Kamberra’s state-of-the-art winery, abandoned by Hardy Wine Company a year ago, might have become a white elephant. Instead, both the winery and the Kamberra wine brand are to live on under Canberra’s Elvin Group. The group bought the Watson winery and tourism complex and 83-hectare Holt vineyard last year. But speculation about the fate of … Continue reading Cooper Coffman moves into Kamberra Winery
Since humans developed language tens of thousands of years ago, we’ve found expression for phenomena only now being explained on many levels, right down to the molecular, by scientists. Almost instinctively, and certainly by experience, we understand that one man’s meat is another’s poison – an adage that applies in spades to the world of … Continue reading Super tasters, genes and pepper in your pool
Yalumba South Australia Riesling 2007 $10-$12 Henschke Eden Valley Julius Riesling 2007 $27 Green’s Hill Lenswood Riesling 2007 Peggy’s Hill Eden Valley Riesling 2007 $20 This week’s recommendations are all rieslings from the outstanding 2007 vintage, selected at a tasting a few weeks back. The Yalumba wine, a Barossa-Eden Valley blend, and value champ of … Continue reading Wine review — Yalumba, Henschke, Petaluma, Mitchell, Grosset & Mount Horrocks
Like the Australian wine industry, New Zealand’s has enjoyed a decade of unprecedented, export-driven growth. However, New Zealand’s southerly latitudes and cooler climate dictates a vastly different wine-industry structure than Australia’s. With New Zealand’s warmest significant growing region, Gisborne, sitting at about the same latitude as Melbourne, it’s only natural that the Kiwi industry focuses … Continue reading Oz versus Kiwi wine style differences
Bay of Fires Tasmania Riesling 2007 $30 The 2007 rieslings look terrific, right across the country – from Mount Barker in the West to the variety’s Clare and Eden Valley heartland, to Canberra, and way down south to Tassie. In a recent tasting Bay of Fires stole the show, even from stars like Grosset and … Continue reading Wine review — Bay of Fires, Peter Lehmann & Clonakilla
The sheer quality, value and long cellaring ability of Australia’s 2007 rieslings presents a great buying opportunity for drinkers. But before presenting several gems from recent tastings, it’s interesting to reflect on this noble variety’s undeserved niche status. It’s a darling variety amongst winemakers and the converted. It attracts critical attention completely out of proportion … Continue reading Riesling misses the boom but won’t go away
Heggies Vineyard Eden Valley Chardonnay 2006 $24.95 Pooles Rock Hunter Valley Chardonnay 2005 $29.99 Unlike riesling, which is usually a pure expression of the variety, most top-end chardonnays come gilded with winemaker artefacts: principally the aromas, flavours and textures derived from fermentation and maturation in oak barrels. In the best wines these add-ons meld beautifully … Continue reading Wine review — Heggies, Pooles Rock, Stefano Lubiano & Eileen Hardy
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
Leo Buring 2007 Rieslings: Eden Valley $18.99, Clare Valley $18.99 Leonay DW K17 Eden Valley 2007 $36.99 These continue a great tradition that began under Leo Buring in the 1940s, passed to Lindemans in the 1960s and then, via Penfold Wine Group and Southcorp, to Foster’s in 2005. Components of the three rieslings looked good … Continue reading Wine review — Leo Buring, Oxford Landing & Mount Majura
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