I was generously gifted this Chardonnay - my mate Richard knows I'm a Chardy fan and he knows his wine. It's Richard's birthday today too - happy birthday mate! He hit the mark here. What a beauty! The bottle didn't last long either, need I say more?
Saturday 31 March 2018
Robert Stein Semillon Riesling Gewurztraminer 2017
A modern twist on a blend first launched by winemaker Jacob Stein's grandfather 40 years ago. Today, this is a field blend, wild fermented and held on skins for seven days, finishing fermentation on heavy lees to build texture.
Friday 30 March 2018
Yelland and Papps Second Take Grenache 2017
Wicked Grenache! This is an absolute treasure - not a drop was left. I couldn't help but keep going back to it. Boom!
Chainring Cider Co Mosaic Madness 2017
The brainchild of Golden Grove Estate's diminutive winemaker Ray Costanzo and self-described mountain bike 'warrior'.
Chainring Cider Co was founded simply because a mate of his doesn’t drink beer. After a mountain bike ride he would always drink cider while the rest of the group drank Costanzo's homebrew. Costanzo said he'd make his mate a cider but couldn’t help throwing in some left-over hops.
Thursday 29 March 2018
Yelland and Papps Second Take Vermentino 2017
Gee I like this. Hello funky town! 231 days on skins, unfined and unfiltered. Dirty Vermentino to cleanse the soul. So, so good.
Tuesday 27 March 2018
Monday 26 March 2018
Nocton Vineyard Chardonnay 2015
A label I haven't seen before, I bought this off the shelf with a hankering for a glass of Chardonnay. Tassie Chardonnay - I couldn't go wrong, could I?
Sunday 25 March 2018
Huntington Estate Special Reserve Semillon 2016
Coming off 50 year old vines, the aim of this wine was to emulate the success of Hunter Valley Semillons but highlighted by Mudgee's 'softer acid and floral flavours to complement the lemon and a touch of grassiness'. Top Gold at the 2017 Mudgee Wine Show.
Saturday 24 March 2018
Golden Grove Estate Joven Tempranillo 2017
Year after year this Joven is pursued with haste and sold out in quick time as a result. A superb drink in anyone's language. The juicy fruit the pièce de résistance. Run to this, don't walk.
Geoff Merrill McLaren Vale Reserve Shiraz 2011
From the dreaded 2011 vintage. A challenging year but one where the good winemakers stood up and worked their magic. Case in point here. A more than enjoyable wine.
Wednesday 21 March 2018
Brash Higgins Riesling Semillon 2017
Hello sunshine and hello seafood! A blend which is a little something different but deserves a whole lotta love. Brad Hickey is a McLaren Vale winemaker worth keeping an eye out for: quality + creativity.
Tuesday 20 March 2018
Singlefile Wines Single Vineayrd Frankland River Shiraz 2016
Find a comfy chair, loosen the belt and relax to embrace the deliciousness. Oozing chill out factor, this is a Shiraz that's easy to fall in love with.
Witches Falls Wild Ferment Tempranillo 2017
There's no hero variety coming from the Granite Belt. Although so many work well, some are more consistent than others. Tempranillo is a variety which always seems to strike the right chord. Here's another example. Coming from a site on the northern end of Ballandean, this is the first Tempranillo produced by Witches Falls.
Monday 19 March 2018
Nikkal Rosé 2017
Hand up if you have bought a wine based on the label? Yup, me too. We all have. And in many cases, you are left disappointed with what's inside. These Nikkal wines from Kate Goodman not only possess smashing shelf appeal, but the wine inside is cracking. Here's a terrific Rosé to sit back with and cool your heels.
Saturday 17 March 2018
Hayes Family Wines Ebenezer Shiraz 2016
Here's a big brooding type. Old school Barossa if you will. As dark as the night's sky, this is all bulging biceps and chest pumped out.
Nikkal Chardonnay 2017
A lovely Chardonnay release from Kate Goodman. With a striking label, this is a damn easy wine to kick back with. Better still, any friends you have who see Chardonnay as dense, weighty and buttery - throw them a glass of this. Conversion is sure to follow.
Friday 16 March 2018
Geoff Merrill Bush Vine Grenache Rosé 2017
An easy slurp to wash away a long work week. A little texture, a whole lot of fun. Bush Vine Grenache hand-picked from 60-90 year old vines.
Patina Scandelous Riesing 2016
"I have a fascination with Riesling," says owner and winemaker Gerald Naef. I know that feeling all too well Gerald.
Inspired by the off-dry Rieslings of Germany comes this wine retaining 24 grams of residual sugar.
Inspired by the off-dry Rieslings of Germany comes this wine retaining 24 grams of residual sugar.
Allegiance Wines Unity Barossa Shiraz 2014
Thursday 15 March 2018
TarraWarra Estate Pinot Noir 2016
Such a pretty little thing. As with the Estate Chardonnay release, here's a label that rarely misses the target.
Lowe Wines Organic Zinfandel 2013
Awarded the best Organic wine at the Mudgee Wine Show 2017. Zinfandel (also known as Primitivo) is big in the US.
Higher Plane The Messenger 2012
A classic Bordeaux blend of five varieties, each contributing delivering a sophisticated wine which will reward cellaring for beyond a decade.
Peos Estate Four Kings Pinot Noir 2017
Three Peos Estate wines landed on the doorstep. A new label to me, no information came with them. No RRP, no specs. As per the website: Manjimup has been home to the Macedonian-born Peos family for more than 80 years. With viticulture in their historical veins, brothers Vic, John, Kon and Chris banded together in 1996 to create their dream vineyard as a legacy to their late father, Jim Peos, and late grandfather, P.Y. Peos. The Four Kings range is named after the four Peos brothers.
Wednesday 14 March 2018
Yelland & Papps Vermentino 2017
Tropical goodness coming at you in spades. Chill hard and refreshment is a breeze. Easy drinking Vermentino from the Barossa Valley.
TarraWarra Estate Chardonnay 2016
Always a beaut Chardy. So much packed into a little package. It's more than an 'entry level' wine that's for sure.
Allegiance Wines Fullylove Cabernet Merlot 2014
Margaret River Cabernet Merlot. Good varietal aromas start things off, think roasted peppers, leafy blackcurrant and red plums flanked by some oak.
Monday 12 March 2018
Naked Lady Cabernet Sauvignon 2015
The label caught my attention immediately - only to find out that Naked Lady Wines is actually named after a South African bulb flower which is prominent throughout the vineyard. Awarded the Best Cabernet Sauvignon at the Mudgee Wine Show 2017.
Sunday 11 March 2018
Ballandean Estate Messing About Durif 2016
A wine ready to take aim for a long stint in the cellar but drinks well now ready for a big piece of meat beside it.
Friday 9 March 2018
Mitchell Wines Sevenhill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2010
How the team at Mitchell Wines can release a wine at 8 years of age for $30 and make money has me scratching my head. But take the business cap off and the consumer hat on and all signs say run to this - don't walk. Superb cool climate Cabernet from an ever-reliable producer.
Thursday 8 March 2018
Hayes Family Wines Regional Series Mataro 2017
Damn this just feels good. Mataro is so underrated. Often the wingman, here's a top example of the variety standing on its own two feet. Take a bow winemaker Mr Seppelt.
Wednesday 7 March 2018
Heartland Langhorne Creek Cabernet Sauvignon 2014
If you're on the hunt for a Cabernet for around $20, you won't be disappointed by this Heartland release.
Tuesday 6 March 2018
Tim Smith Grenache 2016
Meet Tim Smith - and then get to know his wines. Meticulous, clever, freakin tasty gear from top to toe. Grenache from 80+ year-old vineyards made by a guy who knows his stuff.
Monday 5 March 2018
Allegiance Wines Unity McLaren Vale Shiraz 2015
A wine dedicated to wine writer and industry figure Tony Keys. It's good to see a picture of him on the back label too - the last time I saw Tony was a couple of years ago at dinner after the Coonawarra Roadshow. We were sitting back eating Greek and sipping on Riesling discussing this and that. He's passed since succumbing to illness. No doubt he is drinking Champagne in the sky as I write this.
Sunday 4 March 2018
Witches Falls Garnacha 2016
Bright, red fruits skip about, it's laced with delicate spices too - lots of glug factor about this Garnacha.
Allegiance Wines Unity Barossa Valley GSM 2015
A back label which is inspiring - a tribute to Erik de Haart who survived the Bali bombings in 2002. There's a link for www.donatelife.gov.au there too. Nice touch. Easy to see why it's called the Unity range.
Saturday 3 March 2018
Friday 2 March 2018
Yalumba The Tri-Centenary Grenache 2013
Gorgeous Grenache from 820 bush vines classed as ancient - planted in 1889. Handpicked and treated with kid gloves, just under 4000 bottles are produced.
Thursday 1 March 2018
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