Technically, the early ’07 vintage wasn’t supposed to be a great one for riesling, but so far the evidence has been to the contrary, as evidenced by this release from the Great Southern’s oldest winery and newly-appointed winemaker John Durham’s willingness to let work in the vineyard rather than the winery shine brightest in his [...]
Now this is some good gear – really good gear. A soft and approachable beauty that shows varietal correctness and a sense of regionality for a tad more than what you pay for a main at most neighbourhood BYO Italian eateries. If you’re going out with a group for a meal, better bring a couple [...]
Showing signs of the warm vintage that took place in the Peninsula in ’06, this wine is crammed full of pretty red fruit flavours with attractive cherry and strawberry edges, all flanked by sandy tannins. Fashioned on the bigger, Australian fruit-forward pinot noir model, this is a very attractive drink-now or short-term cellaring prospect. Good [...]
The sum total of one parcel shiraz, one small parcel viognier, the excellent 2005 vintage and the benefit of Petaluma experience, this is further proof why shiraz loves the kiss of cool climate goodness. Seductively fragrant, a core of vanilla-daubed blackberry sings out to the senses. First the nose, and then the mouth meekly follows… [...]
I’ve noticed – with a bit of embarrassment – that AHW fares pretty poorly when it comes to unearthing “new” names, particularly boutique Western Australia drops. Admittedly, things like this happen when you don’t keep on top of regular reviews, but I”d be turning each of my 10 typing digits into finger-sized liars if I [...]
I enjoyed the last bottle I had of this so didn’t let the chance to taste Miceli’s newest wares pass me by. Brilliant translucent ruby hue in the glass that smells very feminine and decidedly New World rather than Old: a generous dollop of rose syrup with strawberry and other red berry fruits. But in [...]
Another week at the office, another excuse to open a couple of wines for the department to enjoy and me to have a look at. One white and one red were produced for tasting, offering a little something for everyone. Voyager Estate Chenin Blanc 2007 ($20): Complex nose built upon a core of forward tropical [...]