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 →

Wynns Coonawarra Estate Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 $19.80–$35 Wynns’ dark, crimson-rimmed favourite presents a distinctly Coonawarra side of cabernet, including black-olive and cassis-like flavours, bound up in sweet, spicy oak. It’s a buoyant, balanced cabernet – generous but elegant, with fine, firm tannins. It remains one of Australia’s best value, long-term cellaring wines. It’s … Continue reading Wine review — Wynns Coonawarra Estate, Cumulus Wines and Seppelt →

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 →

Dog Trap Vineyard Canberra District Shiraz 2010 $12 Dr Dennis Hart bought the Dog Trap vineyard, then contracted to Hardys, on the outskirts of Yass in 2003. He makes a small quantity of cabernet sauvignon on site but sells much of the fruit to other makers and has part of his shiraz crop vinified at … Continue reading Wine review — Dog Trap Vineyard, Yangarra and Wynns →

Tahbilk Marsanne 2010 $13.00–$16.45 Nagambie Lakes, Victoria In the me-too line up on most retail shelves, Tahbilk marsanne stands out. It’s become a signature wine style for Tahbilk and under Alister Purbrick (his great grandfather bought the already established property in 1925) the style has become finer. Marsanne, a Rhone Valley white variety, tends to … Continue reading Wine review — Tahbilk, Leo Buring, Shingleback Red Knot, Wynns Coonawarra Estate and Pipers Brook →

Alinga Four Winds Vineyard Canberra District Riesling 2010 $17 Murrumbateman, New South Wales Alinga’s very much a family affair, based at the Four Winds Vineyard, Murrumbateman. Graeme and Suzanne Lunney planted the first vines in 1998 and their children, Tom, Sarah and Jaime later joined the business. Following Tom’s death  early this year, Sarah’s husband … Continue reading Wine review — Alinga, Grosset, Cofield, TarraWarra, Walnut Tree and Wynns Coonawarra Estate →

Brand’s Laira Coonawarra Stentiford’s Old Vine Shiraz 2006 $67–$75 We’ll kick off today’s Coonawarra theme with this beautiful, elegant shiraz sourced from some of the region’s oldest vines. When John Riddoch opened Coonawarra’s first winery in 1896, retired sea captain Stentiford, sold Riddoch shiraz grapes from his Laira vineyard, named after his old ship, and … Continue reading Wine review — Brand’s Stentiford and Wynns →