St Erth Geelong Pinot Noir 2011 $14.25–$15 The privately owned Ballande Group, based in New Caledonia, owns the Tisdall Winery, established in 1971 in Echuca, Victoria. The company exports under a number of labels and also owns the St Erth brand, which it sells exclusively to the Woolworths-owned Dan Murphy chain. A Geelong-based winemaker sources … Continue reading Wine review — St Erth, Mount Horrocks and De Bortoli Sacred Hill
If I had to bet the house on one of the so-called “alternative” grape varieties it’d be Spain’s tempranillo. We crushed only about 3000 tonnes a year in Australia (equivalent to perhaps 225 thousand dozen bottles) – a mere splash compared to the more familiar varieties we grow. In 2012, Australian vintners processed almost 380,00 … Continue reading Tempranillo — Spaniard with big future in Australia
Shiraz and riesling once again seized the glory at this year’s Canberra and Region Wine Show, judged at the showground in late September. Judges tweeted and emailed as they worked, revealing the flavour of the event, if not specific details, days before show organisers unveiled the official results. The show – judged by Mike Bennie, … Continue reading Shiraz, riesling and Tumbarumba chardonnay excite at Canberra 2013 show
Torbreck Barossa Valley Cuvee Juveniles 2011 $20 Founder, David Powell, recently departed Torbreck, the winery he founded in 1994 and built into one of the Barossa’s most esteemed names globally. Torbreck continues, however, under American owner Pete Kight. A group of us recently enjoyed Torbreck Juveniles at Shorty’s, Garema Place. An unoaked blend of grenache, … Continue reading Wine review — Torbreck, Schild Estate and Jacob’s Creek
Four Winds Vineyard Riesling 2013 $22 Murrumbateman, Canberra District, NSW Rieslings from Four Winds vineyard have won wine-show awards, including gold medals, in the past – under the Four Winds label and for other winemakers sourcing fruit from the vineyard. But Sarah Collingwood says the thrill went up a notch when the 2013 vintage won … Continue reading Wine review — Four Winds Vineyard, Curly Flat, Goat Square, Terrazes de los Andes, Innocent Bystander and Wynns Coonawarra Estate
Wolf Blass Grey Label Shiraz 2011 $28.85–$35 McLaren Vale, South Australia Wolf Blass chief winemaker Chris Hatcher rates McLaren Vale shiraz as South Australia’s best in the cold, wet 2011 vintage. Blass Grey Label 2011 is classic McLaren Vale in style – densely coloured and crimson rimmed with deep, ripe fruit flavours cut through with … Continue reading Wine review — Wolf Blass, Domain Day, Cullen and Stonier
Tim Smith Wines Mataro 2012 $36 Greenock and Light Pass, Barossa Valley, South Australia Tim Smith made wine at Yalumba for 15 years, but now produces his own delicious reds, like this one, discovered at Tanunda’s exciting FermentAsian restaurant. Smith says he loves mataro (aka mourvedre) and sees good cellaring potential in the variety, thanks … Continue reading Wine review — Tim Smith Wines, Dr Loosen, John Duval, Domain Day, Ashton Hills and Redbank
Wicks Estate Adelaide Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 $18–$20 I tasted this in July at the winery with Tim Wicks and his three winemakers, Tim Knappstein, Leigh Ratzmer and Chris Parsons. The winery, on the edge of the 40-hectare vineyard, puts out good volumes of tasty, medium-bodied wines you can usually pick up for less than … Continue reading Wine review — Wicks Estate, Ad Hoc and Xanadu
Seppeltsfield Para 100 year old vintage tawny 1913 $330 100ml, $999 375ml Seppeltsfield vineyard, Barossa Valley, South Australia Seppeltsfield released its first 100-year-old Para tawny in 1978 – drawn from a barrel set aside by Benno Seppelt in 1878. He instructed the family to bottle it in 100 years. Amazingly, Seppelt’s successors, including corporate and … Continue reading Wine review — Seppeltsfield, Oliver’s Taranga, Turkey Flat, Rockford and Wicks Estate
Seppeltsfield Eden Valley Riesling 2012 $19.80–$22 After a couple of changes of ownership in recent years, Barossa’s historic Seppeltsfield belongs to four investors, led by winemaker and managing director, Warren Randall. Under an arrangement with former owner, Foster’s (now Treasury Wine Estates), Randall’s group can sell Seppeltsfield table wines only through the cellar door and … Continue reading Wine review — Seppeltsfield, Wicks Estate and Tscharke