’s remain intact despite the wine division’s ten per cent sales decline in the first half 2006–07. But will great brands like Penfolds, Wynns and Wolf Blass flourish long term under the Foster’s banner? Will Foster’s remain in the wine business in the … Continue reading Will Foster’s stay in the wine business
Saltram Mamre Brook Barossa Shiraz 2004 $18–$26 On a day trip to Foster’s main winery in the Barossa recently 2004 vintage showed great class across several of the company’s brands and regions – Saltram Barossa, Metala Langhorne Creek, Wolf Blass Langhorne Creek, Barossa and McLaren Vale, Annie’s Lane Clare Valley and Mildara Coonawarra. This buoyant, … Continue reading Wine Review — Saltram Mamre Brook, Wolf Blass & Metala
Brothers in Arms Langhorne Creek No. 6 Shiraz Cabernet 2004 $22 In 1932 Jack Kilgour made Stonyfell Private Bin Claret, a shiraz cabernet blend from the Metala vineyard, Langhorne Creek. In 1959 the wine, Jack’s last, adopted the vineyard name and is still sold today as Stonyfell Metala Shiraz Cabernet. While Foster’s owns the Stonyfell … Continue reading Wine review — Brother in Arms, Wirra Wirra & Pizzini
Real Champagne, from the region of that name in northern France, provides the model for Australia’s rapidly evolving premium sparkling wines. It’s a century since we first copied Champagne-making techniques. But it’s only in the last few decades that we got to the heart of the matter in seeking the right grapes. In the first … Continue reading Champagne, nature’s accident, and its Aussie emulators
Holm Oak Vineyards Tasmania Riesling 2006 $20 Holm Oak is a seven-hectare vineyard at Rowella on the Tamar River, Northern Tasmania. Ian and Robyn Wilson own the vineyard but leased but lease it to their winemaker daughter, Rebecca and partner Stuart Catlin. They arrived in mid-2006 in time to launch this very fine aperitif-style riesling. … Continue reading Wine review — Holm Oak, Wyndham Estate & Coriole
For Melbourne-bound motorists the high-country around Beechworth and Bright and, on the return trip, in the vicinity of Macedon, offers rich food, wine and beer pickings. On a recent jaunt the Chateau Shanahan team abandoned the disgraceful Hume Highway at Albury for the uncrowded back roads from Wodonga to Beechworth and Bright and then on … Continue reading Victoria wine and beer walkabout
Depending on who you talk to, the wine surplus of a few months back has either turned to shortage already or, by a more conservative reading, might be on the wane, allowing supply and demand to harmonise by 2008/2009 – a few years earlier than previously expected. While the turnaround is unlikely to mean an … Continue reading Aussie wine surplus evaporates
Lambert Vineyard Canberra District Shiraz & Reserve Shiraz 2004 $25 & $30 At Wamboin, one of the higher and cooler parts of the Canberra District, Ruth and Steve Lambert competently produce a spectrum of elegant wine styles: riesling, chardonnay, pinot noir, pinto gris, shiraz, merlot and cabernet merlot. It’s worth a drive and a taste, … Continue reading Wine review — Lambert Vineyard & Gipsie Jack