There’s a buzz around the industry about the 2008 rieslings. It started during vintage and by April, many winemakers, including Chris Hatcher of the Foster’s Group (one of our leading riesling makers) rated the wines as the best since the legendary 2002 vintage. Quantities were up, too, as nature seemingly compensated vignerons for the harsh, … Continue reading Riesling — the Aussie buzz in 2008
In January, with a small vintage predicted, the wine glut appeared to be over. Grape growers along the Murray and Murrumbidgee feared the worst. Winemakers expected supply to fall in line with demand – good news for them. As a consequence, it seemed as if wine drinkers might have to pay a little extra for … Continue reading Pressure on wine prices ahead of major industry change
Cork producer Amorim’s new, emotional appeal for us to come back to cork is unlikely to wash with consumers or the wine industry. It’s like the abusive partner seeking one more chance Be prepared to have your heartstrings tugged by Amorim, Portugal’s leading cork producer. On 6 August they launched a campaign spruiking the virtues … Continue reading Cork maker’s tug at our hearts won’t wash
Lake George Vineyard Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 2008 $21.99 This is the first of the 2008 releases from Lake George vineyard. Made by Alex McKay, it’s a blend of semillon from old vines on the original vineyard and sauvignon blanc from the Hillbrook vineyard, on the escarpment, and Hall. Alex says they’re all mature vines, ten … Continue reading Wine review — Lake George & Grove Estate
Mulyan Block 7 Cowra Chardonnay 2006 $25; Block 9 Cowra Chardonnay 2005 $25; Cowra Chardonnay 2006 $20; Cowra Viognier 2006 $20 Cowra’s wine reputation was built on chardonnay. A young Brian Croser sourced his first Petaluma from here in 1977, Then in the 1980s Cowra’s ability to efficiently produce big volumes of rich, peachy chardonnay … Continue reading Wine review — Mulyan, Millamolong, Bay of Fires & Tapanappa
They say that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Wynns Coonawarra Estate was never broken. In fact, for all but a short period in the seventies, it produced reliable, long-cellaring reds. But by the late nineties, with winemakers restless to do better, small-scale vineyard restoration began. “From 2000 on”, says winemaker Sue Hodder, “we … Continue reading Wynns Coonawarra — great winemaking but the marketing sucks
Mistletoe Hunter Valley Home Vineyard Semillon 2008 $18 & Broke Verdelho 2008 $18; Tulloch Hunter Semillon WA Sauvignon Blanc 2008 $16 These are the first three 2008 whites to hit the tasting bench. Mistletoe’s semillon, at 9.5 per cent alcohol, has the tangy, face-twisting, eye-watering impact of fresh grapefruit – an oddity at present but … Continue reading Wine review — Mistletoe, Bowen Estate & Bidgebong
We recently lined up a dozen top-shelf Aussie reds in a Chateau Shanahan masked tasting. There were just two of us at the bench – forming our judgments without discussion, then, at the end of each bracket comparing our impressions, and later unmasking the bottles. In the few days following the sip-and-spit tasting, we consumed … Continue reading Sipping from the top shelf — Aussie wines that came our way
Visiting Canberra last Wednesday, Chris Hatcher, chief winemaker for Foster’s, Australia’s largest wine producer, said the 2008 vintage produced better than anticipated grape quantities and considerable quality variations. A warm start to the season boosted the vines out of the blocks before milder weather set in, providing what looked to be ideal conditions for ripening … Continue reading Post-vintage chat with Chris Hatcher — Foster’s chief winemaker
The Greeks, Phoenicians and Romans loved the muscat grape and spread it around southern Europe. From there it colonised the continent, and later the new world. Two millennia on, drinkers everywhere enjoy muscat in still, semi-sparkling, sparkling and fortified wines. Its full name is muscat-a-petits-grains and its colour ranges from white to pink to brown. … Continue reading Muscat — popular for 2,000 years