Category Archive: Icon

Whenever I get the chance to taste them, reviews of the BIG names in wine.

21 Jan

Leeuwin Estate: State of the Art Series

Leeuwin Estate: State of the Art Series

Ask most West Australians to name a good West Australian chardonnay and Leeuwin Art Series (LEAS – such is the wine’s reputation that the ‘Estate’ …

 
By Max Veenhuyzen
Also posted in $30 +, 1987, 1995, 2001, 2006, 2007, Chardonnay, Margaret River, Screwcap, Western Australia, White
Comments (0)
21 Nov

Amon-Ra Shiraz 2005 and 2006 ($90)

Amon-Ra Shiraz 2005 and 2006 ($90)

There are three things I really love about the Amon-Ra: first, the name is cool, but that’s to be expected if you name a wine …

 
By Max Veenhuyzen
Also posted in $30 +, 2005, 2006, Barossa, Cork, Full-bodied, Red, Shiraz, South Australia
Comments (0)
11 Sep

Wynns Coonawarra releases (including 2005 Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon)

Wynns Coonawarra releases (including 2005 Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon)

A bit of frantic diary-reshuffling resulted in a Thursday lunch together last week with Wynns winemaker Sarah Pidgeon who was in town as part of …

 
By Max Veenhuyzen
Also posted in Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Coonawarra, Red, Riesling, Shiraz, South Australia
Comments (1)
22 Aug

Penfolds goes gangbusters at auction!

Penfolds goes gangbusters at auction!

Press release received from Penfolds today. In an age where owning their own home is out of reach for so many of my generation, …

 
By Max Veenhuyzen
Also posted in Red, Shiraz, South Australia
Comments (0)
27 Jul

d’Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz 2003 ($65′ish)

d’Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz 2003 ($65′ish)

After having several opportunities to taste this when it was released approximately 15 months back, I realised I still had in my possession the sample …

 
By Max Veenhuyzen
Also posted in $30 +, Cork, Full-bodied, McLaren Vale, Red, Shiraz, South Australia
Comments (0)
27 May

Mr Max!!! Happy Birthday Menu

Mr Max!!! Happy Birthday Menu

During a birthday dinner with wine mates last night, a revelation of M Night Shyamalan clarity and power came to me, ably assisted by mouthfuls …

 
By Max Veenhuyzen
Also posted in $30 +, Champagne, Food, Margaret River, New Zealand, Red, White
Comments (1)
22 May

Penfolds Yattarna 2004 ($120)

Penfolds Yattarna 2004 ($120)

Turning 28 (more to follow) and some freelance writing gigs combined with some NLHE MTT and PLO online poker action accounted for much of my …

 
By Max Veenhuyzen
Also posted in $30 +, Chardonnay, Limited, Medium-bodied, Screwcap, White
Comments (0)
10 Apr

Two great stickies from De Bortoli

Two great stickies from De Bortoli

Recently I had an opportunity to look at a whole range of dessert wines for an article for Homes & Living magazine: good fun as, …

 
By Max Veenhuyzen
Also posted in $10 - $20, $30 +, Cork, Dessert wine, Screwcap
Comments (0)
21 Nov

Seppelt St Peters Grampians Shiraz 2004 ($60)

Seppelt St Peters Grampians Shiraz 2004 ($60)

Plenty has been said about this wine and according to the collective palate of the Australian online wine drinking community, this is one of the …

 
By Max Veenhuyzen
Also posted in $30 +, Medium-bodied, Red, Screwcap, Shiraz
Comments (0)
30 Oct

d’Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz 2004 ($60) plus other ‘04 icon reds from d’Arenberg

d’Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz 2004 ($60) plus other ‘04 icon reds from d’Arenberg

Named after a disease that slowly reduces one of a vine’s “arms” to wood (thus rendering into the other shiraz grapes into mega-concentrated superhero berries …

 
By Max Veenhuyzen
Also posted in $30 +, Full-bodied, McLaren Vale, Red, Screwcap, Shiraz, South Australia
Comments (0)