Hewitson Miss Harry Barossa Valley 2013 $21.85–$25 What would a bunch of hairy chested blokes make of tender, supple, perfumed Miss Harry, served alongside burly reds from Clare Valley and McLaren Vale? The group generally favours big, ripe shiraz with their post-tennis curry. But the lighter coloured Miss Harry overcame early suspicions and several drinkers … Continue reading Wine review – Hewitson, Grosset and Yalumba
Parker Coonawarra Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 North-western Coonawarra, South Australia $18.90–$24 Our wine of the week earned its place for sheer flavour, value and fidelity to the Coonawarra regional style. The winery now belongs to WD Wines, an energetic business that also owns the Hesketh and St John’s Road brands. Jonathon Hesketh and Phil Lehmann, … Continue reading Wine review – Parker Coonawarra Estate, Yalumba Galway, Giant Steps, Curly Flat, Scuttlebutt and Wagner Steeple
Clonakilla Canberra District Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2015 $22–$25 We know Clonakilla best for its cutting edge shiraz-viognier blend, shiraz, riesling and viognier. But like many small vignerons, the Kirk family grows many other grape varieties – some planted in the early years to test the region’s potential, and others to meet consumer demand. Sauvignon blanc … Continue reading Wine reviews – Clonakilla, Hay Shed Hill and Pikes
Jim Barry Veto Riesling 2015 Lodge Hill vineyard, Clare Valley, South Australia $35 Peter Barry and sons Tom and Sam put a bit of the mongrel into their new riesling. It zigs away from Australia’s traditional pure, delicate, lime-like style towards greater ripeness, with notably more body, grip and texture. Later harvesting, partial barrel fermentation … Continue reading Aussie wine reviews – seven varieties, six regions, four states
Torbreck The Struie Shiraz 2013 Barossa and Eden Valleys, South Australia $45–$49 Like a black hole sucking in stars, Torbreck “The Laird” Shiraz 2010 ($700) held 30 tasters captive, powerless to reach the other nine reds on the table. And little wonder. The Laird’s deep, dark power sucked the marrow from our bones and filled … Continue reading Wine review – powerful Barossa shiraz leads trans-continental Aussie wine line up
Wolf Blass Original Collection McLaren Vale Shiraz 2013 $20 We bought this satisfying McLaren Vale red at BWS, Broome, packed it into the back of our Hilux and headed off for the Gibb River Road. It survived endless corrugations and finally, at the 3,200-square-kilometre Mornington Wilderness Sanctuary, emerged red-dusty and delicious onto the camp table. … Continue reading Wine review – Wolf Blass, John Duval and Aldi Neve
Ross Hill Pinnacle Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 Ross Hill Griffin Road vineyard, Orange, NSW $40 From 1994, the Robson family planted their Griffin Road, Orange, vineyard at elevations varying from 750 to 850 metres. In 2008, the family added another five hectares at 1018 metres, near their Wallace Road winery. In the benign 2013 vintage, five … Continue reading Wine review – Ross Hill, Chrismont, Tolpuddle, Forester Estate, Torbreck and Mad Fish
Evans and Tate Metricup Road Margaret River Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2013 $17.10–$24 Evans and Tate – founded in 1974 at Metricup Road, Margaret River – now belongs to Griffith-based McWilliams Wines, giving the brand much-needed stability and distribution. The wine’s prime focus is on the dazzling fresh fruit flavours of semillon and sauvignon blanc. In … Continue reading Wine review – Evans and Tate, Heartland, and Voyager Estate
Blue Pyrenees Shiraz 2012 $14.95–$18 Blue Pyrenees vineyard, Pyrenees, Victoria Every so often a wine comes along that runs off the value-for-money scale. The latest, Blue Pyrenees Shiraz 2012, provided camp-fired comfort during a wintery outdoor party. The bottle sat unloved on the bar, ignored as other reds came and went. What turned people off; … Continue reading Wine review – Blue Pyrenees, Jacob’s Creek, Mount Pleasant Elizabeth, Red Knot, Wolf Blass and Moppity Vineyards Lock and Key
Sevenhill Cellars Inigo Riesling 2014 $18.80–$20 Sevenhill Cellars vineyards, Clare Valley, South Australia In 1851 the Society of Jesus established Sevenhill Cellars, the Clare Valley’s first winery. The Jesuits still run Sevenhill from magnificent stone cellars where they make amazingly concentrated wines from their own extensive vineyards. Inigo – the cheaper of their two rieslings … Continue reading Wine review – Sevenhill, Bowen Estate, Yalumba, Penfolds, d’Arenberg and Sassafras