Richmond Grove Watervale Riesling 2012 $19–$22 Richmond Grove is riesling royalty – combining the long, distinguished pedigrees of Leo Buring-Lindemans and Orlando. The two streams combined in the nineties and included riesling luminaries Bernard Hickin (Orlando) and John Vickery and Phil Laffer (Buring-Lindeman). Hickin now heads the winemaking team, and Rebekah Richardson made the 2012 … Continue reading Wine review – Richmond Grove, Thorn Clarke and St Erth →

Ten Minutes by Tractor McCutcheon Pinot Noir 2012 $75 McCutcheon Vineyard, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria A group of us tasted McCutcheon pinot alongside three contrasting styles –Lerida Estate Cullerin Canberra District 2013 ($35, also reviewed today), Tout Pres by Farr Geelong 2011 ($110) and Hurley Vineyard Garamond Mornington Peninsula 2012 ($75). The wines all rated well … Continue reading Wine review – Ten Minutes by Tractor, Lerida Estate, Yalumba, Krinklewood and Veuve Fourny →

 Rolf Binder Eden Valley Riesling 2013 $22 In 1955 Rolf Binder senior and his wife Franziska bought a winery on Langmeil Road, Tanunda, and named it Veritas. In 2005, Rolf Binder junior renamed the winery in memory of his later father. Binder now makes the red wines while his sister, Christa Deans, looks after the … Continue reading Wine review – Magpie Estate, Rolf Binder and Tahbilk →

Peter Lehmann H and V Eden Valley Riesling 2013 $19–$22 In 2003, Swiss-based Hess Group, purchased a majority interest in Peter Lehmann Wines, giving the international winemaker a Barossa presence, alongside it interests in the USA, Argentina and South Africa. The purchase gave the Australian business the stability it needed to get on with making … Continue reading Wine review — Peter Lehmann, Curly Flat and Longview →

Penfolds Hyland Cool Climate Adelaide Chardonnay 2012 $18–$23 We could call Thomas Hyland the forgotten Penfolds range – sitting quietly in the shade of the much-hyped bin and icon wines. The chardonnay debuted in 2001, an offshoot of the “white Grange” project that delivered the flagship Yattarna and Adelaide Hills Reserve Bin chardonnays. The style … Continue reading Wine review — Penfolds, Frankland Estate and Wirra Wirra →

Yalumba Eden Valley Roussanne 2012 $25 Yalumba first worked with the Rhone white variety, roussanne in the 1980s, halted work because of a vine virus, then restarted with fresh material around 20 years later. By then they had 30 years’ experience with another of the Rhone varieties, viognier, and decades of experience with spontaneous fermentations … Continue reading Wine review — Yalumba, Punt Road and Bay of Fires →

Jacob’s Creek Riesling 2012 $6.90–$12 In 2012 this wine won silver medals in the Melbourne and Hobart wine shows, then golds in Adelaide and Canberra National Wine Show. In October this year, it won the trophy as best riesling at the Royal Melbourne Wine Show. Winemaker Bernard Hickin says the fruit comes from the Barossa, … Continue reading Wine review — Jacob’s Creek, Cherubino Ad Hoc and Wyndham Estate →