by Chris | 7 Sep 2010 | Australia, Cabernet, South Australia
This wine is named after the Terra Rossa cigar shaped piece of Coonawarra from where this comes. The wine made a headline recently by being named ‘Wine of the Year’ in ‘The Big Red Wine Book’ by Gary Walsh and Campbell Mattinson. They Describe...
by Chris | 16 Apr 2010 | Australia, Red Wines, Shiraz, Victoria
Huon Hooke’s SMH wine of the week this week is the Tar and Roses Heathcote Shiraz 2008. He writes: “Mitchelton’s former chief winemaker of many years standing, Don Lewis, and Narelle King are responsible for the excellent Tar and Roses wines, none...
by Chris | 3 Dec 2009 | Australia, Red Blends, Western Australia
As I have noted previously, 2007 is shaping as a vintage vintage in Margaret River; I have now tried several Cabernet’s and Cabernet blends, and from the sub-$20 right up to the big guns the wines have been remarkable. For the sub-$20 market you must try the...
by Chris | 2 Dec 2009 | Australia, Cabernet, South Australia
This week’s SMH wine of the week is the Yalumba ‘The Cigar’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Coonawarra 2006. Huon Hooke writes :- ‘A new label from Yalumba, this wine won three trophies including best of show at the 2009 Limestone Coast Wine Show. While...
by Chris | 13 Oct 2009 | Australia, Shiraz, South Australia
This has been sitting in the cellar with its twin ‘Brother’ for long enough; although the back label says hang on for up to 20 years tonight was the night. This is another Langhorne Creek wine that happily sails under the radar and excels in all respects....
by Chris | 10 Oct 2009 | Australia, Cabernet, Western Australia
Just another Margaret River Cabernet from the 2007 vintage that, although not rated as a ‘best ever’ vintage, is nonetheless turning up some extraordinary wines. The bonus for us lovers of cab and cab blends is that several of these wines are on sale at...
by Chris | 18 Aug 2009 | Australia, Red Blends, Western Australia
Huon Hooke’s SMH wine of the week this week is the Voyager Estate Girt By Sea Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2007. Huon writes: ‘Long-serving winemaker Cliff Royle and viticulturist Steve James made a great double act at Voyager, until Royle departed recently....
by Chris | 14 Aug 2009 | Australia, New South Wales, Shiraz
You know which your favourite wines are when you are always looking for an excuse to bring one out of the cellar for some dinner guests.This was tasted with said guests, and a seasoned webber roasted whole fillet of beef accompanied by a roast vegetable one-pot.The...
by Chris | 14 Aug 2009 | Australia, Red Blends, Victoria
This was tasted recently prior to a dinner, so it was quite a price to pay for a pre-dinner quaff. The colour is deep crimson with purple hue. Nose has some pretty evident sweet vanillin oak right up front which might need some time to get soaked up by the fruit....
by Chris | 14 Aug 2009 | Australia, Other Whites, South Australia
This week’s SMH wine of the week is the Pikes Gill’s Farm Viogner, Clare Valley 2008. Huon Hooke writes:’Gill’s Farm is the old name of the Pike family’s vineyard property in the Polish Hill River sub-region. Neil Pike is the winemaker...
