Macquarie Dictionary’s recent acceptance of the coined words “apera” and “topaque” as replacements for “sherry” and “tokay” doesn’t make them sound any less silly. Nor does it change the fact they ignore the global language of fine wine – the origin, or terroir behind the products. Rivers of management speak, marketing clichés and a $1 … Continue reading Apera and topaque no less silly for the recognition
Stefano Lubiana Tasmania Estate Chardonnay 2010 $48–$50 The best chardonnays have a unique weight and beauty – full bodied but elegant and demanding ever another sip. They’re wines to savour slowly, like the contrasting Tyrrell’s Vat 47 1996 and Lubiana 2010 we compared at Chairman and Yip recently. The first a glorious old white, delivered … Continue reading Wine review — Stefano Lubiana and Grant Burge
An old wine-drinking mate, Mike Bond, recently told me about a stash of glorious old rieslings on sale at Richmond Grove. The Barossa winery makes some of Australia’s finest rieslings – much loved at Chateau Shanahan as they’re comparatively cheap and drink beautifully for many years. We’re currently enjoying Richmond Grove Watervale rieslings 1999 and … Continue reading Richmond Grove sells historic riesling
A growing push for lower alcohol wines comes from many directions: the anti-alcohol lobby; public health advocates; a desire to reduce costs in markets that tax wine on alcohol content; to avoid the heat and astringency of excessive alcohol; in response to certain wine critics, particularly in the United Kingdom; and to cater for some … Continue reading Australian wine industry seeks lower alcohol wine
Lerida Estate Shiraz Viognier 2009 – $65 Lerida Estate vineyard, Lake George, Canberra District, NSW Inspired largely by Dr Edgar Riek’s pinot noir, Jim Lumbers and Anne Caine established Lerida Estate in 2000, next door to Riek’s Lake George vineyard (acquired by the Karelas family in 1998). However, in a run of warm vintages in … Continue reading Wine review– Lerida Estate, Lowe and Swinging Bridge
President of the NSW Wine Industry Association and vice president of the Winemakers Federation of Australia, David Lowe, sees a well-funded anti-alcohol lobby shifting its focus from beer and spirits to wine. The wine industry needs to respond, he believes. And one response should be to produce wines with less alcohol. He says, “The … Continue reading Mudgee winemaker’s quest for good low-alcohol wine
A recent string of letters in The Canberra Times reveals mixed perceptions of merlot, Australia’s third most planted red wine variety. Senator Humphries set the ferret running when he wrote, “In March, through the letters page of the Canberra Times, Ian de Landelles and I agreed on a wager: I bet that the next leadership speculation … Continue reading Merlot confuses everyone, even Miles
Balnaves of Coonawarra Chardonnay 2011 $26–$28 Balnaves makes a good chardonnay every year, a useful add-on to Coonawarra’s main game – reds. But could chardonnay upstage Balnaves’ reds in the cool 2011 vintage? The cool season accentuated the fruit flavour, shifting it towards the lemon and grapefruit end of the varietal spectrum. And the tingly … Continue reading Wine review — Balnaves and Redbank
Jacob’s Creek St Hugo Shiraz Cabernet 2009 $45–50 Barossa (shiraz) and Coonawarra (cabernet), South Australia I don’t believe any Australian cross-regional blend equals the symbiotic pairing of Barossa shiraz with Coonawarra cabernet sauvignon. For example, few wines in the world equal Penfolds Bin 60A 1962, the legendary Max Schubert blend that upstaged Grange. The new … Continue reading Wine review — Jacob’s Creek St Hugo, Yarrh, Cullen, Xanadu and Blue Pyrenees
On Sunday 1 July winemakers from two neighbouring but very different Victorian regions – Rutherglen and the King Valley – present their wares in Canberra. The annual Taste of two regions will be held at old parliament house between 10am and 5pm, admission $25 per person. Rutherglen (to the north of the King Valley) spreads … Continue reading Victoria’s King Valley — thirty diverse kilometres