I’ve been buying Rockford’s fabled black fizz for fifteen years but never have I seen it cleaner and more refined than the August 2011 disgorgement. Polished Barossa black fruits, dark choc and mixed spice with refined tannins and a long, pure finish. The legend is alive and well. Buy at the cellar door in person […]
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The stars have aligned and one of Australia’s most celebrated chardonnay talents has caressed the fruits of the Yarra’s greatest Grand Cru site in the finest vintage in years. The result is one of the top five Australian chardonnays I’ve tasted in the past three years. Just 3444 bottles will vanish in no time, especially […]
readThe gorgeous seductive perfume and succulent red fruits of Champagne’s two finest pinot noir villages are on full display here, maintaining an elegant refinement and restrained subtlety. One of the best value rosés this year at $65 at Prince Wine Stores.
readNeed a smart red for the masses this silly season? Properly made, mature vine Langhorne Creek shiraz has no right to be sold off at cleanskin prices, so get in fast. Impressive, plush fruit depth and presence of black plums and berries, with supportive dark choc oak. Perfect for Christmas with the in-laws. Ho, ho, […]
readGeographe produces a finer and more restrained chardonnay than its illustrious neighbour, Margaret River, making this pretty little almost unoaked thing a delightful summertime quaffer. Pristine lemon blossom, grapefruit, white peach and even some chalky minerality. $13.50 at United Cellars.
readO’Leary Walker rieslings are the bargains of the Clare, especially when they nail a vintage as confidently as they did this year. The cool season’s kaffir lime, granny smith and lemon zest meets the approachable softness of guava and peach. $17 at Dan’s.
readAlbariño is the perky little Spanish white we thought we grew here, but didn’t. Here’s the real thing, and it thrashes the more expensive contenders that tend to be too old and under cork. Young, fresh and screw capped, it’s soft and spicy, with apple and pear fruit finishing crunchy and pure. $18 at Sunshine […]
readLarry Cherubino’s wizardry for the masses – the textural finesse of the master for just $18 at Dan’s. An impressively medium-bodied style, clocking in at under 14% on the Richter scale, yet with sumptuous richness of dark plum, black cherry, black pepper and mixed spice.
readGorgeous composition and seamless integration of finely-woven layers of hazelnut cream, coffee, preserved lemon, grapefruit zest, golden delicious apples, guava and almost ripe passionfruit. For such a maelstrom of complexity, it pulls into a tight finish of finely poised minerality and pristine line and persistence. Wow. $31 at Raffles Liquor Merchants.
readI poured this wine at a gig for 120 dentists last night and it was the wine of the night, outclassing more expensive Burgundies, Champagne, Chablis and Sancerre. The rule of buying the lesser cuvées of the greatest makers is sage advice indeed. Floral, spicy, savoury and finely textured.
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