Tag Archive | "Australia Links"
Aussie Chardy: this way please
In the last week, I’ve presented a couple of blind tastings focused on Chardonnay and regionality in Australia. My line up, the first two unoaked, comprised: Mount Adam Chardonnay 2008 (Barossa, South Australia) Cumulus Rolling Chardonnay 2008 (Central Ranges, New South Wales) Kooyong Estate Chardonnay 2006 (Mornington Peninsula, Victoria) De Bortoli Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2006 [...]
Continue reading...A game of two halves: Pewsey Vale Riesling –v- Jim Barry Riesling
Posted Tuesday 25th May 2010
Robert Hill Smith and Peter Barry dug deep into their reserves to show some older wines at a well over-subscribed Riesling masterclass at last week’s London International Wine Fair, also the latest releases of flagships Pewsey Vale The Contours (2004) and Jim Barry The Florita (2009). Joking he wasn’t sure there’d be a waiting list [...]
Continue reading...Flying the flag for Western Australia: a celebratory tasting at the Australian High Commission
Posted Saturday 22nd May 2010
If you’ve drooled over my reports on Western Australian wines, come join me at a tasting at the Australian High Commission, Strand, London to celebrate WA Foundation Day. I’ll be on hand to provide an insight into a range of Western Australia’s finest wines, including some personal favourites – Alkoomi, Cape Mentelle, Clairault, Cullen, Ferngrove, [...]
Continue reading...Awesome, & I use that word judiciously…vertical tastings, Australia’s First Families of Wine
Posted Friday 14th May 2010
Attending a tasting is a guerilla attack-like affair – it’s all about focus, prioritising, what to cover so you can get back to your desk to actually produce the fruits of your labour – research, writing, prepare for a tasting etc…. Today did not go according to plan. I’d booked into the Australia’s First Families [...]
Continue reading...My kind of progressive alliance: Australia’s First Families of Wine
Posted Thursday 13th May 2010
Volcanic ash got in the way of judging in Portugal this week, but there was a silver lining to this particular cloud. It meant I could make it to dinner last night with members of Australia’s First Families of Wine (AFFW): Brown Brothers (Victoria) Campbells (Victoria) D’Arenberg (South Australia) De Bortoli (NSW) Henschke (South Australia) [...]
Continue reading...Penfolds Icon & Luxury Release tasting Part 2 – the reds
Posted Friday 7th May 2010
As promised, here’s Part 2 of my blog about Penfolds latest Icon and Luxury releases, this one covering the reds: Grange 2005 St Henri Shiraz 2006 (the 50th commercial release) RWT Shiraz 2007 Magill Estate Shiraz 2007 Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon 2007. So a fair smattering of 2007s, a testing vintage for the eastern states. [...]
Continue reading...Penfolds Icon & Luxury Release Tasting Part 1– make way for some serious Chardonnay!
Posted Wednesday 5th May 2010
Last week, though a judging day, wild horses would not have kept me away from Penfolds’ Icon & Luxury Release Tasting. Penfolds house style famously emerged from the constraints of a fortified wine culture when the iconic flagship, Penfolds Grange, was created by Max Schubert in the 1950s. And Schubert’s philosophy “true excellence is a [...]
Continue reading...The Big Fortified Tasting – Australian highlights, including that 100 pointer!
Posted Friday 23rd April 2010
Crammed with the esoteric, rare and downright gorgeous, The Big Fortified Tasting was equally packed with very satisfied looking members of the trade. Wouldn’t it be great if we could persuade consumers that a fortified is not just for Christmas but a year round delicious treat? I mean aren’t they the perfect solution for this [...]
Continue reading...The Big Fortified Tasting – a big thumbs up
Posted Monday 19th April 2010
Nine out of 10 vegetarians miss bacon and I still hanker after BLT sandwiches. Happily a similar new acronym, BFT – short for Big Fortified Tasting – has entered my vocabulary and I feel well compensated! The name pulls no punches. With over 300 wines at today’s inaugural tasting, it provided a unique opportunity to [...]
Continue reading...Calling The Wine Society members – d’Arenberg Dead Arm Shiraz vertical case offer
Posted Wednesday 7th April 2010
In 2008, when I came back from my Australian Riesling-focused trip, towards the bottom of my pile of post I eventually unearthed an offer of Australian wines from The Wine Society (of which I’ve been a long time member). It took me a few days to get around to opening it and boy, did I [...]
Continue reading...Going my own WA – my top 10 Western Australia travel tips
Posted Thursday 1st April 2010
It’s often said that a wine writer’s life is one long holiday. Last September’s trip to Western Australia in which I combined wine and travel assignments did nothing to dispel this myth. Much as I loved it, I’ve been dying to get back to WA under my own steam with my other half for some [...]
Continue reading...Australia Trade Tasting highlights 2010, more than one entity
Posted Wednesday 17th March 2010
I’ve posted my 3rd report on the annual Australia Trade Tasting here. Having already covered Pinot Noir & Chardys and Cult & Boutique’s range (see here), it covers a mixed bag in terms of wine style, region, variety – Australia’s a big country! The common thread for my choices is great quality. Some great value [...]
Continue reading...Cult & Boutique Wines from Down Under
Posted Monday 8th March 2010
Cult & Boutique Wines import a number of wines I’d not previously tasted, many of which, given their name, you’ll not be surprised to hear have received rave reviews in The Wine Advocate and Wine Spectator. Last month’s Australia Trade Tasting provided the opportunity to suss them out. With few exceptions, they’re big, bold wines with [...]
Continue reading...The X factor, including the new Y-front…quintessential Aussie quaffing
Posted Saturday 19th December 2009
Presented my final tasting of the year last night. A couple of the wines, Innocent Bystander Moscato (pictured) and St Hallett Gamekeeper’s Reserve 2008, prompted this post. The Gamekeeper’s Reserve, a winsome blend of Shiraz Grenache Touriga Nacional, is well nigh perfect for someone who loves Aussie and Portuguese wines like yours truly! As winemaker [...]
Continue reading...Two top notch Coonawarra Cabernet vintages from Katnook
Posted Tuesday 3rd November 2009
I’ve posted tasting notes of some terrific Australian verticals lately (de Bortoli, Shaw & Smith and Clonakilla). My wines of the month for November – Katnook Cabernet Sauvignon 1999 & 2005 - give you an opportunity for your own Oz mini-vertical because both are currently available from their UK distributor, Bibendum. The double-barrel release marks [...]
Continue reading...Clonakilla – a Shiraz Viognier vertical with Tim Kirk
Posted Wednesday 14th October 2009
Before I headed down under for Western Australia I’d meant to post my notes from this terrific vertical tasting of Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier – up against the clock it didn’t happen but voila – you’ll find my full report here – better late than never! I was about to describe Tim Kirk (pictured) as the [...]
Continue reading...Howard Park, zooming in on Riesling and Pinot Noir
Posted Sunday 4th October 2009
Western Australian wineries are well up for pitting their wines and wits against the best the Old World can offer – Cape Mentelle started it with a Cabernet Sauvignon tasting, followed by Cullen for Chardonnay, Howard Park for Riesling, Peel Estate for Shiraz, Millbrook for Viognier, Woodlands for Cabernet blends and Fraser Gallop for white Bordeaux [...]
Continue reading...Rhone Ranger, g’day mate!
Posted Wednesday 30th September 2009
Just out of a fun blind tasting at McHenry Hohnen of 22 Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre-dominated blends, 11 from the Barossa, 1 from McLaren Vale, 3 from Margaret River and 7 from the Southern Rhone. My big picture conclusion – Margaret River sits neatly between the New World GSMs and the Rhone with well-defined, fresh red [...]
Continue reading...Western Australia – week one
Posted Saturday 26th September 2009
It’s the end of my first week of three in Western Australia. Today the sun is shining and it’s a beautiful day in Margaret River, but my arrival coincided with some unseasonal wet and windy weather. Couldn’t help wondering if that’s why the Wine Industry Association of Western Australia have a file on me entitled “Sarah Ahmed Regional Challenge?!! Cold [...]
Continue reading...Cullen Kevin John Chardonnay 2007 & Rustenberg John X Merriman 2006
Posted Friday 18th September 2009
Cullen Kevin John Chardonnay 2007, Margaret River, Western Australia – I must declare an interest, albeit minor…my biceps played some part in the batonnage when I did 2 weeks cellar ratting at Cullen in 2007. I well remember the floral and grapefruit perfume of the Chardy room and the meditative tonic of lees-stirring in between [...]
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Posted Monday 31st May 2010
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