Saturday, December 22, 2007

Grant Burge 2003 The Holy Trinity


This is a benchmark Barossa Valley red blend with wonderful depth of flavour. Made from grenache, shiraz and mourvedre grapes, it is big and bold but beautifully balanced. Quintessentially Australian. A lovely drink. $40.

Friday, December 14, 2007

Penna Lane 2007 Riesling


This is a stunningly good Clare Valley riesling from a winery that has tended to fly under the radar. There's an aromatic, citrusy nose and a full-on bone dry palate with lemon, lime and zingy tropical fruit flavours. Delicious. $25.

Sunday, December 9, 2007

The Little Wine Company 2007 Olivine Gerwurz


This Hunter winery uses grapes from Victoria's Goulburn Valley to produce a deliciously fragrant and spicy off-dry white. Rose petal and lychee characters abound. Great served well-chilled with Asian cuisine, or spicy seafood dishes. $19.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Foxeys Hangout 2007 Pinot Gris

Tony Lee makes an eclectic and very appealing range of wines at his small Mornington Peninsula winery. The pinots are particularly good - and is a wonderfully expressive pinot gris with lifted pear aromas and a deliciously dry finish on the palate. $25.

Yalumba Y Series 2007 Riesling


A crisp, zippy riesling from a range that offers exceptional value for money. Made primarily from Barossa fruit, it is slightly broader than its EdenValley cousins but has delightful lemon and lime characters, plenty of length and a zesty acid finish. Fabulous value at under $12.

Friday, November 16, 2007

Larry Cherubino 2007 The Yard Riesling


The Yard is a new label from WA winemaker Larry Cherubino. This is a very European style of riesling, restrained, then emerging as fine and softly textured with gorgeous mineral and citrus characters. A vibrant wine of immense appeal. $25.

Larry Cherubino 2007 The Yard Riesling


The Yard and Ad Hoc are two new labels from West Australian winemaker Larry Cherubino. This is a very European style of riesling, restrained, then emerging as a fine and softly textured with gorgeous mineral and citrus characters. A vibrant wine of immense appeal. $25.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

Leylines 2005 McLaren Vale Shiraz


A terrific shiraz that highights the best of McLaren Vale without any of the region's excesses. Delightfully soft and round with dark pepper and plummy/blackberry flavours on the palate, it's a wine of depth and character with some subtle oak. $20.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Yalumba Y Series 2007 Riesling


A crisp, zippy riesling from a range that offers great value for money. Made primarily from Barossa fruit, it is slightly broader than its Eden Valley cousins but still has delightful lemon and lime characters, length and a zesty acid finish. $12.

Friday, October 12, 2007

Printhie 2006 Merlot


Orange winery Printhie is producing excellent cool-climate wines at affordable prices. Merlot is starting to shine in the region and this is a delightfully soft red with structure and length and excellent drinkability. $16.99.

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Barossa Valley Estate 2002 Ebenezer


The label of this wine is daggy, but what's in the bottle is thoroughly stylish. The Barossa is better known for shiraz than cabernet but there's an exception to every rule and this is outstanding. Great fruit, lovely complexity, terrific drinkability. $34.

Barossa Valley Estate 2002 Ebenezer


The label of this wine is ever so daggy, but what's in the bottle is thoroughly stylish. The Barossa is better known for shiraz than cabernet but there's an exception to every rule and this is simply outstanding. Great fruit, lovely complexity, terrific drinkability and great value even at $34.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Grosset 2007 Polish Hill Riesling


Year after year Jeffrey Grosset produces a pair of Clare Valley rieslings of impeccable quality. There are some powerful and zesty lime flavours and an intense slatey/minerally character. It?s bone dry, full of impact, and deliciously drinkable. $45

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Grosset 2007 Polish Hill Riesling


Year after year Jeffrey Grosset produces a pair of Clare Valley rieslings of impeccable quality. There are some powerful and zesty lime flavours and an intense slatey/minerally character. It?s bone dry, full of impact, and deliciously drinkable. $45

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Grosset 2007 Polish Hill Riesling

Year after year Jeffrey Grosset produces a pair of Clare Valley rieslings of impeccable quality. There are some powerful and zesty lime flavours and an intense slatey/minerally character. It’s bone dry, full of impact, and deliciously drinkable. $45