No contrast could’ve been starker. Next to a tired and heavy Eden Valley riesling 1999 a Mosel of the same year seduced with its sweet, delicate freshness. Australia’s Storton Vineyard Rhine Riesling 1999 didn’t get a second sniff. But Dr Weins-Prum Spaetlese Riesling 1999, from the great Sonnenuhr vineyard at Wehlen, showed the true beauty … Continue reading Tasting perspectives
Shelmerdine Lusatia Park Pinot Noir 2010 $60 Lusatia Park vineyard, Woori Yallock, Upper Yarra Valley, Victoria In 2010 Stephen Shelmerdine selected a small amount of fruit from a couple of rows of the oldest pinot noir vines (planted 1985) on the Lusatia Park vineyard. The grapes were hand harvested, de-stemmed and then cold-soaked before undergoing … Continue reading Wine review — Shelmerdine, Villa Maria, De Bortoli, Serafino, Peter Lehmann and Pierrepoint
TarraWara Estate Yarra Valley J-Block Shiraz 2009 $35 Though fully priced for an unproven wine off very young vines (planted 2007), TarraWarra’s J-Block shiraz offers pure, sexy, drinking pleasure. From the first sniff of the seductive, floral and musk aroma to the last supple, sweet drop in the bottle, it held our attention. A few … Continue reading Wine review — Tarra Warra, Shingleback and Rolf Binder
At Chateau Shanahan we’ve experienced cellaring joy and disappointments over the years. But consistent pleasure in older bottles of Majella Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon and The Malleea cabernet shiraz, reminded us of this marvellous winery’s interesting transition from farming to grape growing to winemaking. When brothers Brian and Anthony Lynn made the first Majella wine in … Continue reading Majella of Coonawarra — from sheep farming to winemaking
In 1967 Wolf Blass winemaker, John Glaetzer, received a load of “beautiful, concentrated” cabernet sauvignon from Bill Potts’ vineyard, Langhorne Creek. Glaetzer turned those grapes into the first Wolf Blass Grey Label Cabernet Sauvignon. Seven years later, inspired by those beautiful grapes, Glaetzer (still working for Blass) made John’s Blend No. 1 Langhorne Creek Cabernet … Continue reading Tasting John’s Blend 1990 to 2006
Wallaroo Wines Canberra District Riesling 2009 $20 Wallaroo Vineyard, Hall, belongs to ABC Europe correspondent Philip Williams and family. It’s a near neighbour of Brindabella Hills Winery, where Roger Harris makes the wine. We happened on the 2009 at Taj Agra Indian Restaurant, Dickson, over Easter. What a great discovery – especially at $27, a … Continue reading Wine review — Wallaroo, Eden Road and Vasse Felix
Canberra and surrounding districts fared sensationally well in this year’s National Wine Show of Australia, judged between 15 and 18 November. By my count, local wines won 31 awards – one trophy, 13 gold medals, four silver medals and 13 bronze medals. The tally includes wines from most of the regions covered by the Canberra … Continue reading Canberra wines fare well at National Wine Show of Australia
If you think you can make a killing buying wine, think again. Unless you can buy at or near wholesale price and pick the winning vintages, you’re unlikely to turn a dollar. Prices realised at auction by the Penfolds blue-chip reds released in May each year tell the story. On the positive side, the high … Continue reading Wine investing ain’t easy
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
Can a wholesale import business focussed on sweet Italian wine succeed in Australia? Canberra’s Brian and Carol Keil, with Italian based Imogen McNamara, will soon know. With the first shipment of their Pilgrim Wines now in Australia, the Keils paraded their sweeties, and a few dry wines as well, in front of the Canberra trade … Continue reading Canberra importer finds Italy’s sweet spot