Chandon Vintage Brut Rose 2008 $27.85–$35 Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania Chandon’s bubbly rosé combines material from the Yarra Valley, King Valley, Goulburn Valley, Strathbogie and Macedon, Victoria; the Adelaide Hills, South Australia; Great Southern, Western Australia; and the Coal River Valley, Tasmania. Winemaker Dan Buckle says it comprises 30 individual cuvees, including … Continue reading Wine review — Chandon, Mt Monster, Sassy, Tahbilk, Jacob’s Creek and Picante Espana →

Jacob’s Creek Riesling 2012 $6.90–$10 The latest Jacob’s Creek shows the superior flavour qualities of a great riesling vintage. It won silver medals in the Melbourne and Hobart wine shows, then golds in Adelaide and Canberra’s National Wine Show of Australia. Winemaker Bernard Hickin says the fruit comes from the Barossa, Eden and Clare Valleys … Continue reading Wine review — Jacob’s Creek, Simmonnet-Febvre and Bay of Fires →

Jacob’s Creek St Hugo Shiraz Cabernet 2009 $45–50 Barossa (shiraz) and Coonawarra (cabernet), South Australia I don’t believe any Australian cross-regional blend equals the symbiotic pairing of Barossa shiraz with Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon. For example, few wines in the world equal Penfolds Bin 60A 1962, the legendary Max Schubert blend that upstaged Grange. The new … Continue reading Wine review — Jacob’s Creek St Hugo, Yarrh, Cullen, Xanadu and Blue Pyrenees →

Moorilla Estate Muse Pinot Noir 2010 $48 Tasmania Under David Walsh’s ownership, Moorilla Estate (founded 1958) gained not only the Museum of Modern and New Art, but a new winemaker and a complete revolution in its vineyard and winery management. The changes were under way when I visited winemaker Conor van der Reest at Moorilla … Continue reading Wine review — Moorilla Estate, Fox Creek, Innocent Bystander, Elevation and Evans and Tate →

Tulloch Pokolbin Dry Red 2010 $22–$25 The label dates from1952 and the company goes back 1895. Its modern history includes sale of J.Y. Tulloch and Sons to Reed Consolidated Publishing in 1969, followed by 32 years in corporate hands before Jay Tulloch and business associates bought the farm back in 2001. Since then we’ve tasted … Continue reading Wine review — Tulloch, Best’s and Jacob’s Creek →

Man O’ War Dreadnought Syrah 2009 $45–$50 Eastern Waiheke Island, New Zealand Waiheke Island, to the east of Auckland, lies at about the same latitude as Bendigo, Victoria, and Naracoorte (just north of Coonawarra), South Australia. The three regions, though, produce starkly different cool-climate shiraz styles – probably driven by significant climate variances. The flavour … Continue reading Wine review — Man ‘O War, Jip Jip Rocks, PHI, Seville Estate, Yalumba and Jeir Creek →

Evans and Tate Classic Margaret River Shiraz Cabernet 2010 $13–$15 Now part of McWilliams Wines, Evans and Tate Classic offers big-company reliability, correctness and value – if not excitement. The wine’s aroma reveals a floral, sweet-fruited side of shiraz. This bright fruitiness comes through, too, on the palate. But here a little cabernet astringency kicks … Continue reading Wine review — Evans and Tate, Heartland and Jacob’s Creek St Hugo →

Seville Estate Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2010 $30 Reserve Pinot Noir 2010 $60 Apart from the price, what’s the difference between Seville’s $30 pinot and $60 reserve pinot? In keeping with the laws of diminishing returns it’s more like a 20–30 per cent quality difference, not 100 per cent. And the differences are subtle – … Continue reading Wine review — Seville Estate, Mr Mick and Jacob’s Creek →

Ingram Road Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2010 $18 A growing number of high quality cheaper wines highlights Australia’s maturing pinot growing and making skills. In this instance Helens Hill Estate’s second label, Ingram Road, delivers the aroma, flavour and structure of decent pinot at an affordable price. It has floral and cherry-like varietal aromas that … Continue reading Wine review — Ingram Road, Kingston Estate and Fox Creek →