Beurrot by Kooyong Pinot Gris 2010 $27–$30 Meres Block and Beurrot vineyards, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria Today’s reviews include two really good, very different expressions of pinot gris, a variety that all too often produces non-descript wines. The first, made by Sandro Mosele, demonstrates the combined power of great fruit and assertive, but skilled, winemaking inputs. … Continue reading Wine review — Kooyong Estate, Toi Toi, Brothers in Arms and Eperosa →

Chablis (Michel Bouchard) 2009 $14.99 This is one of three French chardonnays we bought from Cosco recently – a direct import, along with other two, Chablis (William Fevre) 2009 $18.99 and Puligny-Montrachet (Louis Latour) 2008 $42.99, already reviewed in my Wednesday column. Like the other two, Michel Bouchard’s wine presents really good value as it … Continue reading Wine review — Chablis Michel Bouchard, Chapel Hill and Shaw Vineyard Estate →

Lark Hill Canberra District Riesling 2011 $30 What sort of riesling do we get from Canberra’s highest, coolest vineyard in a wet, cool growing season? Probably the sort of riesling Lark Hill made in previous cool periods. It’s pale coloured and aromatic in a pure, minerally, lemon-citrus way. The minerality and lemon-citrus flavours come through, … Continue reading Wine review — Lark Hill, Tar and Roses, and Campbells →

Chapel Hill Il Vescovo Tempranillo 2010 $20 McLaren Vale and Adelaide Hills, South Australia Today we review two tempranillos, each emphasising a different facet of this Spanish variety. Chapel Hill’s version, made by Bryn Richards, leads with fruit – big, joyous buckets of it, ripe and mulberry like, gushing from the glass, up your nose … Continue reading Wine review — Chapel Hill, Tar and Roses, First Creek and Stefano Lubiano →

Helm Canberra District Half Dry Riesling 2011 $25 Bang! Hear the firing gun? It’s the opening of unwooded white season, as our winemakers launch the first of their 2011 vintages. In Canberra the main game is crisp, mainly dry rieslings — with some exceptions, like Ken Helm’s mouth-watering semi-dry style. The cool season delivered high … Continue reading Wine review — Helm and Jacob’s Creek →

Jacob’s Creek Reserve Chardonnay 2008 $10.90–$17.99 Adelaide Hills, South Australia Reflecting the growing trend to regional marketing, Jacob’s Creek, part of French-owned Pernod-Ricard, recently moved to regional labelling on its reserve range. The range was originally launched in 2000 as multi-region blends. They’ve always hit the sweet spot for quality and value – especially during … Continue reading Wine review — Jacob’s Creek, Yalumba, Picardy, Coriole, Wynns and Robert Stein →