This wine rules the magic line above which I will buy champagne every time. Its secret is the icy Whitlands vineyard in the foothills of the Victorian snowfields, with an altitude that defines its taut, mineral backbone, overlaid with the toasty complexity of six years bottle age. It will elevate you to a new altitude! […]
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The weakest seasons prove the greatest producers. Christian Sérafin is a fast rising star in Gevrey and Charmes is his finest turf. In 2007 it has blossomed into a thing of gloriously perfumed, cherry blossom beauty; a wine of spellbinding elegance and legendary longevity.
read“Chardonnay is close to my heart,” waxes Ruinart Chef de Caves Frédéric Panaïotis. It’s close to mine, too, when it’s as elegant and refined as it is in his B de B. This is the consummate autumn aperitif; a complete champagne, singing with pure lemon juice and high notes of cinnamon and wild honey.
readChasing a plush, juicy cabernet to crack with Sunday afternoon sangers? Well, forget this. The engineering is so impeccable it would put an Airbus to shame (hang on, make that a Boeing), and its serviceable life is longer, too! Stonking Margaret River cab from a legendary vintage. $30 at WineStar.
readThe Yarra Valley is famous for cabernet, although not from its cooler upper parts. Blessed with a magic season, this historic vineyard obliterates the mould! Such lift of violets, purity of blackcurrant fruit and drive of tannin structure, these parts have rarely seen. Miniscule production, get in line.
readIt’s frankly hilarious that you can pick up a wine for $17 at Kemeny’s and Dan Murphy’s that will shine for twenty years! I’d never believe it if I hadn’t been dazzled by a line of ‘80s and ‘90s Church Blocks recently. There must be some divine intervention going on here and 09 has sure […]
readLook out Central Otago and Martinborough, Canterbury pinot noir has hit the big time! With an ethereal air of exotic spice and a brooding structure, Bell Hill is the epitome of Kiwi cult sensations. If you’ve got cash to splash and you want all the bells and whistles, it’s time you ascended The Hill.
readBack up the truck, JC pink fizz is my bubbles of choice when the room is heaving and the bride’s father is looking nervous about the bill! I’ve converted many a red-blooded bloke with this stuff because it’s made like proper sparkling and it’s NOT SWEET! $8.50 at Dan’s, sometimes $7.80 at 1st Choice.
readThese mild autumn evenings call for zesty whites with a touch of the mellowed maturity of bottle age. Belford arrives perfectly pre-aged to that magic Hunter semillon moment when toasty complexity meets zesty preserved lemon, dissolving in a shower of glittering minerality. $24 at WineStar.
readAfter instructing you to Buy George Cabernet Tempranillo last week, I did a double-take when his Foxy shiraz partner showed its tail at 1st Choice under $14. It should be illegal to snare such sensitively crafted Barossa glory at these miserly prices! A few secret ingredients inject spicy lift and perfume.
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