Wine review — Richmond Grove, Barwang, Shaw+Smith, Petaluma, Helm, Kirrihill and Arete

13 September 2009Wine reviewChris Shanahan

Richmond Grove Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2008 $18–$24 Barwang 842 Tumbarumba Chardonnay 2006 $30–$35 Shaw + Smith M3 Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2008 $35–$40 Petaluma Tiers Vineyard Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2005 $100–$130 What a gorgeous line up – beautiful, complex oak-fermented and matured chardonnays with neatly aligned price and quality. Richmond Grove is the value offering, especially … Continue reading Wine review — Richmond Grove, Barwang, Shaw+Smith, Petaluma, Helm, Kirrihill and Arete →

2008 a memorable wine year for Australia

10 December 2008WineChris Shanahan

Predictions are generally wrong, sometimes dramatically so, as 2008 proved for the wine industry. An expected end to the wine glut was stymied by two unrelated forces – a bumper grape crop and a dramatic decline in exports. The bumper crop caught the industry by surprise, prompting a press release from the Winemakers Federation of … Continue reading 2008 a memorable wine year for Australia →

Plonk in the middle of Fyshwick markets

12 November 2008BeerChris Shanahan

For a bit of beer excitement check out Anthony Young’s Plonk at Fyshwick markets. With help from champion home brewer, Dan Rayner, he’s quickly assembled what is probably Canberra’s best beer offering. It’s an impressive range already. But Anthony reckons on having 500 or more beers in stock by Christmas, including soon-to-arrive direct imports from … Continue reading Plonk in the middle of Fyshwick markets →

Pressure on wine prices ahead of major industry change

17 September 2008WineChris Shanahan

In January, with a small vintage predicted, the wine glut appeared to be over. Grape growers along the Murray and Murrumbidgee feared the worst. Winemakers expected supply to fall in line with demand – good news for them. As a consequence, it seemed as if wine drinkers might have to pay a little extra for … Continue reading Pressure on wine prices ahead of major industry change →

A great brand confuses

21 March 2007WineChris Shanahan

It’s been a field day for wine drinkers. But Australia’s benchmark red-wine brand, I believe, has never seen such grim times. Caught in a three-way pincer of wine glut, fierce retail competition and a parent company seemingly desperate for sales, Penfolds annual ‘Bin’ wine release hit new lows in 2007. Retail prices slumped to unprecedented … Continue reading A great brand confuses →

Two buck Chuck’s Aussie debut

30 July 2006WineChris Shanahan

What’s the connection between Olivia Newton John and two buck Chuck? Yes, there is one. And it’s in some blue coloured wine bottles sold through Woolworth’s BWS chain a few weeks back. But before we discover the connection, let’s meet two buck Chuck. A couple of years ago American retailer Trader Joe’s released the Charles … Continue reading Two buck Chuck’s Aussie debut →

Wine review — Castello di Poggio, Musella & Illuminati

2 July 2006Wine reviewChris Shanahan

Despite a glut sloshing around the world, Australia continues its parochial wine-drinking ways. Indeed, distance — aided by a weak dollar — seems to be a one-way tyranny these days, holding back a potential flood of cheap, surplus foreign wine while allowing the free passage of our own in the other direction. Thus in the … Continue reading Wine review — Castello di Poggio, Musella & Illuminati →

Wine exports to China — it’ll be a long march

18 June 2006WineChris Shanahan

Business people have been easily seduced by the sheer size of China. Surely, the argument seems to go, if I can sell just one widget for every ten of the 1.3 billion population, then I have a market for 130 million widgets. But in China – as in every market – the devil is in … Continue reading Wine exports to China — it’ll be a long march →

Vintage 2006 — an Australian report

7 May 2006WineChris Shanahan

In late April The Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation tipped a 2006 grape harvest of around 1.96 million tonnes – about one per cent down on last year’s record harvest. AWBC’s estimate includes the assumption that, just like last year, two to three per cent of the 2006 vintage will be left on the vine … Continue reading Vintage 2006 — an Australian report →

Wine review — Ravensworth, Lindemans & Teusner

12 March 2006Wine reviewChris Shanahan

Ravensworth Canberra District Marsanne 2005, Sangiovese 2005 $22 Two wines due for release on March 22nd confirm Bryan and Jocelyn Martin’s Ravensworth as one of Canberra’s defining labels. The Marsanne is a weighty, viscous and highly distinctive drop, bristling with delicious, vibrant, honeyed flavours. And the Sangiovese rates as one the best Australian shots I’ve … Continue reading Wine review — Ravensworth, Lindemans & Teusner →

Chris Shanahan

Australian wine & beer judge, writer and connoisseur

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