The cool reaches of the Adelaide Hills draw violet perfume from shiraz, with a background of glossy blackberry and black pastille fruit. Dad gets his name on the label but the entire Hardy family (Mum and all four kids) are behind this quality-driven operation in the southern Mount Lofty Ranges.
readArticles
Wayne Dutschke is a grand master of Barossa shiraz, so imagine my amazement when his cabernet eclipsed all four 09 shirazes? Sami is engineered for the long-haul, with a deep core of blackcurrant fruit and tremendously classy French oak. Never has Sami paraded such grandeur or such longevity.
readIn the hierarchy of prestige sparkling, finesse is everything. This particularly elegant vintage ranks among Taltarni’s finest sparklings yet. A cool season has preserved natural acidity and a new Adelaide Hills vineyard has injected more purity and crunch than ever. $19 at Dan’s, $20 at WineStar & Kemeny’s.
readAustralians all let us rejoice, for Voyager’s almost free! With boundless violet perfume to share, its palate abounds in nature’s gifts of tobacco, capsicum and blackcurrant. In joyful strains then let us drink! Advance Margaret River fare! $19 at WineStar, $20 at Kemeny’s.
readIn these fleeting moments before the onslaught of 2011 sauv (steady!), be sure your 2010 punts have lasted the distance. Ninth Island is a Duracell bunny, zapped with such a charge of electric acidity that it will keep going for years! It could confidently stand in for sparkling to open proceedings. $17 at Dan’s.
readA strong contender for the worst wine name in history, and a label to match (avec streaker!), it’s just as well this publication is called Wine Taste and not Label Slut. Get over it and you’ll discover a delightfully crunchy red berry and pepper-loaded wine that’s spicy, gamey and, dare I say, even a bit […]
readGoodness gracious, talk about Under (priced) & Over (delivering)! Double the dollars and this spanking new brand is still a bargain. The Armchair Critic lads work for McWilliams by day, where they’ve sniffed out some legendary vineyards. Elegant, mineral, restrained grapefruit and white peach.
readCelebrating its 43rd birthday this year, this label is the grandfather of rosé champagne and it remains the benchmark of affordable elegance. To create such restraint from 100% pinot noir from grand cru vineyards using the less delicate saignée method of controlled maceration is nothing short of pure genius. $95 at Kemeny’s & Dan Murphy’s, […]
readI have always held Paradigm Hill in the utmost respect but have never before recommended L’Ami Sage because the oak never seemed to sit quite right. No longer! Tangy acidity and firm, fine, textural tannins propel pure black cherry fruit, cloves and nutmeg onwards and upwards. $47 at cellar door.
readAn afternoon in Sancerre with the Vacheron lads taught me more about minerality, biodynamics and sauvignon with finesse than any other experience in my life. The 2010 has just landed and it’s a lesson all over again in textural poise, energy and line. Outstanding Sancerre.
read