With production of a mere 3,000 tonnes annually, it’s tempting to dismiss tempranillo (a Spanish red variety) as a footnote to Australia’s 1.5 million tonne wine industry. But as the industry repeatedly demonstrates, big new things, and even niche new things, grow from modest beginnings, often driven by producer enthusiasm. Great modern examples include the … Continue reading Tempranillo — a growing taste
Ingram Road Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2010 $18 A growing number of high quality cheaper wines highlights Australia’s maturing pinot growing and making skills. In this instance Helens Hill Estate’s second label, Ingram Road, delivers the aroma, flavour and structure of decent pinot at an affordable price. It has floral and cherry-like varietal aromas that … Continue reading Wine review — Ingram Road, Kingston Estate and Fox Creek
There’s always a buzz of excitement at the release of a new Grange vintage. It’s a global event now and a confident Penfolds includes in the release its other flagship wines – Yattarna Chardonnay, Reserve Bin Adelaide Hills Chardonnay, St Henri Shiraz, Magill Estate Shiraz, RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz and Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon. This … Continue reading Penfolds releases Grange, St Henri, Magill, RWT and Bin 707
Shelmerdine Pinot Noir 2010 $26–$36 Yarra Valley, Victoria Stephen Shelmerdine writes, “Between the drought-affected vintage 2009 and rain-influenced vintage 2011, vintage 2010 is now shaping up as an absolutely classic year”. I’m not sure what “classic” means, but Shelmerdine delivers the goods in this lovely pinot from his family’s Lusatia Park Vineyard, high in the … Continue reading Wine review — Shelmerdine, Yealands Estate, Running with Bulls, Dandelion and Penfolds
Pepper Tree Limited Release Chardonnay 2010 $22 Wrattonbully, South Australia Yes, this is the third Jim Chatto-made chardonnay reviewed here in as many weeks – expressing yet another facet of the variety. First we saw the thrilling acid spine and intense nectarine-like flavour of Orange chardonnay; then the generous, round, softness and delicacy of the … Continue reading Wine review — Pepper Tree, Grant Burge, Vasse Felix, Chrismont and Rutherglen Estate
Zilzie Regional Collection Victoria Viognier 2009 and Adelaide Hills Pinot Gris 2010 $14–$16 A couple of years back Murray-Darling based Zilzie branched out into regional varietals, including a Yarra Valley Chardonnay (reviewed last Wednesday) and these two whites. The Viognier comes from warmer parts of Victoria and the deep colour and big palate reflect this. … Continue reading Wine review — Zilzie and Henschke
Vasse Felix Heytesbury Chardonnay 2009 $55 Margaret River, Western Australia Our best chardonnays almost invariably show the winemaker’s thumbprint, generally related to fermentation and barrel-ageing options and whether or not the maker allows or blocks the secondary malolactic fermentation (this softens the wines as it converts malic acid to lactic acid). What the best have … Continue reading Wine review — Vasse Felix, Pepper Tree, Kangarillo Road, Tapanappa and Zilzie
Price seems always at the heart of any new release of Penfolds much-loved, highly traded bin number wines. Fierce retail battles became part of the landscape from the late seventies, following the collapse of retail price maintenance. In recent years, however, a reticence to be first to cut means a little retail shadow boxing precedes … Continue reading They’ve Bin everywhere — Penfolds releases new reds
Over the last few decades the boasting theme of Australian wine show organisers changed fundamentally. “My show’s bigger than yours” gave way to “mine’s better than yours”. Canberra’s National Show, held each November, boasted longest and strongest across those decades. It billed itself as the grand final – the last major show of the year, … Continue reading How Winewise beat National Wine Show to the punch
Louee Nullo Mountain Riesling 2010 $25 Rylstone, New South Wales It’s just 50 kilometres from Mudgee (450 metres) but Nullo Mountain vineyard sits at 1,100 metres. At that altitude grapes develop varietal flavour at low sugar levels while retaining spine-tingling acidity that’d make a German vigneron smile. Over at Mudgee David Lowe helps these wonderful … Continue reading Wine review — Louee Wines, Yering Station, Jacob’s Creek, Paxton, Innocent Bystander and Terra a Terre