On one side, the mafia declare the modern trend in Yarra Valley chardonnay to be too lean and mean. On the other, De Bortoli winemaker Steve Webber celebrates the cool, classic 2011 vintage as defining the best chardonnays De Bortoli has ever made. Who to believe? The wine, of course. True to the season, this […]
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On the surface, this new label appears to be quite a deviation from PHI’s home of Lusatia Park Vineyard in the Upper Yarra. In truth, it’s a perfectly natural fit for the brand, communicating the detail of its place every bit as articulately as PHI has in the Yarra. The deep red Cambrian volcanic and […]
readThere is an elegantly medium-bodied restraint that sets Voyager Estate apart from most renditions of 2010 Margaret River shiraz. A refreshing 13.5% alcohol provides space for its beautifully textured, graphite-fine, mineral tannins to speak amidst vibrant acid definition. To achieve such depth of fruit within this mould is the true victory of this wine, with […]
readLoudenne has made countless star appearances in my corporate tastings and masterclasses this year because Bordeaux of such accurate fruit profile and tannin chassis at this price is a tough find. All hail the great 2009 vintage! This is a blend from across the Medoc, showcasing the character of Bordeaux better than anything else I’ve […]
readIf you love pinot but can’t afford decent Burgundy (hello there!), I’ve found the wine for you. Mercurey is a lesser outpost of proper red Burgundy, but the low-yielding and high quality 2010 vintage has produced a cracker from Faiveley’s Clos des Myglands vineyard. There is a delightful focus of red and black cherry fruits, […]
readThe very first Jacob’s Creek wine in 1976 was a shiraz cabernet, and the blend has led the range ever since, from the bargain basement Classic to the flagship Johann. I’ve had a sneak preview of an even more lofty flagship due for release next year, and there are exciting things in the pipeline! Great […]
readIf you’re on the hunt for a sweet wine, this is about as decadent as they come. Muscadelle, blended in a modified solera system of small oak barrels for an average of twenty years, is luscious and intensely sweet, with aromas of golden syrup, honey, cold tea and Christmas cake (there’s your food match!). It’s […]
readFrom two vineyards in the Coal River and Derwent Valleys, this is an intricately coiled pinot noir from southern Tasmania that demands some coaxing before it reveals its depth and focus of black and red cherry fruits. A delightful bouquet of red cherries, rose hip and brambles flows into a focused and savoury palate, structured […]
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