Last week I presented the industry perspective on the Canberra Regional Wine Show, but what’s in it for consumers? Well, read on and for a guide to dozens of delicious wines coming from Canberra and surrounding regions – Tumbarumba, Gundagai, Southern Highlands, South Coast and Hilltops (Young). You can troll through the catalogue of results … Continue reading A judge’s drinking guide from the 2007 Canberra Regional Wine Show
Regional wine shows, says leading Australian wine man Brian Croser, can be marketing springboards. With the international fine wine market so focused on what grows best where, he argues, regional shows can highlight what varieties best suit a region and the results used to take that message to the world. Croser was in Canberra last … Continue reading Croser in Canberra — on regional wine shows
To wine boffins the names Chambertin, Corton-Charlemagne, and Montrachet conjure images of wonderful, though breathtakingly expensive, wines. Stripped of mystique, they are simply names of time-proven vineyards now firmly protected by French law and embedded in wine lore. Not just the names, but the prices paid by generation after generation of wine drinker, show that … Continue reading Site really matters — it’s the vocabulary of fine wine
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
Brindabella Hills Canberra District Shiraz 2005 $25 Perhaps it’s the sandy, gravely soils, wonders winemaker Roger Harris, that makes shiraz from comparatively low-altitude, warm Hall so amazingly cool-climate-fragrant in style. It’s seductively floral with a matching delicate, juicy flavour and elegant, supple structure – a sensational wine. And I suspect that it’ll grow in interest … Continue reading Wine review — Brindabella Hills & Hewitson
Lerida Estate Lake George Reserve Shiraz 2005 $49.50, Pinot Noir 2006 $22 Jim Lumbers and Anne Caine planted the first vines at Lerida Estate – the southernmost of the three vineyards flanking Lake George – in 1997. They later added the striking Glen Murcott designed winery-cellar door-café building. I’ll be covering Lerida and its neighbours … Continue reading Wine review — Lerida Estate, Henschke & Clos Pierre
Philip Shaw Orange Sauvignon Blanc 2005 $23, Chardonnay 2004 $30, Shiraz Viognier 2004 $44 and Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc 2004 $25 In 1985 Rosemount winemaker Philip Shaw spotted a promising vineyard site as the corporate aircraft limped to an emergency landing at Orange. In 1988 Shaw purchased the site, at 900 metres above sea … Continue reading Wine reviews — Philip Shaw, Henschke, Lindemans
Petaluma Coonawarra 2004 $45-$60 As the last of the outstanding 2002 Petaluma Coonawarra sells out, along comes the 2004. So where’s the 2003? Winemaker Andrew Hardy says, ‘we have decided not to release the 2003 Coonawarra as it is still too immature and tightly bound and will benefit from some prolonged cellaring. We will release … Continue reading Wine review — Petaluma, Mount Horrocks & Illuminati
Hatherleigh Pinot Noir 2003 & 2004 $35 One of the industry’s most respected figures recently moved, unheralded, to Canberra. Nick Bulleid, Master of Wine, partner in Brokenwood Wines, consultant, show judge, Champagne Award Winner etc etc, arrived here from Lagan (near Crookwell) where he and partner, Susan Herborn, had planted a pinot vineyard between 1996 … Continue reading Wine review — Hatherleigh, d’Arenberg & Wyndham Estate
Tahbilk Nagambie Lakes Shiraz 2003 $17-$22 ‘I predicted a crop loss of 50% – the bad news is that is more like 70–75% which is a disaster’, writes proprietor Alister Purbrick of the 2007 vintage (see my column in next Wednesday’s Food & Wine for more info on Australia’s 2007 grape harvest). The problem has … Continue reading Wine review — Tahbilk, Balnaves & Peter Lehmann