Tamar Ridge Tasmania Devil’s Corner Pinot Noir 2009 $18–$21 Kayena Vineyard Pinot Noir 2008 $28–$31 Devil’s Corner still seems more like grapes than wine, but give it another six months in bottle and it should’ve turned the corner. The fruit flavour’s terrific – pure, ripe, musky pinot backed by fine, dry tannins. It’s sourced from … Continue reading Wine review — Tamar Ridge, Bleasdale and Chalkers Crossing
The Hilltops wine region, centred on Young, an hour and a half’s drive north from here, emerged at about the same time as Canberra’s. In 1969, just two years before CSIRO Drs John Kirk and Edgar Riek planted vines, independently of one another, at Murrumbateman and Lake George, cherry farmer, the late Peter Robertson, established … Continue reading Hilltops flies solo
Cullens Kevin John Chardonnay 2008 $75 Margaret River, Western Australia Our best winemakers invariably bring a wide frame of reference to their work. Vanya Cullen, for example, stages a tasting of the world’s best chardonnays every year in the family winery. It’s a benchmarking exercise that’s helped lift Cullens Chardonnay, named for Vanya’s late father, … Continue reading Wine review — Cullens, Majella, Shaw Vineyard Estate, Turkey Flat, Grove Estate and Mount Horrocks
Cien Y Pico Manchuela Doble Pasta Tintorera 2007 $27–$30 Cien Y Pico Manchuela Knights-Errant Tintorera 2007 $50–$55 We’re seeing lots of Spanish wine in Australia – mainly reds made from tempranillo and garnacha (grenache), dry white albarino, various bubblies and sherry, particularly the lighter fino styles. Then there are these two powerful, distinctive reds, made … Continue reading Wine review — Cien Y Pico, Shaw Vineyard Estate and Scarborough
Is Australia ready for high quality regional varietal wines in tetra paks? We’ll know soon enough following this month’s launch of One Planet Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2009 and McLaren Vale Shiraz 2008. They’re billed as “the green pour” and the marketing focuses on a zero carbon dioxide output across the product lifecycle. But the … Continue reading Time could be right for tetra pak wine
Canberra’s National Wine Show of Australia recently announced major changes to this year’s event. The Royal National Capital Agricultural Society’s wine show committee, chaired by David Metcalf, hopes to open the competition to a wider range of exhibitors, especially high quality small producers from Australia’s many wine regions. The event, held in Canberra each November, … Continue reading National Wine Show of Australia hopes to fill the gaps
Plunkett-Fowles Stone Dwellers Strathbogie Ranges Riesling 2008 $18–$22 Meerea Park Hunter Valley XYZ Semillon 2009 $20–$22 Stone Dwellers, from Victoria’s Strathbogie Ranges, delivers huge dollops of juicy, fresh, citrus-like fruit flavours. At 13 per cent it’s at the high-alcohol end of the riesling spectrum. But that just adds to the richness – and, in any … Continue reading Wine review — Plunket-Fowles, Meerea Park, Penfolds, Pooles Rock and Freeman
Tyrrell’s Lost Block whites $14–$19 Hunter Valley Semillon 2009 Frankland River Sauvignon Blanc 2009 The popular vote’s with sauvignon blanc at present and Tyrrell’s version – sourced from Frankland River, Western Australia – scrubs up better than most as it has flesh and texture to match the tropical-fruit-like varietal flavour. Almost apologetically, Bruce Tyrrell’s press … Continue reading Wine review — Tyrrell’s, Pizzini and Grosset
Braided River Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $14–$19 The Crossings Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2009 $14–$19 New Zealand’s Ager Sectus Wine Estates, controlled by Peter and Debbie Cutfield, owns the ‘Braided River’ and ‘The Crossing’s brands. Winemaker Matt Mitchells says the bolder, traditional, in-your-face Braided River wine is an all-of-Marlborough blend. But the more restrained ‘The Crossings’ … Continue reading Wine review — Braided River, The Crossings, Brokenwood and Mount Pleasant
Tyrrell’s Hunter Valley — $24–$34 Belford Semillon 2004 HVD Semillon 2004 These individual vineyard wines express subtle shades of the idiosyncratic Hunter semillon style. The wines are low in alcohol and tending to lemony austerity when young. But with age they soften and the palate fills with delicious honeyed and toasty flavours – without losing … Continue reading Wine review — Tyrrell’s, Hardys and Turkey Flat